Wednesday Evening — Week 3

O God, Thou art greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are about Thee. Those glorious beings that never fell, veil their faces, and sink into nothing before the Eternal All, and exclaim, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory. With what emotions should WE enter thy presence, whose foundation is in the dust; and who have contemned thy goodness, defied thy power, trampled upon thy laws, and rendered ourselves worthy of eternal death. Our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is gone up into the very heavens. Enter not into judgment with thy servants: our consciences assure us, that if Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, we could not stand.

But there is mercy with Thee, and with Thee there is plenteous redemption ; and therefore, while a sense of our vileness depresses us, we encourage ourselves in thy word. We know that our recovery can never spring from any cause in us. We have destroyed ourselves, but we cannot save. Yet our condition is not helpless. Help is laid on One that is mighty, and infinitely qualified for his work; and who has shown us in his resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven, the all-sufficiency and acceptance of his sacrifice on the cross, and proved that by the one offering of himself he hath perfected for ever, them that are sanctified.

Informed of this compassionate scheme, may we gratefully fall in with the design ; may we unfeignedly believe the record that Thou hast given us of thy Son, embrace Him as our only hope, rejoice in Him as our highest glory ; and henceforth may the life that we live in the flesh be by the faith of Him who loved us and gave himself for us.

And while we live by Him, may we live to Him, and may we live like Him. May we never consider ourselves Christians but as we resemble Christ. May our conformity to his principles, temper, and conduct be hourly growing, and become more apparent not only to ourselves but to others. And may we continue in his word, that we may be his disciples indeed ; rooted and built up in Him, and established in the truth as we have been taught, and abounding therein with thanksgiving.

May no degree of watching or length of waiting cool our love and zeal. Whatever discouragements we meet with, may we never grow weary in well doing. Yea, may we not only persevere, while many draw back, but fear God above many who go forward : and hear the Savior-Judge saying, I know thy works, and the last to be more than the first

May we not only be blessed, but prove blessings. May we often look closely at our talents, relations, and circumstances in life, to see how we can be serviceable to the bodies and souls of our fellow-creatures, and especially how we may do good to them that are of the household of faith.

We are continually meeting with wants and miseries which we are utterly unable to remove or relieve ; but we rejoice that in our contracted agency, prayer opens a resource to our benevolence. We can pray; and prayer has power with God and can prevail.

Let the leisure and affluence of the rich in this world afford them means and opportunities of beneficence ; may they be ready to communicate, and be rich in good works.

Let the afflictions of the afflicted render sin hateful, wean them from a vain world, endear to them the word of grace, the throne of grace, and the Spirit of grace ; and work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Let our ignorance of futurity keep us in a state of constant dependence upon thy providential care ; and lead us earnestly to seek large supplies of the spirit of Jesus Christ to fit us for all events.

Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord God of Truth; therefore into thine hands we commit ourselves and our interests, beseeching Thee to do for us exceeding abundantly above all we are able to ask or think, through our only Lord and Savior. Amen.