TWENTY-SECOND WEEK.—WEDNESDAY. — Morning

O MERCIFUL God, turn not away thy face from us because of our many sins, but, according to thy great goodness forgive, accept, and bless us. Thou art indeed gracious, and long-suffering and full of compassion. Thou puttest away thine anger even when we have grievously offended Thee, and sparest us even when we deserve thy wrath. Glory be to thy name for all thy mercies bestowed from day to day. Forbid it, Lord, that we should receive thy grace in vain, or that having heard the warnings of thy Holy Book, we should turn to them a deaf ear. Give us a true repentance for sin, and an earnest, but child-like faith in Jesus Christ, thy dear Son. Seal us with the Holy Spirit of promise, and abundantly enrich us with the experience of thy love.

We look up to Thee, O God, for guidance and protection, for wisdom and strength this day. In the prospect of its duties and cares, of temptations arising from our calling, and dangers of which we may be unaware, we desire to cast ourselves on thy mercy. Only as Thou keepest us shall we be safe; only as Thou shieldest us shall we be kept from evil and the Evil One. Leave us not, then, O God, nor forsake us. We are frail, and prone to sin. Thou knowest all our weaknesses. Hold up our goings in thy paths, that we slip not. We would go forth to our daily duty cheerfully, in the remembrance that Thou hast placed us where we are, and that even in the lowliest station, and among the humblest occupations, thy people have an opportunity of serving the Lord Christ. Enable us in all things to serve Thee. Whatsoever we do, in word or deed, may we do it as in thy sight, who seest in secret, and will reward us openly.

Preserve us, we beseech Thee, from unbelief and disobedience. Let not our times of blessing be times of forgetfulness. May thy goodness deepen in us a spirit of repentance, and thy love to us awaken our warmest love in return. Above all, we pray for the Holy Spirit, that He may guide us into all truth, show us our deep sinfulness, and reveal unto us the preciousness of thy dear Son.

Look graciously on all who belong to us, and bestow upon them thy choicest mercies. All their circumstances are known to Thee, their trials and temptations, their sorrows and perplexities. Help them according to their need, and prosper them in body and soul. [We implore thy grace and blessing for the children of our household. Oh, teach them by thy Spirit, and cause them daily to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.] Hear us in these our prayers; and to Thee, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ever one God, be honour and praise. Amen.