Saturday Morning (Third Week)

MOST BLESSED GOD, who art making the outgoings of the evening and the morning to rejoice over us—we desire to begin this day with Thee. We bless Thee for Thy sparing mercy, in having permitted us once more to lie down to sleep, and to awake in safety and comfort; may we be enabled as dependants on Thy bounty to receive every returning morning as a new pledge of Thy love.

We confess, O GOD, our unworthiness. The utter sinfulness and alienation of our hearts from Thyself, the source of all life, and joy, and blessedness. To original sin we have added multiplied daily transgressions. The retrospect of life is a retrospect of guilt. Our iniquities testify against us. But we bless Thee that where sin abounded, grace hath much more abounded. Thanks be unto GOD for His unspeakable gift; for all, that JESUS died to purchase, and which he is now exalted to bestow.

O Thou Eternal Lamb of GOD—Thou spotless, sinless victim—we come to Thee this morning to lay our guilty hands and our guilty souls on Thy most precious Sacrifice. May those life-long sins be borne away forever by Thee into the land of oblivion, to rise up in judgment against us no more. May our daily walk be more circumspect and holy. Let us follow Thy will whatever it may be—though, at times, it may be at variance with our own. May we be willing to do all and endure all for CHRIST’S sake; ready to take the bitter as well as the sweet, and to feel that the Judge of all the earth must do right and cannot do wrong. In the spirit of Him who was “ dumb before His shearers,” may we have grace to say,—“Even so, Father, for so it seems good in Thy sight.” Oh, that there were more in us the mind of our Divine Master—the holy, gentle, submissive spirit of Him who was meek and lowly in heart! Prepare us for His appearing and His Kingdom. Give us grace to feel that our time is short; that we have much to do, and not a moment we can call our own to calculate upon for doing it. May we have the girded loins and the burning lamps, and be like those who are waiting for their Lord’s coming.

We entreat Thee to look down in special mercy on our household—[on parents and children, masters and servants.] Visit us all with the love which Thou bearest to Thine own. [May the young be guided through the slippery paths of youth ; may they be enabled early to range themselves on GOD’S side—to be early seekers, that they may be early finders.] May the servants be actuated by great Christian motives, performing the duties of their calling not with eye-service as men pleasers, but as doing the will of GOD from the heart; may they know that in keeping Thy commandments there is a great reward. Bless those that are absent from us—may they be sheltered by Thine overshadowing wings—make them all the children of GOD, by faith in CHRIST JESUS.

Good LORD, be with us during this day; vouchsafe to us that blessing which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it; and when all our days are finished, do Thou receive us into everlasting habitations, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, our only LORD and SAVIOUR. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

The Grace of our Lord, &c.