Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/386

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

give us light, but having finished our course here, we shall pass into the eternal world, where Thou, O Lord, shalt be unto us as an everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.

We implore Thy divine blessing upon all the members of this family, and upon all our fellow-creatures, and into Thy hands we resign our spirits. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


FRIDAY MORNING.

ETERNALLY blessed and merciful Saviour, we desire to approach Thee this morning, and to glorify Thy name for the infinite goodness which is displayed unceasingly towards us, who so little deserve Thy favours. When we survey the universe, the work of Thy hands, nothing can exceed Thy greatness; and when we behold the care and fatherly solicitude with which Thou regardest and providest for Thy myriad creatures, Thy goodness is exhibited before us, and like Thyself is infinite and past finding out. Thy greatness so stupendous, inhabiting Thy high and holy place; but Thy goodness, so universal, stoopeth to the lowliest of Thy creatures, and while Thou veilest Thy greatness, and over all Thy glory spreadéest a covering, Thy goodness is seen in the perfect love which is showered down on all Thy creatures.

When we approach the Word of Thy truth, Thou softenest its brightness by the clouds of the letter in which it is enveloped. Thou adaptest it to every state and condition of men; Thou consolest the afflicted; Thou raisest the humble; Thou givest Thy bread to the poor; Thou visitest the meek with Thy salvation; Thou healest the broken in heart, and bindest up their wounds; the afflicted cry unto Thee, and Thou hearest and answerest them, and Thy goodness penetrates to every state of suffering—ever anxious, ever ready to heal the broken in heart. Lord, we adore Thee; we glorify Thy name; we praise Thee for all the marvellons acts of Thy love; Thy goodness is indeed universal in its operation, and every creature participates in its blessed influence. But it is the poor in spirit, the meek and lowly, that enjoy Thy goodness in all its fulness. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


FRIDAY EVENING,

0 LORD Jesus Christ, help ua to keep the divine precept, '* Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," ever before ua; and

_ May our intercourse with the world neyer interfere with this, the first and greatest of our daties. May no unrighteonsness disfigare our worldly occupations. May the truth " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" convince us that we must not scparate cur duty to our neighbour from that of out God. We are not to pursue one line of duty when in the immediate presence of our Saviour, and another when we associate with our brethren in the world. The kingdom of God and His righteousness must be primary, both in the church and in the world, in the sanatuary and in the house of merchandise. In dealing with our fellow-men, help us to practise eandoar, veracity, and justice. In whatever field of