TENTH WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Evening

ETERNAL and ever-blessed Saviour, who didst reveal Thyself to thy servant Isaiah, make Thyself known unto us, we pray Thee, in this our assembling at thy footstool. Thou art God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God. Thy glory covereth the heavens, and the earth is full of thy praise. Holy and reverend is thy name, O Lord of Hosts. Lord, what are we, that we should be permitted to speak unto Thee, before whom even angels veil their faces! Our hearts are unclean, our lips are unclean, our hands are unclean; in thought, and word, and deed, we have transgressed against Thee. We are vile in thy sight, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, searching the heart and reading the life.

O Lord Jesus, as we know our misery through sin, so enable us to feel our need of thy cleansing blood; that experiencing in our hearts the blessedness of thy peace, we may be ready to run in the way of thy commandments. Gracious Saviour, impart to us these blessings. Blot out our sins, whatever they be. Kindle in our hearts a lively sense of thy mercy, that with a holy zeal we may be ready to every good word and work, and realise ever more and more that thy service is perfect freedom.

We praise thy name, O our God and Father, for the many mercies of the day. To thy gracious providence we owe all our good. Life, health, strength, domestic comforts, a blessing on our daily toil; above all, the Gospel of thy dear Son and the gift of thy Holy Spirit, are of Thee, and to Thee will we give the glory. We pray that we may not prove unprofitable servants, laying our talents idly by instead of employing them to thy glory. O Lord, when Thou seest us slothfully or selfishly misusing the gifts of time, money, and opportunity, remind us, by the powerful impressions of thy Spirit on our hearts, of the solemn account we must one day give. Especially grant that thy Word may never become to us the savour of death unto death. Oh, forbid it, Lord, that we should resist its power and shut our ears to its warnings; sinful and ungrateful as we have been, cast us not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Be very gracious unto all whom we love. May each and all of them be partakers of thy grace in Christ Jesus. [Make the children of this family thy children, and daily renew them by thy Holy Spirit.] Guard us and our dwelling from all evil this night, and let us sleep beneath thy protection.

Hearken to these our prayers, and supply all our need, according to thy riches in glory by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.