THIRTEENTH WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Evening

O LORD, our heavenly Father, we, thy children, draw near to Thee at the close of another day, to thank Thee for thy mercies, and to worship at thy footstool. May thy Holy Spirit prepare our hearts for devotion, and may we be accepted through the atoning merits of the one great sacrifice, even of the Lamb of God, which taketh away sin.

We bless Thee for the favour shown us in the supply to us of temporal comforts. We humbly acknowledge that we have forfeited our common mercies by our sins, and have deserved thy just anger. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. But we bless Thee, O God, with a deeper gratitude for our spiritual mercies; especially for thy blessed Word; for showing us the Saviour, full of compassion, ready to heal the sickness and to pity the infirmities of all who apply to Him for help, whether for body or soul. We mourn that we have come so seldom to Jesus, and so coldly pleaded for ourselves and for our friends. We have been a faithless and perverse generation, but we now confess and bewail our unbelief. O Lord, increase our faith, that, strong in the help of thy Holy Spirit, we may stand fast in every time of trial. We have been easily, because willingly discouraged, and have soon counted that to be impossible with God which was only impossible with men. Lord Jesus, forgive our unbelief, and let it no more have dominion over us; but may we expect thy grace to be sufficient for us, whenever we are called to any great trials, or to any difficult duties, because Thou hast appointed the trial and required the obedience. Teach us to copy thy example of fulfilling all righteousness; of uniting wisdom with fidelity; of regarding every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake; and with meekness of wisdom, putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men. May we learn to unite all obedience to human laws with the fear of God, and to sanctify our ordinary engagements by the Word of God and prayer.

Heavenly Father, we implore the forgiveness, through Christ, of all the known and unknown sins of this day, and especially of our want of trust in thy promise and grace. We now place ourselves and our families and friends in thy hands, Thou gracious, watchful Shepherd, to be defended this night from all perils and dangers. Shelter us beneath thy protection; and grant that in the morning we may each give himself, with renewed strength of purpose, as a living sacrifice to Thee. We ask all mercies and blessings in the only name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, to whom with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, be eternal praise and glory. Amen.