He addresses God as his heavenly
Father. He confesses his sins. He appeals to Christ as his only
helper. He praises God for his unspeakable gift, and then closes in
the usual form.
The pious Mar Ogen, of Ishtazin, when in great pain, and hardly able
to move, often broke out in words like these: "O Lord Jesus, thou
art the King of glory, the King of kings and Lord of lords; thou art
great and holy, and merciful. I am a sinner, condemned. My face is
black, my bones are rotten. O Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me, poor,
and blind, and naked, and miserable. O Lord Jesus Christ, I am vile.
I am lost; but do thou remember me."
No language expressed their sense of guilt better than the words,
"All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." In the fervor of their
desire for Christ, and grace through him, they would say, "Blessed
Saviour, we will cling to the skirts of thy garment, and hope for
mercy till our hands are cut off." A common petition was, "O Lord,
we pray that we may never deny thee, even to the blood of our
necks"--most expressive words, in a land where so many criminals are
beheaded.
One prayed for our country, when he heard of the southern rebellion,
thus: "O God, pour peace into that land.
Pages:
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239