in spirit, and diligent in the performance of every good word and work. We ask this for Thine own sake, O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
O LORD, we approach Thy mercy-seat this evening; we desire to thank Thee for the blessings of the past day. Like as a father pitieth his children, so Thou, O Lord, dost pity us; for Thou knowest our frame. Thou rememberest that we are but dust; and when we look back upon all that Thou hast done for us, we are constrained to acknowledge that Thy goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our life.
How rapidly our life passes! Day unto day succeeds, and brings us nearer to our eternal home, and yet how unconcernedly we live! how unfit we are to answer the summons of which we know not the moment when it shall be given. The warning given to the early disciples, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation," is alike suitable to us who are now living.
Endue us, 0 Lord, we beseech Thee, with this spirit of watchfulness, and grant that the great work of our salvation may never be absent from our thoughts. In all that we do may a knowledge of our eternal state enter, so that integrity and uprightness may permeate every action, and direct our every thought, word, and work. May we ever keep in remembrance, that to be Thy disciples we must be equally faithful in small matters as in great, and do our duty conscientiously to the world and our neighbonrs, rendering unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things which are God's. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
THURSDAY MORNING.
O LORD of heaven and earth. God of all consolation, we humbly desire to approach Thee this morning. We praise Thee that Thy mercies never fail. Thy protection has again heen extended over us; yea, Thou never leavest us. Be pleased, Lord, to accept our humble and hearty thanks for all the blessings of the past night; and hear us when we pray that Thou wilt be pleased to extend Thy care unto us through another day, and go before us in all our duties.
"What time we are afraid, we will put our trust in Thee." "Whom have we in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that we desire beside Thee." Thou Lord knowest our frame. Thou hast Thyself trodden the path of temptation; being tempted in all respects like unto ourselves, yet without sin: a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
As Thou knowesat our frame, O Lord, and art aquainted with our frailty, as if left to ourselves, we are wholly unable to cope with our spiritual enemies, O help us when we cry unto Thee, and acknowledge Thee as the only source of deliverance from danger and difficulty. "We have nothing of our own wherein to trust," and nothing but Thy providence upon which to depend. When we call upon Thy name, O Lord
