Tuesday Morning (First Week)

O LORD; Thou art from everlasting to everlasting, GOD. Thou art enthroned amid the praises of Eternity : Thy glories no time can impair; Thy mercy endureth forever. The same love which before the birth of time or of worlds gave JESUS, is this day the same — infinite, immutable!

We bless Thee for the Son of Thy love. We cannot wonder at any other mercy when Thou hast given us Him. We rejoice that for every poor sinner casting himself in his own nothingness and demerit, on the fulness and sufficiency of an Almighty Saviour, there is an open door of welcome! We take JESUS in all He is, in all that He hath done, in all that He is willing to do. We stake our eternal all on Him. Reposing on his completed work, we can joyously say, “ Return unto thy rest, O our souls, for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with us.” Let us enter into this rest. Let us feel that there is no repose for the immortal Spirit but in that blessed sheltering Ark of mercy. Forbid that we should delay availing ourselves of the offered refuge. Let us feel that time is too short, and eternity too long, to be tampering with our salvation. May every other question of mere earthly interest be subordinated to this, “ What must We do to be saved?” May we know that JESUS is in every respect the SAVIOUR we need—that there is no friend in the wide world so willing to be all and to do all for us. May the same mind be in us which was also in Him. May we bear more about with us the dying of the LORD JESUS, that the life also of JESUS may made be manifest in our mortal flesh. Let us know the blessedness of living with Him in holy fellowship, living from day to day upon Him with unfaltering dependence, and to Him in undivided consecration of every power of our bodies, and every faculty of our souls. May we search out the plague of our own hearts. May whatever pleases Him please us. May we find all our happiness in the enquiry, “ What the will of the LORD is ;” and knowing it, to pursue prayerfully and joyfully our heavenward way. Let us thankfully employ the manifold gifts of Thy bounty. Keep us from the abuse of any, by allowing them to supplant the Giver. May we be enabled to rise above them in the consciousness of the better portion and heritage we have in Thyself—Thou source and bestower of all!

Bless all in sorrow. Descend, LORD, to heal their wounds. May they bow with unrepining submission to Thy will and say “ It is good for us that we have been so afflicted!” May those laid on beds of languishing, exhibit patience under bodily pain and infirmity. May useful lives be spared, and the dying be prepared for death.

Bless this family and household: may we all know the happiness of present, and everlasting shelter in the shepherd’s fold. [May the lambs of the flock be taken in His arms, and carried in his bosom.]

Hasten the promised times of refreshing from the presence of the LORD. May JESUS take to himself his great power and reign. Arise, O GOD, and let Thine enemies be scattered.

Take us this day under thy peculiar care. The LORD bless us and keep us— the LORD cause his face to shine on us— the LORD fit us for life, and for death, and for glory, for JESUS’ sake Amen.

Our Father, &c.

The Grace of our Lord; &c.