One day followeth another and one sun chargeth another with the same proclamation. And all cry out with one voice, Thou art coming: Thou Ancient of days, Thou King of glory. Yet a little while even as in the twinkling of an eye before Thee, : The heavens shall be shaken the sun shall be darkened; And thy sign shall be seen in the heavens : and men shall look on Him whom they crucified. And they that have done good shall lift up their heads and they that have done evil shall seek to flee from thy presence. : Grant me, therefore, to sanctify this day : to put it out to the service of thy honour and glory; To use it while it shall stay: nor to let it pass empty away; But filled with the praise of Thee : and laden with the work of salvation. When it hath gone from my sight can I call it back again from the depth to which it hath returned? Can I utter the testimony which it hath borne with it even up before thy judgment-seat, O Christ? Can I make the barren fruitful: can I render the black white? A Can I restore darkness to light or life to the dead? O Lord! Thou knowest my failings give me understanding that I may live. : Let me not make this day mine own to mine own lusts but thine to thy honour and glory. Sanctified by thy praise as it hath come unto me sanctified by thy service may it go from me. And may every day grow fuller of thy praise: and more abundant of thy service. And as the prospect becomes nearer : may the earnest grow brighter, Until all be fulfilled and Thou shalt come in thy glory, O Lord. March 18th 1965 XX. THE CHRISTIAN CONSIDERS THE WORK OF AWAKE up, my soul awake my harp and glory. For mine eyes behold again the majesty of the Lord and the light revealeth his handiwork. His sun cometh forth from his chamber : and calleth all the sons of men to their work. Come forth, O ye children of men : see ye not the messenger of your Master? I called man forth at the day of the flood: I called Israel on the day that his temple was destroyed. But they chose the work of another master : and they received his wages before night. Rise, therefore, to the work of the Lord : consider what wages the night may bring. O Lord, I go forth : direct Thou my goings. Guide me to thy work this day : order Thou the motions of my hand and heart. Let thy work be the delight of my heart: and thy service my glory. : Behold! I am the dust of the earth and yet among what fellow-workers dost Thou admit me! For Thou, even Thou, dost work, O Father everlasting thy hand sustaineth all things. And Thou dost work, O only begotten Son of the Father: Thou pleadest for thy people continually; And Thou dost work, O Holy Ghost the Comforter: Thou intercedest without ceasing, in the hearts of thy servants. Angels and Archangels do work before Thee, O God : Cherubim and Seraphim, and all the host of heaven. They rest nor night nor day : but they minister before Thee evermore. Blessed are they for their work is perfect | in thy sight. : It beginneth in thy love it endeth in thy glory. H But vain is all my work: if Thou, O Lord, shouldst judge it. I dare not come with it into thy presence: I dare not discover it to thine eyes. I would fain escape with it from thy sight: and hide it in the place where all things are forgotten. But thy Son biddeth me draw nigh: He telleth me not to be afraid. : For He will present it unto Thee and then it shall be perfect in thy sight. XXI. THE ORDER OF GOD'S MINISTRY. O FATHER of lights, and Maker of all things: early let me seek Thee. How lovely is the order of thy works: how fixed are the rules of thy service. Thou art no God of confusion: blessed be thy holy Name. For I have awakened from a world of disorder thy hand hath brought me forth. I see Thee upon the throne of thy glory again: and all things subdued unto thy law. They move in their appointed courses: they come forth in their set seasons. Yea! and my heart again confesseth thy law : and my senses acknowledge the check of thy governance. Take away from me all waywardness: establish me in the way of thy statutes. Fit me for thy world of order: enable me to maintain in it my post of service. Set all my works in the course of thy work : and all my desires in the order of thy will. For yet a little while, and the day shall come even as Thou hast appointed from the beginning: When this world of man's disorder shall pass away: and his sins shall confuse thy harmony no more. Then all things shall be ordered as at the first when Thou sawest that all was good. : Then all that have served Thee here in faithfulness and have kept the order of thy statutes; : Shall serve Thee in perfect righteousness : shall minister to the utmost fulness of thy commands. There shall be no defect in them from the topmost height of thy charge: no swerving from the straightest path of thy command ments. And none shall say in that day: My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. For the body shall be glorified unto power: and the will of the spirit shall be perfected. Then shall thy saints be kings under Thee: they shall rule over many cities; |