FOURTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

O LORD God, our Father, which art in heaven, it is good for us to draw near unto Thee. We call upon Thee, O Lord, of thy great mercy to fill our hearts with the wonderful words we have read from thy holy Gospel. Send down thy Holy Spirit, that we may understand what we read. If by thy grace we have been born again, may the Holy Ghost work in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure. May He be our Teacher, our Guide, and our Comforter, and bring all things to our remembrance, whatsoever Christ Jesus hath said unto us. O thou great Searcher of all hearts, if there be one among us this night who is not yet born again, one who has not believed in the Son of God, hear our prayer, that before he lays himself down to sleep he may have a new heart created within him. Take away the stony heart out of his flesh, and renew a right spirit within him, for thy mercy’s sake, O Lord.

Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to accept our thanks for the great goodness Thou hast shown to all of us throughout this day. We bless Thee for all the good things which the Lord our God hath given us. Thou crownest our life with loving-kindness and tender mercies. What manner of persons ought we to be! But, Lord, we confess with shame that we have sinned against Thee, and are not worthy this night that Thou shouldest come under our roof. Lord, have mercy upon us! Christ, have mercy upon us! Let the blood of the cross be found upon us, now, and in the hour of death, and at the day of judgment.

Hear us, O heavenly Father, we implore Thee, when we pray for all our absent relatives and friends. The Lord bless them and keep them. Make them thy sons and thy daughters. May they all be born again. May they all believe in Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. May our whole family be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting. Be merciful, O God, we humbly beseech Thee, to our neighbours, to our country, and to all who rule over us. More especially we pray for our Sovereign, and for all the members of the royal household. Let great grace be upon them all.

And now, O Lord, we commend ourselves to thy care during this night. Thou never slumberest, never sleepest. May we lay ourselves down in peace and sleep, for Thou, Lord, only makest us to dwell in safety. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. O Lord, hear us; O Lord, forgive; and supply all our need, for Jesus Christ’s sake, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.