Post by Admin on Feb 5, 2024 16:52:45 GMT -5
A Prayer for One who Feels that He is
Approaching the Borders of Another
World
Most merciful God, I rejoice that You reign over the universe with a
sovereign sway, so that You do according to Your will, in the armies
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. You are the Maker
of my body, and Father of my spirit, and You have a perfect right to
dispose of me in that manner which will most effectually promote
Your glory: and I know that whatever You do is right and wise and
just and good. And whatever may be my eternal destiny, I rejoice in
the assurance that Your great name will be glorified in me. But as
You have been pleased to reveal Your mercy and Your grace to our
fallen miserable world; and as the word of this salvation has been
preached unto me, inviting me to accept of eternal life upon the
gracious terms of the Gospel, I do cordially receive the Lord Jesus
Christ as my Savior and only Redeemer, believing sincerely the whole
testimony which You have given respecting His divine character, His
real incarnation, His unspotted and holy life, His numerous and
beneficent miracles, His expiatory and meritorious death, and His
glorious resurrection and ascension. I believe, also, in His supreme
exaltation, in His prevalent intercession for His chosen people, in
His affectionate care and aid afforded to His suffering members here
below, and in His second coming to receive His humble followers to
dwell with Himself in heaven; and to take vengeance on His
obstinate enemies.
My only hope and confidence of being saved rests simply on the
mediatorial work and prevailing intercession of the Lord Jesus
Christ; in consequence of which the Holy Spirit is graciously sent to
make application of Christ's redemption, by working faith in us, and
repentance unto life; and rendering us fit for the heavenly
inheritance, by sanctifying us in the whole man, soul, body, and
spirit.
Grant, gracious God, that the rich blessings of the new covenant may
be freely bestowed on Your unworthy servant. I acknowledge that I
have no claim to Your favor on account of any goodness in me by
nature; for alas! there dwells in me, that is, in my flesh, no good
thing! nor on account of any works of righteousness done by me; for
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Neither am I able to make
atonement for any one of my innumerable transgressions which, I
confess before You, are not only many in number—but heinous in
their nature, justly deserving Your displeasure and wrath; so that if I
were immediately sent to hell, You would be altogether just in my
condemnation. Although I trust that I have endeavored to serve You
with some degree of sincerity; yet whatever good thing I have ever
done, or even thought, I ascribe entirely to Your grace, without which
I can do nothing acceptable in Your sight. And I am deeply convinced
that my best duties have fallen far short of the perfection of Your law,
and have been so mingled with sin in the performance, that I might
justly be condemned for the most fervent prayer I ever made. And I
would confess with shame and contrition, that I am not only
chargeable with sin in the act—but that there is a law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, aiming to bring me
into captivity to the law of sin and death. This corrupt nature is the
source of innumerable evil thoughts and desires, and damps the
exercise of faith and love, and stands in the way of well-doing, so that
when I would do good, evil is present with me. And so deep and
powerful is this remaining depravity, that all efforts to
eradicate or subdue it are vain, without the aid of Your
grace. And when at any time I obtain a glimpse of the depth and
turpitude of the sin of my nature, I am overwhelmed, and
constrained to exclaim with Job, "I abhor myself and repent in dust
and ashes." (Job 42:6)
And now, Righteous Lord God Almighty, I would not attempt to
conceal any of my actual transgressions, however vile and shameful
they are—but would penitently confess them before You; and would
plead in my defense, nothing but the perfect righteousness of the
Lord Jesus Christ, who died, the just for the unjust, to bring us near
to God. For His sake alone do I ask or expect the rich blessings
necessary to my salvation. For although I am unworthy, He is most
worthy; though I have no righteousness, He has provided by His
expiatory death, and by His holy life, a complete justifying
righteousness, in which spotless robe I pray that I may be clothed; so
that You my righteous Judge, will see no sin in me—but will acquit
me from every accusation, and justify me freely by Your grace,
through the righteousness of my Lord and Savior, with whom You
are ever well pleased.
My earnest prayer is, that Jesus may save me from my sins, as well as
from their punishment; that I may be redeemed from all iniquity, as
well as from the condemnation of the law; that the work of
sanctification may be carried on in my soul by Your Word and Spirit,
until it be perfected at Your appointed time. And grant, O Lord, that
as long as I am in the body, I may make it my constant study and
chief aim to glorify Your name, both with soul and body, which are
no longer mine—but Yours; for I am "bought with a price" (1 Cor
6:20; 1 Cor 7:23)—not with silver and gold—but with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Enable me to let my light so shine, that others, seeing my good
works, may be led to glorify Your name. Make use of me as an
humble instrument of advancing Your kingdom on earth, and
promoting the salvation of immortal souls. If You have appointed
sufferings for me here below, I beseech You to consider my
weakness, and let Your chastisements be those of a loving father, that
I may be made partaker of Your holiness. And let me not be tempted
above what I am able to bear—but with the temptation make a way of
escape.
