TWENTY-SECOND WEEK.—TUESDAY. — Evening

O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, we praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for the goodness and mercy which have followed us all the days of our lives, and especially for the manifold tokens of thy loving-kindness this day vouchsafed unto us. Above all things, we adore Thee for thine exceeding great love to our perishing souls. Thou hast not withholden thy Son, thine only Son, from us. Thou hast sent Him down from heaven into this world of sin to die for us, the just for the unjust, that by the one oblation of Himself once offered, He might open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. May we thankfully receive thine unspeakable gift. May we reverence thy Son. May we embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life which Thou hast given us in Him; and at length be welcomed to our Father’s house in heaven.

We thank Thee, O thou great husbandman, that Thou hast planted the vineyard of thy Church in this land, and that Thou waterest it continually with the dews of heaven, causing it to bring forth fruit and bud; but Thou hast taught us that, where much is given, there will much be required. Thou lookest that we shall bring forth fruit. We acknowledge, O Lord, that we are very barren and unfruitful. The vineyard of our souls we have not kept. Spare us, we beseech Thee, and cut us not down as cumberers of the ground, but cause thy Holy Spirit to breathe upon us, that we may bring forth the fruits of righteousness, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. May these things be in us and abound, that we may be henceforth neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

O God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, have compassion upon those into whose privileges we, sinners of the Gentiles, have now entered. The house of Israel was thine ancient vineyard. Thou plantedst it a noble vine; but through unbelief its branches have been broken off. Thou art able to graft them in again. Lord, be favourable unto Zion. Turn away ungodliness from Jacob, and cause all Israel to be saved.

And now, heavenly Father, before we lie down to rest, grant to each of us pardon and peace through the Son of thy love. Thou hast laid Him in Zion a precious corner-stone. Make Him precious to every member of this family. May we all come to Him, and be built up as lively stones, a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Thee, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.