Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/326

 heard impress us so seriously, that we may keep our hearts with all dillience, and set a bridle upon our lips, that we sin not. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD most merciful, O God most gracious, who is like unto Thee, "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and sin"? Not a day passes but we feel a renewal of Thy goodness; for though our corrupt inclinations still urge us to sinful indulgences, yet Thou bearest with us; we can, indeed, truly say, that "it is of the Lord's mercy we are not consumed,"

"We have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear." Thy word of truth is continually speaking to us, urging us to obedience, pointing out the consequences of sin, exhorting us to repentance, and asking, "Why will ye die?" We hear Thee, but still we are disabedient; we know Thy will, and still we do it not. O how fearful is our condition! What if Thou wert to call us in this our sinful state into Thy presence! What if, in the midst of our evils, this night our souls were required of us! How could we meet Thee? With a knowledge of the conditions on which our happiness depends, how could our spirits hear the words, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not."

With a knowledge of Thy truth, "Blessed are they that do His commandments, upon them the second death shall have no power;" how could we hope to escape the second death, when we have not done Thy commandments, and when we have done those things which we ought not to have done? Lord, spare us and deliver us; give us yet time. O our God, deliver us, for Thine own sake. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

NTO Thee, O Lord our Saviour, do we lift up our hearts with our hands in thanksgiving and praise, for Thou art our protector; Thee we owe our safety during the night season, and to Thy mercy do we owe the blessing of renewed existence. Teach us to approach Thee and worship Thee in spirit and in truth, and O render us sensible of Thy purity, that we may never presume to call upon Thy name but in a spirit of the deepest reverence and humility. O sanctify Thy word to our spiritual good this day. Fill us with humble and holy confidence in Thy gracious promises. Thou hast created us, Thou hast formed us, Thou hast redeemed us, and Thy gracious encouragement is expressed in the words, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when shou walked through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." O gracious and divine assurance! may our heart zest upon these heavenly consolations. When the waters of temptation are as the waters of Noe to our souls, when floods of falses threaten to overwhelm us, and our frail bark seems ready to be engulfed, may we remember that Thou art still near, and still ready to help us in every time of need. Amen.

Our Father, etc.