O most merciful God, cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake
me not when my strength declines. Now, when I am old and greyheaded, forsake me not; but let Your grace be sufficient for me; and
enable me to bring forth fruit, even in old age. May my hoary head be
found in the ways of righteousness! Preserve my mind from senility
and imbecility, and my body from protracted disease and
excruciating pain. Deliver me from despondency and
discouragement in my declining years, and enable me to bear
affliction with patience, fortitude, and perfect submission to Your
holy will. Lift upon me perpetually the light of Your reconciled
countenance, and cause me to rejoice in Your salvation, and in the
hope of Your glory. May the peace that passes all understanding be
constantly diffused through my soul, so that my mind may remain
calm through all the storms and vicissitudes of life.
As, in the course of nature, I must be drawing near to my end, and as
I know I must soon put off this tabernacle, I do humbly and earnestly
beseech You, O Father of mercies, to prepare me for this inevitable
and solemn event. Fortify my mind against the terrors of death. Give
me, if it pleases You, an easy passage through the gate of death.
Dissipate the dark clouds and mists which naturally hang over the
grave, and lead me gently down into the gloomy valley. O my kind
Shepherd, who has tasted the bitterness of death for me, and who
knows how to sympathize with and support the sheep of Your
pasture, be present to guide, to support, and to comfort me. Illumine
with beams of heavenly light the valley and shadow of death, so that I
may fear no evil. When heart and flesh fail, be the strength of my
heart and my portion forever. Let not my courage fail in the trying
hour. Permit not the great adversary to harass my soul in the last
struggle—but make me a conqueror and more than a conqueror in
this fearful conflict. I humbly ask that my reason may be continued
to the last, and if it be Your will, that I may be so comforted and
supported, that I may leave a testimony in favor of the reality of
religion, and Your faithfulness in fulfilling Your gracious promises;
and that others of Your servants who may follow after may be
encouraged by my example to commit themselves boldly to the
guidance and keeping of the Shepherd of Israel.
And when my spirit leaves this clay tenement, Lord Jesus, receive it.
Send some of the blessed angels to convoy my inexperienced soul to
the mansion which Your love has prepared. And O! let me be so
situated, though in the lowest rank, that I may behold Your glory.
May I have an abundant entrance administered unto me into the
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—for whose sake, and in
whose name, I ask all these things. Amen.
Approaching the Borders of Another
World
Most merciful God, I rejoice that You reign over the universe with a
sovereign sway, so that You do according to Your will, in the armies
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. You are the Maker
of my body, and Father of my spirit, and You have a perfect right to
dispose of me in that manner which will most effectually promote
Your glory: and I know that whatever You do is right and wise and
just and good. And whatever may be my eternal destiny, I rejoice in
the assurance that Your great name will be glorified in me. But as
You have been pleased to reveal Your mercy and Your grace to our
fallen miserable world; and as the word of this salvation has been
preached unto me, inviting me to accept of eternal life upon the
gracious terms of the Gospel, I do cordially receive the Lord Jesus
Christ as my Savior and only Redeemer, believing sincerely the whole
testimony which You have given respecting His divine character, His
real incarnation, His unspotted and holy life, His numerous and
beneficent miracles, His expiatory and meritorious death, and His
glorious resurrection and ascension. I believe, also, in His supreme
exaltation, in His prevalent intercession for His chosen people, in
His affectionate care and aid afforded to His suffering members here
below, and in His second coming to receive His humble followers to
dwell with Himself in heaven; and to take vengeance on His
obstinate enemies.
My only hope and confidence of being saved rests simply on the
mediatorial work and prevailing intercession of the Lord Jesus
Christ; in consequence of which the Holy Spirit is graciously sent to
make application of Christ's redemption, by working faith in us, and
repentance unto life; and rendering us fit for the heavenly
inheritance, by sanctifying us in the whole man, soul, body, and
spirit.
