THIRTEENTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

O HEAVENLY Father, we approach thy throne at the close of another day, in the name and through the merits of our great High Priest, now pleading for us above. Thou hast in condescension and love been speaking to us by thy Word; help us now, by the gracious aid of thy Holy Spirit, to speak to Thee in humble, heart-felt prayer.

We acknowledge before Thee, O Lord, the corruption of our nature—the sins of our heart, of our lips, and of our lives. Thanks to thy blessed name for the gift of thy Son. Through Him, O Lord, give us all things that pertain to life and godliness. In Him we put our trust. May thine exceeding great and precious promises be our comfort and stay; through them may we be partakers of the Divine nature, and escape the pollutions and perils of the wicked world in which we dwell.

We pray that our religion may be of the right kind. Give us the precious faith of thy chosen. May the only ground of our hope be the perfect righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Help us to add to this faith all the excellences that should adorn the Christian character. Forbid it, O Father, that we should be idle or unfruitful in our profession. Daily bestow upon us rich supplies from above, that we may give all diligence to make our calling and election sure. And at last, when we have finished our course below, grant us an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour.

Impress us, O our Father, with a deep conviction of our mortality. Thanks to thy name, we can look beyond death and the grave. When we trust in Jesus, and follow Him, and look for glory through his infinite mercy, we are not following cunningly devised fables. We thank Thee, O Lord, for the evidence that Jesus is the Christ. We think of Him as transfigured on the holy mount, when his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white and glistening. We praise Thee for the testimony of the eye witnesses of his majesty. Above all, we bless Thee for thy voice from the excellent glory, declaring Him to be thy beloved Son, in whom Thou art well pleased. Lord, help us to trust in Him; to rejoice in his glory, and to anticipate the time when He will change our vile body, and fashion it like to his glorious body. Till then, O Lord, enable us to hold fast thy faithful word, as a light shining in a dark place. May we buy the truth, and sell it not. May the holy words which holy men of God spake by the Holy Ghost be our solace and guide, till the shadows of time depart, and the glories of eternity burst upon us. Then may we live with Jesus, our exalted Saviour, in eternal day! Hear us, O Lord, for our Redeemer’s sake. Amen.