Third Week: Monday Evening
Who in the heavens can be compared unto the uord? Vno among the sons of the mighty can be iiKenea unto the Lord. Thy wisdom, no difficulty can perplex: thy powei, no exertion can weaken; chy bounty, no communication can exhaust or diminish. Thy gooaness waits to be gracious, and exalted to nave mercy.
Thou hearest prayer; and to assure our heaits ocfore Thee, Thou hast not only commanded us to seek Thee, but Thou nast furnished us with the petitions we are to offer. Thou, ever. Thou hast told us, to with you words and turn to the Lord; and say unto Him — Fake away all iniquity, receive us graciously, so will we ofier the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
We feel the truth of our character, as drawn in
the Scriptures; and we acknowledge our desert — and our helpnesness too. Thy mercy is our only refuge and resource. O, be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause thy face to shine upon us, that we may be saved. O, visit us with that salvation, which is present as well as future; which changes, not only our state, but our nature; and which, not only admits us into ihy fan ily, but makes us new creatures.
As Thou didst in the original creation, command light to shine out of darkness, so do Thou shine in our hearts. Give us the light of the knowledge of thy glory, in the face of Jesus Christ; and may we so know Thy glory, in the face of Jesus Christ; and may we so know Thee, as to love Thee supremely; serve Thee, as our only Lord; and cleave to Thee, as our portion for ever. Subdue the rebellion of our wills, that we may submit to thy commands, and acquiesce in thy dispensations, without murmurings and disputings Unite our hearts to fear thy name; and may we be in the fear of the Lord all the day long. Make us Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile. Enable us to maintain a conscience, void of offence, towards God, and towards man: may we be the same, when no eye sees us, as we arc in the public walks of life: may we enter the closet as well as the temple: and attend to our principles and motives, as well as our actions and pursuits.
We mourn over our numberless failures and backslidings; our incorrigibleness under rebukes; our want of profiting under ordinances; the misiraprovement of our talents; and our neglect of opportunities of usefulness. Whatever view wetak of ourselves, compels us to exclaim. Behold I am vile. Yet while we are humble, may we be grateful: and never be backward to acknowledge what
Thou hast done for our souls. If we are not like some of thy people, we bless Thee, that we are not like the rest of the world; if we are not what we ouht to be, we are not hat we once were: and Thou hast made us to differ, and we have nothing which we did not receive from Thee.
And if our religion be imperfect, may it appear to be real, and vital, y its activity, and its tending to growth. May it awaken in us an unconquerable desire, to go from strength to strength, and to be renewed day by day.
May our religion always attend us, and dignify us in the ordinary scenes of life. May we remember, that greatness consists, not in doing great things, but in doing little things with a great mind.
As the events of providence occur, may they always find in us, those dispositions which will keep them from injuring us, and which will convert them all into advantages.
In a vale of tears, may we look for a succession of trials: and may we also look for the accomplishment of the promise — I will be with thee in trouble.
May the joy ot tn- Lord be our strength; may it keep us from lusimg after the vanities of the world; bear up the heart and mind in the loss of every creature-comfort, and enliven us in the valley of the shadow of death. And before we reach heaven, may we bear the image of the heavenly; possess the earnests of our inheritance; and enjoy the first fruits of the glorious ‘larvest.
And to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory for ever and evei* imcTU