Thou dost regard our least concerns. Therefore, Lord, forsake us not in illness, affliction, and old age; but evermore give us what we really want. Oh supply all our need, for Christ's sake.

We know that those who fear Thee shall never lack what is needful for them. We pray for temporal mercies, if they be good for us; and we know that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, if we trust in the Lord. But we would not only implore, at Thy gracious hands, the good things of this life; we beseech Thee also to nourish our souls. Give us grace to remember that the words of the Lord Jesus, they are spirit and they are life :

evermore give us this bread. Strengthen our faith in the Saviour, we entreat Thee, and give us grace to rely more humbly and more firmly on His exceeding great and precious promises to all who believe. Bless to us the instructions of Thy ministers, open our hearts to receive them, and may the faithful preaching of the Gospel be received by us to our eternal profit. Hear us, everlasting Father, for Jesu's dear sake. Amen.

O EVERLASTING GOD, who hast ordained the services of angels and men in a wonderful order, mercifully grant that

as Thy holy angels always do Thee service in heaven, so by Thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

H

Thursday Evening.

[SECOND WEEK.]

OLY Father, Thy blessed Son,

when on earth, did teach us that after the seed of eternal life is sown in our hearts we must give diligence to maintain it there; grant to us, we pray Thee, therefore, that neither the cares nor the pleasures of this world, nor its sins, may choke the blessed seed which should flourish unto life eternal. We implore Thee that our souls may so be watered by Thy heavenly grace, that

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every Christian virtue may live and abound in them to Thy praise and glory. Help us also, if we have received Thy truth in the love thereof, to lay to heart the solemn warnings of our glorified Lord from heaven, against those who leave their first love, and against the lukewarm, so hateful in His sight. Let us observe the severity of His words, and then learn the danger of coldness and indifference. But should there be any of us, blessed Lord God, who, having once loved and served Thee, have gone back from Thee, have mercy on such. Revive Thy work within them once more, and encourage them to return to Thee as to a Father in Christ.