Worship service 11/23/25.
Greetings and call to worship.
Greetings and good morning, fellow saints and Christians, those elected before the foundation of the world, the Israel of God. Grace, mercy and peace be with you and follow you through the love of the Father and through the righteousness of His Son, whom He sent for our salvation. We come before the throne of grace once more on this blessed Sabbath morning to bow down in humility and worship the true God, even Jesus Christ the Son. Psalm 110:1-3 says, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Zion: be thou ruler in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall come willingly at the time of assembling thine army in holy beauty: the youth of thy womb shall be as the morning dew.” We worship God in Christ, and as such we are called His people, elect, chosen, beloved, the true Israel. Therefore, let us offer unto Him the praise of our lips and the pith of our service, in sincere thanksgiving for what He has done for us. A Puritan minister writes, “Having heard the word in a holy and spiritual manner, for the further sanctification of the Sabbath, confer with the word. We are forbidden on this day to speak our own words, but we must speak of God’s word. Isa 58: 13. Speak of the sermons as you sit together; which is one part of sanctifying the Sabbath. Good discourse brings holy truths into our memories, and fastens them upon our hearts. ‘Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.’ Mal 3: 16. There is great power and efficacy in good discourse. ‘How forcible are right words!’ Job 6: 25. By holy conference on a Sabbath, one Christian helps to warm another when he is frozen, and to strengthen another when he is weak. Latimer confessed he was much furthered in religion by having conference with Mr. Bilney the martyr. ‘My tongue shall speak of thy word.’ Psa 119: 172. One reason why preaching the word on a Sabbath does no more good is because there is so little good conference. Few speak of the word they have heard, as if sermons were such secrets that they must not be spoken of again, or as if it were a shame to speak of that which will save us.”
Prayer unto the public reading of the Holy Scripture:
Our holy and righteous Father,
Eternal, immutable, and full of all glory, justice, and righteousness,
Merciful, compassionate, and faithful—The God who will by no means clear the guilty, yet showing mercy to thousands that love thee with the whole heart and keep thy commandments:
We come before thee solemnly and sincerely, as those whom thou hast redeemed and purchased by the precious blood of thy Son, called out of darkness and into the marvellous light of the gospel and the kingdom of Jesus Christ. According to thy word, we are bid and commanded to draw near to thee humbly, with a single heart and upright affections; and therefore we ask thee to grant it unto us, that it may be even so—Acknowledging that thou art incomprehensibly great, holy, and excellent, Glorious in power, fearful in praises, doing wonders. We are therefore careful to approach thy altar, knowing the severity of thy law, the holy requirements of the gospel, as well as our own vileness and unworthiness to draw so near unto thee.
We freely confess, O Lord, that apart from the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are justly denied entrance into thy glory, and must be cast from thy presence as an abominable thing. For we are guilty and polluted, unable of ourselves to repent or return, and altogether unfit to render thee any service that is not defiled by sin. Yet we believe that thou art our God, and the rewarder of them that diligently seek thy face. Therefore, we boldly cry unto thee for the free gift of thy grace: For pardoning mercy to cover our iniquities, And sanctifying mercy to make us meet for thy presence. Hear our prayers, deliver us from all trouble, cleanse us, we pray, by the blood of Christ. Assist us by the power of thy Spirit. Defend us from all evil, Strengthen our faith, subdue the lusts of the flesh that swell within us, And enable us to perform this holy service, Not in our own strength, But in the virtue which thou dost supply of thine own free goodness. And now, O Lord, as we come to the reading of thy holy word, we pray for a special blessing upon this portion of Scripture, that it may be effectual to build up thy holy church, which thou hast called thy special possession, and thy little flock. Open our hearts to receive it with meekness; Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and cause us by thy grace to worship thee by it; And may the same Spirit who spake unto the fathers, apostles and prophets, the reformers and Puritans, so guide our whole lives, That we may grow up in Him in all things, even He who is the Bridegroom and Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, our Prophet, Priest and King. All this we ask in his most worthy name,
Amen.
