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24. The weather continues through mercy very fine this morning, and fain would
I begin to visit my people, but as I have been more than hindered from catechizing
once, I think best to study and catechize today and wait for the continuance of the
season to perform the other work at the end of this week. May the Lord preserve
my life, and strengthen my health for the discharge of all the several duties of my
station, and bless His ordinances, and my congregation, and family at home, and
abroad with His mercy and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ!
25. The morning appears favorable to the work I intended to begin with this day.
May the Lord, of his infinite mercy, lift upon me the light of his countenance, and
His gracious presence go with me! This city is the city wherein the Lord, I
humbly hope, has remembered me, in mercy and visited me with saving grace.
Oh, may it be blessed and all the houses be devoted to His service. Prepare, o
Father of mercies, Thy people, and may we enjoy Communion with our God in
the Lord Jesus Christ; strengthen and sanctify me for all the parts of my Holy
Office and may Thy grace be sufficient for me; o blessed Jesus, Thy strength be
made perfect in my weakness. Bless my family, and oh, may my children become
interested in the saving influence of Thy Holy Spirit, and be adopted among Thy
sons and daughters.
P.S. I went to town and began to visit my people, but was hindered by rain, and
returned home after having visited few families. May my admonition to my old
student be blessed and made effectual to his amendment and the Lord be a Father
of the fatherless and a husband to the widows. I was afraid of the judgments of
our God, some say even the pestilence at Baltimore and Philadelphia! 90 May the
God of mercy avert the impending strike from our land, by forgiving and
renewing grace. Father of lights and life, pardon the ingratitude and hardness of
our hearts in the all-atoning blood of Thy dear Son, and pity them that are afflicted
or in jeopardy every day. Sanctify this awful Rod to this continent. May Thy own
people be humbled and spared; and even incorrigible wild and profane sinners be
changed and become impressed with a serious conversion, how to escape and be
saved from Thy wrath to come. May the gospel be glorified and have its course
and our magistrates be humbled and made willing to build Thy Church. O, may
we all build an altar to the Lord and seek reconciliation with God in Jesus Christ.
That we be ready and prepared to meet the Lord, or else be spared in mercy.
Lord, pity our state, metropolis, and this city; and preserve us from utter
destruction. May Thy Kingdom come and be spread even in the desert. Amen.
29. Blessed be the Lord, who helped me yesterday in His House and heard my
prayer last night, when visited with pains in my bowels; I find long preaching to a
full auditory especially when I have a cold, is hurtful to my nerves, and stomach,
lungs and breast. I wish the Lord may direct me and pray He will be pleased to
forgive all my imprudences and restore my health for His service. Father of
mercies! Pity my poor body, and strengthen it at this season that I may be enabled
to perform and finish the several duties of my sacred function and spare my life
for Thy Church, and my family. Preserve us from sicknesses, and sanctify all Thy
ways to our precious souls through Thy Holy Spirit, and for the sake of Thy dear
Son, O.L. Jesus Christ. Amen.
90
No pestilence mentioned in 1783 – the end of the smallpox epidemic?
52