TWENTIETH WEEK.—WEDNESDAY. — Morning

O LORD God, our God and Father in Jesus Christ, Thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; and yet Thou hast opened for sinful man a path of return to Thyself, by giving Jesus to be the new and living way. We bless Thee that we have boldness to enter into the Holiest, into thy sacred and awful presence, by his most precious blood.

We come, gracious Father, for cleansing: wash away, we pray Thee, every guilty stain in that Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. Grant that our hearts may be sprinkled from an evil conscience, so that we may continually rejoice before Thee. We come to Thee for enlightenment: cause us to understand and to know that by one offering Jesus hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. We come to Thee for grace to obey thy will in all things: may thy Holy Spirit put thy laws into our hearts, and write them in our minds. We come to Thee for steadfastness: make us bold to confess Christ before men. Keep us from ever being ashamed of Him and his words. Help us to endure even unto the end. And do Thou, by the continual supplies of thy grace, stablish, strengthen, settle us.

Grant, we pray Thee, that this day we may adorn in our lives the doctrine we profess. Help us, O our God and Father, to do the truth. Make us sincere, and without offence, and earnest in everything. Put away from us the way of lying. Cause us to hate every false way. May our deeds as well as our words be according to the truth; and help us, in all simplicity and godly sincerity, to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Graciously bless us, O our God, in our daily work. May we do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. And should temptation come, or perplexities embarrass us, oh, hold Thou up our goings in thy paths, that our footsteps slip not.

We desire, most merciful and gracious God, to remember before Thee all thine unspeakable goodness to us. Day by day Thou renewest thy mercies; Thou makest the outgoings of each morning and evening to rejoice. We thank Thee for food and raiment—for family comforts and blessings—for our many temporal mercies; but, above all, for the gift of Jesus Christ thy dear Son, and in Him for the means of grace and the hope of glory. May we show our thankfulness by lives devoted to thy service in the Gospel of thy Son.

Bless our dear relations and friends. Take them this day into thy holy care and keeping; and do for us and them more than we are able to ask or think, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.