Invocations: A Day of Delightful Remembrance

A Day of Delightful Remembrance

Gracious God, preserved by Thy goodness, we are permitted to come up to Thy house. We desire here to pay our vows in the midst of Thy people. We hail the Sabbath as a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable. We delight to find ourselves in the place where prayer is wont to be made, and we humbly hope that this day our supplications will be heard in heaven. Let our praise be accepted at the Throne, and that there will be for each of us a portion of meat in due season. Oh for the bedewings of the Holy Spirit upon every plant of the Lord's right-hand planting. Let every soul be nourished in this house to-day. As trees planted in the courts of the Lord, so may we flourish and bring forth fruit. May this be a day to be remembered by us. May Thy people, especially, be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. And though they may not, like John in Patmos, behold the Lord with their visible eyes, yet may they see Him spiritually, and rejoice in the glory of His presence. Bless the Word this morning. The burden of the Lord is upon us. Help us to deliver Thy Word with power. Oh, that Thou wouldst enable us to plead with sinners. We have sought to plead with God for men; now may we plead with men for God.

Throughout the whole service may a deep solemnity rest on every mind. May those who know the art of prayer be holding up Thy servant's hands as did Aaron and Hur. May they be praying, like Moses on the mountain, while we, like Joshua, fight in the plain. Let the Spirit come down upon the unconverted this morning, and save them with a great salvation. We ask it for the Saviour's sake. Amen.

July 5 (Morning), 1863.