Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/387

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FIFTY-SECOND WEEK. 375


employment we may be occupied, may fidelity to our trust and congeientious discharge of our duties at all times distinguish us. May our con'versation be such as becometh the gospel. May our light so shine as to reflect the glory of our Father in heaven, and O help us s0 to labour in the discharge of our duties in this world, aa to be prepared for the enjoyment of eternal blessedness when our day of labour in this world is ended. Amen. Our Father, ete.


SATURDAY MORNING.

O LORD onr Saviour! that we might learn our duty and ever have a model for imitation before us, Thou didst even condescend to take upon Thee our low estate; Thou didst assume our nature, and as a man among men Thou didat tabernacle, and Thou didst make the process of Thy own glorification, a pattern whereby we might become regenerate, leaving to us the injunction "Learn of me." Lord, help us to be obedient to this divine injunction, that we may not any further disfigure the glorious form in which thou hast created us; but that we may rather strive to recover the likeness which sin only has so fearfully marred. By learnitg of Thee, and bringing all our powers, talents and faculties to Thy service, may we strive to display before the creatures of earth a faint resemblance of those perfections which are seen in purity by the creatures in heaven, who behold Thy glorious person.

O help us that we may not abuse any of the senses Thou hast bestowed upon us. May we keep our ears open, and hearken to what the Lord our God shall say unto us in His Word; and may we ever display a willing obedience to all Thou shalt enjoin. May we elevate our thoughts to Thee as the light of the world, and keep our mental eye open, so that all the perfections of Thy nature, and all the truths of Thy Word, in the inmost of which Thy Spirit resides, may fill our understandings with the kmowledge of heavenly wisdom. And, O merciful Father, aid us in the exercise of all the powers of our souls, that they may usefully act upon all the members of our bodies, so that when these latter shall fall into decay, and the body return to the dust from whence it was taken, the soul, prepared for the high beatitudes of Thy Kingdom, freed from the trammels of mortality, shall mount up to Thee, the Father of light and glory. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


SATURDAY EVENING.

THOU all-sufficiont God, Thou bearest, Thou answerest, Thou fulfillest the entreaties of conntless millions of beings. When Thou didst give utterance to the words, "Men ought always to pray and not to faint," Thou hadst already pre-determined to accept the prayers of all the countless multitudes of Thy children, who petitioned Thee in obedience to Thy commands, and in accordance with Thy instructions. No humble and pious heart can ask of Thee in vain. No enlightened and uplifted eye can seek Thee withont being found of Thee. No earnest desires can be offered without the door of Thy kingdom being opened. Blessed be