SEVENTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Morning

O GOD, who makest the outgoings of the morning to rejoice, it is a good thing to give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night. Praise is comely for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. We adore Thee for again restoring us to the activities of life. Thou hast been about our bed, and hast given us rest and sleep. Refreshed by the rest of the night, we come forth to the duties of another day; but while we enjoy light, and life, and all the temporal bounties of thy hand, we remember that man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We adore Thee for this provision of thy grace.

Bless to us that portion of thy Word now read. May its solemnity and importance deeply impress us. God forbid that we should lightly estimate the privileges with which Thou hast favoured us, lest at last we should have to exclaim in bitterness, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” May we firmly believe that whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap; that he who sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, and they that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind. Deliver us from the profanity of Esau, who, by sinful appetite, involved himself in sorrow and bitterness. Help us to keep under our bodies, and bring them into subjection. May the Holy Spirit make us his temples, that holiness to the Lord may be written upon our bodies and our souls. Regulate, we beseech Thee, the thoughts of our hearts, and direct the actions of our lives. Teach us in all things to walk in the footsteps of thy dear Son. Oh, give us the grace which shall enable us so to improve the events and duties of life, as that each day may witness our victory over sin, and the cultivation of whatever is pure, lovely, just, and good. Suffer us not to give occasion to the enemy to blaspheme, or, like Jacob, to be the means of prompting others to anger and malice, but rather may we be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, and thus maintain a conscience void of offence both towards God and man. For this, may we set a watch over the door of our lips, that we may not sin. Hold Thou us up and we shall be safe.

Comfort us with thy love, and strengthen us for all duty with thy grace. Let us and all our friends be written among the living in the new Jerusalem. God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us, that thy way may be known upon earth, and thy saving health among all nations, for Christ’s sake, to whom, with the Father and the Spirit, be everlasting praise. Amen.