EIGHTEENTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Evening

O THOU who art the God of all the families of the earth, and hast graciously promised to draw nigh unto those who approach Thee through thy dear Son, grant unto us some tokens of thy presence by filling our hearts with holy affections and heavenly desires. May none of us draw nigh unto Thee with our lips while our hearts are far from Thee; but may we all worship Thee in spirit and in truth. May we consider it our highest privilege to hold communion with Thee in prayer and supplication. Another day has now passed away, with all its mercies and its trials, its duties and its opportunities. Help us seriously to review its events, and to ask ourselves whether we have reason to hope that we are now fitter for heaven, as we are nearer to eternity. Oh, what cause have we to humble ourselves, and to pray, “Enter not into judgment with thy servants, O Lord.” Blot out all our sins, for we have done what we ought not to have done, and we have left undone what we ought to have done. We thank Thee for thy forbearance and long-suffering; and pray that, for the time to come, should we be spared, we may be more diligent and faithful in serving Thee. May we be enabled, by a hearty surrender of body, soul, and spirit, to give ourselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, as a reasonable service. As we abound in the means of grace, may we also abound in faith and love, in knowledge, and in all diligence. Give us, we pray Thee, a deeper and truer knowledge of Divine things. Lord Jesus, manifest Thyself unto us as Thou dost not unto the world. May we know Thee in all the sufficiency of thy grace and the perfectness of thy atonement. Strengthen us against all temptation, and deliver us from the power of our great enemy. Show us the evil of sin, and kindle in our hearts a holy watchfulness and zeal against it. Give us the blessed experience of thy love, and constrain us thereby to deny ourselves and follow Christ.

Enlarge our hearts towards our fellow-creatures, and may we seek the salvation of all mankind. Pity heathen idolaters, and take away the veil from the heart of the Jew. May we devise liberal things to the poor around us, and to the far distant heathen; and knowing the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, may He spread abroad the knowledge of his salvation, that so his ways may be known upon earth, his saving health among all nations.

And now, O Shepherd of Israel, take us all into thy protection through the night. Refresh us with needful rest; and may we arise in the morning rejoicing in thy love. We ask all for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.