Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/69

 true disciples, who constitute the city set upon a hill. We feel that nothing can prove the soul more truly affected towards Thee, than the desire to bring many souls into the same tranquil and happy state with ourselves. We acknowledge, O Lord, that Thou hast established the precept "none of us liveth to himself." Our duty is rather to sacrifice self to make others happy, than bury benefits that a multitude might profit by. Thus didst Thou instruct us. Thousands were fed by Thee, that we might learn to feed each other. The bread of heaven increases the more it is distributed, and so too does virtue. Aid us, therefore, we beseech Thee, in this important work, and grant unto us diligence in the execution of it. These things we ask for Thine own name sake, O Lord. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

GLORIFIED Redeemer. Thou art the Resurrection and the Life.

And while we anticipate the period of passing from death unto life. Thou. O Lord, art with us; Thou art the very Life of our souls. Our heaven in prospect is even enjoyed upon earth by the heaven we have within us. For if we possess Thee, we possess heaven, and though by reason of the cumbrous nature of the flesh we cannot fully enjoy Thee, yet we know when this earthly house of our tabernacle is dissolved we shall inhabit a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. O Lord, increase our faith.

What lessons of contidence does Thy Word read unto us! What monuments of faith are erected to cheer us on our way! In all our straits, trials, and difficulties, the obelisk of confidence rises up before us through the medium of some passage in Thy Word, some shining character who has proved the heights and depths of Thy power and goodness. Thrice has the natural state of science evidenced before us the power of faith,—in Abraham, in Jacob, and in Thee. O Lord, prior to Thy glorification. We cannot have more useful models. Lord, teach us to trust in Thee alone. Our faith is not yet sound. Lord, we believe; help Thou our unbelief! Strengthen us by Thy truth; Thy word is truth. Give unto us the faith which works by love. With Thee, profession availeth nothing, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Aid us this night, we beseech Thee, in perfect confidence to resign ourselves to Thy keeping. Pardon our evils. O Lord, and teach us to receive pardon with gratitude, and to expect it only in the same proportion as we forgive men their trespasses. Permit us to enjoy tranquil and refreshing sleep, and preserve our souls and bodies from evil. Into Thy hands we resign our spirits. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, Thou art a God of order, and hast instructed us in spiritual progressions,—"first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." In a state of reception, at twelve years