GOD of our sabbath hours, we begun this day with thee, and thou hast been with us in all its services. We would close the day with thee. We beseech thee, let thy mercy rest upon us still. We do not ask this, O Lord, as if we were worthy; in ourselves we are sinful and unworthy, but we make mention of the name of our great and compassionate High Priest, who ever lives to plead our cause, and to secure acceptance for ourselves and our worship. We thank thee for all we have heard of Christ to-day. We have been reminded of his power to save, and of his unbounded love. His atoning blood, his prevalent intercession, have been placed before us, and we have been taught to hope in him. We pray that these things may not be set before us in vain. May we trust in him with more simple confidence, and love him with intenser affection. He is precious to us, all our salvation, and all our desire. May we receive him as our Teacher, our Saviour, and our King. Let his grace reign in us through righteousness unto eternal life.

Holy Spirit, impress, we beseech thee, the lessons of thy truth upon our hearts; let us not be hearers only, or forgetful hearers of thy word, but may we retain in our memory, cherish in our affections, and obey in our life every precept which thou givest. May we lay aside every weight, and the sin that does so easily beset us, and run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

We would from this hour, O Lord, be entirely thine. To-day we have renewed our covenant with thee; we trust we have been sincere in these exercises. Let no vain imaginations, no wanderings of heart, no distractions of mind, despoil us of the benefit of the worship in which we have engaged. O Lord, forgive us these evils for Christ's sake. Make us diligent and devoted as his followers. We would never be ashamed of him; may he never be ashamed of us. May we deem it our honour and privilege to be associated with his disciples and when he shall come; to be glorified in his saints, may he graciously acknowledge our name among the faithful, the called, and the chosen. Never may any part of our conduct cause the adversary to reproach him. Never may we neglect to walk before him in righteousness and true holiness; and in the world may we behave circumspectly, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

O Lord, let a Sabbath evening's blessing come upon us to-night, and let similar blessings come on all our friends and relatives, and on those with whom we have worshipped thee to-day. Follow with thy Spirit's power the good word of thy grace which has been proclaimed in any place. May the church in heaven and on earth have to thank thee in future ages for the wonders of grace wrought by thy power to-day. Wilt thou not revive thy churches, O Lord, that thy people may hope in thee? Oh for the diffusion of the light of thy truth every where; may thy Sabbaths which we love, be loved by men of every tribe and country. Hear us, O God of grace, and answer us, through Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.

LUKE XVII.

MORNING HYMN.

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom."

THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye;
My noonday walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps he leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My stedfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O Lord, art with me still
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreary shade.
Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crown'd,
And streams shall murmur all around.

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LUKE XVIII.

EVENING HYMN.

"Your life is hid with Christ in God."

REJOICE, believer, in the Lord,
Who makes your cause his own;
The hope that's built upon his word
Can ne'er be overthrown.

Though many foes beset your road,
And feeble is your arm,

Your life is hid with Christ in God,
Beyond the reach of harm.

Weak as you are you shall not faint,
Or, fainting, shall not die;
Jesus, the strength of every saint,
Will aid you from on high.

Though sometimes unperceived by sense,
Faith sees him always near;
A guide, a glory, a defence,—
Then what have you to fear?

As surely as He overcame,
And triumph'd once for you,
So surely you that love his name
Shall triumph in him too.

MOST holy and ever-blessed God! we would enter into thy presence now conscious of our unworthiness of the privilege of prayer. We remember thy greatness, and but for the redemption by Jesus Christ thy Son, we should tremble and be afraid in thy presence; but because he is the way to God, we draw nigh with boldness. Deign to look upon us in mercy; and grant us, O Lord, the healthful spirit of thy grace.

May we come to thee with true hearts in full assurance of faith. Condescend, O our Father, to draw nigh unto us. We would take hold of thy strength, and make peace with thee.

Most merciful Father, we pray thee follow with thy Spirit's grace the exercises and privileges of yesterday. May an unction from the Holy One give effect to thy word which we heard, both in our own souls and in the souls of others. May sinners think of the truths dispensed, and be brought to penitence, and prayer, and faith in Jesus Christ. May saints treasure up in good and honest hearts the things delivered to them. May they be edified in the faith and hope of thy gospel. Suffer not thy ministers to labour in vain. Let the enlivening, sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost accompany the word and make it fruitful in every heart; in us especially may it bring forth fruit unto holiness, with the end everlasting life.

Entering upon the duties and trials of another day, we pray for grace to guide, and preserve, and sanctify