Christmas Day — Evening

Though Thou art exalted above all blessing and praise, yet, O God, we love to explore thy ways, to admire thy works, and to adore thy perfections. Thy understanding is infinite, thy power is almighty, thy mercy endureth for ever. Thy goodness transcends all our conceptions, as far as the heavens are higher than the earth.

We call on our souls and each other, this evening, to praise and magnify thy holy name. We bless Thee for our creation, and the degree we hold in the rank of being. We bless thee for our preservation, and for all the supplies which have rendered life supportable ; and all the indulgences which have rendered it comfortable. But above all, we thank Thee for thine unspeakable gift; for Thou hast surpassed all thy works and crowned all thy benefits by remembering us in our low estate, and laying help on one that is mighty.

And we have again heard the intelligence, that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Convince us of our need of this dispensation of mercy and grace ; and may we acquiesce in it, not with coldness of assent, but with gladness of heart. May we exclaim with the angels, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men: and with the multitude of disciples, shout, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Though the world knew Him not, and his own received Him not, and He is still despised and rejected of men ; may we receive Him as all our salvation and all our desire.

May we rejoice to view Him in a nature which leads Him to call us brethren; in which, as our example, He can go before us in the duties of obedience and submission, in which He can sympathize with us in all our wo ; and in which He has suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us unto God.

May we look to Him for all we want, and live a life of faith upon his fulness. In Him may we know that we have redemption through his blood ; that we have righteousness and strength ; that we have all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

May we connect with his work for us in the flesh, his work in us by the Spirit. While we are reconciled by his death, may we be saved by his life ; and remember that his name is Jesus, because He saves his people from their sins.

And as He came not only that we might have life, but have it more abundantly, may our expectations be large and our desires importunate. May He dwell in our hearts by faith ; that we being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the height and depth, and breadth and length, and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God.

Once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; and unto them that look for Him will He appear a second time without sin unto salvation. O prepare us for that solemn day ! May we believe in Him as a Saviour before we meet Him as a Judge ; that when the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him, we may lift up our heads with joy, knowing that our redemption draweth nigh ; and say with the church. Lo ! this is our God, we have waited for Him, He will save us ; this is the Lord, we have waited for Him ; we will rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

Make thy ministers wise and zealous and successful in the dispensation of thy word; and let signs and wonders be done in the name of thy holy child Jesus.

We are a sinful people, but Thou hast not dealt with us after our desert ; and Thou hast not left us without witness. Thou hast, in the midst of us, a people for thy name ; and we pray that our beloved country may be a growing part of the empire of the Prince of Peace.

May the root of Jesse stand for an ensign to the people ; to it may the Gentiles seek ; and let his rest be glorious. May He come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish ; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. Let all nations be blessed in Him ; all generations call Him blessed.

And blessed be his glorious name for ever ; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen.