Wednesday Morning — Week 2 (William Jay)

O Thou Most High! enable us to feel and to express becoming regards towards Thee as the Creator of the ends of the earth, the Preserver of men, the Governor of the universe, the Judge of all, the Savior of sinners. Thy greatness is unsearchable, but thy goodness also is infinite. It is because thy compassions fail not that we are not consumed. Thou hast not only prolonged our unworthy lives under numberless provocations, but Thou hast afforded us every needful supply and indulgence. Thy mercies have been new every morning and every moment. Through thy good hand upon us, we have been rescued from the perils of another night; our repose has been unterrified and undisturbed; sleep has refreshed our bodies and renewed our strength; and we find ourselves surrounded at the commencement of another day with all our accustomed privileges.

But, O God, we can never be sufficiently thankful that we have our existence in a christian country, and where we can hear words by which we may be saved. O how important, how suitable, how encouraging, are the discoveries, the doctrines, the promises, the invitations of the gospel of peace. We are lost; but here is presented to us a free, full, and everlasting salvation. We are left without strength; but here we learn that help is laid on One that is mighty. We are poor and needy; but here we behold the unsearchable riches of Christ. We are blind and ignorant; but in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We thank Thee, O God, for thine unspeakable gift, and we cordially accept of thy mercy extended to us through the mediation of thy dear Son. We rejoice that he has been delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification; and that He is now exalted at thy own right hand to be a Prince and a Savior. We abandon every other refuge to hide in, and every other foundation to build upon; and make Him our only hope and our only confidence. And while we depend on his death, and make mention of his righteousness only, we admire his example, and desire to be conformed to his image. May we put on the Lord Jesus Christ by holy and accurate imitations, and increasingly resemble Him whose life was beneficence, whose soul was meekness and humility, who pleased not himself; and who, of obedience the most trying and difficult, could say, I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart. May his glory fill our minds: may his love reign in our affections; and at his cross and at his tomb may we burn with ardor to live, not to ourselves, but to Him that died for us and rose again.

Let the number of his followers daily increase; and may none of our friends be found among his enemies. Pour thy blessing upon our seed, and thy Spirit upon our offspring. Let our sons be as plants grown up in their youth, and our daughters as corner stones polished after the similitude of a palace. May our domestics be the servants of God; may they do his will from the heart, and be prepared for that world where those who serve will be as those who are served, and all the distinctions now necessary will be done away, and none remain but those which arise from character. And whatever be our conditions in life, may we fill them as christians; may we escape the snares to which they expose us; discharge the duties that grow out of their circumstances; enjoy with moderation and gratitude their advantages, and improve with decision and diligence their opportunities and resources of usefulness. May every place and every company in which we are found be benefited by us.

And whatever may be the opinion of our fellow creatures concerning us, may we be satisfied and happy in having the testimony that we please God.

We are now going forth into the concerns of another day. Take us under thy care and influence. Guide us in all our steps. Enable us to realize thy presence and thy providence. Succeed us in all our lawful endeavors, or prepare us for disappointment; and assure us that we are in the number of those to whom all things are working together for good; and who will for ever acknowledge, Marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true all thy ways, O Thou King of saints! Amen!