Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/260

 provided to conduce to the health of man as well as to the fertility of tha earth. How soon would the earth be desolated, how seon would the world become one vast charnel house, did not winds, by their winged course, sweep away all pestilential exhalations, and carry healing in their wings with them. And where would be the soul of man, if Thy divine influence were withheld? As the earth, without the intervention of the atmosphere and winds, would be one vast source of contagion and pestilence, so would the soul become polluted and corrupt, without the purifying influences of Thy truth; soon would it be over-ran with evil, and finish its course in the regions of eternal death. O Lord, enable us, in every vicissitude that is permitted to come upon us, to adore Thine infinite wisdom, which can permit nothing but that is conducive to our eternal interests. O may Thy fear be ever before us, and may we, collectively and individually, experience the blessedness of the divine promise: "On they that fear Thy name, shall the Sun of righteonsmess arise, with healing in His wings." Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD our heavenly Father, many are the dispensations of Thy providence which teach us to avoid pain and suffering. Help us to profit by these divine interventions; and when we have looked well to our purposes, and have exercised all prudence and forethought, and have invoked Thy blessing on our labours, and offered our prayers for our safe conduct, then may we rely on the guiding wisdom of that providence, which will either conduct our affairs to a prosperous issue, or in the end give us good reason why success would be more prejudicial to our eternal interests than failure.

Lord, we entreat Thee for assistance to exercise aright the talents Thou hast given us. We would not covet any man's ability; we would not envy any of the talents with which Thou hast so variously endowed our fellow-creatures: we would only pray for sufficient wisdom to direct our own, and if we do this, and Thou seest fit, Thou to whom belongeth all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge can add unto our ability, and increase the amount of our usefulness.

Make us, O Lord, we entreat Thee, whatsoever Thou seest fit; only continue to us Thy grace, that we may rightly exercise our talents, and unto Thee will we ascribe all the honour and all the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD our heavenly Father, Thy divine cautions are in Thy Word given, that we may avoid evil. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinner, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." O Lord, we beseech Thee, be continually before us, and show us the way in which we should walk. O help us to detect the sophistry of evil, and especially the sophistry of our own evil propensities, which, prompting to impure or unholy grati-