"as many as are led by the spirit of god, they are the sons of god."—rom. viii. 14.
o lord, thou art the god of my life and the length of my days. there is no real happiness independent of thee. thy favor is life. in vain can i seek for any satisfying portion in an unsatisfying world. if bereft of thee i am bereaved indeed. but with thy countenance shining upon me, i must be safe, i must be happy.
do thou pour down upon me the gifts and graces of thy holy spirit. may he "garrison" my heart. may he write on its blood-besprinkled lintels the superscription, "holiness to the lord." oh may this soul of mine become a living temple, an "habitation of god through the spirit." let me not trifle with convictions. let me not grieve by my hardness and impenitency that gracious agent, whereby i am sealed unto the day of redemption; but may all my affections be willingly surrendered to his service. by his omnipotent energy may {86} every high thought and lofty imagination be brought into captivity to the obedience of jesus. may i be enabled to lean upon him in the extremity of my weakness. fill me with all joy and peace in believing that i may abound in hope through the power of the holy ghost; fitted for thy service here, and for the enjoyment of thee forever hereafter.
i pray for the outpouring of the same blessed spirit on the whole church. may he descend like rain upon the mown grass, and as showers that water the earth. come from the four winds, o breath, and breathe upon the slain in the valley! hasten that glorious period when the year of thy redeemed shall come, when the earth shall be full of the tabernacles of the righteous, in which the voice of joy and melody will continually be heard!
oh that there were more in me of the mind of my gracious saviour, on whom the spirit was poured without measure. may i, like him, be more meek and gentle, more amiable and forgiving, overcoming evil with good.—transform me into the same image from glory to glory, by the lord the spirit.
hide all my friends under the shadow of thy wings. put thy good spirit also into their hearts. may he guide them into all the truth, and reveal to them more and more of the preciousness of jesus.
let all poor afflicted ones rejoice in the presence and consolations of the promised comforter; may he pour oil and wine into their wounds; may he strengthen them in the midst of all their tribulations, and enable them in lowly resignation to say, "the lord's will be done." teach us all to repose in that will as the best; and to make it day by day our aim and ambition to attain a greater conformity to it.
lord, take the charge of me through the watches of the night. under the blessed sense of thy presence and favor i would compose myself to rest, and when i awake, may i be still with thee. and all i ask is for jesus' sake. amen.
"let my prayer be set forth before thee as
incense: and the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice."
