Prayer LXV

O Lord! we thank Thee that we see the heavens opened, and that great ladder between earth and Heaven, even Thy Son Jesus Christ, through Whom all Thy blessings come down to us. And we can climb to Thee; and we beseech Thee that our hearts and thoughts may more constantly turn to Him, and that to us earth may be more crowded with Heaven, and life with God, than it ever has been in the past. Help us day by day, in all the smallnesses of our continually returning duties, to apprehend the greatness of Thy purpose, and to feel that we have Thy strength being ministered unto us according to our need, and according to our desire. And help us, O Lord, day by day to walk in the light of Thy face, and to be continually blessed with the vision of greater and greater things, because we continually draw nearer to Thyself. Help us in this our act of worship. Give us, we pray Thee, Thy word to speak; grant that there may be nothing in our utterance of it which may mar its effect; but may it find its way, by Thy gracious influence accompanying it, into the very depths of our lives, and there mould us more and more according to Thine own will.

We thank Thee, Lord, for the strength and blessing that many of us have received in our meetings together here; and we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst still be with us, and grant that the light of Thy face may not be less bright, but growingly clear and radiant to us in what may yet remain for us of worship together in this place. And we would commend one another to Thy loving care, and pray Thee to be near us all, according to our different necessities.

We pray Thee to hear us for all Christian people, and we ask that they may have understanding of the times, to know what they ought to do; and keep us, we pray Thee, from anything of our individual lives and influences that may foster the disposition against each of Thy counsels, and of Thy commandments.

We Gommend all whom we remember at this hour to Thy gracious care; and thank Thee that still, in the hour of clouds and darkness, we can believe that verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Hear us and forgive our sin; grant us Thy help, for our Lord Christ’s sake.