tions centre, and the dear ones you love, may become a sore temptation, if you are led to put down God from the throne of your heart and to place them there for they have grown to be idols then! How earnest should be our prayer, that we may be 'kept from the evil,' seeing that there is scarce a thing in this world from which evil influences may not come! The very Communion-table, the very house of God, may become a snare to us, if we make sure, from the regularity of our appearance there, that we are better and safer than God knows us to be! Yet be encouraged, believers: you were not forgotten in your Master's gracious prayer. He knew the world in which He was leaving His own: He knew it was an evil world: but He knew that its evil was not so strong but that the Blessed Spirit could bring them safely through. He was anxious for them,kindly anxious,—but, after all, not much afraid. He was content to run the risk, and He left them behind Him. I pray,' He said, not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst (and Thou canst) keep them from the evil!' Now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless in the presence of His glory with exceeding joy: To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. After Sermon is sung Hymn CXLVIII. I ABIDE with me! fast falls the eventide; 2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; O Thou who changest not, abide with me! 3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word; But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me. 4 Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea : Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me. 5 Thou on my head in early youth didst smile; And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee: On to the close, O Lord, abide with me! 6 I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me! 7 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. 8 Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee: In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me! Let us pray. ONCE again, merciful Hearer of prayer, behold us returned to Thy footstool through Thy Son and by Thy Blessed Spirit, now to entreat before we depart that Thy effectual blessing be on all our worship and service this day. Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears may through Thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Blessed God, Father of all, Whose will is that Thy people, offering prayer for the relief of their own necessities, fail not to make intercession for all men, hearken to us humbly praying that in Thy great mercy Thou wouldst remember and visit all whom Thou hast made. Comfort all that mourn: spare useful lives: prepare the dying for the great change: and hasten that blessed and predicted day when there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither any more pain. And meanwhile, rejoicing (as we are permitted to do) in the communion of saints, we thank and bless Thee for all Thy servants departed this world in Thy fear and love, who are now at rest with Thee in Paradise humbly beseeching Thec so to make us partakers of their faith and good example, that we finally |