Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/349

 PORTY-SEVENTH WEEK, 337

remembranes that these actions are so many emanations of Thy heavenly goodness lead to adoring gratitude on our parts that Theu hast endowed & fellow-creatnre with so many excelloncies.

Lord, we give Theo thanks that Thy providence is over exercising itself for the good of all Thy creatures; and however bitter many of Thy dispensations appear to us, we know that they are necessary, else they would not be permitted.' These dispensations operate as medicine to our souls, for which we owe Thee our duty and our thanks equally as for our daily bread. Help us, therefore, to give Thee thanks for all things, and onable us, with Thy faithful servant of old, to say, "I know. O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfalness hast afflicted me," with the intention of doing me good; therefore I submit myself with gratitude to whatsoever Thou shalt order or permit. Amon.

Our Father, eto.

MOST merciful Father, we pray Thee so to direct us that we may dispense our beneficence and charity to show forth our gratitude to Thee. Suffer us not to fall into any ostentatious or external display. May the first-born of our souls, pure love to Thee, show the divinity of its origin by pure and disinterested love to all with whom we come in contact. As our impure desires, our corrupt affections, and our selfish and worldly loves are ever apt to claim approval by the appearance of external goodness, O help us to remove these as they successively appear; yea, help us to apply the sword of the Spirit for their extermination; for these are the Canaanites which are our constant scourge, and must be cast out, if we would enjoy the land in peace, and possess the power of spiritually showing our gratitude by deeds of charity and usefulness to others. O Lord, we acknowledge that in every case we can do nothing without Thee. Help us, then, in all we attempt, first to address ourselves to Thee, and in all we have accomplished to remember the duty of offering all the praise to Thee; then will our offerings be as acceptable to Thee as they are constant and abundant. Taking heed to Thy commandments will be our peace-offering,—returning good for evil will be to offer fine flour,—doing alms, letting not our left hand know what our right hand doeth, will be to sacrifice praise to Thee,—and forsaking all unrighteousness will be our propitiation: and with all our offerings may we offer salt; the truth of Thy Word, as the savour of righteousness, shall bring us to the devout and grateful acknowledgment that it is Thou, O Lord, operating in us to will and to do, that alone has enabled us to perform any good, and unto Thee alone belongs the glory.—Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, who art the great Physician of our souls, we draw near Thy sacred person imploring Thee to grant us the true faith, that confidence in the mercy of Thine omnipotent power which may embolden us to supplicate Thine aid to heal our spiritual infirmities.