FIFTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Evening

O ALMIGHTY and gracious God, whose we are and whom we serve, we draw nigh to Thee this evening as a family, to adore and praise Thee. Very near and very gracious hast Thou been to us. Strength to labour, food to eat, a home to receive us, are the least of all thy gifts. Thou hast given us to have fellowship with Thyself and thy dear Son, and we know that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. How else can we draw near to Thee in this our evening prayer? Breakers of thy law, condemned by it and by conscience, “our sin ever before us,” what can we do? We can make no atonement, nor offer a ransom for our forfeited souls. But what we cannot do Thou hast done. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.”

Delivered from the curse—a redeemed family, enable us to serve Thee in all holy obedience. Constrained by the love of Christ, never let us think little of sin, never let us live unto ourselves. Put thy law into our inward parts, and write it in our hearts; and be our God, and let us be thy people.

We thank Thee for thy law, which is holy, just, and good. Make it, in thy Spirit’s hands, our guide, and our rule. Search us by it, show us ourselves, reprove us, humble us. Convince us of all sin. We ask Thee to spare no evil in us; we would be nearer and more like to Thee. O Jesus! let thy words ever abide in us: “Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

How much we owe Thee, O our God, for thy law; and to Thee, O our Saviour, that Thou hast taught us how broad, and spiritual, and searching it is. We do stand condemned by it for an impure look, an evil thought, and a hasty word. Keep us, O our God; keep our hearts, our lips, our ways; let us not offend Thee. Enable us to do what Thou hast commanded, and to cease to do what Thou hast forbidden. Teach us to love our enemies; to return good for evil; to remember others as Thou hast remembered us, that we may be the children of our Father which is in heaven.

O God, we confess this evening how much we have done that we ought not to have done. We pray Thee to forgive us. Remember what we are—poor sinners, so ready to fall, and quite unable to arise without Thee. Withhold not from us thy rich blessing, but grant us to lie down at peace with Thee, happy in thy forgiving love, confident in thy care, and looking forward with growing desire to the appearing of our God and Saviour.

Bless our dear relations and friends. Visit with thy salvation each heart and home around us; send thy Gospel to the heathen, and gather in thy ancient people, for Christ’s sake. Amen.