SEVENTEENTH WEEK.—FRIDAY. — Morning

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst reveal Thyself in old time by thy servant Moses, and who art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, enable us to approach Thee this morning with reverence and godly fear. Our eyes cannot see Thee, as when Thou wentest through the wilderness, when the earth shook, and the heavens dropped at thy presence; yet we know that Thou art here; for Thou art in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Our ears cannot hear Thee as when Thou didst come down upon Sinai with the sound of the trumpet and the voice of words; and yet we have listened to Thee in thy written Word, and we praise Thee for the gift of it. Prepare our hearts to feel thy power, and our lips to speak thy praise. Give us fervency of devotion, and simplicity of faith, in approaching to Thee. Teach us to ask for such things as shall please Thee; and where we are too weak and ignorant to speak unto Thee as we ought to do, let thy Holy Spirit make intercession for us, according to thy will.

Enable us, O God, to carry this constant remembrance of Thee into all our daily life, that thy presence may consecrate our home, may prosper us in all we do, and sanctify us in all that we enjoy. Whatever may befall us this day, give us grace to receive it as from Thee, that we may be both patient in suffering thy will and diligent in doing it. In the midst of our various occupations, let us all remember that Thou, O Lord, art about our path, and spiest out all our ways. Let not the recollection of Thee slip out of our hearts through our own carnal weaknesses, nor let it be forgotten amid the cares and pleasures of life. Fill us with such adoration of thy goodness, and such reverence of thy majesty, that thy fear may ever be before our eyes, that we sin not.

Write, we beseech Thee, thy law upon our hearts. Fix our souls upon Thee, that all this household may serve Thee, even Thee only. Thou art a Spirit, and we pray Thee to give us grace to worship Thee in spirit and in truth, to speak of Thee with godly reverence, and to dedicate unto Thee the firstfruits of our life. Teach us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Make us dutiful as children, obedient as subjects, submissive to those who are in authority, blameless in our conduct, just and true in all our dealings, kind in heart, temperate in pleasure, and diligent in business, that we may do our duty in that state of life into which it has pleased Thee to call us.

Pardon, O God, the ignorances and imperfections of our prayers, and do for us according to thine own riches in glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.