HYMN. Father, whate'er of earthly bliss Give me a calm, a thankful heart, IN Let the sweet hope that thou art mine, Thy presence through my journey smile, PRAYER For Wednesday Evening. "Our Father which art in heaven." Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God. That the Lord God Almighty should be to us a Father, and we should be to him for sons and daughters, -thou art the Father of our spirits, to whom we ought to be in subjection and live. Thou art the Father of lights, the Father X of mercies, and the God of all consolation; the eternal Father, "of whom, and through whom, and to whom, are all things." Thou art the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose glory was that of the only begotten of the Father. Thou art, in Christ, the Father of all believers, whom thou hast predestinated to the adoption of children, and into whose hearts thou hast sent the spirit of thy son, teaching them to cry, Abba, Father. To as many as receive Christ to them thou givest power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. 0 that we may receive the adoption of sons. Thou hast been a Father to us, but where is thine honour ? We come to thee as prodigal children that have gone from our Father's house, into a far country; but we will arise and go to our Father, for in his house there is bread enough and to spare. If we continue at a distance from thee we perish with hunger! Father, we have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and are no more worthy to be called thy children: but, heavenly Father, give us the meanest place in thy house, if we may but eat of the crumbs that fall from thy table. O that we may receive the adoption of sons, and, as obedient children, may we fashion ourselves according to the example of him who hath called us, who is holy. May we be followers of thee as dear children, and conformed to the image of thy Son, who is the first-born among many brethren. Enable us to come to thee with humble boldness as to a Father, a tender Father, who spares us as a man spares his son that serveth him, and, as having an advocate with the Father, who has told us that the Father himself loveth us. Thou art our Father in heaven, and therefore unto thee, O Lord, do we lift up our souls, unto thee lift we up our eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens ! Thou sayest, Seek ye my face, and our hearts would answer, Thy face, Lord, would we seek. Thou hast the words of eternal life. Hast thou so loved us as to give thy beloved Son to be our Saviour? O Lord, save us for his sake who came to seek and to save thy lost children; and O let us be numbered among those to whom he sayeth, 1 ascend to your Father and to my Father, to your God and my God. And now what is our petition, and what is our request; what would we that thou Heavenly Father, let shouldest do for us? thy name be sanctified. do for thy great name. rit upon all flesh, and let the word of Christ dwell richly in the hearts of all. Be thou exalted, O Lord, among the heathen, be thou exalted in the earth. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. O that we, who are the children of thy power, may be the children of thy grace! That we may sanctify thy name; and may .Jesus Christ be magnified by us in life and in death! Father, glorify thy own name: Thou hast glorified it, glorify it again. Father, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee. O give him a name above every name. Meditation for Thursday Morning. THE CHRISTIAN PILGRIM. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”—1 Pet. ii. 11. Remember, O my soul, this is not thy home; thou art upon a journey to thy Father's house, where thou must abide for ever; even on thy journey home, he permits thee freely to converse with him. O see him then that is invisible: hearken to him when he speaketh: obey his voice: observe his way:: speak to him boldly, though humbly and reverently as his child, about thy greatest concerns; tell him all thy sorrows, and confess all thy folly and unkindness; intreat his forgiveness, and plead the merits of thy Saviour. Converse with him about the way in which thou shouldest go. Desire his grace, and give up thyself to his conduct and care. Weep over, in his ears, the history of thy ingratitude; tell him how thou art most offended with what has most displeased him: that thou art angry with thy disobedient, unthankful heart: that thou art weary of that heart that loveth him no more; and that it shall never please thee till it loves him better, and is more desirous to please him. Tell him of thy enemies, and beg the protection of his love: tell him of thy frailties, infirmities, and passions; and beg not only his tender forbearance, but his help. Tell him, that without him thou canst do nothing; and beg the grace that is sufficient for thee; that through him that strengtheneth thee, thou mayest do all things. When thou fallest, despair not, but beg his helping hand to raise thee. Speak to him, especially of thy everlasting things, and thank him for his promises, and for thy hopes; for what thou shalt be, and do, and anjoy among his holy ones for ever, Ex |