Prayers: Such Love As Seraph Know
Such Love as Seraphs Know
O Lord, Thou knowest that our body exercises great influence upon our soul, and to-night, by reason of the great heat of this day, many feel weary, and Thy servant has spent his strength in preaching Thy Word this morning. Wilt Thou, however, give so much of the blessed Spirit, that, notwithstanding the weakness of the flesh, our spirit may have fellowship with God.
We specially desire, to-night, to cry unto Thee upon one or two accounts, and we trust that we may be heard in heaven Thy dwelling-place. First, we do very devoutly pray Thee to let the word of this morning live in the hearts of those who heard it. We could not wrestle as we would, but still we did pour out our heart for this people, and our soul went out after them as a mother's heart goeth out after her sick child. We know that many of Thy people have been lifting up their hearts in prayer. Let our united supplication bring a blessing upon the congregation, and out of the many who listened to us, may a large number be brought to Christ.
Now to-night, we are soon to come to Thy Table. As a church we ask that there we may have Thy presence in a very remarkable and delightful manner. Some of the people have been much in trouble. May they get ease from every care, and relief from every anxiety, while they behold their Saviour offered up for them. Some of Thy people we know, are getting cold in heart and backsliding. Grey hairs are upon them here and there, and perhaps they know it not. May this evening's service restore to them the love of their espousals. May they be brought back to that first heat of youthful piety, when first they knew the Lord. It may be that there are some here who have backslidden very much. They have come to forget the assembling of themselves together. Prayer has been neglected; the closet is not often entered; it may be that family prayer is almost given up. There may be some in Thy presence who have even fallen into outward sin, and yet they are come up here to-night. Lord, may they come as mourners. Make this place to them a Bochim: may they repent of their sin. May this be the place of their return unto Thee; and may they hear Thee say, "Return unto Me, for I am married unto you."
Let the divine attractions of infinite affection and love lift each one of us up from the world. Oh, Thou hast loved us with a love surpassing thought. Thou hast redeemed us with a price beyond all price; and can we be cold and indifferent towards Thee? Come, blessed Spirit, come, and fire us with heaven's own flame! Oh that we may be filled with such love as seraphs know, with more than a seraph's delight and more than a seraph's energy.
Lord, if Thou seest any of us dead and cleaving to the world, Thou canst lift us up. This is our comfort, that we cannot be so dead that Thou canst not quicken us. Let the hand of love that drew us first, draw us now. Jesus, if Thou be mine, assure my conscience of her part in Thy most precious blood. If our lips can only lisp "Abba Father," may the Spirit of adoption be with us now. Hide not Thyself from Thine own flesh, our divine Husband. Thou who art the Head of Thy Body, be not strange to the members of Thy frame. Reveal Thyself to us, for Thou wilt make us all that we should be. Thy love can make us loving; Thy presence can make us joyous; Thine example can make us holy.
Come Jesus, then; come and tabernacle with Thy people; and while we preach, and when we sit at the Master's Table, may Thine ointment give forth a sweet smell. Gracious Lord, wilt Thou bless many in this house to-night. Crowded together, they are come here, they scarce know what for. May some good word drop like good seed into prepared soil. O God, have mercy upon those present who never had mercy upon themselves. There is the blasphemer here, who scarcely speaks without an oath. Forgive him Lord. Give him a new heart, and help him to live in Thy fear. Here are those that never pray, and they may soon die, and then prayers will be too late. Lead them to see their state by nature. Let their desperate danger be set before them in its true colours. Bring them to the Saviour. Wash them in His blood. Save them with His great salvation. Our soul pleadeth with Thee for the dying sons of men. Jesus, is not Thy blood able to cleanse? Spirit, hast thou not power to change the heart? Now, even now, let the sinner live to the praise and the glory of Thy grace.
We have many things to ask of Thee, but we will not ask them now. Only do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask, or even think, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
July 5 (Evening), 1863.