Tuesday Morning — Week 4

O Thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, the Most High over all the earth ; we desire to adore the perfections of thy nature, and to admire the works of thy hands. May the united displays of thy greatness and thy goodness impress our minds, and influence our thoughts and affections while we approach Thee.

Heaven is thy throne, and the earth is thy footstool. The universe with all its myriads of creatures was made by thy word and is upholden by thy power ; and Thou dost according to thine own will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; none can stay thy hand, or say unto Thee, what doest Thou ?

But Thou art the Father of mercies ; the God of all grace ; and the God of all comfort. Even we, poor mean dying creatures, are not beneath thy care. Thou hast been mindful of us; Thou hast visited us ; and thy visitation hath preserved our spirits. The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places; yea, we have a goodly heritage. We live in a land of vision. We have the scriptures in our hands; and our ears hear the joyful sound of the gospel. We know that Thou hast not spared thine own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. We know that he has borne our grief, and carried our sorrow; that his blood cleanseth from all sin; and that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

We come in his name, and make mention of his righteousness only. We plead the obedience and sufferings of HIM who magnified the law, both in its precepts and penalty, and made it honorable. May we be justified by his blood; may we be saved by his life. May we be joined to the Lord and of one spirit with Him. May we deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. May the agency of thy grace prepare us for all the dispensations of thy providence. May we be willing that the Lord should choose our inheritance for us, and determine what we shall retain or lose, what we shall suffer or enjoy.

If indulged with prosperity, may we be secured from its snares, and use its advantages as not abusing them. And may we patiently and cheerfully submit to those afflictions which are necessary to hedge up our way when we are tempted to wander, to excite an abhorrence of sin, to wean us from the present evil world, and to make us partakers of thy holiness. Only assure us, and we shall learn in whatsoever state we are therewith to be content — only assure us that Thou wilt be with us in trouble, and that at the end of the vale of tears we shall enter Emmanuel's land, where the inhabitants no more say, I am sick; where our sun shall no more go down, nor our moon withdraw itself, but God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.

May our friends and relations be fellow-heirs with us of the grace of life. Let our house be the tabernacle of the righteous ; let our children and servants be a seed to serve Thee, and among none of those who surround this family altar, may there be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, when they shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and they themselves shut out.

Lord, help us all to view our religious opportunities as talents for which we are accountable ; to remember that our greatest danger results from our highest privileges; and to fear lest a promise being left us of entering into thy rest, any of us should seem to come short of it.

Thou hast determined the bounds of our habitation; and by the events of thy providence, many of those in whose society we delight are separated from us. When we are absent in body, may we be often present in spirit. We commend our absent friends and kindred to thy covenant care. May no evil tidings concerning them wound our hearts. Spare them in thy mercy ; may we often embrace each other in circumstances of health and comfort ; or if we have had our last interview on earth, may we all meet in our heavenly Father's house, and be for ever with each other, and for ever with the Lord.

In hope of which, with every other blessing, we devoutly ascribe to the only wise God our Savior, praise and glory everlasting. Amen.