Fifth Week: Wednesday Evening
O Thou, that inhabitest eternity, and with whom a thousand years are as one day. If we were angels, we should veil our faces as we approach Thee, and exclaim, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. With what emotions then should we enter thy presence, who are but sinful dust and ashes. Give us grace, whereby we may serve Thee acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.
May we always combine thy majesty with thy mercy, that we may no*, trifle before Thee, or incue the reproach of the hypocrite, c.nd the fv/rmal* ist, who draw nith unto Thee with their mouth, and honour Tlice with their lips, while their heart is far from Thee. And may we always connect thy goodness with thy greatness, that we may draw near in full assurance of faith. May our consciences, at this moment, believe that Thou art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee.
And do Tnou have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Thou art under no obligation to save us; we lie, as guilty, at thy sovereign disposal. Thou hast a right to exercise thy mercy in thy own way; and Thou hast sent thy own Son inlo the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved: Tho’i hast made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that wemightbe made the righteousnessofGod in Him. We l)ow O, God, to thine appointment; and gratefully comply with thy command, for this is thy commandment, that we believe on the name ol thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. We would flee to no other refuge; we would wash in no other fountain; we would build on no other foundation; we would receive from no other fulness.
May the life that we henceforth shall live in the flesh, be by the faith of him, who loved us, and gave Himself for us. In His name may we rejoice all the day, and in His righteousness be exalted.
May we feel a growing conformity to the image of thy son, and like Him learn obedience by the things we suffer. May the law of the spirit of life m Christ Jesus, make us free from the law of sin and death.
In all our dealings with all our fellow-creatures may we do justly; in all cases requiring: reli«”f anc*
Q compassion, may we show that we love mercy: and with regard to all the dispensations of thy providence and grace, may we walk humbly with our God.
May we be strong-, and of good courage, to follow our convicti )ns, regardless of the opinions of othersj and to obey God, rather than man. Having obtained the knowledge of thy will, from thy word may we go forth and be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And let us not be slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises,
O, how great is the goodness, which in thy promises and in thy kingdom. Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee! Number us with thevii; and enable us to say. Thou hast given me the heritage of them that fear thy name This assurance, O God, we want, to animate us in duty; to support us in our trials — for they are many; and to raise us above the fear of death and the dread of eternity. For we know that we are not to live here always, nor to live here Ion.,. Dangers surrounc’ us; within us are sown the seeds of disease; oui breath is in our nostrils; and there is but a step between us and the grave. How soon is another day gone! and how solemnly does it remind ua That all our days are as a shadow 1 Great God, so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Amidst all the uncertainties of time, may we know in ourselves.,that is heaveh we have a better and an enduring substance: when the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolving, may we see prepared to recieve us a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
We feel our weakness, and our wants. We depend on all the elemeius for our subsistirce, and there is no creature, but can be our help or our hurt. We need day by day, our supplies of food. We labour for a few hours, and we feel ourselves exhausted. We would not say to Him, that made us, why hast Thou made me thus; but bless Thee for the promise we have, that when we lie down, Thou wilt make us dwell in safety; and for a state, where we shall feel no langour, need no rest; where there shall be no niiht; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. We ask it in the name, and for the sake of our adorable Redeemer. Amen.