Fifth Week: Thursday Morning
O Thou, who wast, and art, and art to come, the almighty. Thou art the Creator of all the ends of the earth. Thou art our Maker, and not only the framer of our bodies, but the former of our souls. May we remember that Thou madest us upright, but that we have sought out many inventions. Let us not forget what we now are — what we deserve — and what we want.
Nor let us be ignorant of the provisions of thy mercy and grace; nor of Him, in whom it hath pleased Thee, that all fulness should dwell. In all our outward troubles, and in all our spiritual distress, He is the hope and the consolation of Israel. May we receive the record, that Thou hast given to us eternal life, and that this life is in thy Son. To Him may we always look for relief, and to Him only; persuaded that ‘here is none othei name given under heaven and among men, whereby we must be saved. May we be equally convinced of the guilt and the pollution of sin; may we alike feel our need of the Prince and the Savioup, and impliiie of Him repentance, as well as forti;ivencss. May we l.jve holiness, and be pure m heart. O, that ouifeet were directed to keep thy statutes. O, that we had the same mind in us, which was also in Christ Jesus; and were enabled to tread in His steps, who has gone before us in every path of duty and trial.
As long- as we are in the world, keep us from the evil; and may we be always alive and awake to discharge every obligation, resulting from our condition in life, and the par’.icular events of thy providence.
We would not be at our own disposal; but rejoice to think, we are under the care of one, who is too wise to err, and too kind to injure. How ever ignorant of the future, we will trust and not be afiaid; and begin even in this vale of tears, the song we hope for ever to sing; Marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are all thy ways, (3 Thou King of saints.
Thou hast been pleased again to renew our time, and our strength, and comforts; help us to renew our purposes and resolutions, to obey and serve Thee. In all our ways, may we this day acknowledge Thee, and do Thou direct our paths. Let thy presence go with us, and thy free spirit uphold us.
May we prove a stumbling block to none, by our temper or conduct; but recommend and endear the religion we profess to all around us. May we decline no opportunity of usefulness, that our {/ircumstances may present; may we not withhold gocrJ, from him to whom it is due when it is in the power of our hand to do it. May we dread the sentence, Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, be also shall cry himself, and not be htat i May we therefore be merciful; ready to communicate; feeling the grace of our L rd Jesui Christ, who when rich, for our sakes became poor, hat we through his poverty, might be rich.
Let those who are advanced in years, be anxious to bring forth fruit in old age. Let those wh ) are in the midst of life, abide with God in their calling; and while they are not slothful in business: may they be fervent in spirit serving the Lord. And O, preserve the young from the snares and temptations of youth. May they be sober-minded. If sinners entice them let them not consent. With the infidel, and the vicious, and the dispiser of the sabbath, may they not go, lest they learn of their ways, and get a snare to their souls. Let them say, I am a companion of ah them that fear Thee; and choose that good part, which shall not be taken away from them.
Bless us as a nation, in all the dependencies, and interests of the country; in all its civil and sacred institutions: let glory dwell in our land, and upon all the glory, may there be a defence
We rejoice that Thou wilt have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth,* and that Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Call in the Jews with the fulness of theGentiles Say to the north give up, and to the south keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Bless all those who by their exertions and sacrifices, are proving the sincerity of their prayers for the spread of the Redeemer’s cause; and lei many run to and fro, and knowledge be increased, till all shall know Thee, from the least even to the greatest. Our Father 8cc. Amen.