Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/352

 necessary trial, a certain degree of purification has been effected, and by it we are enabled to say, One moment in heaven will make amends for all. And when the trying scene of all shall come, which must come, O how delightful will it be to be enabled to say, The goodness and mercy of the Lord will enable us to surmount even this last trial, the separation of the soul from the body; and while the one returns to the dust, the other shall ascend to Him who gave it.

Lord, we desire to offer our united thanksgivings for these heavenly consolations. Amidst the changes, the decline, the transitoriness of this sublunary scene, under trials and vicissitudes the most grievous, the prospect which Thy boundless love opens before us cheers our souls and elevates our affections to a world where all vicissitudes cease. To this world we hasten: O guide us, merciful Father, to its confines, and admit us, when bodily life concludes, to mingle in the society of those to whom death can never approach. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

HE day of rest is nearly gone." Blessed be Thy name, O Lord, for the mercies and benefits we have enjoyed. We have united with Thy people in prayer and praise. The living truth of Thy Word has flowed from the lips of Thy servant, our minister; his exhortations have called us to repentance; he has reminded us of the duty we owe to Thee; he has summed up Thy benefits and blessings, bestowed upon us during the past week; he has called our attention to the uncertainty of natural existence, and the absolute certainty of our eternal state; he has inquired of us whether we have prepared ourselves for eternity; and by the enumeration of many evils in which we have indulged, he has convicted us of sin, and shown that unless we repent we must inevitably perish. O help us to profit by all we have heard and read. We would not cloak our sins before Thee, but confess that we are altogether unworthy; that there in none that doeth righteousness, no, not one. We mourn over our past follies, and we pray Thee to grant us Thy grace that we may resist evil for the future.

Blessed bo Thy holy name, O Lord, for this day's enjoyments; for though our evils have cast a shade upon us, the light of Thy countenance has still shone upon us, yea, we have heard Thee speaking peace and pardon to our souls! How gracions have been Thy words, "I am He that blotteth out your transgressions for my own name aake, and will remember your sins no more." Amen.

Our Father, etc.

DORABLE Lord and Saviour, we Thy unworthy servants approach Thee at the commencement of another day and of another week of labour. We adore Thee for the blessings of the past night, and for the new vigour with which Thou hast endowed us, and by which we are enabled to enter upon our duties with a consciousness of renewed strength; but we devoutly acknowledge that all our sufficieney is of Thee.