SEVENTEENTH WEEK.—SATURDAY. — Morning

O LORD our God and Father, we thank Thee that Thou changest not. Men fail, and generations pass away, but Thou art ever the same. For the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, receive our prayer. Father, we pray Thee to give us a fuller sense of thy majesty, and a richer experience of thy mercy. We would not rush carelessly into thy holy presence; but keep us, so that we do not run foolishly from thy throne in fear. We plead that the blood of the atoning Sacrifice has been sprinkled before the mercy-seat. We praise Thee that thy love is shed abroad in our hearts, through the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We come with boldness, but with deep humility, before thy footstool. We desire to thank Thee, O God, for thy manifold gifts and grace. We are all here the living to praise Thee. We thank Thee for the good we have, and for the good we hope for in Christ Jesus our Lord. We thank Thee that the evil we have deserved has not come upon us, and that the blessings we have forfeited have not been withdrawn. We are monuments of thy mercy—illustrations of thy grace—examples of thy saving love and power. Oh, let thine eye of love be upon us as thy people. We are in a world which is full of temptation. Give us grace to be separate from the ungodly. Give us peace in the knowledge that we are a people formed for thy praise. We plead with Thee, through our ascended Saviour, and according to the teaching of the Holy Ghost which dwells within us, that we may know Thee and love Thee more. Father, reveal Thyself to us in thy dear Son. Take off the veil from our eyes, and make the light and comfort of thy truth and glory shine in upon our souls. Lord, enable us to understand the value of our soul, and the preciousness of the redeeming blood. Write thy law upon our hearts. Make us to love what Thou hast commanded, to hate what Thou hast forbidden, and to desire what Thou hast promised. Teach us to crucify the flesh, to overcome the world, and to set our affections on things above.

We are now going forth into the duties and dangers of our several worldly callings. O God, guide us and preserve us. May thy grace attend us. Use us, as Thou seest best, for the advancement of thy truth and kingdom in the world. Keep us, that we may bring no disgrace upon thy cause and people. Bless us, that wherever we are we may lift up our eyes unto Thee. From our youth, Thou hast been with us; to our death be Thou near us, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.