Monday Evening — Week 3

Who in the heavens can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? Thy wisdom no difficulty can perplex ; thy power no exertion can weaken ; thy bounty no communications can exhaust or diminish. Thy goodness waits to be gracious and is exalted to have mercy.

Thou hearest prayer ; and to assure our hearts before Thee, Thou hast furnished us with the petitions we are to offer. Thou, even Thou, hast told us to take with us words and turn to the Lord, and say, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously ; so will we offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

We feel the truth of our character, as drawn in the scriptures ; and we acknowledge our desert and our helplessness too. Thy mercy is our only refuge and resource. O be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause thy face to shine upon us, that we may be saved. O visit us with that salvation which is present as well as future ; which changes not only our state but our nature ; and which not only admits us into thy family, but makes us new creatures.

As Thou didst in the original creation command the light to shine out of darkness, so do Thou shine in our hearts. Give us the light of the knowledge of thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ ; and may we so know Thee as to love Thee supremely ; serve Thee as our only Lord, and cleave to Thee as our portion for ever. Subdue the rebellion of our wills, that we may submit to thy commands, and acquiesce in thy dispensations without murmurings and disputings. Unite our hearts to fear thy name ; and may we be in the fear of the Lord all the day long. Make us Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile. Enable us to maintain a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man. May we be the same when no eye sees us as we are in the public walks of life. May we enter the closet as well as the temple, and attend to our principles and motives as well as our actions and pursuits.

We mourn over our numberless failures and backslidings; our incorrigibleness under rebukes : our want of profiting under ordinances ; the misimprovement of our talents; and our neglect of opportunities of usefulness. Whatever view we take of ourselves compels us to exclaim, Behold I am vile. Yet while we are humble may we be grateful; and never be backward to acknowledge what Thou hast done for our souls. If we are not like some of thy people, we bless Thee that we are not like the rest of the world; if we are not what we ought to be, we are not what we once were. Thou hast made us to differ, and we have nothing which we did not receive from Thee.

And if our religion be imperfect, may it appear to be real and vital by its activity and its tending to growth. May it awaken in us an unconquerable desire to go from strength to strength, and to be renewed day by day.

May our religion always attend us and dignify us in the ordinary scenes of life. May we remember that greatness consists not in doing great things, but in doing little things with a great mind.

As the events of providence occur, may they always find in us those dispositions which will keep them from injuring us, and which will convert them all into advantages.

In a vale of tears, may we look for a succession of trials; and may we also look for the accomplishment of the promise, I will be with Thee in trouble.

May the joy of the Lord be our strength ; may it keep us from lusting after the vanities of the world ; bear up the heart and mind in the loss of every creature-comfort; and enliven us in the valley of the shadow of death. And before we reach heaven, may we bear the image of the heavenly, possess the earnests of our inheritance, and enjoy the first-fruits of the glorious harvest.

And to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.