Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/375

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of Satan. Past experience has convineed us that the sensual principle, as the serpent, still works by subtlety; leads us gently and imperceptibly, by false reasoning, into the flowery path of pleasure; shuns the straight and narrow way, but conducts us by winding and devious paths, till the gulf of destruction yawns hefore us. Against these seducing inlfluences, O Lord, we pray to be preserved and delivered. Help as to be watchful over our own hearts, that the enemies of our own household lead us not into evil. Preserve us from the seductions of sensual pleasure, lest we become sinful in fleshly delights. Imbue us with integrity and uprightness, lest covetonsness, which is idolatry, asurp Thy place in our hearts. Keep us from pride and presumption, lest we fall into the snare of self confidence, and deny Thee, our only God and Saviour; and O grant us that aid which may keep the passions under control, and preserve us in purity and virtue. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


MONDAY EVENING.

ADORABLE Saviour, Thou art the first and the last; who wast, who art, and who art to come, the Almighty; the dwelling-place and refuge of Thy children in all generations, their sure defence in the hour of trial; unto Thee we now humbly address ourselves, knowing that according to our sincerity, so will the answer be to our petitions. We can with truth declare that hitherto the Lord hath helped us, and been our protector; and our humble petition is that Thy wisdom may still be our counsellor, Thy strength our defender, and Thy mercy our neverfailing assurance.

O help us to awake from that fatal indolence which seeks only for natural gratifications, and which, if continued in, must end in our ruin.

We presume not to address Thee under any idea of our own worthiness, for we have all grievously erred; but we come unto Thee under a deep sense of our evils, and with a full conviction that by Thy power alone can we be rescued from them. Notwithstanding our transgressions, Thou hast hitherto borne with us; and our infirmity and frailty has but added to Thy pity and forbearance. Lord, we beseech Thee, help us to become more vigilant in our duty: help us to sacrifice all our inclinatious, that by so doing we may become more completely influenced by Thy goodness. Help us to look with less anxiety on the things which pass away, and to be more earnestly solicitous for those which are eternal. O let Thy merey hold us up, and we shail walk secure. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


TUESDAY MORNING.

O THOU who hast encouraged Thy creatures to come unto Thee, and hast graciously promised that whatsoever we ask in Thy name Thou wilt bestow upon us, hear us, we beseech Thee, this morning, and let our prayer come up before Thee, our King and our God. Our voice shalt Thou hear in the morning; we will direct our prayer unto Thee; our exclamation shall be, "O God, Thou art our God; early will we seek Thee."