Fifth Week: Tuesday Morning
O Lord God of hosts, hear our prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob; behold, O God our shield and look upon the face of thine Anointed.
It is in his dear and all-prevailing name we come. We have nothing of our own to plead; no works, no worthiness, no promises. We have all, like sheep, gone astray. We have been transgressors from the womb. We have knowingly opposed thine authority, and abused thy goodness. We have been ungrateful under thy indulgences; incorrigible under thy rebukes; and have improved none of our religious advantages. We stand before Thee condemned by our own consciences, as well as by thy word. Yet, in the way of thine appointment, Thou art wailing to be gracious; and hast said, that whatsoever we ask, believing in his name, we shall receive.
Through Him, display thyself, in our experience, as a God, pardoning iniquity, and subduing it. Justify us freely from all things; and sanctify us wholly, body, soul, and spirit. May we be thy workmanship, created ln Christ Jesus, and prepared unto evei y good work. We groan within ourselves, longing, not only for deliverance from the wrath to come, but from the sin that dwelleih in us: and praying, not only for an interest in thy favour, but a participation of thy image.
If Thou hast be;un the good work in us, carry it on unto the perfect day. Assure us of present assistance and final success, whatever difficulties or oppositions we meet with; that we may go on our way rejoicing, and be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. If we feel little, — and, C),how little do we feel of the joys of thy salvation; uphold us by thy free Spirit; and enable us to persevere in the path of obedience, and in the use of the means which Thou hast appointed, assured that none of those shall be ever ashamed that wait for Thee. And should we walk in darkness and have no light, may Ave trust in the Lord, and stay upon our God — Yet suffer us to implore, that Thou wilt make thy face to shine upon us, and give us the full assurance of hope. — which hope may we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, in all the storms of life.
We bless Thee for all that is past. Unless the Lord had been our help, our souls had almost dwelt in silence: but when we said, My foot slippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held us up. But we aie still in the body, and in the wilderness; we need thine aid as much as eve’; we have a growing sense of our ignorance, weakness, and danger — O, withdraw not thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from us. Whether we are called to do thy will, or to bear it, may we feel that our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. If our course conducts us through rough and trying scenes, say to us. Thy shoes shall be iron ai:d br3<is, and as thy days, sc shall p2 thy strength be. In view of our encounter with our spiritual foes, clothe us with the whole arnnour of God; teach our hands to war, and our fingers to fight; and in the heat of action tell our hearts, that we shall be more than conquerors, through him that loved us.
And may we be concerned that the blessings we ask for ourselves, may be imparted to others. Teach us to love our neighbour as ourselves; and may we often examine our conditions in life, our offices, our talents, and our opportunities, to see how we may be serviceable in our day and generation.
Comfort those that mourn in Zion. Let all the afflicted find Thee a very present, and an all-sufficent help in the day of trouble. Provide for the poor and needy. Guide those that need instruction; and may integrity and uprightness preserve them while they wait upon Thee.
Sanctify and continue to us, and to our latest posterity after us, all our national blessings, civil and religious; and may our country, by its institutions, character, and usefulness, be a praise in the whole earth.
These are great blessings for such sinful creatures as we are, to ask — but Thou hast given us a name to plead, which is above every name. Behold — not our guilt, but that blood which cleanseth from all sin; not our un worthiness, but thai righteousness with which The i art well pleased. And accept us iv. the beloved. Our Father, 8cc.