Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/397

 PRAYERS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS, 885

Thou didsi come to set us freo; we were enemics, and Thou didst ¢ome to reconcila us to God; we were dead in trespasses and sing, and Thou didst come that we might have life. Give anto us to see in Thee, who wast the child born, and the Son given, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, that in Theo only have we: redamption, sven the forgiveness of sins. And while commemorating the greatness of Thy compassion, as revealed in Thy incarnation, and in Thy dwelling among men, help us truly to believe in Thee, to love Thee with all our hearts, and in all our words and deeds to glorify Thy holy name. Amen.

Our Father, etc.,

LMIGHTY God and Saviour, we approach Thee as the Lord God Omnipotent; as the Being who, in Thy love and pity, didst visit us and redeem us, and hast become our Saviour. When we were dead in trespasses and sin; when all Thy righteous commands were set at nought by us; when our every thought appeared to be how best we might avoid Thy presence, and run our own evil course unmolested unto perdition: then, when most opposed to Thee, Thy love sought us out; and that we might be more effectually rescued from the deep degradation into which our evils had plunged us, Thou didst lay aside Thy glory, didst envelope it in a body of flesh and blood, didst condescend to be as one of the feeblest of Thy creatures, and with the exception of actual evil, didst become in all respects like unto us. As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Thou didst dwell among us; but appearing as a servant, never was the divine omnipotence absent, or the divine compassion suspended. By Thy omnipotence, Thou didst overcome the dread phalanx of man's spiritual enemies. In Thee was fulfilled the sacred prophecy, "Thou didst put on righteousness as a breast-plate, and a helmet of salvation upon Thy head; Thou didst put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and wast clad with zeal as a cloak," and thus 'Thine own arm brought salvation unto Thee," and Thou hast redeemed us unto Thyself."

We glorify Thee, O Lord, for this wondrous display of omnipotent power, and we would join in the shout of angelic triumph, "Alleluia! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth."

But Thy divine omnipotence is equalled by Thy divine compassion. We were held in captivity by our spiritual enemies, and Thou wast manifested to destroy the works of the devil. We were sick unto death, yea, dead in trespasses and sin, and Thy coming raised us to newness of life. We were blind to the truths of Thy Word, and Thon didst give us sight. The palsy of sin had overtaken us; the leprosy of the soul had fast hold of us, and most loathsome and vile had we become, but stiil Thy compassions failed not! still the eye of Thy love was bent upon us! and when there was none to help. Thou didst visit and redeem us.

We glorify Thy high and holy name. With humble gretitude we acknowledge in Thee the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; and now we worship Thee as God in Christ, reconciling the

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