OCCASIONAL PRAYERS FOR THE CLOSET.

I.

Self-Consecration to God.

O GOD, who seest in secret, and searchest the hearts of the children of men, behold me thy child as I bow before thee in this private and solemn act. Thou hast been my Guardian and Guide in all times past, giving me all that I have, and all that I hope for. Amid thy bounties and mercies have I lived, with one painful thought on my soul. 0 Lord, it is the thought that I am not thine; that I have not given myself to thee; that I have not purposely chosen and consciously taken thee for my master, and offered and consecrated my heart, will and strength, to thy service. Thou knowest how often I have thought to do this, and have said, I will make haste and delay not to pay unto the Lord my vows, and bind myself to him in an everlasting covenant, that shall not be broken. But thou knowest likewise, O merciful and compassionate God, how often the cares of the world, and the sin that is here

on my heart, have prevented me, and I have not made my peace with God.

Gracious and blessed Father, me thy frail creature, me thy guilty child, wilt thou now behold and bless. And while I pour out before thee confessions of my past neglect, help me to prove the sincerity of my soul in this solemn hour. In a duty I have so long postponed, by an offer free and unreserved, I do now present myself unto thee, O God, avouching thee to be my God and my portion forever. Accept this consecration to thee. Take me, O God, thy creature and child, to do with me as seemeth to thee to be right. To thee I give myself, and bind myself by these solemn vows. Come by thy Holy Spirit, and take possession, and make my soul thy temple. Dwell in me from this time forth, moulding my will to thine, forming my affections after the pattern of thy dear Son; and hereafter may neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, be able to separate me from thy love.

And now, O God, let this solemn act be sealed and registered in heaven. Over all the sins of my heart, and the temptations of the world, may this be my triumphant song I can do all things through him who strengtheneth me. And, thine here on earth, may I be found thine when thou shalt come with thy holy angels; may thy mark be on my forehead, and the spirit of thy son Jesus be in my heart, when the Lord shall receive them that are his. Amen.

II.

For the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

FATHER of Infinite Love, I thank thee for all thy wonderful and most merciful gifts, but above all for the gift of thine own Holy Spirit. Thou art willing to descend into the heart of man, and make that unworthy place thy constant dwelling. Thou art, this moment, offering even to me, thy sinning servant, this blessed privilege, this boundless good. I am very weak, and ignorant, and erring, and disobedient. But thou, O my God, art ever willing, and ever waiting, to strengthen, to enlighten, to guide, to pardon me. And the assurance of this divine condescension and deliverance I have in my Saviour. It is by him, and and by him alone, who is my gracious Redeemer and ever-living Lord, that the Comforter cometh into the world.

Blessed be thy holy name, O thou who art his Father and my Father, that his promise is thus fulfilled, which he gave to his first disciples, when he declared that he would come to his own and abide with them forever. And even as that Eternal Word which was with thee in the beginning came forth into our corrupted and enfeebled race to restore it, was made flesh and dwelt among us, and suffers us to behold thy glory, full of grace and truth, in the face of Jesus Christ, so when he ascended up from the

body into that glory which he had with thee before the foundation of the world, he breathed the Holy Spirit into his church, and gave himself to be thus the perpetual light and life of his followers. I would praise thee for his advent and humiliation, for his wondrous union with humanity, for his ascension to thy right hand, and now especially for his undying presence and power, in this Spirit which he hath given. O my Heavenly Father and Friend, may I be personally a partaker in this unspeakable grace. Make me a true follower of thy Son's steps, and a real member in his spiritual Body, that I may share in the immediate influences of his love. Unite my heart to his pure and tender heart. Suffer me to lean my head in his bosom, to cling to his hand, to kneel humbly at his feet. Bring me into a more vital and inward fellowship with him, whom to know and to trust is everlasting blessedness.

ambition; soften my

And to that end, I entreat thee to take away from me all dispositions that obstruct the entrance of the Spirit into my breast. Subdue my pride; curb my hard self-will; put out the unholy fires of lust; set me free from inordinate attachments to any of the gains, or pleasures, or pursuits, or honors, of this world. But open my soul to welcome, without hindrance, the coming of my Master. May he find my heart a room prepared and clean for its celestial guest. May I be as one of those that watch, daily and hourly, for their Lord. Help

me to overcome the evil that is within me and round about me on every side; to hold fast simplicity and sincerity; to conquer my spiritual enemies; to banish those hateful passions, and to forsake those dangerous practices, which must drive thy sweet influence away, separate me from the society of Jesus, and offend thee who hatest all iniquity. Save me, I beseech thee, from the guilt of quenching thy Holy Spirit.

And while I ask that thou wilt pour these quickening and purifying streams into my breast, I pray also that the fruits of the Spirit may appear in all parts of my life. Being born again of thy grace, may I show forth the power of that regeneration in the beauty of holiness, in a right and truthful conversation, in the meekness of wisdom, in a brave and upright conscience, in honest dealings, in charity, in gentleness, in temperance, in purity, in long-suffering, in forgiveness, in reverence and piety. Sanctifying me within, wilt thou regulate all my outward conduct and relations, my individual habits and my intercourse with others, by the same Spirit. And when thou hast thus recreated me in my Saviour's likeness, and renewed within me a righteous soul, and permitted me to serve thee through all my days on earth, grant, I humbly pray, that I may come into the great company of those that are redeemed and forgiven, and that I may join that heavenly host in ascribing all glory and thanksgiving unto the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.