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experience that the Lord is with us in every time of need! O, blessed Jesus, be
Thou my comfort and support, and a present help in trials and trouble. Preserve
from sin, and mitigate and remove pains, for Thy great name’s sake. Let me not
be a reproach nor Thy cause fusser, but carry me safely through life, and bring me
at last to glory.
30. Blessed be the God of Israel, forever and ever. Amen. Amen. I was reading
this morning from Psalm 41 ultimo, 574 and I desire to erect a monument of
gratitude to the Lord, my almighty and faithful Creator, who has helped and
brought and blessed me hitherto. Even to this day, in which I enter my 51 st year.
May the Lord accept of my gratitude, and pardon all my shortcomings and
backslidings in the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whom I
desire to know more and to love better and to serve more faithfully and fervently,
if it should please Him to restore health and strength and former comforts and
grace. Though unworthy and ill-deserving, yet I would cast my cares upon His
Almighty hand, and wait for mercy even unto eternal life. May my poor prayers
be heard, and my present cold and indisposition be mitigated and removed, and I
live to be a comfort to my family and flock, steadfast and always abounding in the
work of the Lord. Oh, may my family and myself be visited with mercy and
grace, and we be taught from on High to worship God in Christ with one consent,
and to glorify Him with body and soul. Father of mercies! I thank Thee most
humbly for past and present favors conferred on me, sinful, unworthy me, from
my first youth and infancy that I was born from Christian parents and early
devoted to Thy service, even the service of Thy Sanctuary, that Thou hast directed
my wandering steps and disposed of me according to Thy great goodness and
loving kindness in Christ Jesus, that Thou hast carried me through many and
various trials and, though chastened, yet not destroyed me, as I deserved, nay,
even blessed me and, I hope, my weak labors to many of Thy dear people. Oh,
what I am, less and worse than nothing. Accept of me in the Beloved, and return
in mercy unto me and mine. Let Thy loving kindness be shown and known unto
us, and our spiritual enemies be ashamed and confounded. Oh, may we live to
praise Thy name and, whether living or dying, be intent to please the Lord. Bless
Zion, our land, this city, and all our friends. Peace be upon Israel. Amen.
November ’89
5. Blessed be the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who has
comforted and supported me, I humbly hope and trust, during my last illness. Last
Friday I was directed in the morning to read a part of Willison’s Afflicted Man’s
Companion, 575 and in the afternoon I was obliged to lie down of the sickness,
which now prevails. I felt through Divine mercy much composed and endeavored
to prepare for the worse consignee, even death, and I hope was brought and kept
near to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Temptation, to which I have been
exposed for some time since, was rather removed, and I was enabled to wait on
mercy and grace, and it has pleased the Lord, of His infinite goodness, not to
574 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
575 John Willison (1680-1750), The Afflicted Man’s Companion (1737); not in Westerlo’s collection in
1771.
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