The Seventeenth of September.

PREPARED AS A BRIDE --- Revelation 21:2-4, 10, 12.

"In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." --- Psalm 16:11.

"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." --- Revelation 21:2-4, 10, 12.

O my dear Saviour, look upon me in mercy. Thou seest what earthly desires and unmortified tempers are yet found in me; and though I cry unto thee daily, mine enemies still prevail over me. Yet thou art almighty to save, and hast promised to cast out none that come unto thee.

Let me, then, experience the power of thy grace in raising me up to more newness of life, in stirring up prayer, and strengthening faith, in creating hungerings after righteousness, and thirstings after God, and in bestowing a right heavenly mind upon me; that my soul may be as a bride prepared and adorned for her husband. Give me also a frequent taste below of those pleasures which are at thy right hand for evermore, that my heart may be kept waiting and eagerly looking for thy coming.

Oh the delights, the heavenly joys,
The glories of the place,
Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams
Of his o'erflowing grace!

Archangels sound his lofty praise
Through every heavenly street,
And lay their highest honours down
Submissive at his feet.

Lord, how our souls are all on fire
To see thy blest abode;
Our tongues rejoice in tunes of praise
To our incarnate God.

And while our faith enjoys the sight,
We long to leave our clay!
And wish thy fiery chariots, Lord,
To fetch our souls away.

Devotion for September 17