HELPS TO DEVOTION, IN THE LANGUAGE OF SCRIPTURE. PART. I. PRAYERS. FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth St. John iv. 24. O THOU that hearest prayer, unto the shall all flesh come (a)! Lord, teach me to pray (b): teach me what I shal say unto thee; for I cannot order m (a) Psalm lxv. 1. (b) St. Luke xi. 1, B speech by reason of darkness (c). Let thy Spirit help mine infirmities; for I know not what I should pray for as I ought (d). For who am I, O Lord God (e), that I should take upon me to speak unto thee, which am but dust and ashes (f)? O give unto thy servant an understanding heart (g); pour upon me the spirit of grace and supplication (h); then will I pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also (i). Open thou my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise (j). O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that (c) Job xxxvii. 19. (g) 1. Kings iii. 9. walketh to direct his steps (k). O send forth thy light and thy truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to the holy hill, and to thy tabernacles (7). Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: thy spirit is good, lead me into the land of righteousness, and quicken me for thy name's sake (m). Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips (~). Make me wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil (o); holy in all manner of conversation (p); slow to speak; slow to wrath (g); and guide my feet into the way of peace (r). Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (s). PRAYER FOR THE MORNING. The sun ariseth: man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. Psalm civ. 22, 23. O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee (a): my voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (b). The Lord is my keeper: the Lord is my shade upon my right hand (c). (s) Psalm cxxxix. 23,24. (b) Psalm v. 3. (a) lxiii. 1. (c) cxxi. 5. |