Ministering spirits to thy creatures : obeying and obeyed. And thy kingdom shall have come : and thy will shall be done. And Thou shalt be obeyed everywhere for ever: O King of kings and Lord of lords, March 20th 16687 XXII. A SONG OF PRAISE. BLESSED is the man that riseth up with the name of the Lord on his lips : and with his law in his heart. That confesseth his weakness and sin: that seeketh help and forgiveness from the Most High. Him shall the Lord establish on a rock: his goings He shall guide in the right way. All the day long shall He keep him in his sight: no harm shall come nigh to hurt him. The world shall not prevail against him : neither shall satan Stand at his right hand. But he shall go forth and conquer: The Lord giveth the victory unto them that put their trust in Him. Praise the Lord, O my soul : seek Him right early. O my heart and my spirit sing forth his glory: my strength and my might rejoice in his help. For He laid me down, and He hath raised me up again: He hath sent me forth refreshed with good courage. Yea! even when He shall have laid me in the grave: He shall raise me unto life everlasting. And I shall live: And mine eyes shall behold Him; When the sun and moon shall be no more seen : and the stars shall be quenched in heaven. And no light shall shine : but the light of his glory; As He sitteth on the throne: and his holy angels stand round Him. Praise the Lord, O my soul: blessed be his name for evermore. XXIII. CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S PROTECTION. and O LORD, Thou searchest the heart Thou hast appointed the day to which I am rising. Thou hast ordained its trials : and set in order its battle. But Thou hast prepared my hands to war: and my heart for the fight. Thou hast not left me helpless : O Lord God of my salvation. Thou art my shield and defence: Thou art my rock and my castle. Therefore I will not fear: though I know not what shall befall me. But Thou knowest, O Lord and Thou carest for thy servant. Therefore I cast all my care on Thee: and trust in thy arm to deliver me. I give myself up to watchfulness and prayer : for thy help waiteth on my call. I lay my heart to thy promises : I turn my face steadily in the way of thy statutes. Thus I look out to the quarter whence my help cometh and my heart is filled with good courage. :: O Thou Author and Finisher of our faith : Thou hearest them that call upon Thee. Thou seest them while yet they are far off : and drawest nigher as they draw nigher unto Thee. Thou raisest them from the dust : Thou healest all their wounds. Thou clothest them with salvation : Thou givest them food from heaven; And settest them in heavenly places : beyond the reach of their enemies. Thou art my light, so that I shall not stumble Thou art my guide, so that I shall not err. : Hold me up and defend me: be Thou my keeper through this day. Maret 221 1865 XXIV. THE GOOD SHEPHERD. My Shepherd hath kept over me the watches of the night: He hath brought me in safety to another day. Even the good Shepherd of Israel: the chief Shepherd of our souls: That bringeth his sheep out of the wilderness of sin and gathereth them into his fold of righteousness and life. : He healeth the wounds of them whom the old serpent hath bitten: He carrieth the weary in his arms. He leadeth them unto the green pastures of truth: He giveth them to drink from the still waters of the comfort of his Holy Spirit. He loveth his flock, and keepeth it: He laid down his life for his sheep. The Father hath given them unto Him: and who shall be able to take them out of his hands? direct me, Lead me, O Lord, this day: with thy rod and with thy staff defend me. Feed me with thy word of truth : and give me to drink of thy Holy Spirit. Quicken mine ears to thy voice and maintain my way before Thee. So shall I walk in safety through this day's journey and serve Thee in faithfulness and truth. And I shall lay me down at night in peace : nor fear the outer darkness amid the light of thy fold. Mares 230784 XXV. THE TOKENS OF A SPIRITUAL DAY. MINE eyes look eagerly forth into the morning and my spirit warily discerneth the tokens of the day. : It saith, The day will be fair : and I am gladdened, and go forth. : Or it saith, The day will be foul and I prepare against that which it may bring. O my spirit, how quick art thou to the things without how readily thou discernest the tokens of the sky! Wilt thou not turn thine eye inward: wilt thou not discern the tokens of the times? Is the dayspring clear in thy heart : is the Sun of righteousness bright unto thee? |