We must stir up ourselves to praise God with the consideration both of the reason and of the encouragement we have to praise him. › The goodness of his grace relating to our souls and the life that is to come.

22. For the martyrs and confessors, the lights of the church, and the good examples of those that are gone before us to heaven,

We bless thee for all those who have been enabled to approve themselyes to God in much patience, in afflictions, in distresses, who when they have been brought before governors and kings for Christ’s sake, it has turned to them for a testimony, and God has given them a mouth and wisdom, 2 Cor 6:4

which all their adversaries were not able to gainsay or resist. 2 Cor 6:4. Luke 21:12, 18, 15.

That those who for Christ’s sake were killed all the day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter, yet in all these things were more than conquerors, through him that loved them. Rom 8:36, 37.

That they overcame the accuser of the brethren by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and by not loving their lives unto the death. Rev 12:11.

We bless thee for the cloud of witnesses with which we are compassed about, for the footsteps of the flock, for the elders that have obtained a good report, and are now through faith and patience inheriting the promises. Lord, give us to follow them, as they followed Christ. Heb 12:1. Song 1:8. Heb 11:2; Heb 6:12. 1 Cor 10:1.

‹ For the preservation of Christianity in the world unto… · For the communion of saints, that spiritual communion… ›

Pray now: a guided prayer in six parts, with the next heads each day.

Henry’s text is in the public domain. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, No. 265 Chestnut Street. Undated, about 1840 to 1860. The preface is dated Chester, March 25, 1710. From the Internet Archive scan. The KJV text is in the public domain.