A reading of Anglican priest Robert Hawker’s (1753–1827) morning devotional writings from “The Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Portion.”
The music for this reading is “Mallard” by Chad Crouch and was adapted for length under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
“Help, Lord! for the godly man ceaseth: for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” —Psalm 12:1
My soul! art thou sometimes distressed in the recollection of the languishing state of Zion? Are faithful men, faithful ministers, taken away from the evil to come? And dost thou sometimes, at a mercy-seat, feel thyself drawn out in fervent prayer, that the Lord would fill up the vacancies he is making by death, and raise up pastors after his own heart, and believers who love Zion, to supply their place? Take comfort, my soul; thy Jesus loves Zion; and she is still engraven on the palms of his hands, and her walls are continually before him. Jesus must have a church in the earth as long as the sun and moon endureth. Remember, the reins of government are in Jesus’s hands; and however the enemies of Zion, like wild horses, would ride over the children of Zion, Jesus puts his bridle in their jaws, and will turn them hack by the way they came. Remember, also, that the care of the church is with Jesus. He saith himself concerning it, “I the Lord do keep it. I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.” Blessed Jesus! I would say then; Zion is, and must be, safe. Die who may, Jesus lives ; and to his church he saith, “Because I live, ye shall live also.” Here then is enough for me, for the church, and for every child of God. My seed, saith Jesus, shall serve him. Hallelujah!
