THE MORNING
WATCHES
By John MacDuff, 1852.
This little book is designed as a
companion to the "Night Watches." It is hoped, by the Divine blessing, they
may together form a humble auxiliary in promoting what is pronounced in the
best of all manuals of devotion to be "a good thing"—the showing forth of
God's "loving-kindness in the morning," and His "faithfulness
every night" (Ps. 92:2.)
It may not be out of place to remark, regarding the verse
which forms the key-note to each petition—"O Lord, in the morning I will I
direct my prayer to You"—that the word "direct," in the original Hebrew, may
literally be rendered, "set in order." It refers to the setting in order of
the wood for the burnt-sacrifices in the temple of old. While the heart of
the believer, according to this beautiful allusion, is represented as a
spiritual altar, on which, morning after morning, he offers the oblation of
prayer, this motto-verse may also serve as a magnet to keep the eye fixed,
in each successive petition, on the great Antitypical Sacrifice, through
whom alone it is that "the words of our mouths and the meditations of our
hearts" are "acceptable" in the sight of God.
Though more strictly designed for private devotion, and
therefore expressed in the first person, it is hoped, by the substitution of
the plural pronoun, that the following pages may not be inappropriate for
the family altar.
1. For Pardon of Sin
2. For Renewal of Heart
3. For Sanctifying Grace
4. For Support in Temptation
5. For Help in Trouble
6. For Comfort in Bereavement
7. For Light in Darkness
8. For Hope in Discouragement
9. For Wisdom in Perplexity
10. For Strength in Weakness
11. For Gratitude in Mercies
12. For Crucifixion of Sin
13. For Growth in Holiness
14. For Victory over the World
15. For Deeper Views of Self
16. For Brighter Views of Jesus
17. For Nearer Views of Heaven
18. For Weanedness from the Creature
19. For Lowliness of Mind
20. For Simplicity of Faith
21. For Consistency of Walk
22. For Singleness of Eye
23. For Filial Nearness
24. For Restoration to Favor
25. For a Pilgrim Spirit
26. For Preparation for Death
27. For a Joyful Resurrection
28. For the Conquest of Satan
29. For the Outpouring of the Spirit
30. For the Union of Your People
31. For the Coming of Your Kingdom