mands, whether on earth or in heaven; and a oneness with our blessed Master and Saviour, and through him with thyself. May we not shun the occasions which offer for doing good by the sacrifice of our inclinations or convenience. May we go forward through every conflict where duty calls, in the strength of the Lord our God. May it seem to us a small thing to be judged of man's judgment, but may our own hearts condemn us not. Fill us with that love and trust which cast out fear. May our souls be in sympathy with them who are in adversity, and with all who are under any manner of wrong or oppression from evil men. May our words ever be faithful, and our action earnest and effectual, to relieve sorrow, and to build up thy kingdom in the world, according to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. VI. CONFESSION OF SIN. Foolish fears and fond desires, Filled with grief and shame, we own; Humbled at thy feet we lie, Seeking pardon at thy throne. JOHN TAYLOR. I will confess against myself mine own unrighteousness; I will confess my weakness unto thee, O Lord. À Kempis. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy. He that confesses with his tongue, and wants confession in his heart, is either a vain man or a hypocrite : He that hath confession in his heart, and wants it on his tongue, is either a proud man, or a timorous. - Bp. Hall. I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight. O Lord God, behold, we are before thee in our trespasses; we cannot stand before thee for this. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, O God, and mine iniquities will I not hide. I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Examine diligently thy conscience, and to the utmost of thy power purify and make it clear, with true contrition and humble confession; so as there may be nothing in thee that may weigh heavy upon thee, or may breed in thee remorse of conscience.—À Kempis. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hearken, and do! defer not. For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. MORNING. OD over all, forever blessed! the new light GOD of this new day is from thee, and as it shines about us we would come into thy presence, O thou everlasting Father and Friend. Meet us in our coming, we pray thee, and out of thine abounding grace in Christ Jesus minister to our heart's neces sities. Thou seest what we are. Our foolishness and our sins are known to thee; and even to us, blind and wayward as we are, they are grievous and reproachful. We would confess them and forsake them. Let them not hinder our coming to thee, but may we have entire faith in that most tender love which looks out upon us through the face of the Lord Jesus, and saith unto us by his lips, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." O thou blessed Spirit of power and goodness! help us this day to keep thy commandments. Enlarge our hearts unto those high measures of fidelity and patience and charity! May we worship and do thy sweet and holy will. Let that which is perfect come within us, and that which is in part shall be done away! Reconcile us unto thyself! May we be born of water and of the spirit! May we be saved henceforth from everything evil and unlovely! Thy grace, O Lord, shall be sufficient for us, and we will strive to lay hold of thy strong and gentle hand, and though our steps should falter for a moment, thou wilt hold us up in thy paths. Make this day a day of love and faithfulness; - love in our hearts and in our household; faithfulness in all that our lips find to utter, in all that our hands find to do. May those who are dear to our hearts be enriched with the frequency of the Holy Spirit, and with the treasures that are laid up in heaven, until we shall all come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, for whom we thank thee and in whom we adore and bless thee. Amen. EVENING. 0 UR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. At the close of another day of our brief earthly life, through which thy hand has supported and thy love has blessed us, we, thy frail and erring children, would reverently kneel before thy throne, to thank thee for thy unmerited favors and offer our evening prayer. From this fleeting world, with all its engrossing cares and vanities, from all our wanderings of thought and way, O holy and merciful Father, we would now return to thee, with penitence and filial trust. Receive us, we beseech thee, and look down graciously upon us, though we bring only that sacrifice of a contrite heart, which thy sacred word has assured us thou wilt not despise. We earnestly desire to be at peace with thee. We would be sorry for everything in our lives which has been contrary to thy holy will, and prevented our hearts from communing with and enjoying thee. The experience of another period of action and trial has deepened our sense of imperfection and unworthiness. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those |