"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth."--John xvii. 17.
Blessed Lord, do Thou bend Thy pitying eye of love and mercy upon me
this evening. Draw Thou near to me as I venture once more on praying
and on pleading ground. I desire to feel that I am one night nearer
glory. Oh, enable me to feel, as night after night is silently
stealing over my head, that my seasons and opportunities of grace are
fleeting fast away, and that soon the night cometh, wherein I can work
no more.
Alas! O God, how little have I improved the time that is past! I am a
wonder to myself, that with all my deep ingratitude and utter vileness
I am yet permitted to approach Thy footstool: I have sinned against
light and love--warning and mercy--grace and privilege. The retrospect
of life is a retrospect of guilt. I mourn over my manifold
shortcomings--the alienation of my heart from Thee--the fitfulness of
my spiritual frames--the ebbings and flowings in the tide of my love.
When tried by the lofty and unerring standard of Thy law, how are my
best actions and duties marred with defilement! How much self-seeking
and self-glorying--how little animated by the predominating motive of
love to Thee, and singleness of eye to Thy service!
Blessed Jesus! I flee anew to the pavilion of Thy love. I have no
other hope, no other refuge, but in Thy finished work--Thy matchless
atonement--Thy spotless righteousness. There is in Thee an
all-sufficiency for every want. Finite necessities cannot exhaust
Infinite fullness. Let me hear Thy voice saying, "Thy sins, which are
many, are all forgiven thee!" O sprinkle me with Thy blood; sanctify
me, body, soul, and spirit. Transform me more and more into Thine own
image. May I know more and more the happiness of true holiness--that I
am really blessed in seeking to walk so as to please God. May the
power of grace wax stronger and stronger, and the power of sin wax
weaker and weaker. May trials and crosses become light and easy to me
when borne in a spirit of meek, unrepining submission to the Divine
will. May this quiet every doubt and misgiving, "Your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Lord, may every
providential dealing prove a heart-searcher, testing the reality of my
love to Thee, and my meetness and preparedness for Thy heavenly
kingdom.
Extend, Lord, Thy cause and Gospel everywhere. Strengthen Thy
missionary and ministering servants. May they ever hear the sound of
their Master's footsteps behind them. May thy churches walk in the
fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
Bless all my beloved friends wherever they are; do Thou be their
Almighty Protector and Guide. Let the angel come at this the time of
evening incense, touching all our hearts, and granting us an answer to
our several petitions. Let us rise to-morrow refreshed for Thy
service; and fitted for whatsoever in Thy good providence we may be
called either to do or to suffer. Hear me, gracious God, for the sake
of Him whom Thou hearest always. Amen.
"LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH BEFORE THEE AS
INCENSE: AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE."