Chapter I ADORATION OF GOD

Our spirits being composed into a very reverent serious frame, our thoughts gathered in, and all that is within us charged in the name of the great God carefully to attend the solemn and awful service that lies before us, and to keep close to it, we must with a fixed intention and application of mind, and an active lively faith, set the Lord before us, see His eye upon us, and set ourselves in His special presence, presenting ourselves to Him, as living sacrifices, which we desire may be holy and acceptable, and a reasonable service; and then bind these sacrifices with cords to the horns of the altar, in such thoughts as these: Romans 12:1. Psalm 118:27.

LET us now lift up our hearts with our eyes and our hands unto God in the heavens. Lamentations 3:41. John 17:1.

Let us stir up ourselves to take hold on God, to seek his face, and to give him the glory due unto his name. Isaiah 64:7. Psalm 27:8. Psalm 29:2.

Unto thee, O Lord, do we lift up our souls. Psalm 25:1.

Let us now, with humble boldness, enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, in the new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the vail. Hebrews 10:19, 20.

Let us now attend upon the Lord without distraction, and let not our hearts be far from him when we draw nigh to him with our mouths, and honour him with our lips. 1 Corinthians 7:35. Matthew 15:8.

Let us now worship God who is a Spirit, in the spirit and in truth; for such the Father seeks to worship him. John 4:24, 23.

Having thus engaged our hearts to approach unto God, Jeremiah 30:21.

HOLY, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which art and wast, and art to come. Revelation 4:8.

O thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH, and who art the most high over all the earth. Psalm 83:18.

O God, thou art our God, early will we seek thee; Our God, and we will praise thee; our fathers God, and we will exalt thee. Psalm 63:1. Exodus 15:2.

O thou who art the true God, the living God, the one only living and true God, and the everlasting king. THE LORD OUR GOD WHO IS ONE LORD. Jeremiah 10:10. 1 Thessalonians 1:9. Deuteronomy 6:4.

― And we may thus distinguish ourselves from the worshippers of false gods.

The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, they are vanity and a lie, the work of mens hands; they that make them are like unto them, and so is every one that trusteth in them. But the portion of Jacob is not like them, for he is the former of all things, and Israel is the rod of his inheritance, the Lord of hosts is his name; God over all, blessed for evermore. Psalm 115:4, 8. Jeremiah 10:15, 16. Romans 9:5.

Their rock is not our Rock, even the enemies themselves being judges, for he is the Rock of ages, THE LORD JEHOVAH, with whom is everlasting strength. Whose name shall endure for ever, and his memorial unto all generations, when the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, shall perish from off the earth, and from under those heavens. Deuteronomy 32:31. Isaiah 26:4. Psalm 135:13. Jeremiah 10:11.

O LORD our God, thou art very great, thou art clothed with honour and majesty, thou coverest thyself with light as with a garment, and yet as to us makest darkness thy pavilion, for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Psalm 104:1, 2. Psalm 18:11. Job 37:19.

This is the message which we have heard of thee, and we set to our seal that it is true, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all: And that God is love, and they that dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in them. 1 John 1:5. John 3:33. 1 John 4:16.

Thou art the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning, and from whom proceedeth every good and perfect gift. James 1:17.

Thou art the blessed and only Potentate; the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who only hast immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see. 1 Timothy 6:15, 16.

― We must acknowledge His being to be unquestionable and past dispute.

The heavens declare thy glory, O God, and the firmament sheweth thy handy work, and by the things that are made is clearly seen and understood thine eternal power and GODHEAD. So that they are fools without excuse, who say there is no God; for verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth, and in heaven too. Psalm 19:1. Romans 1:20. Psalm 14:1. Psalm 58:11.

We therefore come to thee, believing that thou art, and that thou art the powerful and bountiful rewarder of them that diligently seek thee. Hebrews 11:6.

― Yet we must own His nature to be incomprehensible.

We cannot by searching find out God, we cannot find out the Almighty unto perfection. Job 11:7.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord, who can shew forth all his praise? Psalm 106:2.

― And His perfections to be matchless and without compare.

Who is a God like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:11.

Who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee, or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Psalm 89:6, 8.

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord, neither are there any works like unto thy works: For thou art great, and dost wondrous things; thou art God alone. Psalm 86:8, 10.

There is not any creature that has an arm like God, or can thunder with a voice like him. Job 40:9.

― And that He is infinitely above us and all other beings.

Thou art God and not man; hast not eyes of flesh, nor seest thou as man seeth: Thy days are not as the days of man, nor thy years as man’s days. Hosea 11:9. Job 10:4, 5.

As heaven is high above the earth, so are thy thoughts above our thoughts, and thy ways above our ways. Isaiah 55:9.

All nations before thee are as a drop of the bucket, or the small dust of the balance, and thou takest up the isles as a very little thing: They are as nothing, and are counted to thee less than nothing, and vanity. Isaiah 40:15, 17.

― Particularly in our adorations we must acknowledge,

1. That He is an eternal immutable God, without beginning of days, or end of life, or change of time.

Thou art the King eternal, immortal, invisible. 1 Timothy 1:17.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God; the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. Psalm 90:2. Hebrews 13:8.

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands: They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; yea all of them shall wax old like a garment, as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. Psalm 102:25, 26, 27.

Thou art God, and changest not; therefore is it that we are not consumed. Malachi 3:6.

Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord our God, our Holy One? The everlasting God, even the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who faintest not, neither art weary; there is no searching out of thine understanding. Habakkuk 1:12. Isaiah 40:28.

2. That He is present in all places, and there is no place in which He is included, or out of which He is excluded.

Thou art a God at hand, and not a God afar off; None can hide himself in secret places that thou canst not see him, for thou fillest heaven and earth. Jeremiah 23:23, 24.

Thou art not far from every one of us. Acts 17:27.

We cannot go any whither from thy presence, or flee from thy spirit: If we ascend into heaven, thou art there; if we make our bed in hell, in the depths of the earth, behold thou art there; if we take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead us, and thy right hand shall hold us, that we cannot outrun thee. Psalm 139:7-10.

3. That He hath a perfect knowledge of all persons and things, and sees them all, even that which is most secret, at one clear, certain, and unerring view.

All things are naked and open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do; even the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:13, 12.

Thine eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good; they run to and fro through the earth, that thou mayest shew thyself strong on the behalf of those whose hearts are upright with thee. Proverbs 15:3. 2 Chronicles 16:9.

Thou searchest the heart, and triest the reins, that thou mayest give to every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:10.

O God, thou hast searched us and known us, thou knowest our downsitting and our uprising, and understandest our thoughts afar off: Thou compassest our path and our lying down, and art acquainted with all our ways: There is not a word in our tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Such knowledge is too wonderful for us, it is high, we cannot attain unto it. Psalm 139:1-4, 6.

Darkness and light are both alike to thee. Psalm 139:12.

4. That His wisdom is unsearchable, and the counsels and designs of it cannot be fathomed.

Thine understanding, O Lord, is infinite, for thou tellest the number of the stars, and callest them all by their names. Psalm 147:5, 4.

Thou art wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. Wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Isaiah 28:29. Job 9:4.

O Lord, how manifold are thy works, in wisdom hast thou made them all; all according to the counsel of thine own will. Psalm 104:24. Ephesians 1:11.

O the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out. Romans 11:33.

5. That His sovereignty is uncontestable, and He is the owner and absolute Lord of all.

The heavens, even the heavens are thine, and all the hosts of them: The earth is thine, and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. In thy hand are the deep places of the earth, and the strength of the hills is thine also: The sea is thine, for thou madest it, and thy hands formed the dry land: All the beasts of the forest are thine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills: Thou art therefore a great God, and a great King above all gods. Psalm 115:16. Psalm 24:1. Psalm 95:4, 5. Psalm 50:10, 11. Psalm 95:3.

In thy hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10.

Thy dominion is an everlasting dominion, and thy kingdom is from generation to generation: Thou dost according to thy will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay thy hand, or say unto thee, What doest thou, or Why doest thou so? Daniel 4:34, 35.

