SIXTH WEEK.—FRIDAY. — Morning

MERCIFUL God and Father, fulfil now thy gracious promise, as in the name of thy dear Son we come into thy presence, and make known at thy footstool all our care. It is of thy goodness we have been kept safely through the night, and that in the renewed experience of morning mercies we are permitted to unite at thy footstool in thanksgiving and praise. Lord, let not thy daily blessings fall on cold and thankless hearts. How have we failed to realise the exceeding abundance of thy Divine compassions; how contracted is our knowledge of the precious and priceless gift of thy dear Son. Forgive us, we pray Thee, this and all our other sins. Speak peace to our souls, and make known to us our forgiveness, by shedding upon our hearts the sweet sense of thy reconciling love and pardoning grace.

In thy name and in thy fear we desire to go forth to the duties of this day. We look up to Thee for protection and guidance. Go Thou with us wherever we go; be Thou with us wherever we are. Stand Thou between us and all dangers. Turn aside the shafts of evil which may be launched against us by the malice of Satan, or the unkindness of our fellow-men. All our circumstances, in their minutest details, are known to Thee, and spread before thine all-seeing eye. Thou knowest our peculiar trials, whether at home or in the engagements of our daily calling. Thou knowest all that is in our hearts, the weak points of our character, the side on which we are most exposed to temptation, and the sins which most easily beset us. Lord, in thy mercy, and for the sake of Jesus Christ thy dear Son, strengthen our faith. Awaken us to greater watchfulness. Help us in every hour of our need and temptation. Give us tenderness of conscience. If we are proud, humble us, and inspire in us the meekness and gentleness of Christ. If we are forgetting Thee in the eager pursuit of worldly things, show to us that one thing is needful. If we are under the power of any sin, arouse us to struggle against it, and by thine Almighty Spirit break the bonds that hold us captive. Deliver us, O Lord God, and save us for thy great name’s sake.

Hear us, we pray Thee, for all whom we love; we would send them a blessing by thy hand. Thou knowest what is best for them; watch over them all for good.

We pray that thy favour may be with us in all that we put our hands to this day. Prosper Thou our daily work, and enable us in all things to do that which is just and right before Thee and towards all men. Hear us, gracious God, and answer us; help us, keep us, and bless us, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.