281. Saturday after Fourth Sunday after Trinity.
Lord God, give us the delight and
strength of love, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
James 5, 19. 20. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
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When men sin both against God and against you, do not let this subdue your love; “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Let it grieve you that they are so unhappy; acquaint yourself with their condition, and feel love’s sorrow on account of their misery. They who live in sin are the slaves of their lusts, bereft of peace and liberty; and this would have been your condition also, if the Lord had not found means to save you through the call of grace. They are eternally lost, if they do not repent; — can this fail to touch your heart? To be sure, it is their own fault that they serve the devil; but it is the Lord’s mercy alone that you are saved. Certainly, Satan reigns in the hearts of the wicked; but it is also certain that God has no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but wants him to repent and live. The heart has heretofore been closed tight against his word; but by the grace of the Holy Ghost it may be possible to find some crevice; a thread may be found which leads through the labyrinth of the soul to a quiet chamber in which the word of God can make itself heard. Seek to find this crevice, this thread; it will be worth your trouble. God shall prosper your effort; and then you save a soul from eternal death. Here it is well to have a sharp eye and a thorough knowledge of the human soul; but this is not given to all; and the one thing of greatest importance is to have love. Love is said to be blind; and there is some truth in the saying; for love is slow to see the faults of others. But at the same time love, nay love only, has sight; for nothing else can find the way to your neighbor’s heart. Love is said to be weak, but it is strong; so strong that you regard it as a mere trifle to bear even the great faults of others. It is strong, persistent, and enduring, and does not give up the fight before the neighbor’s soul has been won. Elijah prayed in the name of righteousness for drought and rain, and his prayer was answered. Yet he was but a man, subject to the same law with us. Shall God, then, not hear your earnest and persistent prayer in the name of love for the salvation of an erring soul which he has loved unto the death on the cross? O, that our hearts were full of love! If we did but have love, we would be richly blessed co-workers with the Lord, save many a soul from death, and “hide a multitude of sins.”
Merciful God, again we pray thee to give us true love in our heart, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.*
And of thy mercy now bestow
True Christian faith on me, O Lord!
That all the sweetness I may know
Which in thy holy cross is stored;
Love thee o’er earthly pride or pelf,
And love my neighbor as myself;
And when at last is come my end,
Be thou my friend,
From Satan’s wiles my soul defend.
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.