for health, strength, reason, and family comforts, and for all the blessings of this life. Into Thy hands we resign our spirits. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
SECOND WEEK.—SABBATH MORNING.
INFINITELY great and glorious Lord God, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, how condescending is Thy goodness in permitting us to call Thee our Father, and to hold conversation with Thee by prayer and supplication.
We confess we have turned too frequently, a deaf ear to Thine exhortations, and resisted the overtures of Thy Divine mercy; but still Thou hast not left us to ourselves. Thy providence has followed us; Thy voice we still hear, "Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?"
Lord, we desire to humble ourselves in Thy presence. We have sinned and done wickedly, and it is of Thy mercy we are not consumed. Our inward evils are constantly infesting us, they are the enemies with whom we must contend. Lord, help us to subdue them; and may Thy gracious words of promise, "To him that overcometh will I give power over the nations," stimulate us to exertion, and aid us in the work of spiritual purification. And, while we pray to Thee for help against the infestations of our spiritual enemies, and the promptings to sensual indulgence from our enemies within, O endow us with fortitude, that we may be enabled to overcome. May we keep Thee ever before us in all our temporal engagements, submitting our affairs unto Thee, being submissive and resigned to Thy divine dispensations. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
SABBATH EVENING.
LORD of the Sabbath, we desire to consecrate ourselves to Thy service this evening. We would be called by Thy name. We bear upon our foreheads the glorious initial of Christianity. O help us to walk worthy of the vocation whereunto we are called. Help us to be obedient to whatsoever Thou hast enjoined; to renounce the life of selfishness, and to live as become servants who would show all love and duty to their Lord.
May the uncertainty of bodily existence so teach us to live and improve our time, that the call for removal, when it comes, may be met with humble confidence, and the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, be our everlasting home.
With devout gratitude we thank Thee for this day of rest. Unto Thee do we look, from whence cometh our help. We would approach Thee with singleness of eye and purity of heart. Open Thine ears to our prayer; hear and answer us according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. We desire above all things that poverty of spirit, which shall bow us down in adoring love and gratitude to Thee. This day has been unto us a season of rest and spiritual refreshment. Thou hast called upon us to spend it in the exercises of humility, faith, and charity. Bless the labours of Thy minister who has bestowed spiritual blessings upon us. He has been speaking unto us the words of eternal life, and through His labours may we be prepared to taste of the joys of Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
