FIFTEENTH WEEK.—WEDNESDAY. — Evening

O THOU who art the light, and with whom is no darkness at all, we beseech Thee to enlighten our minds and help us to understand thy holy Word. We praise Thee for the words of grace and truth which dropped from the lips of thy well-beloved Son. May we delight to sit at his feet and learn of Him. May we be meek and lowly in heart, ready to receive whatever truth He is pleased to teach us, and ever willing to follow Him in all things.

Oh, make us his disciples indeed. May our actions proclaim more loudly than our words that we belong to Him; and may our whole lives be an exemplification of the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel. Deliver us, O Lord, from the slavery of sin, and from the bondage of our natural corruption. Let not the wicked one be allowed to lead us captive at his will. Give us grace to resist him whenever he may tempt us. May we never give the least encouragement to his suggestions, nor go unnecessarily into the way of temptation. O Jesus, who hast Thyself been tempted, succour us; succour us, we pray Thee, and plead for us, that our faith fail not.

We give Thee thanks, O most gracious God, that Thou dost permit us to call Thee our Father. Wilt Thou mercifully own us as thy sons and daughters, and give to us all the blessings of thine adopting love? May the truth as it is in Jesus make us free, that we may love Thee with all our hearts, and serve Thee with all our strength.

We desire to praise Thee, O Thou who fixest the bounds of our habitation, for our family mercies and for our national privileges. Ever would we thank Thee for the piety of our ancestors, and for all the influences that have affected for good our character and our life. Help us to profit by the instructions of the living and the dead; help us to follow their example so far as they followed Christ; but may we never trust to their piety or their prayers. Oh, save us, our God, we beseech Thee, save us from ever thinking that because we have had Abraham, or any one else, as our father, we are at liberty to do the works of the wicked one; but may we rather feel that our natural and family connections lay us under increased obligations to love, and obey, and serve Thee.

Accept our thanks for the multiplied mercies of this day. Pardon, we beseech Thee, our imperfections, neglects, and sins. Sprinkle our hearts afresh to-night with the blood of the everlasting covenant. Protect us through the hours of darkness, and refresh us by sleep for the duties of to-morrow. Grant us these and all needful blessings, for Christ’s sake. Amen.