Prayers for Family Worship.

FIRST WEEK.

Lord's Bay Morning.

GOD, our Creator and Redeemer, who in Thy love to man hast set apart one day in seven to be a holy Sabbath, and in Thy merciful providence hast spared us to see another return of Thy sacred day, make us thankful for this precious season of rest and worship and instruction, and enable us by Thy grace to hallow it to those devout uses for which Thou hast appointed it.

We confess, O God, that we are prone to forget Thee amidst the pursuits and pleasures of the world. We acknowledge with shame that even on Thy holy day we have been inclined to follow our own ways, to speak our own words, and to find our own pleasure; and that often when we have come before Thee as Thy people come, and worshipped Thee with our lips, our hearts have been far from Thee.

Pardon, O God, for the sake of Thy beloved Son, our past aversion to Thy fellowship. Forgive the coldness and indifference we have shown to the honour of Thy name, and the sanctity of Thine ordinances. And now that Thou art again inviting us to remember the Sabbathday and keep it holy, we humbly implore the grace of Thy Spirit to fit and prepare our hearts for the observance of it. Grant that we may be enabled this day to rest from our works as Thou didst from Thine, and to rise from worldly vanities and cares, as Christ our Lord was raised from the dead. Direct our thoughts to those things which belong to Thy glory and our own everlasting peace. And vouchsafe to us, in the keeping of Thine earthly Sabbath, a foretaste of that heavenly rest which Thou wilt hereafter bestow on Thy people.

Almighty God, who didst in the beginning command the light to shine out of darkness, shine, we beseech Thee, into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of Thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ our Saviour; and grant that, thus knowing Thee, we may heartily love Thee, and faithfully trust in Thee, and cheerfully obey Thee; and that, beholding with open face as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we may be changed into the same image from glory to glory, until, being fully conformed to Thy likeness, we are at length presented faultless before the presence of Thy glory with exceeding joy.

O God, who hast promised that in all places where Thou dost record Thy name, Thou wilt come unto Thy people and wilt bless them, vouchsafe to us, and to all our fellow-worshippers in every place, Thy presence and Thy blessing. Enable Thy ministering servants solemnly to guide the devotions of Thy Church, and faithfully to declare the truths of Thy Gospel. And grant that their ministrations may be effectual for the conversion of sin.

ners, and for the building up of saints in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.

Be very gracious to those who are withheld by sickness, or any other necessary cause, from worshipping Thee in the assemblies of Thy people; and cause them to feel, in the privacy of their dwellings, that Thou art ever nigh to such as truly seek Thee.

Have pity on those who wilfully forsake Thine ordinances and profane Thy holy day. Convince them of their guilt, and bring them to repentance.

Increase everywhere the number of Thy true worshippers; and hasten the time when incense and a pure offering shall ascend unto Thee from the rising unto the setting sun.

To Thy special care and guidance we commit ourselves, and all who are near and dear to us, this day. O send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead us, and bring us to Thy tabernacles. Then will we go to the altar of God, unto God our exceeding joy. Cause us to feel that it is good for us to draw near to Thee. And let it please Thee, O God, to remember us with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people, and to visit us with Thy salvation.

Graciously hear us, for the sake of Thy beloved Son, to whom, with Thee, and with the Holy Spirit, be glory and majesty, dominion and blessing, world without end. -Amen.

Lord's Day Evening.

LMIGHTY GOD, Father of mercies, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift, we lift up our souls unto Thee in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

We thank Thee for the instructions of Thy Word, the rest of Thy Sabbath, the ordinances of Thy worship, and all our Christian privileges and means of grace; above all, for the promise of Thy Holy Spirit to bless them, and make them effectual for our salvation. We praise Thy name that we are more highly favoured than prophets and kings and righteous men of old, who desired to see the things which we see but saw them not, and to hear the things which we hear but heard them not; and that Thou hast greatly distinguished us above many of our fellow-creatures who are still sitting in gross darkness, by causing the Dayspring from on high to visit us, and guiding our feet into the way of life and peace.

Make us duly sensible, we beseech Thee, of the great and manifold advantages Thou hast conferred upon us. Enter not into judgment with Thy servants for the negligence, unfaithfulness, and sinfulness wherewith we have hitherto slighted or abused them. And help us, for the time to come, more justly to value our privileges, and with greater care and earnestness to improve them, that they may not at last rise against us to our condemnation.

Almighty God, who hast called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to Thine own purpose and grace in Christ Jesus, and hast blessed us in Him with all spiritual blessings, grant that we may in everything be enriched by Him, so as to come behind in

no gift. Perfect that which is lacking in our faith; make us to increase and abound more and more in love to Thee, and in charity to our fellow-men; cause us to be filled with the knowledge of Thy will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that we may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. O Lord our God, who hast graciously promised an everlasting rest to Thy people hereafter, and hast given Thy Sabbath to foreshadow it, and to prepare us for it; help us with all diligence and faithfulness to labour that we may enter into that rest; and enable us so to profit by our use of the ordinances and instructions of Thy holy day, that, going on from strength to strength, we may every one of us appear in Zion before Thee, and may enjoy there the blessedness of those that dwell in Thy house and are for ever praising Thee.

We pray that everywhere, even as with us, Thy Word may have free course and be glorified; that Thy ministering servants may be faithful and successful; that Thy Church may be edified, purified, and extended; that the outcasts of Israel and the fulness of the Gentiles may be gathered into the fold of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls; and that the blessed day may soon come when the knowledge of Thy Gospel shall cover the whole earth.

We pray for the welfare and happiness of our Sovereign; for the good of our country; for the peace of all

nations.

We pray for the poor, the sick, the dying, and all who are in danger or distress; that it may please Thee to comfort and support them, and to give them a happy issue out of all their troubles.

[Bestow Thy blessing on the young of this family. Guide them in the ways of godliness; and satisfy them