Table of Contents - VU-DARE Home

prepare me for Thy self. Direct my steps, and bless my excursions and other
means for my recovery. Be with me and mine, at home and abroad. Provide a
man of God to aid and assist me and to lead Thy Church. Hear our prayers, Lord,
and help us, for Thy name’s sake. Amen.
12. Yesterday I was twice to church to hear the Word of God preached to the
congregation from Romans 13 and 14.7-10. 211 Oh, may I learn to put on Christ
Jesus the Lord, and experience that I am His, following His example and enjoying
Communion with Him as the Lord of life and glory! I desire to wait on His
mercies, and truth. May the Lord be my guide and guardian in life and death.
Amen.
13. This day I intend to go down with Reverend McDonald. 212 May the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ keep unworthy me, preserve and guide me by His grace and
Spirit, and bless my excursion and relaxation to the restoration of my health, and
also for the promotion of unity in the Churches throughout this land. Oh, may the
Lord also stay with my family and congregation, comfort and support my dear
consort and children, and bring us soon together in health and joy. O Lord, hear
the prayers of Thy people for us, and provide for Thy servant what Thou knowest
best for him, in Jesus Christ. Amen.
October ’85
13. Thanks to my God and Father, who has brought me safely home, and loaded
me with many mercies while abroad. In good company I went down, and was
received by my friends with many tokens of pity and love, and also conveyed to
Princeton, where I was publicly honored and unexpectedly obtained the honorary
degree of our profession. Oh, Lord, increase my faith, and restore my strength for
the service of Thy Sanctuary! Pardon my backslidings and help my infirmities.
Spare also other of Thy servants, and provide a ministry for Thy Church. Bless
the united efforts of Thy servants for the preserving and propagating of the pure
doctrines of Thy gospel, and may peace with piety be established among us and
also in our families, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
17. Blessed be God for His gracious aid and assistance of yesterday in preaching
from 2 Corinthians 12.9, 213 it being almost 25 years when I entered upon my
ministry, and from Romans 1.15. 214 Oh, may the Lord Jesus fulfill this precious
promise also unto poor, unworthy me, and I be enabled to acquiesce in all the
dispensations of His providence towards me and my family. Lord, be Thou my
strength, my light, life, peace, joy and all in all. Thou hast helped and brought me
hitherto, and it is in Thee I live. Oh, may I live in Thy blessed communion and
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13: subjection to governing authorities and other exhortations; 14:7-10: We do not live to ourselves,
and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so
then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived
again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your
brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the
judgment seat of God.
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The Reverend John McDonald (?-1821), first installed minister of the Presbyterian Church in
Albany (on November 8, 1785) after it had reopened following the Revolution.
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but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will
boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
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Hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
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