"For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is
great."--Ps. xxv. 11.
Gracious God! do Thou look down upon me this night in Thy great mercy.
May I have now the inner sunshine of Thy presence! Ere I retire to
rest, let me pitch my tent near Thyself, and enjoy the tokens of Thy
favor and blessing. Thy loving-kindness has been new to me every
morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.
I desire to render Thee the thank-offering of a grateful heart. My
life is one wondrous attestation to Thy patience and forbearance. The
kindness of the best earthly friend has been nothing to Thine. Thou
mightest long ere now have left me to reap the fruits of my own guilty
estrangement, withdrawing the grace and Spirit I have so long
resisted, executing against me the awful doom of the cumberer. But I
am still spared, a living monument of mercy. Thy ways are not as man's
ways, nor Thy thoughts as man's thoughts.
Lord, I would seek anew this night to close with the alone Sovereign
remedy! Jesus! there is no other prop but Thee to support a sinking
soul and a sinking world. There is nothing between me and everlasting
destruction but Thy glorious work and finished righteousness. I
rejoice to think that it is all I need--living or dying, for time or
for eternity. O blot out in Thy precious blood my many, many sins.
Nothing in my own hands I bring; I cling simply to Thy cross. Mercy
and truth have there met together; righteousness and peace have
embraced each other. Reposing in what Thou has done, and in what Thou
art still willing to do, I can rejoicingly say, "Return unto thy rest,
O my soul."
Bring me to live more habitually under the constraining influence of
redeeming love. Purchased at such a price, may I be willing freely to
consecrate soul and body to Thy service. Let me feel that the
bitterest of all trials is the forfeiture of Thy favor and love, and
the loftiest joy is the assured possession of Thy gracious friendship.
May my spirit be brought into blessed unison with Thine. May I become
more gentle, and resigned, and submissive, and unselfish; more
heavenly-minded; more Saviour-like. May I be led to regard _all_, even
Thy darkest dealings to me here, as needful parts in Thy plan of
stupendous wisdom. May I rest contented in the assurance that what I
know not now I shall know hereafter.
Unite me to all my dear friends, and them to me, in the bonds of
Christian love. Amid all the fluctuations of this mortal life, may we
ever have grace given us to cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of
heart. Treading the same pilgrim-journey, may we arrive at last at the
same pilgrim-home.
I would retire to rest this night with my eye on the opened fountain.
O give me that peace of Thine which the world knoweth not of, which
the world cannot give, and, blessed be God, which the world cannot
take away! Abide with me, for it is towards evening, and the day is
far spent. Give thine angels charge over me during the unconscious
hours of sleep, and, when all my evenings and mornings shall be
finished, may it be mine to wake up with Thyself in glory everlasting,
through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour. Amen.
"LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH BEFORE THEE AS
INCENSE: AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE."