Amidst the mercies showered down upon us, amidst the innumerable blessings we are privileged to enjoy, no blessing can be more beneficial to our souls than that which enables us to approach and hold conversation with Thee in prayer. It is a blessing to be permitted to withdraw the soul from earthly cares and worldly anxieties. It is a blessing to listen in patience to Thy Word, and then sink in humiliation on our knees, and hush our thoughts into quietude, so that we may wait to hear what Thou, Lord, shalt speak to our inward souls. And O how great the blessing which tranquillizes the passions, pours the oil of goodness over every angry feeling, every bitter thought, and gently presses down the whole soul into grateful adoration and devoted love. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
SATURDAY EVENING.
FATHER of mercies, God of all consolation, Thou hearest, Thou answerest prayer. We look up unto Thee in our seasons of affliction, for Thou art our great Physician, and vain are all the remedies of the healing art, if Thy blessing accompany them not. We pray this evening that Thy healing hand may be extended to Thy suffering children. How grievous are the maladies which afflict mankind, and O how grievous are the evils which first introduced suffcring and pain into the world.
When Thou didst take upon Thee our nature, that Thou mightest redeem us from the power of our spiritual enemies, Thy compassion also was extended to the sick and palsied in body, as well as to the diseased in spirit; and Thy hand is not shortened that it cannot save, and Thy gracious promise has gone forth. Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. We pray Thee, gracious Father, let Thy healing hand be stretched forth to the sufferers of pain and sickness, visit them with Thy consolations; put Thou their tears into Thy bottle, raise them up from the couch of suffering, and enable them again to resume their different labours of usefulness, and with returning health, help them to serve Thee with newness of life. But while affliction visits us, O most merciful Father, grant us resigned spirits: while we are permitted to pray for deliverance out of our trouble, still may we pray, Thy will, O Lord, be done. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
FIFTEENTH WEEK.—SABBATH MORNING.
O LORD Jesus Christ, we desire to acknowledge that no real purification can be accomplished but by passing through the fire of trial and temptation. Whether we look at Moses, as the representative of the law; or at Elias, as the restorer of the laws; or at Thine own giorious person, who didst magnify the law and make it honourable, we behold the previous trials and temptations indicated in the forty days of fasting. O Lord, we behold in this how necessary it is that we should be tried, and that our light affliction may work out an eternal weight of glory. May a contemplation of Thy Word render us diligent in performing the duties of this day. O lighten our understandings; open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of Thy law. May Thy
