Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/354

 How secure and careless have we often been; how regardless of the temptations which on all sides have besieged our hearts and affections! How frequently has our heedlessness brought us into trouble and suffering, and even greatly endangered our spiritual as well as our bodily existence! Who has averted the evil? Who has turned aside the peril? Who has shielded us from the arrow that flieth by day, or the pestilence walking in darkness? It is Thou, O Lord; the eye of Thy watchfulness has preserved us, and we can in truth declare that it was of the Lord's mercy we were not consumed.

Lord, we pray Thee, assist us in the duty of watchfulness! O prevent us from tempting Thy providence; from supposing that all that is needful will be accomplished for us if we do but believe in Thy goodness. It is indeed Thy goodness and mercy which hath preserved us hitherto, and we know that Thy goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life; but Thy divine precept has commanded us to watch as well as pray, to exercise vigilance, that our spiritual adversaries may not bring us into captivity. We pray Thee be near to us this day, for Thy name and mercy sake. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LMIGHTY and most merciful God, with the return of the evening, behold Thy servants, the members of this family, again in Thy presence! Look upon us, O Lord, with the eye of Thy divine compassion. Amidst the multitude of Thy benefits, which are new every day, we cannot say we deserve Thy bounty; our conduct has not been such as even to evince gratitude or a due sense of Thy goodness. O how true do we find Thy divine precept: "Thy sun shines on the evil and on the good; Thy rain descends upon the just and upon the unjust."

Wo know that we are placed here as probationers, and that our final destination, after the few days of our pilgrimage here are ended, is in an eternal world and state; and yet, though this truth is so well known by all, we are constrained to confess how seldom it seriously occupies our reflection. Each night calls us before Thee, O Lord. Each evening's repose is as a symbol of the final sleep of the body which shall speedily return to the dust from whence it was taken; and yet how thoughtlessly we often retire to rest, as though we were certain of again pursuing the employments of this lower state. O Lord, "so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." At the close of each day, when we come into Thy immediate presence, help us to enter on the important but necessary duty of self scrutiny. Search us, O God, and try us, and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD our God, Thou art great; we will exalt Thee, we will praise Thy name for ever and ever. Thou hast renewed our existence! Thou hast safely brought us through the dangers and the darkness of the past night, and once again the cheerful light has dawned upon us, and we