Sunday Evening — Week 1

Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? May we approach Thee with the humility which is due to thy greatness, and the hope that becomes thy goodness. For though Thou art high, yet hast Thou respect unto the lowly; and though continually adored by thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, yet Thou despisest not the prayer of the destitute, but wilt hear their prayer. Our fathers cried unto Thee, and were delivered. They trusted in Thee, and were not confounded. And Thou never saidst to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.

Behold a company of sinners at thy footstool, earnestly praying to be remembered with the favor Thou bearest unto thy people, and to be visited with thy salvation! We would not overlook the blessings of the life that now is. If we have food, and raiment, and agreeable connexions, and ease, and health, and safe abode, we would bless Thee; for we have no claim to these bounties, and our present condition renders them valuable. But they are not our God;—

Give what thou canst, without Thee we are poor,
And with Thee rich, take what Thou wilt away.

Thou art the strength of our hearts, and our portion forever. Whom have we in heaven but Thee; and there is none upon earth that we desire beside Thee.

And praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion. We long to be able, with unshaken confidence, to apply the promises of thy grace to ourselves; and to say, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. O say to our souls, in language our consciences can understand, I am thy salvation; and give us a token for good, that we may rejoice in Thee.

Yet, O God, we would not rest satisfied with a conviction of our relation to Thee, while we are regardless of improving it. May we walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: strengthened with all might according to his gracious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. We can never discharge the obligations thy abundant mercy has laid us under; but we may ever shew that we are sensible of them; and that our impressed hearts are asking, what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? While we hear Thee saying, O do not that abominable thing which I hate, may we be effectually deterred from sin, and induced to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. May thy love be shed abroad in our hearts, that none of thy commandments may be grievous. May thy glory be dear to us: may we inquire after thy will with impartiality, and conform ourselves to it with diligence. Uphold us by thy free spirit; and let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

Hitherto we have been compelled to exclaim, My leanness, my leanness! We have been no better in religion than a bruised reed or smoking flax. But it is our mercy that Thou dost not despise the day of small things; and our encouragement, that thou givest more grace; that Thou hast promised to perfect that which concerneth us; and commanded us to ask and receive, that our joy may be full. May we therefore not only be humble but active; may we not only shake off sloth, but despondency; may we be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; and increase with all—the increase of God, till we are filled with all—the fulness of God.

Thou knowest what is in man, and what is necessary to him. Thou art not only addressing us continually by the voice of creation, and the varying events of thy providence, but Thou hast given us thy word and thine ordinances. We behold our sabbaths, our eyes see our teachers, and our ears hear the joyful sound of salvation by the cross, and the grace of our Lord Jesus. Prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that we see, and did not see them; and to hear the things that we hear, and did not hear them. But blessed are our eyes, for they see; and our ears for they hear. Yet we would remember, that our responsibility will be answerable to our talents; that our chief danger results from our greatest privileges; and that our very blessings may be converted into a curse. We would therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into thy rest, any of us should seem to come short of it.

Bless this family. May those of us who are at the head of it, walk within our house with a perfect heart, and set no wicked thing before our eyes. May we have a testimony in the bosoms of those who have the best opportunities of observing us, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by thy grace, we have our conversation in the world, and more especially to them-ward. May we conduct ourselves towards those who serve us, as knowing that we have a master in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons with God; and may our servants, in fulfilling the duties of their station, serve the Lord Christ. May we train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and have the inexpressible satisfaction of seeing them walk in the truth,

We ask not great things for them of a worldly nature, only give them health of body, and soundness of mind, and food and raiment convenient and sufficient for them: but O bless them with all spiritual blessings, and number them with thy saints in glory everlasting. Pity those parents whose hearts are bleeding over children of disobedience; and hear all the pious, whose irreligious relations are forcing them often to exclaim, How shall I endure to see the destruction of my kindred!

Hast not Thou made of one blood all the nations of men that dwell upon the face of all the earth? Remember the work of thy hands. Have respect unto thy holy covenant, and let the world know that Thou hast so loved it, as to give thy only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hear the prayers which have this day been offered for our native country, for our rulers, and for the government under which we live. It is a good land which the Lord our God hath given us: Thou hast done great things for us, whereof we are glad. May we never grow insensible of our privileges, and provoke Thee by our sins to remove them. May they be continued to the latest posterity, and be sanctified to us and to our children. As Thou hast given us such a distinguished rank among the nations, may we be for a name and a praise unto Thee, in the whole earth: and as we are so largely the subjects of thy goodness, may we be the instruments too; and from us may the word of the Lord sound out into every land.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.