Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/34



OST merciful Lord Jesus Christ, at the close of another week we are constrained to acknowledge Thee as a God of love and mercy. In Thy love and in Thy pity Thou hast redeemed us, and hast become our Saviour.

Who can circumscribe Thy goodness, or point to its utmost limit? Thou hast brought life and immortality to light; and we may, through Thee, exult and say, "O death, where is Thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to Thee, O Lord, who givest us the victory! Thou hast taken to Thyself Thy great power and hast reigned. To Thee every knee shall now bow, every tongue confess; for all power is Thine in heaven and on earth.

We adore Thee for the wonder-working power of Thy divine love! Help us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that as Thou hast loved us, we also may love one another. May Thy love be so shed abroad in all our hearts that its influence may be felt in the regulation of our tempers, and in the subjugation of the enemies of our own house! Help us. O Lord, to be obedient to all that Thou hast ordained, and to acquire a child-like disposition. Prepare our understanding for the wisdom which cometh from above, "which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and of good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."'

O fill our souls with Thy perfect love, that we may fulfil the royal law according to the Scriptures. Help us to put away all wrath, clamour, and bitterness; and may we love our neighbour as ourselves. Re-impress us, we beseech Thee, with Thy divine image and likeness.

Help our infirmities by Thy good spirit; guide us safely through the duties of this day; and bring us eventually to the full enjoyment of all heavenly blessings. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

SATURDAY EVENING,

gee God of our salvation, we approach Thy glorionsa Person under .a

full convictiou that Thou art near to all such as call upon Thee in truth. Thou art ineffably good, the infinite, the eternal, the immutable Jehovah! 'Thy glories are reflected in creation, redemption, salvation, regeneration, and providence. When we reflect wpon these. Thy divine qualities, we are conatrained to exclaim, '"' What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels. Thou hast crowned him with @lory and honour."

© Lord our heavenly Father, enable us to turn our thoughts and affections to a more devout contemplation of Thee, the pattern of all perfection. We thank 'Thee that Thou hast revealed Thy perfections in Thy Word, and thercin may we make an intimate acquaintance with 'Thee! There may we contemplate Thy Divine excellences; there are we encouraged to search for fhe wisdom which cometh from above; there jearn the nature of Thy holy precepts, and aequira a perception of that true blessedness which awaits those who act in obedience to Thy just and wise Commands.