THIRD WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Evening

O MOST good and merciful Lord God, Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, behold us met together this night before the throne of thy grace. Give ear unto our prayers, and attend unto the voice of our humble petitions. We thank Thee for the mercies of the day past, and for all the opportunities Thou hast given us of showing our love to Thee. We confess that we have not made such use of them as we might have done, had our souls been more steadily bent upon running the way of thy commandments. While we mourn over our sins and shortcomings, we pray Thee, O God, to direct our eyes unto Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. May we lay our guilt and offences upon Him, believing that his blood cleanseth us from all sins, and that by his stripes our souls shall be healed.

Give us grace, we beseech Thee, rightly to follow the Lord Jesus. Make us his true disciples, and give us such hearty love to Him, and such readiness and power to obey his commandments, that He may never be ashamed of us, but own us as his now, and at the last, when he makes up his jewels.

We pray not for ourselves only, but for all whom we know, especially for our relatives, friends, and neighbours, and those with whom we live or work. Grant to them, as well as to us, the saving knowledge of Jesus. May they, with us, be brought to Christ, and encouraged to forsake all ungodliness, and follow Him without delay. Give success to all ministers, missionaries, and teachers, whose occupation is specially to lead others to Christ. Prosper them in their work, and may many by their means be led to know their Lord and Saviour.

And now, O God, who art ever present, and who seest us even when we are alone, we beseech Thee to watch over us this night; we commend ourselves to thy kind care. Keep us when we have no power to keep ourselves, during the silent hours of darkness. Preserve us from danger, but above all deliver us from evil. Restore our souls by thy Holy Spirit, make us to love thy Word and thy service, and as each day passes over us, grant that it may find us further advanced in the paths of righteousness, and better prepared for living with Thee in heaven, after having served our generation according to thy blessed will. These petitions we humbly present unto Thee, O God, through Him whom Thou hearest always, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Saviour, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one eternal God, we would give all praise, and honour, and glory, now and for ever. Amen.