Thursday Evening — Week 2 (William Jay)

O God, all thy works praise Thee, and thy saints bless Thee. By thy mercies we again surround this family altar, and engage in the exercises of devotion. May we be concerned to worship Thee, a holy God, in the beauty of holiness; and to worship Thee, who art a spirit, in spirit and in truth. Such worship alone thy word requires; but such worship thy grace alone can enable us to render For we know from thy word, and from our own experience we know, that without Thee we can do nothing. All our sufficiency is of Thee; do Thou work in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure.

We would call to remembrance our true character and condition before Thee. We would not go about to establish our own righteousness, or seek to deny or extenuate our guilt. We are not only unprofitable servants, but condemned criminals; we confess the number and offensiveness of our transgressions, and acknowledge that we deserve to perish. But we bless Thee for the everlasting consolation and good hope through grace which the gospel affords; for the news of a Mediator between Thee and us; of a High Priest, who has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; of an Advocate with the Father, who ever lives to make intercession for us; and of a Saviour in whom it has pleased Thee that all fullness should dwell.

Produce in us all the feelings of those who are blessed with repentance unto life. Give us that faith by which we can be justified from all things, and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. To the shadow of the Redeemer's cross may we retreat, and there find security and relief, refreshment and delight. Assure us of an interest in thy favour, which is life; and clothe us with thine image, which is the beauty and dignity of the soul.

We bless Thee for thy word which we have been reading. May it dwell in us richly in all wisdom. May we yield a suitable attention to its various parts. May we make it not only our song in the house of our pilgrimage, but the man of our counsel, a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our paths. May we take it along with us, into all the concerns of life; and whether we are rich or poor, whether we are parents or children, whether we are appointed to govern or serve, may we walk by this rule, that mercy and peace may be upon us.

May we ever be willing that the Lord should choose our inheritance for us, and readily and piously accommodate ourselves to the dispensations of thy providence. May we never lean to our own understanding. May we never take a step without asking counsel of the Lord, nor be unwilling to take one at the intimation of thy pleasure. May we never think that Thou art less wise and righteous and good in a cloudy and dark day, than in a shining one; when we cannot trace Thee, may we trust; and walking by faith and not by sight, be fully persuaded that just and right are all thy ways, O thou King of saints.

Regard those who, under the pressure of affliction, are saying, Brethren pray for us. Be with them in trouble Thou knowest the anxieties of thy people, lest by any of their temper or carriage in the evil day, they should injure the religion they profess; let thy grace be sufficient for them; let faith and patience have their perfect work; let them glorify Thee in all their trials.

Bless all in authority over us, and so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands, that they may punish wickedness and vice, and maintain true religion and virtue.

May all those who are placed above others in condition, go before them in the profession of truth and the practice of holiness, and be examples to all inferior ranks in society.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, now and for evermore. Amen.