WEDNESDAY EVENING. O THOU, that inhabitest eternity, and with whom a thousand years are as one day. If we were angels, we should veil our faces as we approach Thee, and exclaim, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory. With what emotions then should we enter thy presence, who are but sinful dust and ashes. Give us grace, whereby we may serve Thee acceptably, with reverence and Godly fear. May we always combine thy majesty with thy mercy, that we may not trifle before Thee, or incur the reproach of the hypocrite, and the formalist, who draw nigh unto Thee with their mouth, and honor Thee with their lips, while their heart is far from Thee. And may we always connect thy goodness with thy greatness, that we may draw near in full assurance of faith. May our consciences, at this moment, believe that Thou art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee. And do Thou have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Thou art under no obligation to save us: we lie, as guilty, at thy sovereign disposal. Thou hast a right to exercise thy mercy in thy own way; and Thou hast sent thy own Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved. Thou hast made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. We bow, O God, to thy appointment; and gratefully comply with thy command, for this is thy commandment, that we believe on the name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. We would flee to no other re fuge we would wash in no other fountain: we would build on no other foundation: we would receive from no other fulness. May the life that we henceforth shall live in the flesh, be by the faith of Him, who loved us, and gave himself for us. In his name may we rejoice all the day, and in his righteousness be exalted. May we feel a growing conformity to the image of thy Son, and like Him learn obedience by the things we suffer. May the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, make us free from the law of sin and death. In all our dealings with our fellow-creatures, may we do justly in all cases requiring relief and compassion, may we show that we love mercy: and with regard to all the dispensations of thy providence and grace, may we walk humbly with our God. May we be strong, and of good courage, to follow our convictions, regardless of the opinions of others; and to obey God, rather than man. Having obtained the knowledge of thy will, from thy word, may we go forth and be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And let us not be slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. O how great is the goodness, which in thy promises and in thy kingdom, Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee!-Number us with them; and enable us to say, Thou hast given me the heritage of them that fear thy name. This assurance, O God, we want, to animate us in duty; to support us under our trials-for they are many; and to raise us above the fear of death and the dread of eternity. For we know that we are not to live here always, nor to live here long. Dangers surround us within us are sown the seeds of disease: our breath is in our nostrils; and there is but a step between us and the grave. How soon is another day gone! and how solemnly does it remind us, That all our days are as a shadow! Great God, so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Amidst all the uncertainties of time, may we know in ourselves, that in heaven we have a better and an enduring substance and when the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolving, may we see prepared to receive us, a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We feel our weakness, and our wants. We depend on all the elements for our subsistence, and there is no creature, but can be our help or our hurt. We need day by day, our supplies of food. We labour for a few hours, and we feel ourselves exhausted. We would not say to Him that made us, why hast Thou made me thus: but bless Thee for a season of repose and refreshment: for the promise we have, that when we lie down, Thou wilt make us dwell in safety and for a state, where we shall feel no languor, need no rest; where there shall be no night and they need no candle, neither light of the sun : for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. We ask it in the name, and for the sake of our adorable Redeemer. Amen. : ·000-000· THURSDAY MORNING. O THOU, who wast, and art, and art to come, the Almighty. Thou art the Creator of all the ends of the earth. Thou art our Maker, and not only the framer of our bodies, but the former of our souls. May we remember, that Thou madest us upright, but that we have sought out many inventions. Let us not forget what we now are what we deserve-and what we want. Nor let us be ignorant of the provisions, of thy mercy and grace; nor of Him, in whom it hath pleased Thee, that all fulness should dwell. In all our outward troubles, and in all our spiritual distress, He is the hope and the consolation of Israel. May we receive the record, that Thou hast given to us eternal life, and that this life is in thy Son. To Him may we always look for relief, and to Him only; persuaded that there is none other name, given under heaven and among men, whereby we must be saved. May we be equally convinced of the guilt and the pollution of sin may we alike feel our need of the Prince and the Saviour; and implore of Him repentance, as well as forgiveness. May we love holiness, and be pure in heart. O that our feet were directed to keep thy statutes. O that we had the same mind in us, which was also in Christ Jesus; and were enabled to tread in his steps, who has gone before us in every path of duty and trial. : As long as we are in the world, keep us from the evil: and may we be always alive and awake to discharge every obligation, resulting from our condition in life, and the particular events of thy providence. We would not be at our own disposal; but rejoice to think, we are under the care of one, who is too wise to err, and too kind to injure. However ignorant of the future, we will trust and not be afraid: and begin, even in this vale of tears, the song we hope for ever to sing; Marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are all thy ways, O Thou King of saints. Thou hast been pleased again to renew our time, and our strength, and our comforts: help us to renew our purposes and resolutions, to obey and serve Thee. In all our ways, may we this day acknowledge Thee, and do Thou direct our paths. Let thy presence go with us, and thy free Spirit uphold us. May we prove a stumbling block to none, by our temper or conduct: but recommend and endear the religion we profess to all around us. May we decline no opportunity of usefulness, our circumstances may present may we not withhold good, from Him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of our hand to do it. May we dread the sentence, Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, and not be heard. May we therefore be merciful; ready to communicate; and feeling the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, when rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty, might be rich. Let those who are advanced in years, be anxious to bring forth fruit in old age. Let those who are in the midst of life, abide with God in their calling; and while they are not slothful in business, may they be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And O, preserve the young from the snares and temptations of youth. May they be sober-minded. If sinners entice them, let them not consent. With the infidel, and the vicious, and the despiser of the sabbath, may they not go, lest they learn of their ways, and get a snare to their souls. Let them say, I am a companion of all them that fear Thee: and choose that good part, which shall not be taken away from them. Bless us as a nation, in all the dependencies, and interests, of the country; in all its civil and sacred institutions: let glory dwell in our land, and upon all the glory, may there be a defence. We rejoice that Thou wilt have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; and that Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Call in the Jews with the fulness of the Gentiles. Say to the north give up, and to the south keep not; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends |