lives. May we have grace to exalt the Lord, and to magnify His Name together. We call upon Thee, our Heavenly Father, to renew those gracious acts which Thou hast hitherto day by day accomplished for us. We pray Thee to continue to us a due supply of bodily health, to enable us for our respective duties; and to furnish us with a sufficient provision of grace, that we may make Thy glory the ultimate end and object of all we do. We are helpless and dependent creatures; and we are conscious that whatever we enjoy flows from Thy undeserved bounty. We have been brought out of sleep and darkness, with fresh infirmities and fresh wants; and with the same felt inability to provide for ourselves. O let not the offences of our hearts and lives provoke Thee to withdraw Thy hand, and to hide Thyself from our supplications. If Thou regard us not, we shall consume as the smoke before the wind; if we are forsaken of Thee, we are forsaken indeed. Call to mind Thy mercies of old time to a stiff-necked and disobedient people; how Thou didst lead Israel like a flock, and fed them with bread from heaven. May we never reckon foolishly on Thy forbearance, nor remain insensible to Thy goodness, lest we be given over to the hardness and impenitence of our hearts, and Thy hot displeasure be kindled against us in a moment. Grant, we beseech Thee, that in our necessary intercourse with the world, we may never be unmindful of the purpose for which we were brought into it. Let nothing tempt us to be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Let neither the thoughtlessness of the foolish, nor the speculations of those who boast themselves wise, induce us so to regard the things of time, as to neglect the weightier things of eternity. Vouchsafe to keep all our members in subjection to Thy holy will: put a bridle upon our tongues, and keep the door of our lips. Search, O Lord, and examine the imaginations of our deceitful hearts, and root out all that is offensive in Thy sight. Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean; wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow. When we are disposed to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, show us, Lord, from whence we have fallen; open our eyes to the wretchedness of our condition, to the wounds which sin has made, -to the imperfections of our best and holiest actions. And remind us, in Thy mercy, that we belong not to ourselves, that we are bought with a price, and, therefore, that whatever we do must be done to the infinite glory of Him whose creatures we are. We would, gracious Father, pray for Thy universal Church, and beseech Thee to fill it with truth and grace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where it is superstitious, enlighten it; where it is in accordance with Thy Holy Word, strengthen and confirm it; where it is divided and torn asunder, heal the breaches of it, O Thou Holy One of Israel. Bless all who are called to any office in Thy Church, and grant that by their Scriptural doctrines and exemplary lives, they may turn many to righteousness, and advance the pure and undefiled religion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do Thou spread the knowledge of Thy Gospel over all the world, and may men everywhere bear testimony to it by doing good to and loving one another. Relieve and comfort all who are in affliction, deliver them out of all their troubles, and grant that they may seriously improve their adversity to the everlasting welfare of their souls. Bow down Thine ear, and hear us; have mercy upon us, and blot out all our numberless transgressions, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Our Father, etc. WEDNESDAY EVENING. HYMN. I hear a voice at dawn of day, I hear it at the evening tide, E'en at noon's busy hour I hear Blest words! Which tell of naught but joy, Well may they oft our thoughts employ,- Spirit of life and love divine, Subdue my heart and make it Thine, may dwell upon as mine, That "rest in heaven." THOU infinite, incomprehensible Jehovah, who art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever the heaven is Thy throne, and the earth is Thy footstool! Thou art here and everywhere present, searching our hearts, and trying our reins. Thou knowest the dulness and hardness, the vanity and deceitfulness, of our hearts; and Thou seest how difficult we find it to attain that spiritual-mindedness which is life and peace, and to keep our wayward minds in a fit state to attend upon Thy Divine Majesty. We were conceived in sin, and born in wickedness; and by our daily transgressions we have added sin to sin, and have made ourselves children of wrath still more by practice than we were by nature. Every day of our lives have we broken Thy laws, abused Thy mercies, tempted Thy patience, despised Thy goodness, and offended Thee more, even for Thy forbearance with us. Yea, we have too often made the very abundance of Thy grace an encouragement to continue in our sins. O Thou, whom we have so greatly provoked, enter not into judgment with Thy servants. Withdraw not Thy tender mercies from us, and spare us from the severity of Thy wrathful indignation. Leave us not to feel what an evil and bitter thing it is to sin against the Lord; and may we never experience the same in that place where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. We thank Thee that Thou hast revealed Thyself as a God of wonderful patience to bear with sinners; and a God of infinite goodness and mercy to forgive them when they are truly penitent. Thou hast said, that, if the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and return to the Lord, Thou wilt |