Devotional and doctrinal exposition on the Psalms:
Psalm 27 [7] (Verse 2): 1 David maketh this Psalm being delivered from great perils, as appeareth by the praises and thanksgiving annexed: 6 Wherein we may see the constant faith of David against the assaults of all his enemies. 7 And also the end wherefore he desireth to live and to be delivered, only to worship God in his Congregation.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I request; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart answered unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not therefore thy face from me; nor cast thy servant away in displeasure: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 Though my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as speak cruelly.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Exposition:
We have seen before that the Christian hath many enemies, both ecclesiastical and spiritual, and that it is the Lord who delivereth us from them. For we must remember that all false doctrine—as it is born of this world and proceedeth from the poisoned well of man’s corrupt opinions—so it is likewise stirred up and prodded by Satan’s temptations, that both man and the devil may be held guilty. Man by sin has unleashed all the devils of hell upon himself. While man rushes to ruin under pretense of pleasure, who has painted it so? Will he be forgiven because deceived? Nay, but he will be guilty as a follower of deceit. Yet Satan can have no power at all except it be given him from above; yea, even the devils in hell are chained to His sovereign pleasure, and their molestations of mankind are but instruments in the hand of divine justice.
We see this plainly in the book of Kings, when the false prophets were deceived, and it was shown that the Lord permitted a lying spirit to go forth, that Ahab might be enticed to his ruin at Ramoth-Gilead. (1 Kings 22:19–23) And again, in the history of Job, when the devil was loosed to afflict him—to strip him of his goods, his health, and his children—yet all within the bounds of divine permission. These things were not the victory of the devil over him, but the trial of God upon him; not cruel malice ungoverned, but kind providence unseen. In the beginning of Job, we see the wisdom, righteousness, and power of God in using such dark instruments for the enlightenment and instruction of His saints. In the end of Job, we see the mercy and compassion of God in rewarding faith and patience. Both together reveal that “He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Eph. 1:11)
This indeed is His “strange work” (Isa. 28:21), yet full of righteousness. For in both the suffering of Job and the delusion of Ahab we discern God’s absolute dominion over the spirits and their limited power over the affairs of men. Therefore are they called “the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Eph. 6:12), and their prince is Satan himself. Heretics, likewise, have their doctrine, their authority, their power, their influence, crowds and their persuasion from none other than this prince of darkness. Well did Christ say to the false church, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness.” (Luke 22:53) They are “taken captive by him at his will,” (2 Tim. 2:26) enslaved to sin, error, and ignorance.
These are our enemies—those who, as that holy martyr Tyndale writeth, “enforce to quench the doctrine of Christ, by the sword and by false doctrine.” Yet whether by sword or sermon, our salvation is sure. For “we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” (1 Pet. 1:5)
Now, since we have already considered their nature and their malicious accusations—whereby they would rend us and make us appear guilty even in doing that which is right and honest—we come now to the conclusion of the verse: “They stumbled and fell.” (Ps. 27:2) Truly they did stumble and fall, for the Lord was with David, fortifying him by His grace and almighty power. And the same shall He do for us. For as they accuse the godly falsely, they condemn themselves truly; their very words shall be their snare, and their own inventions their ruin.
When the Papists accuse us of schism, they confess by their own mouth that schism from the true Church is an evil. Yet when the marks of the Church—pure doctrine, right worship, and holy life—are laid before them, they stand condemned, for these marks are not at all found among them. They stumble by their own accusation and “kiss the earth,” as John Trapp saith.
When the Arminians accuse us of making God the author of sin, because we teach that all things are decreed by His eternal counsel, they stumble more grievously. For they make God not merely the decreer but the approver of sin, and so paint Him as a weak and mutable being, the non-sovereign lord of liars and ignorant hypocrites. Scripture saith, “The Lord hath made all things for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Prov. 16:4) Thus God ordaineth the event without approving the evil; He useth sin as the rod wherewith to scourge, but His hand remaineth pure. But they, teaching that God loves all men alike, if we consider that all men are sinners and not worth loving, it is plain that they make Him a lover of sin and a respecter of iniquity. Which man is most ignorant and a pretender of religion without the substance of it? (doctrine) Him, the Arminians say, God loveth best.
This is blasphemy. For the orthodox have ever taught that God loveth His elect, not as sinners, but as chosen, redeemed and sanctified in Christ Jesus. Apart from the imputed righteousness of Christ, there is no suitable object for divine love; “for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” (2 Cor. 6:14) To love sin is to deny Himself, which is impossible; therefore their god is not the Holy and righteous God of heaven, but a shapeless idol of their own corrupt imagination, dressed in mystical language and formed by the twisting of Scripture. But our God is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. (Ps. 115:3)
Thus they have stumbled and fallen by their own accusations. As it is written, “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” (Ps. 7:16) These are but a few doctrinal examples to show the truth of David’s words—that the enemies of the Church fall into the pit they themselves have digged.
