TENTH WEEK.—SATURDAY. — Evening

O LORD, our heavenly Father, we come before Thee at the close of another day—another day of labour and of toil, but a day in whicli thy kind hand has still been about us for good. But, O Lord, how have we failed to walk with Thee! how have we failed of being, like our blessed Redeemer, always employed in doing thy will! As for us, we seem, at best, just to serve Thee for a little while, and then to forget Thee; but with Him it was, all the day long, unceasing service and unceasing love. Forgive the sins of our holy things, that they are so cold, and of our unholy things, that they are so frequent.

Lord, we would come to Thee through Him who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. For his sake receive and help us. Polluted and helpless as we are, we come to Thee, O our God, for cleansing and deliverance, that we may be pardoned, strengthened, and renewed. Heal us, we pray Thee, and purify us from all our iniquities. Who can forgive our sins but Thou alone? Lord, give us living faith, that in thy Son Jesus we may obtain the fulness of thy blessing. Lord, we are blind, but we believe that Thou canst give us sight. Open Thou our eyes, that we may behold the wondrous things of thy Word.

Nor would we pray unto Thee, O Lord, for ourselves alone. We would bring before Thee in prayer all those who are dear to us. [Our children,] our friends, our relatives, our household; may they all live before Thee. It may be that some of those dearest to us may at this moment be as dead before Thee. Lord, for his sake who purchased for us the gift of thy blessed Spirit, raise those who know Thee not from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness. May the Saviour speak by his Spirit to their hearts, “I say unto thee, Arise!”

Nor look upon our families alone; but upon our friends, our neighbourhood, our country. Lord, pour down thy blessing on this land of ours. Thou hast blessed thy work within our borders, and yet, O God, among us, as in thine own Israel, there are many wandering far from Thee, as sheep that have no shepherd. Lord, look upon thy Church, and have mercy upon the world. Increase the number of thy faithful shepherds; preserve from wandering the sheep already in thy fold. Collect thy dispersed flock, and according to our Saviour’s promise, let there be one fold and one Shepherd. Gather the number of thine elect, and hasten thy kingdom. Hear us for his sake who alone is worthy, thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, be all glory, and praise, and honour, for ever and ever.. Amen.