Imatges de pàgina
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“Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name.” Amen.

For Trustfulness.

LORD Jesus, Who never failest them that trust in Thee, let me run to Thee in all my trials and difficulties. Receive me when I come to rest in Thee, to be strengthened by Thee, to consult Thee, to put my wishes in Thy hand.

Compel me, O Lord, utterly to mistrust myself; suffer me not to lean on the broken reed of worldly succour. Thou hast promised perfect peace to me if I depend only on Thee. Let not my heart be overcharged with cares and responsibilities, nor my spirits depressed with ill-success. But help me to do my part zealously and cheerfully, using all the means of action which Thou dost provide for me. And then let me cast all my care and anxiety on Thee, beseeching Thee only to pardon my misuse of Thy provision for my needs. Lord, Thou knowest them that trust in Thee! I will put my trust in Thee, and be safe. Amen.

For Humility.

BLESSED Jesus, I adore Thee for Thy

in meek and

in heart. O Lord, Thou hast taught us that the servant must not be above his Master; and that the followers of Him Who washed His disciples' feet should do as He did to them. And when I desire to follow Thee in this, my pride and my vainglory fight against Thy Spirit working in me. Lord, I would humble myself by accepting other men's opinion of myself, by recalling with

shame my follies and meanness, my weakness and wilfulness, my silly obstinacy and blind wickedness, my petty cunning, my conceit, and unbelief in Thy eternal truth. All that is within me is transparent to Thy piercing eye. Disperse the mists of self-exaltation which hide me from myself. I humbly thank Thee for the mortifications with which Thou hast lovingly checked my vanity. I pray Thee to preserve me from restlessness and ambition, from being puffed up by aspiring thoughts; and to help me to keep a strict watch over myself, my eyes, my words, and my heart-to shun flattery, and to see my own utter unworthiness, picturing to myself what I must be in Thy sight. For Thy sake, O Lord, I would be subject to others, and be girded with humility. Grant to me this grace henceforward, for Thy mercy's sake. Amen.

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For Calmness.

LORD God of Israel, awful in truth and

majesty, I beseech Thee to make me still and calm before Thee. Take out of me all leaven of excitement, and all effervescence of unreal or transitory enthusiasm. Subdue me entirely to steady, resolute, quiet service, that I may live outwardly as becomes the unruffled calmness of Thy Holy Spirit dwelling in me. O Lord, I would fain imitate Thee in this great perfection of Thy human nature, and, in the midst of the turmoil of the world, be at perfect peace in union with Thy majestic stillness! Let nothing disturb the order and reverence of my conduct towards Thee. Let me walk firmly, and hopefully, and soberly, and trustfully before Thee, as ever in Thy Presence, in the secret

sense of having Thine eye upon me, silent and calm. Amen.

For Wisdom and Discretion.

GOD, Who hast promised that, if any lack

Thee, Thou wilt give

it, I acknowledge my most grievous and utter want thereof. Give me, I beseech Thee, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and counsel and knowledge. Keep me from folly and rashness in private resolutions and in public life. When I am right, do Thou confirm me. When I am wrong, do Thou correct me. Prepare my judgment by humility and purity; guide it by deference, and fortify it only by a sense of Thy gracious assistance; and so give me, O Thou Wisdom of God, a right judgment in all things, that I be not barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Thee, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God. Amen.

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For Purity.

LORD God of holiness, Who dwellest in light unapproachable, may I dare ask that the reflection of Thy purity may be seen in me, Thine unworthy servant, whom Thou hast constituted a temple of Thy Holy Spirit. O Lord, Thou hast set me to do holy work in the world, keep me holy among the unholy. Let me obey Thy Spirit when He prompts me to incessant watchfulness, so that nothing unclean may enter into the sanctuary of my soul, or issue forth from my heart. Clothe me in Thy armour of righteousness, that I may walk safely among the fiery darts of evil; and so separate me from the defile

ments of the world that I may be in behaviour as becometh holiness; for my Master's sake, my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

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For Diligence.

Let

GOD, Who hast called me to Thy service, give me grace to seize unfailingly all opportunities of doing Thy work; keep me from all needless ties which may in any way hinder or distract me. Make me to abhor and shrink from sloth and languid slowness in my labour. God forbid that by any lukewarmness I become nauseous unto Thee! Rouse me when I am idle, frivolous, or occupied with trifles! me never hesitate at, or delay, for selfish reasons, the duty of the hour. But enable me punctually and zealously to do as much as I can, and to throw my whole strength into the diligent discharge of my responsibilities; so that whenever my work is cut off, I may be found striving earnestly to finish that which Thou hast given me to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Sincerity.

GOD, our Master and Judge, Who requirest truth in the inward parts, cleanse me, I beseech Thee, from all deceit and guile, from all hypocrisy and false pretence, from all exaggeration and excess of description; endue me with a burning love of truth, and courage to speak and maintain it. Let all that I do be done in simplicity and godly sincerity. Make me to be what I wish to seem to be, towards Thee, and towards men. Give me grace, O blessed Lord, to feel Thee ever present about me and within

me, the Witness and Recorder of my thoughts, words, and deeds, that I may do all things heartily as unto Thee, and may live to Thee alone; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. Amen.

For Self-control.

LORD, Fearnestly desire to be master over

my affections and desires, much more over my words and actions! I come to Thee for the great gift of power over the flesh and the mind, that the Spirit may be master in me. I desire Thy help to keep under my body, that I may use it firmly and sensibly for Thy service. Give me the spirit of watchfulness, that I may never be surprised and taken unawares. Oh, keep me from idle words. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips. And still more urgently do I pray that Thou wilt greatly help me to control my thoughts. Restrain with bit and bridle all emotions of covetousness, or passionate anger, or pride, or concupiscence. Give me the skill of self-control, as well as the desire of it, and the will to exercise it. Stifle the wish of pleasing myself, and enable me, in the deliberate intention of pleasing Thee, to deport myself as Thy servant in my daily life, doing, speaking, and thinking the things which are approved in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Courage.

LORD Jesus Christ, Who hast taught us to seek provision of courage in fighting the good fight of faith, and hast promised to him that overcometh to sit with Thee in Thy throne;

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