lasting good. So shall Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
May this day's duties be performed under the influence of Thy light and love; and help us so to exercise our freedom of will, that our affections and thoughts may be kept in a state of elevation to Thy truth and goodness, and thus that we may be prepared for the beatitudes of Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
FRIDAY EVENING.
O LORD Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that, while in the state of innocence, and before man had perverted his nature by the abuse of his freewill, Thy divine influence descended into man's inmost nature, and he walked and talked with Thee. But, alas! evil so took possession of him that order became inverted, and the principle of innocence seemed suffocated; so that now the celestial state is imperviously hidden in the spiritual, and the spiritual in the natural, and we can only enter upon the spiritual state as the natural becomes instructed, purified, and perfected.
O heavenly Father, we pray Thee guide and direct us in our search after truth. The knowledges of natural things have led us on to natural uses: but we feel that many of these have been exercised more from the love of self and the world than from the love of our neighbour. O help us to do our duty from higher motives, intead of the lust of gain, and the desire of pre-eminence over others; help us to become humble and lowly minded, and if Thou hast endowed us with great natural talents, let Thy light so shine in our minds that they may be turned in a right direction, and exercised in a gentle spirit, under the conviction that they can only be eminently beneficial, as all ability is acknowledged to have its origin in Thee.
O let the Dayspring from on high dawn upon our souls, that the first step in the regeneration may be taken by the light of life being received into our understandings; and being adapted to our state, may it gradually disperse the darkness of error, and prepare us for the bright effulgence of the perfect day. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
SATURDAY MORNING.
ALMIGHTY Lord our heavenly Father, we pray that Thy divine light may enter our minds, and grant unto us that discrimination which shall enable us to choose that which is good, to seek peace and pursue it.
In our present condition darkness covers our land, and even our natural affections and desires are misdirected, because they lack the arrangement which the light of Thy truth can alone give them.
Breathe on our barren souls, O Lord, we beseech Thee; send forth the influences of Thy good Spirit, that we may be encouraged in the path of difficulty which lies before us. As obstructions meet us, grant us the power of Thy truth to contend against and overcome them. Help us to
