Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/335

 PORTY-FIFTH WEEK. 323

mersifal Father, help us to acqnira an humble confidence, and to be gratefally submissive under all Thy dispensations. We behold all the disorders of nature as so many effects of the grievous evils in which we indulge, and as solemu warnings to repent and turn unto Thee. To enable ue to repent, may we, morning, noon, and at evening, lift up our thoughts in prayer to Thee. May we set Thee constantly before our eyes, and strive to follow Thee in the strait and narrow way to life.

Hear us. O Lord, and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies answer us, for Thine own name's sake. Amen.

Our Father, eto.

ITH a grateful sense of Thy divine goodness, O Lord, we acknowledge that it is by Thy power that we possess the ability to will and to do. There is no source of independent being but Thyself, O Lord. Thou art Life in itself,—the self-sufficient, self-subsistent, and only subsisting Being. Our affections are warmed and kept in being from the fire of Thy love. Our thoughts are enlightened and purified by the light of Thy wisdom. If we approach not Thee, we must become spiritually cold, and spiritually blind and dead. O heavenly Fathor, we pray Thee to enable us to behold and feel that it is in Thy light we see light, in Thy heat we feel heat! Withdrawing from Thee, we withdraw from all heavenly blessedness; neglecting communion with Thee, our light expires, and we become as dead! O help us to be obedient to Thy gracious command, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." O help us to become every day more and more imbued with the love of Thee and of Thy kingdom. Our supremacy consists in our resemblance unto Thee. We have within us those receptacles for Thy love and wisdom, which enable us to become likenesses, as our bodily structures, are images, of Thee. We pray, therefore, that this day, and every day, we may be enabled to glorify Thee in our bodies and in our spirits, which are Thine. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, we thank Thee for this day's blessings, and for the sacred treasures contained in Thy Word of truth, which at all times we are so freely permitted to draw from; and humbly grateful are we for the privilege of conversing with Thee, of pouring out our souls before Thee in prayer. Whether in prosperity or adversity, health or sickness, joy or sorrow, we feel that conversation or prayer with Thee adds to our prosperity, or smoothes our adversity; gives new zest to the enjoyment of health, or soothes the pangs of sickness, and suffering; increases the cheerfulness of the gladdened heart, or enables us when in sorrow to possess our souls in patience. In all the most solemn occasions of life, when conscience brings us to its upright bar, if in prayer we confess our sins, and seek for pardon from Thee, O Lord, who hast promised to blot out our transgressions for Thy name's sake, what we seek for, we find. When nature, in her dire convulsions,