keep our garments undefiled. Do thou clothe us with the heavenly armour of light, and give us well-grounded assurance that we are not appointed unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. O may we keep the word of thy patience, and so be kept by thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell on the earth. O hear us, for our Redeemer's sake.

CCXXII.

PRESERVATION FROM THE SPECIAL TEMPTATIONS OF THESE TIMES.

O merciful Father, who hast warned us that in the last days perilous times shall come, we mourn before thee that we have in our days so many sad tokens of these times. We entreat thee earnestly so to grant us thy grace that none of us, no not one, may be found among those who are lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. May we ever turn away from such, and continue in the things which we have learned and been assured of. Enlighten us by the holy scriptures, given by thy inspiration, which are able to make us wise unto salvation

through faith in Jesus Christ, and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteous-ness; and enable us to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, and thus thoroughly furnish us unto all good works, through the same Lord Jesus, our Redeemer.

CCXXIII.

THAT THE HOPE OF COMMUNION WITH ANGELS IN GLORY MAY QUICKEN US TO PRESENT OBEDIENCE.

O Lord, who hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning, that we by patience and comfort of the scripture might have hope, lead us by the accounts given in thy word of the appearance of angels in thine earthly temple, and of their ministering to the heirs of salvation, to look forward to the day when thou shalt appear in thy glory, with all thy holy angels. They that minister unto thee shall then be ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; and we praise together and bless thy holy name that thou givest us the hope that when we are raised up in glory we shall be equal unto the angels, being the children of God, even the children of the resurrection. That we

may attain this glory, may we now choose the way of thy commandments, may we now live by faith, and be a people made ready for the Lord; may we forsake the vain pleasure of the world, and being

filled with joy and peace in believing, may we serve thee here with reverence and fear, that we may be fitted to serve thee with unbroken joy and delight in thy temple above, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

CCXXIV.

FOR GRACE TO REALIZE THE PRESENCE AND LOVE OF CHRIST.

May we think, O Jesus, on thine ever watchful providence, and remember that nothing, however small, that concerns us, escapes thy notice, that thus we may feel that we have an ever-present, evergracious friend. Give us too to know that it is a crucified Saviour who is thus present with us, he who loved us unto death, who gave his life's blood for us. Grant, O Saviour, that when we read of all thy sufferings, and of thy tender love and care for thy first disciples, our love to thee may grow more more fervent, more true, and more sincere. O may we love thee and keep thy words, and thus obtain the promise that the Father will love us, and thou, O Jesus, with thy Father, wilt come unto us and abide with us. Hear us for thine own name's sake. Amen.

warm,

CCXXV.

FOR GRACE TO REALIZE THE UNCHANGEABLENESS

OF CHRIST.

O Jesus, who art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, teach us to know how unchangeable thou

art in thy glorious nature as the Son of God, and as the Son of man, still wearing our form upon thy throne of glory, and about to come again in that form once more to bless our earth. Teach us by blessed experience the unchangeableness of thine offices of love; still as Immanuel be with us, as our Prophet teach us, as our Priest plead for us, as our King rule over us, as Jesus, save and deliver us from our sins. Oh may the ever-enduring power of thy salvation be our stay and comfort; though we be vile as the expiring thief, stubborn as the hardened Jews, blind as the unbelieving Gentiles, may the same mighty power which saved them, ransom and deliver us. And as we read in thy holy word of each instance of thy goodness, may we delight in the thought that thy mercy and tenderness are still the same, thy love an unbroken stream which shall but widen as it flows, till the whole earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Never, Lord, let the sinful chains of custom, the deadening influence of an unbelieving world, or the secret unbelief of our own hearts hide from us the blessed truth that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and for ever. Since thou art the same mighty Lord, whose glory the prophet beheld, and cried, "Wo is me for I am unclean, a man of unclean lips," may we never approach thee but with deep reverence and godly fear, since thou art ever united to us, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. May

we now by faith carry on a blessed interchange of communion with thee, till we see thee as thou art, and know as we are known.

GRACE BEFORE MEALS.

O Lord, bless this provision for our use, and make us truly thankful, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Or this:

Thou givest us, O Lord, all things richly for enjoyment, and whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, may we do all to thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GRACE AFTER MEALS.

We thank thee, O Father, who hast given us our meat in due season. May we live to thy praise through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Or this:

Blessed be our God, who daily loadeth us with his benefits, for all his goodness to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

COMMENCEMENT OF PRAYER.

Lord, teach us to pray.

LORD'S PRAYER.

(At the beginning or end of the Family Prayers.) Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in