The Henson Journals

[414]

2nd Sunday in Lent, March 19th, 1905.

O God, make me other than I know myself to be, that

• I may be able to fulfil this terrible ministry, which
• Thou (since in truth Thy Will prevails in the affairs
• of men) didst lay on me. Why on me, O God,
• for thou knewest the manner of man I am?
• All my faults lay open & naked to Thy gaze:
• my thoughts Thou didst understand long before. I
• knew not, and I could not know, how deeply in-
• capable of Thy demand I was, & should become.
• But Thou didst wholly know. Was it that I might
• be crushed in failure that Thy Hand laid on me
• this yoke of Ministry? How may that be, since Thou
• art just, and lovest man? Then, Thou didst Will
• a miracle of grace to enable what Thou didst command:
• and from Thee shall come the conquest of my faults.
• There is mercy with Thee, therefore shalt Thou be
• feared. O God fulfil in me Thine intention:
• destroy in me whatever opposes Thy Will: purge my
• nature from sins unknown, involuntary, &, alas,
• neither unknown nor involuntary. Illumine my
• understanding, quicken my conscience, inflame my
• heart, that I may know Thy Will, & love it, &
• by Thy strength, do it.

[415]

I celebrated at 8 a.m.: there were 40 commts, among whom were Mr Talbot & Welldon.

At Mattins the Church seemed fairly filled, but the Offertory was only £13.5.6. Among the congregation were:

• Sir Michael Hicks Beach
• Sir Charles Renshaw
• Mr Victor Cavendish
• Mr C. C. Craig
• Mr S. Young
• Mr Ainsworth
• Sir H. Graham

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