Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/362



LORD of life and glory, who art high, inhabiting eternity, yet condescendest to dwell with the poor in spirit and humble in heart, let Thy gracious presence revive us this morning; lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us; cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

We render unto Thee, at this early hour of another day, our most humble and earnest thanks: the night has passed, and Thou hast protested us. The day opens before us; O continue Thy loving-kindness unto us. Thanks be to Thy mercy, which has enabled this family to meet in worship, and to pay adoration unto Thee, to whom it is alone due, O Lord God of truth. We desire to devote ourselves wholly to Thy service; we would be wholly Thine; we would be Thy servants; with gladness would we consecrate our talents and powers unto Thee, our God, in whom we will trust; our Redeemer, to whom all our love is due; our Saviour, who has rescued us from the powers of death and hell; our Regenerator, by whom alone we and all mankind can be saved.

O how can we requite Thee for all that Thou bast done for us? We have nothing to offer, nothing of our own, nothing worthy to lay at Thy feet!

"Give unto the Lord, O ye kingdoms of the earth, give unto the Lord glory and strength, bring an offering, and come unto His courts," is the language of Thy divine Word. But what offering, Lord, can be rendered acceptable unto Thee? We have but broken and contrite hearts, and these Thy Word declares Thou will not despise. These we offer: accept them, O Lord, for Thy name and mercy sake. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

NOTHER day has passed. Another step bringing us nearer to the threshold of eternity has been taken. O Lord, we cannot say this day has occupied us as it ought. We, with the greater portion of our fellow-creatures, have been intensely occupied in worldly duties. But O how little of our time has been devoted to Thee; how few the thoughts upon the state to which each day brings us nearer! In labouring for the bread which perisheth, how diligent we are! In toiling for a fortune, or that which we consider a fortune, how unceasing, how unwearied are our exertions! truly do we rise early and sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness. O that our industry was as untiring, our labour as indefatigable, our anxiety as intense, for the bread which endureth unto everlasting life as for the bread that perisheth! O that we would but seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness! O that we had but faith in the gracious promise that by so doing all needful things would be added unto us.

O Lord, we pray Thee help us to wean ourselves from the world; while it occupies our hands, still may our thoughts be heavenward. Help us to make Thy praise our chief business; and at the close of each day help us to institute a strict examination of our conduct, whether our labour has been conscientiously pursued, whether our brethren have been benefited, whether in all our doings we have kept in remembrance the