up to thee with grateful hearts, presenting their morning tribute of prayer and praise. Grant us, O Lord, right thoughts and feelings, that we may worship thee acceptably. May we deeply realize that thou art, and that thou art the rewarder of them that diligently seek thee; that thou art not far from every one of us, seeing that thou hast given unto all life, and breath, and all things; that thou art a spirit, unseen by mortal eye, but always near us, observing all that we do, hearing every word that we utter, and familiar with our very thoughts; and that we should love thee with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.

We bless thee, O God, for all the knowledge of thy will imparted by thy voice in nature and in our own hearts; for thy communications to men in ancient times by patriarchs and prophets, and especially for the divine instruction given to us in the fulness of time by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We bless thee that through him we have access unto the Father; and we pray that, guided and strengthened by our gracious Redeemer, we may more and more steadfastly contemplate thee, the high and holy One, who inhabitest eternity.

We thank thee that thou permittest us to call thee Father. May we ever be thy faithful and loving children. May we be drawn to thy service, and retained therein, alike by reverent fear and grateful love. Knowing that thou discernest all our ways,

may we fear to sin against one so great; and receiving alike from nature and from the Gospel assurances of thy goodness, may we with constant care shun to offend against one so kind and bountiful. May we walk with thee, O Lord, this day. If temptation comes, may we meet and conquer it, not in our own strength, but in thine. If sorrow falls to our lot, may we meekly submit, and try to learn thy purpose in the affliction. If crowned by happiness, may we blend thankfulness to thee with humility at the thought of our own deficiencies and sins.

O Lord, forgive, we pray thee, our offences. Grant us true repentance of them, and may sin no more have dominion over us. Deliver us from any danger which may now threaten us; but, above all, keep us, O Father, from the danger of sin, bless us day by day, and at length take us to thyself.

We beseech thee for each other, and for all who are dear to us, imploring for our friends the same blessings we have besought for ourselves, and that we may keep thy commandment in loving our neighbor as ourselves. May we always be united in love here; and at the last be admitted to that holier world, where thy presence shall be more clearly displayed, and where thine accepted servants shall rejoice before thee forever with exceeding joy. May thy blessing be with all mankind; and unto thee, in the holy name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, do we ascribe all praise. Amen.

XXIX.

Duties to our fellow-Men.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Be of the same mind one toward another. things, but condescend to men of low estate. your own conceits.

Mind not high
Be not wise in

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

ALMIGHTY GOD, by whose paternal care we have been kept through the darkness of another night, we bless thee for the light of this day, and for all the mercies it reveals. From thy hands we receive afresh

the lives which thou first bestowed. We enter again into possession and enjoyment of the world which thou didst build and furnish for our habitation. We behold anew the faces of the friends whom thou hast made dear. We feel within us the motions of that understanding which thine inspiration hath given

us.

Creator and preserver of our lives, Giver of every good and perfect gift, we adore thy nature and thy providence.

Consecrate now, O Lord, to thine own service, the powers thou hast created, the possessions thou hast conferred. We dare not go forth to our labors and enjoyments without thy direction and blessing. Shine in so vividly upon our hearts, that nothing we behold this day may cloud thy presence. Draw us so near to thyself that the world may find no room to come between us and thee. Fortify us by thy Spirit against the temptations that await us, and spare us trials greater than we can bear.

Animate us this day, O Lord, with the spirit and example of thy Son, for whom we ever bless his Father and ours. May his words and works, his life and death, his commandments and promises, dwell in our thoughts, possess our affections, and shape our behavior.

And while we invoke his spirit, we confess our own unworthiness. O Lord, suffer not our sins to hinder our prayers; take not thy Holy Spirit from us, who so often have grieved it. Withhold not that Saviour

we have so many times denied. Leave us not to ourselves. Be kinder to us than we are to each other, or to our own souls.

Command thy special blessing, gracious Parent, upon this family. Help us to dwell together in unity and mutual helpfulness. As parents, may we imitate the universal Father; as children, the Son of God. Teach us in the government of our household to unite the goodness and the severity of God, and incline the hearts of our children to submit to authority and welcome instruction.

Enlarge our hearts, thou universal Parent, towards our race. We pray for all men, but especially for those less happy than ourselves; for the poor and oppressed, the sick and solitary. Inspire us with reverence for humanity as made in thy likeness, and hallowed in thy Son. Hasten our feet at its cry, open our hand to its want, and sweeten our lips for its consolation.

Grant, O God, that these the words of our mouths may this day be established in the works of our lives; and thine be the glory and the praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

XXX.

Use of Daily Blessings.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.