第3章

Causeinjuriestobeforgotandbenefitstoberemembered.

Letusliedownwithoutfearandawakeandarisewithexultation.

Forhissake,inwhosewordswenowconclude.

INTIMEOFRAIN

WEthankThee,Lord,forthegloryofthelatedaysandtheexcellentfaceofthysun.WethankTheeforgoodnewsreceived.

WethankTheeforthepleasureswehaveenjoyedandforthosewehavebeenabletoconfer.Andnow,whenthecloudsgatherandtherainimpendsovertheforestandourhouse,permitusnottobecastdown;letusnotlosethesavourofpastmerciesandpastpleasures;but,likethevoiceofabirdsingingintherain,letgratefulmemorysurviveinthehourofdarkness.Iftherebeinfrontofusanypainfulduty,strengthenuswiththegraceofcourage;ifanyactofmercy,teachustendernessandpatience.

ANOTHERINTIMEOFRAIN

LORD,Thousendestdownrainupontheuncountedmillionsoftheforest,andgivestthetreestodrinkexceedingly.Wearehereuponthisisleafewhandfulsofmen,andhowmanymyriadsuponmyriadsofstalwarttrees!Teachusthelessonofthetrees.Theseaaroundus,whichthisrainrecruits,teemswiththeraceoffish;teachus,Lord,themeaningofthefishes.Letusseeourselvesforwhatweare,oneoutofthecountlessnumberoftheclansofthyhandiwork.Whenwewoulddespair,letusrememberthatthesealsopleaseandserveThee.

BEFOREATEMPORARYSEPARATION

TO—DAYwegoforthseparate,someofustopleasure,someofustoworship,someuponduty.Gowithus,ourguideandangel;holdThoubeforeusinourdividedpathsthemarkofourlowcalling,stilltobetruetowhatsmallbestwecanattainto.Helpusinthat,ourmaker,thedispenserofevents—Thou,ofthevastdesigns,inwhichweblindlylabour,sufferustobesofarconstanttoourselvesandourbeloved.

FORFRIENDS

FORourabsentlovedonesweimplorethyloving—kindness.Keeptheminlife,keepthemingrowinghonour;andforus,grantthatweremainworthyoftheirlove.ForChrist\'ssake,letnotourbelovedblushforus,norweforthem.Grantusbutthat,andgrantuscouragetoendurelesserillsunshaken,andtoacceptdeath,loss,anddisappointmentasitwerestrawsuponthetideoflife.

FORTHEFAMILY

AIDus,ifitbethywill,inourconcerns.Havemercyonthislandandinnocentpeople.Helpthemwhothisdaycontendindisappointmentwiththeirfrailties.Blessourfamily,blessourforesthouse,blessourislandhelpers.Thouwhohastmadeforusthisplaceofeaseandhope,acceptandinflameourgratitude;helpustorepay,inserviceonetoanother,thedebtofthineunmeritedbenefitsandmercies,sothat,whentheperiodofourstewardshipdrawstoaconclusion,whenthewindowsbegintobedarkened,whenthebondofthefamilyistobeloosed,thereshallbenobitternessofremorseinourfarewells.

HelpustolookbackonthelongwaythatThouhastbroughtus,onthelongdaysinwhichwehavebeenserved,notaccordingtoourdeserts,butourdesires;onthepitandthemiryclay,theblacknessofdespair,thehorrorofmisconduct,fromwhichourfeethavebeenpluckedout.Foroursinsforgivenorprevented,forourshameunpublished,weblessandthankThee,OGod.Helpusyetagainandever.Soorderevents,sostrengthenourfrailty,asthatdaybydayweshallcomebeforeTheewiththissongofgratitude,andintheendwebedismissedwithhonour.Intheirweaknessandtheirfear,thevesselsofthyhandiworksopraytoThee,sopraiseThee.Amen.

SUNDAY

WEbeseechThee,Lord,tobeholduswithfavour,folkofmanyfamiliesandnationsgatheredtogetherinthepeaceofthisroof,weakmenandwomensubsistingunderthecovertofthypatience.Bepatientstill;sufferusyetawhilelonger;—withourbrokenpurposesofgood,withouridleendeavoursagainstevil,sufferusawhilelongertoendure,and(ifitmaybe)helpustodobetter.