TWENTY-FIRST WEEK.—THURSDAY. — Evening

ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, the Lord of life and of death, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we give Thee thanks that Thou hast mercifully brought us in safety and in peace to the close of another day. We know not through what dangers we have walked to-day, but Thou hast been our perpetual guard. We know not what snares have been laid for our feet by the enemy of souls; but Thou hast kept us from falling. We know not what arrows of death have been flying past us; but Thou hast kept us from harm. Incessant as our wants have been, Thou hast richly and abundantly supplied them. Thy gifts have been around us in measureless profusion and vastness, and we have lived in thy love. We would humbly rejoice now in thy favour to us, and praise Thee for thy goodness.

But how, O Lord, shall we praise Thee for thy forbearance, thy long-suffering, thy patience, thy gentleness, and thy tenderness towards us? We know we have done amiss; but we know not how evil our lives are in thy sight, and how imperfect has been our best obedience. Pardon us, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus, whose sacrifice we plead as our only ground of hope; and oh, help us to be more watchful for the future against those things in which we know that we have failed and sinned this day. Thou hast called us to imitate thy perfection. Send down the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, to take of the things of Christ, and show them unto us. Help us to set Thee always before us, and to make Jesus, thy dear Son, our rule and law of life. Preserve us from spiritual blindness and hardness of heart. Increase our faith in thy Word, and in Him whom it reveals, and grant that in and through Him we may surely attain unto life everlasting.

And now, O Lord our Father, we lie down to sleep, confident of thy protection. Until Thou willest it, we cannot sleep the sleep of death. We would not fear to die; but we pray that whenever Thou shalt call us to depart we may die as the friends of Jesus, and be ready, through thy grace, to give in our account to Thee with joy. Nor would we fear the approach of trouble and sorrow, for we know that all things are in thy hands. Thou makest all things to work together for good to them that love Thee: and we are sure of thy presence in our hour of need, and of all succour that we can want. We leave all with grateful confidence in thine hands.

If there be any of our friends in trouble this night, O Lord, comfort them. Be with all who sorrow or suffer; and so cause thy kingdom to spread in the world, that all men shall speedily rejoice in thy salvation. Hear us, O Lord, through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Saviour. Amen.