The Pastor in his Closet/Thursday
THURSDAY.
Early in the morning, Lord, will I come unto Thee, and will look up; though I am not worthy to look up by reason of my sin, nor to lift up so much as my eyes unto heaven; but my trust is in Thy mercy, therefore will I lift up my soul. Blessed be Thy name, God our Father. Blessed be Thy name, God the eternal Son, our Saviour. Blessed be Thy name, God the Holy Ghost, our Sanctifier.
And now, Lord God, though I be as a grain of sand upon the sea-shore, as a drop of water in the great and wide sea, though I be small and of no reputation, accept my prayers, when I pray for Thy creation; not for that old creation which Thou didst frame easily, in which all things obeyed Thy will, but I pray for that new creation, created anew, with great sorrow, framed painfully, with the sweat of thy brow, even with a bloody sweat, by the pains of Thy most painful death, by the humbling of Thyself to become man, and to die the death, even the death of the Cross. I pray for the Holy Catholic Church, Thy new work, Thy “workmanship,” Thy “building,” Thou “the chief Corner-stone,” Thou the “living Rock” whence it was hewn. I pray for the Universal Church, for all the branches and all the members thereof, wheresoever scattered throughout the world. Thou hast called it Thine own “Body,” Thy “Bride,” Thy “Household,” Thy “Fold,” Thy “Vineyard;” all these most loving, most honourable names hast Thou bestowed upon it in token of Thy exceeding great love.
I pray, holy Father, for this Thy Son's work, the fruit of His blood, this new-born world, living through His death. I pray for its increase, that all nations may be gathered into it, the utmost ends of the earth; that all the heathen may be converted, and brought to a knowledge of the truth, that the Church may do her work of evangelizing the world, that her borders may be enlarged, the fold widened.
I pray for its Unity, that all who are called by Thy name, Lord Jesus, may be one, even as Thou and the Father and the Holy Ghost are one, even as there is but “one faith, one Lord, one Baptism, one God and Father of all.”
I pray for its Purity, that it may be “the salt of the earth,” purifying the world, destroying the power of Satan, manifesting holiness, preparing a holy people for the Lord.
I pray for its Order, that it may approve itself the work of Thy hand, for Thou art “not the Author of confusion, but of peace.”
I pray for its Peace, that it may be the peace-maker of the world, and accomplish Thy work of peace, for Thou hast spoken peace to them that are afar off and to them that are near; Thy peace hast Thou left with us.
I pray for its Doctrine, that it may be sound, that it may keep the Spirit of truth.
I pray for all the branches of this Tree, all the members of this Body, all the sheep of this Fold, all the brethren of this Household of faith, for the whole company of faithful people, friends and strangers, mine own countrymen and foreigners, for all that are called by Thy name.
I pray for the healing of wounds, the reparation of breaches, the mending of rents, the destruction of heresies, the reformation of manners, the salvation of all men through the merits of Thy most precious blood.
But more especially am I bound to pray for that branch of the Catholic Church, into which by Thy unspeakable mercy I have been baptized; for this dear Church of England, my nurse in the faith, my mother that has borne me all these years, and borne with me, that has fed me and nourished me, though a wayward and unworthy son, oftentimes dishonouring her with my misdeeds.
Continue forth Thy loving kindness, Lord, to this branch of the vine: “Behold and visit this vine, and the place of the vineyard that Thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that Thou madest so strong for Thyself;” this branch, abundantly watered, saved, and spared, amid many neglects and divisions; quickened, made fruitful in saints, rich in doctors and holy men, with creeds agreeable to Thy Word, and forms of sound words delivered from ancient times.
Give us the great grace of unity, which we now lack; help us towards it by Thy Spirit, that, if we attain it not in our time, we may approach towards it. Help us first towards inward unity, unity amongst ourselves, in our own house, between the members of our own Church; heal our inward divisions, that they may pass away. Knit us together; remove prejudices, discords, misunderstandings of one another, harshness, the spirit of controversy. Give us forbearance and charity.
