EIGHTEENTH WEEK.—LORD’S DAY. — Evening

O LORD God of the Sabbath, who dost hear in heaven, thy dwelling place, the prayers and praises of thy people upon earth, accept, for thy dear Son’s sake, the tribute of our unworthy but most hearty and sincere thanksgivings. What are we that Thou shouldest be so mindful of us, and that Thou shouldest surround us with thy loving-kindness and tender mercy? We confess that this day we have not served Thee as we ought to have done. We have been too often cold in heart, formal in worship, and worldly in affection. If Thou hadst dealt with us according to our sins, Thou wouldest long since have cut us off in the midst of our transgressions. But there is mercy with Thee, and therefore will we fear Thee.

We pray Thee that this day may not close without leaving a blessing behind it, even grace and peace from Thee, our God. Enable us to retain in our hearts some message of thy truth, some lesson of thy loving wisdom, that during the ensuing week it may be a light unto our feet and a lantern unto our paths. Draw us, we beseech Thee, by thy constraining love, closer unto Thee, and to thy Son Jesus Christ that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name.

We entreat Thee, O gracious Lord God, on behalf of all who have heard thy Word this day. As Thou didst exalt thy Son with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven, so draw the hearts of all men unto Him that they may find pardon and peace through his most precious blood. Grant that the Word preached this day may be to very many souls an incorruptible seed, springing up, through thy Spirit, unto everlasting life. Especially we would beseech Thee on behalf of those who are hearers of thy Word and not doers of it; who have a name to live, but yet are dead before Thee; who have either been indifferent to the salvation of their souls, or who, seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness that is of faith. Open Thou the blind eyes, that they may see wondrous things out of thy law.

We would likewise pray for those who have not heard thy Gospel. Oh, speak the word, that great may be the company of the preachers, who, both in our own and other lands, may preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. May very many sinners be translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of thy dear Son.

Finally, Lord, we beseech Thee to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom, that all may know Thee, even from the least unto the greatest. We ask all through the prevailing merits and intercession of thy dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.