THIRTY-FIRST EVENING. FOR MEETING IN HEAVEN.

"Meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."—Col. i. 12.

O God, I come into Thy gracious presence on this the close of another day, beseeching¹ Thee to accept of my evening sacrifice. May this my unworthy prayer come up before Thee perfumed with the fragrant² incense³ of the Saviour's adorable merits. It is my comfort to know, O Thou blessed Intercessor within the veil, that Thou art even now appearing in the presence of God for me! The names of Thy covenant⁴ people are engraven on Thy breastplate, {101} and, all unworthy in themselves, they are accepted in the Beloved.

My special prayer to Thee this night is, that by Thy grace I may be made meet for Thy blood-bought inheritance in Glory. Transform me by the indwelling power of the Holy Ghost; may I be dying daily unto sin, and living daily unto righteousness. Make me more heavenly-minded. Give me more of a pilgrim attitude and a pilgrim spirit. May I ever feel that my true home is above, that I am here but a wayfarer⁵ and sojourner⁶, as all my fathers were. May I attain⁷, as I advance nearer heaven, the blessed habit of a holy life, bearing about with me the lofty impress of one who is born from above and for above, declaring plainly that I seek "a better country."

Let me not arraign⁸ the appointments of Infinite wisdom, but patiently await the disclosures of the great day. Keep me from a hasty spirit under dark dispensations. I am no judge as to what fancied mercies are best withholden. Let me look to every trial as an appointed messenger from the Throne whispering in my ears, "Be ye also ready!" May {102} I delight often to anticipate that happy time when I shall suffer no more, and sin no more; when Thou shalt no longer teach me by mysterious dispensations and a crossed will; when all shall be "a sea of glass" without one disturbing ripple⁹, and I shall trace with joyous¹⁰ heart the long line of unbroken love and unchanging faithfulness! Anew I would wash in the atoning¹¹ fountain. Anew I would take refuge "in the faithful saying." O blot¹² out all the sins of the bygone day. Let them not rise up in the Judgment¹³ to condemn¹⁴ me. Let me close my eyes this night listening to the Saviour's own voice—"Your sins which are many are all forgiven you."

May the Lord arise and have mercy upon Zion. May the streams of Thy grace make glad the city of God. Build up her broken walls; restore her ruined towers; may her watchmen be men of faith and men of prayer; making mention of the Lord, and keeping not silence, till He establish, and till he make Jerusalem again a praise in the earth.

Lord, bless my friends. Let us exult¹⁵ in those ties which survive the uncertain ones of {103} earth, and look forward to the hour when we shall come to stand at last faultless before Thy Throne. Oh, prepare us all for the breaking of that eternal day—that "morning without clouds," when in Thy light we shall see light—when the love of Christ shall be enthroned supremely¹⁶ in every heart, when the glory of Christ will form the animating¹⁷ motive¹⁸ and principle of life that shall never end: and all I ask is for His sake. Amen.

"LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH¹⁹ BEFORE THEE AS
INCENSE: AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE."

THE END.

1 beseeching   

adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She clung to her father, beseeching him for consent. 她紧紧挨着父亲，恳求他答应。 来自辞典例句
• He casts a beseeching glance at his son. 他用恳求的眼光望着儿子。 来自辞典例句

2 fragrant   

adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的

参考例句：

• The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
• The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

3 incense   

v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气

参考例句：

• This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.这项提议会激怒环保人士。
• In summer,they usually burn some coil incense to keep away the mosquitoes.夏天他们通常点香驱蚊。

4 covenant   

n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约

参考例句：

• They refused to covenant with my father for the property.他们不愿与我父亲订立财产契约。
• The money was given to us by deed of covenant.这笔钱是根据契约书付给我们的。

5 wayfarer   

n.旅人

参考例句：

• You are the solitary wayfarer in this deserted street.在这冷寂的街上，你是孤独的行人。
• The thirsty wayfarer was glad to find a fresh spring near the road.口渴的徒步旅行者很高兴在路边找到新鲜的泉水。

6 sojourner   

n.旅居者，寄居者

参考例句：

• The sojourner has been in Wales for two weeks. 那个寄居者在威尔士已经逗留了两个星期。 来自互联网
• A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it. 出12:45寄居的、和雇工人、都不可吃。 来自互联网

7 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

8 arraign   

v.提讯；控告

参考例句：

• She was arraigned today on charges of assault and kidnapping.她今天因被控人身侵犯和绑架而受到提审。
• He was arraigned for criminally abetting a traitor.他因怂恿他人叛国而受到传讯。

9 ripple   

n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进

参考例句：

• The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
• The small ripple split upon the beach.小小的涟漪卷来，碎在沙滩上。

10 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

11 atoning   

v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的现在分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回

参考例句：

• A legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means of atoning for his own neglect. 詹宁斯太太的遗赠，是弥补他自己的失职的最简单、最容易的方法。 来自辞典例句
• Their sins are washed away by Christ's atoning sacrifice. 耶稣为世人赎罪作出的牺牲，洗去了他们的罪过。 来自互联网

12 blot   

vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍

参考例句：

• That new factory is a blot on the landscape.那新建的工厂破坏了此地的景色。
• The crime he committed is a blot on his record.他犯的罪是他的履历中的一个污点。

13 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

14 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

15 exult   

v.狂喜，欢腾；欢欣鼓舞

参考例句：

• Few people would not exult at the abolition of slavery.奴隶制被废除了，人们无不为之欢乐鼓舞。
• Let's exult with the children at the drawing near of Children's Day.六一儿童节到了，让我们陪着小朋友们一起欢腾。

16 supremely   

adv.无上地，崇高地

参考例句：

• They managed it all supremely well. 这件事他们干得极其出色。
• I consider a supremely beautiful gesture. 我觉得这是非常优雅的姿态。

17 animating   

v.使有生气( animate的现在分词 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命

参考例句：

• Nature has her animating spirit as well as man who is nature's child. 大自然就象它的孩子――人类一样，有活生生的灵魂。 来自辞典例句
• They were doubtlessly the animating principle of many hours that superficially seemed vacant. 在表面看来无所事事的许多时刻中，它们无疑是活跃的因素。 来自辞典例句

18 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

19 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。