Table of Contents - VU-DARE Home

1783
March ’83
14. Blessed be the Lord our God, who heareth prayer; and has sent deliverance in
His own good time. My dear consort, having been for a long time very painful
and indisposed, has obtained mercy in a time of need and is blessed from on High
with the timely birth of another daughter. O Lord! Pardon our unbelief in the
precious blood of Thy Son, who was perfect in his trust on Thee, and accept of our
humble thank offering for the fresh instance of Thy sovereign mercy. Most
graciously restore the joyful mother and renew her strength in soul and body, that
we may be enabled to serve Thee in our family and to offer praises unto our God
in Thy Sanctuary. Bless, gracious Father, the newborn child. May it be Thine
with all our children in a covenant of peculiar love, mercy and grace. Spare its
life, and grant us Thy Holy Spirit to devote it by prayer and through saved baptism
to Thy glorious service. Oh, may we renew our baptismal vows, and find
acceptance with our child through our Lord Jesus Christ! Blessed Jesus, lay Thy
hands upon this child; also bless it with Thy pardoning and renewing grace that it
may become a loving member of Thy Church and be adopted into the family of
Thy children and Lord! Strengthen Thy poor unworthy servant for the several
duties of his station. Preserve my Life, restore my health and (if it may be) let us
both live to see our children grown up in Thy service. O, Thou, Spirit of all grace,
be pleased to sanctify and comfort us under all the dispensations of Divine
providence, that my family and congregation may experience Thy saving presence
and rejoice in Thee, as our comforter and strength. We leave ourselves, with our
God, who remembereth mercy and desire to wait for his salvation, also in our
land, that peace with piety and plenty may flourish and abound. Hear our prayers,
Father, and pity all those that are in distress. Prepare the dying for Thy blessed
Communion and us all for Thy will; lead us, Lord, and help us safely through until
we shall have finished our course below and be admitted into the mansions of
bliss above. Amen.
19. Blessed be the Lord who remembers mercy in the midst of his judgments! My
poor wife has been for several days and nights under severe afflicting pains, which
have very deeply affected my soul and depressed us all on with anxious fears of
extreme danger. I have through mercy been kept pleading for pardon of sin and
converting, sanctifying, comforting grace, as well as for the restoration of her
health and alleviation and removing of this affliction. Lord, we have sinned
against Thy mercies and Thou art just, but be gracious and deliver us. Spare us
together for our children. The poor sick house. May my God hear and help, and
change sorrows into joys. Strengthen, Father, and support us. Forgive our
unbelief for Christ’s sake. Amen.
April ’83
19. I will sing of mercy and of judgment. Mercy to our land. Mercy and
judgment to my family. The Lord has heard the prayers of His people and
compelled destroyers of this country to peace. May the glad tidings thereof be
sanctified to the inhabitants of the world and particularly of this land, the principal
40