"He giveth grace unto the humble."--James iv. 6.
O God, Thou art great and greatly to be feared. Thy greatness is
unsearchable. Thou art seated on a throne that is high and lifted up;
myriads of blessed spirits cease not day nor night to celebrate Thy
praise in their ever-triumphant hymn, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord
God of hosts."
But I rejoice to think that though Heaven is Thy dwelling-place Thou
deignest to dwell in the humble and contrite heart; no sacrifice dost
Thou so love as that of the broken spirit; no incense so prized by
Thee as the incense of a grateful, believing soul, which, oppressed
with its own unworthiness and sin, reposes with unwavering trust in
the work and righteousness of the Great Surety.
Lord, on this ever-living, ever-loving Saviour I desire wholly to
lean. As helpless, hopeless, friendless, portionless, I cast myself on
Him who is Helper of the helpless and Friend of the friendless. There
is nothing but Thy sacrifice and intercession, O Thou Lamb of God,
between me and everlasting destruction. O wash every crimson and
scarlet stain away in Thy precious blood. Let me lie low at the foot
of Thy cross. Give me a lowly estimate of myself, and a lofty view of
Thy all-glorious work and finished righteousness. I have no other hope
of mercy, and, blessed be Thy name, I _need_ no other.
While I take Thee as my Saviour, may I be enabled to follow Thee also
as my pattern; conscious of the supreme enthronement of Thy love in my
heart, may I feel superior to all the fluctuations and changes of a
changing world. May I live as the chartered heir of a better
inheritance; while in the world, may I seek not to be of it. May I
diffuse around me the noiseless influence of a heavenly life,
subordinating all I do to Thy glory. Lord, enable me to be useful in
the sphere in which Thou hast placed me, to work while it is called
to-day, remembering that there is no work nor device nor labor in the
grave whither I am going.
Bless all in sorrow. Sanctify their trials. Keep us ever from the
guilty atheism of looking to second causes. May we ever rejoice in the
elevating assurance that "the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth," and that
Thou orderest all things wisely and well. May the Holy Spirit the
Comforter pour his own balm into every bleeding heart.
Have mercy on a world lying in wickedness. Hasten that glorious period
when creation, now groaning and travailing in sin, shall be delivered
from the bondage of corruption and be translated into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. Let Thy word everywhere have free
course and be glorified. May Jesus, faithfully "lifted up" by the
attractive power of his cross, draw all men unto him.
Let Thy best benediction rest on my friends. The Lord watch between
them and me when we are absent one from another. May we experience Thy
guardian care this night; and if spared to awake in the morning, may
it be to spend a new day in Thy service, through Jesus Christ, our
blessed 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."