Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/301

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nication; for Thou hast given to every man according to his ability, and commanded every man to "occupy." O heavenly Father, may our first knowledge be to know that Thou art the giver of every good and perfect gift; may we next see in the various talents of our fellow-creatures Thy good gifts in open manifestation, exercising them for the good of all; and then may we individually bring our own share of the general good, to increase the sum of human happiness, and discharge the obligation we owe for the good we receive.

O help us to be diligent in our respective callings; to make the most of our time, to be emulous of industry, to use every means of increasing the sum of our knowledge, that we may increase our usefulness, and with the diligent servant, be enabled to deliver up to Thee that which Thou hast bestowed, with the humble acknowledgment, "Lord, Thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold I have gained two others beside them." Amen.

Our Father, etc.


THURSDAY EVENING.

[,ORD: we thank 'Thee for the blessings of this day; we thank Theo

for the ability given ua to labour; and we pray Thee to bless our labour, that it may prove a labour of love, both to ourselves and to our fellow-crentures. Thou art our Father, and not our Father only, but the Father of all the families of the earth. Thou regardest all Thy children with an equal eye. With Thee there ia no respect of persona: every one that fearoth Thee, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of Thee. How does it therefore become us to love one another: since Thou hast made of one blood all the families of the earth! Thou art the common Father, and all we are brethren: how does it become us to exercise a eatholig spirit, and to remove all narrowness and sectarianism from our souls. 'Who can tell the spirit of & man, save Thou. O Lord? Thou who searchest the heart, and triest the reins, who knowest best what is in man, can alone 6o order the arrangemonts of Thy providence, that Thy love may best reach the creature it is best enited for. What, then, are we that we should presume to censure, when we are so ignorant, know so litle, and what we know is but in part? We confess that we can never know the motives which prompt to the actions of those whom we judge. Merciful God! we pray that we may be deeply impressed by the solemn truth of Thy Word— Judgo not, that ye be not judged. With what measure ye mete, it shell be measurod to you again." O Lord, wo bescoch Thee, give ua of Thy temper and spirit, and help us to love all that preach the truth in Thy name. Amen.

Our Father, ete, i

FRIDAY MORNING. 0 LORD of life and light, the blessed and only Potentate. Bing of kings and Lord of lords, who shall not fear Thy holy name? Thow only art worthy to receive honour and power; and unto Theo every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Thon art Christ the Lord. With the returning day we approach Thee, for there is no blessing uv