TWENTIETH WEEK.—WEDNESDAY. — Evening

O ETERNAL God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life, be pleased at this time to hear us from heaven thy dwelling-place; and when Thou hearest, forgive.

Thou, O Lord, knowest us altogether. Thou knowest each household, and its wants—each worshipper, and his desire—each bosom, and its sorrows—each heart, and its besetting sin; and Thou art able to supply all our need. Pour down upon us, we beseech Thee, the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those sins whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord.

We confess before Thee that we are unprofitable servants. Entrusted with precious talents, how often have we neglected to occupy them for Thee! What cause have we to lament many things done this day which we ought not to have done, and many things left undone which we ought to have done! Our faith has been wanting in simplicity and in sincerity, and therefore we have failed to glorify Thee in our bodies and in our spirits, which are thine. O Lord, we pray Thee, give us an increase of faith. Cause us to feel more deeply and constantly that we are not our own, that we have been bought with a price; and constrain us, by the love of Christ shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, to walk in the way of thy commandments, and to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Suffer us not to be deceived, or to deceive ourselves, with false thoughts of Thee and thy service, as if Thou wert a hard Master; but grant that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We would remember before Thee all for whom we ought to pray. Give special grace to those who are called to occupy high places; preserve them from the perils of earthly greatness, and dispose them to walk humbly with their God. Visit with thy fatherly consolations all that are in danger, necessity, and tribulation. Sanctify trial and discipline to those who are exercised thereby. Bless us as a family. Let it ever be our united resolve, “As for us and our house, we will serve the Lord.” Regard with thy favour the aged and the young, especially those among our own dear relatives. Grant that the aged may come to the grave in righteousness, as a shock of corn in its season, and that the young may grow up in godliness like the willows by the water-courses.

These our supplications and prayers, together with our thanksgivings for past unnumbered mercies, we humbly present in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.