Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/310

 We desire humbly to confess our evils; we cannot say we are free from sin, for though we have been kept from grievous external evils, yet do we feel that many secret sins have been committed. Lord, we implore Thy mercy; for we know that Thy mercy is from everlasting to everlaating, and Thy truth endureth from generation to generation.

O Thou who art the author and the finisher of our faith. Thy words are ever before us, and the important doctrine of man's salvation is by Thee expressed in the truth. "Marvel not that I say unto you, ye must be born again." From this great truth we are led to perceive that our future happiness depends upon regeneration. We must have formed within us a new nature. Our hearts of stone must be taken away, and their places supplied by hearts of flesh. The call of Thee, our heavenly Father, to each of us is, "My son, give me thy heart." Lord, help us to be obedient to this call, to surrender ourselves entirely to Thy guidance. Amen,

Our Father, etc.

NEFFABLE: wise, and glorious Redeemer, our only God and Saviour, another week has nearly run its course, and Thou hast with unfailing mercy and with innumerable blessings permitted us to see its close. Our existence has been preserved though thousands have fallen on our right hand and on our left; and the time which is thus allotted unto us, how has it been spent? We dare not say, in earnest preparation to meet our God. Alas! what ia our life that we so trifle with it? It is as a vapour, which may momentarily pass from its present earthly tabernacle, to enter upon the state which can never admit of change; and yet we trifle away its precious moments, and standing on the threshold of eternity, and seeing our friends dropping continually before our eyes, appear as though we were satisfied that the call would never reach us.

O Lord, "teach us so to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." We perceive, as we view the operations of nature, that a preparation for change in constantly going on. Events rise gradually one after another, and as they proceed in their appointed course, they pass away and give place to others, and these tend to the same progress, and pursue and accomplish that for which they were designed; season succeeds reason, death succeeds life, eternity time. Help us to lay these things to heart, and prapare to meet Thee, our only God and Saviour. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

HOLY, mercifal, and glorious Lord God, with the morning which ushers in the day of rest, we desire to approach Thee, and to dedicate ourselves unto Thee; accept our humble offering, we beseech Thee; and may the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart rise up a incense before Thee, and find acceptance in Thy sight.

In the present corrupt state of the Church it is still delightful to know that Thy providence is in full operation, preparing the way for the