6. That His power is irresistible, and the operations of it cannot be controlled.

We know, O God, that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee: Power belongs to thee; And with thee nothing is impossible. Job 42:2. Psalm 62:11. Luke 1:37.

All power is thine both in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18.

Thou killest and thou makest alive, thou woundest and thou healest, neither is there any that can deliver out of thy hand. Deuteronomy 32:39.

What thou hast promised thou art able also to perform. Romans 4:21.

7. That He is a God of unspotted purity and perfect rectitude.

Thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel: Holy and reverend is thy name; and we give thanks at the remembrance of thy holiness. Psalm 22:3. Psalm 111:9. Psalm 30:4.

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, neither shall evil dwell with thee. Habakkuk 1:13. Psalm 5:4.

Thou art the Rock, thy work is perfect, all thy ways are truth and judgment; a God of truth, and in whom there is no iniquity. Thou art our rock, and there is no unrighteousness in thee. Deuteronomy 32:4. Psalm 92:15.

Thou art holy in all thy works, and holiness becomes thy house, O Lord, for ever. Psalm 145:17. Psalm 93:5.

8. That He is just in the administration of His government, and never did, nor ever will do wrong to any of His creatures.

Righteous art thou, O God, when we plead with thee, and wilt be justified when thou speakest, and clear when thou judgest. Jeremiah 12:1. Psalm 51:4.

Far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity; for the work of a man shall he render unto him. Job 34:10, 11.

Thy righteousness is as the great mountains, even then when thy judgments are a great deep! And though clouds and darkness are round about thee, yet judgment and justice are the habitation of thy throne. Psalm 36:6. Psalm 97:2.

9. That His truth is inviolable, and the treasures of His goodness inexhaustible.

Thou art good, and thy mercy endures for ever. Thy lovingkindness is great towards us, and thy truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 136:1. Psalm 117:2. Psalm 100:5.

Thou hast proclaimed thy name: The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. And this name of thine is our strong tower. Exodus 34:6, 7. Proverbs 18:10.

Thou art good and dost good; good to all, and thy tender mercy is over all thy works. But truly God is in a special manner good to Israel, even to them that are of a clean heart. Psalm 119:68. Psalm 145:9. Psalm 73:1.

O that thou wouldst cause thy goodness to pass before us; that we may taste and see that the Lord is good; and his loving kindness may be always before our eyes. Exodus 33:19. Psalm 34:8. Psalm 26:3.

10. Lastly, that when we have said all we can of the glorious perfections of the divine nature, we fall infinitely short of the merit of the subject.

Lo these are but parts of thy ways, and how little a portion is heard of God! But the thunder of his power who can understand? Job 26:14.

Touching the Almighty we cannot find him out, he is excellent in power and in judgment, and in plenty of justice; and he is exalted far above all blessing and praise. Job 37:23. Nehemiah 9:5.

THOU hast prepared thy throne in the heavens, and it is a throne of glory, high and lifted up, and before thee the seraphims cover their faces. And it is in compassion to us that thou holdest back the face of that throne, and spreadest a cloud upon it. Psalm 103:19. Isaiah 6:1, 2. Job 26:9.

Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers a flame of fire. Thousand thousands of them minister unto thee, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before thee, to do thy pleasure: They excel in strength, and hearken to the voice of thy word. And we are come by faith and hope and holy love into a spiritual communion with that innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, even to the general assembly and church of the first-born, in the heavenly Jerusalem. Psalm 104:4. Daniel 7:10. Psalm 103:21, 20. Hebrews 12:22, 23.

THOU art worthy, O Lord, to receive blessing, and honour, and glory, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure, and for thy praise they are and were created. Revelation 4:11.

We worship him that made the heaven and the earth, the sea and the fountains of waters; who spake and it was done, who commanded and it stood fast; who said, Let there be light, and there was light; Let there be a firmament, and he made the firmament; and he made all very good; and they continue this day according to his ordinance; for all are his servants. Revelation 14:7. Psalm 33:9. Genesis 1:3, 6, 7, 31. Psalm 119:91.

