TWENTY-SECOND WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

O LORD, our God, at the close of another day we would lift up our souls unto Thee. Every day Thou art loading us with thy benefits, and giving us new cause to make mention of thy loving-kindness in the morning, and of thy faithfulness every night. Alas, that we are so unthankful and evil! Thou art ever mindful of us, but we are continually forgetting Thee: We cannot reckon up the sum of thy gracious thoughts towards us, and neither can we count the number of our sins. Oh, give us the grace of true repentance. Lead us anew this evening to the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness; and as we have done iniquity in time past, may we do so no more.

Help us to lay to heart the solemn lesson of the barren fig tree. Oh, let us not also be cumberers of the ground, lest we, too, fall under thy righteous curse. Teach us to remember that herein is our heavenly Father glorified that we bear much fruit. Do Thou, O God, make us to abound in those works of righteousness which are, by Jesus Christ, to thy praise and glory. Without Thee we can do nothing. Make thy grace sufficient for us. Create in us a clean heart; renew in us a right spirit; and enable us to follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

We are unworthy of the least of thy mercies, but worthy is the Lamb that was slain. We bless Thee for the promise that whatsoever we shall ask in prayer in Christ’s name, believing, we shall receive. Lord, we believe; help Thou our unbelief. Supply all our need according to thy riches in glory by Jesus Christ. Having named his name, may we learn henceforth to depart from all iniquity. As He who hath called us is holy, may we also be holy in all manner of conversation; purifying ourselves as Christ is pure, and laying up treasure in heaven.

Oh, let us not think it enough to say unto Christ, “Lord, Lord;” neither let us trust in ourselves that we are righteous. In thy sight all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Thou, O God, lookest not on the outward appearance, but on the heart. May our hearts be sincere before Thee; and may Christ be made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

And now, O Lord, we would commit ourselves into thy hand for the night. When we lie down, may we take our rest in quiet; and when we awake, may we be still with Thee. If Thou art pleased to spare us to see the light of another day, may the life thus preserved be spent in thy service, and devoted to thy glory. And now, O Lord, turn not away thy face from us, neither our prayers from Thee, for the sake of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.