w 
 
 h LIBRARY O F CONGRES S. 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMEltICA.fi 
 
Heart - Breathings 
 
 OR 
 
 The Soul's Desire 
 
 EXPRESSED IN EARNESTNESS. 
 
 A SERIES OF 
 
 fmmts, McYttntions anb Selections 
 
 FOR 
 
 "THE HOME CIRCLE." 
 By S. P." GODWIN. 
 
 "Evert sotjl on Earth shall bend the 
 
 unjgaK.yy*-ffikan„ 
 
 1SG7 
 
 t- PHILADELPHIA 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 
 1867. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District 
 of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Lippincott's Press, 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 LC Control Number 
 
 tmp96 027861 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IN presenting this unpretending little volume to 
 the reader, extended remarks would be superflu- 
 ous. 
 
 These impromptu Heart-breathings (expressed in 
 the fear and love of the Lord, without regard to crit- 
 icism,) are but the soul's earnest desire to do good 
 and to receive good — "To dwell in the secret places 
 of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the 
 Almighty'' — the result is with God. 
 
 Should a single word or a brief sentence herein 
 contained reflect but one ray of sunshine, to illumin- 
 ate a soul clouded in the midnight darkness of sin, 
 the object is attained, and to God be all the praise. 
 
 The author did not intend this little book for public 
 perusal, but at the solicitation of many friends, has 
 concluded to publish it: his "soul's desire" being 
 that "the seed sown in weakness" may yield abun- 
 dant fruit to the glory of God. S. P. G. 
 
 3 
 
PRAYER. 
 
 " In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let 
 your requests be made known unto God." — Phil. iv. 6. 
 
 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, 
 
 Uttered or unexpressed ; 
 The motion of a hidden fire, 
 
 That trembles in the breast. 
 
 Prayer is the burden of a sigh ; 
 
 The falling of a tear; 
 The upward glancing of an eye, 
 
 When none but God is near. 
 
 Prayer is the simplest form of speech 
 
 That infant lips can try ; 
 Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach 
 
 The Majesty on high. 
 
 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath; 
 
 The Christian's native air; 
 The watchword at the gates of death — 
 
 He enters heaven with prayer. 
 
 O, Thou, by whom we come to God, 
 
 The Life, the Truth, the Way, 
 
 The path of prayer Thyself hast trod, 
 
 Lord teach us how to pray. 
 
 Montgomery. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preface 3 
 
 Prayer 4 
 
 Moral Gems 7 
 
 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 Dedicatory 15 
 
 Sacred Devotion. 15 
 
 Ejaculations 16 
 
 Thanks for Blessings 21 
 
 Contrition, Supplication, Faith and Thanks- 
 giving 23 
 
 Adoration, Confession and Gratitude 28 
 
 Evening Prayer 92 
 
 In Affliction 97 
 
 "We sit at the feet of Jesus " 99 
 
 The Holy Sabbath 104 
 
 The Second Advent 109 
 
 1* 5 
 
6 Contents. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Arrangement from xxxii. and xxxiii. Psalms 113 
 
 The Commandments 117 
 
 General Confession 120 
 
 Apostles' Creed 121 
 
 The Lord's Prayer 121 
 
 2 Corinthians xiii. 14 122 
 
 Final 123 
 
MORAL GEMS. 
 
 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." — 
 Prov. xxv. 11. 
 
 OF all vices take heed of drunkenness. Other 
 vices are but fruits of disordered affections ; 
 this disorders, nay, banishes reason. Other vices 
 impair the soul ; this demolishes her two chief facul- 
 ties, the understanding and the will. Other vices 
 make their own way, this makes way for all vices. 
 He that is a drunkard is qualified for all vice. 
 
 All excess is ill, but drunkenness is of the worst 
 sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and un- 
 mans men. It reveals secrets, is quarrelsome, las- 
 civious, impudent, dangerous, and mad. He that is 
 drunk is not a man, because he is for so long devoid 
 of reason that distinguishes a man from a beast. 
 
 God is ' Alpha and Omega in the great world ; 
 endeavor to make Him so in the little world ; make 
 
 7 
 
8 Moral Gems. 
 
 Him \S\y evening epilogue, and thy morning prologue ; 
 practice to make Him thy last thought at night when 
 thou sleepest, and thy first in the morning when thou 
 wakest, so shall thy fancy be sanctified in the night, 
 and thy understanding rectified in the day; so shall 
 thy rest be peaceful, thy labors prosperous, thy life 
 pious, and thy death glorious. 
 
 We can be in no such unhappy condition where 
 God cannot help us, for the depths of misery are not 
 beyond the depths of mercy. If comforts be wanting, 
 God can create comforts not only out of nothing, but 
 out of the greatest sorrows. 
 
 It appears to me that the grace of God mends the 
 head while it converts the heart. It brings the mind 
 into such a holy, regular frame, that we can know 
 nothing of the good of our own existence until we 
 exist in God. 
 
 There are three principal reasons why so many do 
 not enjoy as much happiness as they might: first, 
 because they expect too much here below. Many of 
 the most pious and sensible have been contented, but 
 no one ever said he was completely happy. If we 
 have religion and wealth, two of the most likely 
 things to make us comfortable, perhaps we want 
 health of body ; even if we possess that, some enemies 
 or relations trouble us : all this is designed to teach 
 
Moral Gems. 9 
 
 us that the world is not our home. Another thing 
 that keeps us unhappy is looking up with envy at 
 those above us. We fancy others must be more 
 happy because they are more rich, more healthy, or 
 have not so many enemies, though perhaps if we 
 knew all things respecting them we would not change 
 with them ; but we should more frequently think of 
 those below us, who are in hospitals, poor-houses or 
 prisons, that are in extreme poverty, or blind, lame, 
 dumb, insane, or under public disgrace. Lastly, we 
 are frequently unhappy because we will not be satis- 
 fied with simplicity. The brute creation seem in 
 general contented and happy ; but man is not content 
 with nature, but must have recourse to art and luxury 
 to give him satisfaction ; and if he has not as much 
 of these as his neighbors or acquaintances, he seems 
 to be determined to be unhappy. But let us consider 
 how few are our real wants. If we have our liberty 
 and any share of health, we have the principal requi- 
 sites of natural happiness ; and if, besides this, we 
 have grace and the influence of the Spirit, we may 
 be called happy persons. 
 
 Bread and water, with the favor of God, are 
 dainties. A little that a righteous man hath is better 
 than the riches of many wicked. This is for you that 
 have plenty of riches, and think that there will be no 
 end thereto. 
 
io Moral Gems. 
 
 No one should be fearful or envious at the pros- 
 perity and wealth of others, for they will soon die 
 and go hence, as destitute as if they had lived in 
 poverty. 
 
 If I am living to gratify any appetites and passions, 
 men may applaud me, but God will condemn me. 
 
 Your sins will find you out. 
 
 All men must die, they know not how soon, when 
 or where. Prepare ! 
 
 God says to the wicked, "Now consider this, ye 
 that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there 
 be none to deliver. My word is truth. I will do it." 
 God is not a being that will lie. 
 
 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me, and to him 
 that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the 
 salvation of God. Ps. 1. 23. 
 
 Bad goods require dark rooms ; and as many arti- 
 cles of merchandise seem valuable till taken into the 
 light, so there are many things which appear fair till 
 they are set in the light of God's countenance. Be- 
 fore Him the friendships we often profess are nothing 
 but instances of selfishness ; and the prayers and 
 praises we engage in are only the forms of godliness. 
 
Moral Gems. 12 
 
 We may come to His house as His people come, sit 
 and hear His words, and commend the preacher, and 
 with our mouths show much love, while He sees our 
 hearts going after our covetousness. And how dread- 
 ful to think that He will hereafter develope all. and 
 divulge all respecting us ; and that what we have 
 always been before Him, we shall be made to appear 
 before an assembled world ! Could many now be 
 seen by their fellow creatures as He sees them, they 
 would blush to leave their dAvelling. To what ever- 
 lasting shame and contempt must they awake and 
 arise at the last day. 
 
 If a Christian, you will be singular, and while the 
 world continues what it is, every Christian must be 
 singular. Let any man, actuated by the Spirit, and 
 governed by the precepts of the Gospel, pass through 
 the various walks of life, and whom will he resemble ? 
 The majority? What says the Divine command: 
 " Follow not the multitude to do evil," be not con- 
 formed to this world, ''come out from among them 
 and be separate." "But I shall be singular." And 
 suppose you are ; they would be singularly beautiful, 
 singularly rich, singularly wise. But the righteous 
 in all these, is more excellent than his neighbor. 
 Religion is always praiseworthy. To be religious 
 among the religious is commendable, but it is far 
 more so to be godly among the ungodly. 
 
12- Moral Ge?ns. 
 
 You want an interest, dear reader, in Christ, more 
 than you want jour daily food. The Bible says so. 
 
 Man of the world, look to Christ. 
 
 You have no excuse, sinner; you have time while 
 reading this to give God your heart. 
 
 Unlawful gain, lying, committing adultery, drunk- 
 enness, &c, are crimes that bring terror to the soul 
 in the dying hour. Avoid, pass by; think on your 
 latter end. 
 
 PART OF THE XXXVIITH PSALM. 
 
 "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spread- 
 ing himself like a green bay tree. 
 
 "Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not; yea, I 
 sought him but he could not be found." 
 
 If a proud look is an abomination to the Lord, what 
 must a proud heart be. 
 
 God urges upon men his lessons of heavenly wis- 
 dom in so many ways, that none can remain ignorant 
 of them but those who obstinately refuse to hear. 
 
 The architect of a celebrated monument of anti- 
 quity cut his own name in the solid marble, while 
 that of the Prince, under whose auspices it was built, 
 
Moral Gems. 13 
 
 was engraved in the cement with which the surface 
 was covered. Ages afterward, when the cement had 
 crumbled to pieces, and the memory of the Prince 
 had vanished, the name of the noble mechanic was 
 read by thousands who admired the lasting monu- 
 ment of his skill. So with our actions. While those 
 which the world calls splendid shall soon be blotted 
 from the memory, the self-denying, unobtrusive deeds 
 of humble piety shall be had in everlasting remem- 
 brance. The frost and storms of time may obliterate 
 the record of earthly greatness, but they who turn 
 many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for 
 ever and ever. 
 
 Read the fourth chapter of Malachi. 
 2 
 
HEART-BREATHINGS. 
 
 ADORABLE Saviour, when we have gone 
 hence to be with Thee, may these our 
 heart-felt petitions prove a precious legacy to 
 those we love, an evidence to them of Thy 
 convicting, converting, sanctifying and saving 
 grace ; a comfort and a joy for ever, for Christ's 
 sake. Amen. 
 
 Sacrefc Bebotton. 
 
 WE beseech Thee, Good Father, to endue 
 us plenteously with heavenly gifts, 
 that our prayers may not be cold and heartless, 
 but rather as a glowing flame, rising from the 
 fires of sacred devotion and kindled in the soul 
 by the breath of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 
 
ISfaculattong on bartoug ©ccastora*- 
 
 [Not to be used to the exclusion of regular prayer.] 
 
 BLESS the Lord, O my soul — The good 
 Shepherd who watches while thou 
 sleepest. 
 
 Pardon, Lord, the idle and sinful thoughts 
 of the night ; and so purify me, that even the 
 unconscious motives of my mind may be void 
 of offence. 
 
 Lord, grant that I may awaken from the 
 night of the grave to the day of Thy glory. 
 
 Thou that givest light and strength to the 
 stars to run their appointed journey, give me 
 Thy light and Thy strength to guide and aid 
 me in the trials and duties of this day. For 
 Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 16 
 
Ejaculations on Various Occasions. 17 
 
 &n (Soing (Dut. 
 Lord, be with me throughout this day. 
 Guard me from sin. Protect me from injury 
 and evil. Be with my family in mercy — aid 
 me in the performance of my duties. For 
 Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 Wibm engaging in ang $8ork. 
 Aid and bless me, O Lord. Let all that I 
 do conform to Thy will, and redound to Thy 
 glory. Amen. 
 
 Wtyn Conscious of babing £iniuo. 
 
 Merciful Father, blot out my transgressions. 
 Have mercy upon me a miserable sinner. Par- 
 don me and uplift me from sin. For our dear 
 Saviour's sake. Amen. 
 
 Wibnx gismgagtb. 
 
 O God, let my life and my leisure be filled 
 with thoughts of Thee. I bless Thee that I 
 live, that I think, that I pray ; and for Thy in- 
 numerable mercies. Grant me Thy grace and 
 dedicate me to Thy glory. Amen. 
 2* 
 
1 8 Heart-Brea th ings . 
 
 git % sio^t oi gdflictimi. 
 Lord of mercy comfort and relieve my suffer- 
 ing friends. Forgive their sins, heal their 
 infirmities, and make them happy in a saving 
 knowledge of Thee. Amen. 
 
 IJasging % aboto of % ghab. 
 Thou, in whose hands are the issues of life 
 and death, sanctify this visitation and warning 
 to me and to the kindred and friends of the 
 departed ; assuage their sorrows, and grant 
 them and me the life that knows no death. 
 Amen. 
 
 ffifyzn ^empttb. 
 
 Father in heaven, remove this temptation far 
 from me, if it be Thy will ; or if the trial be 
 mine, be mine also the grace and strength 
 which Thou alone canst give to shield me from 
 evil, now and evermore. For Christ's sake. 
 Amen. 
 
 Wfyzn Urongeb. 
 
 Forgive, O Lord, the wrong that has been 
 done me. Turn the hearts of my enemies, and 
 above all, so sanctify me with Thy grace, that 
 
Ejaculatiotis o?i Various Occasions. 19 
 
 I may sincerely and heartily forgive and love, 
 and do good to all men. Amen. 
 
 Blessed be Thy name, my Father and my 
 God. Make my heart thankful to Thee for 
 this hour, and may no happiness here make 
 me forget that only true happiness which 
 awaits the just made perfect. Amen. 
 
 When gtfflicteb. 
 
 Let this sorrow pass from me, if it be Thy 
 will ; if not, blessed be Thy name : and may 
 Thy every dispensation draw me unto Thee 
 with a purer faith and a more humble and fer- 
 vent gratitude. Amen. 
 
 3tt % ssigfjt of j$itt. 
 Oh Thou, ever blessed, who hast died to save 
 sinners, awaken the unconverted to a sense of 
 their transgressions ; may they repent, be saved, 
 and added to the millions who rejoice in Thy 
 mercies. Save me, O Lord, from their sins 
 and from all sin. Make me humble and watch- 
 ful with my trust in Thee only, for I am of 
 
20 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 sinners the chief, and without Thee I am lost. 
 I apply to Thee for forgiveness. Save Lord, 
 save the purchase of Thy blood. Amen. 
 
 Wfytn nutting a gUlatibc or Jtunb. 
 
 Bless them, O Lord, sanctify and save them. 
 Grant them Thy peace here, and make them 
 partakers of Thy glory hereafter. Amen. 
 
 l%n about to gleep. 
 
 Again, and ever, O God, I thank and bless 
 Thee. May my last thoughts this night be in 
 gratitude to Thee. Forgive my sins. Impart 
 to me Thy Spirit. Grant me a guarded and 
 healthful sleep ; and, when I awaken, may it 
 be to bless and praise Thee. Amen. 
 
Cfianfes for blessings. 
 
 " We bless Thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings 
 of this life; but above all for Thine inestimable love in the redemption 
 of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 ALMIGHTY God we bless Thee for our 
 creation, for although born in sin and 
 cradled in innocent ignorance, we have awoke 
 to a new birth in righteousness, even by the 
 indwelling of Thy Holy Spirit. 
 
 We bless Thee, for our preservation — pre- 
 served from plague and pestilence, from the 
 fiery demon and the midnight assassin, from 
 bankruptcy and ruin in our business relations, 
 from affliction and penury in our family circle, 
 from discord and confusion in the church, from 
 the foreign foe and domestic enemy in our na- 
 tional affairs — blessed with peace and plentv. 
 We bless Thee for all the blessings of this life, 
 for food and raiment, for an open Bible and an 
 evangelical ministry, for Thy sanctuary and its 
 
 21 
 
22 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 holy ordinances, for this means of grace and 
 for the hope of glory — but before all and in all 
 for Thine inestimable love in our redemption 
 here and salvation hereafter by our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, whom Thou didst send to die an igno- 
 minious death on Calvary for our sins, and 
 bless with a glorious resurrection for our justi- 
 fication. Glory be to Thy holy name. Amen. 
 
Contrition, Supplication, dFaitf) an* 
 Cljan&sgtbmg, 
 
 WITH contrite hearts, con- 
 scious of our inability to do Contrition. 
 aright ; aware of our neglect to ob- 
 serve Thy Will in all things ; with repeated and 
 sinful deviations from Thy laws of righteous- 
 ness ; erring continually, giving way to those 
 irregularities of deportment which profit not, 
 but condemn us ; disobedient and unfaithful 
 stewards of Thy household ; self-reliant, pre- 
 sumptuous, coveting, ignorant, debased, without 
 gratitude, or adoring respect ; building upon 
 shadows of our own conceits ; taking unto 
 ourselves merit which alone belongs to Thee ; 
 setting ourselves in high places made from our 
 own imaginings, temples of air which have no 
 real existence ; assuming Pharisaical goodness ; 
 given to uncharitableness toward our brethren ; 
 
 23 
 
24 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 discarding Thy will in many things, and but 
 partially obeying Thy commandments ; of our- 
 selves poor, vile, miserable sinners, deserving 
 Thy just wrath and indignation, and utterly 
 devoid of every qualification of goodness, ex- 
 cept as coming from Thy bountiful hand, we 
 bow down in humble submission before Thee, 
 
 our kind and indulgent Parent, to 
 ^implication, supplicate Thy compassionate pity 
 
 upon our infirmities, and to beseech 
 that out of the abundance of Thy love Thou 
 wouldst grant unto us the riches of Thy grace. 
 In these our quiet moments, may we resolve to 
 regard not the interests of time and sense, but 
 rather the good of our souls in preparation for 
 eternity. May we appreciate this means of 
 grace, and fully realize that these moments 
 employed in prayer are not spent in vain ; that 
 this is to us a rich treasure, better by far than 
 gold or rubies ; that through prayer we are 
 benefited and improved. May we not only 
 knock at the door of mercy, but await Thy 
 coming with rich blessings to assuage every 
 grief, and to give us comfort in the Holy Ghost. 
 We know full well that we cannot gain from 
 
Contrition. Supplicatioti, Faith. Thanksgiving. 25 
 
 this world a satisfying good, we therefore pray 
 Thee to incline us unto that wisdom which 
 looks to God for all blessedness. May we, good 
 Lord, be neither negligent of our closet or 
 public duties, whether in meditation, self-ex- 
 amination, reading the Holy Scriptures, praise 
 or prayer ; may we look to Thee as the pure 
 fountain from whence all wisdom and godliness 
 flows ; to insure a closer walk with God, give 
 us regularity and alacrity in performing every 
 required duty ; may we not decline in spiritual 
 health, but become robust men and women in 
 holy faith, that we may secure Thy favor here, 
 and insure our lives for heaven. Give unto us 
 a spirit of prayer, self-denial, vigilance, run- 
 ning, wrestling and fighting for Thy kingdom ; 
 in our associations with those who love not 
 God, save us from contamination ; bestow upon 
 us such safeguards of protection, as that we 
 shall withstand the power of the enemy and 
 triumph over every obstacle. Make us just 
 towards our fellow men, honest and upright, 
 despising deceit and abominating falsehood, 
 shunning evil of every kind, and running 
 swiftly towards divine perfection ; to this end 
 
26 Heart- Breathings, 
 
 may we be blessed with wholesome, trust- 
 ing, believing, sanctifying faith in 
 Jfattfe. Thy covenanted promises, realizing 
 
 through a spiritual vision, that Thou 
 dost hear and answer prayer, that the Holy 
 Spirit has an indwelling in our souls, that 
 through this medium we have been wedded to 
 Christ, our adorable Saviour. Thy precious 
 promises are to our souls and bodies vouch- 
 safed in consolation and comfort ; we believe 
 that Thou wilt grant to us all good things ; we 
 rely upon Thy reconciling words of grace and 
 glory, and we believe they will be fulfilled to 
 our salvation ; w T e believe that we shall receive 
 manifold blessings in this world, and in the 
 world to come life everlasting. We receive rich 
 outpourings of love when we apply for bless- 
 ings ; our petitions and addresses reach Thine 
 ear, and Thy right hand is extended to relieve ; 
 surely Thy goodness and loving-kindness is 
 sufficient for every day and every trial ! Give 
 us faith to lay hold of Thine inestimable 
 promises. Lord we believe, help 
 Ifymiwgtbmg. Thou our unbelief! We therefore 
 with praises and thanksgiving join 
 
Contrition, Supplication, Faith, Thanksgiving. 27 
 
 with Thy heavenly hosts in ascribing glory, 
 honor, praise and power to the God that has 
 loved us, to the Saviour who has redeemed us, 
 to the Holy Spirit which comforts us. To the 
 Triune God we worship, to Him only belongs 
 all the glory. With angels and archangels, 
 with saints redeemed and just men made per- 
 fect, with our hearts' truest and fullest adora- 
 tion, we give Thee unfeigned thanks for these 
 high and holy privileges and blessings. Amen. 
 
adoration, (Ronftmon antr iffitatttttbe* 
 
 " Light is sown for the righteous, and joyful gladness for the upright 
 in heart." 
 
 WE magnify and adore Thy holy name, 
 our Supreme Ruler, the God and Father 
 of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for Thy 
 condescending goodness in granting to us, poor 
 worms of the dust, life, health and happiness ; 
 that although deserving Thy righteous indigna- 
 tion, (in consideration especially of our repeated 
 transgressions,) we are the recipients of mani- 
 fold blessings continually. Blessed with com- 
 forts far beyond our deserts, spared the many 
 afflictions incident to human nature, are we not 
 the special objects of Thy love, and shall we 
 not anew resolve for Thee to live, and in Thy 
 service to depart this life in peace ? Are we, 
 good Lord, thoroughly devoting ourselves to 
 Thy will, are we consecrating our time and 
 28 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 29 
 
 our talents in advancing the interests of Thy 
 kingdom ; are we really and truly living in 
 Christ and for Christ? Try us, O God, by 
 the standard of Thy laws, and wherein we are 
 found wanting, grant unto us greater grace, 
 that we may be the better able to discharge the 
 duties devolving upon us. For instruction and 
 guidance we look to Thee, as of ourselves we 
 are both ignoi'ant and blind, incapacitated for 
 every duty, full of imperfections ; grant to us, 
 heavenly Father, we most sincerely beseech 
 Thee, knowledge in good things, wisdom from 
 on high, zeal and understanding, that we may 
 show forth Thy righteousness through the en- 
 tire journey of life's pilgrimage, doing good 
 and receiving good, always desiring an increase 
 of Thy love, and ever abounding in good 
 works. 
 
 The angelic choir who chant Thy praises 
 in adoring thanksgivings have but partial bless- 
 ings as compared with Thy loving-kindness to 
 us ; have we not been, good Lord, the special 
 objects of Thy grace and mercy through all of 
 life's stormy pathway ; when sin abounded 
 without a Saviour, and wickedness reigned 
 
30 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 supremely triumphant, didst Thou not remem- 
 ber us in mercy rather than visit us in justice, 
 in sending Thine only and best beloved Son, to 
 make a propitiatory sacrifice foi our salvation? 
 Of ourselves condemned already, blind to the 
 truth of happiness, depraved outcasts, unworthy 
 Thy countenance and deserving everlasting 
 punishment, a new and living way was vouch- 
 safed to us whereby we could cast away the 
 works of darkness, and take upon us the true, 
 holy and precious assurance, that in faith, be- 
 lieving, and good works following us, Christ 
 Jesus our Brother, Thine adorable Son, as- 
 sumes our transgressions, and we are made to 
 rejoice with exceeding joy. Let Thy grace 
 abound in our hearts more abundantly, that we 
 may contribute to the good of our fellows, be- 
 come more worthy Thy service, more devoted 
 to good works, and finally receive Thine ap- 
 proving recognition amongst Thy saints in 
 glory everlasting. 
 
 We mourn over our ignorance and incom- 
 petency to fulfil aright the responsible duties 
 imposed .upon us in our family relations ; all 
 wisdom and power comes from Thine inex- 
 
Adoration, Confession a?id Gratitude. 31 
 
 haustible fountain of knowledge ; to Thee, 
 then, we lift up our hearts, in sincere and 
 anxious solicitude for an increase of wisdom, 
 not such as the world gives, but exceedingly 
 better — that which will profit us beyond the 
 grave and fit us here for every word and work ; 
 may we be so taught by the Author of all wis- 
 dom, that we may be enabled to bring these, 
 our darlings, to the cross of Christ right early 
 in life, and manifest to all around us that we 
 are true followers of the meek and lowly Lamb ; 
 convict the careless, awaken the lukewarm, 
 build up the believer, and save us all with an 
 everlasting salvation, we beg for Christ's sake. 
 Amen. 
 
 " The will of God is the perfection of all wisdom." 
 
 THE power is Thine, O Lord, the glory 
 is Thine, to Thee belongs all wisdom, 
 might, and majesty 7 ; glorious Saviour, Thou 
 art our God and our Guide, ever present, 
 always kind, ever watchful ; an exceedingly 
 
32 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 patient Master, mindful of Thy children ; with 
 pity for our infirmities ; Thou art our help in 
 time of need ; to Thee we can apply for relief 
 from sorrow ; in Thee we can find every com- 
 fort ; through Thee we have a lively hope of a 
 blessed hereafter. How can we sufficiently 
 praise and glorify Thy holy name, O blessed 
 Redeemer, for Thy goodness and loving-kind- 
 ness, which has followed us all the days of our 
 life? We approach Thee this morning, in 
 humble reliance upon Thy goodness, to plead 
 for the outpouring of Thy Holy Spirit ; grant 
 us the full measure of Thy blessings ; give 
 unto us the realization of our true acceptance 
 with Thee, that we may the more abundantly 
 magnify and adore Thy condescending good- 
 ness, and be more thoroughly sanctified in that 
 holy faith which takes hold of the precious 
 promises. " There is a balm in Gilead and a 
 physician there," one who is omnipresent, one 
 who can heal the loathsomeness of sin, one 
 who can purify uncleanness, one who can take 
 from death its sting and who can insure the 
 Christian's victory ; surely we can rejoice and 
 offer up hearty thanks for the knowledge of the 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 33 
 
 fact, that we can be accepted of him, and made 
 heirs of eternal happiness. Teach us Almighty 
 Father to follow continually the good pilgrim's 
 road that leads to the city of our God. 
 
 Around the family circle, with Thine eyes 
 beholding our necessities, and a stretched out 
 arm to relieve our wants, enable us to lay hold 
 of Thy promises and participate in their bless- 
 ings ; make us " a holy people, zealous of good 
 works ;" may our example be such as to inspire 
 in our children a love of Thee, and influence 
 them, as they grow in years, to increase in 
 divine knowledge ; bless with Thy continual 
 presence our entire household ; may we be "a 
 household of faith and a family of prayer ;" in 
 all the connections of life, whether of family 
 or friends, may we give evidence, "by an up- 
 right walk and chaste conversation, that we 
 have been with God and learned of Him ;" 
 forgive us, O Lord, for whatever of wrong we 
 are guilty towards others ; grant that we may 
 "live in peace and good-will with all men ;" 
 constrain the hearts of those who would harm 
 us to look with kindness rather than anger 
 upon our motives ; bring all into Thy fold, that 
 
34 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 we may be of one heart and one mind to love 
 and serve the Lord. Bless Thy holy ordinances 
 to our good ; may we observe them with that 
 outward promptness that shall testify of the 
 indwelling of the love of Christ, and especially 
 may we be benefited by the Gospel of Christ 
 as given us by divine inspiration. Incline our 
 hearts to fulfil each and every charge devolving 
 upon us in our duty to our God and His crea- 
 tion, that we may go forth in joy and delight 
 in adding to the comfort of the bodies and souls 
 of those around us. We would not forget, 
 good Lord, to pray for a revival of Thy work ; 
 extend Thy Gospel to the uttermost ends of the 
 earth; may "the sea make a noise and be 
 glad" that all have sought and found atone- 
 ment through Thy blood ; may every house- 
 hold become a heaven on earth, so that we 
 shall see Thee come again in Thy transcendent 
 glory to call Thy saints from groveling in the 
 dust to glorious immortality, from pain and 
 sorrow to joy eternal, from cares to rest, from 
 temptation to everlasting security, from the per- 
 plexities of this world to the never ending 
 happiness of a home in heaven, and then as 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 35 
 
 now will we ascribe all honor, power and 
 glory to that beloved Saviour, "who died for 
 our sins and rose again for our justification." 
 Amen. 
 
 — *^>^^b*^t>. — 
 "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. v. 17. 
 