The day is thine, the night also is thine; thou hast prepared the light and the sun: Thou hast set all the borders of the earth, thou hast made summer and winter. Psalm 74:16, 17.

Thou upholdest all things by the word of thy power, and by thee all things consist. Hebrews 1:3. Colossians 1:17.

The earth is full of thy riches; so is the great and wide sea also. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season: Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Thou preservest man and beast, and givest food to all flesh. Psalm 104:24, 25. Psalm 145:15, 16. Psalm 36:6. Psalm 136:25.

Thou, even thou art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all: And the host of heaven worshippeth thee, whose kingdom ruleth over all. Nehemiah 9:6. Psalm 103:19.

A sparrow falls not to the ground without thee. Matthew 10:29.

Thou madest man at first of the dust of the ground, and breathedst into him the breath of life, and so he became a living soul. Genesis 2:7.

And thou hast made of that one blood, all nations of men, to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hast determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. Acts 17:26.

Thou art the most High, who rulest in the kingdom of men, and givest it to whomsoever thou wilt; for from thee every man’s judgment proceeds. Daniel 4:25. Proverbs 29:26.

Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigns, and doth all according to the counsel of his own will, to the praise of his own glory. Revelation 19:6. Ephesians 1:11, 12.

WE pay our homage to the three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; for these three are one. 1 John 5:7.

We adore thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth; and the eternal Word, who was in the beginning with God, and was God, by whom all things were made, and without whom was not any thing made that was made, and who in the fulness of time was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and shewed his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Matthew 11:25. John 1:1, 2, 3. Galatians 4:4. John 1:14.

And since it is the will of God that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father, we adore him as the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person; herein joining with the angels of God, who were all bid to worship him. John 5:23. Hebrews 1:3, 6.

We pay our homage to the exalted Redeemer, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Revelation 1:5. Philippians 2:11.

We also worship the Holy Ghost the Comforter, whom the Son hath sent from the Father, even the Spirit of truth who proceedeth from the Father, and who is sent to teach us all things, and to bring all things to our remembrance; who indited the scriptures, holy men of God writing them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. John 15:26. John 14:26. 2 Peter 1:21.

THOU, O God, madest us, and not we ourselves, and therefore we are not our own, but thine, thy people and the sheep of thy pasture; Let us therefore worship, and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker. Psalm 100:3. 1 Corinthians 6:19. Psalm 95:6.

Thou, Lord, art the former of our bodies, and they are fearfully and wonderfully made, and curiously wrought. Thine eye did see our substance yet being imperfect, and in thy book all our members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:14, 15, 16.

Thou hast clothed us with skin and flesh, thou hast fenced us with bones and sinews; Thou hast granted us life and favour, and thy visitation preserves our spirits. Job 10:11, 12.

Thou art the Father of our spirits; for thou formest the spirit of man with him, and madest us these souls. The Spirit of God hath made us, and the breath of the Almighty hath given us life. Thou puttest wisdom in the inward part, and givest understanding to the heart. Hebrews 12:9. Zechariah 12:1. Jeremiah 38:16. Job 33:4. Job 38:36.

Thou art God our maker, who teachest us more than the beasts of the earth, and makest us wiser than the fowls of heaven. Job 35:10, 11.

We are the clay, and thou our potter, we are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8.

Thou art he that tookest us out of the womb, and keepest us in safety when we were at our mother’s breasts; We have been cast upon thee from the womb, and holden up by thee, thou art our God from our mother’s bowels, and therefore our praise shall be continually of thee. Psalm 22:9, 10. Psalm 71:6.

In thee, O God, we live and move, and have our being; for we are thine offspring. Acts 17:28.

In thy hand our breath is, and thine are all our ways; for the way of man is not in himself, neither is it in man that walketh to direct his steps; but our times are in thy hand. Daniel 5:23. Jeremiah 10:23.

Psalm 31:15.

