O let a solemn

out Thy Spirit upon us. sense of Thy presence be upon our minds, that, while we pray with our lips our hearts may be with Thee also. We come before Thee with humility and fear, deeply feeling how unworthy we are to be numbered with Thy children, for we have grievously sinned against Thee. Of ourselves we can do no good thing. But Thou hast promised to those who seek Thy help and Thy strength, that they shall be able to "do all things"* Oh! give us now a hearty desire for this help, that it may be well with us.

We thank Thee, O Lord, for the opportunities which we are this day invited to enjoy of hearing and reading Thy blessed Gospel. O give us grace to attend to Thy Word, enable us to understand it, and make

Phil. iv. 13.

us more anxious to improve by it, that the sermons which we hear, and the knowledge which we have, may not rise up in judgment against us in the last great day. Help us to keep this Sabbath holy, resisting temptation, through Christ who helpeth us, for Thou hast spoken dreadful words against those who break Thy Sabbaths.*

O Lord God, who regardeth not the proud, but giveth grace to the poor and humble, graciously be with us this day, fill our hearts with love to Thee and love to all our fellow creatures, and when we feel angry or irritable, may we remember and try to follow the example of our blessed Saviour, for even "when He was reviled, He reviled not again; and when He suffered, threatened not."

* Ex. xx. 10-xxxi. 14-16. Neh. xii. 15-19.
Isa. lviii. 13, 14.

O Lord, send the light of Thy saving Gospel into the hearts of the poor heathen, and to such as know not Thy name, and hasten the time when they shall all know Thee from the least to the greatest, and shall acknowledge Thee for the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

[See page 107.]

His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. LAM. iii. 22, 23.

New every morning is the love

Our wakening and uprising prove;

Through sleep and darkness safely brought,

Restored to life, and power, and thought.

New mercies each returning day,

Hover around us while we pray ;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,

New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be,
As more of heaven in such we see:
Some softening gleam of love and prayer
Shall dawn on every cross and care.

The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves, a road
To bring us, daily, nearer God.

Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love
Fit us for perfect rest above,
And help us this, and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. ii. 7. The Lord is my defence, and my God is the rock of my refuge. Ps. xciv. 22.

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne, mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Ps. lxxxix. 14.

Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. 1 Pet. iii. 18.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Prov. iii. 5.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov. iii. 5.

Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Prov. xxvii. 1.

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink. For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. Prov. xxv. 21, 22.