Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/273

 that Thy wisdom either appoints or permits or sanctions; and that it is our duty, while we labour, not to be anxious over-much, but to commit our way unto the Lord. Thy Word enjoins a surrender of all our talents and faculties to Thy service, and whether we eat, or whether we drink, or whatsoever we do, we should do all to Thy glory. In giving us bodily senses Thou dost but remind us of the more noble senses of the soul, and while we value the senses of the body, our duty is to direct their use in such a way as shall rightly minister to the senses of the soul. O may we never abuse any of the members bestowed upon us. Suffer us not to be incessantly thinking upon what we shall eat or what we shall drink. As taste is not the object of our existence, but the means of attaining more important ends; as we are not placed, here like the beasts that perish, to eat and to drink for the mere purpose of nourishing our bodies alone; we pray Thee to impart unto us just ideas of the bodily act, as a representation of the more important duty of doing Thy will O God! O may we taste and see that Thou art good: blessed are all those that put their trust in Thee. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

THURSDAY EVENING. 0 MERCIFUL Saviour and redeeming Lord, there is no day that passes but introduces to our notice some new cause for gratitude and thankfulness; but thongh Thy blessings are so uninterruptedly continued, such is the apathy with which we receive them, that theix very constancy reuders us too frequently unmindful of their value,

This day has been brought to a eonclusion, and varied ag has been the atmosphere with brightness and with shade, and changeable even in its temperature with heat and cold, with storm and calm, yet las it been eminently beueficial unto us. It has spoken in the voice of Thy providence, and by its very vicissitude hes reminded us of the blessings which each change brings with it, and of the varieties of state through which we must be individually passing, before the work of the regeneration cau be perfected; and ag the times and seasons follow each other in quick succession, 0 do the changes of state which are all necessary to porfect

us.

© Lord Jesus Christ, all times and seasons are ordered and arranged by Thee; our times are in Thy hand! Order all our trials for our good, for Thou only knowest what is best for us. Amen.

Our Father, atc.

GOD of our life, who knowest what is best for us, we thank Thee for the renewal of our existence, and for the happiness we experience in all the comforts pertaining to our natural life. Grant us Thy grace, that we may see and feel this our existence ought to be cherished and preserved; because Thou hast placed us here to be useful, to minister to each other's good, as well as to prepare for our eternal home; and help us also to perceive that any violation of Thy laws, even though in the letter, that has a tendency to abridge our usefulness and shorten our