Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/224



GOD of love, who can set forth in order the yonders of Thy goodness? who can fathom the ocean of Thy beneficence? or who can separate us from that love which we have in Thee, O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Another day has witnessed Thy goodness, and leaves us utterly incapable of return. But what doth the Lord our God require of us? but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Thee.

Lord, help us to regulate our lives by Thy truth, help us to be merciful, as Thou our Father in the heavens art merciful. Help us that we may learn of Thee, be meek and lowly, and so find rest to our souls.

Blessed be Thy name, O Lord, for the gift of Thy divine truth. There is a river, the stream whereof shall make glad the city of our God. O may that river be unto us as the purifying waters of Bethesda. May we watch diligently for the descent of Thy gracious influences, and when the angel of Thy presence appears, may we plunge into the waters and be healed of our infirmities. In the various gifts bestowed upon us we desire to thank Thee for those healing streams which purify our bodies and heal our weaknesses and infirmities. How wonderfully hast Thou adapted those medicinal springs to the renovation of our bodies and to the healing of our souls! We glorify Thy name, O Lord of Heaven. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

RACIOUS Lord ang merciful Saviour, we draw near to Thee this morning, and under a deep sense of Thy continued beneficence we desire to adore Thee for all Thy goodness. Accept our gratitude for the blessings of the past night, and grant us Thy divine protection and guidance on our going out and coming in this day. May we be proserved in humility by a contemplation of what Thou hast done for us. If it had not been for Thee, O Lord, our enemies had proved too mighty for us, and we should have been like to them who go down into the pit. But Thou, O Lord, hast not given us over as a prey to our enemies; Thou hast not suffered us to be entangled in their snares, but hast preserved us amidst all our trials, so that we have been kept in safety until this day.

O God of the spirits of all flesh, help us to enter upon the duties of this day with a humble determination to set Thee ever before us, and in all that Thou hast ordained strive to render unto Thee a willing obedience. Temptations of every kind cross our path, but our sufficiency is of Thee; and we would throw ourselves upon Thy directing providence, and go forth this day with a fervent prayer to serve Thee in newness of spirit, and walk before Thee in holiness of life. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

THURSDAY EVENING. 0 THOU whose presence fills all creation with gladness,—for Thou art the Life of all,—we come before Thee this evening under a deep conviction thet Thy goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our lives. As thesun has withdrawn his light, and the moon in mildness has arisen we are reminded of that transcendent glory which is enci