SEVENTH WEEK.—LORD’S DAY. — Evening

O THOU, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, we praise Thee for the blessings of this thy day, for the privilege of Christian worship, and for the Gospel of thy grace, the good news which have come to us concerning thy Son Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. We believe in Thee, O Saviour, as the Anointed One of God, to whom give all the prophets witness. Thou art the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the Bread that came down from heaven; the living Water, of which if a man drink he shall never thirst. Oh, draw us near unto Thee, we implore Thee. Let thy life be imparted to us; let thy love quicken and animate us. Speak words of power and of mercy to our darkened souls; open our understandings; turn our affections toward thyself; create in us clean hearts, and renew right spirits within us. If we be already among thy faithful ones, keep us always from sinking back into the sloth of unbelief; stimulate us to higher aims, fill us with purer motives; may it be our daily endeavour to grow in knowledge and in grace. If we be arising from the dead, aroused to a sense of sin and weakness, guide us to thy cross, O Lord Jesus; teach us how thy death was our life, how by thy stripes we are healed. If any of us be utterly dead in trespasses and sins, merciful Saviour, arouse them, we implore Thee; speak the word of authority, as of old in the streets of Nain, and by the cave at Bethany, and awaken them out of sleep. Oh, that we might all lie down this night reconciled through Thee to the Father, clothed in thy righteousness, sanctified by thy Spirit; that whether we live or die, wake or sleep, we might be the Lord’s; and thus, when Thou comest in the glory of thy Father, to execute judgment, grant to us that we may be among the blessed company who come forth at thy call unto the resurrection of life.

And now, most merciful Father, we commend each other to thy keeping during the darkness of the night. Protect, we pray Thee, our persons, our property, our home. Though we be but a little group in thy great family, remember us; give thine angels charge over us; and Thyself, O thou Keeper of Israel, who never slumberest, be as a wall of fire about our dwellings. Be pleased, in like manner, to care for all our absent ones. Extend thy guidance to the perplexed, thy consolation to the sorrowful, thy charity to the homeless and destitute. Bless thy word to all who have heard it this day. Make it instrumental, even now, to the awaking of the careless, the comforting of the afflicted, and to the edification of all. Blot out, we implore Thee, all our transgressions; and receive us graciously, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.