Fourth Week: Sunday Morning
O Thou most high. Thine eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the goodj thine eyes behold, and thine eye-lids try the children of men. We hope we can appeal to thy Omniscience, and say, In the way of thy appointments, we are now waiting for Thee, while our desirr is to thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee.
We are sinners, but not insensible of our state. Our iniquities are great and numberless; but with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, we pray to be delivered from them, and led in the way everlasting. Our case is desperate in itself, but there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. The combined help of men and angels could not reach our misery; but Thou art adequate to our relief.
Thou art rich in mercy. The blood of Jesus Christ, thy Son, cleanseth from all sin. The agency of thy Holy Spirit can subdue the most powerful corruptions. Heal us, and we shall be healed; save us, and we shall be saved; for Thou art our praise. Hide thy face from our sin, and blot out all our iniquity. Create in us also, O God, a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us. Illuminate our understandings with the light of life. May we know the truth, and may the truth make us free. Give us tender and wakeful consciences; and may they always smite and torment us when we sin against God. May we be consistent and uniform in the whole of our conversation and conduct; the sume alone and in company; in prosper! ty and adversity; esteeming all thy commandments concerning all things to be right, and hating everv false wiy — Israelites indeed, in whom there is nc euMe.
May we never be satisfied with any present yo gression in the divine life; but this one thinsi may we do, forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth unto those that are before, press towards the mark, for the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus. May we add to our faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity; and may all these things, not only be in us, but abound.
And while we never forget what is necessary to constitute the Christian character, may we never neglect what is needful to complete it. May we be concerned to adorn the doctrine of God out Saviour; to recommend the religion of Jesus to all around us, ai-id to induce observers to say. We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
Enable us to acommodate ourselves to the dispensations of thy providence, with the views and feelings of Christains. May we know how to be abased, and how to abound; may we learn in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content; yea, in every thing, may we give thanks; knowing that all the ways of the Lord, are mercy and truth, to those that trust in Him.
May we feel the ties that unite us to our fellow-creatures, especially to our fellow-christians. By sympathy, and praise and prayer, may we make their mercies and miseries our own; rejoicing with them that rejoice, and weeping with them that weep.
Regard the sons and daughters of distress; and as afflictions are not immutable dispensations, and we are allowed to pray for temporal blessings conditionally, if it be thy pleasure, command deliverance for them; or Jhould thy wisdom continue the t-rial, keep them from sinkin.q; or sinning in the evil day; let thy strength be made peifect in their weakness; and in the multitude of their thoughts within them, may thy comforts delight their souls.
Be with those who will pass the day in absence from thy dear abode. Though Thou art with thy people in trouble, yet Thou hast taught them, by experience, to value thy ordinances, and to esteem a day in thy courts, better than a thousand. O, let them not pass an unprofitable, though a silent sabbath: let their meditation of Thee be sweet; and though not in thy house, may they be in thy Spirit, on thy own day.
And make those thankful, who are exempted from spiritual privations; and have liberty, and health, and strength, to go into thy house, in the multitude of thy mercies.
We bless Thee tnat this is our privilege. May we know the day of our visitation; and embrace the things that belong to our peace. May we hear with solemnity of mind, knowing that for all these things, God will bring us unto judgment. May we hear with prayer, remembering that whoever may plant or water. Thou alone canst give the increase. May we be doers of the word, and not hearers only; and may we keep in memory what is preached unto us, that we may not believe in vain.
May we carry into ordinary life the various portions of divine truth, which successively engage our attention, and use them as seasons and cricumstances render them suitable; may its doctrines inform, its warnings caution, its rules guide, and its promises comfort us, till we have received the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
Rlcss the congregation in whose devotions we are to mingle. Let ihy minister be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints shout aloud for joy. O, Thou holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, peace be within thy walls — For our brethren and companions’ sakes we will now say, peace be within Thee.
And bless, we beseech Thee, all thy churches, and all thy servants of every name. Plead thy own cause. Build upZion Establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the whole earth. May many run to and fro, and knowledge be increased and may all know Thee from the least even to the greatest. Our Father, 8cc. Ameru