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hurt thousands have fallen on my right hand and on my left, and I am standing.

I am living to praise Thee: I have voice and understanding to bless Thee.

Therefore my heart is full, and thanketh Thee and all that is within me praiseth thy holy name.

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Prolong thy mercy, O Lord be Thou my keeper through this night.

Spread the curtains of thy pavilion around me: let the powers of darkness see me in thy presence, and be afraid.

I lay me down in peace : my sure trust is in Thee.

XIV.

AN ENQUIRY INTO OUR SPIRITUAL STATE.

THOU hast finished thy work for this day, O my body: Thou hast had care enough, O my soul.

O thou wondrous work of God: thou concord of two elements in one,

Thou harmony of earth and heaven: Thou heir of life and death,

Expectant of shame and of glory: that shalt be given unto the dust, and reserved unto God.

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That shalt be broken in twain again : and

joined together again, never to be put asunder again;

Thy Maker hath preserved thee through another day again He layeth thee down in safety.

Thy frame is still whole and compact: thou hast service yet to do.

Lay thee down, take thy rest: and let thy last words bless the name of the Lord.

In his pleasure He will raise thee up tomorrow in his faithfulness He will raise thee up at the last day.

Then shalt thou rise, even as thou shalt have fallen as thou art, so shalt thou be.

Art thou clad in robes of royalty: O anointed minister of the King of kings?

Is thy heart full of the knowledge of the Lord are thy hands exercised in doing his will?

Hast thou the garment of righteousness: O Priest attendant upon the everlasting High Priest?

Is thine heart sprinkled from an evil conscience offerest thou the sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit?

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Is thy forehead stamped with the seal of the living God: O vessel of his holiness, and servant of his will?

Hast thou been marked by the Spirit for the day of redemption that thou come not into the destruction of the wicked?

Feelest thou the earnest of the Spirit within thee hath He given unto thee the foretaste of the things of the world to come?

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Knowest thou the savour of the everlasting peace of God: canst thou shout the prelude of the joy of the angels in heaven?

Lovest thou the beauty of holiness: delightest thou in the robes of innocence?

Then thou shalt not be left in hell: neither shalt thou see corruption for ever.

But thou shalt be clothed in white garments : and a crown of glory shall be upon thine head.

And thou shalt be seated on a throne in heaven and to thy life there shall be no end.

XV.

THE PERILS OF THE NIGHT.

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O LORD, the night indeed is thine how mightily dost Thou magnify thy power therein. We are fain to flee unto Thee from its terrors and quick is the remembrance of Thee amidst its perils.

The gates of hell are opened wide all the powers of darkness are abroad.

They are stirring up its children to deeds of violence and blood: they are calling together the councils of its servants.

They find their way to the bed of the child of light they enter the secret chambers of his heart.

They seek advantage of his weariness: they lay wait for the unwatchfulness of his sleep. They take up the rein which He hath dropped: and endeavour to drive his thoughts at their will.

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But his trust is in Thee, O Lord and Thou wilt keep him in safety.

Their arm of flesh shall not come nigh unto his body their fiery darts of spirit shall not assault his soul.

Thou shalt guard the door of his dwelling: Thou shalt be a shield and a buckler to his spirit.

Thou shalt make his darkness to be light: and he shall see the snare which they are laying, and the pit which they are digging.

And he shall behold Thee his Defender at his right hand and shall laugh them to scorn.

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O Lord, be with thy servant this night : under the shadow of thy wings let me lay me down.

XVI.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESULTS OF OUR SINS TO OTHERS.

WHO setteth him down to count the waves of the sea who careth to consider the cause of one of them?

It riseth up, and falleth again: and the eye seeth it no more.

But it hath raised up another : and that also falleth to raise up another onward still.

And thus at length the multitudinous sea is put into motion: and rolleth from one end of the world to another.

And navies sail in the course of the waves: and empires stretch their dominion from pole to pole.

So doth day rise up after day and little recketh man of each as it passeth.

But ere it hath sunk it hath communicated its character to the next : and that also in its turn giveth the motion of its workings to the

next.

And the tide of life runneth onward : and generation receiveth from generation.

And the course of this world is directed thereby yea, and the course of the world to

come.

Therefore who knoweth what this day may

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