"Open Thou mine eyes, O God, that 1 may behold wonderous things out of thy law."-Ps. 119. 18. O most merciful and gracious God! What great reason have I to be grateful towards Thee, for calling me to a participation of the blessed privileges enjoyed in thy church, in which Thou permittest me, from time to time, to hear thy word preached and expounded, and encouraged to yield obedience to thy will, and to work out my soul's salvation, whilst Thou permittest the great majority of mankind to live and die in ignorance and superstition. O that I may make a diligent use and improvement of these means and ordinances of grace! But I am, alas! too negligent, in observing and realizing these precious prerogatives, which Thou art affording me, above so many of my fellow creatures. I realize indeed, that I am permitted to appear in the assemby of thy saints, where thy voice of love and mercy is proclaimed unto me; but I am, alas! too often no better than a mere statue of wood or stone, which has ears, but hears not; for, although thy servants preach thy word with zeal and ener gy, I am inclined to sleep, or if I ever feel wakeful, my mind is too often filled with vain, foolish and sinful thoughts; and although I resolve to hearken to thy word; yet, I experience little benefit to my soul; my mind is indeed somewhat enlightened, but my heart is not much softened or improved. I am acquainted with the doctrines and instructions of thy word; but I do not increase in a sav‣ ing knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ. I believe thine encouraging promises, but alas! I am not thereby induced to love and serve Thee with all my heart; thy threatnings penetrate mine ears, but I am not induced from a fear of incurring thy displeasure, to depart entirely from all iniquities, and to amend my life; and although I conceive a good resolution to change my course of life and conduct, yet, alas! it endures but for a short time, being like unto a transient flame of fire, which emits no heat, but soon expires; I have scarcely passed out of the door of thy house, until I have forgotten what I have heard, and am like unto a riddle drawn up out of the wa. ter, which contains scarcely a drop of water, and return again, alas! to offend Thee with my sins and transgressions. Satan, thine and my sworn enemy, moreover, is not idle, but is ever ready to persuade me, that the hearing of thy word will not tend to my salvation, but rather bring upon me an aggravated condemnation, as I, as a servant, (or hand-maid) who know his (her) master's will, but do it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. Now, O God and Father of all mercy and grace! I confess all these things, with grief and sorrow of soul, and repent it in dust and ashes before Thee, and beg of Thee most fervently gra ciously to forgive all these grievous sins. O enlighten, gracious God, the eyes of mine understanding, so that I may conceive and comprehend the mysteries of thy kingdom. Incline Thou my will to yield a cheerful and unreserved obedience unto Thee. Awaken within me a pure and holy flame of devotion to hear thy word, and strengthen my weak memory, to trea. sure it up in a pure heart. Grant that I may ever keep thy word before mine eyes, and make it the man of my conn. sel, and the rule of my faith, life and actions, that I may apply the threaten. ings contained in it to the amendment of my whole life, that I may apply its holy admonitions, so as to urge me on in perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord, and may it ever be my ardent de sire to become more and more assimi lated to Jesus, the pattern of all moral perfection, until I at length, attain the full measure of the stature of Christ Jesus, and am at last introduced into that glory and felicity, in which I shall no more need any intermediate means, to know Thee or learn thy will, but where the Lamb of God himself, shall lead and guide me in all knowledge, amidst the green pastures and ever-flowing treasures of love divine, which issue from the throne of God! And now to Thee, the King Immortal, Invisible and only wise God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, be ascribed all the praises, power, dominion and glory forevermore.-Amen. A prayer after hearing a gospel sermon. HYMN 50. 7's & 6's.-Who's like Jesus. 1 JESUS Thou hast bid us pray, And bruise the serpent's head! 2 We have now begun to cry, And we will never end, Till we find salvation nigh, And grasp the sinner's Friend: Day and night we'll speak our wo, Importunately plead ; O, avenge us of our foe, And bruise the serpent's head. 3 Speak the word, and we shall be And bruise the serpent's head! 4 To destroy his work of sin, Our flesh, and fully dwell: And make us free indeed: O, avenge us of our foe, And bruise the serpent's head! 5 Stronger than the strong man Thou, His fury canst control: Cast him out, by entering now, And bruise the serpent's head! 6 To the never-ceasing cries Send deliverance from the skies, O, avenge us of our foe, And bruise the serpent's head! |