for Thy divine direction; may our actions originate from the desire of usefulness grounded in that charity which delighteth not in iniquity, but delighteth in the truth: and may there be such a settled determination to pursue with integrity the duties of our station, that, Thy assisting us, we may turn neither to the right hand nor to the left, but keep ourselves unspotted from the world. Lord, help us to set a watch upon our lips that no word going forth unadvisedly may compromise those with whom we have dealings or communication. May we be slow to speak, and never speak without reflection. O help us above all things to avoid detraction, remembering the caution contained in the admonition of the apostle, "Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." We have frequently seen, even in making covert insinuations against others, which contain no direct charge of criminality, how much of suffering has been caused. For a time the charge seems covered, but, like the fire, it lies apparentiy but not absolutely suffocated; it breaks forth ultimately at a time we do not expect, and causes misery indescribable; it touches at first but one, it continnes its course to a family, it pursues its progress to a city, and finally empoisons the length and breadth of a country. O what a mountain of evil arises from speaking unadvisediy! Thou, O Lord, before whom the consequences of sin are ever present, seeing to what excesses we might run, unless cautioned against thoughtless expressions, didst give us the solemn admonition, "Verily I say unto you, every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account of in the day of judgment." O God, preserve us from thoughtless and idle speaking, and teach us to be watchful over our every thought and deed. May we never look with harshness and uncharitableness upon the failings of others, but may we be very jealous of our own condnet. O give us to see that the great business of this life is to prepare for that which shall never have an end. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
MONDAY EVENING.
O LORD, Thou art our God, we will exalt Thee! Thou art our Redeemer, we will magnify Thy name, for "Thou hast redeemed our souls from death, our eyes from tears, our feet from falling." Who is like unto Thee, Lord God of truth? What love can equal Thine? Thou art our Father, Thou art our Saviour, Thou art our unchangeable Friend. Through this day Thou hast safely conducted us, and although no danger has crossed our path and no obstacle has appeared to impede our progress, yet the hand of Thy providence, unseen, has safely guided us; it is of Thy mercy, because Thy compassions fail not, that we have been sustained and brought through all the duties of this day. O how wonderful is the goodness manifested in our constant preservation by Thy fatherly love! If Thou hadst dealt with us after our evils, and rewarded us according to our transgressions, we must have died in our sins aud perished overlastingly. But such was Thy love that Thou didst not leave us a prey to our spiritual enemies. Amidst all our evils, there was still the tenderness of divine compassion extended towards us; and when the world would have perished by reason of iniquity, Thou "in Thy love and in Thy pity didst redeem us, and become our Saviour."
