Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/293



LORD Jesus Christ, help us, we beseech Thee, that we may abstract our minds from the consideration of worldly affairs and hold communion with our inmost souls. And as we engage in self-examination, may we patiently wait to hear what the Lord shall say unto us from the inmost teachings of His Word.

Lord, assist us to live wholly unto Thee and for the good of our neighbour. They who truly love Thee above all things, will at all times evidence the sincerity of their love by striving to do good to all, by loving their neighbour as themselves. And teach us, O Lord, to love our neighbour; not because he is in high esteem by the world, or because he is in possession of abundance of this world's good, but rather for the good that is in him, and for the unwearied exertions which he makes in the cause of good.

O Lord, we beseech Thee, protect us through this day; that as the night has refreshed our wearied frames by sleep, and rendered us fit for our temporal avocations, the day may find us not slothful in business, nor sluggish in spirit, but active and fervent in the performance of our various duties. In travelling through this world, we pray that we may not be ensnared by its delights. May we with a grateful cheerfulness enjoy what Thou givest, and with willing resignation submit to what Thou deniest; until, perfected by suffering, we find a reward for our patience in the land flowing with milk and honey. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

0 LORD God, our Saviour, we adore the infinity of that love which,

in these last days, hast revealed the wisdom of the spiritual sense. 'We can never be sufficiently grateful for the rendering visible to our spiritual perception that world of divine beauty, for the encouragement of souls hungry and thirsty after righteousness. When Thy Word, in ite spiritual sense, unfolds to our enraptured view the glorious realities of heayen; when orb upon orb pours forth its myriads to swell the glorious population of oternity; when fields of ethereal beauty unfold their divine splendour, according to the state of the angelic beings who people them, and Thy Word, in its inmost sense, still continues to unfold its wisdom, as the glorious beings whom Thou hast made continue to love and atudy it, and find that with them it is "for ever settled in heaven;" when Thy nature is more clearly seen and Thy divine love is more internally felt,— who can fail to adore Thee, that Thon hast made us to perceive these glorious realities, and to feel that they are all stored up for those who love Thee! Help us. Lord, to love and serve Thee better, that we may the sooner be translated from this corruptible, and put on incorruption in Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Our Father, ete.

THURSDAY MORNING. LORD Jesus Christ, the morning again calls as into Thy presence. In all that we attempt, first lead us to look to Thee for help; for