ELEVENTH WEEK.—LORD’S DAY. — Evening

GRACIOUS Father, we thank Thee for thy fatherly care, for the renewal of religious opportunities, and for all thy goodness towards us on this thy day. We bless Thee for health of body, for soundness of mind, and for our daily food and raiment. We thank Thee for the enjoyments of home, for all our domestic blessings and comforts. We praise Thee for thy holy Word which we have been privileged to read and hear, for the ordinances of thy house, and for the service of the family altar, with which we would conclude the engagements of this day. May we rejoice amidst bereaving providences that our kindred and friends are continued to us; and that while we are surrounded by disease and death, we are alive to praise Thee. Enable us gratefully to acknowledge all thy benefits, and not to forget these tokens of thy daily kindness. We confess our secret faults, and presumptuous offences. We approach Thee, O Lord, not as righteous persons needing no repentance, but as those who have often vexed thy good Spirit by our transgressions against Thee. We humbly pray that our sins may be blotted out as a cloud, and our iniquities as a thick cloud. Take away from our hearts the love of evil, and may we experience the cleansing of the atoning blood of Jesus. May thy rich grace be bountifully supplied to us, that we may have wisdom and ability both to know and do thy will.

Make us anxious to redeem the time, and to employ our life for the benefit of our fellow-men, and for the manifestation of thy glory. May our faith in the Lord Jesus be constantly increased; and as in the days of his flesh he gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead, so may we experience the operations of his Holy Spirit, in being spiritually enlightened, and raised from the death of sin to newness of life.

We mourn the sinfulness which we daily witness in the world. How many are perishing for lack of knowledge, and lie under the power and dominion of Satan. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Raise up, O God, and send forth more labourers. Beat down by thy truth all superstition and error. Let the Gospel of the kingdom be preached with power and much assurance, so that many around us may be saved. Restore thine ancient Israel to favour. Prosper all missionary efforts both at home and abroad, that righteousness and peace may bless the world.

Mercifully bless our kindred and friends. Comfort the poor, the afflicted, and desolate. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. We ask all, O God, in the name and through the intercession of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.