FOURTEENTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Morning

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, at the opening of the day we come to pay our grateful homage to Thee. Thou art the God of all peoples upon the earth, but specially of those who believe and obey Thee. We acknowledge Thee to be our God, our Redeemer and Saviour.

We humbly beseech Thee of thy great mercy to write upon our hearts the lessons of thy holy Word we have now read. Fill us with a deep sense of thy love to thine own people, and of thy power to deliver and to defend them from all foes and all dangers. Impress us deeply with a sense of thy long-suffering and forbearance towards those who rebel against Thee, and of thy justice in punishing those who trifle with thy mercy. Deliver us, we beseech Thee, from the sins which brought upon Pharaoh and his people thy displeasure and thy wrath. Grant us the grace we need that we may be sincere in all our duties towards Thee and our fellow-men. May our repentance be deep and earnest, our faith be simple, and our love to Thee be true. Help us in the discharge of our duties towards thy people, that we may speak and act with prudence and with kindness, remembering, on all occasions, that they are thine, and that what is done to them is really done to Thee. Make us jealous for the honour, the happiness, and the usefulness of thy people. In our conduct towards the world, help us to be just and truthful. If we have enemies, detractors, or slanderers, oh, help us to bear with them! Give us grace to love them; and, by our meekness, humility, and consistency, may we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in thy sight; and so let our light shine before men, that they may glorify Thee, who alone worketh in us to will and to do.

For our relations and friends we ask that they all may live in thy faith, fear, and love, and ever enjoy thy guidance and favour. We pray for thy blessing upon the neighbourhood in which we live. May all who are around us be made partakers of thy salvation. We pray for our Queen and our country. We beseech Thee to pity and provide for the poor. Have mercy upon all who are afflicted and distressed. Carry the Gospel to our prisons, and deliver all who are in captivity to Satan. Oh, our Father, we pray that thy kingdom may come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Accept, O Lord, our thanksgivings for thy watchful care over us through the night, for the health and comfort we now enjoy, and for the many mercies Thou hast given us. We implore thy guidance and help throughout this day. Keep us in the hour of temptation, and in all things help us to glorify Thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.