Most holy God,
May the close of an earthly sabbath
remind
me that the last of them
will one day end.
Animate me with joy
that in heaven praise
will never cease,
that adoration will continue for
ever,
that no flesh will grow weary,
no
congregations disperse,
no
affections flag,
no
thoughts wander,
no
will droop,
but all will be adoring love.
Guard my mind from
making ordinances
my stay or trust,
from hewing out broken cisterns,
from resting on outward helps.
Wing me through
earthly forms to thy immediate
presence;
May my feeble
prayers show me the emptiness
and vanity of my
sins;
Deepen in me the
conviction that my most fervent
prayers,
and most lowly confessions, need
to be
repented of.
May my best services
bring me nearer to the cross,
and prompt me to cry, ‘None
but Jesus!’
By thy Spirit give
abiding life to the lessons of
this day:
May the seed sown
take deep root and yield
a full harvest.
Let all who see me
take knowledge that I have been
with thee
that thou hast taught me my need
as a sinner,
hast revealed a
finished salvation to me,
hast enriched me with
all spiritual blessings,
hast chosen me to
show forth Jesus to others,
hast helped me to
dispel the mists of unbelief.
O great Creator,
mighty Protector, gracious
Preserver,
thou dost load me with loving
kindnesses,
and hast made me thy purchased
possession,
and redeemed me from all guilt;
I praise and bless
thee for
my sabbath rest,
my calm conscience,
my peace of heart.