Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

put our cheerful trust in Thee, and commit all our ways unto Thee, and be found in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

We desire to acknowledge Thy various mercies to us. We bless Thee, that Thou coverest our table with plenty, that Thou makest us to abound with the good things of this life, and causest us to go out and come in, in safety. O LORD, help us to use, with moderation, the gifts which Thou bestowest; and to maintain, while we enjoy them, continual thankfulness of heart.

Especially, we bless Thee for Thy mercies in JESUS CHRIST; by whom we obtain pardon of sin, and the blessed hope of eternal life. We beseech Thee, for His sake, to give us a right understanding in all things; that we may know how to walk so as to please Thee, and how to avoid all that is hateful in Thy sight. Guide us in all difficulties; and strengthen us under all temptations; and supply Thou our spiritual, as well as temporal, wants, for Thy great mercy's sake in JEsus CHRIST OUR LORD.

Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

SEVENTH MORNING.

O LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of another day, we pray Thee to conduct us through the same in peace; and to enable us so to pass all the time of our pilgrimage on earth, that, when we go hence, we may be prepared to meet Thee in Thy heavenly kingdom. When we think of this life and its various temptations, when we look abroad, and behold the wickedness of the world, and then contemplate also the weakness and corruption of our nature, we might well sink through fear of the difficulties with which we have to struggle, and tremble lest we should fall under the power of our manifold temptations. But we bless Thee, O LORD, for that abundant grace which is treasured up for us in JESUS CHRIST. We thank Thee for all the motives, promises, and encouragements, afforded us in Thy gospel; and we would daily rejoice in it as the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth. We bless Thee, that Thy Son hath died a sacrifice for sin; and that the Spirit of Christ is sent to sanctify us. We, therefore, now pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit; that we may go forth to our daily occupations and trials, having the Lord for our righteousness and our strength.

Prepare us, we beseech Thee, for every duty of this day; arm us for every trial which may come upon us. Do thou sanctify us, O LORD, in body, soul, and spirit. May we now seriously devote ourselves to Thee; and may we be found walking in Thy fear all the day long;

fulfilling, each of us, our proper work with Christian humility and simplicity. Deliver us from a careless and unbelieving life; from a life of idleness and unprofitableness, as well as of wickedness and vice. Save us from the sins which, in times past, may have most easily beset us; and from those temptations to which we may now, through our age and circumstances, be most exposed. May our hearts be occupied with love to Thee; and may all our faculties be so employed in *doing good, that no place may be given for those temptations by which those who know not the gospel of their salvation are continually overcome --And may Thy grace increase in us; and our corruptions be weakened, day by day at the same time, forgetting the things which are behind, and looking forward to those things which are before, may we be pressing forward towards the mark of the prize of our high calling in CHRIST JESUS.

We, also, beseech Thee to deliver us from every prejudice and error by which we may be in danger of being deceived. Save us from a blinded conscience, and a false and misguided zeal. Suffer not, that, through our fault, the way of truth should ever be evilspoken of; and make us fearful lest we hinder the gospel of CHRIST.

O LORD, help us also this day to remember, how short and uncertain is the time of our sojourning here on earth; so that, whatsoever our hands find to do, we may do it with all our might. May we fulfil, zealously, the duties of our respective stations; and, at the same time, may we maintain a spiritual and heavenly mind. May we often think of that blessed region where CHRIST

itteth at the right hand of GoD; and, whether we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we do, may we do all to Thy glory.

We offer up these our humble and imperfect prayers, in the name of JESUS CHRIST, our LORD.

Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

EIGHTH MORNING.

O LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY, we pray Thee, now to deliver us from all wandering thoughts. Help us to remember in whose presence we are; and let us worship Thee in spirit and in truth.

O LORD, our Heavenly Father, who art the preserver of our lives and the giver of all the good things which we enjoy, we thank Thee for the mercies of the past night. We bless Thy name, that we are here met together in so much health and comfort: and that we have now the prospect of passing another day in the enjoyment of the bounties of Thy providence; while we have also set before us the blessed hope of everlasting life. We beseech Thee to give us this day grace to serve Thee in our several stations, and to walk according to the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. Save us from the temptations of the day; strengthen us for the fulfilment of our duties; direct us in all our lifficulties; and

comfort us under any trouble or adversity, into which we may this day come; and grant, that, when we lie down at night, we may be able to look back on the hours which shall have passed, with an humble confidence that Thou acceptest our services, and wilt pardon our infirmities, for JESUS CHRIST's sake.

We beseech Thee to deliver us from all evil passions, from pride and envy, from hatred and ill-will, from censoriousness and uncharitableness; and, especially, from the want of Christian kindness towards those who dwell with us in the same family, and worship Thee, together, as partakers of the same faith. Preserve us, also, from those secret transgressions which Thine eye alone can discern in us. Deliver each of us from the sins which most easily beset us. O LORD, grant that Thy good Spirit may this day abide within us; and dispose us to every good work.

And help us also to call often to remembrance the great love of our LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST; who came down from heaven to die for us, that we, being delivered from the dread of Thy wrath, and rejoicing in the hope of Thy mercy, might serve Thee, day by day, in newness of life. O LORD, strengthen our faith in Him who hath suffered on the cross for us. Teach us to walk according to His example. May we, like Him, be kind and compassionate, forbearing and orgiving, holy and harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners.

And bless us, not this day only, but to the end of our lives. We pray, that, so long as we remain in this world of trial, Thou wouldst strengthen us by Thy Holy

« ForrigeFortsæt »