"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."--John
xvii. 16.
O God, I desire to come into Thy gracious presence this night,
beseeching Thee to bless me. Let my prayer come before Thee as
incense. May the incense-offering of gratitude and thanksgiving ascend
from a grateful heart. How manifold are the proofs I have to recount
of kindness on thy part! how deep the ingratitude I have to mourn on
my own! My sins have reached unto the clouds; they are more in number
than the sand of the sea.
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. I cannot evade Thy
righteous scrutiny; all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him
with whom I have to do! Lord, I have to lament the proneness of this
evil heart of unbelief ever to depart away from Thee, the living God.
I mourn the debasing influence of earthly things; the fascinating
power of a present evil world. How inclined to conform to its evil
maxims and unholy practices! How often am I found ranged among those
who "mind earthly things;" my soul cleaving to the dust, instead of
soaring upwards to Thyself, my alone satisfying portion!
Lord, it is my earnest prayer that Thou wouldst wean me from the
world. Keep me from over-anxiety about the things that are seen--from
being over-careful and troubled about earth's "many things," to the
exclusion of the one thing needful! Break every alluring worldly
spell; disenchant things temporal of their false and delusive charm;
disengage me by all the salutary discipline of Thy providence from
what is fleeting, uncertain, transient, perishable; and unite me to
the things which cannot be shaken, but which remain forever! May my
citizenship be more in heaven; imbibing more of the pilgrim spirit,
may I declare plainly that I seek a better country.
May the sins of the past day be forgiven; may the blood of sprinkling
wash their guilt away. May I be driven nearer and closer to Him who is
the true refuge and portion, and Saviour of His people. I rejoice to
think that He has a balm for every wound, a comfort for every bosom, a
solace for every tear. May it be mine to go up through the wilderness
leaning on His arm. May Thy Holy Spirit carry on His own work of
sanctification within me. May He enlighten, quicken, comfort,
strengthen me; and mould me in gradual conformity to Thy divine will.
Bless all connected with me, by whatever tie. When earth's separations
are at an end, do Thou take me and all dear to me to the enjoyment of
Thy presence and love in Thine own everlasting kingdom. Let the pillar
of Thy presence be over us this night. Guard me during sleep's
unconscious hours. Let no unquiet dreams disturb my repose; may I
compose myself to rest under the sweet assurance that Thou the Lord
sustainest me; and when I awake, may I be still with Thee, 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."