Thou art the God that hast fed us all our life long unto this day, and redeemed us from all evil. Genesis 48:15, 16.

It is of thy mercies that we are not consumed, even because thy compassions fail not, they are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22, 23.

If thou take away our breath we die, and return to the dust out of which we were taken. Psalm 104:29, 30.

Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass, if thou commandest it not? Out of thy mouth, O most High, both evil and good proceed. Lamentations 3:37, 38.

OUR souls have said unto the Lord, Thou art our Lord, though our goodness extendeth not unto thee, neither if we are righteous art thou the better. Psalm 16:2. Job 35:7.

Thou art our King, O God: Other lords besides thee have had dominion over us, but from henceforth by thee only will we make mention of thy name. Psalm 44:4. Isaiah 26:13.

We avouch the Lord this day to be our God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken to his voice, and give ourselves unto him to be his peculiar people as he hath promised, that we may be a holy people unto the Lord our God; and may be unto him for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory. Deuteronomy 26:17, 18, 19. Jeremiah 13:11.

O Lord, truly we are thy servants, we are thy servants born in thy house, and thou hast loosed our bonds; we are bought with a price, and therefore we are not our own; but yield ourselves unto the Lord, and join ourselves to him in an everlasting covenant that shall never be forgotten. Psalm 116:16. 1 Corinthians 6:20, 19. 2 Chronicles 30:8. Jeremiah 50:5.

We are thine, save us; for we seek thy precepts: It is thine own, Lord, that we give thee, and that which cometh of thine hand. Psalm 119:94. 1 Chronicles 29:16.

THOU hast commanded us to pray always, with all prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, and to watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; to continue in prayer; and in every thing with prayer and supplication to make our requests known to God. Ephesians 6:18. Colossians 4:2. Philippians 4:6.

Thou hast directed us to ask and seek and knock, and hast promised that we shall receive, we shall find, and it shall be opened to us. Matthew 7:7, 8.

Thou hast appointed us a great high priest, in whose name we may come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy and grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16.

Thou hast assured us that while the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, the prayer of the upright is his delight; and that he that offers praise glorifies thee, and the sacrifice of thanksgiving shall please the Lord better than that of an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs. Proverbs 15:8. Psalm 50:23. Psalm 69:30, 31.

Thou art he that hearest prayer, and therefore unto thee shall all flesh come. Psalm 65:2.

Thou sayest, Seek ye my face, and our hearts answer, Thy face, Lord, will we seek. For should not a people seek unto their God? Whither shall we go but to thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life. Psalm 27:8. Isaiah 8:19. John 6:68.

BUT will God in very deed dwell with man upon the earth? that God whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, with man that is a worm, and the son of man that is a worm. 2 Chronicles 6:18. Job 25:6.

Who are we, O Lord God, and what is our father’s house, that thou hast brought us hitherto, to present ourselves before the Lord; that we have through Christ an access by one Spirit unto the Father: And yet as if this had been a small thing in thy sight, thou hast spoken concerning thy servants for a great while to come, and is this the manner of men, O Lord God? 2 Samuel 7:18. Ephesians 2:18. 2 Samuel 7:19.

What is man that thou art thus mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him? and dost thus magnify him. Psalm 8:4. Job 7:17.

O let not the Lord be angry, if we that are but dust and ashes take upon us to speak unto the Lord of glory. Genesis 18:30, 27.

We are not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servants; nor is it meet to take the childrens bread, and cast it to such as we are; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table: And thou art rich in mercy to all that call upon thee. Genesis 32:10. Matthew 15:26, 27. Romans 10:12.

WHOM have we in heaven but thee; and there is none upon earth that we desire besides thee, or in comparison of thee: When our flesh and our heart fail, be thou the strength of our heart, and our portion for ever; the portion of our inheritance in the other world, and of our cup in this, and then we will say that the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, and that we have a goodly heritage. Psalm 73:25, 26. Psalm 16:5, 6.

The desire of our souls is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee; with our souls have we desired thee in the night, and with our spirits within us will we seek thee early. Isaiah 26:8, 9.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth our soul after thee, O God; our soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; who will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be with us, and our prayer to the God of our life. Psalm 42:1, 2, 8.

