A FAMILY'S ENTERING UPON DOMESTIC WORSHIP. GOD of our fathers! Our God and Father in Jesus Christ. We set up our altar in this place of our abode, and we will call upon thy name; we will give thanks at the remembrance of thy goodness, and we will worship in thy fear towards thine holy place. Help us to draw near unto thee in full assurance of faith. May we all worship thee in the beauty of holiness. Let thy Holy Spirit enlighten our understandings, sanctify. our hearts, and teach us how to pray and what to pray for. Fill our bosoms with gratitude, with reverence, and with holy love. Never may we offer the sacrifice of fools. And do thou in mercy accept us, and hearken to our prayers and praises, for the Redeemer's sake. We are thine. Other lords have had dominion over us, but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. May we never forget our vows. Suffer us never to forsake thee, or to restrain prayer before thee. Grant which the blood of Christ secures; and us the peace let no sin, no unbelief, hinder our access to thy throne. And may our worship on earth prepare us for the happier worship of heaven. Be thou with us, and keep us in the way we go; give us bread to eat and raiment to put on. Bestow upon us the healthful Spirit of thy grace, and thou shalt be our God. Our heart, our house, our family, our all, shall be thine for ever and ever, through Jesus Christ our only Mediator. Amen. PSALMS CXXXI., CXXXII., CXXXIII., CXXXIV. MORNING HYMN. "Put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." RETIRE, my soul, from carthly things, On this most hallow'd day: Thy waning lamp with oil supply, Thy holiest thoughts breathe forth on high, With chasten'd heart thy sins bemoan, Where mercy still is found: Though veil'd from thee, all heaven is near, Thy God himself is present here, The place is holy ground. If Moses turn'd to view that sight, With what deep awe should we behold Sabbaths of time: these hours we love, To which our souls aspire; When the whole church, no more to roam, PSALMS XIX., XX. EVENING HYMN. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." THE sabbath-day has reach'd its close! Smile on our evening hour! O heavenly Comforter, sweet guest! Smile on our evening hour! If ever we have found it sweet To worship at our Saviour's feet, Now to our soul that bliss repeat Smile on our evening hour! Our only Intercessor, thou, Mingle thy fragrant incense now With every prayer and every vow Smile on our evening hour! And oh, when life's short course shall end, And death's dark shades around impend, Our God, our everlasting Friend— Smile on our evening hour! |