Our heavenly Father, we rejoice before thee, the living, everlasting God, exalted high above the heavens and the earth and all creatures and perfectly consecrated to thyself over against everything that is not thee. We thank thee, Father, that thy truth is a mighty power, that thy truth is unassailable; so that although many men in the history of the world and in our own day hate the truth and fight it with all their seemingly considerable power and might, their strength is nothing in thy sight, and thy truth stands and shall stand forever.

We thank thee also that the lie, which is very deceptive and whose power is in its deceit, so that many are given over to it and blinded by it, is never victorious; for thou dost reign in the heavens and dost use all things, including the actions of devils and wicked men, for thy purpose. Indeed, thou hast decreed all these things.

We thank thee for the comfort of the gospel of our savior and that thou hast given us by that truth an association and a magazine. We confess before thee, Father, that what we have tonight and in this association are not the fruits of our might or genius; they are not the products of our will or labor; but they must be ascribed entirely to thy grace. 

We pray that thou wilt give us a witness as an association and a magazine. We thank thee for the place that thou hast given. Wilt thou carry thy word forth where we know not, and wilt thou call thy people by that truth unto thyself.

We thank thee for this evening, for the fellowship and unity in the truth of the gospel. We pray, Father, that thou wilt continue to remember us. Remember our frame, too, that we are dust and perishing. Wilt thou stand us upon the rock and found us upon the scriptures and the truth so that, even as an association that is interested in the Reformed faith, we may continue to be distinctive. Wilt thou remember us also in our fellowship of this hour, in our speaking to and hearing one another. Continue to abide with us, forgiving our sin for Jesus’ sake. Amen.