Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/330

 318 FORTY-FOURTH WEEs.

ment of Thy promise. Assembling in Thy name, may we in spirit behold Thee in our midst.

We dare not say that we have this day done all that we might have done, either for the good of our fellow-creatures, or for the advancement of our respective states in the regeneration. We have indeed looked too Kittle into the state of oor own minds, and too much into the failings of others. Neglecting to repair the hedge of our own spiritual vineyard, we have often employed ourselves in discovering the gaps which are found in the hedges of our brother's vineyard; and we confess with sbame that we have reprohonded him, when we ought to have been employed in the correction of ourselves: we have attempted to remove the mote from our brother's eye, and behold, a beam has beenin ourown. We see how much we have to do to make our own calling sure; and yet how bitterly do we neglect it that we may reflect upon the doings of others. Neglecting to put away the evil of our own doings, we would presume te allude to tho evils indulged in by our brethren. O Lord, assist ua to overcome this dangerous propensity. Assist us to cast out first the beam from our own eye.

Help us to keep the sphere ef our own life distinct from the sphere of others, 80 a3 neither to interfere with theirs nor to let theirs interfere with ours, bué to do our duty in that sphere in which thou hast called us. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, whose goodness and mercy are ever towards Thy creatures, again hast Thou unsealed our eyelids, and poured upon them the light of another day. Again hast Thou renewed our existence: Thou hast renovated our bodies, and rendered them strong to labour. Our earliest thanks are due to Thee. May Thy holy Name be magnified.

We wait upon Thee. O Lord, to implore Thy blessing upon the duties of this day, and to pray for the supply of our wants. Of Thy fulness have we hitherto partaken, and we feel that Thou wilt still bestow upon us whatsoever is needful, if we ask for it. O supply Thou the wants of our natural existence, and give unto us auch a portion of natural bread as shall render us strong to labour in our earthly vocation.

Give unto us, even in our natural avocations, a sense of Thy presence, so that we may fulfil our duties as Thy servants; doing Thy will from the heart. While we pray for Thy temporal benefits, and for Thy blessing on our natural avocations, we would earnestly implore Thee to bestow upon us those better gifts of the Spirit which may prepare our souls for the high enjoyments of Thy kingdom. These things we ask in Thine own name, O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LMIGHTY and most merciful Lord, at the close of another week we desire again to approach Thy mercy seat. We return Thee our humble and hearty thanks for Thy divine protection, and we are enabled