 WITH a grateful sense of duty, O Lord, 
 and with full knowledge of our un- 
 worthiness, we approach Thy mercy-seat this 
 morning to thank Thee for Thy preserving 
 care which has protected us during the past 
 night. How good Thou hast been to us, blessed 
 Saviour, in Thus shielding us from harm, and 
 granting us a continuance of Thy protection. 
 "Make us truly humble and thankful for these 
 and every other blessing we receive at Thy 
 hands." May we be preserved from harm 
 during the ensuing day, and as we go out into 
 the busy world, there to mix with sinful beings, 
 grant us Thy continual presence, that we may 
 watch and pray lest we enter into temptation ; 
 we can do nothing of ourselves, but through 
 
36 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 Thy intercession we can be made invulnerable 
 to the shafts of the enemy. O Lord, we be- 
 seech Thee to give us faith and good works 
 that we may become more and more strength- 
 ened in every good resolve. We thank Thee, 
 good Lord, that Thou hast inclined our hearts 
 to serve Thee ; perfect, we beseech Thee, the 
 good that is within us, until we shall fully re- 
 alize the true and living way, and be abundantly 
 blessed, and that continually, with the presence 
 of the Lord. 
 
 We feel a great responsibility, precious 
 Saviour, in bringing up those dear ones which 
 Thou hast given us ; enable us so to live that 
 they, "seeing our good works, may glorify 
 our Father which is in heaven ;" " endue us 
 plenteously with Thy Holy Spirit," that our 
 children may find with us a home which is a 
 nursery for heaven ; incline their hearts to that 
 glorified Saviour who has said : " Suffer little 
 children to come unto me, and forbid them not, 
 for of such is the kingdom of heaven ;" grant, 
 O Lord, that by our advice and example they 
 may learn from us, as we learn of Thee, that true 
 happiness is alone to be found in the religion 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 37 
 
 of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ ; to this 
 end, O holy Saviour, forbid that we should 
 ever by word, deed or action do ought that 
 may be a stumbling-block in the way of lead- 
 ing them to the pure fountain of all joy ; bless, 
 we beseech Thee, all who are connected with us 
 by the ties of nature ; incline the hearts of those 
 who profess Thy name to a u closer walk with 
 God ;" bless them abundantly with all good ; 
 shield them from all harm ; comfort them in 
 affliction ; and may we all realize that our light 
 afflictions are but blessings in disguise, teach- 
 ing us of our unfaithfulness, and causing us to 
 resolve anew to live nearer the protecting side 
 of our blessed Saviour. Incline the hearts of 
 those who know Thee not to retrospect their 
 unprofitable lives ; to see the sinfulness of sin ; 
 to feel how vain, fleeting and unsubstantial are 
 the pleasures of this world, when not sanc- 
 tioned by the presence of the Source of all 
 real happiness ; convict, convert, sanctify and 
 save them, we implore Thee. We believe in 
 the efficacy of prayer, good Lord ; we know 
 we shall not plead in vain ; we have Thy 
 promises ; we know by faith Thou dost hear 
 4 
 
38 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 and answer prayer ; when our hearts are trou- 
 bled, O Lord, we apply to Thee for that relief 
 which Thou alone canst vouchsafe ; we believe 
 Thou wilt grant our supplications, and there- 
 fore we approach Thee in faith, believing ; 
 hear us, then, O Lord, in behalf of those for 
 whom we pray ; constrain their hearts to seek 
 Thy favor ; turn them, we beseech Thee, from 
 the error of their ways ; lead them to the cross 
 of Christ ; bring them into Thy fold, that they 
 may adorn the family of the Lord ; influence 
 them, O Lord, we pray Thee, to receive into 
 their hearts Thy Holy Spirit ; and if it is Thy 
 will, O Lord, grant that they may be so drawn 
 to love Thee, that forgetting the things that are 
 past, they may live in peace and happiness 
 here, and finally reach that harbor where 
 storms never assail, where Christ reigns, where 
 sorrow and sighing for ever flee away. Grant 
 our petitions, heavenly Father, and save us for 
 Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 39 
 
 "Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just 
 and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." 
 
 SUPREMELY great and wonderful in all 
 things art Thou, O Lord God of hosts ; 
 to Thee we owe our creation, preservation and 
 every blessing of life, but infinitely above and 
 beyond all, we are indebted for Thy loving 
 mercy manifested towards us in our redemp- 
 tion, by sending Thine only Son, Christ Jesus, 
 to suffer and die, that we guilty and lost sinners 
 might have a way opened up, a true and living 
 way, whereby we can be saved ; we give Thee 
 all the glory, good Lord ; having the deepest 
 sense of our own unworthiness, we would be 
 most excellent and honorable in Thy sight, O 
 God, and now acknowledge Thy greatness and 
 goodness, in all things beseeching Thee to visit 
 us not according to our deserts, but in the 
 abundance of Thy condescending love and 
 mercy. We know that with Thy presence 
 and favor we can overcome all obstructions in 
 the way of advancement in divine life ; inspire 
 us with a love of truth and goodness ; may we 
 be devoted to humanity, have respect and 
 
40 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 reverence for Thy ordinances, and worship 
 Thee in Thy holiness always ; may our souls 
 accord with Thy Holy Spirit in all things, so 
 that we may receive Thine approving smiles, 
 and be found ever on the Lord's side ; we are 
 conscious of the offences we daily commit, and 
 are aware of the great benefits we receive at 
 Thy hands ; give us grace to shun the one, and 
 thankful hearts to appreciate the other ; with 
 sins of great magnitude already committed, we, 
 the vilest of the vile, come to Thee, realizing 
 that Thou wilt have mercy on us and pardon 
 us for Thy Son's sake. The comfortable as- 
 surances of Thy Holy Word are to us consola- 
 tion and relief amidst life's perplexities ; when 
 annoyed, vexed and dismayed by surrounding 
 circumstances, we find comfort from Thy pres- 
 ence and a balm for every wound ; O, make 
 us truly humble and devoutly thankful for Thy 
 watchful care over us, and may we here dedi- 
 cate our entire being to Thee, that thus being 
 made Thy faithful servants on this earth, we 
 may become heirs with God and joint heirs 
 with Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, in Thy 
 kingdom on high. Lead our children into the 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 41 
 
 green pastures of godliness ; incline their ten- 
 der hearts toward Thy service ; teach their 
 prattling tongues to lisp Thy praises ; receive 
 them into Thy family by adoption and free 
 grace, and of Thy great mercy keep them 
 under Thy guardian care, so that they may 
 adorn Thy kingdom here and reach Thy holy 
 habitation in the heavens. Have mercy upon 
 our connections that know not God ; pity their 
 unbelief; awaken their slumbering souls; O 
 may they cast off the powers of darkness and 
 take upon themselves the glorious light that 
 radiates the Christian's path, and reflects Tin- 
 holy image all around ; we would agonize, O 
 Lord, in their behalf; hear our prayers of sup- 
 plication for their conversion, and constrain 
 them, we beseech Thee, to seek and find Thee, 
 the only true and living God. 
 
 O, Lamb of God, renew within us who pro- 
 fess Thy name, a greater desire to live after 
 Thy commandments. u To fear God and keep 
 His commandments is the whole duty of man :" 
 may we come fully up to Thy requirements, 
 thus securing for ourselves great blessings, and 
 throwing around us such healthy influences as 
 4* 
 
42 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 shall cause sinners to fall in with the offered 
 terms of mercy ; be with us in the various 
 associations and duties of life ; go with us, as 
 we mix with the gay and thoughtless ; watch 
 over us, good Lord, that we be not enticed to 
 do evil ; dwell with us in the Sabbath-school 
 and Sanctuary ; incline our hearts to get good 
 and do good, and in all things order our actions, 
 conform our words, influence our thoughts as 
 shall be most acceptable to Thee, so that we 
 may prove a blessing to our generation, and 
 honor and glorify Thy holy name ever, world 
 without end. Amen. 
 
 "With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemp- 
 tion." 
 
 OUR Father and our God, we implore a 
 continuation of those blessings which 
 have been manifold since our being. 
 
 We can ask no good thing of our own 
 merits, for we are poor, miserable sinners, 
 deserving Thy wrath continually, yet " thanks 
 
Adoration. Confession and Gratitude. 43 
 
 be to God. who giveth us the victory through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ.'' by His agonizing suff- 
 ering: and ignominious death, we are vouch- 
 safed the assurance, that through faith we may 
 become the recipients of much good here and 
 the participators of everlasting joy hereafter ! 
 Oh ! what a sublime, elevating thought, that 
 through Christ we can attain to good works in 
 this vile body, and have a resurrection in a 
 spiritual body to join just men made perfect. 
 our sainted loved ones, and best of all our be- 
 loved Redeemer, through whose intercession 
 we are alone made thus happy ; God be praised 
 for His condescending goodness in thus caring 
 and providing for us. miserable sinners ! 
 
 Grant. O Lord, that we may continually 
 aspire to and attain those blessings which we 
 can enjoy through Thy mediatorial goodness : 
 enable us to go onward and upward towards the 
 perfection of righteousness : help us in every 
 good word and work : give us the abilitv to 
 ask of Thee all things aright : give irs the faith 
 to fully believe in Thy precious promises : 
 make us. O Lord. " Israelites indeed in whom 
 there is no guile." that whether in business life. 
 
44 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 in social life, around the family fireside, in the 
 church, or in the state, we may show to those 
 around us, u that we have been with Christ and 
 learned of Him." Oh, forbid that we should 
 be a stumbling-block in the way of others, and 
 thereby be accessory to their damnation ; save 
 us, O Lord, save us from this sin ; be our God 
 and our Guide, then shall we abide continually 
 under Thy shadow, and fear no evil. 
 
 We would especially plead for the out-pour- 
 ing of Thy Holy Spirit on the church ; build 
 up there, O Lord a congregation of true disci- 
 ples, evangelical Christians, whose good works 
 shall be read and known of all men ; sanctify 
 the zealous efforts of the ministers, that they 
 may rejoice with exceeding joy, in realizing 
 that their ministry is not in vain ; grant to 
 them, Almighty God, the evidence of the effi- 
 cacy of their good counsel by the ingathering 
 of precious souls into the fold of Christ, such 
 as shall be everlastingly saved. 
 
 Bless, O heavenly Father, the ordinances 
 of the church to the good of our souls ; re- 
 member the poor and the needy, the sick and 
 the suffering, the fatherless and the widow ; 
 
Adoration, Co?ifessio?i and Gratitude. 45 
 
 give us the heart and the will to endeavor to 
 alleviate the pains of suffering humanity ; 
 endue us with power and wisdom, that we 
 may be prominent and useful in all that apper- 
 tains to the good of Thy church and the re- 
 lief of mankind. 
 
 We thank Thee. O Lord, for the prosperity 
 we enjoy ; for the means of grace at our com- 
 mand ; for the gracious revival of Thy work 
 in our midst, but far above and beyond all, for 
 the glorious prospect of a happy hereafter ; 
 make us truly humble and thankful for these 
 and all other blessings, for Christ's sake. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Lord, oiir Governor, how excellent is Thy name in the world." 
 
 WE thank Thee, O precious Saviour, that 
 justification is by faith in Jesus, that 
 salvation is secured to us through Thv great 
 atonement, that everlasting happiness hereafter 
 is promised for our enjoyment, if we but cast 
 our all at Thy feet ; strengthen our good re- 
 
46 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 solves by additions of grace ; give us increased 
 knowledge of our duties and stronger desires 
 to fulfil them ; perfect within us, O Lord, such 
 good works, as that we may have that un- 
 wavering faith which dispels fear and makes 
 us to see always rather the glories than the 
 terrors of Thy laws ; we would, O heavenly 
 Father, rejoice continually in Thy mercies ; 
 save, Oh save us from Thy judgments, but if 
 in Thy good pleasure Thy righteous correc- 
 tions should be visited upon us, give us grace 
 sufficient for every trial, and may such visita- 
 tions teach us the more especially of our own 
 unworthiness and the necessity of a " closer 
 walk with God." As the past shadows forth 
 to our vision Thy preserving mercies, as the 
 present testifies of Thy indulgent kindness, and 
 as the future gives us hope of the realization 
 of Thy precious promises, we thank Thee, O 
 Lord, that Thou hast thus far blest us with 
 sunshine, and we have an abiding faith in the 
 belief that Thou wilt in future not frown with 
 anger, but smile with blessings upon our heads ; 
 thus convinced, we here in humble thanks 
 yield our all to Thy service, as our dearest 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 47 
 
 Companion, our Counsellor, our King, our 
 Saviour. Number us, O Lord, among Thy 
 people : receive us, O Lord, into Thy family : 
 register our names, adored Redeemer, in Thy 
 book of remembrance ; keep us faithful in 
 every duty ; give us the energy and the will to 
 work in Thy vineyard ; make us true Israelites : 
 give us grace and glory, so that under every 
 circumstance we may show forth Thv glory 
 to a wicked and sinful world : may our ambi- 
 tion urge us to attain to higher and yet 
 higher knowledge of godliness ; may our 
 humility humble us to the dust in Thy pre- 
 sence ; may our constant desires and most fer- 
 vent prayers be to become more and more like 
 unto Thee, our Holy Saviour. 
 
 Thou knowest, O Lord, how we are tempted 
 by the Adversary of our souls, "Who goeth 
 about as a roaring lion seeking whom he 
 may devour." We are continuallv liable to 
 become entangled in his clutches. Oh. grant 
 that we mav overcome every besetting- sin. that 
 having Christ Jesus as our constant, loving and 
 protecting companion, the Enemy's darts will 
 fall harmless at our feet. 
 
48 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 We are surrounded, good Lord, with many 
 comforts in life which Thou hast given us. In 
 our home we are blessed with health, food and 
 raiment ; our dear children are spared to us in 
 Thy goodness. In our business life we are 
 saved from bankruptcy ; our associations are 
 pleasant and beneficial. In social life we are 
 blessed with many kind and sincere friends. 
 Innumerable are our blessings, and they all 
 come from Thy bountiful hand. Are we suffi- 
 ciently thankful, O Lord, for these great bless- 
 ings? Search our hearts, and wherein we 
 come short in giving Thee all the glory, O, 
 eradicate such neglect, and implant thoroughly 
 proper acknowledgements for these great bless- 
 ings. In Thy good time and wisdom turn the 
 hearts of those around us to Thy love and 
 service ; may the comfortable assurance of Thy 
 continual presence be with those who profess 
 Thy name, and that they may become the 
 better fitted for Thy service, increase Thy holy 
 religion in their hearts. Hear our prayers for 
 " all sorts and conditions of men/' and let Thy 
 truth run and be glorified, for Jesus' sake. 
 Amen. 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 49 
 
 " The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous ; and His ear? are 
 open unto their prayers."' 
 
