EIGHTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Morning

OUR heavenly Father, by whose care we have been preserved through another night, accept our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Thou art the God of salvation, and they who wait on Thee shall not be put to shame. Thou redeemest Israel out of all his troubles. In the midst of affliction and pain, thy people trust in Thee, and are upheld and comforted. Encompassed with enemies, they find Thee to be a wall of fire around them, their defence and glory. And we, encouraged by the experience of all ages, turn our eyes and hearts to Thee now, and ask that Thou wilt be our shield, our portion, and our joy. Show us thy ways, O Lord; teach us thy paths. We are very ignorant: do Thou enlighten us. We are very guilty: do Thou forgive us. We are very weak: do Thou strengthen us. We are very sinful: do Thou sanctify us. To whom shall we go but unto Thee? All thy ways are mercy and truth. The meek wilt Thou guide in judgment. The secret of thy presence and love is with them that fear Thee, and thy mercy endureth for ever.

We know not, O Lord, what this day may bring forth. But our times are in thy hands, and we desire to cast ourselves on thy care. Whatsoever duties devolve upon us, do Thou enable us to discharge them in thy fear, doing everything as unto the Lord. Should trouble come, do Thou enable us to bear it, and to submit to thy righteous will. Should temptation assail us, do Thou pluck our feet out of the net. May the thought that Thou seest us, be a stimulus to duty, a comfort under affliction, and a motive to flee from sin. And when the shades of evening return, may it be our privilege to record with grateful hearts that Thou hast not left nor forsaken us.

Bless, we pray Thee, all the families that call upon thy name; may there be light in their dwellings. May thy Church grow in knowledge, in purity, and in spiritual power. Have mercy on all mankind. Hasten the time, O Lord, when thy glory shall cover the earth, and there shall be nothing to hurt or to destroy in all thy holy mountain. Make us daily more and more thankful to Thee for our liberties and our Christian privileges: for our Bibles, our Sabbaths, and our sanctuaries. And grant that, nurtured as we are in thy knowledge, and fenced around by thy good providence, we may walk in the paths of righteousness, adorn the Gospel of God our Saviour, and grow in meetness for that holy state which sin shall never defile and sorrow never darken. Cleanse us, O Father, from all iniquity, and fill us with thy love.

We ask these blessings in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.