Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/370

 We feel an inward love for Thee and for Thy kingdom, yet have our sinful propensities too frequently withdrawn our hearts from Thee; we have again and again been delivered from the infestations of evil, yet have we turned to our wickedness; thus has the law of evil in our members warred against the law of truth in our hearts. O forgive our past failings and evils, and keep us from again relapsing.

May this evening be the commencement of a more interior state of goodness, of a more determined endeavour to contend agsinst evil. O aid us in our endeavours to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this lower world, that we may hereafter enjoy that perfect rest and peace which remaincth for the peeple of God. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD our heavenly Father, we desire to thank Thee that Thou hast endowed us with liberty and rationality: Thou hast enabled us to look back on the past, and to look forward towards the future. Thus hast Thou placed us in & position whereby we can behold evil and good. We can reflect upon all the suffering which evil has entailed upon us, and looking to Thee for help, we can avoid sin for the future. We can contemplate, through Thy revealed Word of truth, all the glories of the eternal world and state, and by a life of obedience to Thy just and wise commands, we can so prepare ourselves, that when our day of labour here is ended we can enter upon the fruition of heavenly blessedness.

Lord, help usto make a proper use of these inestimable gifts. Knowing the great change which awaits us, and being enabled to anticipate the period when that change shall take place. O assist us to lead virtuous, upright, and holy lives, that when age comes upon us we may have a well grounded hope of eternal happiness.

But in all states, O Lord, let Thy wisdomvbe our guide; help us to walk before Thee in holiness and righteousness. Help us to make prudent provision for the day of darkness which must come upon us. So prepare us, that when the night of natural existence shall have passed, we may enter upon a morning of unclouded brightness and splendour in Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, we desire to thank Thee for the vicissitude of the seasons, as well as for the alternations of day and night. When the day is spent, and the night brings us again to our family altar, to offer our grateful adorations to Thee, the God of our life, we have passed & further portion of our natural progress, and are brought nearer that region of perfect blessedness in which there is no night, where there is one unclouded day, where there is the verdure of everlasting spring, and the fruits of an eternal summer, and the joys of an everlasting light and glory, where Thou, O Lord our Saviour, art dwelling in Thy holy temple, and in Thy divine humanity shedding around on the myriads of Thy happy creatures, life, joy, and blessedness.