 WITH humility and reverence. Almighty 
 God. we again approach Thy presence, 
 to offer to Thee in godly sincerity (as is our 
 bounden duty) our unfeigned and grateful 
 thanks for Thy watchful care and fatherly pro- 
 tection, exercised towards us during another 
 night. We would most reverentially claim 
 through the merits of Thy precious blood a 
 full and free realization of Christ within us, the 
 hope of glory, and offer to Thee (as is most 
 justly due) all the glory of our salvation. 
 Without Thee, our glorified Redeemer, life is 
 but a fleeting show, shadows that depart, 
 clouds that disperse with the winds ; but if in 
 Thy keeping, "joy cometh with the morning," 
 and blessings continue throughout the day. We 
 go forth into the busy world, and ordinary 
 cares and vexations become as trifles, reverses 
 but annoy for the moment ; we glide onward 
 and upward with the smooth, unruffled tide 
 of Thy favor, and again repair to the bosom 
 of our families, happy and content. Truly. O 
 
 5 
 
50 Heart-Breathings* 
 
 Lord, "Thy ways are ways of pleasantness !" 
 If in the wisdom of Thy providence, Thou 
 shouldst spare to us our dear children, O, may 
 they, good Lord, become as shining lights in 
 their day and generation ; receive them, O 
 Father, as Thy adopted children ; teach us that 
 we may the better instruct them in true godli- 
 ness, so that parents and children may prove 
 an honor to Thee, a joyous satisfaction to each 
 other, and finally become shining lights to gem 
 Thy diadem in glory. In those ties which 
 unite us to others by nature and marriage-vows, 
 we feel especially resting upon us a weighty 
 responsibility ; grant, heavenly Father, that we 
 may faithfully, fully and freely discharge our 
 duty towards our entire connection ; if by ad- 
 vice or admonition, help us, good Lord ; if by 
 example, may the glorious radiance of pure 
 and undeflled religion be ever unveiled, so that, 
 we may show forth by an upright walk and 
 chaste conversation that Christ Jesus, the Lord, 
 reigns supreme with us. Our prayers ascend 
 for those whose time, talents, grace, accom- 
 plishments, and desires find unison only with 
 worldly pleasures ; whose days and nights are 
 
Adoration, Co?ifession and Gratitude. 51 
 
 absorbed in schemes and anticipations of the 
 world's enjoyments, without one thought of 
 Thee ; Oh teach them, good Lord, that religion 
 is true happiness ; that sinful pleasures are 
 short-lived ; that true pleasures are sweetened 
 and rendered transcendently enjoyable, when 
 accompanied with Thy presence. The con- 
 science void of offence gives repose and com- 
 fort, whilst the countenance testifies that Thou 
 art in the midst to bless. Glory be to Thee, O 
 Lord God of Israel, that these ideas have be- 
 come with us veritable facts, to the exclusion 
 of evil doings, and the blessing of our every 
 hour. Bless, O Lord, all the inhabitants of 
 the earth ; aid those' who disseminate and 
 spread broad-cast the teachings of the Gospel ; 
 gather into Thy fold on this earth many who 
 shall enter into Thy kingdom in heaven ; re- 
 vive Thy work on the land and the sea ; let 
 the uttermost parts of the earth hear of Thy 
 goodness and loving - kindness ; make those 
 who profess Thy name, teachers of men in 
 those things that appertain to their everlasting 
 salvation ; give us to feel always that Thcu art 
 with us, and though legions be against us, hav- 
 
52 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 ing right, with God upon our side, we cannot 
 fear evil ; abundantly reward our feeble efforts 
 to advance Thy glory ; give us to live in peace 
 and happiness with all men ; endue us with 
 divine wisdom and Thy heavenly Spirit, so 
 that whether amidst the troubles of adversity 
 or joys of prosperity, in sunshine or shade, in 
 mourning or glee, Thy approving smiles and 
 heavenly voice, (by a well-grounded faith,) 
 will cheer us upward towards Thy heavenly 
 city, the New Jerusalem, where we will ascribe 
 everlasting praises to the Father, Son and Holy 
 Ghost, throughout the countless ages of eter- 
 nity. Amen. 
 
 k ' Like as the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so longeth my soul 
 after Thee, God." 
 
 OMNIPOTENT Jehovah, God the Father 
 Almighty, our Creator, Preserver and 
 gracious Benefactor, in deepest humiliation 
 and self-abasement we approach Thine awful but 
 glorious presence, and most devoutly pray Thee 
 
Ado7'atio?i, Confessio?i a?id Gratitude. 53 
 
 to awaken us really to a sense of Thy unutter- 
 able and inconceivable glories. Sinful worms 
 of the dust, full of impurity, we can scarcely 
 presume to approach Thy majestic presence to 
 ask a renewal of Thy covenant promises to us, 
 yet, through the intercession of Thy well- 
 beloved Son, our adorable Redeemer, Thou 
 wilt condescend to hear and answer our peti- 
 tions. With shame and contrition we acknow- 
 ledge our many transgressions ; our degenerate 
 natures, in repeated and aggravated instances, 
 have rebelled against Thee, our Lord and 
 Master, and we are continually wandering from 
 the true and living way. Grant to us, good 
 Lord, as we are here bowed down in humble 
 reliance, a fixed purpose of heart to devote our 
 time, energies, talents, and all that we have 
 and are to Thy service ; may we consecrate 
 ourselves in every word and work unquestion- 
 ably to Thine approval, so that we shall be the 
 happier here and transcendently happy hereaf- 
 ter. We have many ties in heaven, good Lord, 
 of friends and relatives, yet we have no attach- 
 ment to compare with that of being with Thee, 
 our Father and elder Brother, our beloved 
 5 * 
 
54 Heart- Breathings, 
 
 Saviour, who in our behalf came on earth to 
 be reviled, suffered an agonizing death for our 
 sins, and rose again for our justification. Poor 
 worms of the dust, as we are, how insignificant 
 we feel in Thy presence ; how utterly destitute 
 of every personal qualification or merit ; how 
 forlorn and cast away but for Thy loving inter- 
 cession in our behalf; we, therefore, in humble 
 thanks, praise Thy holy name for every com- 
 fort and every joy. We would yield Thee our 
 heart's adoration for that goodness and loving- 
 kindness with which Thou hast blessed us ; we 
 would be in deed and in truth the humble fol- 
 lowers of the meek and lowly Lamb. Oh, 
 grant to us such good works that we may be 
 the more abundantly blest in constraining sin- 
 ners to turn in with the offered terms of mercy. 
 What a holy satisfaction to be the instrument 
 in Thy hands of converting a soul ! What a 
 multitude of deviations will be atoned in our 
 behalf! What a gem in Thy crown in glory ! 
 And best of all, we shall thus partially pay our 
 obligations to that good Saviour who has re- 
 deemed us with His most precious blood, and 
 
Adoration, Confession a.7id Gratitude. 55 
 
 made us heirs and joint heirs with Him in the 
 glories of His kingdom. 
 
 Our situation in life brings us constantly in 
 contact with sin and wickedness ; as we mix 
 with the world, subject to its temptations, dis- 
 sipations and follies, its cares, perplexities, 
 annoyances and labor, we may temporarily 
 forget our duty to our God. O grant, blessed 
 Jesus, the presence of Thy guardian angels, 
 that we may overcome every temptation and 
 the sins that so easily beset us, and run with 
 patience the race set before us ; giving assur- 
 ance continually that Thou art our Ark of 
 Safety, that though the enemy may abound all 
 around us, the radiance of Thy saving presence 
 illuminates our path, and Thy Holy Spirit 
 directs our course, in the true Christian road 
 that leads to glory ; then will others, seeing our 
 good works, glorify Thee, our Omnipresent 
 Saviour, and be influenced to seek and find the 
 pearl of great price. If it is Thy good pleasure, 
 give us grace and give us glory ; give us the 
 true and living faith to believe that trusting in 
 Thee we need not fear evil, though it threaten 
 us on every side. Thy grace is sufficient for 
 
56 Heart-Breathi?igs. 
 
 every trial ; Thy presence with us, and we 
 will not fear an army of foes, for by Thee 
 and through Thy assistance we are made strong 
 to withstand the enemy without and our natu- 
 ral sinfulness within. Hear our weak and im- 
 perfect supplications, and finally gather us with 
 Thy children into the "house not made with 
 hands, eternal in the heavens," all of which we 
 ask for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. 
 
 " The earth, Lord, is full of Thy mercy ; teach ine Thy statutes." 
 
 FATHER of all mercies, Dispenser of 
 every comfort, Disposer of our beings, 
 we yield Thee unceasing praise and our heart's 
 adoration, that Thou art the Guardian Angel 
 who gives sleep to our eyelids and repose to 
 our slumbers ; protecting our homes from the 
 fiery demon and the midnight robber ; preserv- 
 ing us in every way from the foe without or 
 harm within ; permitting us to awaken to an- 
 other morning with our faculties unimpaired, 
 our health improved, and best of all, with an 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 57 
 
 increased desire to more worthily walk in the 
 Christian's path that leads to life eternal. May 
 we, good Lord, through the ensuing day make 
 much progress in divine things, and as we 
 journey through the world and its dangers, 
 this day and all the days of our lives, may we 
 lean upon Thine arm for help, and look upon 
 Thy countenance for encouragement. With 
 grace in our hearts, prayer on our lips, and 
 abiding faith in Thy protection, the rough 
 places will be made smooth, and God, even 
 our own God, will be a security and a blessing. 
 We would, from the deepest recesses of our 
 hearts, ask Thee, O Lord, to save us from the 
 tongue of slander, (as we prize a good reputa- 
 tion as among Thy choicest blessings and better 
 than rubies ;) oh, forbid that we should be 
 assailed to our injury by this scourge of falsity ; 
 if Thy will, however, that we should be thus 
 tortured, may we. heavenly Father, whether 
 through good or evil report, be content to say. 
 "Thy will be done" without murmuring ; give 
 unto us, indulgent Parent, such charity for the 
 faults of others that we shall be especially 
 guarded in our own words, that we may not 
 
58 Heart- Breathings* 
 
 condemn unjustly ; incline us to reprove with 
 gentleness, that we may thereby give evidence 
 that love rather than anger is the motive-power ; 
 grant us to accomplish the work Thou hast 
 given us to do ; may we, O Lord, live in peace 
 and charity with all men, so that with a good 
 conscience, (of Thine approving,) we shall 
 the rather show forth to the unconverted the 
 joys, than the sorrows of life, giving evidence 
 of the efficacy of Thy saving grace that happi- 
 fies existence, and bids sighing and mourning 
 to for ever flee away. 
 
 O most adorable Father, as Thy children, 
 instruct us aright that we may know how to 
 act and how the better to merit Thine appro- 
 bation, that Thou mayest remove from us our 
 great troubles. Our children, blessed Saviour, 
 are to us a well-spring of pleasure ; oh protect 
 them in Thy great goodness ; shield them from 
 the snares and temptations of this world ; may 
 they right early seek and find Thee, to the 
 comfort of their souls and the joy and prosper- 
 ity of their lives ; enable us each and all so to 
 live that when this transitory existence shall 
 
Adoration) Confession and Gratitude. 59 
 
 end, we shall live for ever in Thy kingdom, 
 for Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 "The day is Thine, and the night is Thine ; Thou hast prepared the 
 light and the sun." 
 
 HEAVENLY Father we are indeed Thine 
 "by adoption and free grace ;" make us 
 more thoroughly Thine in all things, and keep 
 us Thine for ever. Our dependence rests en- 
 tirely upon Thy condescending goodness, for 
 of ourselves we cannot do a good act nor speak 
 a good word, but Thou art an Omnipresent 
 and Omniscient Father — "more willing to 
 give than we are to receive," and granting to 
 us, Thy unworthy creatures, blessings innumer- 
 able, yea, "every good and perfect gift." Con- 
 strain us, then, O Lord, to more fully dedicate 
 our all to Thee, "in whom there is no varia- 
 bleness nor shadow of turning," and so far as 
 consistent with Thy will concerning us, sanc- 
 tify our souls without reserve to Thy service in 
 all things ; wherein through ignorance or desire, 
 
6o Heart- Breathings. 
 
 we stray from Thy fold, bring us back again, 
 good Lord, and forbid that we should again 
 leave Thy favor ; may we continually abide in 
 Thy presence and live after Thy command- 
 ments ; to this end we beseech Thee that we 
 may persevere in prayer and supplication to the 
 advancement of good and the avoidance of evil, 
 that being with Thee always we shall be the 
 more and more likened unto Thee, and enabled 
 thereby to attain to those joys on earth that will 
 the better adapt us to the glories of heaven. 
 As disease and trouble is abroad in the land, 
 we pray Thee, Holy Saviour, to protect us 
 from the pestilence, or else prepare us thor- 
 oughly to wrestle with its pain, fully assured 
 under all conditions, that Thy afflictions are but 
 warnings that we may the better be prepared 
 for Thy will concerning us. Thou art a just 
 and merciful Saviour, save us then, O Lord, if 
 Thv will, from the terrible ravages of this pes- 
 tilence ; and whilst the thunderings of the 
 terrors of Thy laws are warning the world of 
 its wickedness, may this visitation constrain 
 the hearts of the people to find comfort and 
 consolation, a safe refuge and defence in Jesus 
 
Adoration, Co?ifession and Gratitude. 6l 
 
 Christ and Him crucified, so that mourning 
 mav be turned into rejoicing, and Thy name 
 glorified to the ends of the earth. Believing 
 that Thou art now present to hear our weak 
 and imperfect supplications, we plead for our 
 dear children : may they be preserved under 
 Thv protection ; may they be made participa- 
 tors in divine things ; may they increase in the 
 knowledge of godliness as they grow in years ; 
 make them. O Lord, true disciples of Thy 
 church, that they may realize throughout life 
 that through Thee only can they enjoy real 
 happiness. Bless our friends and relations ; 
 may our kindred, whether absent from us or in 
 our midst, be instructed and preserved by Thv 
 great goodness. If serving Thee, the true and 
 living God, may they be built up in Thy most 
 holy faith ; if wanderers, may their eyes be 
 directed to the "Star in the East," that their 
 feet may be impelled to run out after Thy 
 blessings ; bring them, good Lord, into Thy 
 fold, that they may realize that where Thou 
 art there they would be also. Hear our prayers, 
 O Lord, save us with the redeemed, we beg 
 for Christ's sake. Amen. 
 6 
 
62 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 " I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me and 
 heard my calling." 
 
