Week 3 Saturday Evening Prayer

O GOD, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions, which we present to Thee in the name of Jesus.

We adore Thy holy name, that when Jesus offered not expiation for angels that sinned, we were visited by Him in mercy, and that for us reconciliation has been made. Forbid it, gracious Lord, that we should reject so great a benefit, or slight such wondrous love. Apply to each of us the full virtue of that Saviour's sacrifice. Cause us to rejoice that our sins are blotted out, and that, through Jesus, we stand complete in all the will of God.

But, Lord, we confess that we are bound with the chain of our sins ; that sin has often dominion over us ; and that we are too often led captive by Satan at his will. We implore Thee, of Thy great mercy, to loose us ; to deliver us from the love of sin ; to give us the Spirit to subdue the flesh ; and to keep us in the obedience of Christ. The ways of sin are slavery ; Thy service is perfect freedom. Make us free, then, blessed Lord, not only from the punishment of sin, by the blood of Jesus, but from the dominion of sin, by the power of the Holy Ghost ; that we may sanctify the Lord God in our hearts ; that we may be able to cease from sin, to walk in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life, and to enjoy the holy liberty of the children of God.

We mourn to think how much the things of the world prevailed to draw our hearts from Thee ; what toys and trifles pleased us, when we found but little pleasure in Jesus. Oh, deliver us from a worldly spirit. Let us feel that this world is not our rest ; that it is polluted ; and that all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life — is not of the Father, but is of the world. Heavenly Father, may we be crucified to the world, and the world to us, so that we may serve Thee with a single eye, and live for Thee alone.

We bless Thee, at the remembrance of Thine unmerited mercies. We praise Thee, that we, who have provoked Thee so often to anger, who have grievously sinned and rebelled against Thy laws, have not been visited by sudden judgment, and doomed to suffer in the lake of fire. Oh, what a mercy that we have been spared, and not cut off in the midst of our iniquities ! We call upon our souls to praise Thee, O Lord, and all that is within us to bless Thy holy name. Let us not spend that life which we have forfeited, and which Thou hast so mercifully spared, on sin or vanity, but take it all to Thyself. Take it, Lord, for we cannot give it Thee. Make us Thine. Make us, as Thy members, a temple of the Holy Ghost, and reign within us, lord over every thought, and word and action.

Look in mercy, we pray Thee, upon all who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. Give them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. May Thy chastisement yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness in those who are exercised by it.

Have pity on all prisoners and captives. Lead them to Jesus, who in His Gospel proclaims the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Reclaim the backsliders. May they grieve to have forsaken a loving Saviour, and to have preferred, before Him, the wages of iniquity. Put words into their mouths, that they may return and say, " Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously."

Forgive, we beseech thee, O Lord, the sins of the day, the sins of the week, for Jesus' sake. We would lie down at peace with Thee this night through Jesus, so that if this night our souls should be required of us, we may be found in Jesus, accepted in Him, the Beloved.

Every prayer we present unto Thee, in his name. Grant to us needful rest this night ; and if we awake in life to see the Sabbath, may the Spirit meet us with an early blessing, and tune our hearts to sing the praise of Jesus. Amen.