SIXTEENTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Morning

O GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, accept our united praises and thanksgivings for thy goodness towards us and all mankind. Many and great have been thy mercies. Our fathers have told us the noble works that Thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them. Thou wast their strength and their song, and didst become their salvation. Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

To us, also, Thou hast been a gracious and merciful God. Thou hast sent thy dear Son into the world to overcome the great enemy of our souls. Thou hast made a way for us through Him to everlasting life, and Thou hast given us the promise of thy Holy Spirit, to make us the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, to soften our hearts, to sanctify our souls, to subdue our tempers, and to guide us in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. Oh, may we all be partakers of these blessings! Let none of us lose them by our negligence or unbelief. Increase our faith. Lead us to love Thee more and more, and grant that whatever is a hindrance to us may be put away. May we seek first thy kingdom and thy righteousness, and let thy right hand become powerful for us to overcome all our spiritual enemies.

O God, we are utterly unworthy to ask of Thee any blessing, but Thou hast encouraged us in thy Word to spread before Thee all our need.

Be with us during the day on which we now have entered. We know not what is before us. We may be expecting blessings, and may meet with disappointments; we may be expecting health, and may meet with sickness; we may be expecting joy, and may meet with sorrow. Be Thou round about us, to protect and deliver us; and should it please Thee that, instead of finding refreshment by the way, we should be called upon to taste of bitter things, let thy grace sanctify all our sorrows, and make it good for us to be afflicted. May we all come more frequently beneath the shadow of the cross, and look up more trustfully on our suffering Redeemer. Help us to think of Him who was a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, that we faint not; and grant, O God, that the presence of Jesus may ever be with us in sorrow and in joy, that all things may work together for our good and thy glory.

O Lord, remember our dear relations and friends, and grant unto them the same blessings which we have asked for ourselves.

Bless likewise thy whole Church, and grant that souls may be increasingly added unto it. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.