Grant, gracious God, that the rich blessings of the new covenant may
be freely bestowed on Your unworthy servant. I acknowledge that I
have no claim to Your favor on account of any goodness in me by
nature; for alas! there dwells in me, that is, in my flesh, no good
thing! nor on account of any works of righteousness done by me; for
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Neither am I able to make
atonement for any one of my innumerable transgressions which, I
confess before You, are not only many in number—but heinous in
their nature, justly deserving Your displeasure and wrath; so that if I
were immediately sent to hell, You would be altogether just in my
condemnation. Although I trust that I have endeavored to serve You
with some degree of sincerity; yet whatever good thing I have ever
done, or even thought, I ascribe entirely to Your grace, without which
I can do nothing acceptable in Your sight. And I am deeply convinced
that my best duties have fallen far short of the perfection of Your law,
and have been so mingled with sin in the performance, that I might
justly be condemned for the most fervent prayer I ever made. And I
would confess with shame and contrition, that I am not only
chargeable with sin in the act—but that there is a law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, aiming to bring me
into captivity to the law of sin and death. This corrupt nature is the
source of innumerable evil thoughts and desires, and damps the
exercise of faith and love, and stands in the way of well-doing, so that
when I would do good, evil is present with me. And so deep and
powerful is this remaining depravity, that all efforts to
eradicate or subdue it are vain, without the aid of Your
grace. And when at any time I obtain a glimpse of the depth and
turpitude of the sin of my nature, I am overwhelmed, and
constrained to exclaim with Job, "I abhor myself and repent in dust
and ashes." (Job 42:6)
And now, Righteous Lord God Almighty, I would not attempt to
conceal any of my actual transgressions, however vile and shameful
they are—but would penitently confess them before You; and would
plead in my defense, nothing but the perfect righteousness of the
Lord Jesus Christ, who died, the just for the unjust, to bring us near
to God. For His sake alone do I ask or expect the rich blessings
necessary to my salvation. For although I am unworthy, He is most
worthy; though I have no righteousness, He has provided by His
expiatory death, and by His holy life, a complete justifying
righteousness, in which spotless robe I pray that I may be clothed; so
that You my righteous Judge, will see no sin in me—but will acquit
me from every accusation, and justify me freely by Your grace,
through the righteousness of my Lord and Savior, with whom You
are ever well pleased.
My earnest prayer is, that Jesus may save me from my sins, as well as
from their punishment; that I may be redeemed from all iniquity, as
well as from the condemnation of the law; that the work of
sanctification may be carried on in my soul by Your Word and Spirit,
until it be perfected at Your appointed time. And grant, O Lord, that
as long as I am in the body, I may make it my constant study and
chief aim to glorify Your name, both with soul and body, which are
no longer mine—but Yours; for I am "bought with a price" (1 Cor
6:20; 1 Cor 7:23)—not with silver and gold—but with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Enable me to let my light so shine, that others, seeing my good
works, may be led to glorify Your name. Make use of me as an
humble instrument of advancing Your kingdom on earth, and
promoting the salvation of immortal souls. If You have appointed
sufferings for me here below, I beseech You to consider my
weakness, and let Your chastisements be those of a loving father, that
I may be made partaker of Your holiness. And let me not be tempted
above what I am able to bear—but with the temptation make a way of
escape.
O most merciful God, cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake
me not when my strength declines. Now, when I am old and greyheaded, forsake me not; but let Your grace be sufficient for me; and
enable me to bring forth fruit, even in old age. May my hoary head be
found in the ways of righteousness! Preserve my mind from senility
and imbecility, and my body from protracted disease and
excruciating pain. Deliver me from despondency and
discouragement in my declining years, and enable me to bear
affliction with patience, fortitude, and perfect submission to Your
holy will. Lift upon me perpetually the light of Your reconciled
countenance, and cause me to rejoice in Your salvation, and in the
hope of Your glory. May the peace that passes all understanding be
constantly diffused through my soul, so that my mind may remain
calm through all the storms and vicissitudes of life.
As, in the course of nature, I must be drawing near to my end, and as
I know I must soon put off this tabernacle, I do humbly and earnestly
beseech You, O Father of mercies, to prepare me for this inevitable
and solemn event. Fortify my mind against the terrors of death. Give
me, if it pleases You, an easy passage through the gate of death.
Dissipate the dark clouds and mists which naturally hang over the
grave, and lead me gently down into the gloomy valley. O my kind
Shepherd, who has tasted the bitterness of death for me, and who
knows how to sympathize with and support the sheep of Your
pasture, be present to guide, to support, and to comfort me. Illumine
with beams of heavenly light the valley and shadow of death, so that I
may fear no evil. When heart and flesh fail, be the strength of my
heart and my portion forever. Let not my courage fail in the trying
hour. Permit not the great adversary to harass my soul in the last
struggle—but make me a conqueror and more than a conqueror in
this fearful conflict. I humbly ask that my reason may be continued
to the last, and if it be Your will, that I may be so comforted and
supported, that I may leave a testimony in favor of the reality of
religion, and Your faithfulness in fulfilling Your gracious promises;
and that others of Your servants who may follow after may be
encouraged by my example to commit themselves boldly to the
guidance and keeping of the Shepherd of Israel.
And when my spirit leaves this clay tenement, Lord Jesus, receive it.
Send some of the blessed angels to convoy my inexperienced soul to
the mansion which Your love has prepared. And O! let me be so
situated, though in the lowest rank, that I may behold Your glory.
May I have an abundant entrance administered unto me into the
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—for whose sake, and in
whose name, I ask all these things. Amen.