Whitsunday — Morning

O God, Thou hast established thy throne in the heavens, and thy kingdom ruleth over all ; and all nations before Thee are as nothing. Yet, blessed be thy name, it is only in comparison with thy infinite greatness, that they are nothing — not in reference to thy condescension and kindness and care. Even as individuals we have been the charge of thy providence ; goodness and mercy have always attended us, and having obtained help of Thee we continue to this day. Thou hast been mindful of our souls as well as our bodies ; yea, Thou wast pleased to form a purpose of grace in our favor, and devise means the most glorious to deliver us from the degradation and misery and perdition of sin, and to make us partakers of the hope of eternal life.

We bless Thee for the dispensation of religion under which it is our exalted privilege to live. How superior are our advantages to those enjoyed by many of thy people in earlier ages. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which we see, and did not see them ; and to hear the things which we hear, and did not hear them ; but blessed are our eyes for they see, and our ears for they hear. Instead of a portion of revelation, we have the sacred scriptures complete. Instead of the blackness and darkness and tempest of Sinai, we have the milder glories and the still small voice of Zion. We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

We praise Thee for the establishment of the glorious gospel, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him ; God also bearing them witness, with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will. We rejoice, that though his supernatural agency has ceased with its necessity, the ministry of the Spirit continues, and that his saving influences are confined to no period of the church. All that have been enlightened and renewed since the fall, have been the subjects of his operation ; and with Thee is the residue of the Spirit.

We rejoice that as there is no blessing we so much need, so there is no blessing we are so much encouraged to implore ; for thy truth has said, If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give his Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.

O Thou God of all grace, fulfil the word unto thy servants, upon which Thou hast caused us to hope. Impart unto us thy Holy Spirit, to open the eyes of our understanding, to sanctify our affections, to comfort our hearts, to glorify Christ, by taking of the things of Christ, and showing them to us.

May we never commit the sin against the Holy Ghost. Never quench the Spirit. Never resist the Holy Ghost. Never grieve the Holy Spirit. But may we pray in the Holy Ghost, and worship God in the Spirit, and be led by the Spirit, and be filled with the Spirit.

May we always view thy commands in connexion with thy promises, and our duties and trials in connexion with our resources. Great is our work, great is our warfare, and far greater than we have ever yet felt it to be, is our weakness. But our sufficiency is of God; and Thou hast said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Not by might nor by power, but my Spirit, saith the Lord.

Let the goings of our God and our King be seen in the sanctuary ; and when thy truth is dispensed, let it come to those who hear it, not in word only, but in power and in the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance.

And bless not only the gates of Zion, but all the dwelling-places of Jacob. May every family contain a church in the house. Pour thy blessing upon our seed, and thy Spirit upon our offspring ; and may the rising race grow up the ornaments, examples, and benefactors, of their day and generation.

To Thee we commend all who have the rule over us; we implore thy favorable regards to the privileged country in which we live. Humble us before Thee for our sins, especially our neglect and abuse of our religious advantages. Withdraw not from us the blessings we have forfeited; and inflict not upon us the judgments we have deserved. But spare us according to the greatness of thy mercy.

And from our land of vision, may the light break forth upon all those who are in darkness and the region of the shadow of death

Bless all missionary exertions. Let the various societies employed in this work of faith and labor of love, view each other with pleasure, and rejoice in each other's success and if not in immediate and personal co-operation, yet in accordance, and tendency, and design, may they stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. Let those who remain at home, hold forth the word of life in their own circles, and be concerned to evangelize the districts in which they reside. But O, let there not be a deficiency of those who offer themselves to the help of the Lord among the heathen, and that say, Lord, send me. Let it be said, as it was in the beginning of the gospel, The Lord gave the word, great was the company of them that published it.

And be with those that are already engaged. We know that Paul can only plant, and Apollos water ; but Thou canst give the increase.

Pour thy Spirit from on high, and the wilderness shall become a fruitful field. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread ; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.