Saturday Morning (Second Week)

O GOD ALMIGHTY, we come anew this morning into Thy sacred presence. Glory be to Thy holy name, that we are again permitted to draw near to the Throne of the Heavenly grace, and to call Thee “ our Father.” Our pillow last night might have been a pillow of death. We might righteously have found ourselves this morning exiled from Thy presence, knowing Thee only “ as the consuming fire.” But Thou hast lengthened out our day of grace. We are here among the living to praise Thee. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed.

Anew we draw near to the opened fountain ;—anew, Gracious Saviour, we plead Thy spotless merits. It was Thine own sacred errand of love, that which brought Thee from Thy Throne in Heaven, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Do Thou break our chains and usher us into the glorious liberty of Thy people. May we feel there is no real happiness independent of Thee—that all else are walking in a vain show—seeking rest but finding none. But Thou, blessed JESUS, art the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. Leaning on Thine arm—reposing in Thy faithfulness—we will joyfully exclaim “ this is our Beloved, and this is our Friend.”

Keep us from the absorbing power of earthly things. Let us not be dead to Thee, and alive only to a dead and dying world. Let not the seen and the temporal eclipse the higher and nobler objects of faith. May we live under the powers of a world to come—loving Thee now with some feeble and imperfect foretaste of that love with which we shall love Thee forever.

We rejoice to believe that we are entirely in Thy keeping. Give us to feel that we would not wish one jot or tittle of Thy will altered—one ingredient less in our cup. If Thou sendest us prosperity, LORD, hallow it. If Thou sendest adversity, LORD, sanctify it. Let us rejoice in the thought that we are soon to suffer no more and to sin no more ; soon no more to displease with our guilty wanderings, Him, who has remained faithful amid all earth’s faithlessness.

We commend to Thy gracious providence all in whom we are interested. Take our dear friends under Thy peculiar care. Sanctify them by the indwelling of Thy HOLY SPIRIT—prosper them outwardly and inwardly. May all their duties and occupations be leavened with godliness. Bless our own immediate circle—may GOD be their Father, and JESUS their elder brother, and Heaven their everlasting home. [Bless our children—defend them from a present evil world. Let them early know the happiness of seeking and finding the one thing needful.] Bless the servants ; may they fulfil the duties of their calling, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but doing the will of GOD from the heart.

May Thy kingdom come. Support and strengthen all devoted laborers in heathen lands. May Thy Spirit come down upon them as rain upon the mown grass—as showers that water the earth. Sanctify affliction to all in sorrow. Let Thy suffering people feel that often what seems Thy roughest voice is the tender whisperings of the gentlest love. May they recognize in Thy chastisements the dealings of covenant mercy, to purge away the dross, and refine and purify for glory.

Direct, control, suggest this day, all our thoughts, purposes, designs and actions, that we may consecrate soul and body with all their powers to the glory of Thy holy name. And all that we ask or hope for, is for the Redeemer’s sake. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

The Grace of our Lord, &c.