Fifth Week: Thursday Evening
G;vE ear to our words, O Lord consider our meditation, and enable us to approach Thee, with becoming conceptions of thy nature, relations, and designs.
Thou inhabitcst eternity; but our age is nothing before Thee. Thou dwellest in the heaven of heavens, and this cannot contain Thee; but we dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust. Thy power is Almighty, but we are crushed before the moth. Thy understanding is infinite but we know nothing, as we ought to know. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold e il, and canst not look upon iniquity: but we are vile — What shall we answer Thee. We cannot answer Thee for one of a thousand of our iniquities. And had we listened to the language of our guilty consciences alo!ie, we could not have entered thy sacred presence. But Thou hast called us to thy footstool; Thou hast shown us a new and living way into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus; and we have boldness, and access with confidence, by the faith of Him. We, therefore, draw nigh, in full assurance of faith: believing that we are as welcome as we are unworthy; and that the blessings we are come to implore, are as free, as they are great and numberless. O, receive us graciously. Be merciful to our unrighteousness. Adopt us into the house-hold of faith; and say to our souls, I am thy salvation.
We have often feared that we have no part nor lot in the matter; and that our heart is not right in the sight of God. We have often questioned whether we know any thing of the new creature; whether we have ever exercised repentance towards G)i, a*^d faith towards our Lord Jesus
Christ. And what, if after all our advantages, we should perish; and after all our profession, have a name only that we live, while we are dead. C> I^ord, decide the doubtful pointj and bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of G(k!.
We would not deceive ourselves in a business of everlasting moment: but if we are in a state u{ irace, enable us to know it, for our own comfort and the glory of thy great name.
And, O Lord, we pray that we may grow in grace. If we have the reality of religion, how far are our works from being found perfect before God. Strengthen in us the things that remain, that be ready to die; and help us to reach after the higher attainments and privileges of the ‘^livine life, and not always live at this poor dying rate May we be followers of God as dear children, and feel it the joy of our lives, to be holy, as Thou art holy; and merciful, as Thou art merciful. May thine eye be more to us, than the inspection of all fellow-creatures; and thy approbation, be dearer, than the applause of a thousand worlds.
May no grace of the spirit be wanting in us; may no duty of our calling be neglected, or carelessly performed. May our faith, be a strong faith; our hope, a lively hope; our charity, a fervent charity; our conversation, a conversation becoming the gospel of Christ. May we stand complete in all the will of God; and may our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father, who is in heaven.
May we long to serve our generation according to thy will: may wisdom select and regulate our means; and a blameless and a lovely consistency of character, give weight to our endeavours; and may all our works begin, continue, and end in Thee. On Thee mi,y we depend for light to
know, and disposition to choose, and strength to perform, and submission to suffer, and patience to wait.
And when we have done all, may we acknowledge ihat we are unprofitable servants, and confess that we deserve condemnation for the defects of our obedience, rather than a reward for its excellency. And looking off from our duties, as well as our sins, to find a foundation for our hope, may we rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. And may our persons and services, be accepted in the Beloved — To whom be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.