refreshed, and strengthened, for the duties of this day. Thou hast commanded us to keep it holy. O enable us to call and feel the Sabbath a delight, the Holy of the Lord, honourable. May we honour Thee, not doing our own ways, nor finding our own pleasure, nor speaking our own words. So shall we delight ourselves in the Lord, Isa. Iviii. 13. and Thou wilt feed us with the heritage of Thy people, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Ver. 14. Hear, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and in great mercy accept and answer these our supplications for the sake of our adorable Redeemer. Amen. *Acts iii. 19. + Exod. xxxi. 13-17. + Psal. xxvii. 14. SUNDAY EVENING. FROM ISAIAH. O LORD GOD of the Sabbath"! suffer us again to gather ourselves together before Thee, and to close this sacred day with prayer and praise; and let Thy Holy Spirit be with us for Christ's sake. Another blessed opportunity Thou hast vouchsafed to us, wherein to attend to the things which belong unto our peace. O that we had improved it as we ought! that we had this day devoted ourselves more unto Thee! that we had loved Thee more, and served Thee better! that our praises had been more heartfelt, our confessions more humble, our prayers more fervent. Yet, O Lord, sinful as we are in our best services, reject us not; nor suffer us to retire to rest without Thy pardon and Thy blessing. Accept, we pray Thee, our imperfect endeavours to keep this day holy: let the precious blood of our Saviour wash away *Exod. xx. 10. Luke vi. 5. + Luke xix. 42. all our defilements, and for His sake look upon us as a reconciled Father in Christ Jesus*. We pray also for all Christian congregations, and for all who, in the church, the family, or the closet, have this day endeavoured to seek Thee in Thine own appointed way. of O God, though Thou mayest justly be angry with us, miserable sinners, yet for Christ's sake let Thine anger be turned away from us, and comfort usa, we pray Thee, with heavenly comfort. Enable a Isa. xii. 1. us with joy to draw water out of the wells salvation", to trust in Thee, and not be afraid. Thou Holy One of Israel, our Strength, our Song, our Salvation! we would praise Thee, we would sing unto Thee, we would exalt Thy name; for Ver.6.2.5.4. Thou hast done wonderful things in the earth, Ob Ver. 3. Ver. 2. Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. © Ch. xxv. 1. Thou art a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat. O may our minds be Ver. 4. more and more stayed on Thee, for Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace who trusteth in Thee. O 8 Ch. xxvi. 3. * 2 Cor. v. 18, 19. i Ver. 8. Lord our God, other lords beside Thee, have had h Isa. xxvi. 13. dominion over us", but henceforward let the chief desire of our souls be to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee'; yea, with our souls may we desire Thee in the night; with our spirits may we seek Thee early. May we trust in Thee for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah we have everlasting strength'. k Ver. 9. 1 Ver. 4. m Ch. xiv. 3. O God, give Thy blessing, we earnestly beseech Thee, to the means that have been used this day, for the spreading of the Gospel both at home and abroad. We would plead for Thine ancient people Israel. Hast Thou not promised to give them rest from their sorrow, and from their fear, and from their hard bondage wherein Thou hast made them to serve"? O that they might take hold of n Ch. xxvii. 5. Thy strength, and make peace with Thee"! Then shall Israel blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. We would plead also, O God, Thy farther promise, that Thou wilt destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. Hasten, O Lord, that glorious day, that the deaf may hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind • Ver. 6. P Ch. xxv. 7. 9 Ch. xxix. 18. may see out of obscurity and out of darkness; that the meek may increase their joy in the Lord', r Isa. xxix. 19. they that erred in spirit come to understanding, and they that murmured learn doctrine. O hasten Ver. 24. that glorious day in which it shall be said, Lo! this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord, we have waited for Him, we will be glad, and rejoice in His salvation. Ch. xxv. 9. O Lord! who art exalted that Thou mayest have mercy upon us; who hast written, Blessed are all they that wait for Thee"; be gracious unto us at the " Ch. xxx. 18. voice of our cry; hear us, and answer us, we ▾ Ver. 19. earnestly beseech Thee, for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of Mankind. Amen. |