Tuesday Morning — Week 3

O God, Thou art the creator, the upholder, and the proprietor of all things. Thy dominion is everlasting and universal. Thou doest according to thine own will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: none can stay thy hand, or say unto Thee, What dost Thou?

We cannot escape from thy presence or control, nor do we desire it. It is our privilege that we are under the agency, not only of omnipotence, but righteousness, wisdom, patience, mercy, and grace. Thou art love. Thou hast loved us with more than parental affection. Thou hast commended thy love towards us, in that while we were sinners Christ died for us. He that spared not his own Son but delivered Him up for us all — How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things ? Here may all our fears drop off from our minds ; here may we be filled with everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.

Thou hast not only allowed, but commanded us to believe on the name of thy dear Son. O let us not refuse to be comforted ; let us not reject the counsel of God against ourselves ; but remembering that we are as welcome as we are guilty, may we drink of the fountain of the water of life freely.

But while we know that we may come to the Redeemer and ought to come — may we never think ourselves interested in the blessings of his salvation unless we have come May there be a real and living union between our souls and Him, that quickened together with Christ, we may be raised up, and made to sit with Him in the heavenly places. May we live a life of faith in thy promises, mingled with no jealousy of thy truth nor suspicion of thy power. May we live a life of hope ; expecting that Thou wilt be our sun and our shield ; that Thou wilt give grace and glory ; and withhold no good thing from us while we walk uprightly. And may we live a life of love ; for he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. O shed abroad thy love in our hearts, the animating and delightful principle of all obedience. May we love our neighbour as ourselves, and consider every one as our neighbour who falls within the reach of our knowledge and assistance.

We feel that the work to which we are called is far above our strength. We have tried our purposes and resolutions and have found them vain. The least temptation has been too powerful for us, when we have gone forth in our own strength. O teach us how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. And at every movement in our journey and our warfare, say to our heart, Fear not, for I am with Thee ; be not dismayed, for I am thy God ; I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

And may we never depart from Thee by making flesh our arm, or the creature our portion. With regard to the world, may our soul be even as a weaned child ; but may we draw near to Thee as our exceeding joy, and contemplate, with approbation, the period when we shall behold thy face in righteousness, awake up after thy likeness, and be satisfied with thy favour. All which we implore through the meditation of Him who ever liveth to make intercession for us; and to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be endless praises. Amen.