Friday Evening (Third Week)

GRACIOUS FATHER! we approach the footstool of Thy throne this night, adoring Thee as the GOD of our life and the length of our days. We bless Thee for the many tokens of Thy love daily bestowed upon us: for food and raiment— for health and strength—for friends and home—for all that brightens our pathway in life—for all that cheers and irradiates our prospects beyond the grave. LORD, how often hast Thou disappointed our fears, answered our prayers, and fulfilled our hopes; how often has Thy grace and mercy made arduous duties easy, and levelled mountains of difficulty. How often when sin caused our hearts to be overwhelmed, hast Thou led us to the Rock that is higher than we. How often in seasons of sorrow hast Thou conducted us to that same blessed shelter, and spoken comfortably to us.

We come anew to Thee this night, weary and heavy-laden, beseeching Thee to give us rest; we lament that we do not feel as we ought to do the burden of sin. Bring us in poverty of soul,—in self-denying, self-renouncing lowliness—to cry out “ God be merciful to us sinners.” Show us the infinite adaptation of the Redeemer in His person and work to meet all the necessities of our tried and tempted natures. May His name be as ointment poured forth; may his blood be our only plea—His love our animating principle— His glory our chiefest end.

May our souls become holy altars from which the incense of obedience and love is ascending continually. May we become patterns of all that is pure, and unselfish, and virtuous, and good. May we be enabled to do Thy will and love Thy will because it is Thine. May we enabled—not only to pull out the beam, but to pluck out the mote that would dim our spiritual vision: may our eye be single that our whole body may be full of light. May we be enabled with unfaltering devotedness to say “ This one thing we do.”

Accomplish the number of Thine elect, and hasten the coming of Thy Son’s kingdom. Keep Thy churches faithful: may they earnestly contend for the faith,—holding fast that which they have, that no man take their crown.

Sanctify affliction for all Thine afflicted people: thy chastisements are mercies in disguise:—all are tempered with love. Thou wilt not let loose the piercing wind on Thy shorn lambs—Thou watchest every sheep in the fold; and when they are led out to the rougher parts of the wilderness, Thou “ goest before them.”

We pray for those who are living without GOD, and therefore without hope. Let them not put off until they come to mourn with unavailing tears over-wasted hours and forfeited opportunities. Convince every procrastinator how sad it is to be standing on the brink of eternity with that eternity unprovided for.

Bless us, even us, O GOD, who are now bending at Thy mercy-seat; rebuke our faithlessness—warm our love—quicken our graces—let us live more constantly under the powers of a world to come. Ere we lay our heads on our nightly pillows, we would lay our sins afresh on the head of the Surety, that we may retire to rest at peace with GOD, ready, if need be, to wake up in glory. And all that we ask is for the Redeemer’s sake. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

The Grace of our Lord, &c.