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A FAMILY MORNING PRAYER.
O Thou, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and ⟨God⟩ of glory, who hast so loved the world as to give ⟨thy⟩ only-begotten Son, to the end, that all who believe ⟨in⟩ him should not perish but have everlasting life, mercifully regard us merciful sinners. Thou seest how slow of heart we are to believe the record thou hast given ⟨of⟩ thy Son. Though we read of his glory, how ⟨little⟩ does it affect us! Though he has a name which ⟨is⟩ above every name in heaven or earth, how little ⟨affiance⟩ do we feel in him! or consolation from all that he ⟨hath⟩ done and suffered!
Have compassion upon us, O Lord, and help us⟨.⟩ Give us what thou hast most graciously promised, ⟨the⟩ Spirit of truth to open our understanding, that we may understand the things which are spoken of thy Son ⟨in⟩ the scriptures. O give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; of his person and ⟨his⟩ office; of his love and power towards all that hear ⟨his⟩ voice and follow him; that so we may abound in clear, magnificent, and endearing thoughts of Jesus Christ ⟨the⟩ Lord; that he may be no less precious to us than ⟨he⟩ was to the glorious company of the Apostles, and ⟨the⟩ noble army of the martyrs. Thou, O God, hast declared that thy Son shall be exalted and extolled, ⟨and⟩ shall be very high. Help us, we earnestly pray thee⟨,⟩ to give him the honour day by day, more perfectly⟨.⟩ Enable us to comprehend with all saints the immeasurable extent of his love; the breadth and length, ⟨the⟩ height and depth thereof.
We beg this of thee, O our God, in order that ⟨we⟩ may have our affections raised up to heaven, ⟨where⟩ Christ sitteth on thy right hand; that we may ⟨grow⟩ more dead to the world, and walk more becoming ⟨our⟩ Christian character: that we may be enriched as ⟨much⟩ as possible with light and grace, joy and peace in ⟨the⟩ present life; and to shew forth the praise of Him ⟨who⟩ hath called us out of darkness into marvellous light.