 WE approach the Fountain of all happi- 
 ness this morning, realizing our own 
 unworthiness, conscious of our short-comings, 
 and fully aware that we can offer no plea, 
 through any merit of our own, in extenua- 
 tion of our own sinfulness ; poor, weak, miser- 
 able sinners, we do not deserve the slightest 
 recognition from Thee, yet, O precious Saviour, 
 we can rely on Thy promises, and through 
 Thy intercession be made to rejoice that we 
 have been with Christ and learned of Him. 
 We thank Thee, good Lord, for the simpleness 
 of prayer, for the efficacy of prayer, for that 
 divine joy and comfort imparted through 
 prayer, but above all, that we are thus privi- 
 leged to converse with Thee, our adorable 
 Redeemer, and receive that wisdom and com- 
 fort of which the world knows nothing. Give 
 us faith to believe continually in Thy precious 
 promises, that we may the more abundantly 
 realize Thy goodness towards us, and evidence 
 to others the truthfulness of our profession, that 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 63 
 
 they, "seeing our good works, may glorify our 
 Father who is in heaven." We would implore 
 Thy presence with us, that we may be instant, 
 in season and out of season, in glorifying Thy 
 holy name, thereby influencing those around 
 us to good works. We would ask Thy special 
 blessing, glorified Redeemer, upon our beloved 
 family ; save them from evil, shield them from 
 harm ; protect them under the shadow of Thy 
 wings, that we may be a u household of faith 
 and a family of prayer ;" give us the ability to 
 bring up our children in the u fear and admo- 
 nition of the Lord," by precept and example ; 
 may they learn of us as we learn of Christ, so 
 that with us they may live and die, an honor 
 and a blessing to all ; prepare the hearts of our 
 darlings that they may right early seek the 
 Lord and find Him to the joy and comfort of 
 their souls. Bless those who are in any man- 
 ner connected with us by the ties of nature. 
 Grant to those who profess Thy name the 
 divine unction from on high, that they may 
 attain more abundantly to the holiness of the 
 Lord ; that they may be saved from the devices 
 of the evil one ; that they may be comforted in 
 
64 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 all the sorrows of life. Constrain the hearts 
 of those that know Thee not, " to turn to the 
 Lord and seek salvation ;" may they see the 
 sinfulness of sin ; may they be convinced that 
 the world's pleasures are fleeting and visionary, 
 that in God's favor only can true joys be found ; 
 turn their hearts, turn their hearts, O Lord, 
 towards Thy cross, that they may apply for 
 and receive Thy blessings ; especially do our 
 petitions ascend for those, who regarding not 
 Thy commandments, would find happiness 
 outside Thy fold ; convict, convert, sanctify and 
 save them, we implore Thee. 
 
 Bless all for whom it is our duty to pray — the 
 sick and the suffering, the poor and the needy, 
 the fatherless and widow, the distressed and dis- 
 consolate, wherever they are — and hasten on 
 the glorious time when all the nations of the 
 earth shall rejoice as we rejoice, and the desert 
 shall bloom and blossom as the rose. Go with 
 us into the world and its cares ; protect us 
 from evil thoughts ; make us just and upright 
 in all our dealings ; and grant that we enter not 
 into temptation. Hear our prayers, O Lord ; 
 answer our petitions, and we will ascribe all 
 
Adoration, Co?ifession and Gratitude. 65 
 
 the glory to Thee, our most blessed Saviour, 
 for ever. Amen. 
 
 ' : Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth 
 him out of them all." 
 
 HOLY Saviour, the dangers of the night 
 are past ; Thou hast blessed our hours 
 of sleep with Thy protection, and we are pri- 
 vileged once more amidst our home comforts 
 to unite in praising God for the light of another 
 day. " What shall we render unto Thee for 
 all Thy benefits toward us ; ? ' surely we do not 
 deserve, through any merits of our own, these 
 continued blessings : how can we, Lord, suffi- 
 ciently magnify and adore Thy holy name, 
 for Thy goodness and loving-kindness? Re- 
 ceive, we beseech Thee, our bodies and our 
 souls as all the sacrifice we can offer ; do with 
 us as in Thy good wisdom Thou seest best, for 
 all that we have and all that we are belongs to 
 The, O most adorable Creator. May we con- 
 tinually reach out after Thy blessings in faith, 
 6* 
 
66 Heart-Breathings, 
 
 believing that the giving enriches us and does 
 not impoverish Thee ; that Thou canst supply 
 our every want, and, glory be to Thy Holy 
 Name, will do so, but for the simple asking ; 
 wicked men may scoff at us, the devil may 
 offer his allurements, the world may dazzle 
 our eyes with seeming pleasures, pride may 
 deride us, friends may forsake us, enemies may 
 injure us, but, trusting in Thee, the " Giver of 
 every good and perfect gift," the grasp is firm, 
 the step elastic, the eye smiles with joy, and, 
 being with Christ, we copy Christ, and are 
 blessed with heaven on earth. O Lord, our 
 risen Saviour, how can we give Thee such 
 thanks as are justly Thine for Thine inestima- 
 ble blessings ? We thank Thee, that thou hast 
 given us an insight of Thy transcendent good- 
 ness ; " that whereas we were once blind we 
 now see ;" that though deserving Thine ever- 
 lasting condemnation, in the plenitude of Thy 
 mercy, Thou hast vouchsafed to us a happy 
 prospect of a blessed hereafter ; that we can 
 commune with Thee on this earth, and far bet- 
 ter, see Thee in Thy majestic glory among the 
 saints in heaven, when called hence — shall we 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 67 
 
 not then, O Lord, rejoice and be glad, yea, re- 
 joice with exceeding joy for the blessed hope 
 that is within us? 
 
 Let Thy blessed Gospel, Lord, run and be 
 glorified until the heathen shall know Thee, 
 and all the ends of the earth shall praise Thee ; 
 then, at Thy second coming, grant us, O 
 Christ, a home among the sanctified and re- 
 deemed, that we may ascribe unceasing praises 
 to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, our 
 exalted Triune God. Amen. 
 
 "Eschew evil and do good ; seek peace, and pursue it." 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, 
 Author and finisher of our faith, our 
 Creator, Preserver and Benefactor, from our 
 earliest recollections we have been the recipi- 
 ents of Thy goodness ; in the midst of deserved 
 wrath Thou hast remembered mercy towards 
 us, and when we have erred and strayed from 
 Thy ways, like lost sheep, as a Good Shep- 
 herd, Thou hast again received us in Thy fold. 
 
68 Heart-Breathi?igs. 
 
 Suffer us, we beseech Thee, to return our un- 
 feigned thanks for that preserving care, which 
 has ever been around and about us. Surely 
 "we are the spared monuments of Thy good- 
 ness." As we approach Thy Mercy-Seat this 
 morning, conscious of our own infirmities, we 
 trust Thee in Thy promises, that thou wilt be 
 a present God with us, and that we shall not 
 plead in vain for those blessings which are as 
 a well-spring of pleasure to our famishing 
 souls. Where we fail in asking through our 
 own ignorance and weakness, fail Thou not in 
 giving of Thy abundance, we most humbly 
 beseech Thee, but give us to realize with all 
 Thy people that Thou wilt feed our souls with 
 Thy heavenly manna. Give us a participa- 
 tion in Thy reconciling grace to the good of 
 our souls, that we may rejoice yet more 
 abundantly in the knowledge of the fact, that 
 our petitions are not in vain. 
 
 Bless our land and nation ; give wisdom to 
 those who are in high authority ; give counsel 
 to the law-makers — teach them the necessity of 
 conforming their words and actions to Thy 
 holy laws, that justice and religion may go 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 69 
 
 hand in hand, and to the end that we may be- 
 come a holy people. " zealous of good works ;" 
 incline the hearts of those who know Thee not, 
 to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. Show 
 the sinner, O Lord, the wickedness of his 
 course ; turn him from his blindness, and open 
 his eyes to the glorious light of the Gospel. 
 Spread pure and undefiled religion throughout 
 the length and breadth of our land ; may 
 prayer and praise abound in the palace and in 
 the hamlet ; may the nations of the earth re- 
 joice in the glory of God ; hasten on the glori- 
 ous time when all shall come to know Thee, 
 whom to know aright is life eternal. Grant, 
 good Lord, to bless us in all the relations of 
 life ; may all that we do or say be in conformity 
 with Thy will concerning us ; teach us more 
 fully " to watch and pray lest we enter into 
 temptation ;" may we never forget that help 
 alone cometh from Thee and through Thee, 
 and that by Thy mediatorial goodness we can 
 attain to good works ; O teach us, good Lord, 
 that we may profit in holiness and merit the 
 approbation of " well done, good and faithful 
 servants." In Tlry kindness condescend to 
 
70 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 watch over our household ; bless our darling 
 children, and grant that they may be brought 
 up to glorify Thy name. Bless our connec- 
 tions ; endue them with every good ; curb their 
 passions ; encourage their endeavors to live 
 near Thy side, and grant, O Heavenly Father, 
 to incline their hearts, one and all, to live in 
 peace and good cheer with each other, that so 
 at the last, they with us may join that Heavenly 
 Host who are for ever rejoicing in Thy king- 
 dom. Keep us this day in Thy Holy keeping ; 
 vouchsafe to us Thy continual presence ; and 
 finally, with beloved ones gone before us, and 
 best of all, with Christ, our living Head, bring 
 us to heaven, we beg for Jesus' sake. Amen. 
 
 " Oh, taste and see how gracious the Lord is : blessed is the man 
 that trusteth in Him." 
 
 GOOD Lord, " the young lions do lack and 
 suffer hunger, but they that seek the 
 Lork shall not want any good thing." How 
 blessed Thy precious promises to us ; how 
 soul-inspiring thy continual presence with us ; 
 
Adoration. Confession and Gratitude. 71 
 
 how elevating the thought that we can t; be- 
 come heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" 
 in Thy Kingdom ! It raises us above this poor 
 sinful world ; it gives us a foretaste of that 
 heaven of happiness which is in reservation 
 for us ; it inspires our thoughts ; it purifies our 
 motives ; it ennobles our being ; it sanctifies 
 our souls ; it is the true perfection of happi- 
 ness here, and full faith in attaining all the 
 glories of a thrice blessed hereafter. May we, 
 O Holy Jesus, our risen Saviour, drink deep 
 from this fountain of God's love, until we shall 
 become full of Thy glory and rejoice for ever- 
 more. May we. O Lord, as we advance in 
 years, go onward and upward towards divine 
 perfection. Arm us with the Christian armor, 
 that we may fight the fight of faith, " renounce 
 the devil and all his works, the pomps and 
 vanities of this wicked world," and with the 
 breast-plate of righteousness as our protection, 
 and the shield of faith as our constant com- 
 panion, go on from conquering to conquest, 
 until we shall destroy the last enemy and be 
 crowned with victory by the great Captain of 
 our Salvation ; then, O Lord, will we ascribe 
 
72 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 everlasting praises to Thee, our Creator, Pre- 
 server and blessed Saviour. 
 
 We trust, O Lord, that we are abundantly 
 thankful for the many blessings we now enjoy. 
 Blessed above hundreds of others, in the very 
 many comforts Thou hast granted unto us, to 
 murmur is to sin ; we would, therefore, pray 
 Thee to save us from repining ; make us, we 
 beseech Thee, truly humble and thankful for 
 all Thy creature comforts, that we may show 
 to those around us, not a murmuring spirit, 
 but a contrite, humble and thankful heart, for 
 the many rich blessings from Thy store-house 
 of plenty. Make us truthful and sincere, we 
 beseech Thee, in our words and dealings with 
 our fellow-men ; forbid, O Lord, that we should 
 ever so far degrade our high calling as to devi- 
 ate from Thy expressed commands in this 
 respect ; may we be guarded, O Lord, in every 
 word, deed and action, so that we will never 
 feel the blush of shame, nor fear the conse- 
 quences of a lying tongue or a deceitful heart ; 
 may we, O Lord, be so circumspect in our lives 
 as to cause others to " see our good works, and 
 glorify our heavenly Father. " 
 
Adoration, Confession a?id Gratitude. 73 
 
 Watch over us, heavenly Father, as we go 
 out into the world ; shield us, we most humbly 
 beseech Thee, from the crafty enemy of our 
 souls, who would allure us to danger ; may we 
 destroy this power by the efficacy of prayer ; 
 may the name of our blessed Saviour ever be 
 upon our lips, and His holy religion in our 
 hearts ; then we shall be prepared for every 
 contingency, and enabled to cast from us every- 
 thing that would harm us. Hear our prayers 
 for such blessings as Thou seest we need ; bless 
 our friends and our enemies ; sanctify us in all 
 good ; instruct us in all wisdom, so that we 
 may become the more and more like unto 
 Thee, our living Head. All of which we beg, 
 for Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 " Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile." 
 
 BLESSED Redeemer, our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, through whose intercession 
 alone we are made to participate in those good 
 things which administer to our happiness, we, 
 
 7 
 
74 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 Thy blood-bought followers, children by adop- 
 tion of the meek and lowly Lamb, prostrate 
 ourselves in humble reliance that Thou wilt 
 hear our prayers, and grant us those blessings 
 we need as erring children. Conscious of in- 
 firmities, we look to Thee as the only source 
 from which we can possibly derive that holy 
 comfort which adds joy to our existence, and 
 insures a hope within us which we would not 
 exchange for gold or rubies — a hope reaching 
 far beyond u this vale of tears," and soaring to 
 those realms of bliss where Thou art, our once 
 crucified, now risen, Saviour, where many be- 
 loved ones are, where cherubim and seraphim 
 chant everlasting praises to Thee, O Lord, 
 where sorrow is no more, but joy reigns for 
 ever, in heaven, our resting-place. 
 
 We beseech Thee to receive us, O Lord, 
 more fully into Thy favor ; may we consecrate 
 our entire existence to Thy service; " Thy 
 ways are ways of pleasantness ;" O may we, 
 good Lord, in soul and body be dedicated to 
 Thy cause ; may we from day to day learn 
 more and more of Thee, increasing continually 
 in the wisdom, strength and beauty of right- 
 
Adoration, Co?ifession and Gratitude. 75 
 
 eousness, "becoming rooted and grounded" in 
 every good word and work, pressing onward 
 from grace to greater grace, until we are ena- 
 bled by the eye of faith to see Thee in every- 
 thing, and appreciate thoroughly " Thy good- 
 ness and loving-kindness which has followed 
 us all the days of our life." 
 
 In this sinful world we are continually beset 
 by the evil one ; his temptations would allure 
 us to destruction ; his machinations would lead 
 us to forget Thee, the Source of all happiness. 
 Strengthen us, good Lord, with Thy presence 
 in the hour of danger, that we may cast away, 
 under whatever guise, the fascination of the 
 enemy of our souls, and, laying aside our be- 
 setting sins, "press toward the mark for the 
 prize of the high calling of God in Christ 
 Jesus." 
 