O that we may come hungering and thirsting after righteousness; for thou fillest the hungry with good things, but the rich thou sendest empty away. Matthew 5:6. Luke 1:53.

O that our souls may thirst for thee, and our flesh long for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is, that we may see thy power and thy glory, as we have seen thee in the sanctuary. Thy lovingkindness is better than life; our souls shall be satisfied with that as with marrow and fatness, and then our mouths shall praise thee with joyful lips. Psalm 63:1, 2, 3, 5.

IN thee, O God, do we put our trust, let us never be ashamed; yea let none that wait on thee be ashamed. Psalm 31:1. Psalm 25:3.

Truly our souls wait upon God; from him cometh our salvation; he only is our rock and our salvation: In him is our glory, our strength, and our refuge, and from him is our expectation. Psalm 62:1, 2, 7, 5.

When refuge fails us, and none cares for our souls, we cry unto thee, O Lord; Thou art our refuge and our portion in the land of the living. Psalm 142:4, 5.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. We will trust in thy mercy, O God, for ever and ever, and will wait on thy name, for it is good before thy saints. Psalm 20:7. Psalm 52:8, 9.

We have hoped in thy word; O remember thy word unto thy servants, upon which thou hast caused us to hope. Psalm 119:74, 49.

THERE be many that say, Who will shew us any good? But this we say, Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, and that shall put gladness into our hearts more than they have whose corn and wine increaseth. Psalm 4:6, 7.

We intreat thy favour with our whole hearts; for in this we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of the Lord. Psalm 119:58. 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Hear our prayers, O Lord, give ear to our supplications; in thy faithfulness answer us. And be nigh unto us in all that which we call upon thee for; for thou never saidst to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. Psalm 143:1. Deuteronomy 4:7. Isaiah 45:19.

Thou that hearest the young ravens which cry, Be not silent to us, lest if thou be silent to us, we be like them that go down to the pit. Psalm 147:9. Psalm 28:1.

Let our prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting up of our hands be acceptable in thy sight as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2.

LORD, we know not what to pray for as we ought, but let thy Spirit help our infirmities, and make intercession in us. Romans 8:26.

O pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication; the Spirit of adoption teaching us to cry, Abba Father; that we may find in our hearts to pray this prayer: Zechariah 12:10. Romans 8:15. 2 Samuel 7:27.

O send out thy light and thy truth, let them lead us, let them guide us to thy holy hill, and thy tabernacles; to God our exceeding joy. Psalm 43:3, 4.

O Lord, open thou our lips, and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise. Psalm 51:15.

THIS is that which thou, O Lord, hast said, that thou wilt be sanctified in them that come nigh unto thee, and before all the people thou wilt be glorified; we therefore worship before thee, O Lord, that we may glorify thy name; and therefore we call upon thee, that thou mayest deliver us, and we may glorify thee. Leviticus 10:3. Psalm 86:9. Psalm 50:15.

For of thee, and through thee, and to thee, are all things. Romans 11:36.

WE do not present our supplication before thee for our own righteousness; for we are before thee in our trespasses, and cannot stand before thee because of them: But we make mention of Christ’s righteousness, even of his only, who is THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Daniel 9:18. Ezra 9:15. Psalm 71:16. Jeremiah 23:6.

We know that even spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God only through Christ Jesus, nor can we hope to receive any thing but what we ask of thee in his name, and therefore make us accepted in the beloved; that other angel, who puts much incense to the prayers of saints, and offers them up upon the golden altar before the throne. 1 Peter 2:5. John 16:23. Ephesians 1:6. Revelation 8:3.

We come in the name of the great high priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, who was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and is therefore able to save to the uttermost all those that come to God by him, because he ever lives making intercession. Hebrews 4:14, 15. Hebrews 7:25.

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed, in whom thou hast by a voice from heaven declared thyself to be well pleased; Lord, be well pleased with us in him. Psalm 84:9. Matthew 3:17.