SIXTEENTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

ADORABLE Redeemer, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, the very Door of salvation and of heaven, look graciously on us, who now desire to come to God by Thee.

Enable us, most blessed Jesus, to approach the throne of grace with a true heart, in entire dependence on the eternal Spirit, and pleading nothing but thy blood and righteousness.

We are indeed sinful, and have sinned more deeply than we know; yet here, prostrate at thy footstool, we are constrained to render thanks and praise to Thee, O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who didst not spare thine own Son, but deliveredst Him up for us all, that He might be the Author of everlasting life to every one believing on his name. And Thee we glorify, Thou precious Saviour, who didst come with joy to do thy Father’s will; so loving us, while we were yet thine enemies, as to become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Thee, too, we bless and magnify, almighty Comforter, who in richest mercy dost open blind eyes to see the beauty of Christ; who dost reveal Him in the broken heart, turning all its grief to gladness; and who dost lead the souls of thy people to go in and out, and evermore find pasture.

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God, enrich us with the knowledge of Thyself; enfold us in the everlasting arms, write upon us thy new name, make us familiar with thy voice; and whithersoever Thou shalt go, oh, give us grace to follow. Another day has fled, to return no more. How richly have we proved thy faithfulness and love! We have lacked no good thing. Thou hast been our Shepherd, and we have not wanted. Blessed be God, who daily loadeth us with benefits, giving us not always what we would, but ever what is best. Mercifully forgive our sins. Of very many sins we have been conscious; but oh, how often do we grieve Thee, and not know it! For Christ’s sake blot out all that is against us, and may we sleep this night in perfect peace, and with thy smile resting as a holy light upon our hearts. Suffer no evil to molest us; grant to us all the shelter of thy wings; and should wakeful moments come to us amid the silence and the darkness, oh, may we have communion with our God.

Be near to all we love. Visit with showers of blessing the universal Church, and let that happy day soon come when the fulness of thy mercy shall be made known, and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd. We ask all through the mediation of thy only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.