WHEN he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. JOHN X. 4. WHAT though the path be up-hill, bare and lone, What though it wind o'er heights, through depths unknown, Where shadows gather, and where storm-waves beat? Our shepherd leads the way, As well by night as day, And when he leads, we cannot go astray. W. M. L. JAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, guide us by thy divine grace into the path of thy holy will, that we may be accounted worthy to hear thy voice, and to follow thee, the only mighty and true shepherd, and to obtain the place prepared in thy heavenly kingdom: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. WILL strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord. ZECH. X. 12. STRONG Son of God, immortal love, Thou seemest human and divine, The highest, holiest manhood thou: TENNYSON. GOD, who bestowest thy mercy at all times on then that love thee, and in no place art distant from those that serve thee; direct the way of us thy servants in thy will, that having thee for our protector and guide, we may walk without stumbling in the paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. PSALM Xviii. 2. WHAT though my sinfulness be great, What though all hell should lie in wait, And he my rock and fortress is, And when most helpless, most I'm his, MARTIN LUTHER, 1524. GRANT us, O Lord, to enter on the service of our Christian wariare, ever fortified by thee, that as we are to fight against spiritual foes, thou, O Captain of our salvation, will evermore help and defend us, for thine own sake, O Jesus! world without end. Amen. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. PSALM XC. 12. HAVE I laid by from summer hours I know not, yet one change hath come, FABER. GRANT unto us, O Lord, to pass the residue of our days on earth, in fulness of peace and holiness, without sin and stumbling. For it is thine to pity and to save, O Christ our God. Amen. FOR ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. GAL. iii. 26. THE stars have a differing brightness, None thinketh of "thine or "mine." W. M. L. JAY. FROM all blindness of heart; from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness: good Lord deliver us. Amen. |