SIXTEENTH WEEK.—LORD’S DAY. — Morning

ALMIGHTY God, who didst deliver thy people from the land of Egypt, and from the house of bondage, and who dost now deliver from the bondage of sin them that repent and believe in Thee, accept the praises of thy servants whom Thou hast ransomed by the precious blood of Christ. Thou who didst command thy people to sanctify their first-born unto Thee, and who dost teach us that we are not our own, but are bought with a price, help us to give up to Thee that which most we love, and to consecrate to thy service all that we possess.

For the gifts of thy bounty in days past, for strength to serve Thee, for help in time of need, and for long-suffering towards us when our offences have provoked thy just displeasure, we humbly offer Thee, through Jesus, the sacrifice of praise. Casting off our burden of toil and care on this day of rest, we most humbly approach thy mercy-seat through the same Jesus, our great High Priest; and ask for grace to keep a solemn feast unto the Lord. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

O God of mercy and of might, break Thou our bonds, and set us free. Let not sin have dominion over us, but bring us into the perfect liberty of the children of God. Let no unkindness towards any man hinder our prayers. Let not impenitence, nor pride, nor hardness of heart, nor unbelief prevent one soul from coming freely unto Thee, with whom there is forgiveness, that Thou mayest be feared. Grant us all grace, O King of Sion, that thy children may be joyful in Thee. Then we shall have power to cast away every idol, and live only to thy glory, freed from the things of guilt, and from the dread of hell.

And now, Father of Heaven, let thy good Spirit bear witness to us if we are indeed thy children, that we have been born from above, and can truly call Thee Father; then will we cast ourselves upon thy mercy for all that may befall us throughout this earthly pilgrimage. Thou so leadest the faithful through the wilderness, that neither the fiery serpent, nor the scorpion, nor the drought can hurt them. Thou feedest them with manna, and bringest water for them from the flinty rock. Send now the Angel of the Covenant, that He may go before us. Command the fiery pillar to give us light, and let us hear thy voice bidding us march onwards to the eternal country. Oh, give each member of our family to-day a foretaste of that rest. Save each one from the evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; and grant him faith, which only Thou canst give, that even now he may enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Amen.