THIRD WEEK.—FRIDAY. — Morning

OUR Father and our God, we again bow at thy footstool, and offer Thee our morning worship. Every day Thou dost renew thy mercies to us, and every day would we renew our praise to Thee. For the protection and repose of the past night, and for the health and comforts we enjoy this morning, we devoutly thank Thee. Oh, may a sense of thy constant goodness to us lead us to cherish constant gratitude and love to Thee, and prompt us to a life of cheerful obedience and willing service.

We thank Thee, O thou fountain of light, for all the teaching of thy Holy Word. We especially praise Thee that Thou hast, in these latter days, spoken to us by thy Son. Help us to listen to his words, and to profit by them. Help us to take heed and beware of covetousness. Impress upon our minds a sense of the supreme value of that which is spiritual and heavenly; and save us, oh, save us, we beseech Thee, from that delay or neglect that would leave us unprepared for our final summons. So do Thou enrich us by thy grace, and help us to lay up treasure in heaven, that when our souls are required of us, we may be enabled, with calm and humble confidence, to resign them into the hands of Him who hath redeemed them with his blood.

So long as it is thy will that we should remain on earth, do Thou help us to confide in thy Fatherly goodness and care. May we not dishonour Thee by distrusting Thee. If we have burdens to bear, help us to cast them upon the Lord. If the future should appear dark to us, help us to believe that light will arise in the darkness. When we cannot see our way, may we be willing that Thou shouldest lead us. May the changes of earth lead us to rejoice in thine unchangeableness; and may the failures of earthly supplies send us to that fountain which can never fail. We thank Thee, O our Father, that Thou hast promised that our bread shall be given us, and our water shall be sure. We thank Thee that in our past history no good thing has been withheld from us. May the experience of the past strengthen our confidence for the future. May we take no anxious thought for the morrow, but leave that trustfully with Thee. And do Thou, O God of providence and grace, make our hearts strong and glad in the belief that, as Thou dost clothe the lilies and feed the ravens, Thou wilt never forget nor forsake us.

Defend us, O Lord, from all the dangers of this day. Guide us in every difficulty. Aid us in every duty. Keep us from temptation, and every hurtful snare. Help us to walk in thy fear all the day long, and finally bring us to thine eternal kingdom, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.