The Old Man Yet Lives by Henry
Law O ever watchful shepherd of your flock, Lead us, guide
us, safely tend to us this day, Without your restraining rod,
we shall err and stray like lost sheep. Hedge up our paths, lest
we be misled into the unwholesome pastures of the world, and drink
of its poisonous streams. Direct our feet, lest we be entangled
by some secret snare of the devil, or stumble into his hidden pitfalls. encircle your fold by your protecting
power that the roaring lion may not devour nor any cruel foe
assail. Remember your ransomed flock,
protect and preserve it as the purchase of your dear son's blood. Oh Lord, we beseech you now to
defend us. not only from outward adversaries,
but especially from ourselves. We have foes which cleave closer
to us than our very skin. We cannot escape them. Help us
to elude their enticing wiles. In public and in private, when
we come in or go out, whether we rise up or sit down, they
cling to our heart. Deliver us from their constant
baits and traps. The old man yet lives within
us and is powerful. Help us to nail him to the cross
of Jesus. We earnestly desire to put him
off with all his foul deeds and to put on the new man, which
is created in righteousness and true holiness. If you speak the
word, the victory is ours. Our best strength is utter weakness. Our firmest resolves are as fleeting
as the morning cloud and early dew. In our flesh there dwells
no good thing. It is the vile abode of every
corrupt desire. It is the den in which all vile
passions lurk. left to ourselves, we fail. But your spirit is omnipotent. Oh, then bid your spirit to arise
in all his might and crush our indwelling opponents. How often
do we mourn that when we would do good, evil is present with
us. The good that we would do, we
cannot do. The evil that we would not do,
that we do. We look to you to deliver us
from the body of this death. Strengthen us with heavenly aid
in the inner man, lest we faint and be weary in the conflict,
and yield to our bosom foes. The enemy is within the citadel. Come with your almighty power
and subdue him. Enable us therefore by your spirit
to mortify all the deeds of the body. O Jesus, we are yours. Other lords have had dominion
over us, but now we are your willing servants. O come, then,
you who are our Lord, Pierce to the death, utterly destroy,
Abolish in us every particle of carnal self.