<h2>FOURTH EVENING.<br/> <span class="small">FOR SANCTIFYING GRACE.</span></h2>
<p class="center small">"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth."—John xvii. 17.</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Blessed Lord,</span> do Thou bend Thy pitying
eye of love and mercy upon me this evening.
Draw Thou near to me as I venture once more
on praying and on pleading ground. I desire
to feel that I am one night nearer glory. Oh,
enable me to feel, as night after night is silently
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_17" id="Page_17">{17}</SPAN></span>
stealing over my head, that my seasons and opportunities
of grace are fleeting fast away, and
that soon the night cometh, wherein I can work
no more.</p>
<p>Alas! O God, how little have I improved the
time that is past! I am a wonder to myself,
that with all my deep ingratitude and utter
vileness I am yet permitted to approach Thy
footstool: I have sinned against light and love—warning
and mercy—grace and privilege.
The retrospect of life is a retrospect of guilt.
I mourn over my manifold shortcomings—the
alienation of my heart from Thee—the fitfulness
of my spiritual frames—the ebbings and flowings
in the tide of my love. When tried by the
lofty and unerring standard of Thy law, how are
my best actions and duties marred with defilement!
How much self-seeking and self-glorying—how
little animated by the predominating
motive of love to Thee, and singleness of eye to
Thy service!</p>
<p>Blessed Jesus! I flee anew to the pavilion
of Thy love. I have no other hope, no other
refuge, but in Thy finished work—Thy matchless
atonement—Thy spotless righteousness.
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_18" id="Page_18">{18}</SPAN></span>
There is in Thee an all-sufficiency for every
want. Finite necessities cannot exhaust Infinite
fullness. Let me hear Thy voice saying, "Thy
sins, which are many, are all forgiven thee!"
O sprinkle me with Thy blood; sanctify me,
body, soul, and spirit. Transform me more and
more into Thine own image. May I know more
and more the happiness of true holiness—that I
am really blessed in seeking to walk so as to
please God. May the power of grace wax
stronger and stronger, and the power of sin wax
weaker and weaker. May trials and crosses
become light and easy to me when borne in a
spirit of meek, unrepining submission to the
Divine will. May this quiet every doubt and
misgiving, "Your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things." Lord,
may every providential dealing prove a heart-searcher,
testing the reality of my love to Thee,
and my meetness and preparedness for Thy
heavenly kingdom.</p>
<p>Extend, Lord, Thy cause and Gospel everywhere.
Strengthen Thy missionary and ministering
servants. May they ever hear the sound
of their Master's footsteps behind them. May
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_19" id="Page_19">{19}</SPAN></span>
thy churches walk in the fear of God and in the
comfort of the Holy Ghost.</p>
<p>Bless all my beloved friends wherever they
are; do Thou be their Almighty Protector and
Guide. Let the angel come at this the time of
evening incense, touching all our hearts, and
granting us an answer to our several petitions.
Let us rise to-morrow refreshed for Thy service;
and fitted for whatsoever in Thy good providence
we may be called either to do or to suffer.
Hear me, gracious God, for the sake of Him
whom Thou hearest always. Amen.</p>
<p class="gap-above center small">"LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH BEFORE THEE AS<br/>
INCENSE: AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS<br/>
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE."</p>
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