Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/33

 grant onto us a true perception of the true meaning of these divine words. Thy nature is immutable, and cannot change. Thou art essential love; and Thy love is equally dispensed to the evil and the good. But we confess, that while we continue in evil, we imagine that Thou art angry with us, aud thus we behold Thee through our own frowardness. But when Thy righteous dispensations have accomplished the purposes for which they were designed, then do we see the change is in ourselves, that Thy language was accommodated to our low aud polluted condition, and that by this appearanes of threatening we have been enabled to remove the stumbling-block out of the way.

And Thou hast put a new song in our mouths, even Thy sure mercies: Thou hast refreshed our souls with inward gratitude. Then are we brought to a sense of Thy truth; for, "the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry." Amen.

Our Father, etc.

FRIDAY EVENING.

0 LORD fesns Christ, who, when tabernacling in the flesh, didst declare: '*I am not come to call the rightewus, but siuuers to repentance;" O Thou who hast " borne our grieis and carried our sorrows," who in Thy zeal didst go forth as a mighty conqueror against our spiritual enemies, but whose weapous were not of this world; O Thou whose eye ever beams upon us with a divine fenderness, we come before Thee with devout thankfulness, but with humble fear. The day hath uttered Thy speech in our ears, the night still shows forth Thy loving-kindness.

We feel that our inclination is to evil, and we know that evil cannot dwell with Thee. But Thon art ever kind and compassionate to returning sinners. Fhy divine encouragement is, *O that thera were euch a heart within them, that they might fear me always and keep my coumandments, that it might be well with them, and with their children

after them t*? when aball it once be? May we listen to this expostulation and strive never to offend Thee in thought, in word, or deed!

We cannot sufficiently adora that goodness and mercy which beara so long with us, and is so kind and compassionate towards us. © help us to depart from evil and to do good, to scek peace and pursue it. Bring our tempers, we beseech Thee, nnder Thy benizn influence. By constant watchfulness, enable us to discipline our passions, that we may keep our hearts with all diligence.

But. Lord, who among ns can understand his errors? Cleanse Thon us from secret faults, and keep us from presumption in impnting good

unto ourselves. For there inp none that doeth guod; no, not one. Give us Thy grace, that we may be preserved from evil, and kept in the strait and narrow way to life. Hear us. O Lord Jesus Christ! for in Thy help

ia shall we be able to work out our salvation with fear aud trembling, men,

Our Father, eto.