Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/339

 YORTY-SIETH WEEE. 327

upon Thy truth, and may the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in 'Thy sight. O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. Our Father, ote.:

LORD our Saviour, every day new life is imparted unto us from Thee. From our bed of rest and security we issue forth, and cares, and toils, and perils, and temptations assail us, but still Thou art mindful of us; we are not hidden from Thy sight; Thou art the gracious preserver of our lives; and amidst all our difficulties and dangers Thou art near to help us, and this Thou doest day by day; even to old age Thou art with us and to hoary hairs Thou wilt protect us. Thy voice is encouragingly heard; "Fear thou not, I am with thee; be thou not dismayed, I am thy God." And when our daily labour ends, and we return to our peaceful homes, and taste anew the blessings Thy providence has prepared for us, Thy love calls for renewed gratitude and thanksgiving, and we offer our evening tribute of prayer and praise. Lord, help us to take pleasure in Thy service; help us at, morning, noon, and evening, to offer our prayers unto Thee, and to give Thee thanks. Help us by freqnent and fervent devotion to acquire that piety and spirituality which may purify our affections and elevate our thoughts to heaven. Keep us daily and hourly in the recollection of the uncertainty of our natural existence, and of the certainty of our eternal state. Help and prepare us to meet Thee, our God and Saviour, and give unto us finally a place in one of the many mansions in Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

ORD of all the families of the earth, eternal and ever blessed God! Help us at the close of this day to draw near to Thee with reverence; help us to adore Thee, our God and Saviour, in whom all fulness dwells; help us to glorify Thee as the Lord God omnipotent.

All nature is subject to Thy rule; Thou permittest the elements to rage, and Thy divine fiat restrains their fury. By Thy words, "Peace! be stil," Thou stillest the furious tempest. We cannot behold all the reasons why the desolating storm is permitted; such knowledge is too wonderful for us; it is high, we cannot attain to it. But we know that it must originate in good; for as Thou art essential goodness, only that which conduces to goodness can be permitted. With humble confidence, therefore, O Lord, we commit ourselves to Thy gracious keeping. No evil wilt Thou suffer to assail those who trust in Thee, and no good thing wilt Thou withhold from them that walk uprightly. Impress these truths upon us, O Lord; so that whatever may be the desolations which are permitted to assail us, we may still hope in Thee. Thou, Lord, art good unto them that wait for Thee, to the souls that seek Thee; and they that wait upon Thee shall renew their strength. O help us to show forth Thy loving-kindness every morning, and Thy faithfulness every night. Amen.

Our Father, etc.