SECOND WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Morning

O GOD, pour down upon us the spirit of praise and prayer, lest we draw nigh to Thee with our lips, while our hearts are far from Thee, and thus add to our other many transgressions the sin of insincerity and untruthfulness towards Thee. Truly Thou dealest with us not after our sins, and rewardest us not after our iniquities. Time and memory would fail us to recount thy mercies. Oh, help us to proclaim our thankfulness, not only now, in the uplifted song of praise, but through all the day, in the hearty obedience of the life.

And while Thou acceptest our praise, turn not away, O God, from our prayer. We plead His name and righteousness who hath promised that whatsoever we shall ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive. Lord, we believe; help Thou our unbelief. All the number of our sins are known to Thee: the sins of thoughtlessness and levity, the sins against light and knowledge, sins against the warnings of conscience and the strivings of thy Spirit. Thou hast measured all their greatness and enormity. And yet, O Lord, thy power to save transcends them all. Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by transgression? We have fallen from righteousness, and the imaginations of our hearts are evil continually. We turn away in faith from ourselves to Jesus, and his atoning sacrifice, and take comfort. O Lord, with Thee is plenteous redemption; cleanse us, we beseech Thee, from all unrighteousness.

O gracious Spirit, the Spirit of holiness and love, dwell Thou within us this day, that we may be kept in the faith and fear of God. We pray that we may not grieve Thee by neglecting thy promptings to what is good, or by wilfully despising thy warnings against sin. We would walk with God through all the day; do Thou, O God, walk with us, and by precious tokens of thy presence make us conscious that Thou art near. In dependence on thy strength we enter on the day’s duties, and earnestly plead that Thou wouldst enable us to do them as in thy sight, with singleness of eye and purity of motive. Shield us in the midst of temptation. Guide us through all perplexities. Whenever our will clashes with thine, may we in all things prefer thy will to our own, and be ready to deny ourselves daily, and bear whatever cross thou layest upon us.

Mercifully regard the children of this family. By nature dead in trespasses and sins, and the children of wrath, make them, by thy life-giving Spirit, children of grace. In thy hands we leave ourselves, and all who seek an interest in our prayers. Seal them thine and keep them thine for ever, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.