Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/233

 THIRTIETH WEEK, 221

of all good. Thou alone art the fountain of all wisdom and knowledge. As Thy creatures look to Thee and acknowledge Thee as the essence of all design—ns Thy creatures, in their humble endeavours of use, strive to imitate Thee in Thy glorious works, and labour to increase the amount of the comforts of mankind by works of beauty, diversity, and usee—so do they best exhibit their sense of that Almighty Goodness, who, in creating the world, and storing it with materials on which the creature may exercise his ability and ingenuity, desires nothing so much as to see His creatures happy, doing goad to all, and glorifying their Creator in their bodies, as well as in their spirits. Lord, we desire to thank Theo for the diversity of gifts and of talents with which Thy divine Spirit has endowed us. Help us to glorify Thee in our talents and faculties, and thus to show that we return Thee Thine own with usury. Amen. Our Father, ete.

LORD, who art ever merciful and gracious; we desire to approach Thee this morning to renew our grateful acknowledgments of Thy bounty, and to dedicate ourselves anew to Thy service. Summer and winter alike remind us of Thy fatherly care and providence; but the present season of the year places before us in all profusion the treasures of the field, which Thou, O Lord, hast blessed. O God our heavenly Father, fill our hearts with adoring love and gratitude, and grant unto us a correct knowledge of Thy truth, that we may employ all our talents and faculties under the guidance of Thy wisdom, and in the faithful performance of our duty to Thee and to our fellow-creatures.

Which way soever we turn our eyes, we behold the creatures whom Thou hast made filling their allotted sphere, and performing their duty with a willing cheerfulness. We behold nothing created in vain—nothing useless. The seed dispersed by the wind is, by Thy wonderful guidance, deposited in the earth most suited to promote its growth, and minister in future usefulness to the good of the world of which it forms a created part.

Thou hast taught us in Thy Word that the very hairs of our head are all numbered; that nothing perishes, nor can anything be removed, without permission trom Thy providence. There is no such thing as chance, for Thou overrulest all things for good, to the happiness of Thy favoured creature man. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

ORD, Thou art our only hope; in Thee put we our trust; Thou art our help and our shield. At the close of another week we approach Thy footstool, to adore Thee for Thine infinite goodness; to acknowledge that our lives have been abundantly satisfied with blessings, and to pray that Thou wilt continue to be our guide, even unto death. Our souls wait upon Thee, O Lord; Thou art the rock of our salvation, our shield and buckler; and while we have Thee for our defence, no evil can befal us.