<h2>SEVENTEENTH EVENING.<br/> <span class="small">FOR THE LIFE OF FAITH.</span></h2>
<p class="center small">"The life which I live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for
me."—Gal. ii. 20.</p>
<p><span class="smcap">O God,</span> I desire to draw near unto Thy
blessed presence on this the evening of another
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_57" id="Page_57">{57}</SPAN></span>
day, adoring Thee for all the loving-kindness
Thou art continually making to pass before me.
May I ever be enabled to look up to Thee as
the Author and Bestower of all my mercies.
May no created good ever be suffered to dispossess
Thee of my affections. May all that I
enjoy, alike temporal and spiritual, be traced
to Thee, the Fountain of all happiness. May
prosperity be hallowed by receiving it as a
pledge of Thy favor, and may trial lose its bitterness
by the consciousness that every thorn
in my path is permitted by Thee, and every
bitter drop in the cup appointed by Thee.</p>
<p>May I thus seek, O God, from day to day, to
live a life of simple faith and dependence on
Thy grace; with confiding love may I commit
my every care and want and perplexity to Thy
better direction, feeling sweetly assured that
Thou wilt guide me by a <i>right</i> way to the city
of habitation.</p>
<p>Above all would I seek a renewed interest
in those covenant blessings which Christ died
to purchase and which He is exalted to bestow.
All my hope is in Him; weak, helpless, perishing,
I flee to Him, as the help and hope and
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_58" id="Page_58">{58}</SPAN></span>
portion of all who seek Him. Hide me, O
blessed Jesus, in Thy wounded side. I would
overcome alone through the blood of the Lamb.
Wash me thoroughly in Thy precious blood.
May I hear Thine own voice of pardoning love
saying, "Your sins which are many are all forgiven."</p>
<p>After all Thou hast done for me, let me harbor
no guilty and unworthy suspicions of Thy
faithfulness. Let me feel assured that tender
love regulates all Thy allotments. Thou art
pledged to use the dealing and discipline best
suited for Thy people's case, and what will
best effect Thine own will concerning them,
even their sanctification. Carry on within me
Thine own work in Thine own way. Fortify
me against temptation; let me not surrender
myself to the base compliances of a world
lying in wickedness. But, strong in the Lord
and in the power of His might, may I know
that He who is with me is greater far than all
that can be against me. Oh enkindle afresh
my expiring, languishing love; let me live
more under the influence of "things not
seen," having the eye of faith more upwards
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_59" id="Page_59">{59}</SPAN></span>
and homewards, looking for that blessed hope,
even the glorious appearing of the great God
my Saviour.</p>
<p>Let Thy kingdom come! Arise, O God, and
plead Thine own cause. May all the ends of
the earth soon be gladdened with the Gospel's
joyful sound!</p>
<p>Bless all in sorrow, all bereaved of near and
dear friends; may they see no hand in their
trials but Thine. Thou givest us our blessings;
and when Thou seest meet Thou revokest the
grant. Let us see love in every threatening
wave, all rolling at <i>Thy</i> bidding.</p>
<p>Lord, take the charge of me this night.
Abide with me, blessed Saviour, for it is toward
evening and the day is far spent. Oh,
may it be mine to feel that each successive
evening as it brings me nearer eternity, is
ripening me for its never-ending joys. And
all I ask is for Jesus' sake. 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>
<hr />
<div class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_60" id="Page_60">{60}</SPAN></div>
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