I know, Lord, that we are much distracted separated from one another, vexed with debates. Cleanse us of these sins; restore true peace and oneness, not by concession of the truth, but by agreement in the truth, by the casting out of all errors and unsound doctrine, by increase of true godliness and fervent charity. Let not this house be divided against itself, for we are brethren one of another,—“Behold, see, we beseech Thee, we are all Thy people.” “Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by Thy Name; leave us not.”
But not only unite us. Lord, amongst ourselves,—unite us also, in Thine own good time and in Thine own way, with the rest of Christendom, with all other branches of the Universal Church. No word is impossible with Thee, for Thou canst do all things. Though the way to this union seem not to be open to us, yet should we pray that in due time it may be opened by Thy grace. Though it be a great mystery that Thou sufferest such divisions among Christian people, such a rending of part from part, such alienation of brethren, such corruption of doctrine in one part, such want of discipline in another, such coldness between the branches of the Church, the members of Thy Body, yet do Thou bring peace out of this confusion caused by the sins of men and contrary to Thy will. I pray “for the peace of Jerusalem,” that peace and truth may be in all her borders and within all her walls. Let not Satan, the author of confusion, have such an advantage over us. But, Lord, let us not seek for peace which is no peace, nor abandon our pure doctrine for peace’ sake. I pray also for those who have committed schism, or are in schism, wilfully or through ignorance, that they may repent and return. Eestore, most loving Saviour, those who have gone from us; restrain those who incline to depart. Give more light to those who from their birth have belonged to bodies schismatical, as they have the lesser sin. Grant that all occasions of schism may be done away, all such sins in us as may provoke to schism impatient and unstable souls.
Let me not forget our sins, while I remember these schisms, for should it not be confessed that we ourselves and our fathers have in part caused these offences to abound? Though we be now warmed with a rekindled fire of faith, we were once cold; though now through Thine undeserved grace we have manifest renewings of the Holy Ghost, we once slept, and our enemy sowed tares in our field. Tor these sins we are now punished. In our schisms we behold our sins; this is the rod wherewith a careless ministry and a careless people have been stricken. In our condemnation of schisms, we must needs condemn ourselves first and be severe towards ourselves.
Spare, Lord, all those who have ignorantly gone astray, especially those who have forsaken us through our forsaking and neglect of them. Bring them back, blessed Lord, into Thine own pasture. Por these our sins, punished by our schisms, humble us to the earth, that, the sins being repented of, the punishment may be withdrawn, and our many bleeding wounds may be healed. Remove from us all scandals and want of discipline; give us all things needful for the edification of Thy people, that souls may find rest under the shadow of this vine, and whatsoever is wholesome for their spiritual life.
But, heavenly Father, as, after the pattern of Thy Son, I offer Thee my humble prayers for the unity of this branch of the Universal Church especially, so especially do I pray for an increase of its holiness; as a means thereunto, and for its own value in Thy sight. Let us contend with this sword against all who are not of us; let us argue with this manifest and so effectual argument. Not so much do I pray for the increase of the members of the Church, as for inward purity, for a real, true, spiritualizing of the Church; “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 evangelical life, that they may be “able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit,” through Him who hath called them, and whom they preach, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Unite us together, that we may work together with true love for the Gospel. We are indeed as brethren; enable us to labour and to love as brethren. Teach us to pray for one another, and to bear “one another's burdens.” A united Clergy, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, is as “a threefold cord” that cannot be broken. Give Thy grace to all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, that they may “shine as lights in the world,” and “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things;” especially do I pray for the Bishop of this Diocese, that he may well govern the same, and for the Clergy thereof that they may edify their flocks, and for their flocks that they may be saved.
For this Church of England, for all members thereof, priests and people, in all times, through all changes and chances of times, I do pray most earnestly. O Lord, send Thy blessing upon this branch of the vine. Thy workmanship, Thine own branch, so long and wonderfully preserved, with so long a history of grace. Send Thy blessing, Father, that we may be found an acceptable people in Thy sight, for Jesus Christ’s sake.