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would I serve Thee and Thy people in Thy Sanctuary, and sit on at Thy Table. O
Lord, I have deserved Thy wrath, and am worthy to be cast out from Thy spiritual
presence and even the external symbols of Communion with Thee, on account of
my unbelief, ingratitude, impatience, etc., and many other provocations, but o,
most merciful Jesus, pity and pardon, and let me enjoy Thy presence to my poor
distracted soul. Be my life and my peace, and make me more than conqueror in
these evil days. Restore my bodily health, and remove my present feverish cold.
Oh, may prudence with resignation be given unto me and all Thy sufferers, with
gratitude for past and present mercies. Father of mercies, I desire, most seriously
and solemnly, to thank Thee, in Christ Jesus, for creating and providential
goodness. God is love, and only good. Pardon my unbelief, and forgive the sins
of my youth, and my daily transgressions at home and abroad. Give me Thy Holy
Spirit, to teach and sanctify, to comfort and support me in every trial and every
duty, and may I yet live to praise the Lord. Spare us together, and bless my
family, friends, and congregation. Oh, may we meet a reconciled God and Father
at His Table, and be supplied [crossed out “prepared”] of Thy Spirit and grace,
with all such affections and exercises [crossed out “operations”] which the Lord
will own and approve. Bless Thy Church and servants, the schools also, and
masters. May truth, liberty, and religion prevail throughout our land, and our new
empire be established on the basis thereof. Hac Nitimur S. Religione – Hanc
Tuemur S. Libertate. 555 Amen.
4. Friday. This morning I am so indisposed in my bowels and of a cold, that I
requested my colleague to preach the preparation sermon, and determined, though
reluctantly, to stay home, if it might please the Lord to restore unworthy me, and
to remove the spasms in my stomach. May mercy be shown unto me and all the
afflicted, and the Lord enable me to receive the new members and also to
administer and partake the Sacrament of His love. I desire humbly and patiently
to submit and to wait on the Lord, with whom is plenteous redemption and
compassion, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
P.S. What a mercy that I have an assistant, and who knows, his sermon may be
blessed to himself and other mourners. At least his preaching the preparation
sermon in English may be introductory to his future usefulness at a similar
occasion, and if my present indisposition doth but humble my soul and promote
the glory of God in Christ, why then art Thou cast down, oh, my soul! 556 Praise
the Lord for past mercies, and hope for future support, even unto death. I read this
morning Leidekker De Ductu Spiritus Sancti. 557 May my colleague’s sermon on
Romans 8.14 558 be blessed and sanctified to many precious souls. Father of
mercies, pity and pardon unbelief and backsliding, ingratitude, and change present
mourning into joy and peace through the Holy Spirit, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
555
We lean upon religion; we defend freedom.
556
Psalms 42:5 and 43:5.
557
Disputatio theologica practica, De Ductu Spiritus Sancti, disputation by Jacob Broedelet (1658?-
1683), presided over by Melchior Leydekker (1642-1721), which appeared by Meinardus Van
Dreunen, in Utrecht, in 1678. Broedelet’s disputation was not likely in one of the three books by
Leydekker Westerlo had on his shelves in 1771.
558
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
207