EVENING PRAYER FOE THURSDAY.

 "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."

Psalms 63:5-7

When I lie down at night I think of thee, and

when I awake I speak of thee, 0 thou loving

God and Father ! here I come again, loaded with

thy mercies, with a thankful heart, before thy

face, »t this evening hour. 0 how graciously

hast thou looked upon me in permitting me to

reach this evening unharmed ; thy long suffering

has spared me, that thou hast not punished me

according to my deserts. 0 pardon all the trans-

gressions with which I have secretly or openly

offended thee. I ought to grow stronger, to

contend against sin, to be more zealous in good

things, more devout in prayer, more pious in

my walk ; but who can see how oft he errs !

Forgive me also my hidden faults. May I be

enabled hereafter carefully to avoid whatever

was wrong or sinful in me to-day. My sin is

great, but thy mercy is greater; if thou wert

not so merciful a God, who, Lord, would yet

be living 1

I now retire to rest ; 0 do thou thyself lock the

door behind me, as at Noah's ark, that the waters

of tribulation may not overwhelm me. Give thy

holy angels charge concerning me, that no evil,

seen or unseen, may befall me. Help me to re-

member that as I now lay my body upon my

bed of sleep, so I will soon have to be covered

with earth, but waked again on the morning of

the resurrection. Let every day of my life be

spent in such a manner that I may enjoy the

consolation of a loving God and a good consci-

ence, so that I may be prepared to depart. 0

triune God ! under thy shield no dread of death

can assail me. Thy love and providence, 0

Father 1 thy wounds, 0 Jesus ! thy favor, 0 Holy

Ghost ! are the sure defence wherein I softly rest

and am well secured. Before them Satan must

flee and depart. 

I would crave the same blessings for every

member of my family, and for all that are neai

and dear to me, that I ask for myself. Remembet

graciously all the sick and afflicted, and admi-

nister to their wants. May I be invigorated and

refreshed by sleep, so that if it be thy will, I mav

behold the coming morning. Amen.