Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/229

 Help us to discover those deviations from the laws of order, which, if not repented of, would but tend to our future destruction. So many evils lurk within us that assume the appearance of good; so much of error attaches to our thoughts which assumes the appearance of truth, that we are daily and hourly in danger of being misled by false prophets, who come to us in sheep's clothing, but who inwardly are ravening wolves. Frequently do we experience the truth that Satan disguiseth himself as an angel of light. Lord, we trust in Thee. Help us to defeat his wiles: O hear us and answer us, for Thine own name sake, O Lord, Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD God our Saviour, "how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Thy glory is above the heavens." All the angels adore Thee; glorifying Thy name, hearkening to the voice of Thy Word, they execute Thy divine mandates. All Thy ministers who do Thy pleasure magnify Thee in the performance of their duties; and we, O Lord, the members of this family, desire to praise Thy holy name, for Thou hast provided for us both in soul and body, and hast mercifully protected us from danger, and brought us safely to the present moment.

With reverence and godly fear, Lord, we desire to humble ourselves in Thy presence this morning; with a deep sense of the gratitude that is due to Thee, we desire to worship toward Thy holy temple.

Lord, so teach us to pray that our supplications may find acceptance. Give unto us that which tends most to the advantage and safety of our souls, and grant that every duty in which we engage may serve as a work of preparation for the perfection of our future state. O teach us to reverence Thy great and holy name. All Thy divine qualities and perfections, all Thy divine attributes and powers: Thy love and wisdom, Thy forbearance and long suffering, Thy tender mercy and patient endurance of our waywardness. Thy not dealing with us according to our sins nor rewarding us according to our iniquities—all call for the deepest gratitude we can offer, and for the most devout reverence and thanksgiving. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

OST holy, most gracious and glorious God, with reverence we desire to approach Thee this night, and with grateful hearts to adore Thee for the blessings of the past day. Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory; and if we read aught of the wonders of heaven above and of the earth beneath, which Thou hast created, we shall also be enabled to enter into the inmost of our own minds, and there, contemplating the noble powers with which Thou hast endowed us, we shall see still further cause to glorify Thee, because Thou hast so created our spirits, that by attention to Thy Word of truth, and by the application of its regenerating influences, we can prepare our souls to be the dwelling place of Him who, though high and inhabiting eternity, dwells also