Thursday Evening — Week 4

O God, by the return of this hour of devotion, Thou hast again said, Seek ye my face ; and our hearts have answered, Thy face Lord will we seek.

We value every opportunity of approaching Thee, not only as our duty, but as our unspeakable privilege. We rejoice that there is opened a new and living way into the holiest of all ; and that as we enter, we can see Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and hear the voice of the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. We are unprofitable servants. Our obedience, instead of meriting recompense, deserves condemnation for its numerous defects. We are ashamed even of our devotions ; and often question, whether any part of our religion will bear the eye of God.

But it is our encouragement, that if we cannot come to Thee as saints, we may come as sinners, with the assurance that Thou wilt in no wise cast us out. We therefore come as sinners—yet sinners who hate themselves for their abominations, and long for deliverance. Hear the groaning of the prisoners, and loose those who are appointed unto death. Heal us, and we shall be healed ; save us, and we shall be saved, for Thou art our praise. Save us from the curse of the law which we have violated save us from the power and love of every sin ; save us from an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God ; save us from the present evil world ; save us from our adversary the devil, who goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour — that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we may serve Thee without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Thee, all the days of our lives.

We sometimes hope Thou hast begun a good work in us, and we take comfort from the assurance that Thou wilt perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. We ought to be humble, but we would not be ungrateful, nor refuse to acknowledge what Thou hast done for our souls ; for by thy grace alone we are what we are. Thou hast shown us the evil of sin, and the beauty there is in holiness: Thou hast led us to hunger and thirst after righteousness: we glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; we long to be conformed to his example ; and we have taken hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, and have said, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

O Thou who despisest not the day of small things, perfect that which concerneth us. May we not only have hope, but abound in hope ; may we not only have faith, but be rich in faith ; may we not only be fruitful, but be filled with all the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.

Let us not be of the number of those who are always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. May we have clear and consistent views of divine truth ; and may every doctrine we admit into our judgments have a powerful influence over our hearts. May it bring as well as reveal salvation, and teach us to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world. May the love of God subdue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and whatever is not of the Father but is of the world.

May we love our neighbor as ourselves ; and never hide ourselves from our own flesh. May we look, not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others, and especially the things that are Jesus Christ's.

May we never crucify Him afresh and put Him to an open shame. May we rather die than cause his worthy name to be blasphemed. May our devoted hearts be hourly asking, What shall I do for Him, who when rich for our sakes became poor, and died that we might live ? May He obtain the purchase of his blood in our revolted world. May He see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. Let all kings fall down before Him, and all nations serve Him. And blessed be his glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.