PRAYER XXVI. An Invocation to the Holy Spirit. [Author of the Retrospect. Он, thou Holy Spirit! whose delight it is to convince sinners of their need of a Redeemer, and then lead them unto Christ and give them faith to believe, do thou evermore dwell in my heart, and keep me ever mindful of my wants, and humbled for my sins. Give me, O thou Comforter and Sanctifier, give me grace to apply all his blessed work of redemption, all his gracious promises, to my soul. Enable me, as in the presence of a heart-searching God, day by day to declare, that this Saviour is my all, my theme, my inspiration, and my crown. Nothing short of this exceeding riches of grace, this incom prehensible weight of glory, can satisfy my soul. Oh! give me Christ, or all other gifts will be worse than nothing. Without Christ, life would be the prelude to certain and eternal death, and existence itself the greatest of curses. Come, thou Eternal, Holy Spirit! come and possess this soul of mine, and consecrate all its faculties to the service and glory of the Eternal Jevohah, forever and and forever. Amen. Our Father, &c. PRAYER XXVII. For the Graces of the Spirit. [Author of the Retrospect. O ALMIGHTY, blessed, and eternal God, I now come, and in the name of Him in whom thou art well-pleased, I ask for grace to keep me in all my ways; for wisdom to instruct and direct me in all my wanderings and ignorance; for courage to confess Christ before men; for all those fruits and graces of thy Spirit, which shall enable me to glorify thy name in the world and to serve my fellow-creatures for their good, until I am gathered to my fathers and see corruption. And when the enemy comes in with the power of an overwhelming flood, the subtlety of hell, or in the garb of an angel of light, do thou stand by me and deliver my soul. When pain and sickness try this mortal body, do thou impart the meekress and resignation of a lamb unto my spirit. When death itself approaches, and the solemn scenes of eternity unfold themselves to my view, do thou enable me to read my title clear to a habitation not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; for WHAT shall I render unto thee, O my God! for all thy mercies! Aid me with thine own Spirit to offer up all the gratitude and praise which a poor heart like mine is capable of. Yes, I will praise thy holy name, for making me willing, in the day of thy power, to come out from the ambitious, restless pursuits of men, who desire their good things here. I adore thee for showing me the vanity and danger of seeking my portion on earth, and the madness of expecting happiness. in the paths of the destroyer. How many of my competitors and companions in the race of sin and vanity have stumbled, and fallen, and perished! Still I am among the living to praise thee! Hence, O Lord, let me seek and find all my repose and all my happiness in thee. Whatever comforts thou art pleased to communicate through the medium of thy creatures to my body, and whatever refreshments may be supplied through ordinances and means of grace to my soul, still, O my God, may I see and receive all as coming from thee, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father, &c. |