THIRTEENTH WEEK.—SATURDAY. — Morning

O GOD, Thou art our God, early will we seek Thee. Mercifully be Thou nigh unto us, that in seeking we may find Thee.

Thou, O Lord, art very great; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty, but Thou art also very good, and thine unsearchable greatness is softened to our view by thine unspeakable goodness. Both in the works of thy hands and in the ways of thy providence Thou hast made Thyself known to the sons of men, so that in their forgetfulness of Thee they have ever been without excuse. When they have hardened themselves against Thee, Thou hast not withdrawn thy compassions from them. Thou hast even come out of thy place, and shown signs and wonders in the midst of them, for Thou hast no pleasure in him that dieth, but wouldst have all men come to repentance and live.

We thank Thee, O God, that Thou hast in so many ways spoken unto us; in the heavens, which are ever telling of thy glory, and in the earth, which is ever full of thy riches. Thy providence, which daily loadeth us with benefits, is daily addressing us in accents of fatherly love. Even the things which aforetime were said unto others are now said unto us, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Chiefly do we bless Thee that Thou hast spoken unto us by thy Son, who is heir of all things. Save us, we pray Thee, from hardening our hearts, as did Pharaoh of old, against thy Word; lest, like him also, we perish at last through unbelief. Especially may we have grace to hear Him in whom Thou art ever well pleased, and whose words are spirit and life to all who receive them; for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.

Enable us, in full surrender of ourselves to thy guidance, to enter upon the duties of this day thankful for the love which has watched over us during the night, and quick to hear that still small voice of thy Spirit which is given to instruct us, and to teach us in the way that we should go. Preserve us, O Lord, from the deceitfulness of our own hearts, and from the corruption that is in the world through lust. Fortify us against the devices of Satan, and against the malice of those who whet their tongues like swords, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words. Give us the spirit that always watches and always prays. Though in the world, and engaged in worldly business, may we walk with God, and each day obtain a greater likeness to Him, until, in the end, we receive an abundant entrance into his everlasting kingdom, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.