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at Groningen. Oh, what shall I render unto the Lord for sparing me, unworthy,
sinful me, and supporting me so many years, nay, as I humbly hope, blessing my
poor and weak endeavors in the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ, my Lord and
Savior, who has had patience with me, and with all mine infirmities, and to whom
I desire to belong and to devote myself, most humbly and willingly, as a living
sacrifice in time and to all eternity! O, blessed Jesus, in Thee is life, even eternal
life. Oh, may I live because Thou livest, and may I become more and more alive
unto God and righteousness. Be Thou my surety, and my all in all. Do not leave
me to my sinful self, but strengthen and sanctify me in Thy service and for Thy
glory. Pity poor, afflicted me, and change my sorrows into songs of Holy Joy and
Praises. Fain would I be spent in Thy service, but remember the frailty of my
bodily frame and the weakness of my mind, and, in the midst of my adversities,
quicken me, Lord, by Thy Spirit and grace. Oh, Thy grace be sufficient for me
and mine, in time and to all eternity, and be pleased to dispense Thy grace to my
people, old and young, and especially to my children and family. May my consort
be Thine in mercy, and my children become the creatures of Thy grace. Oh, spare
us together for a blessing and comfort to each other. May I live to see my son
growing up in Thy knowledge, and preparing himself for the ministry of Thy
Church. Lord Jesus, incline his heart to that office, if it be Thy will and pleasure,
and give him Thy early grace to aspire after it by Holy Desires, and continue
prayers. O, grant this my humble petition, and bless my admonition, Father of
mercies, wherever may be their station here. O, merciful Father, may they be
Thine, renewed and enabled to enjoy and glorify Thee, with body and soul. Now,
most merciful God and Father, look down in mercy upon Thy unworthy servant,
and let this my prayer and annotation be acceptable unto Thee in Jesus Christ.
Oh, may my colleague and His family also be remembered, and we rejoice in the
prosperity of our joint labors, both for Church and schools. The Lord also pity our
land, and keep us in quietness and peace, that truth and Godliness may prevail,
and such a government as will be most conducive to the establishment of our civil
and religious rights, as well as our respective prosperity. Give wisdom, prudence,
and unanimity, and pardon the sins of a guilty people, for Thy glorious name’s
sake. Amen.
April ’88
2. Yesterday noon I met providentially with WDR, 412 the person whose child I
refused to baptize except he submitted himself to the discipline of the Church. I
thought it my duty to enter into a conversation with him, and asked him why he
did not come to church. Boldly replying that I had driven him away, I endeavored
to convince him that, from a principle of duty and for his own interest, I had
admonished and reproved him, but as yet in vain, and fain would I still hope and
pray that the Lord, of His infinite mercy, will be pleased to change his obdurate
heart and give him repentance unto life. Oh, may our sins be forgiven and we
experience that the Lord Jesus will sanctify His people, and bless the ordinances
of His House to the actual conversion even of the chiefest sinners. May the Father
of mercies pity unworthy, sinful me, and preserve me from further sickness and
412
Possibly Wilhelmus Ryckman (1759-1840), an officer in the Revoluntionary Army.
165