FIFTEENTH WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Evening

O THOU who art the Fountain of light and life, we draw near to Thee to offer up our evening worship, in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ. We acknowledge thy great goodness to us this day. Thou hast continued to us the use of our faculties and powers, and hast supplied us with all needful good.

We confess before Thee, O Lord, that we are altogether unworthy of the least of these thy favours. We have been unmindful of thy goodness and thy love. We have been ungrateful for thy mercies. We have neglected thy Word. We have transgressed thy commands. We mourn before Thee that to-day we have added to the number of our sins and to the amount of our guilt. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, we beseech Thee. Grant us penitence of heart, and by thy good Spirit lead us to sincere repentance. For the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son, blot out all our sins, and assure us of thy forgiving love.

O Thou who art the Light of the world, dispel from our minds all darkness of error and unbelief. Be in us the light of life. Grant that in all our relationships to each other and the world we may henceforth live as children of light. Help us, by conduct as well as conversation, to hold forth the Word of life. Through us do Thou graciously shine forth unto others, that they, seeing our good works, may glorify Thee our Father in heaven.

Most merciful Father, we beseech Thee to pour out thy blessing upon all who are dear to us. May our friends who love Thee continually enjoy thy favour. If any are in perplexity and sorrow, may thy wisdom and grace guide and comfort them. May those who are aged be sustained in their declining years by the consolations of thy love. May they enjoy such constant and intimate communion with Thee that they may ever feel themselves ready to enter into thy heavenly kingdom. May those who are young grow up into Jesus Christ, and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Of thine infinite mercy bring to thy Son Jesus Christ any whom we love who may be still living in sin and at enmity against Thee, and grant that all our relations and friends may be thy children, and heirs with us of eternal glory.

We pray for the extension of the Redeemer’s kingdom. Let the nations which are now held in bondage by Satan be made free in Christ, and soon may the whole world see the salvation of God.

We now commit ourselves and each other unto thy care. Keep us from all danger through the night. Give us the rest we need, and grant, if it be thy will, that we may rise in the morning to serve Thee in newness of life, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.