Imatges de pàgina
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Ar the close of this day, and of this week, O Lord our God, we offer to thee our grateful homage. Thou hast watched over us and supplied our wants, and blessed us in all our employments. We thank thee for thy care. Our bread has been given to us and our water has been sure, because thy mercy doth not fail. Every day has shown to us thy goodness and thy truth. May we have a becoming sense of our dependence. Help us to trust in thee, and may we ever feel safe in thine hands. Because thou hast been our help, therefore under the shadow of thy wings will we rejoice. Preserve us during this night from evil; and after the refreshment of quiet sleep, may we be permitted to greet the day of God with delight and holy joy, and to worship with thy saints in thy sanctuary. Blessed be God that we may withdraw to-night, for a brief season, from worldly engagements. Ere we retire we would confess with humility and contrition of spirit the sins of which during this week we have been guilty. Oh pardon us, we beseech thee, for the Redeemer's sake. Wash us in the fountain he set open, and may we feel afresh that we are reconciled to thee by his righteousness. Whatever we have done aright this week, succeed with thy blessing, and give us grace in all our ways to acknowledge and to serve thee, the God of our salvation.

We love thy sabbaths and thine house. We regard thy saints, the excellent of the earth, as our best

friends and kindred. Oh to be numbered with them, and to enjoy fellowship with them and communion with thee. Prepare us for this fellowship and communion on the morrow; and make us glad in thy house of prayer.

Wilt thou graciously aid our beloved pastor, that he may have pleasure in meditating on thy word, and that he may rightly divide it, so that we and all who worship with us may receive a portion in due season. Accompany the labours of all thy ministers with the power and demonstration of the Spirit, that sinners may be turned unto thee. O Lord, remember thy covenant, and let the nations be given to thy Son for his inheritance. Multiply the watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem. Heal the divisions of thy church. Hear those who sigh and cry unto thee for the desolations of Zion. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder the godly union and concord of thy people; that as there is but one body, and one spirit, and one hope of our calling, so all may henceforth be of one heart, united in truth, and faith, and charity; that there may be one fold, under one Shepherd, to the glory of God the Father. And let the dissensions, and discord, and war, which sometimes occur, cease for ever. Let not oppression prosper. Let the slave, and the prisoner, and the needy, seek thy mercy and obtain it. Oh for the universal prevalence of truth and righteousness. We supplicate these mercies, encouraged by the precious promises of thy word, and hoping for acceptance, through thine adorable Son, to whom be glory ascribed for ever. Amen.

ACTS XV.

MORNING HYMN.

"Not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words."

OUR vain engrossing thoughts, away!
The Lord demands our hearts this day;
From earthly trifles bids us fly,
And seek the glories of the sky :
We come, O Lord! at thy decree,
To yield our willing hearts to thee.
Oft as these Sabbath hours return,
Fresh proofs of mercy we discern ;
And joy to see the grace bestow'd,
To light the darkness of our road:
Oh! let that light direct our way,
To regions of eternal day.

Now let our souls on thee repose
The burden of their want and woes;
And from thy word new power derive,
To keep our humble faith alive :
Thy blessing, Lord, we long to gain;
Let us not seek thy face in vain.

While here we dwell, with cares opprest,

Few are the hours of perfect rest;
But heaven will all our loss repair,
Each day will be a Sabbath there :
Lord, by the teaching of thy grace,
Prepare us for that holy place.

ACTS XVI.

EVENING HYMN.

"And the fellowship of his sufferings."

Go to dark Gethsemane,

Ye that feel the tempter's power, Your Redeemer's conflict see,

Watch with him one bitter hour. Turn not from his griefs away, Learn of Jesus Christ to pray. Follow to the judgment hall;

View the Lord of life arraign'd:
Oh the wormwood and the gall!
Oh the pangs his soul sustain'd!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss,
Learn of him to bear the cross.

Calvary's mournful mountain climb,
There, adoring at his feet,
Mark that miracle of time-

God's own sacrifice complete : "It is finish'd," hear him cry,

Learn of Jesus Christ to die.

Early hasten to the tomb,

Where they laid his breathless clay:

All is solitude and gloom

Who has taken him away?

Christ is risen-he seeks the skies:

Saviour, teach us how to rise.

O LORD, while we would worship thee with sacred pleasure every day, we would on this day more especially come into thy presence with thanksgiving, and bow before thee with a song. The last week was filled with varied scenes and events, but mercy pervaded them all. Through trials thou didst graciously bring us; under cares thou didst sustain us. We went out and came in safely, for thou, Lord, wast about our path. What shall we render unto the Lord for his goodness? We will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Oh help us to do so this morning with grateful hearts; and while we lay our sacrifice of praise upon our family altars, may we also resolve to enter into thy gates with thanksgiving, and into thy courts with praise: we will be thankful unto thee and bless thy name. Thou didst think upon us in our ruined condition, and devise the method of salvation through the cross of thine only begotten Son. Thou hast sent to us the word of truth, and invited us freely to partake of the bread of life and the water of life. O our God, we thank thee and bless thine holy name. May we listen to the invitation of thy mercy, and eat and live for ever.

And as we hear thy word to-day, may we receive instruction and be wise. Let thy word and the ordinances of thy house be accompanied with the power of the Holy Ghost. Millions have been brought to thee on these days of prayer; may millions more be

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