Prayers: The Saint's Inalienable Portion

The Saint's Inalienable Portion

O Lord, the God of Thy people, those whom Thou hast chosen, and called, and redeemed, and saved, must and will bless Thy holy Name. Surely, if we were to refuse Thy praises, our silence would be sinful in the highest degree. We would praise Thee, O Thou blessed God, not only with our hearts but with our voices. Blessed be the day in which Thou didst bring us to accept Thee as our portion, and our heritage, for now we find in Thee a possession ample and wide. There is no limit to Thy goodness, Thy riches are unsearchable. Thou hast all good things within the compass of Thyself, and Thou hast given Thyself to us according to Thy word, "I will be their God, and they shall be My people." We bless the Lord that our heritage is never exhausted. The world hath its winter, but Thou hast none. Even the world's sun hath its wintry times, and we see but little above the horizon, but Thou art ever a summer's sun into Thy people, without variableness or shadow cast by turning.

We bless Thee that we can never lose our portion. Time cannot impair it: death cannot take it from us, or take us away from it. Rather, we expect death, which would destroy all mortal things, to bring us nearer to the God we love, and in our disembodied state we shall behold Thee more clearly than we do now. In the latter day when our Kinsman shall stand a second time upon the earth, this is our joy—that though the worm devour this body, yet in our flesh shall we see God, whom our eyes shall see for themselves and not another. O God, we know not how to express our delight in Thee. Thou art the happy God, and Thou art the happy-making God. Thou hast often come to us and lifted us up out of danger, and set us on our high places. Thou hast tuned our harps. When every string was broken Thou hast come and repaired it, and taught us how to sing a new song unto the Lord God of our life. Oh, that we had nothing else to do but to praise Thee! And truly, we have nothing else to do; but we are so slow to know this. We get full of cares and troubles and doubts and fears and sins. Lord, cleanse and purge Thy servants; and give us to feel that all that remains for us:

"Is but to love and sing And wait until the angels come To bear us to their King."

Oh for a well-tuned harp! Oh for a life that shall be one of minstrels—a life that shall be a psalm full of Hallelujahs.

Accept, this morning, the thanksgiving of some that have been sore sick, but who once again feel strength returning. Accept the thanks of others that have been far across the sea, and have come home again safely. Receive the thanksgiving of yet others who have been delivered out of great trouble, or who have seen their dear ones raised up from beds of languishing. We have all some cause for thankfulness, therefore will we praise the Lord from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same.

Now Lord, if there be any cause of disquietude upon the heart of any of Thy servants so that they cannot praise Thee upon the high-sounding cymbals, but feel bound to sit down in the dust, hear Thou their complaints. Lies there upon the conscience of any child of Thine a sin unforgiven? Then help Thy dear child to confess it with his head in his Father's bosom, and to receive full absolution. Do Thou say, "Daughter, Thy sins be forgiven thee. Son, go in peace, Thy sins be forgiven thee." Or, is it that we are mourning under some great grief, which perhaps has not yet happened, but the shadow of which is upon us? Give Thy servants great patience. Teach them to bear Thy will, and oh give them the happy art of "glorying in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience," and that out of patience shall come glory to God. Are there any here that feel heavy because those whom they love are not here this morning? There are such. There are precious ones that are detained at home for whom we earnestly pray that they may be speedily restored to health. Meanwhile, help us, even in this, still to feel that the Lord is good and His mercy endureth for ever. Let us not rob Thee of our song.

Lord deal tenderly with Thy people. Thou blessed Shepherd! Thou dost never drive. We have it concerning Thee that Thou "carriest the lambs in Thy bosom," and that Thou dost "gently lead those that are with young." Deal tenderly with them, and with all the flock; we pray that every child of Thine may get a sweet refreshment. May there not be one of us that shall be without a smile for the Father's face, and a kind gentle word dropped into our spirit by the Holy Spirit that shall sink all our fears and send us away happy.

Lord, we pray another prayer, which is this: that those now present who do not know the believer's joy, may learn it to-day. Oh that this day may be as the beginning of days to some that shall enter within these walls. Today, may some when they hear of the plenitude of blessing which Thou givest to Thy people be made to long to be amongst that happy number. Create, we beseech Thee, a soul thirst in such as are self-satisfied. Breed a sharp hunger in the hearts of those who have been content with the good things of time and sense. May they begin to long after something more enduring, more satisfying; and when Thou has set them longing, reveal Christ Jesus to them, and let them see how He can fill the soul with peace and joy, and how through Him:

"Immortal joys come streaming down;

Joys, like His griefs, immersed unknown."

Do, Father, grant to Thy servant this great privilege and honour, of conducting some to the Saviour. Oh happy we shall be, now that Thou permittest us to occupy the pulpit again. Do grant that Thy servant may not preach in vain. May every sowing of the seed produce a harvest; and some of the regular hearers do Thou decide this morning. Some of the strangers do Thou take in the meshes of the Gospel net this day. Oh do give us fruit in this May time. Give us to see the buds of hope, and the blossom of desire, and may there be fruit to the glory of God.

God bless the Church at large, and send times of great revival. Oh that there may be more fruit in every church, all Thy servants seeking to be fruitful. Let the members of this church each one seek to bring others to Christ. May there not be one barren one among us. Lord save us all. Save the grey heads among us. Save the little children that have come, perhaps for the first time, into the pew to-day. Save all of us; and in the day when the muster roll is read, may each one of us answer to his name and say, "Here am I."

We are bound at this time to remember our country, and we do. O God, in Thy great wisdom, interpose at this time of anxiety and dread. Oh that peace may come to our poor sister island. By Thy great mercy, teach our senators wisdom. We have already prayed before Thee that justice might be executed upon those who have committed such cruel murder; but we do pray that no policy of vengeance may be followed, that we may, in a Christian spirit, seek to overcome evil with good. We are afraid that our senators have not grace enough to do it, but we pray that they may have it, and that still firmly but yet not vindictively the ship of state may be steered through these troubled waters and brought at last to a peaceful haven.

Oh send forth Thy light and Thy truth to every troubled country. Let the Gospel come; for where it goes liberty follows, and there shall be no liberty except Christ make men free. Let all nations know their Saviour. Bless all missionary operations. Let Thy power go forth, Lord, with all that preach Christ, wherever He is proclaimed.

God bless the Queen and all her household, and all those that manage affairs of state. Send us peace in all our time, good Lord, we do entreat Thee. Now before the throne of Thy magnificence we bow ourselves with deep humiliation. What are we, and what is our father's house that we should take Thy name upon our lips? Yet Thou, Jehovah, Maker of heaven and earth, art our covenant God. Thou hast sworn by Thyself that Thou wilt bear us as on eagles' wings. We cast ourselves before Thee. Lead us into perfect holiness. Lead us into glory; and there when we shall see Thee, we will eternally adore Thee, even as we adore Thee now, saying, "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end." Amen. May 14, 1882.