SEVENTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

O ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open and all desires known, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit; enable us to realise at this time thy presence in the midst of us, and to worship Thee in spirit and in truth.

We praise thee, O Lord, for the unnumbered mercies which have prevented and followed us; for all the blessings of this life; for the continuance to us of our faculties and powers of mind and body; but more especially for what we have individually experienced of thy loving-kindness, faithfulness, and power. Oh, may we show forth thy praise not only with our lips, but in our lives.

We come before thee, O Lord, as those who in some measure feel their sins and their sinfulness. In us dwelleth no good thing. Although we may have been preserved from many of those outward sins into which others have fallen, yet we would remember that the seed of every evil is within us, and that the principle of corruption constantly works in us, defiling our thoughts, corrupting our motives, drawing down our affections, and causing us sometimes even to doubt what Thou hast said. We must still come before Thee in the deepest humiliation, saying, Unclean, unclean.

Yet, O Lord, give us to know that while in ourselves we are sinners, in Christ we are saved; and enable us to rise to the enjoyment of those blessings wherewith Thou hast blessed thy people in Christ Jesus. We pray Thee to order all things for us as Thou seest best, and grant that as our day is so our strength may be.

And now, O Lord, we beseech Thee to bless those near and dear to us. We rejoice to feel that their state and circumstances are known unto Thee. If it be thy will, cause the light of thy truth to shine into the hearts of those yet in darkness. Turn Thou them, and they shall be turned; call Thou them, and they shall call upon Thee.

And do Thou, who wilt not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, carry on thy work wherever it is begun. Do Thou support the weak, protect the tempted, lift up them that are cast down, strengthen the feeble knees, and give joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Bless thy beloved people, by whatever outward name they may be called. Send many faithful labourers into thy harvest. Take us under thy care during the hours of darkness; and if it please Thee to spare us to another day, may we rise with thankful hearts to engage in every work to which Thou shalt see fit to call us. All this, and whatever else is good in thy sight, we ask in the name and for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.