Were we to reckon all the vain babblings of unlearned men and stupefied heretics, it would take a lifetime to refute their folly. Yet they are not worth the ink or breath. It sufficeth to know that the Lord will make them lick the dust, as serpents upon their bellies. “I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.” (Ps. 18:37–41)
And again it is written, “Ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 4:3) And again, “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.” (Mic. 7:7–10)
Be patient therefore, O believer, and God will do it. Wait upon the Lord, and He shall bring it to pass. The day shall come when He will cast our enemies behind our back, yea, even all our sins also; and we shall trample underfoot the lusts that once warred to enslave us. “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:20) Hath He not promised it? Then wait, and thou shalt see it.
Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” — Exodus 14:13
Opening Prayer.
Our holy and righteous Father,
our King, our Savior, our Lawgiver, and our Judge—
we come before thee and confess our unworthiness to do so.
Thou hast redeemed us from our enemies— we have not redeemed ourselves.
Thou hast shed the light of thy grace upon us, for we have been ignorant.
Thou hast given us strength to believe when we could not believe;
thou hast renewed our spirits and given us zeal for thy truth
when we were on the path to destruction.
Truly, we were in our blood, and thou didst say, Live!
Thou hast rescued us by thy word and saved us by thine own power.
Therefore we give thee thanks and know assuredly
that all glory belongeth to thee and to thee alone,
our mighty Lord and Savior.
Truly, the godly man ceaseth,
and the faithful fail from among the children of men.
We see not thy signs in the land;
thy doctrine and ordinances are despised and cast aside.
Many strive after a form of truth, yet never arrive at it;
they seek freedom, but not the freedom of divine enlightenment.
Therefore, whatsoever thou deniest us—
if we be beset by enemies or driven into a strange land—
yet let thy Spirit be upon us,
and let thy countenance be favorable toward us,
even as thou hast delivered us in Jesus Christ.
Let our wilderness be turned to light through Him;
let Him lead and guide us in the right way—
the way of truth, virtue, and godliness—
that we might do what is required of us
and not be ashamed at His coming.
Make us pure, even as He is pure;
let us behold His image in thy word as in a mirror,
and be transformed by it through the power of thy grace,
that all might be to thine everlasting glory.
For thou alone canst do it,
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Lord,
in whose blessed and holy name we pray,
Amen.
Lesson 59. [1.2.34.] The Contents of Holy Scripture: The Books of Wisdom: Song of Songs. Part 3. The Doctrine of the Song.
Westminster Confession of Faith 1.2.
Under the name of holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments,
Genesis-Ecclesiastes. Song of Songs.
All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
Intro.
III. Doctrinal Themes in the Song.
i. Christ’s Love for His Church — Electing, Redeeming, Sanctifying, and Persevering Love.
“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” (2:4) — Christ’s electing love gathers His chosen under His banner. The banqueting house signifies joyful communion—the banner signifies the warfare against sin. We go forth in holy warfare in confidence and joy. See Beatitudes. Moreover, “All things work together for good.” And how? His banner over His church is love. Psalm 103:17 — “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him.” Proverbs 8:17 — “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Deuteronomy 7:7–8 — “The LORD did not set his love upon you… because ye were more in number… but because the LORD loved you.”
Isaiah 43:1–4 — “I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine… since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee.”
Ephesians 5:25–27 — “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it… that he might sanctify and cleanse it.” Romans 8:38–39 — Nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
ii. The Christian’s Communion with Christ — Faith, zeal, devotion.
“Draw me, we will run after thee.” (1:4) — Faith’s pursuit of Christ.
“I sought him whom my soul loveth.” (3:1) — The seeking soul’s perseverance in love.
Jeremiah 29:13 — “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Luke 13:24—“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
iii. The Sanctity of Marriage — A Reflection of the Divine Covenant and the nature and necessity of Purity.
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm.” (8:6) — The covenantal bond of love, permanent and exclusive. Inner sanctification, outward works of love. (mutual)
“My beloved is mine, and I am his.” (2:16) — The covenantal obligations. Husbands, love. Wives, submit. Christ loves and sanctifies. We, as His church, keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
Hosea 2:19–20 — “I will betroth thee unto me for ever… in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.”
