SECOND WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

O GOD the Holy Ghost! wake up our sluggish hearts to praise, by the glad tidings which this Scripture brings. We would dwell with grateful adoration on the marvel of grace and love of which it tells. The Word was made flesh! Thou, the Creator, hast clothed thyself with the humanity of thy erring creatures. This is, indeed, thy crowning mercy to our rebellious and guilty world. Lord, never suffer the familiar truth to become a common thing to us, neither kindling emotion nor exciting thankfulness. But for this we had been lost for ever and ever! Enable us to see in the birth of Jesus Christ the fulfilment of thine everlasting counsels. Through long years of waiting, thy Word cheered the hearts of thy people; and when the fulness of time was come, thy dear Son, the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person, was made flesh and dwelt among us, and men beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

O God, how can we praise Thee enough for this thy goodness! Forgive us the indifference with which we often hear of thy redeeming love. Pardon the coldness of our hearts, our deadness to spiritual things, and the weakness of our faith. In mercy take away the veil from our eyes, and unfold to us all the meaning and significance of that scene in Bethlehem on which we have looked. May we learn from it thy tenderness and compassion towards us: may we see in it the Divine provision for our deep need. Lord, increase our faith, that we may embrace with all our hearts the message of mercy which thy incarnation brings us from Thee. Blessed indeed are our eyes, which see what kings and prophets longed to see, but saw not. O Jesus, Thou art born unto us a Saviour. Save us from the guilt of sin, by washing us in thine atoning blood. Save us from the love of sin, by kindling within us the love of God. Save us from the power of sin, by the indwelling energies of thy sanctifying Spirit. Oh, may this thy name be ever precious to us, comforting our hearts when sad, inspiring us with courage when fainting, and constraining us, by the mercies it recalls, to deny ourselves, and in all things conform ourselves to thine image.

Impress, Lord, on our hearts the high responsibility which these Gospel privileges entail. Oh, suffer none of us to neglect thy great salvation. Visit with thy grace all who are dear to us. Send forth far and wide thine everlasting Gospel. Let us see the day dawn in which glory shall be to God in the highest, peace in all the earth, and good will among all men. Hasten it, Lord, in thine own good time, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.