Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/270

 past; Thy fatherly love is at once expressed—"This my son was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found."

And now, O Lord, our Creator, our God, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Holy One, our Omnipotent Father, our unchangeable Friend, we commit ourselves to Thy care. We would be anxious for nothing: Thou art all-sufficient. Whether we live or whether we die, we desire to commit our souls to Thy gracious keeping. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

OST merciful and glorified Lord! we approach Thee this morning to implore Thy divine blessing upon the labours of this week upon which we are now entering; and we invoke Thy divine protection, that we may be defended against our spiritual enemies, and especially against our bitterest enemies,—the enemies of our own household,—the evils which infest us. While we thank Thee for the religious privileges we have enjoyed during the past Sabbath, we entreat Thee that they may be made available for our guidance and life during the present week. As trees placed in the garden, may our affections and thoughts be so nurtured by the heat and light of the Sun of heaven, that we may bring forth fruit to perfection. May we so live as to feel our position midway between earth and heaven. Exercising all our natural abilities and talents, for our own and our fellow creatures good, may we still avoid grovelling in the earth, and live in the world as though we lived not. Exercising our thoughts and affections upon the good and truth of Thy Word, may our conversation be in heaven, and while we are continued in this sphere of our being, may we seek Thee and Thy kingdom as the most desirable of all blessings. Guide us, O heavenly Father, in the way we should go. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD God, merciful and gracious, we humbly come into Thy presence this evening, we adore Thee for Thy divine protection, and we know from Thy Word of truth that Thy compassions fail not. Thy mercy is from everlasting. Thou art our unchangeable Friend, and Thy presence and blessing await all who will humbly prepare themselves for their reception.

Lord, we beseech Thee, grant that the duties we this day have performed may be rendered beneficial to our fellow-creatures, so that all may experience the blessings which a life of usefulness is calculated to impart. Assist us to perceive that the faithful performance of our duties is also the performance of true charity; and charity, when exercised from an interior principle of good, is the very essence of religion, since "the life of religion is to do good." May we never rest in the impression that religion consists only in the performance of external duties; but, remembering that our conversation should be in heaven, may we look to Thee for aid to become heavenly minded. May we strive earnestly for the attainment of holy principles and affections, and may we exercise these