Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

May the hearts which are too hard to be broken by terror, be melted by love, and gained by confidence. May none of those who are desirous of returning to Thee, be discouraged by a fear of rejection; but calling to remembrance and belief, the infinite proof which Thou hast already exhibited of thy benevolence, thus judgeHe that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not, with Him, freely give us all things.

Smile upon our country. Let all the churches of the faithful, be edified and multiplied. Bless all the ministers of the everlasting gospel; and may they increasingly determine to know nothing, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

Increase the number of those who love his salvation : and as He gave Himself a ransom for all, may it be testified in due time: that He may have the heathen for hisR inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession and reign King of kings, and Lord of lords. In his words we conclude our devotions. Our Father, &c. Amen.

:

-000-000

EASTER SUNDAY.*

MORNING.

WHEN we consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; Lord, what is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or

*A day set apart in commemoration of our Saviour's Resurrection.

the son of man, that Thou visitest him. We are not worthy of an audience at thy footstool-we are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies-our sins have even called aloud for vengeance.

But Thou hast not executed upon us the fierceness of thy anger-because Thou art good as well as great; and thy goodness constitutes thy greatness. Thou hast turned our very fall into an occasion of improving our condition, by advancing us to the possession of more and greater blessings then we originally enjoyed; so that we not only have life, but have it more abundantly.

For this purpose the Son of thy love was manifested: and in the fulness of time, we behold Him assuming our nature, and coming into our world, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. We rejoice to see, in his release from the prison of the grave, the evidence of the all-sufficiency and acceptation of the sacrifice He offered on the cross. help us to consider Him as a risen Saviour; and may we feel the power of his resurrection, in establishing our faith, enlivening our hope, and securing our sanctification. May we not only believe his resurrection, but partake of it, and resemble it, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also might walk in newness of life: reckoning ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And if risen with Christ, may we give evidence of it, and act becoming it, in seeking those things that are above.

:

May we never leave our spiritual and everlasting condition, undecided and unknown may we never be satisfied, till we are able to say, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively

hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us.

In all our difficulties and dangers, may we rejoice that He who was dead, is alive again, to plead for us, to defend us, and to supply; and has the keys of hell and of death.

In all the afflictions of life, in the decay of nature, and when looking into the horrors of the grave; may we with humble and holy confidence be able to say, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though, after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

Are we called to mourn over the loss of our dear and pious connexions? Let us not sorrow as those who have no hope; but comfort one another with these wordsThat Jesus died and rose again, and them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

:

We glory in the victory which our risen Saviour has obtained, not only over death and the grave, but the powers of darkness: we rejoice that He has set judgment in the earth, and that the isles are waiting for his law that his word is translating into every language, and his servants entering every clime. We hail what He has done as a pledge of his universal triumph. And though we yet see not, all things actually put under Him, we see Him, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: and in possession of all the resources, necessary to accomplish the benevolent designs of his heart and He must reign till all his enemies are made his footstool.

Through Him, as the once suffering but now exalted Saviour, we address Thee, as Our Father, &c. Amen. 19*

EASTER SUNDAY.

EVENING.

O THOU ever blessed God, we rejoice to think, Thou hast determined to get thyself honour, in this apostate part of thy empire; not by the merited infliction of thy justice, but the displays of thy goodness. For Thou hast said, Mercy shall be built up for ever, a monument higher than the heavens, more durable than eternity, and inscribed to the praise of the glory of thy grace, wherein Thou hast made us accepted in the beloved.

We bless Thee, for the appointment and revelation, of the one only Mediator between Thee and us; by whose death sinners are reconciled, and by whose life they are saved. Thou hast laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with his stripes we are healed.

Establish in our minds a full persuasion, that He was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification and may we, above all things, be concerned to know not only that He is risen again, but that we are quickened together with Christ, and raised up, and made to sit with Him in the heavenly places. May we hold communion with Him, as a living and reigning Saviour; able to carry on our cause, and save unto the uttermost, all that come unto God, by Him.

Is He not head over all things unto his body the church? Is He not exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour? Has He not assured us, that because He lives, we shall live also? May we view Him as the first fruits of them that sleep; and believe, that as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. May we view his res

urrection, not only as the pledge, but the model of our own; knowing that He shall not only change our vile body, but fashion it like his own glorious body, according to the working, whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Thou hast appointed a day in which Thou wilt judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom Thou hast ordained and Thou hast given assurance of it unto all men, in that Thou hast raised Him from the dead. save us from the wrath of the Lamb. May we tremble at the thought of appearing before Him, if we have neglected his salvation, despised his precious blood, and resisted his Holy Spirit.

Let not the head stone of the corner, be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; but as He is chosen of God, and precious, may He be precious to us. And while He is living for us in heaven, may we be living for Him on earth. May we esteem it our highest honour to be like Him; and feel it our greatest pleasure to serve Him.

And let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that Thou hast made, that same Jesus whom their fathers crucified, both Lord and Christ. May the veil be taken from their heart; and may they behold, as in a glass, his glory.

As a nation be merciful unto us, and bless us. May this christian country, be a country of christians: and let all who name the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.

Bless all those who preach Jesus and the resurrection. May they preach with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. May their sound go into all the earth; and their words unto the ends of the world.

As yet, after all we have read, and heard, and experienced, we know but little of the value of the gospel; but we know enough, to induce us to be thankful for our religious advantages; to sympathize with those who are

« AnteriorContinuar »