 May we be, O Lord, really and truly Thy 
 chosen ones, that in our motives, actions and 
 conversation, those around us may see in us 
 Thy holy image, and know of a surety that 
 Christ reigns in our hearts ; being thus through 
 Thy assistance made the ministers of good 
 works to the salvation of precious souls, then 
 
*j6 Heart- Breathings, 
 
 will we rejoice and give thanks that we are in 
 any manner instrumental in bringing sinners to 
 Thee, the Fountain of Mercy. With hearts 
 sincere, we pray alike for our friends and our 
 enemies ; bless those who love us and pray for 
 us ; bless those who curse and abuse us ; keep 
 us from being a hindrance in any manner to 
 those who would seek Thy favor ; may w T e be 
 just to all men in the business transactions of 
 life ; save us from falsehood, vituperation, slan- 
 der, deceit and dishonor ; may we, O Lord, 
 " do unto others as we would be done by ;" 
 may we be charitable with all, thereby making 
 for ourselves an easy conscience, and receiving 
 as our reward the blessings of God. Our 
 hearts run out after those who are bound to us 
 by every tie of love that earth affords — our 
 happy little family circle here. O Lord, make 
 for us a Paradise on earth ; here may true reli- 
 gion be sought and found ; here may the bless- 
 ings of God abound. How happy we shall be 
 if Thy presence abides with us here ; how 
 much our love will increase, good Lord, for 
 Thee and each other, and how truly can we 
 then say, here Jesus reigns, our loving, faithful 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 77 
 
 friend ! Which may God grant, if His good 
 pleasure, for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. 
 
 " let me have understanding in the way of godliness/' 
 
 OH ! what a sublime thought, gracious 
 Father, that we are granted the happv 
 privilege, alike with Thine angels in heaven, 
 to approach Thy presence. Whilst they with 
 enraptured vision gaze upon Thy matchless 
 beauties, we by a glorious faith are permitted 
 to see Thee spiritually, whilst that "still small 
 voice 1 ' tells us we are with Thee and learning 
 those lessons of wisdom which our God-Tutor 
 can only impart. Is it thus with us, good Lord, 
 the humblest, least deserving and weakest of 
 Thy creatures? Are we so decidedly Thy 
 children by adoption and free grace? Can we 
 realize that whilst we are so inconsistent in 
 most things, so given to wickedness, so full of 
 uncleanness that Thou art more willing to give 
 than we are to receive ; that Thou dost open 
 the door to our supplications and give us audi- 
 7* 
 
78 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 ence in Thy presence, forgiving our transgres- 
 sions, granting us cheering anticipations, and 
 rilling our sinful hearts with joys unutterable ? 
 Surely "Thy ways are past finding out," for 
 had we our deserts, we should be banished 
 from Thy presence and the glories of Thy 
 countenance for ever ! All glory to Thy great 
 goodness and infinite condescension that Thou 
 dost remember Thy finite creatures when they 
 seek Thy favor ; that Thou dost hear, receive 
 and bless the prayers of the humble and con- 
 trite heart ! O Lord, Thy rod of affliction 
 may be deservedly applied to our discomfort 
 and unhappiness ; we may be carried into the 
 wilderness of despondency and doubt ; the 
 storm-clouds of adversity may darken the hori- 
 zon of brightness ; friends may forsake us, 
 enemies overwhelm us, disease overtake us, 
 and death itself be desired as a happy relief, 
 yet would we cleave to Thee only as the phy- 
 sician of our souls, who can at Thy good will 
 and pleasure remove the stings, and grant that 
 health of body and mind which shall be the 
 more abundantly conducive to our happiness 
 here and safety hereafter. Thy chastening 
 
Adoration. Confession and Gratitude. 79 
 
 hand is but a corrective for our sinful natures. 
 and the more fully convinces us of our own 
 weakness and dependence ; we rejoice, there- 
 fore, O Lord, in those afflictions, which are but 
 disguised blessings, preparing us for the health- 
 ful enjoyment of the resulting ease and happi- 
 ness, of which otherwise we may have been 
 debarred. 
 
 We cannot ask any good thing within Thy 
 providence, good Lord, (in faith believing) 
 that Thou wilt not grant ; we. therefore, again 
 beseech Thee to look down with especial favor 
 upon our household ; bless our darlings, our 
 servants, and all who with us are associated ; 
 may we, the heads of the family, be continu- 
 ally taught of Thee, becoming proficient in the 
 duties of our position, and at all times magnifv 
 Thy holy name and manifest Thy goodness by 
 our chaste conversation and exemplary deport- 
 ment, so that children and dependents may. 
 with us, be Thy true disciples — thus inviting 
 and securing Thy guardian protection within 
 our dwelling ; may no jarring or discordant 
 note ever find entrance here, but being of one 
 mind and one heart, worship and serve God 
 
80 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 in the bonds of love and in the unity of the 
 Spirit. Give unto those near and dear to us 
 the special tokens of Thy love ; fold our be- 
 loved friends and connections in the arms of 
 Thy mercy ; guide them and us by Thine un- 
 erring counsel, and grant that in these days of 
 blasphemy, trouble, rebuke, iniquity and trans- 
 gression — the enemy all around us — that we 
 may not abuse our time and talents by petty 
 and puny dissensions, by unprofitable disputes, 
 by idle conversation ; may the petty differences 
 in our views be overcome by the very many 
 opinions in which we unite, so that peace and 
 quietness may find a habitation among us con- 
 tinually. Grant, heavenly Father, that in our 
 various duties through life, Thy favor resting 
 upon us, Thy love may soften and sanctify all 
 our trials. 
 
 May we all be one in Christ, our Saviour, 
 here, and one in glory everlasting ^ we beg 
 through Thy merits, O holy Saviour. Amen. 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 81 
 
 " Hear my prayer, Lord, and let my crying come unto Thee." 
 
 OUR morning praises again ascend on high 
 to the Searcher of all hearts. As the 
 descent of the Holy Spirit finds lodgment in 
 . our souls, we are comforted and made to rejoice 
 in the heart-felt assurance of Christ within us, 
 the hope of glory. Great and marvelous are 
 Thy ways, O Lord God of hosts, wonderful 
 in power, supreme in authority, yet conde- 
 scending to grant to us, the veriest sinners, the 
 means whereby we can be saved, and an inter- 
 cessor to plead in extenuation of our faults and 
 unworthiness, a faithful, loving elder brother 
 assuming our iniquities, pleading in terms of 
 compassion for miserable wretches, and secur- 
 ing for us a hope of happiness reaching far 
 beyond this vale of tears. We adore Thee, 
 holy Father ; we reverence Thy holy name ; 
 we worship at the feet of Thy once crucified 
 and now risen Son ; we find pleasure in Thy 
 courts ; we rejoice in Thy covenanted promises, 
 which are fulfilled in Thy present mercies ; we 
 would be wholly and entirely, all that we have 
 and all that we are, Thine, only Thine. Let 
 
82 He art- Breathings. 
 
 Thy Holy Spirit abide with us always, if such- 
 is Thy good pleasure — eradicating every ap- 
 pearance of evil, destroying every unprofitable 
 member, giving speech to our tongues, light to 
 our eyes, work for our hands, comprehension 
 to our reason, understanding to our judgment, 
 and peace to our souls — so that we may the 
 more especially prove good workmen in the 
 temple of the Lord. Heavenly Father, we 
 would be received as faithful stewards at the 
 last ; then, O Lord, as Thou hast the lease of 
 our lives, the very breath of our existence being 
 in Thy keeping, teach us so to dedicate to Thy 
 service each year, month, week, day, hour and 
 minute of our being, that, as an army with 
 banners, our good works may be marshalled 
 before Thee in testimony of our appreciation 
 of Thy goodness towards us ; then receiving 
 from Thee the welcome plaudit "well done, 
 good and faithful servants/' we shall be privi- 
 leged with Thy saints to magnify and adore 
 Thy holy name throughout the countless ages 
 of eternity. Hope full of glory ! Anticipated 
 joy unspeakable ! Our enraptured souls, whilst 
 fettered here, cry out "glory to God in the 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 83 
 
 highest. ? ' who fills our hearts with such a happv 
 foretaste of undoubted privilege, secured to us 
 through the blood of the Lamb. We are not 
 so selfish. Divine Master, as to confine within 
 the limits of our own endearing ties the desires 
 of our hearts, for such a happv consummation 
 — our hearts run out to all around us. Save. 
 good Lord, the purchase of Thy blood : bring 
 into the green pastures of religion the wander- 
 ing sheep who are without a Shepherd : away 
 from Thee, thev find pleasure onlv in the works 
 of darkness : oh. cause them to "taste and see 
 that the Lord is good.*' Many there are who 
 would adorn Thy kingdom, if by some provi- 
 dence they were awakened from the delusion 
 which overshadows them. If it is Thy will, 
 instruct us. the weakest of Thy children, that 
 we may awaken them from this death-slumber 
 to their souls. O Lord, we should still more 
 adore Thee if this happy privilege could be 
 ours. Can we. precious Saviour, advance Thy 
 kingdom in this respect? Show us our duty 
 and give us the strength to perform it. and we 
 will yield Thee unceasing praise. 
 
 At such time and in such manner as Thou 
 
84 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 seest best, grant our petitions in behalf of our 
 family ; give to us the blessings of an entire 
 happy family, completely consecrated to Thee 
 in all things, so that, whether living or dying, 
 we may be found on the Lord's side. Bless 
 the fatherless and the widow, the sick and the 
 dying, the poor and the disconsolate, the soldier 
 and the sailor ; may we all rejoice in one faith 
 and one baptism, and be eventually saved in 
 Thy kingdom, for Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 " Whoso leadeth a godly life, he shall be my servant." 
 
 OTHOU, great Redeemer and Saviour of 
 all who put their trust in Thee, our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, as we again assemble for 
 family worship, surrounded by those whom 
 Thou hast given us, as a comfort and a bless- 
 ing, we would approach Thee in childlike 
 simplicity and with reverential awe to render 
 unto Thee renewed thanks that we have been 
 privileged to awaken to the light of another 
 day, in the enjoyment of health and with the 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 8$ 
 
 smiles of Thy countenance still resting upon 
 us. We again enter upon the privileges and 
 duties of day-life, whether for sorrow or joy, 
 in distress and anguish, or in happiness and 
 blessings, fully realizing it is but a part of Thy 
 plan for our everlasting good. Thou canst, in 
 Thy good providence, save us from the evils 
 that surround us in our dealings with mankind ; 
 Thou canst overturn the craft, malice and 
 deceit of those who would injure us ; O may 
 we so love Thee, fear Thee, and keep Thy 
 commandments, as to secure that abiding faith 
 which assures us that all things work together 
 for good to the children of God. If it is Thy 
 good pleasure, may we journey through life in 
 peace with all men ; make our crooked paths 
 straight. O Lord, incline us to watch and 
 pray continually, and in all things show forth 
 Thy glory ; grant us resignation when trials 
 come ; overrule our purposes and ways in all 
 things, to the end that we may the better adorn 
 our profession and merit Thy approbation, and 
 though trials and dangers may come for a sea- 
 son, may we never fail to see how blessed and 
 happy it is to have the Lord for our God. We 
 s 
 
86 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 know, heavenly Father, how empty, how un- 
 suitable, how vain and transitory are all the 
 pleasures of this world ; oh may our hearts be 
 steadfastly fixed on Christ ; may we yield our 
 bodies and souls to His service, where true 
 happiness can alone be found. Annoyances of 
 many kinds beset our pathway ; petty griev- 
 ances (imaginary and real) distract our thoughts 
 and cause us temporarily to forget to look up 
 to Thee, the Source of all comfort ; we cannot 
 at all times view the dispensations of Thy 
 providence as corrections for our good ; we 
 beseech Thee, the Divine Comforter, to kindle 
 within us the spark of righteousness, until it 
 shall become a flame of burning love for Thee, 
 and we beseech Thee for an increase of such 
 faith as shall cause us to lay hold of Thy 
 promises and secure for ourselves a shield 
 against every besetment. Establish us fully as 
 members of Thy family, and may we view 
 every affliction as parental correction for our 
 good, and every blessing as a donation of 
 loving-kindness from Thy bountiful hands. 
 Endue us with those graces that will adorn 
 Thy family ; preserve us always in Thy especial 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 87 
 
 keeping ; grant, good Lord, to dwell in the 
 midst of our family circle ; give us so to un- 
 derstand godliness in all things that we may 
 impart to those within our household rich in- 
 structions in righteousness, that we may be a 
 shining light and bright example to others ; 
 let Thy Holy Spirit take possession of our hearts 
 and abide there always. We are taught in 
 Thy holy book, " That a word fitly spoken is 
 like apples of gold in pictures of silver ;" O 
 Lord, so control our conversation and thoughts 
 that the words of our lips and the meditations 
 of our "hearts, may be in accordance with Thy 
 Divine will ; may we never find expression for 
 harsh or unnecessary language, but may we so 
 observe Thy teachings as to fitly apply our 
 words to the good of the souls of our fellows, 
 and to our own everlasting welfare. 
 
 Hear our prayers in behalf of our relatives 
 and friends, for the stranger and for our enemies, 
 for the church and for the state, for the beg- 
 gared and the needy, for the afflicted and the 
 dying ; bestow on all the rich blessings of Thy 
 grace ; prepare us for every trial ; give us 
 the Christian's love and the Christian's faith, 
 
88 Heart-Breathings, 
 
 and at last save us, and grant us a happy ad- 
 mission into Thy Kingdom, we beg for Thy 
 Son's sake. Amen. 
 
 " So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts 
 unto wisdom." 
 
 OLORD God of Israel, it is our bounden 
 duty, as also a happy privilege, to avail 
 ourselves of this means of grace, whereby we 
 are made partakers of divine blessings, strength- 
 ened, renewed, and made strong in holy desires, 
 and advanced greatly in spiritual good. We 
 approach Thee with humble and contrite 
 hearts, supplicating forgiveness for our many 
 and grievous transgressions, in faith believing 
 Thy precious promises, and with abundant 
 thanks for Thy tender mercies toward us, sor- 
 rowing in sincere repentance for the magni- 
 tude and variety of our sins, which come up 
 before Thy presence continually to our con- 
 demnation. We supplicate, in all sincerity, 
 for that pardon which yields relief to the con- 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 89 
 
 science which condemns us ; in faith believing 
 that as thou didst fulfil the covenanted promises 
 vouchsafed in the Old Testament Scriptures, 
 wherein our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 
 appeared on earth in the form of a man and 
 made that propitiatory sacrifice which secures 
 to us redemption and salvation, so also the 
 cheering promises of the New Testament 
 Scriptures are to us as the gentle dew, giving 
 growth, health and maturity to our regenerated 
 hearts ; with thanksgiving, therefore, we rejoice 
 and are glad that we are numbered among 
 Thine elect, and realize a foretaste of those 
 good things which are in reservation for Thy 
 chosen people. 
 
