Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/48

 36 FIFTH WEEK.

THURSDAY EVENING.

'ie is a good thing. O Lord, te draw near unta Thee continually; and to be kept in remembrance of our nearness to the eternal world. Aa eseh declining day assembles us together to meditate upon Thy Word, and to acknowledge our manifold mercies from Thee, we are reminded that a further portion of our limited span of natural existence bas been narrowed, and we are brought nearer to eternity. The veil that divides us from the spiritual world is indeed opaque, and impervious to our vision. But it is nevertheless thin, and is even partly to be pierced by our spirits, if we love Thee and keep Thy commandments. For what can be hidden from the spiritual perception of him who was dead to sin,—but now is alive unto God even unto Christ Jesus our Lord?

© how often might we enjoy conversation with Thee and with the blessed inhabitants of Thy kingdom, did we but " pray without ceasing."* And even now. O Lord, dim as are our perceptions, glimpses of Thy goodness, truth, and mercy pass before us. We see Thy hand exercised in its power for our deliverance; Thine ear is open to our cry; Thine eye watches over us, ever observant that our spiritual adversaries gain no advantage aver us. The gracious accents of Thy divine voice fall as the "dew of Hermon" upon our souls. Even to old age Thou art with us, even to hoary hairs Thou wilt carry us. Thon wilt never forsake us.

Lord, we thank Thee for these assurances of Thy love.

O let Thy holy angels watch over us this night and guard us from temptation. Into Thy hands we resign our spirits as we retire to rest. Be with us. O Lord, we beseech Thee, for in Thee alone do we trast. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

}}di|O}} THOU, whose presence is with the humble, who dwellest with the poor in spirit, we approach Thee this morning in humble prayer and supplication. Unto Thee are we invited to come in the gracious words—"ask, and ye shall receive." Thou desirest not our prayers for Thine own sake, nor because Thou art unacquainted with our wants: but that we may show that our dependance is upon Thee, and if we would receive good at Thy hands, it becomes doubly blessed as we acknowledge its divine source. And we are also surrounded by the sphere of Thy goodness, for Thou wilt deign to meet us, and be propitious, and commune with us from Thy mercy-seat. We thank Thee, O most merciful Father, for this encouragement to approach the throne of Thy love. Our voices are lifted up unto Thee O Lord, and Thy face will we seek. Through the silent watches of the night, when we have been wrapped in repose and forgetfulness; when our condition has been most helpless and we easily could have become the prey of our spiritual enemies, Thine eye has watched over us. Thine arm has sustained us, and the morning bears testimony to the renewal of Thy mercy.

O may the thousands now in prayer before Thee, unite in one general thanksgiving; "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Biess the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name." Amen.

Our Father, etc.