Monday Evening — Week 2

O Thou, in whose presence angels bow and archangels veil their faces, enable us to serve Thee with reverence and godly fear. O Thou, who art a spirit, and requirest truth in the inward parts, help us to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. O righteous Father, we would not come to Thee harboring the love of any sin in our bosoms; for Thou has assured us, that if we regard iniquity in our hearts Thou wilt not hear us. We must address Thee as sinners; but we acknowledge our transgression, and our sin is ever before us; we desire to have nothing more to do with idols; we hate every false way; and long to be Israelites indeed in whom is no guile.

Nor would we, O God, appear at thy presence indulging a worldly temper, and seeking after an abundance of those things that afford no satisfaction in the possession, and perish in the using. After all these things do the Gentiles seek and our heavenly Father knoweth what things we have need of before we ask Him, and will administer them as our wants and welfare may require. We are hastening towards an hour which will show us the vanity of all earthly pursuits and possessions. When a few more suns have rolled over us, it will be a matter of indifference whether we have been rich or poor; successful or disappointed in our enterprises; admired of our fellow creatures, or despised! But it will be of eternal moment to us, that we have mourned for sin; that we have hungered and thirsted after righteousness; that we have loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and gloried in his cross.

May these objects therefore, however despised of men, engross our chief solicitude. May we labor for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life; may we lay up treasure in heaven; may we seek the honor that cometh from God only. O remember us with the favor Thou bearest unto thy people, and visit us with thy salvation. Deliver us from the condemnation of the law, and the bondage of corruption, and bring us into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Justify us freely from all things, and renew us in the spirit of our minds. Produce in us those principles and dispositions which will render thy service perfect freedom, and make it our meat to do the will of our heavenly Father, and to finish his work.

Expel from our minds all sinful fear and shame, and with firmness and courage may we confess the Redeemer before men, and go forth to Him without the camp bearing his reproach. And may our zeal be according to knowledge. Fill us with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. May we walk circumspectly. May we never take a wrong course or a wrong step. May we venture on nothing without asking counsel of God. Without prejudice may we repair to the scriptures, and kneeling before the divine oracles ask, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? May we faithfully study our conditions and connexions in life, and observe every dispensation of thy providence, that we may see how we can honor Thee in our body and spirit, and serve our generation according to the will of God.

Thou hast commanded us to be pitiful and to pray for all men. We would remember that every moment of pleasure to us is a moment of anguish to some; and that while our health and our relative comforts are continued, many are confined to beds of languishing, or sighing. Lover and friend hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. In the multitude of their thoughts within them, may thy comforts delight their souls. If not in the suffering, yet in the review of their trials, may they be able to say, It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Let not the prosperity of the successful destroy them, nor the table of the indulged prove a snare. In every state may the voice be heard and obeyed, Arise and depart hence, for this is not your rest.

We know not what a day may bring forth; yet we would not be anxious in prospect of the future, nor preplex ourselves with that care about events which it is our duty and privilege to cast upon Him who careth for us. We would keep our minds in perfect peace, being stayed upon Thee. Only assure us that nothing can befal us without thy permission, appointment, and administration: only assure us that Thou hast engaged to make all things work together for our good; only say to our hearts, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Guide us with thy counsel, and afterward receive us to glory. We implore it in the name of our only Lord and Savior. Amen.