not. For Thou wilt save the afflicted people; Thou wilt enlighten our darkness. By Thee shall we run through troops of our spiritual enemies, and by Thy strength we shall overcome them. Yea, Lord, we have known and felt that Thy way is perfect. Thou art a buckler to all those that trust in Thee. Thou guidest us with wisdom and strength; Thou enlargest our path, none of our steps shall slide. We glorify Thee, Thou all-perfect, all-wise, all-good, all-just, unchangeable, immutable God! May Thy name be magnified!
Aid us this day to keep Thee ever before our eyes. If temptation assail us, may we look unto Thee for help; if rapacity or a thirst for unlawful gain urge us to sin against our neighbour, may we resist it, and remember that this is also sin against Thee. O teach us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Thee, O God. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
O LORD Jesus Christ. Thou only art the source of true contentment,
peace, and happiness; they who trust in Thee, in patience possess their souls. They who desire conjunction with Thee, and so live as to attain it, in peace enjoy Thy presence, and taste of happiness here, which they shall enjoy in perfection hereafter.
Often have we attempted to secure happiness without consulting Thee, nay, to seek it apart from and even in opposition to Thee. We confess. O Lord, that we have aimed to make Thee altogether such as ourselves, and to bring Thy purity to our worthless standard of it;.and although we have acknowledged Thee an immutable Being, the same yesterday, today, and for ever, yet have we repeatedly declared Thee changeable, and have asserted that 'the way of the Lord is a hard way." But we confess. O Lord, it is our way that is variable: as for us, ' our ways are unequal." O may we lay to heart the solemn truth, that Thou. Lord, wilt judge us, every man according to his ways.
From this day forth may we seek our happiness in Thee alone. Aid us, we beseech Thee, to feel the delightful assurance, that Thy ways are ways of pleasantness, and all Thy paths are peace. Aid us to redeem the time, knowing the days are evil. Aid us to hallow, sanctify, and adore Thee in all we say and do.
And now. Lord, what hope have we? Truly our hope is in Thee. Thou art the portion of our cup, in Thee alone do we trust. Guard us this night, we beseech Thee, from the encroachment of our spiritual foes. Deliver us from our enemies and from those that are too strong for us; and teach us to walk uprightly before Thee, and to keep ourselves fre from iniquity and unspotted from the world. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
THURSDAY MORNING.
O LORD Jesus Christ, Thou alone art the source of all joy and happiness. Who will show us any good! Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.
We have tasted of worldly delights, and found them only α weariness
