NINTH WEEK.—LORD’S DAY. — Morning

O LORD most high! it is a good thing to give thanks unto thy name: to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. Oh, how great is thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men.

And now we come to Thee through that blessed Saviour whose day this is. On it He rose; on it He showed himself alive, again and again, after He had suffered; on it He ascended; on it He poured out his Spirit; on it He specially visits his servants, and blesses their meetings and their work. For all this day brings to our memory, accept our thanksgiving: the finished work of Jesus Christ; his glorious sacrifice, and his resurrection and ascension, the pledge and type of our own. For all this day brings to our hope, accept our thanksgiving: rest when toils are over; things eye hath not seen, nor ear heard; a home where sin, and change, and death can never come. Let the cross, and the glory that followed it, fill our thoughts and hearts to-day. Say to each of us anew, “I am thy salvation.”

Go with those of us who hope to worship in the great congregation. May we feel how awful is the place of religious assembly, and yet how blessed. Let our thoughts be fixed on Thee. While beholding thy glory, may we be changed into the same image. Beneath the light of thy truth and of thy favour, give us higher aims, and a more joyous, heavenly temper, and greater fruitfulness; that so we may flourish like the palm-tree, and grow like the cedars in Lebanon. Strengthen us thus, with all might, by thy Spirit, in the inner man. Stay with any of us who are prevented by thy providence from attending in thy house. Teach us to sanctify Thee in our hearts. Visit us with the favour Thou bearest to thy children. Help us to say, “This is the day the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” And if there be any dear to us, and yet far from Thee, graciously remember them. Our hearts’ desire is, that they may be saved. Whatever else Thou givest or withholdest, oh, guide them in judgment, and teach them thy way.

Bless all who to-day shall be working or speaking for Thee. Clothe thy ministers with salvation. Wherever and by whomsoever the words of life are spoken, let them accomplish what Thou pleasest: let them prosper in the thing whereto Thou hast sent them. Let thy light and thy truth visit all nations, that thy kingdom may come and thy will be done on earth even as it is in heaven. These blessings we ask through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.