TENTH WEEK.—LORD’S DAY. — Evening

GRACIOUS and merciful art Thou, O our God; constant and unfailing is thy care, and exhaustless thy Divine goodness and compassion. What could have been done for us which Thou hast not done? From the beginning even until now thy preserving goodness hath sustained and kept us, and thy hand hath supplied our wants. We belong to a fallen race; but even when we were sinners and without strength, Thou didst not spare thy dear Son, but deliveredst him up for us all. We have had thy holy Word to be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. Ministers have spoken to us, in Christ’s stead, the message of reconciliation. The way of access to thy footstool is open to us. Through thy dear Son Thou hast provided for us all that infinite mercy can find, and all that fallen man can need.

O Lord, we acknowledge thy great and undeserved goodness. How poor a return we have made for it; what scanty fruit we have brought forth. Thou hast borne with us long and patiently, and it is of thy mercy that we are not consumed. The power which could have destroyed us has been extended to bless us. O God, we blush for our ingratitude and sin. We adore Thee for thy longsuffering patience and forbearance. Spare us, we beseech Thee. Pour upon our hearts the precious gift of thy Holy Spirit, that He may quicken us to new life. Bless to our souls the Word which has this day been sown among us, that it may arouse us from our sluggishness and indolence, and warn us back from the sinful ways in which our feet have trodden, and stimulate us to greater diligence in thy service, that we may be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

We pray not for ourselves alone, O Lord, but for others: for those who are bound up with us in the bonds of kindred and affection, for those who dwell around us and in the midst of whom our lot is cast, and for all sorts and conditions of men. Thou knowest the measure of their opportunity and privilege, and the measure of their fruitfulness. Spare, O God, the unfruitful, and awaken them to see their danger and their sin. Visit with thy grace the fruitful, that they may bring forth much fruit to thy glory, and the honour of thy Gospel. May every Sabbath-day see a great enlargement of the Redeemer’s kingdom, and the conversion of many souls, both among Jews and Gentiles, among the heathen abroad and the ungodly at home.

Take us into thy keeping, O God, for the night, and bestow upon us now and ever every needful and saving blessing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.