SIXTEENTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Evening

O HEAVENLY Father, be pleased, for the sake of thy dear Son, to hear our prayers, and to accept our praises. We adore Thee that Thou hast endowed us with reason, and conscience, and with all those other faculties and powers which make us capable of knowing, and of loving and serving Thee. But we are sinners, and the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Take away, we beseech Thee, the veil of blindness, and folly, and prejudice. May thy Holy Spirit direct, sanctify, and govern us in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments. O God, our fathers cried unto Thee, and were delivered; they trusted in Thee, and were not confounded; and never didst Thou say to any of the seed of Jacob, “Seek ye my face in vain.” Bless us, we beseech Thee, with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. May we be complete in Him. Dispose us to receive and rest on Him alone. May the life we live in the flesh be a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved us, and gave Himself for us. And being filled with all joy and peace in believing, may we be found fruitful in every good work, to the praise and glory of thy marvellous grace.

We thank Thee for the gift of our Sabbaths. Prophets and righteous men desired to see those things that we see, and did not see them; and to hear those things that we hear, and did not hear them. But blessed are our eyes, for they see; and our ears, for they hear. O thou God of salvation, we magnify thy mercy and grace for all the good done this day to the souls of men. Let the Gospel preached and heard be crowned with abundant blessing. And when, at length, thy ministering servants give in their account, may it be found that they have not laboured in vain, nor spent their strength for nought.

Fill the whole Church of God on earth with the spirit of truth, purity, and peace. Watch over thy flock wherever they are scattered; gather both Jews and Gentiles into thy fold, and hasten the time when there shall be but one flock and one Shepherd. Pour down thy blessing upon our Queen and our country. Pardon our national sins; continue to us thy favour; and make us a people fearing Thee, and working righteousness.

Take us, we beseech Thee, and all who are dear to us, under thy tender care this night. Shield us from danger; grant us quiet sleep; and, if it please Thee, spare us to enter on our duties to-morrow. May we do so in thy faith, fear, and love. Grant this, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.