"they are not of the world, even as i am not of the world."—john xvii. 16.
o god, i desire to come into thy gracious presence this night, beseeching thee to bless me. let my prayer come before thee as incense. may the incense-offering of gratitude and thanksgiving ascend from a grateful heart. how manifold are the proofs i have to recount of kindness on thy part! how deep the ingratitude i have to mourn on my own! my sins have reached unto the clouds; they are more in number than the sand of the sea.
thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. i cannot evade thy righteous scrutiny; {39} all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom i have to do! lord, i have to lament the proneness of this evil heart of unbelief ever to depart away from thee, the living god. i mourn the debasing influence of earthly things; the fascinating power of a present evil world. how inclined to conform to its evil maxims and unholy practices! how often am i found ranged among those who "mind earthly things;" my soul cleaving to the dust, instead of soaring upwards to thyself, my alone satisfying portion!
lord, it is my earnest prayer that thou wouldst wean me from the world. keep me from over-anxiety about the things that are seen—from being over-careful and troubled about earth's "many things," to the exclusion of the one thing needful! break every alluring worldly spell; disenchant things temporal of their false and delusive charm; disengage me by all the salutary discipline of thy providence from what is fleeting, uncertain, transient, perishable; and unite me to the things which cannot be shaken, but which remain forever! may my citizenship be more in heaven; imbibing {40} more of the pilgrim spirit, may i declare plainly that i seek a better country.
may the sins of the past day be forgiven; may the blood of sprinkling wash their guilt away. may i be driven nearer and closer to him who is the true refuge and portion, and saviour of his people. i rejoice to think that he has a balm for every wound, a comfort for every bosom, a solace for every tear. may it be mine to go up through the wilderness leaning on his arm. may thy holy spirit carry on his own work of sanctification within me. may he enlighten, quicken, comfort, strengthen me; and mould me in gradual conformity to thy divine will.
bless all connected with me, by whatever tie. when earth's separations are at an end, do thou take me and all dear to me to the enjoyment of thy presence and love in thine own everlasting kingdom. let the pillar of thy presence be over us this night. guard me during sleep's unconscious hours. let no unquiet dreams disturb my repose; may i compose myself to rest under the sweet assurance that thou the lord sustainest me; and when i awake, may i {41} be still with thee, through jesus christ, my only lord and saviour. amen.
"let my prayer be set forth before thee as
incense: and the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice."
