2. 1. Cour-age, broth-er! do not stum-ble! Though thy path be And its end far dark as night, out of sight, in-ward might, some will slight; Do the right! do the right! "Trust in God, and do the right!" V. PRAYER. MOST OST merciful God, who art righteous in all Thy ways, and holy in all Thy works, and knowest our secret thoughts, help us, Thy children, to obey Thy voice and to serve Thee with all our souls. That we may not fall into sin, may we be watchful by night and by day. Make us more deeply grieved when we offend Thee, more glad to give Thee our whole hearts. As we grow in years, may we grow in wisdom and in favor with Thee, our God, and with men, our brethren. May we shun those who would lead us astray. Make our hearts clean in Thy sight. Help us to confess our faults and to lay aside our besetting sins. May we run with patience the race that is set before us. O thou Lover of Souls! grant Thy mighty help to us, Thy children, that we may do Thy blessed will and reach Thy house of many mansions. AMEN. VI. HYMN. SK, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. THE II. EXHORTATION. HE preparations of the heart are with God. Let us each inwardly pray that He will give us the spirit of Jesus, that our worship may be pleasing in His sight. We would be mindful how far off from God we should have been without this Sacred Teacher; and how near to the Father he will lead us, if we will humbly and steadfastly yield ourselves up to his guidance. III. RESPONSES. G LORY be to God! All glory be to Him who did, as on this day, create the light, and command it to shine on the face of the deep! How much more glorious is that light which shines in upon our minds by the revelations of prophets, the sweet solace of holy psalms, and by the heavenly teachings and blessed example of Jesus! Blessed be the name of the Lord for this light which no darkness ever covers, sun which never goes down. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. this waves were on- ly mur-m'ring on the fishers spread their nets up - on the strand; When he sat with-in the boat, on the silver wave a-float, While he taught the wait-ing people on sake the paths of sin, And to be his true dis- ci- ples ev spake to them that heard, While he taught the wait-ing peo-ple by the sweet-ly solemn call, So his true disciple I would ev - er sea. be. THE V. RESPONSIVE READING. HE spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bound, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through and steal. For where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also. Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink. Is not the life more than the food? Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be com-fort- ed. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. e |