Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/267

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that man experiences on earth, are those in which he is engaged in humble duty to his Lord, by being willing to be esteemed the least of all, and the servant of all, in imitation of that divine Example whose time was spent in doing good to all, and whose tender mercy is over all His works. Lord, hear us, and bless us with this catholic spirit, for Thy own name sake. Amen.


FRIDAY MORNING.

O LORD Jesus Christ, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, help us that our charity may be known of all men. Where true charity is, there Thou art; for true charity is the life of goodness, and Thou art in everything that is good. But while we know the blessedness which true charity is adapted to produce, O Lord, impress us, we beseech Thee, with a due sense of the danger which results from the spurious exercise of this heavenly grace. Never may we arrogate to ourselves what of right belongs to Thee. Never may we be guilty of that grievous profanation which trusts in its own righteousness and despises others; but may a deep sense of our own demerits, and a conviction of the imperfect manner in which we perform our best duties, teach us that, after all, we are unprofitable servants. Lord, keep us humble. As our duties are fulfilled, teach us who it is thet imparts the power which enables us to fulfil them. O remove from us internal depravity; assist us to cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside may be pure also. Form our understandings by Thy truth; All our affections by Thy good; aid us to pursue our vocations from an internal love of our neighbour, and from a devout and willing obedience to Thee. So shall charity be to us as the end of the commandment, out of a pure heart and faith unfeigned. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


FRIDAY EVENING.

GaeAt 'Lord of all things, we have, indead, need constantly to wait upon Thee, to pray for Thy guidance, to serutinize onr motives, and to bring all our actions under Thy divine government. Seeing how prone we are to mingle evil with good, and to contaminate that which is really good by the selfishness of our nature, we have, indeed, need to pray that we may be cleansed from secret faults. Help us then. O Lord, to keep Thee continnally before us. May the fear of Thee be before our eyes continually, that we sin not. When our corrupt inclinations would tempt us to a violation of any of Thy righteous laws, may the example of one of Thy tried servants come to our reseue: " How can we do this great wickedness and sin against God?" May our prayers and our alms come up as a continual memorial before Thee. And may both our prayers and our almns be in secret; may no vain-glory accompany either of them; may they be formed from a conviction of their blessed tendenoy, that what we do from that which is hidden, may by Thes be

rewarded in that which is manifest. May Thy holy name be magnified. O Lord, for the blessings which this