FIFTH WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Morning

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things, and in whom we live and move and have our being, accept our humble thanks for the mercies vouchsafed to us through another night. Grant that we may come to the throne of grace confessing our sins with contrite hearts, and pleading with earnest faith the merits of Jesus Christ. Thou who didst warn thy servant Lot to escape from the city of Sodom, lest he should be consumed with the wicked, hast also warned us to flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold on the hope set before us in the Gospel. Yet, O Lord, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. Altogether weak, unworthy, and full of sin, we have resisted the strivings of the Holy Spirit, and not hearkened to thy voice when Thou hast said, “Arise, and depart from your evil ways.” Have mercy upon us, O God; deal not with us according to our sins, but for Christ’s sake blot out all our transgressions. And if by thy grace we are resolved henceforth to live in Christ, and to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, may we not look back with desire upon the pleasures of sin, but may we exercise ourselves to have a conscience void of offence toward God and man. When dangers threaten us, and temptations press heavily upon us, be Thou our refuge and strength. Lift upon us the light of thy countenance, and cause us to rejoice in thy salvation. Keep us back from all presumptuous sins—from sins of irreverence and self-sufficiency, of deliberate purpose, and of unsettled habit. Give unto us the spirit of watchfulness and prayer; deliver us from the sin which doth easily beset us, and from the sin to which we think we are not prone; make us to understand the purity of thy law and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, and cleanse Thou us from secret faults.

In tender compassion regard thy servants; cause thy face to shine upon us, and lead us in the way everlasting. Have mercy, O Lord, upon all who are oppressed by calamity, affliction, or bereavement, giving them the consolations of thy Gospel, and grace to say, “Thy will be done.” Bless our Queen and all the members of the royal family; give prosperity to thy Church, and peace to all nations. Unite thy people in the fellowship of Jesus Christ, and in pity for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Be gracious to all our friends, loving them as Thou hast loved us, with an everlasting love. Preserve us this day from all evil, and grant that we may be followers of Thee as dear children; that throughout life we may be faithful, loving, and without guile; and to Thee we shall ascribe all praise and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.