SIXTH WEEK.—LORD’S DAY. — Evening

ADORED be thy name, O God, for the many and undeserved blessings of this day. We thank Thee for its rest from toil. We thank Thee for its priceless privileges: we thank Thee for the ordinances of thy house, for the opportunities of prayer and of the hearing of thy Word; for whatever communion we have had with Thee, and for every assurance of thy grace which has fallen on our ears and our hearts. We feel, as we look back on the services of the day, how unworthy they have been of thy regard. We have not worshipped Thee as we ought; our desires have been contracted, our faith has been weak, our praises languid.

Oh, how little have we felt the guiltiness of the sins we have confessed; with what coldness of heart have we sought thy pardon! We confess, O God, the sin of our confessions, and pray Thee to pardon this and all those other sins which thy searching eye has detected in us. Let not this Sabbath-day be remembered to our shame and condemnation in thy judgment.

Gracious Spirit, it is thine to guide us into all truth, and to apply the Word of God with power to the heart. Arouse our consciences, we pray Thee, to feel that what we have heard and read this day is the message of the living God to us. Fix its lessons on our hearts, that we may remember them not only now as we look up from our knees to the throne of God, but to-morrow and every day, when we go forth to discharge the duties and face the temptations of busy life. Let not thy Word sown this day fall to the ground. Deepen every impression which has been made in our own hearts or the hearts of others. Confirm and strengthen every resolution. O God, let thy truth be mighty, through Divine grace to subdue the strongholds of sin and the world to the love of Thee and of thy dear Son. May his praises be sung anew this night by many converted souls.

Lord, we are comforted by the assurance of thy fatherly care, as it is proclaimed to us by the grass of the field and the fowls of the air. Oh, let us never distrust Thee or doubt thy goodness. We will confide in Thee more and more. Lord, we believe; help our unbelief. Enable us to seek first and above all things thy glory and the fulfilment of thy work in our hearts, and to commit all our anxieties and cares to Thee. Preserve us, O God, from over-carefulness; and enable us so to pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things which are eternal. We ask these things for ourselves and all who are dear to us, and we commend them and ourselves this night to thy holy keeping, in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.