 Incline the heart of the disobedient to forsake 
 unrighteousness ; sanctify the heart of the be- 
 liever in all goodness ; awaken the dispirited 
 and lukewarm to zeal and activity ; clothe us 
 with the garment of meekness and good works ; 
 endue us with such graces as shall most adorn 
 the children of Thy family, so that in every 
 condition in life, and under all circumstances, 
 we shall earnestly and nobly " come up to the 
 help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord 
 8 * 
 
90 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 against the mighty." Give us patience, en- 
 durance, circumspection, charity and love ; re- 
 move far from us the many evils to which we 
 are exposed ; being in all things resigned to 
 Thy will, may we endure hardships as good 
 soldiers, fighting the good fight of faith and 
 laying up for ourselves a goodly inheritance in 
 the habitations of the blest. 
 
 O Lord, eradicate " the sin that so easily 
 besets us ;" be our Governor and Counsellor, 
 our Strength and our Wisdom ; calm and sub- 
 due our passions ; regulate our desires; teach 
 us to watch as well as pray, lest we be found 
 among the. rejected. We would be with Thee 
 always ; we would not be found wanting 
 " when Thou makest up Thy jewels ;" secure 
 us Thine, heavenly Father, by granting unto 
 us Thy divine guidance, then shall we indeed 
 be wise in all manner of godliness, and be 
 fitted and prepared for every contingency. 
 Having Thee for our Teacher we can laugh to 
 scorn the world's wisdom, and become prodi- 
 gies in the knowledge that profiteth our souls. 
 
 Even here, O Lord, in our midst, Thou art 
 present, otherwise we should be miserable out- 
 
Adoration, Confession and Gratitude. 91 
 
 casts. We realize Thine abounding and 
 abundant goodness, in the preservation of our 
 bodies and our souls, in that we are spared the 
 ravages of disease, and granted the comforts 
 of a happy home ; our souls are blest with the 
 indwelling of Thy Holy Spirit ; we are not 
 cursed with unbelief, nor debarred the privilege 
 of reading Thy holy word ; it seems as though 
 we were the especial objects of Thy kindness 
 and protection, and therefore we offer to Thee 
 all that we have and all that we are. When 
 crosses come, O Lord, may we receive and 
 endure them with Christian fortitude, in all 
 things praising God. Thou dost not afflict 
 but for good ; Thou dost not grieve to harm ; 
 all thy ways are just ways, and if past finding 
 out on this earth, a revelation will be granted 
 to us hereafter which will prove Thy justice 
 and mercy. Hear our prayers, good Lord, 
 and wherein we fail in our petitions, do " Thou 
 that understandest the thoughts afar off," give 
 unto us such blessings as Thou seest we need, 
 and we will give Thee all the glory, now, 
 henceforth and for ever. Amen. 
 
lEbentttfl ^rajw* 
 
 " Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.'' 
 Ps. xxx. 5. 
 
 OGOD, heavenly Father, as the shadows 
 of the night veil from our vision the 
 light of the day, as darkness reigns abroad, as 
 the bustling cares of day-life give way to the 
 quiet repose of evening, as w r e prepare for that 
 dream-life of slumber, to awaken protected by 
 Thy watchful care, may we hold sweet con- 
 verse with Thee, and find that relief from trial, 
 and that joyous hope which flows only from 
 Thy fountain of goodness. 
 
 Worldly pleasures, friendship's ties, love's 
 endearments, life itself may change, but Thou, 
 O Lord, art immutable ; Thou art our Jesus, 
 " the same yesterday, to-day and for ever." The 
 firmament above us, the earth beneath us, the 
 elements around us, all nature may change, but 
 92 
 
Evening Prayer. 93 
 
 Thou, O Lord, art the same kind, indulgent, 
 omnipresent Father. How can we then, O 
 precious Saviour, sufficiently testify our love 
 for Thee? Are we not "prone to wander from 
 Thee as the sparks to fly upw T ard ?" And yet 
 dost Thou not continually regard us in Thy 
 mercy? All honor, praise and glory we as- 
 cribe to Thee from our grateful hearts that 
 Thou art thus mindful of us. 
 
 Jesus, Thy perpetual and always pervading 
 presence saves us from many snares ; and 
 when the frail bark is tossed upon the waves 
 of adversity and almost shipwrecked, then 
 Thou art present, commanding the waves to be 
 still. "He that keepeth Israel neither slum- 
 bers nor sleeps." We cannot be cast down 
 nor discouraged when Thou art with us ; our 
 souls can never know night whilst we have the 
 reflection of Thy glorious radiance. How 
 sanctifying the assurance of Thy loving words, 
 "Lo, I am with you alway," wiping away 
 every tear, comforting all our sorrows, Thy ear 
 open to every prayer, knowing the besetting 
 sins of our nature, and willing to grant us 
 present help, Thy treasury of goodness and 
 
94 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 loving-kindness yielding continual relief^ and 
 yet never exhausted, the Master-builder supply- 
 ing every stone and pillar in the foundation 
 of true and living faith ; we worship, adore 
 and bless Thy holy name, O Lord God of 
 Israel. 
 
 We are especially indebted to Thee for the 
 great and good blessings we enjoy in our family 
 relations ; our dear children are cared for by 
 Thee in Thy condescending goodness — saved 
 from affliction and distress ; our creature com- 
 forts are all from Thy bountiful hands ; Thou 
 hast granted us food and i-aiment in abundance ; 
 we are spared the famine and the pestilence ; 
 we are neither deformed nor idiotic ; blessed 
 far above others in these and like benefits, we 
 will anew repair to Thy cross and supplicate 
 the Holy Spirit and Divine Comforter to give 
 us grateful hearts that we may properly appre- 
 ciate and worthily manifest Thy goodness in 
 all things. 
 
 Whilst realizing sincere gratitude for Thy 
 direct interposition, we would pray for its ex- 
 tension to the ends of the earth ; to this end 
 convince, O Lord, a wicked and gainsaying 
 
Evening Prayer. 95 
 
 people to fly to the only hope of refuge, in 
 Thv blood-stained cross : when justice no more 
 shall avenge Thine honor, but mercy trium- 
 phant dispense happiness to every living crea- 
 ture, and then a rejoicing and emancipated 
 world shall own Thee as Lord, and no longer 
 be scourged for their wickedness, but Jew and 
 Gentile rejoice alike in Thee, the Prince of 
 Peace. 
 
 May we fulfil the duties of our life to Thy 
 honor and glory, whether our lot be 
 amongst the sinful or the godly : give us the 
 ability* and the will to bear the cross as our 
 shield, despite contumelv or praise : O may we 
 ► do some good in Thv service, that we may be 
 the more worthy of Thy blessings : fit us. if 
 Thy good pleasure, to dispense good to others, 
 by admonition, advice, reproof and example, 
 so that we mav merit the encouraging words : 
 ••Well done, good and faithful servant." Pre- 
 serve us from uncharitableness. O Lord, incline 
 us to "judge not that we be not judged ;" 
 knowing our own many weaknesses, may we 
 not scorn or abuse others, but rather prav that 
 all mav have Thv love to soften the trials of 
 
96 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 life, and Thy sanctifying grace to withstand 
 temptation : all of which we ask Thee to grant 
 us, in Thy great mercy, for the Redeemer's 
 sake. Amen. 
 
In affliction. 
 
 " Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall 
 be whiter than snow." 
 u Our light afflictions are but for a moment." 
 
 OUR petitions are especially directed to 
 Thee, the great Physician of our souls 
 and bodies, in consequence of Thy afflicting 
 Providence. For some good and wise purpose, 
 we doubt not, Thou hast seen fit to visit us 
 with disease and trouble. We do not presume 
 to complain or repine at Thy will concerning 
 us, for although Thy ways are past finding out. 
 Thy hand of affliction is never extended but 
 for our good. Our dearly beloved is racked 
 with pain and scorched with fever, debarred 
 that healthful comfort with which we are blest ; 
 Thou art a physician whose skill has never 
 been baffled ; we cry unto Thee in this the 
 day of affliction to remove the disorder, and 
 restore to health again Thy sick servant, who 
 9 97 
 
98 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 may from this correction become the better 
 satisfied of Thy power and goodness, and be 
 the more useful in advancing the glory of Thy 
 kingdom ; or, if Thou so ordainest, give that 
 holy faith and calm resignation, which shall 
 soften pain and secure a happy exit from this 
 vile earth, and a glorious entrance into Thy 
 heavenly paradise, where affliction and sorrow 
 are for ever done away. Thy will be done, 
 not ours, O Lord. To Thee alone belongs 
 might, majesty and dominion. Into Thy hands 
 we resign our bodies and our souls. Whether 
 in affliction or health, in adversity or prosperity, 
 may we abide under the shadow of Thy wings 
 and realize the comfortable assurance, " Lo, I 
 am with you alway," for Christ, the Redeemer's 
 sake. Amen. 
 
"ZUt Siit at tlje dfeet of fcsus." 
 
 t; More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold ; 
 sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb." 
 
 WE sit at the feet of Jesus ! O Thou who 
 art our best beloved, our Father and 
 our Elder Brother, we are inspired with pro- 
 found respect, heartfelt gratitude and holy ado- 
 ration for this great, good and undeserved 
 privilege. When sore affliction visits us per- 
 sonally, racking with pain and scorching with 
 fever, with the system prostrated and reason 
 almost dethroned, our hearts rejoice within us 
 that we can ki sit at the feet of Jesus" and find 
 ease and consolation. When the venomous 
 tongue of slander would destroy that which we 
 dearly prize ; when our reputation in its honest 
 integrity is assailed, calumniated, and made a 
 jest and by-word ; when insinuation, innuendo, 
 and vile reproach is heaped upon us, then do 
 our hearts rejoice, that we can ••sit at the feet 
 
 99 
 
ioo Heart-Breathings. 
 
 of Jesus" and defy the poisonous darts of evil 
 intention. When we are called upon to mourn 
 the loss of the dear departed ; when death 
 stalks abroad in the land, and snatches from us 
 our heart's idols ; as we weep for our dearest 
 friends now no more ; when darkness over- 
 shadows the brightness of our existence and all 
 seems gloomy and lost, then do our hearts re- 
 joice that we can " sit at the feet of Jesus" 
 and derive those comforts which yield resigna- 
 tion and joy. u Thy will be done," not ours, 
 O Lord. When the heart is bowed down with 
 weight of woe at the magnitude, enormity and 
 continual repetition of those sins which beset 
 us ; when the Enemy of our souls with his 
 subtlety would draw our hearts away from the 
 true and living Fountain of happiness ; when 
 we mourn as without hope, and cannot find com- 
 fort on earth, then do our hearts rejoice that we 
 can " sit at the feet of Jesus" and find a holy 
 relief and satisfaction inexpressible that we 
 are in sweet communion with God. When 
 reverses come upon us, and the bright prospec- 
 tive of to-day is but a distressing reality on the 
 morrow; as " riches take to themselves wings 
 
We Sit at the Feet of Jesus. ioi 
 
 and fly away," and all the horrors of poverty 
 and distress stare us in the face to fret and 
 worry us out of reason ; when penury and 
 want make us dread starvation as our portion, 
 then do our hearts rejoice that we can " sit at 
 the feet of Jesus" and find there an abiding 
 faith that " they that love Him ne'er shall 
 want." When human nature all around us 
 seems depraved ; when men in devil's shape 
 commit atrocities too horrible to contemplate : 
 when wickedness abounds throughout the land. 
 and brother rises up against brother to slay : 
 when the devil's kingdom upon earth assumes 
 supremacy ; when we are cast down in medi- 
 tating the sins of the people, then do our hearts 
 rejoice that we can " sit at the feet of Jesus," 
 and He will guide our feet into the right path. 
 and grant unto us such riches of grace that we 
 can be a light to attract others to the fold of 
 Christ. When the night is past, under God's 
 protecting care, and we awaken to the light of 
 dav ; in retrospecting His goodness and pre- 
 servation through all the days and nights of our 
 life ; in beholding His manifest and manifold 
 blessings unto us and our family ; in realizing 
 9 * 
 
102 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 His saving grace to us poor sinners, as the 
 continual recipients of undeserved comforts, as 
 the worshippers at His shrine, as the followers 
 of the meek and lowly Jesus ; in consideration 
 of His pain and suffering upon the cross for 
 our souls ; in glorification of His blessed res- 
 urrection and ascension ; for His intercession 
 and mediatorial interest in our behalf at the 
 right hand of the Father ; through faith in His 
 precious promises ; as in testimony for His ten- 
 der mercies vouchsafed to us from the cradle ; 
 when we see in Thee our all and in all — "the 
 giver of every good and perfect gift," our 
 Father and our Brother, the same yesterday, 
 to-day, and for ever — God in all and above all, 
 transcendent in glory, yet condescending to 
 pity our infirmities, and willing to relieve our 
 wants, unchanged and unchangeable ; viewing 
 Thee in every condition in this life and the one 
 to come, then do our hearts rejoice that we can 
 " sit at the feet of Jesus" and learn in sweet 
 converse with Him of those great, good and 
 marvellous things which secure happiness here 
 and glory hereafter. O adorable Lord and 
 Saviour, at Thy feet, in humble thankfulness, 
 
We Sit at the Feet of Jesus. 103 
 
 we here dedicate our souls and bodies to Thy 
 service ; Thine we are, at Thy feet would we 
 be found always ; do with us as in Thine infi- 
 nite wisdom Thou seest best, as all might, 
 majesty, wisdom, goodness and blessing is with 
 Thee, for of ourselves we are unworthy to ask 
 any good thing or receive the slightest recogni- 
 tion, but through Thy listening ear and out- 
 stretched arm, we can and do receive abundant 
 blessings. God be praised ! Hear us and save 
 for Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
" Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." v 
 
 ON this Holy Sabbath morning, the one 
 day of seven for rest from labor, and 
 entire consecration of our souls and bodies to 
 Thy service ; in this, the accepted time of our 
 life, when blessings abound, when all nature 
 testifies in part God's greatness and goodness ; 
 here in our quiet homestead, around the family 
 altar, with old heads and young hearts, with 
 smiling faces and prattling tongues, with peace 
 and contentment, with comely apparel and 
 life's subsistence, spared from the midnight foe 
 and the devouring flame, with the Holy Bible 
 for our guide and Thy Holy Spirit as our com- 
 forter, sitting at the feet of Jesus in adoring 
 wonder, privileged to open our hearts for the 
 reception of Thy blessings, surrounded with 
 plenty, blessed with health, our reason unim- 
 104 
 
