First Week: Friday Morning

O THOU, whose name alone is Jehovah, tlv most high over all the earth. When we conside*- thy majesty and thy purity, and reflect upon our meanness and guilt, how shall we come before the Lord, or bow before the high God. We are unworthy of thy notice, and have rendered ourselve? justly obnoxious to the curse of thy holy law — and wert Thou to judge us according to our deseit — the most innocent periods of our life, and the devoutest services in which we have ever been engaged, would make us shrink back with dread and despair from thy presence. But we are en D 2 couraged to approach Thee, by the revelation Thou hast given us of thyself, as the Lord God gracious and merciful, the invitations and promises of thy word, and the meditation of thy dear Son. We rejoice that He put away sin, by tie sacrifice of Himself, and being raise a from the dead entered into the holy place, there to appear in the presence of God for us. We rejoice that we have now an Advocate with the Father to plead our cause, and a great High Priest over the house of God, to introduce our persons and our services. May we therefore draw near in full assurance ol faith believing that all things are now ready; that we are as welcome, as we are needy; and that the blessings we implore, are as gracious, as they are great. Yea, Thou delightest in mercy, and hast not only permitted, but commanded us to ask, and receive, that our joy may be full. O let us not refuse to be comforted; let us not reject the counsel of God against ourselves. Suffer us not after provoking Thee, by our rebellion, to offend Thee, still more by our unbelief. May we honour thy goodness, by our confidence in thy veracity, and come and take of the water of life freely. May we wait for no qualifications, to entitle us to those provisions, which must be bought without money, and without price; but may we come as we are — guilty to be justified, unholy to be renewed, blind fo he enlightened, weak to be strengthened, and indigent to be relieved and enriched. As Thou art pre* senting to us, in the offers of the gospel, thy unspeakable gift, may we receive Christ Jesus the Lord. May we receive Him inimediatelv without delay, cordially without reluctance, and impartially without exception — feeling our need of, and acquiescing in all his offices, relations, influences, and Irles sings.

As Thou art well pleased in thy beloved Son, may it appear that we are well pleased with Him; may we love his salvation, an. I in his cross; may we admire his character utid pant after his likeness. May we judge of our union with Him, by our being new creatures, and of our freedom from all condemnation, by our walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. May we try our principles by our practice, and our faith by our works. May the origin and certainty of our hope, appear in its tendency — may it purify us from sia, wean us from the world, and cause us to live with our conversation in heaven.

And blessed with a well founded persuasion, that when He, who is our life, shall appear, we shall also appear with him in glory; may we bear with patience, the trials attached to this present time; and weep as if we wept not. And knowing our obligations to thy grace, which has delivered our souls from the lowest hell, and is infallibly conducting us to such a vastness of felicity, may we be principally concerned to walk before the Lord in the land of the living, and to show forth all His praise. Whether therefore we eat or drink, or whatever we do, may we do all to the glory of God.

But we cannot trust in our own hearts; we dare not rely upon our convictions and purposes — they have often betrayed us. We can only serve Thee in thy own strength. We can walk no farthei than Thou leadest us; we can stand no longer than Thou boldest us. We therefore renounce self-dependence; and dcsirtr to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Let thy grace be sufficient for us in the duties and events of the day, into vdiich we have entered. May we abide with Gfd ‘n oir respective callings. Whether

we are alone, or in company, may we be anxious to gain good, and to do good. May we be sei-iou” without gloom, and cheerful without levity.

And, now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, do- lninion and power, both now and ever. Amen.