"i will trust, and be not afraid."—isaiah xii. 2.
o god, thou makest the outgoings of the evening and the morning to rejoice over me. i thank thee for thy sparing mercy during the past day. while multitudes of my fellow-men have been called away into an eternal world, i am still preserved in the land of the living, and in the place of hope. it is of thy compassions alone that i am not consumed.
my way zionward may well be studded with ebenezers, testifying "the lord hath helped me." i may well set to my seal that god is true. the pillar of thy presence has guided me through many a perplexing path. thy love has {45} smiled through many a threatening cloud. thy restraining grace has arrested me in many a slippery way; when "my soul was among lions," how often has the lord "sent his angel" to rescue me and shut the lions' mouths. i am this night a marvel and miracle of thy patience, and forbearance, and mercy.
lord, i joyfully take all these past kindnesses as tokens for the future. to thee i would confidingly commit the unknown morrow, and cleave to thy guiding arm with full purpose of heart. the lot is thrown into the lap, but the whole disposing of it is of the lord; o, be it my joy and privilege, thus reposing in thy covenant faithfulness, to say, "undertake thou for me." looking forward to that time when all thy inscrutable dealings will be unfolded, when inner meanings and purposes now undiscerned by the eye of sense will be brought to light, and all discovered to be full of infinite love.
keep me from dishonoring thee by the workings of unbelief; i am prone to trust my own wisdom, o give me teachableness of spirit and simplicity of faith, waiting patiently on {46} thee; leaving all that concerns me and mine to thy better direction.
blessed jesus! i would seek to cleave closer and closer to thy cross. i have no trust but in thy finished work. other refuges may fail, but i am as secure in thee as everlasting love and wisdom and power can make me. o cleanse every guilty stain away in thy most precious blood. let me live day by day at the opened fountain, and feel that i only "live" while there. thus simply relying on thy justifying grace, may i seek to walk in thy footsteps and to imbibe thy spirit. may i follow thee, o lamb of god, whithersoever thou seest meet to lead me. may i never feel as if i would wish one jot or tittle regarding me altered, when the reins of empire are in thy hands.
take my beloved friends under thy special care. watch over them, provide for them, decide for them. in all their ways may they acknowledge thee, and in all things seek thy honor and glory.
pity the afflicted. stay thy rough wind in the day of thy east wind. let them rejoice that every bitter drop in the cup of life is appointed {47} by thee. may they submissively drink it, saying, "thy will be done!"
hear, lord, the voice of my supplications, when thou hearest, forgive, and grant me an answer in peace, seeing all that i ask is in the name and for the sake of jesus christ, my only saviour. amen.
"let my prayer be set forth before thee as
incense: and the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice."
