Sunday Morning — Week 3 (William Jay)

O God, we desire with all reverence and humility to approach Thee as a Being infinitely great and glorious. Thou art the perfection of all excellency, the fountain of all life, and the source of all blessedness. How immense is the family of creatures produced by thy word, and depending on thy care. Millions are visible; and myriads of myriads in the air, the earth, and the sea, are invisible; and all these have their wants and their appetites, and are capable of receiving relief and pleasure. And the eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meat in due season; Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

But they never forfeited the care of their Creator, nor swerved from the end of their being: while we have revolted from Thee; we have joined in alliance with thy foes, and deserve, as children of disobedience, that the wrath of God should come upon us. And yet such is the excellency of thy loving kindness, O Lord, that the children of men, unworthy and guilty as they are, are allowed to come and put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

We bless Thee for the scriptures of truth which make known thy designs concerning us, and assure us that they are thoughts of peace and not of evil. We rejoice in thy word as one that findeth great spoil. We love to peruse its doctrines, promises, and invitations; to contemplate the great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh; and to dwell on the history and experience of those who have obtained mercy. For all who have ever been saved, have been saved by thy grace, and have been thy workmanship. And Thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; thy hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor thine ear heavy that it cannot hear.

Bow down thine ear and hearken to the voice of our supplication: employ thy hand for our deliverance and relief. We are already the creatures of thy power, O make us the subjects of thy grace. We are already the charge of thy providence, O bless us with all spiritual blessings—blessings for our souls and for eternity. Though by nature afar off, may we be made nigh by the blood of Christ; no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. Bless us, we pray Thee, with a present salvation—that being justified by faith, we may have peace with God; that the love and power of sin may be subdued in our hearts; that we may be dead to the world, alive to the glory of God, and concerned to serve our generation according to thy will.

May we never be blots or mere blanks in life. May we never cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of: may our liberty never prove an occasion to the flesh, but by love may we serve one another. May every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. May we attend not only to what is essential in our religious character, but what is ornamental. May we pursue whatsoever things are lovely and of good report, and render our profession of the gospel not only impressive but amiable and inviting. May we hold forth the word of life with our tempers as well as our tongues, with our lives as well as our lips, and thus be continually saying to those we meet, We are journeying towards a place of which the Lord said, I will give it you; come with us and it will do you good, for the Lord nath spoken good concerning Israel.

Send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead us, let them guide us to thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles. Bless this day the dispensation of thy gospel by means of preaching. While Paul plants and Apollos waters—it is all that they can do—give Thou the increase. May thy ministers be wise to win souls, and help those much which have believed through grace.

Especially bless thy dear servant on whose labors we are this day to attend. Let him come forth from his sacred retirement in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace; and may he enter the sanctuary as Aaron entered the tabernacle of the congregation when the holy oil was poured upon his head, and the fragrance filled the place—and O let him not prove the savor of death unto death to any that shall hear him. Open our ears to discipline; may we hear for ourselves; hear for our souls; so hear as that our souls may live. And may great grace rest upon all the assemblies of thy people.

Despise not the prisoners of thy providence. Follow those who are unable to follow Thee: and while forbidden to hear the preaching of the word, may they hear the voice of the rod, and have reason to say, It is good for us that we have been afflicted. Make them thankful, that to will is present with them; and that in their hearts are the ways of those who repair to Zion. Prove thyself a very present help in trouble; and render the bed of languishing, the chamber of sickness, the house of mourning, none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven.

And by all the discipline of thy providence and the ordinances of religion, may we be increasingly prepared for the remaining duties of life, the solemnities of a dying hour, and the services and joys that are beyond the grave.

We implore it through the intercession of Him who has encouraged us to address Thee as—Our Father, &c.