Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/59

 the secret influences of the spirits of darkness. Our hearts, too easily drawn aside, and enticed by their own lusts, are open continually to the wiles of the adversary. O Lord, we trust in Thee! Help us to fight the good fight of faith. Be near us, we beseech Thee, for Thine own name and mercy sake, O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LMIGHTY and most merciful Lord, our heavenly Father, we draw near to Thee this morning under a deep sense of Thy manifold mercies; they are ever new towards us, and the evening and the morning alike proclaim Thee abundant in mercy, and plenteons in goodness and truth. The necessary duties of another week now devolve upon us, and we draw near to Thee with humility to seek that aid which shall enable us to perform them.

We pray Thee, O Lord, enable us in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content; and while we are daily the recipients of Thy bounty, O suffer us not to be envious of those who are endowed with greater possessions or with greater talents. We acknowledge, O Lord, with shame, that we have too often envied others; and instead of admiring the goodness or the talent they have shown, we have, like Cain, hated our brother. O teach us to reflect upon the fearful consequences in which envy too frequently results. We see it must be injurious; if not to the person who is the subject of it, at least to ourselves: we confess that it eats away all the tender risings of goodness within the soul, and gives to the eye the fearful malignity of malice. O impress us with the certainty of the truth uttered by a good man of old—"If there be an evil heart, there will be an evil eye; and if both, there will then be an evil hand."— O deliver us, we beseech Thee, from evil; help us, O Lord Jesus Christ, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this world. Lord, we trust in Thee; deliver us for Thy name and mercy sake. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

lmighty God, the day is far spent, the night is at hand, and we, in humble duty, present ourselves before Thee; to offer our united thanksgivings in Thy presence, for the blessings we have enjoyed.

Look down upon us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and, all unworthy as we are, let Thy presence be felt among us; that our minds may be composed to a sense of Thy goodness and condescension, and that a deep and all-pervading sense of gratitude may possess us. Be merciful unto us, O Lord, be merciful unto us! Unto Thee do we cry daily, our King and our God.

Thy goodness we have ever proved. Thou art plenteous in mercy to such as call upon Thee, to such as call upon Thee in truth. Unto Thee, O Lord, do we lift up our souls this evening. O God, our trust is in Thee, suffer us not to be ashamed. We long to tread Thy courts, and to enjoy more fully Thy divine presence. But, O Lord, while thus expressing