Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/81

 together for good to them that fear Thee, and keep Thy commandments."

Lord, help us to remember with becoming gratitude the innumerable benefits showered down upon us in times past; and as Thou hast graciously again and again pardoned us, may we have compassion on our fellow-servants, and pardon them; cleanse us, we beseech Thee, from all evil, and suffer us not to harbour malice in our hearts. O take us under Thy divine protection this night, and permit us to awake to the joys of another Sabbath. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

ETERNAL and Omnipotent Jehovah, help us, we beseech Thee, to lift up our hearts with our hands to Thee in the heavens, from whence cometh our help. With heartful joy and gratitude we hail the returning day of rest, and pray that it may be a blessing to our souls,—a season of spiritual refreshment. Help us to consecrate every hour of it to Thy service. May our thoughts dwell upon Thy wisdom, and our heart's best affections be pervaded with Thy love; and in charity to all mankind may we enter upon its duties, and be brought through them with benefit to our souls.

We acknowledge Thee, O glorified Lord and Saviour, as our only Creator and continual Preserver. We are confirmed in this belief by the sacred pages of Thy Word, and by that inmost experience, that constant influx in our hearts, which teaches that there is a God, and that He is One. O preserve us in this acknowledgment, and at the same time open up before us a view of Thy divine attributes and perfections. Thou art high, and inhabitest eternity. Thon art infinite in wisdom, goodness, and power. Thou art in all space without space, and in all time without time. The very heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee, and yet Thou dwellest in the hearts of the humble to raise them, and to revive the spirits of the contrite ones. Thou art ever present with us; in every enlightened thought, in every virtuous deed, in every useful act. Thou art the life and soul! To Thee, therefore, we render praise and thanksgiving, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

TERNAL, ever blessed, and glorious Lord God and Saviour. Thou hast brought us to the conclusion of another Sabbath, and now with humble, penitent, and grateful hearts we desire to approach Thee, and to adore Thee for the instruction we have received. How divine the theme which has occupied our attention! We have been instructed in Thy Divinity, and in the Divinity of Thy humanity as well as in the great and glorious work of Redemption! In Thy great and tender love to mankind, "in Thy love and in Thy pity Thou didst redeem us, and art