TWENTY-FIRST WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

WE adore Thee, O God, as the greatest and best of beings. Almighty power and perfect wisdom belong to Thee. All things, past, present, and to come, are perfectly known to Thee. Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness. Thou art good and doest good.

We adore Thee as our Creator, giving Thee thanks for all those powers of thought and reason which Thou hast graciously bestowed upon us. Teach us by thy Spirit to use them aright, and enable us to know Thee and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Teach us to live as strangers and pilgrims, who seek another country, even a heavenly.

We thank Thee, O Lord, for the revelation of thy truth and the knowledge of thy will. Enlighten our consciences, that we may know that will; and strengthen our hearts, that we may do it. And whereas even our consciences are darkened and corrupted by sin, we thank Thee for thy holy Word, for thy good Law, and for thy glorious Gospel. We thank Thee not only for the promises of thy Word, but also for its threatenings. Teach us to lay them to heart, that we may flee from the wrath to come, and may watch against everything that would displease Thee. Dispose us, O Lord, to keep far away from every path which leads to destruction.

Thou hast taught us if we lack wisdom and ask of Thee, Thou wilt liberally grant it, and upbraid us not; Lord, we ask for it, and beseech Thee to bestow it. May we not be numbered with those who mock at sin. Save us from the folly of those who, while troubled and careful about many things, neglect the one thing needful, and perish everlastingly. Stir up in us, we beseech Thee, a constant diligence to make our calling and election sure. Reveal to us more clearly the things that belong to our peace.

Many and grievous have been our sins during the day. We have not loved Thee as we ought. We have often forgotten thy precepts, and neglected to do what Thou hast commanded. Our hearts have been prone to evil when we should have followed that which was good. O God, forgive us all our sins, and put them away from before Thee for ever. May we lie down to rest at peace with Thee and with all men.

Graciously incline us so to act in future that we may count all things but loss which would stand in the way between us and Christ.

For the many blessings of the past day we adore and praise thy name. Make us more grateful for all thy mercies. We implore thy protection for the night. Let the shield of thy care be around us and all who belong to us. Bestow on them and us every needful blessing, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.