Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/94



LORD Jesus Christ, Thou hast encouraged us in Thy Word, by assuring us that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in His way; though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young and now am old, yet have I never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

O gracious words for the afflicted and tempest-tossed; how full of divine consolation! How encouraging to the soul, how comforting in the hour of the bitterest suffering, and associated as they will be with the further encouragement of "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be thou not dismayed, for I am thy God!" All the necessary trials through which we must pass can be borne under the surest evidence, that the Lord is ever with us, and by Him shall we prevail.

O Lord Jesus Christ, as our days become shorter in this world, and the glory of the future gradually unfolds itself before us, may we be brought nearer and nearer unto Thee, may our love become more ardent, our worship more animated, and our charity more active and fervent. What though we can bestow nothing of worldly wealth upon others, the charity of the spiritual man lies in the gifts of the soul. How many beautiful truths can we quietly inseminate into the minds of others. How much of the flame of heavenly love can we enkindle, by the gentle and unobtrusive benevolence which is always kind and longsuffering; by looking constantly unto Thee for aid, and preserving a vigilant watchfulness over our own states; how much good may be accomplished by example. Lord, let these be our aims; these charities our chief delight, and while engaged in them, preserve us, we beseech Thee, from Phariseeism and spiritual pride, and may we ever render unto Thee all the honour and all the praise for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, Thou hast enjoined us to love one another as Thou hast loved us. This is the new commandment which Thou hast given us. O may the remembrance of these divine and encouraging words teach us not to be weary in well-doing. May we be satisfied that our dependence on Thy providence, O Lord, will remove every fear, silence every murmur, and chase away doubt and despondency from our minds, until the peace of God which passeth all understanding keepeth the heart and mind. O may we prize above all things the spirit and the life of Thy holy Word, and it will be a sure sign unto us that we love Thy Word, if we possess our souls in patience under all trials, and when whatsoever may happen unto us tranquillity reigns within. It is inward peace alone that can sustain us. It is communion with Thee, O glorified Lord, that can still the tempest that rages without in the natural man. And when Thou, O Lord, art in the inmost temple of our regenerated affections and thoughts, when our inmost desires are but to do good and to submit to Thy will, when our understandings wait for guidance and look to Thee for counsel, and bow to all Thy divine admonitions with meek reverence, then will the earth of our natural minds keep silence