Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/86

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are introduced to a knowledge of its internal beauty and purity, O aid us so to live that our actions may correspond with its sacred dictates. Teach us to remember how much we gain by bringing our lives under its divine guidance, internally and externally. And unto Thee will we render all honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


THURSDAY EVENING.

O GOD of love, as our minds become more and more instructed by the truth of Thy Word, presented to us through the medium of its internal sense, we are led to behold Thee in all the perfections of Thy Divine nature, not as man, the subject of change, but as the immutable God, who art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Now, as Thou hast revealed Thyself unto us, we worship no more at the shrine of an "Unknown God," but are enabled to behold Thee in Thy divine humanity, as the Lord, the Lord merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity and sin, and blotting out our transgressions for Thy own name sake.

As we step onward in the path of the regeneration, we are presented with a more sublime view of Thine infinite love, of Thy divine wisdom, and of that sanctifying influence by which the graces of Thy Holy Spirit are communicated to the souls of the righteous; and thus do we behold the Trinity comprised in Thee, the manifested Jehovah, the glorified Redeemer, the Saviour and Regenerator of the world. And from the clear perfection which Thou hast given us of Thy divine person are we enabled to learn more of our own nature, and of the manner in which our duties are to be performed. Thou hast created us in Thy own image, after Thy likeness; and as regeneration progresses, are we enabled to see the exalted and refined operations of charity, and the necessity of letting our charity be known of all men. So too are we instructed, that our faith must not be merely nominal, but living. We must believe that Thou, O glorified Redeemer, art God, and God alone; and this belief must be accompanied with a life of holiness. Help us, we beseech Thee, to devote our whole lives unto Thee. Amen.

Our Father, etc.


FRIDAY MORNING.

O LORD God Almighty, we desire to bless and praise Thy holy name for the light of another day. Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to rejoice. Thou visitest the earth; Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God. Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness, and all Thy paths drop fatness.

While we praise Thee for the light of another day, we desire to glorify Thee for that better light, the light of the eternal truth; faint image of thee the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world.

As this day again calls for our mingling with the world, and we are commanded not to be slothful in business, O grant that our eyes may never lose sight of Thee, the true God and eternal life. May we keep Thee ever before us. May we possess Thee in all our thoughts; then how