NINTH WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Evening

WE draw near to thy footstool, O gracious God, with all reverence and humility of mind, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. We thank Thee for the manifold and precious mercies of another day. We bless Thee for our reason, our speech, the exercise of our senses, and the use of our limbs. We adore Thee for the air we breathe, the light which has shone upon us, the food by which our bodies have been nourished. May our hearts be filled with gratitude to our Divine and unwearied Benefactor.

We are conscious of sin, infirmity, and shortcoming this day, and we lament and deplore it before Thee. We read with joy in thy Scriptures that if we confess our sins, Thou art faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We beseech Thee, O God, to fulfil thy promise in the person and experience of each one of us this night. O blessed Lord, put thy fear into our hearts—that holy fear which will make us unwilling to offend against Thee, in thought, or word, or deed, and which will enable us to put away every other fear. Teach us by thy Holy Spirit to know the things we ought to do, and faithfully to fulfil the same. Make sin hateful to us because it is so hateful to Thee. Give us a holy courage and boldness, that wherever we go, and whatever we do, we may not be ashamed of confessing that we know and love the Saviour, and that when He comes to be our Judge, He may confess us before the angels of God. May we ever remember that the fear of man bringeth a snare.

We know, O Lord, that Thou art about our path and about our bed, and spiest out all our ways. The very hairs of our head are all numbered, and not a sparrow falls to the ground without thy will. We therefore commend ourselves in humble confidence to thy guardianship for the night. May we fall asleep in peace with Thee, O God, in peace with our own minds, and in perfect charity with all the world. May the precious blood of sprinkling minister rest to our consciences, repose and safety to our souls. Number us with thy saints in glory everlasting.

Protect us and all our dear friends, whether at home, in foreign lands, or on the sea, this night, from every danger. Prepare us for our last hour; and when that shall come, may our minds be serene and tranquil, and without fear. May our sleep remind us of the blessed sleep in Jesus, and our awakening be to us the emblem and pledge of the glorious morning of the resurrection of the just.

And now to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be equal and ceaseless praises. Amen.