TWENTY-SECOND WEEK.—FRIDAY. — Evening

O LORD, our only Hope and Refuge, to Thee would we come in humble confidence, and to Thee would we ever cling. We adore thy ineffable condescension in revealing Thyself to us, and we bless Thee for thine infinite love, and for Christ, thine unspeakable gift. We would humbly and fully confess our sinfulness, and cast ourselves on thy great mercy. Oh, teach us to know ourselves. O Father, pity us, and save us. We have no help but in Thee. Bestow upon us, we earnestly implore Thee, the rich blessings of thy salvation. Raise us above the world, and lift us nearer to Thyself. Grant us thy favour, for it is life; and conform us to Christ’s image, for it is perfection. Lord, strengthen us by thy good Spirit, for we are weak without Thee. Let the Divine life be more and more developed within us. Oh, let our hearts ever contemplate this pure and perfect Pattern, and may we be changed into the same image.

We pray that our souls may repose confidence in Thee amidst all changes. We desire never to be alarmed, but to rejoice that Christ is universal Governor: that the Lamb opens the sealed book of thy providence, and presides over all its dispensations. We rejoice that the pleasure of the Lord prospers in his hand. We rejoice that his martyrs were animated by courage, and that their blood glorified and ennobled his cause; and we pray that all his enemies may take warning. Oh, that his reign of truth, and peace, and love may be everywhere! The Lord hasten this happy period in his own time. May none of us find ourselves the enemies of Christ, without faith in Him, or love to Him. May we seek shelter in his love now, and be washed in the blood of the Lamb. God in his great mercy forbid that any of us should be found out of Him, and crying in our panic to the mountains and hills to fall upon us. Let the day of his wrath to an ungodly and rebellious world be the day of his highest and tenderest manifestation to us. May we all find mercy of Him in that day, and be accepted by Him; and may it be our eternal destiny to be with Him, to adore, and serve, and enjoy Him for ever and ever.

Accept, O our God, of our thanks for all this day’s mercies, and forgive all the sins committed during its hours. Watch over us during the night, and keep us ever under the shadow of thy wings. Holy Father, guard us and ours. Our heart’s desire and prayer for all our kindred is, that they may be saved. Lord, encircle us with thy fatherly arms. Our humble prayers we lay before Thee, and plead with Thee to accept them for Christ’s sake; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all glory, now and ever. Amen.