First Week. Wednesday. Morning

GLORIOUS art Thou, O God, and adored for ever and ever be thy name. Thy ways are not as our ways, nor thy thoughts as our thoughts. As we now recall thy goodness, deepen in us, O Lord, a feeling of thankfulness and praise. We confess with shame and sorrow we have not loved Thee and lived for Thee as we ought. We have received thy gifts, and too often have forgotten the Giver. Convince us of our sin, and cleanse us from its stain.

Lord, thou hast given us the promise of rest and peace in Jesus. Increase our faith, lest through unbelief we come short of it and perish. Give us peace of conscience now by the assurance of forgiveness from all sin, and of our adoption into thy family. Amid all the buffetings of temptation, and the anxieties and cares of life, enable us to stay our souls on Thee, and thus to be kept in perfect peace. Give us rest with thyself hereafter, in that better land where neither sin nor temptation can beset us. Forbid it, Lord, in thy mercy, that we should fail of a place in thy kingdom. We fear, not because we doubt thy truth or despair of thy love: we fear for ourselves. We fear lest at any time our hearts should become hard and insensible through the deceitfulness of sin or the engrossments and pleasures of the world. Thou knowest how weak is our faith, and how inconstant our best and holiest resolutions. Give us, O Lord God, constancy of purpose, and the grace of unfailing perseverance, that we may hold fast our confidence even to the end. Show us the exceeding sinfulness of unbelief, and preserve us from ever dishonouring Thee and imperilling our own souls by doubting thy truth. Especially, O Lord, keep us mindful that this earth is not our rest. Teach us to look forward with an earnest and lively hope to the coming of the Lord, and our own entrance into the rest which remaineth for his people.

We pray for all with whom Thou hast united us in the ties of relationship and affection. We pray for all men: for the ungodly at home, and the heathen abroad. Enlighten them by thy truth: bring them humble and penitent to the feet of Jesus. Take the veil from the eyes of the Jew: reveal to him Christ his Redeemer and King. We pray for the Church of Christ, that every member thereof may truly and godly serve Thee. We pray for all in authority: overrule all that they do for the enlargement of the Redeemer’s kingdom, and the increase of godliness in the land.

Lord, accept Thou our unworthy services. Receive us for Jesus’ sake. To him, our exalted Saviour, with Thee, O Father, and Thee, Holy Ghost, be honour and praise for evermore. Amen.