Tuesday; Series 1
Morning
ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, we acknowledge with grateful hearts Thy goodness, which is renewed unto us this morning. When we lay in defenceless sleep Thy power was beneath us, and Thy protection around us. While others have spent the night in sighs and tears, in restlessness and painful watchings, in sickness and in struggles with death, Thou hast granted unto us a comfortable and refreshing repose. Blessed be Thy name, O Lord of our life, for all Thy goodness and love toward us.
We rejoice, O gracious Father, that though we sin we have an Advocate with Thee, Jesus Christ, the righteous. Be pleased, for the sake of His satisfaction, no more to remember our offences, neither our corrupt nature, against which we have to struggle all our life long; but wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin.
Help us with a believing heart to embrace all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the pardon of our sins and eternal life: that so we may become more and more united unto His sacred body by the Holy Ghost, who dwells both in Christ and in us. May our old man be crucified, dead, and buried with Him; that the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us; but that we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise, in body and in soul, in this life, and obtain in the world to come life everlasting.
Defend us, O Lord, this day, from all motions of sin in our own hearts, and from all hurtful influences from the world and evil spirits. In our greatest temptations be Thou nearest to us by Thy sustaining and conquering power; and as Thou, blessed Saviour, didst overcome the Tempter in the wilderness, so do Thou overcome his wiles in us by Thy victorious grace.
Grant us, O Lord, the spirit of cheerful resignation to Thy good and holy will, amid all the changes of this mortal life; that we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and in all things which shall hereafter befall us may place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, believing that nothing shall separate us from His love.
Grant us grace to be just and upright in all our dealings; quiet and peaceable among our neighbors; full of compassion towards the needy and afflicted; and ever ready to do good to all men, according to the abilities and opportunities which Thou shalt give us. That so walking faithfully before Thee all our days, and being found watching whenever our appointed time shall come, we may, from a life of grace, be translated into life of glory’ through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Evening
ALMIGHTY GOD, the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and through Him our Father, and the source of all mercies, blessed be Thy name, that Thou hast so graciously protected us this day. Thy goodness is new unto us every morning, and Thy faithfulness every night. O that there were such hearts in us that we might fear Thee, and keep all Thy commandments always, that it might be well with us and our children forever.
O Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, the Spirit of promise, and the Sanctifier of all that believe, dwell Thou in us as the Spirit of holiness. Purge our hearts from all evil passions and desires, from envy, hatred, and malice: that we may never suffer from the sun to go down upon our wrath, but may always retire to rest in peace, charity, and good will; with a conscience void of offence toward Thee and all men; so that our hearts may be a fit habitation for Thee. O preserve us pure and blameless unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
O Lord, our heavenly Father, we beseech Thee to look graciously upon this family, and every member of it. Bless us in body and soul; bless us in basket and store; bless us in our goind out and coming in, and in all that concerns us. Above all, bless us with all spiritual blessings; with a pure heart and a sound mind; with contempt of the world, and a firm trust in Thee; with a grateful sense of Thy kindness, and a soul full of love; with a knowledge of Thy will, and a desire to perform it; with the assistance of Thy Spirit, and a sure and joyful hope of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
With these prayers in behalf of ourselves, accept, O Lord, our hearty intercessions for all mankind. Let the light of Thy gospel shine on all nations. Be especially gracious to our own land. Bless all who are in authority over us. So rule their hearts, and strengthen their hands, that they may want neither will nor power to punish wickedness, or to encourage and support true piety among us.
Encouraged by Thy goodness, and our experiences of Thy fatherly care during this day, and all our life hitherto, we commit ourselves to Thy almighty protection for the night. May we rest in safety, and be quiet from fear of evil. May our thoughts be serious and devout when we lie down: and when we awake may we be still with Thee. O Thou Keeper of Israel, who dost neither slumber nor sleep, be Thou evermore our guardian; and when we lie down in the grave, be Thou the comfort and strength of our hearts, and our portion forever; through the abounding mercy of Jesus Christ 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. 295-298. Copyright Public Domain.