Besides Thee there is no Saviour. Enable us gratefully to acknowledge that thou didst, as the Redecmer, come to Zion, and when thou didst manifest thyself in flesh, thou didst assume the name of Jesus, because thou didst save thy people from their sins. (Matt i. 21.) When we had wandered from the paths of righteousness, had closed our eyes to thy truth, and alienated our hearts from thy love, so that sin and iniquity had made us captives to evil, we then had sold ourselves for nought, and laid our honour in the dust; then, O God of truth, thou didst, as the promised Messiah, visit thy people, and redeemed or delivered our souls from the direful influences of evil and falsehood, opened our eyes to the light of heaven, and gave power to all thy children to follow Thee in the way of life. For this universal redemption—this deliverance from the baneful influences of the powers of darkness, and for the power which it imparts to all to follow Thee, we must remain for ever thy humble debtors, having nothing to pay but our gratitude. We beseech thee, O Lord Jesus, to give us hearts to praise thee for thy goodness, and for thy wonderful works to the children of men! Now, O Lord, that thou hast in pity redeemed us, and freed us from the thraldom of Satan, O give us strength so to use the power thou hast granted us, that we may follow thee in the regenerate life of righteousness and truth. So shall we grasp the mighty benefit of thy redemption, and possess the glorious treasure—Salvation—the life that is everlasting! Redemption opens the blind eyes, and sets the captives free; while Salvation, by restoring the soul, and leading in the paths of righteousness, unites us, O Father of mercies, for ever with thee.
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