Wednesday Morning.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
O THOU who dwellest in the light which no man can approach, in whose presence there is no night, in the light of whose countenance there is perpetual day; I, thy sinful servant, whom thou hast preserved this night, who live by thy power this day, bless and glorify thee for the defense of thy almighty providence, (——) and humbly pray thee, that this, and all my days, may be wholly devoted to thy service. Send thy Holy Spirit to be the guide of all my ways, and the sanctifier of my soul and body. Save, defend, and build me up in thy fear and love; give unto me the light of thy countenance, peace from heaven, and the salvation of my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus.
O thou who art “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” thou hast said no man can follow thee, unless he renounce himself I know, O Savior, that thou hast laid nothing upon us but what the design of thy love made necessary for us. Thou sawest our disease, our idolatrous self-love, whereby we fell away from God, to be as gods ourselves, to please ourselves, and to do our own will. Lo, I come! May I ever renounce my own, and do thy blessed will in all things!
I know, O God, thou didst empty thyself of thy eternal glory, and tookest upon thee “the form of a servant.” Thou who madest all men to serve and please thee, didst not please thyself, but wast the servant of all. Thou, O Lord of the hosts of heaven and earth, didst yield thy cheeks to be smitten, thy back to be scourged, and thy hands and feet to be nailed to an accursed tree. Thus didst thou, our great Master, renounce thyself; and can we think much of renouncing our vile selves? My Lord and my God, let me not presume to be above my Master! Let it be the one desire of my heart, to be as my Master; to do, not my own will, but the will of Him that sent me.
O thou whose whole life did cry aloud, “Father, not mine, but thy will be done,” give me grace to walk after thy pattern, to tread in thy steps. Give me grace to “take up my cross daily,” to inure myself to bear hardship. Let me exercise myself unto godliness betimes, before the rains descend and the floods beat upon me. Let me now practice what is not pleasing to flesh and blood, what is not agreeable to my senses, appetites, and passions, that I may not hereafter renounce thee, for fear of suffering for thee, but may stand firm in the “day of my visitation.”
O thou who didst not please thyself, although for thy “pleasure all things are and were created,” let some portion of thy Spirit descend on me, that I may “deny myself and follow thee.” Strengthen my soul, that I may be temperate in all things; that I may never use any of thy creatures but in order to some end thou commandest me to pursue, and in that measure and manner which most conduces to it. Let me never gratify any desire which has not thee for its ultimate object. Let me ever abstain from all pleasures which do not prepare me for taking pleasure in thee; as knowing that all such war against the soul, and tend to alienate it from thee. O save me from ever indulging either “the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, or the pride of life.” Set a watch, O Lord, over my senses and appetites, my passions and understanding, that I may resolutely deny them every gratification which has no tendency to thy glory. O train me up in this good way, “that when I am old I may not depart from it;” that I may be at length of a truly mortified heart, “crucified unto the world, and the world crucified unto me.”
Hear also my prayers for all mankind, and guide their feet into the way of peace; for thy holy Catholic Church, — let her live by thy Spirit, and reign in thy glory. Remember that branch of it which thou hast planted in these kingdoms; especially the stewards of thy holy mysteries; give them such zeal, and diligence, and wisdom, that they may save both themselves and those that hear them.
Preserve, O great King of heaven and earth, all Christian Princes, especially our Sovereign and his family. Grant that his Council, and all that are in authority under him, may truly and indifferently administer justice. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, that they may faithfully serve thee all the days of their life. Bless the Universities with prudence, unity, and holiness. However the way of truth be evil spoken of; may they walk in it even to the end. Whoever forget or blaspheme their high calling, may they ever remember that they are a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;” and, accordingly, “show forth the praise of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
With a propitious eye, O gracious Lord, behold all my enemies, and all that are in affliction; give them patience under their sufferings, and grant that they, and all the members of thy Church, may find rest, “where the wicked cease from troubling,” and mercy in the great day of trial. In particular I commend to thy mercy, my father and mother, my brethren and sisters, my friends and relations (——). Lord, thou best knowest all their wants; O suit thy blessings to their several necessities. Let these my prayers, O Lord, find access to the throne of grace, through the Son of thy love, Jesus Christ the righteous; to whom, with thee, O Father, in the unity of the Spirit, be all love and obedience now and for ever!