: truth follow me, and be exalted to everlasting glory. But if thou shalt forget Him, who created thee for his own glory: and shalt turn his gifts into the instruments of thine own lusts; And shalt cause his Name to be blasphemed among the nations : and shalt hide his truth from the heathen; Then in the midst of the madness of thy revelry: whilst thou art set at the table of thy dainties, and on the couch of thy pride; The Lord shall force his cup unto thy mouth and thou shalt drink it from the froth to the dregs, : The cup of the vengeance and judgment of the Lord : the wine of perplexity and astonish ment. Thou shalt reel like a drunkard, and fall from the throne of thy glory: the nations shall laugh and jeer at thy shame. They shall look up to thy lofty seat in the Church, and lo! it is empty: they shall look down on thee in the dust, and behold thou art lying in helplessness. The starry crown of thy mission hath fallen from thy head: the white robe of thy priesthood, which thou hast defiled, is torn from around thee. Thy missionary staff hath slipt from thy hand, which cannot hold it lieth broken in twain beside thee. O Lord, have mercy upon us : Christ have mercy upon us! Let not such a day overtake us: make us a heart fearful of thy judgments. And as for me, cause me to remember where I stand : that I may fulfil the service which Thou hast assigned unto me there; That I may return unto Thee twofold for every talent and fulness of use for every grace. up Build us up, O Lord of thy temple build the walls of Jerusalem. Maintain us as the chosen people of thy serand may we sing praise to thy glory in for ever. vice peace XXVIII. THE SCHOLAR OF CHRIST. O KEEP me in thy school, O Lord : number me among the children whom Thou dost bring up unto everlasting life. Further me with the grace of thy Spirit : advance me in the knowledge of thy will; Let me learn the ways of thy service : make me diligent in the doing of thy ministry; Fill my heart with the lessons of thy will: give me the continual remembrance of thy promises; M So wilt Thou exalt me in thy kingdom of heaven and set my place on high amidst thy ministering spirits. : And the perfect work of thy service shall be my delight and the eternity of thy service shall be my life. : O Lord, let me learn to walk in thy ways: before I return unto the dust. Teach me obedience in this my childhood on earth: make it an earnest of diligent manhood in heaven. Chastise me, and I will not complain : correct me, and I will commend thy discipline. : Each me & halp At Your Set thy cup of sorrow to my lips and I will drink it with patience. a valutary If it be bitter in the mouth: is it not sweet to the stomach? & need for draught? O enable me to subdue this body: which Be it thine to health and honour : and not mine to corruption and shame. : Let me keep every member a member of me to Christ Mayasth fals XXIX. THOUGHTS AT NOONTIDE. I HAVE reached the midway betwixt the darkness that is gone, and the darkness that is coming betwixt my rising up and my lying down again. I am walking in the fulness of light : I am exulting in the utmost vigour of my strength. The sloth of the morning is gone : the weariness of the evening is not yet come. Shall I now forget my God, who made me : shall I not give thanks to Him who hath raised me from the dust; And hath set my lot but a little lower than the angels and hath given me a heart to understand the truths of his excellent glory? O Lord, my Maker, accept the best of my body and my mind: Lo! at thy footstool I present them. Behold thy servant who kneeleth before Thee regard the vessel which thine hands have fashioned. Use it even according to thy blessed will: and forgive me all to which I have abused it. Fill it with thy Spirit of truth: make it to overflow with the joy of thy salvation. Dwell in it through faith in Thee: shine in it with the brightness of thy presence. Let me remember that at this hour Thou wast lifted upon the cross and darkness devoured the noonday. O strengthen me to bear my cross and turn all my darkness into light. Give me the noon of thy Sun of righteousness let me rejoice in its beams for evermore. May 5 1855 XXX. THE LIVELY STONE. HAPPY art thou, O man, whom God hath built up and settled thy heart on his everlasting promises. For He holdeth thee precious in his sight: He hath set thee as a lively stone in the wall of his temple. He hath laid thee on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets and Christ is thy headstone in the corner. Thou art set fast where none shall move thee thou art one with the heavenly wall which never can be shaken. Thou art supported by them that were before thee thou supportest them that come after thee. : Martyrs, that have suffered, bind thee in love from below: witnesses, that shall suffer, bind thee from above. |