Thou, Lord, hast shown them the path of life; that in Thy presence there is fulness of joy, at Thy right hand pleasures for evermore.
O Lord, accept our humble services this day, and pardon whatsoever Thou hast seen amiss in us. In retiring to rest, we would with humble confidence place ourselves entirely at Thy divine disposal, for Thou art the portion and the refuge of our souls. Bless the whole of the members of this family. Bless them with Thy love, and let Thy law be before their eyes. May we be at peace with Thee, and with all mankind. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
MONDAY MORNING.
O LORD Jesus Christ, without whom nothing was made that is made, we draw near to Thy footstool, and adore Thee, for creating us in Thy own image and likeness. Thou hast created us to become gradually perfect in a finite degree; and by a contemplation of our wonderfully constructed frames, we may form an idea of Thee, our great original.
We contemplate the head, and it ascends to heaven; it rises toward Thee, who art the Sun of righteousness. It is adapted to ascend continually into the spheres of heavenly blessedness; and we are filled with all those affections and thoughts which, with Thine assistance, enable us continually to ascend into still more interior degrees of love and wisdom, and to attain an excellence second only unto Thee, O Lord!
When Thou sayest, "Seek ye My face,"—Thy face, O Lord, we will seek; for Thou wilt cause Thy face to shine upon us, and we shall be saved. And, with a perfection of wisdom, Thou hast arranged the eye to behold Thee: how marvellous an instrument, adapted to how noble a use! By it all earthly objects of beauty and of use are placed before the mind, and by the soul's eye we can constantly behold the beauty of Thy divine countenance accommodated to our weak perception. O grant unto us that aid which may enable us to keep our eye single, that our whole body may be full of light. How useful is the member Thou hast endowed us with, for speech! How melodious are the tones frequently uttered by it; how worthy to be exercised in Thy praise; how admirably adapted for all the purposes of taste! O may we, from this, taste and see how good Thou art, O Lord: blessed are all they that put their trust in Thee.
The hand, too,—how great in ability; how noble in structure; how powerful in strength! O God. Thou hast indeed most wonderfully constructed us. Aid us, we beseech Thee, to serve Thee with all our powers, talents, and faculties. May we go forth this day, with Thy divine aid, under a settled determination to glorify Thee in our bodies and in our spirits, which are Thine. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
MONDAY EVENING. LORD Jesus Christ, the High and Holy One, that inhabiteth eternity, yet hast Thou declared Thou wilt dwell with the humble and the contrite in heart,—how full of instruction are Thy divine words:—* If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash
