Monday Morning (Second Week)

O LORD, Thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, continually doing wonders. We marvel to think that the greatest of all Beings can stoop to hear our prayers, and listen to our wants. It is because Thou art God and not man, that we are still in the land of the living, and in the place of hope. We have done everything to weary Thee with our multiplied provocations. We have been living in a state of guilty atheism. We have left Thy bounty unacknowledged—Thy love unrequited. We mourn our unthankful hearts, our ungodly lives, our deep corruptions, our utter selfishness. Impress us with the sense of our guilt. Let us not be blinded to its turpitude, or become hardened and insensible to its power. Let us feel it is no light matter to sin against GOD, and to be living in daily unconcern of His great mercies. Sinners—the chief of sinners— we can flee to none other than a waiting and willing Redeemer. But blessed be Thy name, He is waiting to be gracious. All the mighty load of our guilt we transfer to this adorable Surety. He has already borne it all. He has satisfied all the holy requirements of Thy righteous law. As our Kinsman and Elder Brother He is now within the veil, as willing as He ever was, to save unto the uttermost.

While we look to Him as the LORD our Righteousness, may we know Him also as the Lord our strength. May we imbibe more of His blessed Spirit. May we be learners at His feet—learning to deny ourselves—to bear all that He chooses, without a murmuring word. Blessed JESUS ! Thou hast all—art all and canst do all for us. Be Thou everything to us —and everything for us—and everything in us. We desire to bury our sins in the ocean-depths of Thy love. May we be enabled to advance in holiness as we follow the footsteps of Thine unsullied life—to reflect Thy purity. May religion penetrate with its leavening power every daily duty. May we act under the feeling “ we are not our own ”—Consecrated soul and body to the LORD who died for us, may life become one tribute and offering to Thy praise. May we leave nothing to a dying hour, but to die at peace with Thee, and to have our souls filled with hopes of Heaven.

LORD bless our friends—reward our benefactors—forgive our enemies. May our household ever have Thy gracious benediction resting upon it. May every member of our family, near and at a distance, have the seal of GOD on their foreheads, and be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting Pour Thy rich grace into the hearts of the young. Oh let them not suffer golden moments to pass by misimproved. Preserve them from the snares of a wicked world. Let them know the happiness of living at peace with Thee.

Look in kindness on the sick, the sorrowful, the aged, the bereaved, and the dying. Accommodate Thy grace to their varied wants and trials. Let them take refuge in the very arms that are chastising them, rejoicing that the thread of life is in Thy hands.

Hear these our humble prayers. And may the grace of the LORD JESUS, and the love of GOD, and the communion and fellowship of the HOLY SPIRIT, be with us all, now and ever. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

The Grace of our Lord, &c.