Wednesday Evening — Week 1

O Thou that hearest prayer—through Him who is the great Intercessor, let our prayer come before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. We bless Thee as our creator, the framer of our bodies, and the former of our souls within us. We praise Thee for the blessings of thy providence which encompass us on every side, and are continued to us, notwithstanding our unworthiness. Thou hast not only given us life and favor, but thy visitation hath preserved our spirit, and secured our personal and relative comforts.

But, above all, we thank Thee for thine unspeakable gift. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Here our hopes find anchorage. Here believing we enter into rest. Here all our woes and wants obtain redress and supplies. O may our souls be united to this Savior by a divine faith, he the head and we the members, he the vine and we the branches. May we be his disciples, and learn of him; his soldiers, and war under his banner; his beneficiaries, and live upon his fulness. When we think of our transgressions of thy law, may we remember him who is the end of the law for righteousness. When we feel our sin, may we think of Him whose blood cleanseth from all sin; and when viewing our trials and duties our weakness makes us despond, may we hear the voice that cries, My grace is sufficient for thee.

May we be followers of him who was meek and lowly in heart, who pleased not himself, who went about doing good, who said, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Subdue in us the selfishness that is so common to our depraved hearts, and excite in us a disposition to seek after the welfare of others. May sentiments of benevolence and kindness mingle with all our thoughts, words, and actions; may they become more natural, more powerful, more impartial; may we be good to the unthankful and the unworthy, that we may be the children of our Father who is in heaven, for he maketh his sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

Yet may we especially do good unto them that are of the household of faith. May all who do the will of our heavenly Father be dear to our hearts. May we prefer Jerusalem above our chief joy. Peace be within her walls, and prosperity within her palaces. Let her become a praise in the whole earth. And from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, may thy name be great among the Gentiles, and in every place may incense be offered unto Thee, and a pure offering. The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: command their increase, and abundantly bless those who are already employed.

And may the sincerity of our prayers appear in our exertions and sacrifices. May we honour the Lord with our substance. In our respective stations may we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. By every kind of consistent co-operation with our ministers, may we become helpers to the truth: and carrying the effects of the sermons we hear, and dispensing them among those who refuse to hear, win them without the word. May we never hide it in a napkin, because we have only one talent; but use what we have that more may be given; and be concerned to obtain from the Judge of all, the approving sentence pronounced on Mary, She hath done what she could. May we never despise the day of small things; never grow weary in well doing; but cherish with patience as well as with diligence, every serious conviction, every pious tendency, every godly impression.

And let us not labour in vain nor spend our strength for nought. May we be the honoured instruments of saving some soul from death; and of producing joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Above all, render us successful among those who are more fully under our instruction, influence, and authority. May we rule well our own house; and have the pleasure to see all the members of our family, fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.