For the Outpouring of the Spirit

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” — Joel ii. 28,

O God, I desire this morning to approach with lowly reverence the footstool of Thy throne, adoring and praising Thee for the rest of the past night, and the comforts and blessings of anew day. O holy, blessed, eternal Trinity, three persons, one God, have mercy upon me, and grant me Thy benediction and love.

Most blessed Spirit of all grace, more especially would I at this time invoke Thy presence and nearness. I acknowledge, with shame and confusion of face, how often I have grieved Thee by resisting Thy gracious

influences. How often hast Thou pleaded with me by the voice of Providence, and jet 1 have turned a deaf ear to Thy repeated warninsfs and remonstrances! Thou hast spoken to me in prosperity, when the full cup demanded in return a heart full of gratitude. Thou hast spoken to me in adversity, when, by the emptied cup and the broken cistern, Thou wouldst have driven me from all earthly things, to the everlasting God Himself, as my only satisfying Portion. Thou hast spoken to me by the terrors of the law and by the tender accents of Gospel-love, and yet I have continued to “spend my money for that which is not bread, and my labor for that which satisfieth not.” Long ere now I might have exhausted Thy patience. “It is of the Lord’s mercies I am not consumed.”

But “take not, O gracious God, Thy Holy Spirit from me.” Come, Thou blessed Enlighten er, Quickener, Sanctifier, and inspire this dull, cold heart. Touched as with a live coal, may the flame of a holy love to Thee be rekindled on its altar.” Return, O Holy

Dove, thou Messenger of rest,” from the true ark of God. Give me grace to hate the sins which drove Thee away from this guilty breast. Breathe upon me, and say, “Peace be unto you; receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Do Thou invigorate my languishing affections. May I realize my dependence on Thee for every pulsation of spiritual life. Without Thee I perish.

While I pray for this Blessed Agent in behalf of my own soul. Lord, it is my earnest prayer that He may be poured out upon all flesh — that that time may soon come, when the rain of His gracious influences shall descend on a barren church and parched world. Hasten the Pentecost of the “latter day.” Earth is at present but as the prophet’s “valley of dry bones.” Come, Thou blessed Spirit of all grace, “breathe upon these dry bones, that they may live.”

And may the same blessed and benign influences be shed on every heart that is dear to me. The Spirit of the Lord is not straitened. O my Father in heaven, hast Thon not promised to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Thee? I pray that all my beloved friends may become members of that mystical body of which Jesns is the living Head, so that the oil of anointing grace, pom-ed upon Him by the Spirit, and flowing down to the skirts of His garments, may be shared by His humblest and unworthiest members. O that each and all of our hearts may become living temples, in which the Holy Ghost dwells! May nothing that is unholy find admission there, but, “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, the earnest of our inheritance,” may we be daily and habitually living in the expectation of eternal glory. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

“cause me to heab thy loving-kindness in the morning,,

FCa IN thee do I TRUST.”