Good Friday: Evening
O Thou whose name alone is Jehovah, the Most High over all tli.e earth We desire to adore thy perfections, and to admire thy works, which are sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Thou art tl;e only wise God. Thy power is Almig-hty. Whither can we g-o from thy presence, or whither cun we flee from thy Spirit? Thou art holy in all thy ways And such is thy purity, that even the heavens are not clean in thy sight.
How shall we come before the Lord, or bow before the high God? we have no offering of our own to bring. No man can redeem his brother, or give to God aransom for him. The blood of bulls and of goats could not take away sin. The law itself made nothing perfect — but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw nigh to God.
Yes, blessed be thy name. Thou hast shown us what is good; and we behold the Lamb of God, who is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Here a foundation is laid for our hope, in connexion with the highest glory of all thy perfections; and we rejoice to think, that while pleading’ for salvation by the blood of the cross, we ask Thee not to deny thyself, or to trample on thy holy law; for here, thy law is magnified and made honourable; here, all thy attributes are developed and harmonized; mercy and truth meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Here, weary and heavy laden, may we come for relief, and find rest unto our souls May we take fresh views of this adorable sacrifice, under a sense of our constant imworthiness and desert; and in all our approaches to Thee, may we have boldness and access with confidence, by the faith of Him.
May we not only rely upon His cross, but glory in it. Yea, may we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. And may we be able, individually, to say, I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, 1 live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
We are thankful, that as He atoned for our guilt, so He procured for us the grace of life, that the blessing of Abra- yi;im might come on the Gemiles, and that he might receive the promise of the Spirit, through faith. May we never separate the pare’ on and sanctification which Thou hast joined together May we prove, that He gave Himself — -not only for our sins, but that He mig-ht deliver us from the prC’ sent evil world; yea, that He might redeem us from all ini« quity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
And, O, that in every future moment of our existence, we may be constrained to live, not to ourselves, but to Him liiat died for us, and rose again. As He so loved us, may we also love one another: and never deem any thing too great to do, or to suffer, while endeavouring to seek and to save, that which is lost.
May the hearts which are too hard to be broken by terror, be melted by love, and gained by confidence May none of those who are desirous of returning to Thee, be discouraged by a fear of rejection: but calling to rememorance and belief, the infinite proof which Thou hast already exhibited of thy benevolence, thus judge — He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not, with Him, freely give us all things.
Smile upon our country. Let all the churches of the faithful, be edified and multiplied. Bless all the ministers of the everlasting gospel; and may they increasnigly determine to know nothing, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
Increase the number of these who love His salvation; and as He gave himself a ransom for all, may it be testified in due time, that he may have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; and reign King of kings, and Lord of lords.
In his words we conclude our devotions. Our Father, &c. Amen.