having lived and died in thy faith and fear, have entered into the joy of their Lord. O Father, watch over us during the hours of slumber. Let us abide this night under the shadow of the Almighty. Under the shelter of thy wings let us trust, and be thou our shield and buckler. And when our last day shall come, may no night gather about our souls, but may the Lord of life be our light and guide. To thee through him shall be the praise. Amen.

XII.

The Deliverer from Peril.

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

And when he had sent the multitudes away he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come he was there alone.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with waves for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid; and, beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

O, OUR GOD, again, as the thick shades of night fall on us, and, after the cares and toils of the day, we seek the refreshing sleep thou hast provided for tired man, we would devoutly commend ourselves to thy sovereign keeping. Through all the perils of this night wilt thou preserve us, in the time of our necessity sending us a divine help like that which walked in the night on the waves of the sea to sustain the sinking disciple. May we this night hear the voice of a like watchful love say to us, Be of good cheer; and neither now nor ever may that voice ask us, Wherefore didst thou doubt, O thou of little faith?

For what we have done amiss forgive us, merciful Lord. If we have strayed from thee, or forgotten thee, O now, in this silent and secluded hour, help us to repent, to resolve anew with better and firmer Vows. Let us feel thy Spirit breathing love and serenity into our hearts.

And now, Almighty God, as the favored children of heavenly grace, let our sleep be sweet, and thy banner over us be love. We pray for others, our dear ones at home and abroad. May they lie down

in innocence, sleep in peace, and awake in grateful joy. And when our days and nights on earth are ended, O take us all to thyself in the immortal blessedness of heaven. We offer this prayer most humbly in the name of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. Amen.

XIII.

The Lord our Shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shades of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth

over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

OUR FATHER and our God, all honor, and glory, and dominion, and power, be given unto thee for ever and ever. All thy works praise thee, and may all thy saints bless thee. The mercies, deliverances and blessings, of another day, demand our gratitude. In going out and in coming in, thou, the

good Shepherd, hast led our steps, and our paths have been in green pastures, and beside the still waters. We have lived upon the bounties of thy love, and been satisfied; for goodness and mercy have followed us all the day. Thou hast breathed upon our souls, and thine inspiration hath given us understanding. Thou hast opened the whole creation of heaven and earth to our view, that we might be led by what is seen and temporal to thee the Unseen and Eternal.

Thou hast visited us this day, and tried us every hour, that our hearts might incline to follow the Lord our God. Have mercy upon us that we receive in no wiser or better spirit the ceaseless lessons of thy love. But as the day is now gone, and its opportunities can never be recalled, we would gather up in this evening hour all it has given us and taught us, and erect a new memorial of praise. Forgive us, O God, if in aught we have been blind to the glories of the day which thou hast made, or careless of its duties, or deaf to its invitations, or ungrateful for its benefits, or forgetful of its everlasting consequences. May the deep consciousness that thou, our heavenly Father, hast made and given us all these things, abide evermore in us.

And now, as thou dost draw the curtains of darkness again around us, may we rest in thee and fear no evil. Grant us, if it be thy holy pleasure, quiet and refreshing repose, and a glad awakening on the morrow. And as by the close of the day thou re

mindest us of the end of all earthly things, and gently callest on us to prepare for the final sleep of death, O God, fit us for that solemn event, that we may enter the shades of the tomb without fear or doubt, having thy presence with us, and thy rod and thy staff to comfort us. With our sins forgiven and our souls sanctified, may we meet thee in peace, and dwell in the house of the Lord forever. We ask it, through thine abounding mercy, in Jesus our Lord. Amen.

XIV.

Israel's Shepherd.

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth.

The day is thine, the night also is thine; thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

Look upon us, we beseech thee, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name, and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. I am continually with thee. Thou hast holden me by thy right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

So we thy people, and sheep of thy pasture, will give thee thanks forever; we will show forth thy praise to all generations.

O THOU who alone art good, it is very sweet and