Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/288

 soft with showers; Thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness, and Thy paths drop fatness. The pastures are clothed with flocks, and the vallies also are covered over with corn." With all these tokens of Thy love and providence before us; with the assurance that the righteous shall never be forsaken, nor his seed beg bread, Lord, give unto us a spirit of contentment. As Thou art our Father, O help us to confide entirely in Thee as Thy children.

O give us hearts to enjoy Thy goodness in Thy blessings, and keep from us the gloom and apprehension of future want. As the lilies of the field grow by turning their heads to the sun, and receive their life and beauty by the heat and light and moisture of which it is the secondary cause: so May we pursue our daily labour, and turn our heads spiritually unto Thee, the Sun of righteousness, the great ''First Cause;' and, as confiding children, feel happy that we are in the possession of blessings that will never be withdrawn; but that of Thy fulness shall we all receive. Keep our minds, O Lord, we beseech Thee, unruffled by the cares of the world; and grant us submission to all Thy wise dispensations. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

FRIDAY EVENING.

MV 'OST merciful Father, the God of all goodness; fill our affections, we

beseceh Thee, by Thy love; enlighten our thoughts by Thy truth; bring overy desire of our souls under the perfect government of Thy love and wisdom; 80 that our inner man may be in a state of willing obedience to Thy divine majesty. O Lord, so let Thy reign ba established over us that we may engage in Thy service with willing and zealous minds; an whatsoever we engage in, grant that its result may terminate in Thy glory and to the good of our fellow-creatures.

In all the changes and vicissitudes of state through which we pass, let strength as our day be given us; and feed us with the true bread of life, and give us to drink of the river of Thy pleasures,

Nor would we supplicate blessings for ourselves alone, but we would pray for the whole human race. Prepare the minds of all men to submit to Thy divine government. By thy righteous dispensationa may irreligion, impiety, and profanity be arrested; and grant that truth, righteousness, brotherly love, and charity may universally prevail. O grant these our supplications, for Thy Name's sake. Amen.

Our Father, ete,

NFINITE, eternal, and omnipotent Jehovah, Thou art the Father of mercies, the God of all consolation! Who can worthily speak Thy praise or tell of all Thy wondrous works? Thou art infinite in goodness, wisdom, and power!

We praise Thee for the blessings of the past night, and for the light of another day. O let Thy presence be now felt by us, and assist us in affection and thought to worship Thee, and to lift up our hearts with our hands unto Thee in the heavens. When we call to mind the innumerable