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THURSDAY.
“Increase in us true religion,” vital faith, “pure religion and undefiled.” Make those who seem to be Thine, to be Thine of a truth, in heart and life. The Church is not for show, that we might boast ourselves of its size. I pray not so much that multitudes may be added to us, but first, that present members may be purified and filled with grace, and walk worthy of their vocation. It is not the work of the Church to be esteemed in the world, or to consider its outward appearance in the world, or to strive for a mastery in size, but really to prepare souls for judgment, to build them up for another world, that they may truly wait for the Lord as men of another world, pilgrims and strangers upon earth.
That this true holiness of the Gospel may abound, deepen, widen itself, and be confirmed amongst us, have mercy upon the Clergy, my brethren and true yokefellows, that by Thy merciful guiding they may be a faithful unworldly ministry, “rightly dividing the Word of truth,” duly administering the Sacraments, and living as patterns to their flocks. Make them devout in their daily life, zealous, grave, heavenly-minded; not secular, not frivolous, but true pastors, in feeding, in watching, in praying. Guide them, Holy Ghost, into all truth, into true doctrine and true