"revive thy work in the midst of the years."—hab. iii. 2.
o god, thou hast permitted me in thy great mercy to see another evening. how many of my fellow-men have this day slept the sleep of death, and are now beyond the reach of grace and privilege! i am still spared, all unworthy though i be, a monument of thy forbearance and love.
i desire to make acknowledgment of my many and grievous offences. they are more in number than the sand of the sea;—sins against light, and mercy, and warning; sins committed against the kindest of benefactors, the most indulgent of parents.
i would seek anew to take refuge in the offered shelter of the gospel, and to rejoice anew in the faithful saying that jesus christ came into the world to save the chief of sinners. oh may i be enabled confidingly to repose in his matchless sacrifice, and with lively appropriating {92} faith to say, "he loved me and gave himself for me!"
lord, carry on thine own work within me. quicken my languid and languishing affections by the omnipotent agency of thy holy spirit. let me not live at a guilty distance from thy favor; but may i covet a close and habitual walk with thee, and feel the sustaining power of thy grace in my heart.
revive thy work in thine own church universal, thou great high priest, who walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks. do thou feed every lamp with the oil of thy grace. let them burn with a clearer, holier, more steady and consistent flame. as lights set in the world, may they diffuse thy glory; and feel the honor of being instrumental in shedding abroad a saviour's love.
oh may the lord arise and have mercy upon zion. may the time to favor her, yea, the set time, soon come. as there is but one shepherd, so may there soon be but one sheep-fold. let thy churches no longer continue apart from one another in unholy estrangement, but live in the unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace; holding fast that which they have, that no man {93} take their crown. spirit of all grace, come in all the plenitude of thy love and mercy. breathe upon every portion of thy visible church, and say, "receive ye the holy ghost!" "awake, o north wind! come, thou south! blow upon our garden, that the spices thereof may flow out." may thy gracious influences descend like rain upon the mown grass, and as showers that water the earth.
bless all thy faithful ministers. may peace be upon them and upon the whole israel of god. direct their hearts and the hearts of all thy faithful people into thy love, and into the patient waiting for christ.
comfort all in sorrow. may they see a "need be" written on all their trials. may they look beyond the long night-watch of earth to the glories of that eternal morning when clouds and darkness shall for ever flee away.
take charge of me while i sleep, and as evening after evening comes round may i feel that a day has been spent for thee. hear me, gracious lord, for the redeemer's sake. amen.
"let my prayer be set forth before thee as
incense: and the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice."
