• Ver. 32.

t Ver. 33.

O God! our enemies are lively and they are strong. We are surrounded with temptations and trials from within and from without. But be Thou 1 Rom. viii. 31. for us, and who shall prevail against us? Thou, who in thy wondrous love hast not spared Thine own Son, but hast delivered Him up for us all, wilt Thou not with Him freely give us all things? Thou, who although Thou hatest iniquity, yet justifiest the penitent believer, let us be of the number of Thine elect, and who shall lay any thing to our charge? Thou, our Saviour, yea, the Saviour of all who believe, who died, who art risen again, who art at the right hand of God, to make intercession for us"; hear the humble prayers of those, who although as dust and ashes before Thee, have taken upon them to speak unto Thee. Hear us, not for ourselves alone, but for our relations, our friends, our acquaintances, our country, all our fellow-creatures. Plead Thou for us, Lord, and we shall not be condemned. O gather us under Thy wings, let us for ever abide in Thee, and let nothing separate us from Thy love".

a Ver. 34.

▾ Ver. 35.

Psalm xxxviii. 19.

+1 Tim. iv. 10.

Gen. xviii. 27.

§ Matt. xxiii. 37.

John xv. 4.

w Rom. xii. 1.

May we henceforward present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, unto God, which is our reasonable service". Let us no longer be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. May we abhor that which is evil, cleave to x Ver. 2. that which is good; be kindly affectioned one to

у

another with brotherly love, giving with simplicity, y Ver. 9, 10. shewing mercy with cheerfulness. Not slothful in z Ver. 8. business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer. May we rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. If it be possible, as much as in us lies, may we live peaceably with all men, and not be overcome of © Ver. 18. evil, but overcome evil with good".

a

Ver. 11, 12.

b Ver. 15.

d Ver. 21.

e

O God of Peace, according to Thy blessed promise, bruise Satan under our feet shortly; Ch. xvi. 20. and if it pleaseth Thee, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope

f

through the power of the Holy Ghost; and may Ch. xv. 13. the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us

alls. Amen.

8 Ch. xvi. 24.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

FROM ST. LUKE'S GOSPEL.

a Luke i. 68.

b Ver. 77.

c Ver. 79.

d Ch. iv. 18.

BLESSED be Thou, O Lord God, who hast visited
and redeemed Thy people; who hast sent Thy
Holy Word amongst us to give knowledge of
salvation", to give light to them who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into
the
way of
peace.

O God, our merciful Father! how great was Thy compassion and loving-kindness in sending Thy beloved Son into the world to die for man, anointing Him to preach the Gospel to the poor, sending Him to heal the broken-hearted, to give deliverance to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, and liberty to them that are bruiseda. Open our hearts to receive with gratitude the precious truths of the Gospel. May we know ourselves to be wretched and miserable, and poor,

and blind, and naked, and flee unto Him who has promised to cast out none that come unto Him*. O grant, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our spiritual enemies, may serve Thee, our God, without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the

75.

days of our life. May our hearts be as the good e Luke i. 74, ground, on which the precious seed was sown. May we hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Lord! we are corrupt and unholy before Thee, and unworthy to take up Thy name within our polluted lips+; but if Thou wilt, Thou canst make us clean. O have compassion upon us, put forth Thine hand, and say, "I will, be Thou clean;"

f Ch. viii. 515.

then shall the leprosy of our sin depart from us. Ch. v. 12, 13. We are often distressed, perplexed, and wretched,

from inward temptations, and outward trials, so that our hearts are like a vessel tost upon a troubled sea. But, O merciful Saviour! rebuke the raging of the winds and waves, then there shall

h

25.

be a calm1. In all the sorrows, and the sufferings Ch. viii. 23— of this troubled life, say unto us, "Be of good

¡Luke x. 42.

k Ch. ix. 23.

1 Ver. 62.

m Ch. xi. 18.

n Ch. xii. 8.

"cheer, it is I, be not afraid," then shall our souls find strength and peace.

Give us grace to choose the one thing needful, that good part which shall not be taken away from us'; may we remember that this world is not our rest; teach us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross daily, and to follow our Blessed Masterk, bearing in mind His admonition, that no man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God'.

O Merciful Father! who hast promised to give Thy Holy Spirit to them that ask it, give it abundantly to us, we earnestly beseech Thee, for of ourselves we cannot please Thee. Give us grace to confess Christ before men; then shall He confess us before the Angels of God". We know not, but that this night our souls may be required of us°. P Ch. xviii. 13. God be merciful to us, sinners! and pardon all our offences, for Christ's sake: and O! may our loins be girded about, and our lights burning: and may we be ready, for we know not at what hour the Son of man may come1.

• Ver. 20.

9 Ch. xii. 35.

r Ver. 40.