SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD. 205 things may at any time raise in me, from the calamities or evils of this life. O God, thou only canst know what is expedient for me. I beseech thee, therefore, to guide and govern me, according to thy good pleasure. Give me or take from me as it seemeth best to thy providence, and in all things vouchsafe to conform my will to thine. Grant, merciful God, that I may with humble confidence and submission, equally reverence and adore the different events thou shalt ordain to prove me, as I am too ignorant to ask aright, and cannot desire one event before another, without presumption, and without boldly making myself the judge of all that train of future things which thy perfect wisdom has compassionately concealed from mortal view. I know, O Lord my God, that my whole knowledge may be reduced to one point, viz. that it is good to obey thee, and evil to offend thee. Any thing else surpasses the capacity of finite beings, and lies hid among the secrets of thy providence, which I will reverence and adore: but grant, O my God, that I may never T attempt to trace or penetrate, dispute or murmur against. Finally, O my God! I commit my life and the dearest concerns connected with it, to thy all-wise disposal, beseeching thee, for the sake of my blessed Redeemer, to bring me to everlasting glory.—Amen. HYMN. COME, let us join our friends above, Let all the saints terrestrial sing One family we dwell in him, One army of the living God, To his command we bow; Part of his host have pass'd the flood, And part are crossing now. ASPIRATIONS. In thee, O Lord, do I hope. Lord hear my voice and let my cry come unto thee, for thou art my hope, my refuge, and my strong fortress: lead me therefore for thy name's sake, and guide me. O Lord, thou redeemest the souls of thy servants, and none that trust in thee shall be desolate. O Lord, I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long, but I know, Lord, all my desire is before thee, my groaning is not hid from thee. In thee, O Lord, do I hope; wilt thou not hear, O Lord my God? The Lord thinketh upon me, he is my helper and deliverer. Make no long tarrying, O my God! The Lord upholdeth those that fall, and raiseth up all those that are bowed down. The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon him, yea to all them that call upon him faithfully. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him, he also will hear their cry and will save them. "God of my fathers! holy, just, and good; * * * Jehovah, breathe upon my soul, my heart Enlarge, my faith increase; increase my hope; |