Imatges de pàgina
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v. Prayer to be used by those that are Wounded. ALMIGHTY, EVERLASTING GOD, Maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom thou dost receive, I humbly pray that I may not faint under this present suffering, but rather see cause for giving of thanks. O Lord, in the midst of judgment thou hast remembered mercy. Thou hast corrected me, but only in measure. Thousands have fallen at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, and yet, only in merciful degree, has the evil come nigh me. Oh! sanctify to me this thy fatherly correction. Spare me that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more; that so, if it should be thy pleasure to raise me up, I may spend the residue of my life in thy faith and fear; and if not, that I may so take my sickness, that this painful life ended, I may dwell with thee in life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

vi. Shorter Prayers and Ejaculations, to be used by the Wounded when there appears small hope of Recovery.

O LORD, of whom may I seek for succour, but of thee, who for my sins are justly displeased? Yet, O Lord GoD most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver me not into the bitter pains of eternal death.

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of my heart, shut not thy merciful ears to my prayer; but spare me, O Lord most holy, O GOD most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer me not, at my last hour, for any pains of death to fall from thee.

Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy son: yet, O Lord, do not cast off the bowels and compassions of a Father; but, even as a Father pitieth his own children, so be thou merciful unto me.

O Spirit of grace, I have by my manifold sins done despite to thee; yet, O blessed Comforter, though I

have often grieved thee, be thou pleased to succour and relieve me, and say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. I pray thee, help thy servant, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood.

Make me to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.

Thou art the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in thee, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

My flesh and my heart faileth; but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

O blessed Jesus, who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in thine own blood, receive my soul. Into thy hands I commend my spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou GOD of truth. Come, Lord Jesu, come quickly.

IV.-LESSONS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE FOR EVERY MORNING AND EVENING IN THE WEEK. Sunday Morning,

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First Lesson.-Daniel ix. 8-12.

LORD, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

To the Lord our GOD belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our GOD, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of GOD, because we have sinned against him.

And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake

against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil.

REFLECTION.

How many and how grievous have been the sins of our nation, to draw down upon it the sore judgments wherewith GOD has afflicted us. And yet if I have now my part in the judgments, have not I had my part in the sin? O GOD! who can tell how oft he offendeth?

Second Lesson.-Matt. xxii. 15-21.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of GOD in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of

men.

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Show me the tribute money, And they brought unto him a penny.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

They say unto him Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto GOD the things that are GOD's.

REFLECTION.

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How ready we are to put duties against duties:to say, GOD requires me to do this, and therefore I excuse myself from doing that. But here Scripture teaches me that I am to serve GOD and man too: that loyalty is a Christian duty; and that I cannot put forth too much diligence in the service of an earthly Sovereign, so long as I reserve for GOD the first and best place in my heart.

Psalm xcv. 1–7.

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great GOD, and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

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O come, let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our GOD; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

REFLECTION.

If worship be a rightful claim on the part of the Creator because "he is our GOD," so it should be a debt of gratitude on our part because "we are the people of his pasture." And when we cannot join in the service of the sanctuary, GOD will be well pleased with our private prayers. The Lord loveth "the gates of Zion," but he is not unmindful of "the dwellings of Jacob."

Sunday Evening.

First Lesson.-Daniel ix. 16—19.

O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

Now, therefore, O our GOD, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's

sake.

O my GOD, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name; for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my GOD; for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

REFLECTION.

Does not the example of Daniel here reprove me of a great neglect? I may have prayed with the congregation in the church, for the turning away of GOD'S anger from the nation, but have I been in the habit, like this holy man, of praying for my country in my secret chamber? And then see the honour GOD puts upon these patriot prayers. For it came to pass that "while Daniel was yet speaking in prayer," the angel Gabriel was sent to comfort him. Why should not all the saints have such honour ?

Second Lesson.-Philippians iv. 4-7.

Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men.
Lord is at hand.

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Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GOD.

And the peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

REFLECTION.

What a privilege is that of the Christian! He is to be careful for nothing because he may be prayerful for everything. I may have many fretting anxieties which I cannot speak to man about, sad thoughts of those at home, and fears for their well-doing,-but all these cares I can take to GOD, and in his hands can leave them, Having made known my request, I am to go away like

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