The Holy Sabbath. 105 
 
 paired, the recipients of Thy continued favors, 
 we, Thine undeserving, unworthy servants, do 
 yield Thee our bodies and souls as a trifling 
 sacrifice to Thy loving goodness. Anew we 
 offer up our all to Thy service ; our means, our 
 time, our talents are here dedicated to Thee ; 
 receive them, O God, we beseech Thee, as in 
 part they may evidence our appreciation of 
 Thy great sacrifice, whereby we are so 
 thoroughly privileged with these Thy bless- 
 ings. We would bear in constant remembrance 
 that this Thy well appointed day, is to be kept 
 holy ; and as we particip te in the benefits af- 
 forded through the many means of grace with 
 which Thou hast blest us, may we realize to 
 the good of our souls, that it is a Sabbath day's 
 journey toward heaven. As we unite with 
 Thy disciples to worship in Thy holy temple. 
 may we receive that Divine instruction which 
 shall enable us to rejoice that we have been 
 with the people of God. Bless all the ordi- 
 nances of Thy Zion to the permanent good of 
 our souls, and especially may we feel Thv 
 presence when participating in the seal of the 
 Covenant, the tokens of love, symbols of Thy 
 
106 Heart- Breathings. 
 
 body and Thy blood, which was shed for us 
 on Calvary. O good and suffering Saviour, 
 be with us then to bless that commemoration 
 to our soul's good, that we may rejoice and be 
 glad that we have found acceptance in Thy 
 sight. Go with us to the Sabbath-School, and 
 as we there endeavor to point the lambs of the 
 flock to the fold of Christ, may the seed sown 
 in weakness, produce abundant fruit to Thy 
 glory ; enable us, good Lord, to give such in- 
 structions to the young as shall be to them, now 
 and in the future, a lasting and godly benefit. 
 We cannot accomplish this, heavenly Father* 
 without Thine assistance ; grant, then, we be- 
 seech Thee, that as we assume such weighty 
 responsibility, it may be with the happy as- 
 surance that being thus called, Thou wilt grant 
 unto us such learning as shall enable us to 
 impart holy truths to them, and our feeble 
 efforts redound to the good of Thy church, the 
 glory of God, and the conversion of the souls 
 of the dear children. May w^e find Thee in 
 secret converse, good Lord, with no eye to see, 
 save the Holy One of Israel ; may our hearts 
 find utterance in earnest, faithful prayer for 
 
The Holy Sabbath. 107 
 
 strength, ability, confidence and wisdom, that 
 through this medium we may be the better 
 fitted for the observances of the Holy Sabbath. 
 Especially would we pray for the conversion 
 of sinners. "Paul may plant, Apollos may 
 water, but God only can give the increase." 
 Bless, we beseech Thee, the efforts of Thy 
 Apostles in explaining the Holy Scriptures to 
 the edification, instruction and good of the peo- 
 ple ; may they preach with power and zeal, 
 withholding neither the promises nor threaten- 
 ings of the law, by advice and admonition 
 urging those without to find repose close by 
 the bleeding side of a crucified Redeemer ; 
 may they be the instruments of Thine appoint- 
 ing to save sinners from destruction, to 
 strengthen the faith of Thy followers, and 
 build up Zion in all the corners of the earth, 
 until pure and undefiled religion shall be known 
 among all nations, and Thy praises sung by 
 every tongue. Grant to us, Almighty Saviour, 
 a Sabbath day's blessing, so that we may the 
 better be prepared for the week day's trials ; 
 and finally, may we be participants in the hap- 
 piness of a Sabbath day's joys in heaven, 
 
108 Heart-Breathi?igs. 
 
 which has no end ; grant our supplications, we 
 most earnestly beseech Thee, and Thy name 
 shall have all the glory, world without end. 
 Amen. 
 
2Tf)e Seam* a*imtt. 
 
 ' ; Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this 
 prophecy; and keep those things which are written therein; for the 
 time is at hand." — Rev. i. 3. 
 
 HAVE we ever given it serious thought 
 that we know not the day nor the hour 
 when the Son of Man cometh ; when the 
 righteous Judge, the Lord God of Hosts, shall 
 appear on earth to take with him his elect, to 
 transfer the chosen of Israel to the habitations 
 of the blest, to welcome into His Father's 
 celestial abode the saints of earth — with smiles 
 of favor upon the godly and frowns of disap- 
 probation upon the wicked — to assort, bless 
 and condemn all the inhabitants of the earth: 
 " I come, I come," saith the Lord, " to give a 
 new birth of happiness to my beloved, and to 
 for ever banish from my presence and the 
 presence of my Father those who fear me not. 
 and keep not my commandments." Oh ! what 
 10 109 
 
no He a rt-Brea things . 
 
 rejoicing for the redeemed ! What weeping, 
 wailing and gnashing of teeth for the unregen- 
 erated ! Joy and gladness and the song of 
 thanksgiving from God's followers to the 
 Lord's Anointed, making all nature melodius 
 with rejoicings, whilst the moans of the 
 wicked at the just judgments of an offended 
 God, assures their condemnation already 
 sealed. Oh, happy thought ! of being then 
 and there transplanted, to be amongst the 
 choicest exotics of the Garden of heaven, to 
 bask in the sunshine of everlasting love ; to 
 drink in continual blessings from the pure 
 Fountain of inexhaustible happiness ; to see 
 our Divine Master in His majestic glory, sur- 
 rounded by those loved ones for whom we 
 sorrowed on earth ; to participate with them in 
 the glorious reality of never-ending joys ; tears 
 of joy and happiness inexpressible, to embrace 
 with transport those kindred ties, which, 
 though absent, have not been forgotten. Here 
 united, with heaven for our inheritance and 
 God our King, we will, through the countless 
 ages of eternity ascribe unceasing praises and 
 grateful adoration to our Father and to our 
 
The Second Advent. ill 
 
 Elder Brother, Priest and King, who died that 
 we might live, and now grants unto us " an 
 house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens. " Oh, fearful thought! that if at His 
 coming we are found wanting, our portion will 
 be with those who reject God — cast off for ever 
 from the mercy, love and goodness of our 
 Saviour — our condemnation justly apportioned 
 to our deserts ; miserable, dejected outcasts, 
 consigned to perdition ; shut out from the glory 
 of God and the light of His countenance ; de- 
 barred association, save with uncongenial 
 spirits ; our day of grace for ever past ; no 
 mercy but justice now ; cut down as an unpro- 
 ductive tree, yielding bitterness and contami- 
 nation ; lost, for ever lost ! Oh ! horrible, horri- 
 ble contemplation. Spare us, good Lord, from 
 Thy righteous indignation ; bless us with the 
 happy assurance, that not with the wicked, but 
 with Thy followers we shall appear at Thy sec- 
 ond coming ; not as outcasts, but as Thy beloved 
 children, with whom Thou art well pleased 
 Appreciating Thy goodness now, participating 
 in Thy grace and mercy, may we be so fitted 
 for every good word and work, that, if privi- 
 
112 Hea rt-Breathings. 
 
 leged to see Thee on this earth, we may re- 
 ceive Thee as belonging to Thy family and re- 
 ceive Thy welcome, as " good and faithful 
 servants ;" all of which we beg for Christ's 
 sake. Amen. 
 
.arrange* from tfje 32* an* 33* psalms. 
 
 BLESSED be Thy holy name. O Lord God 
 of Israel, that Thou hast forgiven our 
 transgressions and covered our sins. 
 
 Blessed be Thy holy name, our great Creator, 
 that Thou dost not impute to us iniquity, nor 
 accuse us in spirit of guile. 
 
 When we have kept silent before Thee our 
 bones have waxed old through roaring all the 
 day long. 
 
 For dav and ni^ht Thv hand has been heavy 
 upon us : our moisture is turned into the drought 
 of summer. 
 
 We have acknowledged our sins unto Thee, 
 and our iniquities have we not hid : we confess 
 our transgressions to the Lord, and He forgives 
 the iniquity of our sins. 
 
 Teach us to pray unto Thee at a time when 
 10* 113 
 
114 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 Thou mayst be found ; surely in the floods of 
 great waters we cannot come nigh unto Thee. 
 
 Thou art our hiding-place ; Thou wilt pre- 
 serve us from trouble ; Thou wilt compass us 
 about with songs of deliverance ; Thou wilt 
 instruct us and teach us in the way we should 
 go ; Thou wilt guide us with Thine eye. 
 
 May we not be as the horse, or as the mule 
 which have not understanding, whose mouth 
 must be held with the bit and the bridle, lest 
 they come near unto us. 
 
 Many sorrows are to the wicked, but to them 
 that trust the Lord mercy shall compass them 
 about. 
 
 May we be glad in the Lord, and rejoice 
 with righteousness, shouting for joy, and be 
 always upright in heart. 
 
 The righteous do rejoice in the Lord, for 
 praise is comely for the upright. 
 
 We praise Thee with the harp and sing unto 
 Thee with the psaltery and an instrument of 
 ten strings. 
 
 We sing unto Thee a new song, playing 
 skilfully with a loud noise in many praises. 
 
Arrangement from xxxli. and xxxiii. Psalms. 115 
 
 Thy word. O Lord, is right, and all Thy 
 works are done in truth. 
 
 Thou lovest righteousness and judgment; 
 the earth is full of Thy goodness. 
 
 By Thy word were the heavens made, and 
 all the host of them by the breath of Thy 
 mouth. 
 
 Thou gatherest the waters of the sea to- 
 gether as an heap, Thou layest up the depth in 
 store-houses. 
 
 Let all the earth fear then, O Lord ; let all 
 the inhabitants thereof stand in awe of Thee. 
 
 Thou speakest and it is done, Thou com- 
 mandest and it stands fast. 
 
 Thou makest the devices of the enemy of no 
 effect ; Thou bringest evil counsels to naught, 
 Thy counsels endure for ever, Thy commands 
 to all generations. 
 
 Blessed are they whose God is the Lord, and 
 that people whom He hath chosen for His own 
 inheritance. 
 
 The Lord looketh down from heaven, He 
 beholdeth us continually. 
 
 He fashioneth all things, He considereth all 
 our works. 
 
n6 Heart-Breathings. 
 
 Behold Thine eye is upon them that fear 
 Thee, upon them that hope in mercy, to deliver 
 their souls from death and to save them from 
 destruction. 
 
 Our souls wait for Thee, Thou art our help 
 and our shield. 
 
 Our hearts rejoice in Thee, as we trust in 
 Thy holy name. 
 
 Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, accord- 
 ing as we hope in Thee. Amen. 
 
£f)t (Commatttnnents- 
 
 " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter ; fear God and keep 
 His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man/' 
 
 GOD spake these words, and said : I am 
 the Lord thy God : Thou shalt have none 
 other gods but me. 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Thou shalt not make to thyself anv graven 
 image, nor the likeness of anything that is in 
 heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the 
 water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow 
 down to them, nor worship them ; for I the 
 Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the 
 sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the 
 third and fourth generation of them that hate 
 me ; and show mercy unto thousands of them 
 that love me. and keep my commandments. 
 
 117 
 
n 8 He a rt-Brea th ings . 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord 
 thy God in vain : for the Lord will not hold 
 him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath- 
 day. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thou 
 hast to do ; but the seventh day is the Sabbath 
 of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no 
 manner of work ; thou, and thy son, and thy 
 daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid- 
 servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is 
 within thy gates. For in six days the Lord 
 made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in 
 them is, and rested the seventh day : wherefore 
 the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hal- 
 lowed it. 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy 
 days may be long in the land which the Lord 
 thy God giveth thee. 
 
Tk e Com m a ?i dm cuts. 119 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 • Thou shalt do no murder. 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Thou shalt not steal. 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 
 neighbor. 
 
 Fa7nily. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law. 
 
 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, 
 thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor 
 his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his 
 ass, nor any thing that is his. 
 
 Family. Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 write all these, Thy laws, in our hearts, we be- 
 seech Thee. 
 
1 20 Heart- Breath ings . 
 
 a General (RonUmon. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, 
 we have erred and strayed from Thy 
 ways like lost sheep ; we have followed too 
 much the devices and desires of our own 
 hearts ; we have offended against Thy holy 
 laws ; we have left undone those things which 
 we ought to have done, and we have done 
 those things which we ought not to have done ; 
 and there is no health in us. But Thou, O 
 Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders ; 
 spare Thou those, O God, who confess their 
 faults ; restore Thou those who are penitent, 
 according to Thy promises declared unto man- 
 kind in Christ Jesus our Lord ; and grant, O 
 most merciful Father, for His sake, that we 
 may hereafter live a godly, righteous and sober 
 life, to the glory of Thy holy name. Amen. 
 
The Apostles' Creed and Lord's Prayer. 121 
 
 W§t apostle^ (Kurt. 
 
 I BELIEVE in God, the Father Almighty, 
 maker of heaven and earth : 
 
 And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord ; 
 who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born 
 of the Virgin Mary; suffered under 'Pontius 
 Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; He 
 descended into hell, the third day He rose from 
 the dead ; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth 
 on the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; 
 from thence He shall come to judge the quick 
 and the dead. 
 
 I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the holy Cath- 
 olic Church, the Communion of Saints ; the 
 forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the 
 body ; and the life everlasting. Amen. 
 
 W§t 3Lart>'g draper, 
 
 OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed 
 be Thy name ; Thy kingdom come ; 
 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ; 
 11 
 
122 Heart- Breathings, 
 
 give us this day our daily bread, and forgive 
 us our trespasses as we forgive those that tres- 
 pass against us ; and lead us not into tempta- 
 tion, but deliver us from evil ; for Thine is the 
 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for 
 ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 2 (EormtStans xiii. 14. 
 
 THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 the love of God, and the fellowship of 
 the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. 
 Amen. 
 
JFinaL 
 
 LORD Jesus, grant that the humble efforts 
 of Thy unworthy servant to advance the 
 interests of Thy kingdom on earth, and to 
 make pure and undenled religion a constant 
 companion, may be so crowned with Thy bless- 
 ings as to secure" the soul's desire" for the 
 safety, welfare and happiness of the home circle 
 here, and their everlasting peace hereafter. 
 I pray for these blessings, Lord Jesus, not from 
 any merit or goodness of my own, but in faith 
 believing Thy precious promises, and in firm 
 reliance upon Thy intercession. 
 
 Grant my " soul's desire," O Heavenly Fa- 
 ther, I beg for Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 123