remember not against me mine iniquities ; let thy tender mercies raise me, for I am brought very low. Help me, O God of my salvation, for the glory of thy name, and for the sake of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. " 'Tis thy God smites ! My soul, be strong, And kiss the hand that deals the blow !" HYMN. GOD OUR ONLY REFUGE UNDER THE LOSS OF FRIENDS. “ It spreads beyond, it soars above The instincts of an earthly love." The God of love will sure indulge Yet not one anxious murmuring thought, Beneath a numerous train of ills, Parent and husband, guard and guide, Our Father, God! To thee we look, Our rock, our portion, and our friend ; And on thy boundless love and truth, Our sinking souls shall still depend. PRAYER “ O my God hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee.”—2 Chron. vi. 19. O ALMIGHTY GOD, mercifully attend to the supplication of me, a sinner, and through the mediation of my compassionate Redeemer, who himself, as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, is verily touched with a feeling of human infirmity. I am not indeed worthy of the least of thine abundant mercies, for I have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed. O God be merciful to me a sinner! But who is a God like unto thee, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin ? S eyes to thee I know that thou delightest in mercy, or I should not dare to lift up mine in that place of purity where thou dwellest. How often hast thou called me and I refused to hear; yet thou still callest to my heart, Turn ye, turn ye, why will you die? O my God pardon my base ingratitude, and say unto my awakened soul, “I am thy salvation." Pour now upon me, O my gracious Redeemer, the spirit of grace and supplication; and, O incline my heart to answer to thy call. Thy face, Lord, I will seek, turn not thou away; I will seek thee with my whole heart, O visit me with thy salvation! make me to know and to feel thee ever near to support, to comfort, and to save * * * * Let the Spirit of truth lead me into all truth, and so open the eyes of my understanding that I may perceive what thou requirest, and find that wisdom which may enable me to act according to thy pleasure. O let my trust be alone in the merits of my Redeemer. |