"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings."--Phil. iii. 10.
Almighty God, do Thou draw near to me this night in Thy great mercy.
What am I, that infinite unworthiness and nothingness should be
permitted to stand in the presence of infinite purity, majesty, and
glory? Lord, I dare not have ventured to bow at thy footstool in my
own merits. I am poor and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and
naked. Enter not in judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight no
flesh living can be justified.
But, adored be Thy name, I have an all-sufficient ground of confidence
wherewith to approach Thee. I bless Thee, that by the doing and dying
of Jesus, Thou hast opened up a way of reconciliation to the chief of
sinners. Oh, enable me to know more fully the adaptation of His person
and work to all the necessities and exigencies of my character and
circumstances. Let me know him in His infinite Godhead, as "mighty to
save;" in His spotless humanity, as mighty to compassionate. Let me
know Him in all His offices, as my Prophet, my Priest, my King; my
Kinsman-Redeemer within the veil, my Refuge in trouble, my Guide in
perplexity, my Support in death, my Portion through eternity. I
rejoice, blessed Jesus, at the hidden springs of life resident in
Thee! Thou art suited to all the varied wants and circumstances, and
trials of Thy people--for every moment of need, for every diversity of
situation. I can mourn no real blank, if I have Thy presence and
blessing.
O Thou, better than the best of earthly friends, who, though enthroned
amid the hosannas of angels, hast still Thy human sympathy unaltered
and unchanged, draw near to me this night, and breathe upon me, and
say, "Peace be unto thee." Let me know the melting energy of Thy love,
and the attractive power of Thy cross. May I keep the unwavering eye
of faith steadily directed to Thy all-glorious sacrifice. Be Thou the
habitual object of my contemplation, the source of holiest joy, the
animating principle of obedience. May all creature love be
subordinated to Thine. May my temper, my walk, my conversation, be
regulated in accordance with Thy blessed will and holy example. May
this be the lofty aim and ambition of life, to act so as to please
Jesus.
Bless my dear friends, may they too be led to count all but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord, whom to
know is life eternal. Pity the careless; reclaim the backsliding;
comfort the sorrowful; sustain the dying. May the Lord arise and have
mercy on Zion; may He show that the time to favor her, yea, the set
time, is come!
Ere I lay my head on my nightly pillow, I would lay anew my guilt on
the head of the Divine Surety; may I fall asleep under the blessed
sense of sin forgiven, and look forward to that blessed day when
earth's night-shadows shall have vanished forever, and when I shall be
enabled more fully "to know the love of Christ which passeth
knowledge." And all I ask or hope for is for His sake. Amen.
"LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH BEFORE THEE AS
INCENSE: AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE."