23rd.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, &c. Heb. xii. 1.

Author and Finisher of our faith, who hast given grace to all the great cloud of witnesses that compass us about, to follow Thy steps of deep humiliation, and then to share Thy glory at the right hand of the Majesty on high; keep us, we beseech Thee, so looking in like manner unto Thee, that we may be enabled to lay aside every encumbering weight of care, and every easily besetting sin that would impede our spiritual progress; and so run with patience the great race set before us, that we also may obtain, and triumph with them in Thee for ever.

24th.

Amen.

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. James ii. 12.

We bless Thee, Oh Maker of all things, and Judge of all men, for redemption, both from the bondage of the ceremonial, and the curse of the moral law, by which no flesh living could be justified in Thy sight. Oh grant that while taking on us the easy yoke of the Gospel, we may make the royal law of love our daily rule of life, and ever strive so to speak and so to do, as they that shall be judged by the perfect law of liberty, thus rendering Thee willing service, under Thy new and better covenant with poor sinners, in Jesus their Saviour. Amen.

25th.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, &c. 1 Pet. i. 3-5.

Oh Thou our God of blessing and Father of mercies in Christ Jesus; teach us how to meditate continually on that abundant mercy which has prepared and reserved for us unworthy sinners the heavenly inheritance; and on that mighty power by which alone we can be kept for it: that so we may increase and abound more and more in stedfast faith and lively hope, through Him whose death and resurrection obtained for us the great salvation, which is ready to be revealed in the last time, the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, even Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

26th.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John xvi. 7.

Oh Thou who knowest all our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking, and who alone canst fulfil our desires : we pray Thee to give or to take away, not according to our imperfect sense of good, but as Thou in Thine infinite wisdom seest to be truly expedient for us; enabling us alike in all to bless Thy holy name. And even

shouldest Thou for a time see fit to withdraw from us Thy manifested presence, which is better to us than life, still give us to know that the promised Comforter, though unseen, does and shall abide with us for ever, for His sake who departed that He might send Him Amen.

to us.

27th.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me, &c. John xvi. 8-11.

Spirit of all grace and truth, whose office it is to convince as well as comfort: take, we pray Thee of the things of Christ, and shew them to us. Oh deign to guide us further into all truth concerning ourselves, of our grievous sin and unbelief; concerning Christ, of that only righteousness by which we can be justified, which he died to purchase, and lives again, though unseen, to bestow; and concerning the Prince of this world, and all that are his, of the approaching judgment, from which we would flee for refuge to the hope set before us in Christ Jesus. Amen.

28th.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend, &c. Jude 3.

:

Heal, oh God of peace, we entreat Thee, all those unhappy divisions which rend the body of Thy holy Catholic church; and pour forth on all who are heirs of the common salvation, the Spirit of unity and Christian fellowship that so, as mutually beloved in the Lord, our personal diligence, our fervent exhortations to each other, and our earnest contentions, may never more regard any points of mere party difference, but only that true faith which was once delivered unto the saints; while that, we seek to hold pure and undefiled, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

29th.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; 1 have overcome the world. John xvi. 33.

Oh Thou who art the Prince of Peace, give us hearts we pray Thee, so to receive of Thee, all those things which belong to our peace, that none of the tribulations which Thou preparest us to expect in this world may surprise or overwhelm us: but that counting them all to be a measure of fellowship in Thy sufferings, we may through Thy Spirit, in due time, overcome the world, as Thou hast overcome the world. And while called to be in it, though we trust not of it, may peace with God, with our own consciences, and with all around, make us of good cheer, and prepare us for Thy kingdom. Amen.

30th.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Rom. xiv. 19.

Oh God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom we trust we are at peace through Him; we entreat that his Spirit dwelling in us may cause us to follow such things as are acceptable in Thy sight. May we learn not only to avoid all needless occasions of strife; but also make the two-fold object of our daily and diligent pursuit, the things which make for peace, and which tend to mutual edification. Thus may we follow in His most blessed steps, who is Himself our peace, and who pleased not Himself. We ask it for His sake alone. Amen.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts ii. 1.

Oh Lord the Spirit, whose wonder-working power was once poured forth in such rich abundance on Those who were waiting the promise of the Father; we would wait and pray for such a pentecostal effusion of Thy grace in our times, that, though by a diversity of manifestation, it may fill and rest upon Thy Church; preparing all its members again to meet together with one accord, and to continue in prayer and supplication, till all being baptized as with the Holy Ghost and with fire, all may be trophies of grace for ever, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

2nd.

We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts ii. 11.

"

We would bless and praise Thee, oh Lord, who hast freed us from the curse of the confusion of languages, and caused us to hear in our own tongue, wherein we were born, the record of Thy wonderful works. We would pray both to have our own lips touched as with a live coal from off Thine altar, that being enriched with all utterance, we may tell of Thy doings from day to day; and also that Thy blessed word may run, have free course, and be glorified, till every tongue throughout the earth, shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.