11th.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Pet. i. 8, 9.

Blessed Saviour, whom we love because Thou first lovedst us; we pray Thee to bestow on us the blessing of those who see not, yet both believe and love. Oh strengthen our faith, and increase our love to Thee, as the Author of eternal salvation to our souls; and even in this land of shadows, do Thou grant us some foretastes of that joy unspeakable and full of glory, which, through Thy grace, we hope to enjoy, when we at last fully receive the end of our faith, in Thy glorious and everlasting kingdom. Amen.

12th.

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him; Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. John v. 14.

Oh Thou who alone canst make us whole of whatsoever disease we have, whether bodily or spiritual; grant that every fresh proof of Thy healing mercy may lead us both to hearty repentance of that sin which is the bitter root of all suffering, and also to holy purposes, in Thy strength, and not our own, of sinning no more. Oh may we be found, both in the Church and in the world, praising Thee for the past, and trusting Thee for the future, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

13th.

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. Jonah iii. 4.

Oh Thou who, though a God of judgment, yet delightest in mercy, and art ever waiting to be gracious; let the contemplation of Thy dealings with Nineveh of old, stimulate us to such conduct towards all the multitude of sinners around us, as Thou mayest approve. Let us not cease to warn and beseech them to turn and repent before the awful day of final overthrow comes upon them; that so we may all at last rejoice together before our longsuffering God, through Jesus our great Advocate and Intercessor. Amen.

14th.

And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them, &c. Numb. xvi. 46.

Holy and righteous Lord, whose wrath is revealed from Heaven, against all the ungodliness of men; it is indeed of Thy mercy that we sinners are not consumed; and because Thou hast Thyself found an atoning ransom for us. Oh that while the plague of sin rages as fearfully around us as if it had but now begun its ravages, we may be ever ready to go quickly, at Thy word, to the sinners, and to plead with them and for them before Thee, that Thy hand may be stayed, and that they may be spared through our Atoning Mediator. Amen.

15th.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth, &c. Jer. xxiii. 5, 6.

Oh Thou the righteous Branch, the root and offspring of David, whose day of glorious power is surely coming; keep us ever watching, waiting, and praying for the full and final establishment of Thy Kingdom in the earth. May we earnestly desire the salvation and consolation of Thine ancient Israel, as well as the joy in Thee of Thine elect, throughout the whole Gentile world; and may we individually and collectively rejoice in Thee as the Lord our Righteousness, our King, our Governor, and our Saviour, for ever and ever. Amen.

16th.

He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. Psulm lxviii. 20.

Oh God of the spirits of all flesh, with whom are the issues of life and death, we would humbly rejoice in Thee as our God, and the God of salvation. Oh that hoping, through Thy grace, to be delivered from spiritual and eternal death, Thou wouldest so over-rule all our earthly course, as that it may prepare us to pass safely and peacefully through the gates of temporal death, to the life everlasting of Thy heavenly Kingdom, through Him who abolished death, and brought life and inmortality to light, even Christ our Lord. Amen.

17th.

Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Acts xii. 5.

Oh Thou who alone art the Inspirer, the Hearer, and the Answerer of prayer, help us, in all our troubles, to look to Thee to save us: under all our discouragements, to cast our burden on Thee and if personal or relative affliction seem long or hopeless, may we remember the case of Thy holy Apostle; and in every thing have recourse still to instant and earnest prayer; resolved, though the promise tarry, to wait for it; and confident that the prayers of Thy Church shall, in Thine own good time, receive full answers of peace, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

18th.

If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1 Thess. iv. 14.

Oh Thou whom we believe and know to be Thyself the Resurrection and the Life; help us to look upon death without alarm, as a peaceful sleeping in Jesus; and when called to part, at Thy word, with the beloved companions of our pilgrimage, keep us from sorrowing as those who have no hope; and sus.. tain and cheer us with the blessed anticipation of that day, when those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, and if united to Thee by a living faith on earth, shall with us share Thy glory for ever. Amen.

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19th.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. vii. 25.

Blessed Jesus, whose power and whose willingness to save, alike extend even to the uttermost, and who ever livest to make intercession for those who come to the Father by Thee; help us thus, and thus alone, to approach the Divine footstool, pleading no other name, and no other merit; teach us to rejoice more habitually and fervently in Thy continual intercession; and give us grace to trust Thee evermore, for time and for eternity, for Thine own great name and mercy's sake. Amen.

20th.

When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luhe xxi. 28.

Oh Thou whose coming again with power and great glory must bring distress, perplexity, and terror, to all but those who in faith and patience possess their souls; we beseech Thee so to rule and regulate our hearts and lives, that watching and praying always, we may be prepared then to look up and lift up our heads with humble confidence, assured that its approach shall be to us the drawing nigh of our final redemption, and that being one with Thee, we shall in Thee be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass, and to stand before Thee for ever. Amen.