THIRD WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Morning

O GOD, our Creator and Preserver, Thou proclaimest to us day by day thy goodness and truth. The streams of thy bounty never fail. In the light and in the darkness thine eye is ever upon us. Thou art at our right hand and our left, sustaining us by thy power, and enriching us with thy mercy. O God, we feel that we owe all our temporal blessings, as well as our spiritual, to thy love in Christ Jesus. Life, and health, and strength, and all that Thou bestowest, are ours, because He redeemed us. For thy gifts alike in creation, in providence, and in grace, we offer at thy footstool our tribute of fervent praise.

The stains of sin mar and defile all that we do. We can but cry, Unclean, unclean. Oh, let our cry enter into thine ears, and bring down from above thy forgiveness and pardon. Constantly do we need thy strength. We are impotent of ourselves to stand against temptation, unless Thou uphold us, that our footsteps slip not. God, Thou knowest our weakness and shortcomings, pour down upon us the abundance of thy grace. Bear with the weakness of our faith, and supply all our need according to thy riches in glory by Jesus Christ our Lord.

We know not, O God, what this day will bring forth for us. All its circumstances are known to Thee, its trials and temptations, its perplexities and its dangers. It is our comfort to know that nothing happens but as Thou seest fit, and that all the issues of life and death are in thy hand. Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and assist us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in dependence on Thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life. Wean us, O God, from the love of the world and worldly things. Enable us to hold all things as from Thee, and to be ready at all times cheerfully to sacrifice even what is dearest to us at thy bidding, and to follow Thee whithersoever thou leadest us. Oh, that we may count all things but loss compared with Christ our Redeemer and Lord; that the savour of Christian piety may abound in our life and conversation. May we have grace to avoid all evil, and even the appearance of evil, lest we bring dishonour on the holy name of Jesus, or cause the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.

Graciously grant us thy protection during the day. Spread around us all the shield of thy power, and turn aside whatever evil may threaten our bodies or souls. Make known the glory of the Saviour to those who know Him not, that in Him Jew and Gentile may be blessed. Hear us, O God, for thy dear Son’s sake. Amen.