Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/332

 and brighter unto the perfect day. And while we pray that the light may go forth as brightness to ourselves, we also pray for its directing influence to all Thy creatures, more especially to those who, as Thy teaching disciples, ought to be as the light of the world, to guide Thy people from hence to the heavens. O may they constantly look to Thee, and be enabled to keep their understandings open, that in Thy light they may see light.

In the sacred duties of their office, may Thy ministers be supported by Thee. Endow them with fortitude to declare Thy perfect will; assist them to set their faces against every corruption. May they cry aloud and spare not, but show the house of Israel their transgressions and sin, and call them to repentance and newness of life.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who alone art our Master, and who hast given commandment for children to obey their parents in all things, grant Thy grace to the heads of this and of every other family, that they may show forth a pattern of meekness and obedience unto Thee, and thus be models for the imitation of their children. So shall we all grow up into the fulness of the stature of Jesus Christ, and shall be ultimately made happy in Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LMIGHTY Lord, our heavenly Father, we pray that the spiritual privileges in which we have participated may remind us of our exalted relationship unto Thee: that we are Thy children, and that it is our duty so to display our love and obedience that we may not grieve Thy Holy Spirit nor walk after the flesh.

As wayfarers, strangers, and pilgrims, may we still pursue the course marked out for us in our respective callings with diligence and industry, and while the world employs our bands, may our affections be set on things above, and may we, like the patriarch of old, journey onwards; "still going towards the south;" still keeping our eyes steadily fixed on the light of Thy truth; still looking to Thee, the glorious Sun of righteousness. O gracious and merciful Redeemer, impress us always with a sense of Thy presence; help us to be willingly obedient to the precepts of Thy truth read this morning. Deaf as we have hitherto been to Thy divine calls, blind as we have been to our own true interests, may Thy words, "Hear ye deaf, and look ye blind," now find a humble and gratefal response. By Thy divine dispensations awaken us, and bring us to Thyself. Enlighten our darkness, turn us from our crooked and perverse paths, and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

ORD, in Thy Word Thou hast exhorted us to be angry and sin not. We confess we have been irritable, our feelings have been unforgiving; we have at times even felt revengeful, and have thus grieved and driven from us our guardian angels, and supplied their places by