EIGHTH WEEK.—WEDNESDAY. — Morning

MERCIFUL Father, who hast brought us in safety to this day, accept, we beseech Thee, our grateful thanks for thy protecting goodness. Awaken our hearts to lively gratitude for thy favours; forgive all our transgressions, and fill us with thy Spirit of love and life, that we may faithfully serve Thee.

Preserve us, gracious God, this day, from all the power of evil men whom we may be called to meet in the business and intercourse of life. Let them not be suffered to do us injury, nor to lead us away from Thee; and suffer us not in any measure to forget Thee, our protector and friend. We are weak and sinful creatures, and ever need thy support and guidance. Oh, preserve us from the expression or indulgence of any unholy temper or passion. When wrongfully accused, may we answer with meekness, and may our conduct be such, that with well-doing, we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. May we be faithful in all our relations with our fellow-men, and above all, ever faithful to Thee, feeling the greatness of thy claims upon us, and remembering continually thy redeeming love in the gift of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

O thou Father of all the families of the whole earth, bless our family. May we who are at its head live for Thee. May our example, in word, in temper, and in all our conduct, be influential for good. [May our children grow up in thy fear and love to be the servants of God, a blessing to their parents, and a benefit to their generation. May their hearts be truly affected by thy grace, that they may love that Saviour who has first loved them.] Help us, O God, ever to remember our accountability to Thee for the discharge of all our duties to each other, and may we in the spirit of our household and in its peace and harmony, “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” May none of us permit any vain idol to pollute and injure our own souls and the souls of others, and bring upon us thy dread anger; but may we ever live as seeing Him who is invisible.

We would intercede with Thee, O God, on behalf of those who are endeared to us by ties of kindred or friendship; may they be thy friends. Bless all who are afflicted, and sanctify thy corrections to their spiritual profit, and so keep us that when we come to the close of this day we may have reasons for fresh gratitude in the abundant blessings of thy grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, we ascribe all power, and dominion, and praise, now, and for evermore. Amen.