TWENTIETH WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Morning

O LORD God, our heavenly Father, we rejoice in the renewed tokens of thy constant love. We would receive all thy mercies with thankfulness, acknowledging Thee as our Benefactor, and beseeching Thee for grace to show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives.

Suffer not, we pray Thee, the daily recurrence of thy goodness to us to lessen the impressions of our obligation and responsibility to Thee. May we be humbled under a sense of our utter unworthiness to receive the least of all thy mercies. May we remember with adoring gratitude the mediation of thy beloved Son, our Redeemer, by whose meritorious obedience and atoning sacrifice we are brought nigh to Thee, to receive the blessings of thy providence, as well as the riches of thine heavenly kingdom.

Accompany, we pray Thee, with the illumination of thy Holy Spirit, the reading of thy holy Word. May we this morning have spiritual discernment of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, as the one High Priest of our profession. May we all look unto Him with a believing, contrite heart, and be saved. We acknowledge our manifold transgressions, the imperfection and evil which we bring with us to this service of praise and prayer. O our God, we are unable of ourselves to make atonement for sin; but we plead the one sacrifice of Christ, which taketh away sin. May our sins through Him be so forgiven as to be found no more for ever.

Grant unto us this day, O Lord, strength to fulfil our duties. Prosper Thou the work of our hands; sustain us in the hour of temptation, and suffer not the evil of the world to obtain the mastery over the affections of our heart, or the purposes of our mind. If called to endure affliction, grant us cheerful submission; and if called to witness the sorrows of others, help us to sympathise with and to alleviate them.

Exalted Saviour, walk with us this day, as our guide, our pattern, our counsellor, and our defence; and aid us to serve Thee. Should occasion offer, strengthen us to speak the word in season, that sin may be reproved, and the power of thy salvation may be revealed.

Remember with thy choicest favour the members of our family; convert and save the ungodly; strengthen the faith of those who believe. Bless our neighbourhood with increase of light, even the Gospel of Christ, who is the light of the world. Let his light shine more and more. Mercifully fulfil thy promises in our experience as a family. May thy favour be our portion; may thy blessing be our continual joy. Hear these our prayers, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.