{":The Gracious Hope:"} 2

ALMIGHTY GOD,

IT IS THE GRACIOUS HOPE,

OF A BLESSED IMMORTALITY

BEYOND THE GRAVE

THAT SUPPORT YOUR CHILDREN

THROUGH THIS VALE OF TEARS.

FOREVER BLESSED BE YOUR NAME,

THAT YOU HAVE IMPLANTED

THIS HOPE IN OUR BOSOM.

CLOTHE OUR SOUL

WITH HUMILITY AS WITH A GARMENT.

GRANT THAT WE MAY

BRING FORTH THE FRUITS

A MEEK AND QUIET SPIRIT.

ENABLE US TO ADOPT

THE DOCUMENTS OF GOD OUR SAVIOR.

BY A WELL REGULATED

LIFE AND CONVERSATION.

MAY WE BECOME HOLY,

EVEN AS YOU ARE HOLY,

AND PURE,

EVEN AS YOU ARE PURE.

BLESS ALL OUR FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS:

THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN US

A CUP OF COLD WATER

IN YOUR NAME,

THE LORD REWARD THEM.

FORGIVE ALL OUR ENEMIES.

MAY WE LOVE THOSE WHO HATE US,

AND PRAY FOR THOSE

WHO DE SPITEFULLY USE AND PERSECUTE US.

PRESERVE US FROM SLANDEROUS TONGUES,

O GOD,

AND LET NOT OUR GOOD BE SPOKANE EVIL OF.

LET NOT A REPINING THOUGHT

ENTER OUR HEART,

NOR A MURMURING SIGH

HEAVE FROM OUR BOSOM.

BUT MAY WE CHEERFULLY

BEAR WITH ALL THE TRIALS OF LIFE.

CLOTHE US WITH

THE PURE ROBES

OF CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS,

NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES DO WE ASK THESE BLESSINGS,

BUT FOR ALL

THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ADAM,

AS YOU HAVE NO RESPECTER A PERSON.

MAY WE ALL REALIZE

THAT PROMOTION COMES

NOT FROM THE EAST

NOR FROM THE WEST,

BUT THAT IT IS GOD

WHO PUTS UP ONE

AND SETS DOWN ANOTHER.

MAY THE RICH

BE RICH IN FAITH

AND GOOD WORDS TOWARDS

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,

AND MAY THE POOR

HAVE INHERITANCE

AMONG THE SAINTS IN LIGHT,

AND NOW WHAT DO WE WAIT FOR?

BE PLEASED TO GRANT

THAT WE MAY AT LAST JOIN

WITH ALL THE ISRAEL OF GOD,

IN CELEBRATING YOUR PRAISES.

-Mara Stewart, 1835