TENTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

FAITHFUL and ever-blessed God, who art Most High for evermore, who fillest heaven and earth! there is no darkness where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves, nor are thy children ever concealed from thy view. The day and the night are both alike to Thee.

We adore the riches of thy goodness towards us since last we bent the knee before Thee. We went forth to our work, and Thou hast upheld us. Our bodily wants Thou hast supplied. Thy grace has been bestowed in proportion as we have prized and sought it. Thou hast made the outgoing of the morning and the evening to rejoice; and now we meet again to speak good of thy name. Let not our eyes be so blind as not to see, let not our hearts be so dull as not to feel, the loving-kindness of the Lord.

But to us, O Lord, belongeth shame and confusion of face. We have sinned, we have done wickedly; we have been unthankful, insincere, unholy. We come, therefore, through Him whom Thou hast exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour. We make mention of his righteousness, and of his only. Cleanse us from the defilement our souls have contracted. Speak peace to our consciences. Justified anew from all things, may we rejoice in hope of thy glory.

And now, our Father, how can we thank Thee enough for the clear teachings of thy Word? Prophets and righteous men desired to see those things we see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things we hear, and have not heard them. Blessed are our ears, for they hear; and our eyes, for they see. Let thy Word abide in us, and thy Spirit enable us to understand it. Let not our hearts prove so hard that it cannot touch or enter them, but let it be as good seed cast into good ground, yielding ready and abundant fruit. Teach us to count the cost as well as to know the blessedness of obedience. If tribulation comes or persecution, may consolations abound even as sufferings abound. Help us to be on our guard against the corrupting and deadening influence of worldly cares and of worldly wealth. If riches increase, teach us not to set our hearts upon them. Our cares, teach us to cast them upon Thee.

We commend to thy blessing our friends and all the members of this family. Be with them and us through the hours of the night. We are safe only when Thou art our Defender; rich only when Thou art our portion; happy only when Thou art our good. If it please Thee, may we rise on the morrow with new strength for new duty. When we awake, may we be still with Thee. We ask all through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.