TWELFTH WEEK.—WEDNESDAY. — Evening

ALMIGHTY and most gracious God, who knowest our wants and hast compassion on our infirmities, we beseech Thee to assist us by thy grace whilst we offer up our evening prayer.

We come to Thee as weak and guilty creatures, and we entreat Thee to forgive the sins which we have this day committed against Thee by thought, word, and deed, and to strengthen us with might by thy Spirit, that we may successfully strive against our besetting evil passions, and run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

We thank Thee for thy goodness to us in supplying our wants. We are dependent on Thee, O Lord, for life and all that we need, and we desire to recognise thy hand in all our daily circumstances; and whilst we use with moderation and gratitude this world’s enjoyments which thy bounty bestows upon us, we pray Thee to enrich our souls with those spiritual gifts whereby we may daily grow in grace, and become meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Incline our hearts to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and cheerfully to trust in Thee to prosper our efforts to provide things honest in the sight of all men; and if it should please Thee to visit us with disappointment or affliction, let thy grace accompany thy dispensations, so that we may humble ourselves under thy mighty hand, and bear with patience and resignation the trials which Thou seest to be needful for us. Let thy blessing accompany our daily study of thy Holy Word, and grant that what we read therein may be so carried to our hearts by thy Holy Spirit that it may guide, strengthen, and comfort us in all our ways, and make us wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.

We know that this world, with all its objects and enjoyments, passeth away. Incline us to seek more earnestly that eternal inheritance which Christ hath purchased for us; and may a lively faith in his merits enable us to live in this world with our affections set upon things above, so that, amidst all the changes and chances of this mortal life, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found.

To thy gracious care and protection we commend ourselves and all that belongs to us. Let thy gracious hand be over us to keep us from all evil. Refresh us with such sleep as is needful to fit us for the duties of another day. May we daily grow in grace, and in the knowledge and experience of thy Gospel; and whenever it shall please Thee to take us out of this world may we be received into thine everlasting kingdom, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.