TWENTY-FIRST WEEK.—FRIDAY. — Morning

GIVE ear, O Shepherd of Israel, to our morning prayer. We are thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture. We render Thee our hearty thanks for thy manifold mercies, and present our earnest request for thy continued care.

We come to Thee without fear, and yet without money and without price. We trust in the Son of thy love. His precious blood we plead. We are sinners looking to Jesus to be sanctified. Yet Thou art not repelled by our sinfulness. Blessed Saviour! our hope is fixed on Thee. Thou art a merciful and faithful High Priest. Lead us to the throne of grace. Acknowledge us as thy brethren; and, standing by thy side, may we receive a Father’s smile for thy sake.

We believe in thine infinite power and love, O Thou Friend of sinners! Grant us the full assurance of this faith. Fill our hearts with peace and joy in believing. Let us be delivered from the thraldom of worldly fears, and from the delusion of worldly hope. May we seek no other good than Thee. May we fear no evil, since Thou art with us. Hast Thou not promised that nothing shall harm us if we are thine? Hast Thou not said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee?” Thou hast given us thy Son; wilt Thou not with Him also freely give us all things? Let nothing separate us from the love of Christ.

Through another day’s occupations may we honour Thee. Thou ordainest our lot; make us contented therewith. Teach us what to do, and what to shun. Lead us not into the path of danger. Guard us in the hour of temptation. May we ask and have thy blessing in every act, and word, and thought. May love actuate us in everything. Banish evil tempers from our hearts. Let not angry words be heard among us. May we show that we have been with Jesus, by the meek and gentle spirit we possess. And may we lead others to the Saviour by a kind and Christ-like character. May we be a holy and devout household, of which every member is a child of God by living faith. In each heart prepare thy banquet, and make thine abode. Lord, keep us, for we are weak, and can do nothing of ourselves.

Prosper, we pray Thee, the labour of our hands. Make us diligent in every appointed duty; exact in every allotted service. Impress us with a sense of our accountability to Thee. Nothing that we have is our own. All is thine, and we are thy stewards. Soon must we give an account of our stewardship. Make us faithful, O God, in that which is least, that we may at last have an abundant entrance into thy kingdom.

Grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.