5. SUPPLICATION

SUPPLICATION

Congregation:

Lord, be merciful to me. What shall I do?

Abide as I am I dare not, and how to help myself I know not. My praying will not help me. My hearing will not help me. If I give all my goods to the poor, if I should give my body to be burned, all this would not save my soul. Woe is me. What shall I do?

Pastor:

You must let your sins go. You must let your righteousness go.

Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He came to seek and to save them that are lost.

Friends, will you now adventure on Christ? You have this threefold assurance:

First, God’s ordination. Christ is He whom God the Father hath appointed and sent into the world to save sinners. This is He whom God the Father has sealed as the Savior who is redeeming and reconciling the world to himself.

Second, God’s command. This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ.

Third, the promise of God. "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him, shall not be con-founded."

Now, having this threefold assurance of God’s ordination, com- mand, and promise, you may now be bold to adventure on Christ and to apply yourselves to Him.

Pastor and Congregation:

Lord, Jesus, here I am, a lost creature, an enemy to God, under His wrath and curse. Wilt Thou, Lord, undertake for me, reconcile me to God, and save my soul? Do not, Lord, refuse me, for if Thou refuse me, to whom then shall I go?

If I had come in my own name, Thou mightest well have put me back; but since I come as the command of the Father, reject me not. Lord, help me. Lord, save me.

I come, Lord. I believe, Lord. I throw myself upon Thy grace and mercy. I cast myself upon Thy blood. Do not refuse me. I have not whither else to go. Here I will stay. On Thee I will trust, and rest, and venture myself. On Thee I lay my hope for pardon, for life, for salva- tion. If I perish, I perish on Thy shoulders. If I sink, I sink in Thy vessel. If I die, I die at Thy door. Bid me not go away, for I will not go.