EIGHTEENTH WEEK.—FRIDAY. — Morning

O LORD our God, we humbly and gratefully acknowledge Thee as the only true and living God. We mournfully confess the proneness of our hearts to depart from Thee. Other lords have had dominion over us. We have yielded up the empire of our souls to thy rivals, and thus dishonoured Thee. Graciously interpose on our behalf. For the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son, overthrow every usurper within us, and enthrone Thyself in our hearts. Destroy all idolatrous love for the creature, and cause our supreme affections evermore to go out after Thee.

Throughout this day be Thou our Guide and God. We are thine, O Lord, redeemed with precious blood: claim us fully. We are thy servants; may we serve Thee without weariness. We are thy children; may we love and honour Thee with constancy. In the midst of temptations be Thou round about us to shield us. Deprived of Thee, we are weaker than a bruised reed. On Thee, our Divine Helper, we therefore cast ourselves. Be gracious unto us and bless us. Fulfil in our experience the promises in which Thou hast caused us to hope. Let us realise a greater nearness to Thee this day than ever. And in order to this, may our trust in Thee be full, constant, and unwavering.

We adore Thee, O Lord, as the Father of all our mercies. We praise Thee for the instructions and admonitions of thy holy Word. By signal examples of thy sore displeasure on thine ancient people, Thou hast warned us against departing from Thee. May we take heed to the voice of thy judgments, and learn obedience. May we so obey thy voice, that we may be found among those who shall be counted worthy to live and reign with Thee for ever. We render Thee devout thanksgiving for the mercies and protection of another night, and for the bounties which thy hand has spread before us on the return of another morning. Let the gratitude we express be engraven on our hearts and developed in our lives.

We pray Thee, O Lord, to be very gracious to our relatives and friends absent from us. May they all truly know Thee, that they may truly love Thee. May thy Church universal be blessed, not only with peace, but also with prosperity. May thy people everywhere possess a holy ambition to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things, and to shed the light of a consistent piety on all around. May the coming of thy kingdom be thus hastened; and may the Saviour, whose right it is to reign, speedily claim for Himself the world He has redeemed. Hear us, O Lord, in these our prayers, we most humbly beseech Thee, for the alone sake of Jesus Christ, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.