Saturday; Series 2
Morning
ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, who dost ever watch over Israel, and dost neither slumber nor sleep, we heartily thank Thee that Thou hast brought us all in safety through the perils of the night, and that we are now again permitted to gather in health and peace around the family altar.
We humbly worship Thee as the God of our fathers, who trusted in Thee, and were not ashamed. May we ever seek our happiness and safety under the shadow of Thy wings, stretched over us in Jesus Christ Thy Son. Help us continually to adore Thee for what Thou art in Thyself, as revealed to us in Thy works and in Thy word. Especially do we bless Thee for what Thou hast become to us through Him, in whom Thou hast displayed the exceeding riches of Thy grace. May we ever be found in Him, and may He evermore dwell in us, as our life and the hope of our future glory.
Most merciful God, our Saviour, who didst bless the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertained unto him, because of the ark of God, we thank Thee that Thou art still willing to tarry with those who make their homes Thy tabernacles, and who delight in calling upon Thy name. Choose our humble dwelling more and more as Thy peculiar abode, and help us to adorn our home with such faith, humility, and love, that it may become continually more worthy of Thy gracious and sanctifying presence.
Bless us as parents, we humbly entreat Thee, with wisdom and grace to command our children and our household after us, so that they may always keep the way of the Lord, and that Thou mayest perform unto us all Thy gracious promises. May we ever walk within our house with a perfect heart, and diligently teach our children Thy law, and testify of Thy grace.
Bestow also upon our dear children a meek and teachable disposition, that they may not despise Thy mercy, but hear instruction, hide Thy commandments in their hearts, and find the saving knowledge of God. O blessed Saviour, keep them in Thine arms, bind them to Thy heart, save them from the evil that is in the world through sin, and at last take them, with us, and all Thy chosen seed, to Thy kingdom above.
Grant, O Lord, these our requests, through Thine infinite mercy and compassion, and we will ascribe to Thee all honor and glory, world without end.
Evening
O LORD, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength, labor, and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Enter not into judgment with us, O God, and deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. Forgive us, O most merciful Saviour, the innumerable sins and shortcomings of the past week. So impress us, we beseech Thee, with the constant thought of the vanity of the world, the certainty of death, and of the judgment to come, that we may mortify more and more the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and be prepared at all times for the coming of the Son of Man.
Keep us mindful that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth; and give us grace to look for the city above, whose Maker and Builder is God; following those who, through faith and patience, have overcome the world, and inherited the promises. Help us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and to make our calling and election sure, that we may die in peace, and rest in the grave, in joyful hope of a blessed resurrection to eternal life: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who shall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like unto His own glorious body.
Accept, also, O heavenly Father, our humble thanks for Thine unspeakable goodness and mercy towards us during the past week, and all the days of our life. We, Thy people, and sheep of Thy pasture, will give Thee thanks forever; we will show forth Thy praise to all generations. Take us now, and all who are near and dear to our hearts, under the wings of Thy protection for the coming night, and give us such refreshing sleep as shall fit us for Thy holy worship on the coming Sabbath, so that we may worthily commemorate, with Thy people, the work of creation, redemption, and sanctification, completed on that sacred day, and enjoy a foretaste of the saints’ everlasting rest. Guard us against the power of darkness, free us from all fear of evil, and fill us with comfortable assurance, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A Liturgy, or Order of Christian Worship Prepared and Published by the German Reformed Church in the United States of America (Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1857) pp. 332-334. Copyright Public Domain.