Prayer CIII

O Lord our God, we thank Thee for that Eternal Light which was with Thee, and has been manifested to us. And we pray that we may be brought more and more into fellowship with Thy dear Son, and may draw from Him that life which, like His, is in the Light.

We pray Thee to shed abroad upon us Thy gracious influences that our meeting together may be for our good, and that each may be aware of receiving some impulse from Thyself which shall carry us on some stages further in the life which is the true life, the life of fellowship with Thee and of separation from all unrighteousness. We thank Thee for all Thy past gifts and mercies to us, and pray Thee that Thou wouldst still be near each of us according to our different necessities and circumstances, and so mould the dealings of Thy providence and the communications of Thy grace to us as that these may answer one another, and together further our growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Speak peace to all sad hearts, stand by those who have burdens to bear, or conflicts to wage, and lead us day by day in the paths of righteousness which

Thou hast ordained to be paths of peace. Shed abroad Thy grace upon all Christian communities under every name and language and country; and grant that all Thy people may be taught of God, and be teachers for God in the world. Bless all we love, present or absent, we beseech Thee. Thou art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. We commit our dear ones to Thee, nor would we forget wider interests; but pray that Thy mercy may be spread throughout mankind, and that all nations may learn who is the true Lord and King, and be gathered together in amity and peace around His footstool.

Hear and forgive, we pray; grant us Thy gracious presence as we worship, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.