NINTH WEEK.—SATURDAY. — Evening

O THOU Preserver of men, in Thee we live, and move, and have our being. Thou holdest our souls in life. It is thy air that we breathe; it is on thy bounty that we live; we are every day fed at thy table; and when thou takest away our breath we die. Nor do we know the moment or the day when our souls will be required of us.

In the name of Jesus, the one Mediator between Thee and men, we would give Thee hearty thanks for all thy care over us and ours this day. It has been a day of mercy. Thou redeemest our lives from destruction, and crownest us with loving-kindness and tender mercy. Bless the Lord, O our souls, and forget not all his benefits.

We would take shame to ourselves that we have so often abused thy long-suffering. How little fruit have we borne to thy praise! O Lord, we have been worse than cumberers of the ground; we have borne corrupt fruit. Adored be the exceeding riches of thy grace for thy forbearance. Let thy long-suffering be our salvation. Cut us not down, but spare us yet another year, for the sake of the Great Intercessor, who ever lives to make intercession for all who come to Thee by him. Let all our trials only tend to loosen our attachment to the world, to make our hearts soft, and let thy Spirit be to them as the dew on the mountains of Sion. Let our souls live, and they shall praise Thee. Hast not Thou said, “I will be as the dew unto Israel?” Fulfil thy word, and be as the dew unto us.

For thy name’s sake forgive us the trespasses which we have committed this day, as we forgive all who have trespassed against us. Bless the work of our hands; and now hide us under the shadow of thy wings. Suffer no harm to befall us, nor any plague to come nigh our dwelling. If it please Thee, give rest to our weary bodies, and so renew our strength for the duties of the morrow. If it should be our lot to be wakeful, with our souls may we desire Thee in the night, and meditate in thy law.

O most merciful Father, prepare us for the night of death and the morning of the resurrection. At whatever moment and in whatever form death may visit us, may we be found clothed in the wedding garment of Christ’s righteousness, with our loins girded and our lamps trimmed, ready to enter into thy presence, and to dwell with Thee for ever.

All these praises and petitions we humbly present before Thee, O Lord, in the precious name of Jesus, who died the just for the unjust, to bring us unto Thee. And to Him, to Thee, and to the Holy Spirit, one God, be ascribed all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.