LESSON XIII. GOD EVER PRESENT. S. O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. P. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off. S. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. P. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo! O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. S. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. me; P. Such knowledge is too wonderful for it is high; I cannot attain unto it. S. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? P. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in the grave, behold thou art there. S. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, P. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. S. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me. P. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. S. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. P. Marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. S. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! P. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with thee. S. Search me, O God, and know my heart; P. Try me, and know my thoughts; S. And see if there be any wicked way in me, P. And lead me in the way everlasting. LESSON XIV. GOD HEARING PRAYER. S. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth: P. He will fulfil the desires of them that fear him; he will hear their cry, and will save them. S. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. P. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. S. He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. P. And ye shall seek me and find me, saith the Lord, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. S. The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; P. For the Father seeketh such to worship him. S. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. P. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. S. When thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; P. And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. S. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, P. And it shall be given him. S. After this manner, therefore, pray ye: The Pupils repeating after the Superintendent. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. |