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for the preservation of internal peace, and the establishment of such a civil
government as the Lord of His infinite mercy will approve and bless. May the
Great Hearer of Prayer prepare all His people for every duty, and hear them in
every time of distress. Great is our ingratitude to God, many our sins and heinous
provocations, by unbelief and disobedience to His law and gospel. Oh, may our
very souls be made to mourn and we relinquish former sinful ways and return to
the Lord, that we may be spared and restored to His favor, and enjoy the blessing
of peace. Oh, may the Spirit of all grace be poured out upon rulers and people,
and many be convinced and converted to God in Christ, that we may be and
become a Holy [People] in order to be a happy people. The Lord remember not
our sins but His mercy, which endureth forever, and oh, may our sorrows and
fears be sanctified and changed into songs of praise and joy. We desire to humble
ourselves under His mighty hands, and, who knows, the Lord will hear and help,
and grant light out of darkness, and life as from death. My family and
congregation are also guilty, and we have offended the God of our mercies by
manifold sins and transgressions. We have forfeited even the common blessings
of life, health, peace, and prosperity, on account of our ingratitude, distrust, and
murmurings. Oh, may we be humbled in dust and ashes, and be made truly to
repent and to amend our ways. The Lord spare us and other useful lives, pity the
sick and mourners. Oh, may our mourning be turned into gladness, because we
experience that in the midst of wrath, God remembers mercy towards us and ours.
May my dear wife and children, with all my family at home and abroad, be pitied,
and we be united to the fear and worship of the Lord. Father of mercies, I desire
most humbly and earnestly to implore Thy Divine assistance and protection, and
to devote myself, and all mine, poor and unworthy as we are, to Thee in Jesus
Christ. O, accept of us in mercy, and prepare us for the Eternal Mansions. As
long as we are here, abide with us, comfort and sanctify us, for Christ’s sake.
Amen.
18. Yesterday I went twice to hear Reverend Mr. Young 417 in the Presbyterian
meeting, and was very much pleased with the truth which he delivered, and with
the pious prayers which he poured out before the Lord. I desire to love all who
preach and teach Jesus Christ as the meritorious cause of man’s justification, and
also the author and finisher of that faith which is productive of every good Word
and work. May such preachers increase throughout the world, and the Lord be
exalted, in the salvation of His chosen and redeemed people. His text was Nahum
1.3, 418 The Lord is slow to anger, and, in the afternoon, great in power. His
introduction to that prophecy was pointed, and though the manner of his handling
the text was not agreeable to our method, and explanatory of the precise meaning
of the expressions in that context, but more general on both the Divine attributes, I
rejoice in the common truths, so beneficial and comfortable to the people of God,
and pray the Lord may extend His mercy and exert His gracious power in the
conversion of many, and the establishment of His own people. This morning I
received a letter from Dr. Livingston, and am anxious what to do with respect to
417
The Reverend John Young, at the Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, NY, from 1787 until 1790,
when he was dismissed.
418
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His
way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
167