teach us to remember how short and uncertain are all our days on earth :-Or if there be any of us who are indolent and trifling, too much occupied with this present world, O raise our thoughts to those things which are above, that we may be fellow-citizens with Thy saints and with the household of God. May we all give diligence to make our calling and election sure— may we all repent, and forsake our sins, and believe în CHRIST-may we all die daily to the things of time, and rise to newness of life-may we all so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal. We ask every blessing in the name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c. SEVENTEENTH MORNING. O LORD ALMIGHTY, who art merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and of great goodness,-We approach Thee as the GOD of mercy, imploring Thee to hear these our prayers, and to pardon the multitude of our sins, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST. Day after day, we add to the number of our transgressions; every night, we have the sins of the preceding day to repent of; and every morning, we have reason to fear lest we should again yield to temptation, and return to our former iniquities. We pray, therefore, for Thy preserving and protecting grace. O LORD, put Thy Spirit into all our hearts; that we, being made pure and holy in our secret thoughts, may not fail to perform all that is good and acceptable in Thy sight. Dispose each of us on this day habitually to employ our several faculties in Thy service. While we pursue the various duties of our calling, may we have a single eye to Thy glory; and may we undertake no employment on which we cannot hope for Thy blessing. And give us such a portion of Thy grace, O LORD, we beseech Thee, that we may desire to do not only that which is in some degree beneficial; but that which is most excellent and most extensively useful. May no spirit of self-indulgence, no love of ease, no dread of opposition, no fear of shame, prevent our laying out our lives heartily in Thy service. Make us willing in all respects to deny ourselves, that we may live unto Thee. Teach us to enter into the spirit of those Christians and Apostles of old, who counted not their lives dear unto themselves, so that they might finish their course with joy and who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ; who living in unity and godly love, were seen striving together for the faith of the Gospel, in nothing terrified by their adversaries. Grant unto every member of this family Thy peace, and all Thy heavenly consolations: and make us to be of one heart and one mind, praising Thee for Thy mercies, praying to Thee for Thy grace, and uniting in the confession of our daily sins before Thee. Establish us in Thy faith, and fear, and love; and enlighten us, that we may understand Thy whole will concerning us. Where we mistake, have pity on our errors; and if we have wandered from the right way, do Thou in mercy bring us back. Lead us, O Lord, into the paths of righteousness and peace. And, if we have in any measure attained to the knowledge of Thy truth, may we bring our faith into active exercise. May we watch our hearts, and bridle our tongues, and govern our tempers. May we be ready to forgive, even as we hope to be forgiven. May May we be stedfast, and immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. We now commit ourselves to Thee for this day; help us to live according to these our prayers; and thus may we be prepared for Thy heavenly kingdom: we ask it for our SAVIOUR's sake. Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c. : EIGHTEENTH MORNING. MOST MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS GOD, we kneel down to thank Thee for Thy protection and care during the past night and we now lift up our voice unto Thee in the morning, imploring Thee this day to bless us; watching over us by Thy merciful providence; putting Thy Spirit within us, and delivering us from all evil. We are prone, O LORD, to fall into sin. How many incidents, every day, arise, which, if Thy grace be withheld from us, draw forth our natural corruptions! We, therefore, pray Thee, who knowest our frame, and foreseest the trials which are to come upon us, mercifully to prepare us for them; and enable us, amidst the various difficulties, temptations, and sorrows of life, to walk as the patient followers of CHRIST, and as the faithful servants of the Most High God. We bless Thee, O God, for all Thy goodness to us in times past:-for every trial which Thou hast lightened; for every difficulty and snare which Thou hast taken out of our way; and for every affliction which Thou hast either sanctified or removed. We thank Thee, that we are here met together, in so much peace and comfort, to offer up our praises to Thee, we thank Thee, that we are yet in the land of the living; having time given us for repentance, and having every opportunity of knowing Thy Holy Will. We thank Thee for all Thine unnumbered mercies; for our health and strength, and all our worldly goods; for our friends and kind benefactors; and we pray that we may, each of us in our stations, be instruments in Thy hand for the benefit of our fellow-creatures, and at the same time, faithful witnesses, in the world, of the truth and excellency of Thy Gospel. O LORD, grant that this day, we may walk in a manner worthy of our great obligations to Thee, and of our high and heavenly calling. May we remember both Thy spiritual and temporal mercies, and be occupied in acts of grateful obedience to Thee. And we pray Thee to impress upon us more deeply those truths of Thy Gospel, by which our hearts become prepared for every good and beneficent work. May we think of that Saviour who died on the cross for us; who endured all the extremities of misery that we might be saved, and is now at Thy right hand, making intercession for us. May we remember our Christian profession; living as believers m this crucified LORD, deeply affected with the remembrance of His death, and animated by His glorious resurrection. May we all die unto sin, and live unto righteousness; and, as He, who hath called us, is Holy, may we also be holy in all manner of conversation. We pray, O LORD, for Thy protection this day and may we faithfully follow Him whose name we bear; may we have hope in His mercy, and may we at length enter into His glory. Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c. |