all wisdom is of Thee, he who would pursue the right path must commit his way unto Thee, O Lord, and Thou wilt bring it to pass.
O God, enable us to place ourselves entirely at Thy disposal; and yet we pray Thee to instruct us experimentally that "we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." If we are but patient, we know that Thou wilt be profitable to our souls. The times, the means, must be left to Thy disposal. Help us to be diligent, fervent in spirit, and unremitting in our duty, knowing that Thy providence will provide, not, perhaps, what we may desire or choose, but what shall be infinitely better for us.
O God, teach us to shun presumption; knowing our finite condition, fill us with hope and steadfastness in Thee.
And now, O Father, shed Thy blessing upon this family; let it softly descend as the dew of the evening. Imbue our hearts with kind and gentle feelings; teach us to repress harsh, loud, and angry expressions. Enable us to walk together in love. In peace with Thee, with each other, and with all the world, may we resign ourselves to repose, and may we finally obtain the rest of saints above. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
MONDAY MORNING.
O LORD Jesus Christ, we have been in Thy word instructed to love Thee with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves. We have been protected by Thee in the night season. With the return of day, help us to show our charity to all men, and to love one another as Thou hast loved us.
How often do Thy tender expostulations tacitly address our souls in the language of the ancient days: "O man, where art thou?" What a salutary enquiry is this? We feel it softly speaking when our anger, or our envy, or any of our bad passions would seek indulgence. It is Thy voice walking through our souls, lamenting our waywardness, and by its pleadings striving to bring us to a sense of our danger. O may we listen to Thy pleadings, and with humility and thankfulness place ourselves under the perfect government of Thy love and wisdom; so shall we in patience possess our souls, and enjoying the temporal and spiritual benefits with which Thou hast endowed us, shall rejoice when we behold our brethren endowed with any of Thy good gifts.
O Lord, we desire to unite in praise to Thy holy name for the blessings of the past night, and for the cheerful light of the present morning. Enable us to enter upon the duties of this week with alacrity of spirit, and zeal and energy of body. May we never be slothful in business, nor mere eye servants, but fulfilling the royal law according to the Scriptures. May we love our neighbour as ourselves, and pursue the great duty of usefulness and charity with cheerfulness and energy. And unto Thee, from whom we derive all power and ability, will we ascribe all praise for ever. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
