Wednesday Evening — Week 2 (William Jay)

God over all, blessed for evermore! We desire to acknowledge thy Being and agency, to adore thy perfections, and to admire the works of thy hands. Thou hast made summer and winter. Thou hast appointed the moon for seasons, and the sun knoweth his going down. The day is thine; the night also is thine; and thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. To that throne, from which none were ever repulsed or sent empty away, we again approach for mercy and grace to help in time of need. Let our prayer come before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Preserve us from formality in these exercises in which we so daily engage; and alarm our fears lest we should provoke Thee to say, In vain do they worship me.

For this purpose, enable us to realize thine all-seeing eye; to remember with whom we have to do, and what we have to do with Him. May we deeply feel the guilt of the sins we confess, and hunger and thirst after the blessings we implore. And while we review the numberless blessings we have received from thy hands, may we be more than ever sensible of our unworthiness, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may be disposed to show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and walking before Thee in holiness and righteousness all our days.

He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. We bless Thee this evening as the preserver of men. Another day has been added, by thy good providence, to the season of thy long suffering, and the time of our preparation for eternity. We lament that the design of our being placed and continued here has been so imperfectly subserved that in so many things we have offended, and in all come short of the glory of God. If where much is given much will be required, and the servant who knew his Lord's will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes—O Lord, if Thou shouldst mark our iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? We cannot answer Thee for one of a thousand of our transgressions: the review of a single day is enough to plunge us into despair—our only relief is, that there is forgiveness with Thee, and that with Thee there is plenteous redemption.

But while we hope in thy mercy, we would not abuse it. We would not sin that grace may abound, or be evil because Thou art good. But since Thou art good and ready to forgive, we would the more ingenuously grieve that ever we have offended a Being so worthy of our devotedness, and be the more concerned in future to walk so as to please Thee.

Create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us. Set a watch, O God, upon our mouth; keep the door of our lips. And in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by thy grace, may we have our conversation in the world, and in the church, and in the family.

We again commend ourselves to thy care. As Thou hast been through the day our sun and our shield, be Thou through the night our shade and our shield. Undisturbed by anxieties, unalarmed by fears, undistressed by pain or indisposition, may we retire and enjoy repose. Remind us, by putting off our garments and lying down to sleep, of putting off the body, and sleeping in the grave, the house appointed for all living. Prepare us for the night of death, the morning of the resurrection, and the day of judgment.

And all we implore is through the meditation of Him who bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be endless praises. Amen.