SEVENTH WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Evening

O DIVINE Father, God of all the families of Israel, who hast created the heavens and stretched them out, who givest breath and spirit to them that walk upon the earth, we, the creatures of thy hand, come to bless Thee, and to call Thee Father in thy Son Jesus. In ourselves there is no good thing, but he is thine elect, in whom thy soul delighteth. Accept us in him. Of ourselves we know not how to pray as we ought, but give us, as Thou hast promised, thy Holy Spirit, that we may give glory unto Thee, and declare thy praise.

Lord, most holy and most merciful, impute not unto us our sins this day. We confess them now, each of us, to Thee. We would not hide them, nor excuse them, but bring them out, and lay them on Jesus. Oh, wash us, and make us clean. Deliver us not only from the punishment which our sins have merited, but from the power which they have over us, and, oh! ever keep us from presumptuous sins. Make our consciences tender; make thy law great and honourable in our sight. Make us to run the way of thy commandments with a perfect heart.

For Thou art a most tender Father, and the bruised reed Thou wilt not break, and the smoking flax Thou wilt not quench. We desire to bless Thee for thy love, while we humble ourselves in the dust for our exceeding unworthiness. We thank Thee for daily bread, for our happy home, for human kindness, for the precious love of friends, for opportunities of helping our brethren; but most of all, we bless Thee for the Son of thy love, and for the gift of thy Spirit, for the rivers of pleasure in thy house, and for the hope laid up for us in heaven. Grant, O Lord, that having this hope we may purify ourselves, even as Christ is pure.

And now we ask Thee to give us yet more out of thy fulness, and to continue to us thy mercy. If tribulation come upon us, enable us to suffer patiently. If prosperity shine upon us, teach us that every good gift cometh of Thee. Bless the children of this family with thine abundant grace. Give to all near and dear to us what we have asked for ourselves. Spare useful lives. Make peace where there is now war. Give bread where there is now hunger. In our own land, and in our own neighbourhood, strengthen thy ministers to preach thy Word. Set judgment in the earth, and make the isles wait for thy law. When we sleep, let thine everlasting arms be round about us; when we wake, meet us with sweet thoughts of Thee. Living or dying, let us be the Lord’s; and when life is over, call us to sit down together at the marriage supper of the Lamb; for Jesus Christ’s sake, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all praise and glory, now and ever. Amen.