Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/334

 time hast Thou given us, but O how sadly have we neglected it! O merciful Father, spare us, spare us, we beseech Thee: sustain and animate us in the course we have yet to travel. Render us more patient, more diligent, more watchful: O help us to keep ourselves free from the ensnaring gratifications of the world, aud bring us into a repentant and contrite state. Pardon. O Lord, the evils which we have committed this day, and let the influences of Thy good Spirit so possess us, that the rest of our lives may be more faithfully devoted to Thy service, and more useful to our fellow-creatures.

And now, O Lord, most merciful! O God, most righteous! take us under the shadow of Thy wings this night; pardon for Thy name sake the evils we have committed; and if permitted to rise again in this world, so strengthen our present resolutions that we may earnestly strive to sin no more. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, assist us, we beseech Thee, to acquire that purity of heart which imparts Thy divine benediction and beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." O help us to behold Thee in all Thy wonderful works, in all the operations of Thy providence, in Thine all-pervading love in the groat works of redemption and salvation; and wheresoever we may turn our eyes, may we so use them as to bless and praise Thy holy name for all Thy goodness, and for Thy wonderful works to the children of men.

To a knowledge which the truths of Thy Word impart, O help us to become obedient to all Thy wise and just commands. May Thy fear be ever before our faces, for there is no want to them that fear the Lord. Assist us this day to keep our tongues from speaking evil, and our lips from guile, to depart from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it; to remember that, as Thine eyes are upon the righteous, and Thine ears open to their cry, so no evil can befal those who humbly trust in Thee. Help us, O Lord, to acquire this trust, and when our trials here are ended we shall hope, through Thy mercy, to be admitted to Thy Kingdom, and dwell in the house of our Lord for ever. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

LORD Jesas Christ. Thine eye beholds the children of men, but Thy love relaxes not; it continues to exercise itself in the righteons dispeusations of Thy providence, unseen to us, but so operating as to bring us frequently into great straits and difficulties and sufferings, and thus leading us ultimately to reflect upon our waywardness, to see the ruin # which we are hastening, and from its rapid approach to turn in time and repent, and find that mercy which repentance always brings. Thus dost Thou operate in our behalf, bringing us by a way we know not of, avd saving us, even though it be by fire. O that men would praise the Lord

for His goodness, and for His wonderful acts to the children of men! With a knowledge of Thy providence and of ita constant operation, &