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the Lord forgive our sins, and heal all our sicknesses, that we may be enabled and
made willing to serve Him all the days of our life. Father of mercy, preserve our
children, that are abroad, help their infirmities, and bring them safe home.
Strengthen and support and sanctify us with Thy Holy Spirit and Grace in and
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the glory shall be Thine. Amen.
13. Last Wednesday I preached at Niskayuna, Luke 19.10. 86 The weather being
rainy the day before and but cloudy that day, there were but few hearers.
However, the Lord gave me to speak, and may the Word have been blessed. I
caught a cold, and was feverish last night. This morning my throat is soar and
painful, and I am afraid that I shall not be able to preach tomorrow, but I desire to
wait for Thy healing mercy. Blessed Jesus, restore my impaired health and
strengthen me for the public service of Thy Sanctuary. Support and comfort Thy
unworthy one and spare his life for Thy Church and his family. Amen.
14. This morning my throat feels a little better, and the Lord gave me also better
rest and sleep the night past; I desire, Oh, my merciful God and Father, to be
found in the way of duty and long to be in Thy service. Direct my choice and my
steps, and strengthen poor me and all Thy weak and willing servants both in soul
and body for the solemn work of this Thy day. Support Thy own cause and
interest and may the preaching of Thy glorious gospel be accompanied with the
powerful influences of Thy Holy Spirit; oh, may sinners and hypocrites tremble
and turn to the Lord [in margin: my text would have been Acts 9.1 87 etc.] P. S. I
went to town, and advised Dr. Stringer, who thought preaching would irritate my
disease, and therefore best for me to decline it this day. I desire to submit to all
Thy dispensations, Father of mercies, pardon the sins of our Holy Things, bless
and preserve Thine ordinances, and restore Thy unworthy servant, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
P. S. This has been a silent Sabbath for me, but the Lord is sovereign; and wise,
yea, merciful in all his dealings. May I be taught thereby to prize health, and be
humbly thankful for all strength upon the Lord’s Day, and also to remember
seriously that ‘ere long my work will be done, and therefore to labor with alacrity
whilst it is day. Oh, may my people be humbled under a sense of sin against the
privileges they enjoy. And no longer neglect nor forsake the assemblies and other
means of grace. The Lord be pleased of His infinite mercy to pardon the sins of
the day past and mitigate my affliction. Blessed Jesus! Be thou my advocate, my
life and strength, and prepare me for all Thy will; let me experience, that Thou art
unchangeably the same unto me, a God of free mercy and complete salvation.
Amen.
15. This morning I feel through mercy rather better than yesterday, though
painful the night past in my bowels and teeth. My throat is still swollen but the
soreness begins to abate, and I humbly hope the Lord will hear prayer and love
freely. I feel the greatest distress in being hindered in my ministerial labor on this
day, the more because the people in general do not so well attend the reading. Oh,
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“[…] for the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” [A summary of Jesus’ ministry in
the entire gospel]
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Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high
priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged
to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
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