Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/232

 and understandings must be turned unto Thee, and there must nothing of self or the world dispute with Thee the sovereignty.

O Lord of heaven, assist us to bring the affections of our hearts into harmony with the convictions of our understandings, that we may "abhor our evils, and repent in dust and ashes." Give us a clear perception of Thy divine injunction: "Ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing that is evil." May we consider evil as our greatest and deadliest enemy, and hate it with perfect hatred. May we avoid indulging in evil, not from worldly or prudential considerations, not because our reputation will be endangered in the estimation of men, but because it is sin against Thee, because it is detrimental to our souls' eternal happiness. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD, whose ears are open to the prayer of the destitute, who despisest not the humblest suppliant, be with us this morning, we beseech Thee, and listen to the voice of our petitions, for on Thee alone do we depend. We praise Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast raised us up from sleep; that Thou hast renewed our strength by refreshing our bodies, and rendering them strong to labour.

Again, we desire to consecrate our lives to Thy service, and every faculty and talent of our souls we would humbly dedicate to Thee. O Lord, accept our humble offering, and instruct us in the proper use of our talents, that whatsoever we do may be done to the glory of Thy holy name.

We need continual assistance from Thee; for so prone are we to indulge in evil, and so easily are we drawn aside to commit it, that unless we are restrained by Thy grace, we should be continually violating Thy precepts. Assist us, O Lord, to keep Thee ever before our eyes. Assist us to explore our affections, knowing that our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: O aid us to turn away from that which is evil, to seek Thy truth, and to walk by it. Every day's experiences convince us that the heart of man is set in him to do evil, and that continually. Help us, therefore, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and enable us to repent and turn unto Thee with full purpose of heart and life. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

FRIDAY EVENING.

O we can do nothing; it is by Thy ispower and through Thy divine aid alone that we have been enabled to perform the duties of this day. With humble and thankful spirits we therefore approach Thee. O God of the spirits of all flesh; we adore Thee for the strength with which Thou hast endowed us; for the intellectual ability, and for all the faculties of

invention and rationality, whereby our labour is rendered profitable to ourselves, being conducive to our health, and productive of comfort to the community of which we are members. Thou alone art the source