FOURTH WEEK.—SATURDAY. — Evening

O LORD, our Heavenly Father, in approaching Thee at this time, we desire humbly to acknowledge our unworthiness, and to confess our sin: yet we bless Thee that Thou hast made us welcome through Jesus Christ thine only Son. Thou hast mercifully preserved us during another day, and we bow before Thee in thankfulness for all thy goodness to us. We lament, O Lord, that not a day passes over us which is not marked by imperfections and shortcomings. We have sinned against Thee this day; but we rejoice that we have an advocate with Thee the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous, whose blood can wash away all our sin. We thank Thee, O God, for the record which Thou hast given us of all that Jesus did, and taught, and suffered during his sojourn among men; and we pray that by the teaching of thy Spirit every part of his earthly history may be full of holy instruction and influence to us. May we yield to him the homage, love, and worship which are his due. May none of us be like those in his own country who refused to honour him; but may we all submit to his authority, to be ruled by his love, and saved by his grace. To whom can we go, as creatures morally diseased, but to Him who is the Physician of souls? To whom, O Lord, can we look, as creatures by nature spiritually dead, but to Him who came to give life to perishing men? Help us, therefore, to bring our emptiness to his fulness, and our souls, guilty and polluted as they are, to his atoning sacrifice and healing grace, that we may live anew in him. And grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that our faith may be simple and strong: that in believing we may rest on the Saviour’s word, and through faith rise to liberty, and joy, and hope. Thus may we all accept thy mercy in Christ, realise thy presence, and seek day by day to live to thy glory, so as to find the blessedness of those who are at peace with Thee, and who rejoice in thy salvation.

We pray, O Lord, for all whom we love, that every needful blessing may descend on them, and that they may know the power and preciousness of thy Divine love. We pray for our country, and for the progress of thy Gospel in our own and in every land. May the time soon come when the Saviour’s name shall be everywhere adored, and his Gospel everywhere triumphant.

Now we commit ourselves to thy gracious care. May we rest in safety under thy shadow; and may every day witness our growing devotedness to Thee, and our advancing meetness for thy glory. Hear us, O Lord; forgive and save; and to Thee shall be the praise, through Jesus, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen.