14. MORNING PRAYER FOR FRIDAY
My heart is prepared, I will arise and bless thy name. Gracious and most merciful God, my Father, my Redeemer, and my Sanctifier, unto the throne of thy majesty, whence flow all my blessings, I lift my heart and voice this morning. During the past night, thou hast been my strength and shield, my deliverer and strong helper and comforter, yea, my all and in all. Of all these mercies, O God and Lord, I acknowledge myself unworthy. In the midst of the darkness thou didst think upon me, and while the shadows of night encompassed me, thou didst protect and defend my body and soul from all harm and danger. For this I will praise thee and magnify thy holy name. The Lord hath done great things for me whereof I am glad. Do thou, O loving God, also stand by me this day. Lead and guide me according to thy counsel, and at last accept me with honors. I ask not for heaven nor for earth if thou art mine. Suggest to me to-day and every day what I shall speak, so that I may not grieve thee with the words of my mouth. Teach me what I shall do, so that I may avoid all that is evil. Let the chastisement of the Holy Spirit visit my soul, when my thoughts would stray from thee. O Jesus, let thy bleeding image be constantly before my eyes, THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR HUMILITY. 103 that the thirst of sin within me may be destroyed. May I die to the world and sin, and walk after the spirit. When I labor, strengthen me; when I pray, hear me; when I go out, accompany thou me; and when I come home, leave me not nor forsake me. May thy protection be around me and my family, as around the house of Job; defend me as Jacob; watch over me as over Elijah; and under the guidance of thy merciful providence may I pass the day in safety. Amen. The true Believer prays for humility.
EXHORTATION.
"And be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."—1 Pet. v. 5, 6.
Among those sins against which a believer must daily watch and pray, is pride and haughtiness of heart, which breaks out in words and works. We are naturally proud, as one of the results of the fall, but we must become humble through grace. No person can be Christ's disciple or be pleasing to God, who does not become humble. 1. Hence a true believer earnestly prays for
THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR HUMILITY.
humility of heart towards his God. For "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."—Micah vi. 8. He will become humble towards God, by meditating the grandeur, majesty, and glory of God, and reflecting that he himself is but a worm, nothing but a poor wretched man, whom God can destroy in an instant. 2. But the Christian also acts humbly towards his fellow men. He remembers that his neighbor is probably much holier and better in the sight of God, and that in the grave he will fall to ashes like the meanest beggar.
3. He is consequently humble in his own estimation. He remembers that all his gifts, talents, graces, life and prosperity, are not from himself, but from God alone, who may soon take it all away from him, therefore he should not boast of it. To guard against all pride, he frequently calls to mind the example of the lowly Jesus, who lowered himself before God and all his creatures, and cries to us, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." Great, holy and merciful God! who art the high and mighty, and before whose throne all
THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR HUMILITY. 105 the elect humbly veil their faces. I confess with sorrow that I am by nature inclined to pride and selfishness. The fall of Satan so poisoned my heart with pride, which is the root of all evil, that I sometimes forget that I am but dust and ashes. O my God, give me an humble heart, that I may ever remember that all that I have, my body and soul, life and health, gifts and talents, I have received from thee, so that I may humble myself under thy mighty hand, and not offend thee in thought, word or deed. Teach me to understand my own wretchedness and thy majesty, that I have nothing of myself, but sin, death and damnation; but that all that I find good in me, I have received from thy bountiful hand, so that I may boast of nothing, but may regard everything as thy gift, which thou canst soon take from me again if I should forget thee. Implant that true humility in my heart, which will ever lead me to fear, obey, honor, love, and serve thee. Give me also humility towards my neighbor, that I may never be disposed to degrade him and elevate myself, or prefer myself to him. The proud have never yet found favor in thy sight, but that upon the lowly soul thou hast richly poured out thy light, thy comfort, thy grace, and thy goodness. O deliver me from proud and lofty thoughts, grant that I may guard against vain-glorious words, preserve me 106 THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR HUMILITY.
from ambition and boastfulness, which only lead to a contempt of one's neighbor. Stamp upon my heart the image of my meek and lowly Redeemer, who humbled himself before angels and men. If my neighbor is humbled, O preserve me that I may never exalt myself above him; and when he is exalted and honored, or becomes rich and great, may I so regard it, as if thou hadst made him so, hadst elevated and called him, and may I not complain of this to thee, or grudge him his good fortune, but on the contrary rejoice over it. Give me thy Holy Spirit that I may daily die to the sin of pride and selfishness, may not esteem myself worthy of thy honors, nor desire honors of any man, but may give all the honor and all the glory to thee alone. May I, with a truly humbled heart, know and acknowledge, that everything that I have and am, is the gift of thy grace, and that I have nothing whereof to boast but my weakness. May such a view of my own unworthiness dispose me to peace and humility towards all men. May my heart at all times be the dwelling-place of the lowly Jesus, and then I shall never exalt myself. Pride and high-mindedness is the sin of Satan, against which protect me in mercy. And if thou shouldst see fit to permit me to fall into disgrace and contumely, give me strength to bear all with humility, calmness and patience, and to THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR HUMILITY.
turn it to my humiliation and improvement in the blamelessness of my walk. Lord! Lord!
give me strength and endurance to accomplish this by thy mighty aid. Amen.
1. He is happy, who is humble,
He is peaceful, he is glad;
He shall neither fall nor stumble,
Never weep, and ne'er be sad.
Do not even high and holy
Preachers praise the poor and lowly?
Lowliness is far before
Gold and every worldly store.
2. Jesus too was poor and lowly
As the Word of God doth state;
He was loving, kind, and holy,
Never seeking to be great.
All his life doth bear the token
Of a spirit soft and broken;
And he says to me and thee,
Be of lowly heart like me.
3. Though the silly world supposes
Humbleness is fraught with shame,
It is wreathed with lovelier roses
Than the brightest crowns proclaim.
Pride itself cannot dissemble,
Lowly Christians more resemble
Jesus when he walked below
Than the proudest monarchs do.
108 THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR MEEKNESS.
4. Like a pure and snowy vesture
Humbleness doth grace the heart,
Humbleness in word and gesture,
Humbleness in every part.
Humbleness when troubles fret thee,
Humbleness when woes beset thee,
Humbleness to God above,
Is what he doth most approve.
The true Believer prays for meekness.
EXHORTATION.
"For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."—1 Pet. ii. 21-23. When an individual has made a good beginning in his faith and his conversion, in purifying himself of gross external sins, such as profane swearing, desecration of the Sabbath, luxury, recklessness, oppression, gaming, worldly associations, and the like, he must endeavor in the same manner to purify the inner man, of pride, envy, wrath, hatred and revenge, and must cultivate meekness. 1. Meekness consists in not returning evil for
THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR MEEKNESS. 109 evil and in abstaining from threatening language against our neighbor from hatred, anger or revenge.
2. Whether we are meek and possess this noble virtue or not, we cannot tell until an enemy assaults us, and endeavors to rob us of our honor, property or good name. He who then is thrown into a violent rage, and swears, chides and threatens, has not the meek spirit of the Lord Jesus. 3. It is not, however, an offence against meekness, to invoke the protection of the authorities against our enemies. The Apostle Paul appealed to Cæsar, and claimed the emperor's protection, when his life was threatened.—Acts xxv. 11.
4. It is very unbecoming in professed Christians to bite like dogs, tear each other like lions, and persecute each other with the bitterness and ferocity of wild beasts.
5. In such persecutions God desires to test our faith, and to lead us to a knowledge of the sins we have previously committed, perhaps in wringing sighs from others by our unjust conduct.
6. The evidences of meekness, are hearty forgiveness of injuries, praying for our enemies,—Matt. v. 54, wishing all well and doing good to all, envying none, turning a deaf ear to idle and slanderous reports, and being ever ready to be reconciled.
'10 THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR MEEKNESS
O thou loving God! thou who art love itself, and who desirest that thy love should be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. O I complain to thee with deep sorrow of soul that I often find my heart refractory and unbending to thy will. Humility, love, meekness and patience ought to dwell therein; but alas! instead of these indispensable Christian virtues, I find obstinacy, hatred, anger, revenge, and animosity, which impel me to revile again him who reviles me, to return evil to him who does me wrong, and to wreak my revenge upon him who has unfairly attacked me. But knowing from thy holy word, O God! that those who do so will not come to the kingdom of God, and that such conduct towards enemies is not the manner of the children of God and of true Christians, I am frightened at myself to see that I still have the wickedness of the devil in me, who is revengeful, malicious and implacable, and beseech thee, have mercy upon me, O thou loving God, and give me thy Holy Spirit to sanctify my heart and purify it of all malice and revenge. May I ever regard the example of my Jesus, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, and when he suffered, he threatened not to revenge himself upon his enemies in future THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR MEEKNESS.
but on the contrary committed all things to him who judgeth righteously. O give me this same quiet, meek and forgiving spirit, that no anger, malice or sinful passions may ever find place in my heart, and that the sun may never go down upon my wrath. Give me grace and strength to be like a deaf man who hears not, and like a dumb man who opens not his mouth, when my enemies revile me. Guard me against manifesting any enmity in words, gestures, or works, but may I rejoice with them when they are prospered, and be disposed to aid and assist them when they are afflicted or distressed. But as to all men, so also to my enemies, enable me at all times to entertain good will and compassion of heart, show friendship and honesty in my conversation, gentleness in my gestures, and beneficence in works, so that implacability may not hinder my prayers and tarnish all my worship and devotion. Help me daily and from my heart to forgive those who trespass against me, as I hope and pray that thou wilt forgive my trespasses, so that I may not be daily praying against myself. May the blessing which thou hast promised to the meek come upon me—Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. May thy Holy Spirit conquer and subdue all those lusts and passions in my heart which are opposed to this virtue, so that I may believe, live and die 112 THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS FOR MEEKNESS.
as thy child, and hereafter by thy grace be translated to the mansions of peace. Amen.
1. How my angry foe annoys me,
God in heaven, hearest thou!
How he speaks foul names, and how
He doth threaten to destroy me.
How he wars and mutters grim,
And would tear me limb from limb.
2. Hear him, Lord, but O preserve me,
From returning ill for ill,
Give me grace, that I may still
With unfailing patience nerve me,
Hearing him, but answering not,
Though his wrath be e'er so hot.
3. Let me follow the example
Of my Jesus, mild and meek,
Who would never vengeance wreak,
Though on sinners he might trample.
Let his spirit hover o'er
All I do for evermore.
4. Let me conquer by submission,
Heaping many a burning coal
On my foe's distempered soul,
'Till he sinks in deep contrition.
Let thy angel from above
Turn his hatred into love.
EVENING PRAYER FOR FRIDAY.
5. Let him taste of thy forgiveness,
Blot the record of his sin,
Let it in his heart begin
A most blissful sensitiveness,
Which may lead him on in grace
'Till we both behold thy face.