FOURTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Morning

O LORD God, by whose gracious help alone we can render an acceptable service of prayer and praise, pour down upon us thy promised Spirit. Incline our wills to engage heartily in this our morning worship: kindle within us a spirit of thankfulness; increase our faith, enlarge our desires after heavenly things, and enable us to worship Thee now and at all times in sincerity and truth. We are sinful and unworthy, but Jesus is our advocate with the Father. We plead his merits. Lord, according to thy gracious word, accept us, pardon us, and bless us for his sake.

Glory be to thy name for the mercies of the night. Oh, how great is thy goodness to us, O Lord, from day to day. Morning by morning and evening by evening Thou preservest us and keepest us. Continue, we beseech Thee, thy gracious guardianship and care over us through all the day. In the midst of its duties, and temptations, and difficulties, be Thou ever near us, and succour us according to our need, that in nothing we may fail of our duty to God or man. We thank Thee for the spiritual privileges which Thou hast bestowed upon thy believing people in making them thy children by adoption and grace. We pray Thee for the continual indwelling of the Holy Ghost, that our souls may be cleansed and sanctified; that we may be Christians not in name only, but in deed and in truth, living in the Spirit, and walking worthily of our high calling. O God, by thy grace mortify and subdue in us every sinful temper and every unholy desire. Mightily strengthen us from above, that with all Christian courage we may cast away from us all that is hateful and displeasing to Thee. Oh, help us to strive after higher things—to aim at a loftier standard of Christian character, and thus to go on unto perfection. Seal us by the Spirit, and grant that we may live as the children of God and heirs of the promises wherewith Thou hast blessed us in thy dear Son.

Lord, look down in thy love on the whole Church of Christ. Endue all the professing members thereof with thy grace, that they may be more and more conformed to the image of thy dear Son, and enjoy more abundantly the precious gifts which Thou bestowest through him. Oh, make them and us more unworldly in spirit. Awaken in them and us a deeper interest in the spread of the Redeemer’s kingdom. Stir up the desire of all hearts for the ingathering into thy fold of Jew and Gentile, and the fulfilment of the sure promise that in Christ all nations shall be blessed.” O God, let these our prayers and thanksgivings enter into thine ears, and bring forth an answer of peace, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.