Thursday Morning — Week 3

O God, help us to approach Thee under a very lively conviction of thy abundant mercy, and the exceeding riches of thy grace. We ought to admire thy wisdom, to stand in awe of thy power, and to abase ourselves before thy spotless purity. But it is the discovery of thy goodness alone that can banish our fear, and allure us with humble confidence into thy presence, there to divulge our sorrows and confess our sins.

And O how encouraging is it, under a review of our past guilt, and a consciousness of present unworthiness, to know that we have to do with a being who waits to be gracious, and is exalted to have mercy. We therefore bless Thee, that an attribute so essential to our happiness and hope is not founded on conjecture, or obscurely revealed. Thou hast not left thyself without witness in the seasons of the year, and the bounties of nature and providence. But Thou hast given us thy word, which Thou hast magnified above all thy name. There we see Thee not sparing thine own Son, but delivering Him up for us all; there we behold the provisions of thy house ; there we hear the proclamations of thy servants, Come, for all things are now ready.

Lord, make us willing to be saved, and to be saved in thy own way. Condemned by the law which we have so often transgressed, may we turn for all our relief to the gospel; and perceiving nothing in ourselves, may we find in the hope of Israel, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. May the message which concerns a dying, rising, interceding Savior, be received into our very hearts, and become there a well of water springing up into everlasting life. And may we not only receive Christ Jesus the Lord but also walk in Him ; in a state of dependence upon Him, communion with Him, and conformity to Him. May we be followers of Him as dear children ; imperfect, but still pressing forward ; not complaining of labor, but valuing rest; not murmuring under our trials, but thankful for a state — O that we were sure of reaching it ! — where our sun shall no more go down, nor our moon withdraw herself, but God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.

We live in the midst of observation. Many watch for our halting, and wish our good to be evil spoken of. May we walk the more circumspectly, and by well doing may we put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ; yea, by our good works which they behold, may we constrain them to glorify God in the day of visitation.

We appear not alone in thy presence, but are variously connected in life. Regard those who are dear to us by the claims of nature or friendship. We ask not that Thou shouldst set them upon the high places of the earth, but O number them with thy saints in glory everlasting. O let none of them die without an interest in Christ, and be separated from us in the day when Thou wilt make up thy jewels.

Bless those who are related to us in religious bonds. And such we are delighted to consider all the followers of the Lamb, under whatever name, distinctive or reproachful, they may pass among men. May the Lord add to his people, how many soever they be, a hundred fold; and may grace and peace be multiplied unto them.

And forget not we beseech Thee, those to whom we are politically allied. May all who are in places of public trust be faithful to the public interest. Teach our senators wisdom. May our magistrates be men fearing God and hating covetousness ; terrors to evil doers, and a praise to them that do well : and may all ranks in the community pursue that righteousness which exalteth a nation, that being a holy, we may be a happy people, whose God is the Lord.

So we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give Thee thanks for ever; we will show forth thy praise throughout all generations. Amen.