NINTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Evening

MOST Holy God, who hast appointed a day in which Thou wilt judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ our Lord, vouchsafe to us, in thy mercy, that we may be numbered, in that day, among thy saints and the inheritors of thy kingdom.

We confess, O Lord, that we are utterly unworthy, in any merit of our own, to stand before the Son of Man. We have sinned against heaven and before Thee. We come to Thee with penitent and contrite hearts. We beseech Thee, for the sake of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Of thine infinite goodness and mercy, O Lord, suffer us not, through any weakness or folly of our own, or any temptations of the devil or of the world, to neglect thy will, and to leave undone the work which Thou hast given us to do. Suffer us not, at any time, to say in our hearts, “My Lord delayeth his coming;” but make us watchful, patient, humble, diligent, as the followers of Jesus Christ. Grant that we may always have our loins girt and our lights burning, and be ourselves as those who wait for their Lord.

Enable us faithfully to do Thee service in the several stations which in thy good providence Thou hast assigned to us, and so let our light shine before men. At all times and in all places make us to remember Thee; and the life we now live in the flesh may we live by the faith of the Son of God, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour. Increase and multiply upon us thy grace, that we may abound unto every good word and work. Dispose us to seek the furtherance of thy true religion among men. Endue us with fervency of spirit, with holy zeal, and with constancy and devotion in our Master’s cause. And oh, that it may be given to us to know the full blessedness of those whom the Lord, when he comes, shall find so watching and working for him.

We thank Thee, O Lord our God, for all the blessings of the past day: that we have been preserved in health and safety, and that Thou hast provided for all our earthly necessities. Above all, we thank Thee for our spiritual privileges and hopes, for the gift of thy Son our Lord, and for the promise of life in him.

And now we commend ourselves to thy fatherly care and protection for the coming night. Let thy blessing rest on every member of this house and family, and on all our relatives and friends. Grant us peaceful and refreshing rest, and may we rise with renewed strength to serve and glorify Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.