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.