Ephesians 5:20–33 — “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
Trapp—“To wit, this mystical marriage with Christ. It passeth the capacity of man to understand it in the perfection of it. Preachers can make it known but in part, and hearers can, but in part, conceive it. Let us therefore wait for perfect understanding of it, till all things be perfected in Christ.”
iv. The Name of God (salvation) as precious:
“Thy name is as ointment poured forth.” (1:3) — The fragrance of holiness proceeding from Christ.
| Name | Meaning / Attribute | Reference | Spiritual Emphasis |
| Jehovah-Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) | “The LORD will provide.” | Genesis 22:14 | God’s providence; fulfilled in the Lamb provided for sinners — Christ (John 1:29). |
| Jehovah-Ropheka / Rapha (יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ) | “The LORD that healeth thee.” | Exodus 15:26 | Physical and spiritual healing; the Lord restores health to body and soul. |
| Jehovah-Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) | “The LORD my banner.” | Exodus 17:15 | Victory in battle; the Lord is the standard under which His people conquer. |
| Jehovah-M’Kaddesh (or Mekaddishkem) (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) | “The LORD who sanctifies you.” | Leviticus 20:8; Exodus 31:13 | God sets His people apart for holiness; sanctification by His Spirit. |
| Jehovah-Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) | “The LORD is peace.” | Judges 6:24 | The Lord gives perfect peace through reconciliation (cf. Isa. 26:3; Eph. 2:14). |
| Jehovah-Sabaoth (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) | “The LORD of hosts.” | 1 Samuel 1:3; Isaiah 6:3 | Sovereign commander of heavenly armies; His power over all creation. |
| Jehovah-Ra’ah (Rohi) (יְהוָה רֹעִי) | “The LORD my shepherd.” | Psalm 23:1 | Personal care, guidance, and provision of the Good Shepherd. |
| Jehovah-Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) | “The LORD our righteousness.” | Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16 | Christ our righteousness—justification by grace through faith. |
| Jehovah-Shammah (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) | “The LORD is there.” | Ezekiel 48:35 | God’s abiding presence in the New Jerusalem; Emmanuel—“God with us.” |
iv. The Sweetness of Holiness — The joy of pleasing God.
Fruits of holiness:
“I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” (2:3)
2 Pet. 1:3-11—“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Therefore give even all diligence thereunto: and join moreover virtue with your faith: and with virtue, knowledge; And with knowledge, temperance; and with temperance, patience; and with patience, godliness; And with godliness, brotherly kindness; and with brotherly kindness, love. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that hath not these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 16:11 — “In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Proverbs 3:17 — “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Isaiah 26:3 — “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.”
v. The Perseverance of Love — Stronger Than Death, Quenched by No Trial, Eternal by Covenant.
Song of Solomon 8:6–7—
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”
“The flame of the LORD”
Matt. 16:26—“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Psalm 73:26—
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Proverbs 24:16— “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”
Isaiah 49:15–16
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”
Habakkuk 3:17–18—
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Romans 8:35–39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 13:8
“Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away…”
Revelation 21:3–4—
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Conclusion.
Closing Prayer.
O Lord, our gracious, merciful, kind, and everlasting King and Father,
we give thee thanks for thy grace and for thy word;
for we know that we would perish under the very same word
were it not for the riches of thy free grace toward us.
Thou hast given us an understanding of thy truth
and hast caused us to behold the glories of thy doctrine.
Thou hast filled our minds with knowledge
and our hearts with love.
For with thee is the fountain of life,
and in thy light we see light.
And in the light of thy love, we learn to love.
We love because thou first loved us;
thou hast drawn us with everlasting love
and made us partakers of the kingdom of love.
Inasmuch as thou hast blessed us,
continue to bless us still—
according to thy faithfulness and according to thy promise—
for thou art the God who cannot lie,
and hast bound up our salvation by an oath.
Thou hast sworn and wilt not repent.
Thou hast purchased and redeemed us with thine own blood.
So rich was thy love toward us
that thou didst send thine only begotten Son
to be salvation for us
and to deliver us from sin.
Thou hast sent thy Spirit into our hearts,
and by Him we have cried unto thee in sincerity and truth.
We have the Spirit of Christ;
we believe thy word
and are prepared to walk according to it
in love to thee and to thy people.
By this we know that we are the children of God.
Therefore, inasmuch as we are thy children,
shed thy blessings upon us,
show thyself unto us as a kind and loving Father—
even as thou hast ever done—
and let us evermore praise
thy great and awesome name;
for thou art holy,
and thou hast done it.
We pray for these mercies
only through Him in whom we are blessed,
thy Son Jesus Christ,
our blessed Redeemer and King.
Amen.
Fearless Puritan: 