(Grace
Notes September 2003)
What follows is a further adapted extract from Bishop Lewis Bayly’s
book ‘The Practice of Piety’, published in 1685. May it be a help to
us in our daily time with God.Meditations for the evening
Seeing your days are numbered, there is one more of your number
spent: and you are now nearer to your end by a day.
Sit down a while before you go to bed and consider with yourself what
memorable thing you have seen, heard or read that day, more than you
have seen, heard or read before; and make your best use of them. But
especially, call to mind what sin you have committed this day against
God or man, and what good you have omitted: and humble yourself for
both. If you find you have done any goodness, acknowledge it to be God’s
grace, and give him the glory. If by frailty or strong temptation you
have committed any grievous sin or fault, presume not to sleep until you
have upon your knees made a particular reconciliation with God in Christ
for the same. Thus making your score even with Christ every night, you
shall have the less to account for when you are to make your final
reckoning before his majesty on the Judgement Day.
If you have fallen out with anyone this day, let not the sun go down
on your anger. If your conscience tells you that you have wronged him,
acknowledge your offence and entreat him to forgive you. If he has
wronged you, offer him reconciliation; and if he will not be reconciled,
yet forgive him from your heart. Pray to God for the forgiveness of his
fault and the amendment of his life; and the next time that occasion is
offered (and it lies in your power) do him good, and rejoice in doing
it. For he who does good to his enemies shows himself a child of God,
and his reward is with God his Father.
A prayer for the evening
‘O most gracious God and loving Father, who art about my bed and
knowest my down-lying and mine uprising, and art near to all that call
upon thee in sincerity and truth, I do beseech thee to look upon me with
the eyes of thy mercy, and not to behold me as I am in myself. For then
thou shalt see but an unclean and defiled creature, conceived in sin and
living in iniquity. I have wounded my conscience and grieved thy Holy
Spirit, by whom thou hast sealed me to the day of redemption.‘My
understanding and reasoning, which are so quick in all earthly matters,
are only blind and stupid when I come to meditate and discourse of
spiritual and heavenly things. My memory, which should be the treasury
of all goodness, is not so apt to remember anything, as those things
that are vile and vain. And the custom of sinning hath almost taken away
the conscience of sin. If you, Lord, should but deal with me according
to justice I should be utterly condemned. I humbly beseech thee that
thou wouldst pardon and forgive unto me all my sins and offences, that
all my uncleanness may be so bathed in Christ’s blood and buried in
his death, that they may never be seen any more, to shame me in this
life or to condemn me before thy judgement seat in the world which is to
come.‘ O my God, give me grace to do what thou commandest, and then
command what thou wilt. And to this end, give unto me thy Holy Spirit,
and let him purge my heart, heal my corruption and consecrate my soul
and body that they become the temple of the Holy Spirit: that when I
shall finish my course in this short and transitory life I may
cheerfully leave this world and resign my soul into thy fatherly hands,
in the assured confidence of enjoying everlasting life with thee in thy
heavenly kingdom.‘In the meanwhile, O Father, I beseech thee, let thy
same Holy Spirit work in me such a serious repentance that I may with
tears lament my sins past, with grief of heart be humbled for my sins
present, and with all my endeavour resist the like sins in time to come.
Lead me in the truth of the Word, and preserve me, that I swerve not to
Popery nor any other error of false worship. And let thy Spirit open
mine eyes more and more, to see the wondrous things of thy law. Open my
lips, that my mouth may daily defend thy truth and set forth thy praise.‘
I beseech thee, sanctify unto me this night’s rest and sleep, that
this dull and wearied body of mine being refreshed, I may be the better
enabled to walk before thee, doing all such good works as thou hast
appointed. And whilst I sleep, watch over me in thy holy providence, to
protect me from all dangers. I here commend myself (and all that do
belong unto me) unto thy holy protection and custody. If it be thy
blessed pleasure to add more days unto my life, O Lord, add more
amendment. Wean my mind from the love of the world and worldly vanities.
Perfect daily in me that good work which thou hast begun.
‘Defend me this night from the roaring lion, which night and day
seeketh to devour me. Let thy mercy shield me from his rage and malice.
Grant that whether I sleep or wake, live or die, I may do so unto thee
and to the glory of thy name and the salvation of my own soul. Lord
bless and defend all thy chosen people everywhere. Comfort those who are
in misery, need or sickness. Give me grace to be one of those wise
virgins, prepared to meet the Lord Jesus, the sweet bridegroom of my
soul, at his second and sudden coming in glory. ‘Thy grace, O Lord
Jesus Christ; thy love O heavenly Father; thy comfort and consolation O
holy and blessed Spirit, be with me and dwell in my heart, this night
and evermore. Amen.’
