Page images
PDF
EPUB

ruin !-Give me, I beseech thee, a firm faith in this promise, that no fears may terrify me, no pleasures may corrupt my heart,— no difficulties may discourage me from serving thee.

Matt. xvi. 24. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

O my Saviour! who pleadest not thyself, but tookest upon thee the form of a servant; let me not profess to follow thee, without endeavoring to follow the blessed steps of thy most holy life,―thy patience, meekness and humility; thy great disregard for the world, its pleasures, profits, and all its idols ; -thy sensible concern for the miseries of men:-thy unweariedness in doing good:thy constancy in prayer, and resignation to the will of thy Father.-Let me part with any thing as dear as a right hand, or a right eye, rather than not follow thee.

Matt. vi. 24. No man can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and Mammon.

May I never set up a rival, O God, with

thee, in the possession of my heart! May I never attempt to reconcile thy service with that world which is enmity with thee !—Give me, I beseech thee, the eyes of faith, that I may see the world, what in truth it is ;the danger of its riches, the folly of its pleasures, the multitude of its snares,the power of its temptations,-its deadly poison and certain danger of drawing my heart from the love of thee.

Matt. xxii. 37. 39. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,—and thy neighbour as thyself.

O that the love of God may be the commanding principle of my soul; and that I may have this proof of his love abiding in me, that I study to please him, and to keep his commandments !-That my love to my neighbour may be such as God has commanded; that I may give and forgive, and love, as becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ!

1 John iii. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren,

What it is to love my neighbour as myself, thou, O Lord, hast taught me in thy holy word;-never to wrong or deceive him ;— never to grieve him, or without a cause to create him trouble ;—never to treat him with contempt and scorn ;—never to be pleased with his misfortunes and faults :— -but to rejoice in his happiness, and help him in his wants.-Give me, O Lord, this proof of my having passed from death unto life.

Tit. ii. 14. He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity; and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Blessed be God, that I was united to this people by baptism! Grant that I may never disgrace thee, or my christian profession, by an ungodly life.-O thou, who hast redeemed us from sin and death, cause me to understand, to value, and ever remember, thy great love; and to shew, that I do so, by a life consecrated to thy service.

II Tim. ii. 12. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

How many deny thee, O Jesus, without thought, and without dread? Do they know what they do who lightly turn their backs upon this ordinance?-who make a mock of sin, which cost thee thy life?-who are ashamed of thee and thy gospel, out of regard to men?-who by their unchristian lives do renounce thy service!-do they consider what it is to be denied by thee?that it is to have no interest in thy death, thy merits, and mediation?-Gracious God, deliver me from this dreadful sin and judg

ment.

Matt. xxvi. 35.-Peter said, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.

Preserve me, gracious Lord from a presumptuous opinion, and dependence on my own strength, without the aids of grace; let me see, in this sad instance, my weakness without thy assistance, and my ruin without thy help.

Luke xxii. 61, 62. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter; and Peter re

membered the words of Christ;-and went out, and wept bitterly.

O Jesus, look upon me with the same eye of compassion, whenever I shall do amiss, that I may see my fault, and forthwith return to my duty :-Let this instance of thy mercy be our comfort, since so great and repeated a crime did not exclude this penitent from mercy; but let not this make us fearless of offending thee, lest we never repent.

Luke xxii. 3, 4, 5. Then entered Satan into Judas, and he communed with the chief priests, how he might betray him unto and they covenanted to give him

them money, &c.

Lord God, abandon me not to my own choices. Shut my heart, O Lord, against that covetousness, which was the root of so great a sin. Keep me from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me; and secure me under the conduct of thy Holy Spirit, for Jesus Christ's sake.

Deut. xvi. 16, 17. They shall not ap

« PreviousContinue »