XX.

THAT WE MAY FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF GOOD MEN.

FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Whom thou didst send into the world
To be our perfect example in duty,
We thank thee that the lives of the good
Animate and quicken our hearts,

And plead with us to walk in their steps;
May this response to a noble example

Be as the voice of God in the soul.

We thank thee that there have been those

Whose lives shine as the light,

Holy men who have feared God,

Brave men who have upheld the right,

Generous men who have lived for others' good, Men who chose suffering rather than wrong,

And felt thy favor to be better than life.

Our Father in heaven, we thank thee,

That, without the honors and riches of this world,

Verily they have their reward,

In the approval of their consciences
And in the smiles of thy love.

We mark the perfect man and upright,
For the end of that man is peace.

O let their pure and noble lives
Be a trumpet-call to our hearts;
May we feel that in our humble sphere
We may exercise their faith, their courage,
Their love for man, their fear of God;
Above all, draw us to Him

In whom centre all rays of excellence;
And in our souls may there burn a desire
To be like thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

XXI.

TO BE GUIDED INTO ALL TRUTH.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who art light,
And with whom there is no darkness,
To thee thy children now come,
That in thy light we may see light.
Mercifully hear our lowly prayer,

And give us the wisdom that is from above.
Save us from all that would blind our minds,
From pride, presumption, and self-will,
From contentment with imperfect views,

From neglect of continued study of thy Word.
May our hearts be open as the day,

May they long for more quickening truth.
As we sit at the feet of Jesus,

On us be the blessings he pronounced

On the poor in spirit and the pure in heart.

Give us clear views of thy Word,

The truth that is not a spirit of bondage to fear,

But of love and of a sound mind;

The truth that sanctifieth and maketh free ;
That binds us to Jesus and allies us to God;

That ennobles life and is victorious over death.

While we love what to us thou teachest,

And cling to it as the anchor of our souls,

May we remember our Master has other servants;

That to him alone they stand or fall.

Give us love for all who love thee.

Amid diversities of belief,

May there be the spirit of truth,

The unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
O God, send forth thy truth and light:

Over error and wrong and sin be it triumphant,
Till all know thee, the only true God,

And Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Amen.

XXII.

FOR OUR HOMES.

OUR Father who art in heaven,
We thank thee that we know thy name;
And we bow down and worship thee,
Father of all the families of earth.
We thank thee for our homes,
For a father's and a mother's love,
And for all the kindness shown to us.
We pray that, as sons and daughters,
We may be faithful to our parents,
And may always truly love them.

If we have been secretly disobedient to them,
Or have openly sinned against them,
Before the face of thine exalted purity
We humbly confess our sin,

And implore thy divine forgiveness.

And now, so may we live, O God,

That father and mother, and brother and sister,