the work of thy hand. O Lord our God, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

For all these blessings, so rich, so unmerited, so exclusively thy gift, we would render thee humble and hearty thanks. But not as the beings of this world do we owe thee the deepest gratitude. More than for all temporal mercies do we thank thee for the gift of thy Son. Without the light which he has shed on nature, on human life, on the grave, they would be dark indeed. As the gifts of thy love, our daily blessings have a new value. As a discipline of character, life, with all its trials and sorrows, has a high and holy meaning. As the gate of immortal life, the grave has a solemn, but sublime and inspiring hope. With all these blessings and encouragements of thy providence and grace, what manner of lives ought we to lead in all holy conversation and godliness! Our hearts should be filled with love, and our hands with deeds of kindness. Nature should be alive with thy presence, and our homes hallowed by thy love. Every business and every pleasure should be holy to those whom thou hast made but a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned with glory and honor.

We are humbled, O God, when we think how greatly we have fallen short this day. Forgive us, in thy great mercy, all forgetfulness of thee in the past day, all unfaithfulness in business, all unkindness in society, every hasty word in our home.

And grant that we may not lie down on our pillows with one unrepented sin. Give us forgiving and loving hearts, that we may be at peace with each other, and humble and contrite spirits, with which thou dost delight to dwell. Under the shelter of thy wings may we rest sweetly, and rise to a better and happier life on earth than we have before known. And should this prove the night of death to any of us, may our parting be blessed; and may we at the morn of the resurrection be prepared for thy presence, and the society of the saints in light.

Holy Father, to thy kind protection we commend all our absent friends. Let no evil come nigh their dwellings, and no disease invade their frames. Let thy sheltering providence and thy forgiving love wrap them as in a mantle of safety and peace.

Father of mercies, we supplicate thy blessing upon those tossed on beds of pain, struggling with disease, and especially those who are this night to pass through their last mortal agony. Beyond the reach of human aid, help them to lean on thine almighty arm and find rest. Give them the faith and peace of thy holy Son, when he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.

Finally, we commit our all into thy merciful hands this night, and through the changes of life, trusting in thy protection, and fearing no evil. And unto thee we will ever render the homage of adoring hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

XXIV.

Self-Examination.

Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

I entreated thy favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to thy word.

I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to thy testimonies.

I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to thee, because of thy righteous judgments.

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

O THOυ the preserver of our lives, our Father which art in heaven, our grateful hearts would praise thee in this evening hour. The labors of the day finished, we would lay aside the cares and anxieties of life, and here at our family altar, united in loving harmony, commit ourselves to thee.

We thank thee, O Father, that thou dost bow thy heavens and graciously hear when we devoutly make known our wants and aspirations. Especially do we thank thee that now, at the close of this day, we may come as children, and speak to thee the thought of our hearts, and invoke the assistance of thy Spirit. O lead us to self-examination. Aid us to see ourselves as thou seest us. In thy light may we see

light. Cleanse our sight that we may discern the secrets of our hearts, and know the motives which prompt us to action. Help us to try our ways to see if we have this day served thee, made thy will our rule, and thy work our employment; if we have lived mindful of the momentous concerns of the life eternal.

O Thou whose mercy is over all thy children, forgive our sins. We would arise and come home to thee. We hear the gracious call of thy messengerSon, Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest; and we would come with open hearts and penitent confessions, and say, Father, forgive us. May we so live in all purity, honesty and love, that earth shall have passed, and the shadows of our lifeevening shall be gathering round us, we may hear benign voices, angels of peace, saying, Fear not, for you there remaineth a rest in heaven.

when all our days on

O God, these days and nights are passing rapidly, and time makes his mark upon these mortal tabernacles; may we be prepared to live in that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

O Father of infinite love, help us to keep our minds and hearts in the glorious faith and cheering hope of Christ Jesus our Lord, that whether we wake or sleep we may live with him, through whom to thee be rendered praise and thanksgiving, world without end. Amen.

XXV.

The Searcher of Hearts.

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising; thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the utter most parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts;

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, we would again adore thy goodness, and seek thy forgiving mercy, and commit ourselves to thy watchful care. Thy kind providence has guarded and guided us through another day. Thou hast graciously continued our powers of body and of mind, and hast surrounded us with a multitude of blessings. What thanks shall