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desire to kiss Thy Rod. 116 Pardon my fretting under the band of Thy work and
other inconveniences, and heal the diseases of my family. Pity my dear consort
and heal her present cold. May we both be spared in mercy for our poor infants,
and be pleased also to remember our servant maid. Forgive her sins with precious
blood of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and give her Thy grace. May she
be Thine, whether living or dying. Spare her for my family, and may she and the
other members of the family be changed and our sicknesses be sanctified. Bless
my children, and may we still live together to rejoice in Thy goodness and serve
Thee on Earth. Direct my studies and paths, and o, blessed Jesus, let me live to
declare Thy work, righteousness, grace and glory. Amen.
12. Thanks be to the God of my loving kindness, who has strengthened me, and
enabled me yesterday to preach once in the afternoon from 2 Corinthians 6.1-2, 117
and to bless my people from the heights of Zion. Oh, may even my sickness have
been blessed to many who seemed to be affected with that particular topic. 23
years I have labored and always preached on New Year’s Day, except this year.
Oh, may this mercy and judgment also impress my soul with gratitude, and excite
my heart to be more fervent and active, when able and well. The Lord renew my
strength and zeal. Heal and sanctify my family, and bless our children and friends
with restoring mercy and saving grace; my people also with the blessing of the
gospel of peace through J. C. O. L. Amen.
19. Yesterday, through mercy, I again preached love in the morning in English
from Psalm 63.4. 118 May this year be such an acceptable year throughout the
world, and this land in particular. The Lord be pleased to bless His Church and
propagate His Kingdom. May many kings and rulers be redeemed and become
pastors of Godliness. Oh, that the Spirit of the Lord would knit these states into
the bonds of indissoluble piety, and our state in particular, to live in peace and
Holiness. My family also, I pray, may learn to hear the Rod. Our eldest son is
incited with the soar throat. Oh, may his soul be humbled and his health restored.
The Lord keep and preserve our other children, and pity all that are distressed. I
desire to wait for His mercy and loving kindness, walking humbly with our God
and Father! Pardon the sins of my heart and house and congregation, for Christ’s
sake. Amen.
25. The cold weather was very severe this more than a month past, and I was
prevented to prosecute my annotations which I desire, however, now to resume
and continue for my further improvement. Blessed be the Lord for preserving and
restoring mercies. For though I have lost my maid servant Susan, other lives are
graciously spared. This member of my family, I would humbly hope, the Lord
hath pardoned and forgiven her neglecting the means of grace, and also her
imprudence in concealing her ailment at least the first cause thereof from us,
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“Kiss the Rod” may be a combination of Psalm 2:9, “You shall break them with a rod of iron,” and
Psalm 2.11-12, “Serve the Lord with fear, with trembling kiss his feet.” The line “kiss the Rod” is
known from Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 1.2.59. For “hear the Rod” see note under
entry of September 15, 1783.
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As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he
says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See,
now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!
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So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
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