Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

talks about the grace and mystery of redemption, and is yet more filled with admiration and joy. He talks of all the affairs of nature, grace, and glory; he speaks of his works of Providence; of love and vengeance in this, and the future world." Lastly,

The goodness, mercy, grace, love, and patience of God encourage us to seek him, statedly and constantly, in all the ways of drawing near to him, in his worshipping assemblies on the Lord's day, in our dwellings, morning and evening, and in our closets. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, and call ye upon him while he is near." He is seated on a throne of glory and of grace; exalted above all blessing and praise; selfexistent, independent, and all-sufficient; worthy of our deepest adorations; the only object of religious homage; slow to anger; long-suffering; abundant in goodness; forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Such is the God, whom we are to worship; whose goodness, grace, and condescension are infinite; and who may well challenge from us, and all intelligent creatures, the highest possible ascriptions of praise. From angels, and from men, he may call for the warmest expressions of love, gratitude, and adoration. The goodness, the patience, and benevolence, the loving-kindness and innumerable favors of God invite us near to his throne, and powerfully encourage us to seek from him, all need

ed blessings, personal or relative, public or private, temporal or spiritual. How wonderful is it, that so great-so glorious-so holy a God-the Majesty of heaven and earth -transcendantly excellent-supremely blessed-should hear our cries-regard our prayers-and assure us that they are not in vain. Prayer is powerful-is efficacious-draws down upon us the divine blessings, being appointed by God as the means thereof. " I said not unto the seed of Jacob, seek ye me, in vain." It is no superstition-it is no enthusiasm, to which we are urged, when intreated and pressed to make conscience of the duty of prayer, and never to omit or neglect it. "For the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer." How happy if the rising, and risen generation, if all ages, and classes, and descriptions of people, would give themselves to prayer! To aid all who may be prevailed up, on to practice so important-so plain-so useful and so reasonable a duty; to furnish them with proper materials, and the most suitable language, even the language of the Holy Ghost the foregoing collection of texts of scripture, from Mr. Henry's method of prayer, is made.

PRAYER S.

A Prayer for the Lord's-day Morning,

A

LMIGHTY and most merciful God; existing in and of thyself; possessed of all possible perfections, and worthy of all praise. We would now lift up our hearts to thee, as a prayer-hearing God, and in the name of our blessed Redeemer. We adore thee as the God of glory and of grace. We adore thee for what thou art in thyself and for all the displays of thy character. We adore thee, as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in him, the God and Father of all, who believe in his name. We implore the influences of thy Holy Spirit to aid us, in the solemn duty before us. May he indite our petitons for us, and fill us with the sentiments of devotion. We rejoice, heavenly Father, in all thy goodness to us, in creation, preservation and redemption; and for thy kind care and protection, during our whole lives-and, especially, would we praise

thy holy name, for the preservation of the past night, and for the light of this sacred morning-for the return of the Christian Sabbath, and opportunity to read thy word, at this time. We bless an praise thee, O Lord, Most High, that our eyes behold the light of another of the days of the Son of man. This is the day the Lord hath made. In it thy churches meet to pray unto, and praise thee. Thou hast ordained and appointed the Sabbath-day; always hast given thy people a day, in which to serve thee; and hast owned and blessed the Sabbath, in all the ages of thy church. Thy wisdom shines forth illustriously in the institution of the Sabbath, that thy people might have leisure, and a fit season to worship thee, in a public manner, as well as in a more private way that religion may be preserved; its public duties performed; and its ordinances observed. May we be enabled to sanctify, as we ought, this day unto the Lord our Godto regard it as holy time, distinguished from all other days; as a day of sacred rest—as an emblem of the rest of heaven, and to be kept holy by resting from all worldly employments and conversation-and by being wholly devoted to religious exercises, except what may be taken up in works of necessity and mercy. For the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. May we be in the spirit on the Lord's day; be assist

« AnteriorContinuar »