SIXTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Morning

O GOD, our Father, which art in heaven, look down upon us from thy dwelling-place; behold us gathered in the name of Jesus, thy dear Son, and for his sake grant the petitions that we desire of Thee.

Thou, O God, art good and gracious; Thou art a rewarder of them that diligently seek Thee; and though we see Thee not, yet we believe Thou art not far from any one of us, but especially near us now, when we draw nigh unto Thee.

Help us to come before Thee with true humility of heart, not trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy great mercy and pardoning love through Jesus Christ. Accept us in him. Look upon the sacrifice which he made for us; for he is the Lamb of God, who, by the sacrifice of himself once made, taketh away the sin of the world.

Grant us grace that we may henceforth serve Thee in newness of life; and may it be our daily endeavour so to live as to please Thee. Enable us, by the help of thy Holy Spirit, to walk before Thee in all holiness, uprightness, and godliness; and when our time to die shall come, may we rest in peace, and in certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life, through the merits of Jesus.

O Thou who art the God of all the families of the earth, be thou our God, our Guide through life. Keep us as we journey on to that heaven which we desire for our home. May we never seek our rest here; but by pressing forward and raising our thoughts and desires above earthly things, look for a better country, that is, an heavenly.

We pray Thee, O Lord, to increase the number of true believers. May thy Word have free course in our land. May thy Sabbaths be better observed. May the houses of prayer be filled with true worshippers. Bless all who preach thy Word; clothe them with righteousness; and may many, by their warning, be led to flee from the wrath to come, and to take refuge in Jesus, that they may be saved in the day of account.

And now, O Lord, we beseech Thee to accept our thanks for the mercies of the past, and for the renewal of them this morning; and we ask for thy special assistance to help us in every time of need that may occur to us this day. Thou knowest what is before us, and how great is our ignorance and weakness: if it be temptation, show us the way to escape, that we may be able to bear it; if it be trial, give us patience, and, in thine own good time and way, a happy end to the trouble. May thy good promises be ever before our minds, and grant that they may be fulfilled to us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.