NINETEENTH WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Evening

ALL thy works praise Thee, O God, and thy saints give thanks unto Thee. Adorable art Thou in thy glorious perfections: wonderful art Thou in thy works and ways; above all, in the great work of redeeming grace which Thou hast accomplished by thy dear Son. What are we that we should be the objects of thy tender love from hour to hour, and that even now, as we kneel in thy presence, Thou shouldest hear our prayer, and assure us of thy favour? Raise our hearts afresh in thankfulness and joy. Let us see more and more clearly what we owe to Thee; how great has been thy goodness towards us, and how rich and abundant is thy forgiveness, which saves from eternal condemnation all them who trust in Thee, through thy dear Son.

O God, we are sorry that, thus blessed, we have lived so unworthily and so sinfully. We repent us now before Thee of our many misdoings: of the coldness of our love to Thee, of our backwardness to do thy will, and of the occasions on which during the day now past we have been unmindful of our duty to Thee and of thy precepts. Accept our humble confessions, and through thy dear Son have mercy upon us, and grant us thy peace.

We pray Thee that Thou wouldest keep us in a spirit of watchfulness for the Saviour’s second coming, that we may not sleep as do others, but look and long for the time when He shall come in the glory of his Father. May the thought of his searching judgment make us anxious to be sincere and without offence in this our day of trial; and stir up our hearts to a more constant diligence in every good word and work to which thy providence calls us. Keep us ever in mind, O Lord, that it will avail us nothing in that day to have enjoyed Christian privileges, unless we have believed in Jesus with all our hearts, and striven, amid the temptations of the world, to walk closely in his footsteps, and be prepared for his coming. If Thou hast converted us by thy Spirit, preserve us from backsliding. Let no mournful longings after the things we have forsaken damp the fervour of our love to Thee, or mar the entireness of our consecration to Thee.

Graciously pour out thy Spirit on all people. Wherever thy truth comes, let it be glorified. Wherever Christ is preached, let many hearts be bowed before Him. Guide into heavenly wisdom all thy ministers. Strengthen their hands, comfort their hearts, and show them more clearly all thy will. Accomplish the number of the elect, and hasten thy kingdom. We ask all these mercies, and we commend ourselves and all we love to thy gracious care, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.