ness to us this night; and may we rise in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever and ever. Our Father, &c. Amen. 7 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. A Family Prayer for the Morning of a Sacrament Day. WORTHY art thou, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created. By thy word are all things upheld; and to the praise of thy wisdom and goodness shall they all contribute. However unsearchable many of thy ways be to us, O Lord, one thing is manifest, that thou art a merciful GOD. And we bless thy holy name, for the many ways in which thou hast been pleased to show forth thy mercy to sinful men. Above all, would we remember that bright display of it, which thou hast made in giving up thy beloved Son, to be a sacrifice for our sins. O with what humility, love, and praise, should we contemplate this profound mystery, by which thou commendest thy love to us! But alas! we are prone to be forgetful of it; we are therefore bound to be thankful for the institution of that ordinance, which recalleth our attention to a bleeding Saviour; wounded for our transgressions, and dying on the cross, that we might live for ever in heaven. Now, O Lord, prepare our souls for this holy solemnity. Let us not attend it with any lightness of mind; with any gross or su perstitious views; nor with that cold and unconcerned heart, with which an unthinking formality may send us to the Lord's table. Help us, while we partake of the signs of our Saviour's body and blood, to consider, with suitable affections, every thing which this solemn ordinance calleth to our remembrance. Enable us to remember, with the deepest humility, man's fallen and lost condition by nature, and to see and admire the riches of that grace by which a Deliverer was raised up for us in the person of thy dear Son. Help us to fix our eyes on him; and while we recollect, that thou didst reveal the coming of this Just one to thine ancient church, and didst hold forth the necessity of his death by its numerous sacrifices; let us rejoice, that thy promise is fulfilled, and that the end of all the sacrifices is accomplished, by the offering of the body of Jesus once for all. 66 We would not "approach thy Table trust ing in our own righteousness," but as guilty creatures, lay our hands on the head of that spotless Lamb, whom thou hast set forth as a propitiation for sin. We would not go relying on our strength, but as weak and indigent creatures, to "feed by faith" on that bread of GOD which came down from heaven, and without which there is no life in us. And while we perform these acts of faith, let them be exercised with a contrite spirit: such as we ought to feel, who have so much of that guilt to charge ourselves with, which ariseth from the misimprovement of peculiar advantages and distinguishing mercies. O Lord, the more we think of thy mercy, the more aggravated do our sins appear. Our guilt is magnified by that very Gospel which showeth us how it may be removed. For how often have we disregarded that compassionate Saviour who speaketh to us therein! We are chargeable with negligence, yea with ingratitude, even toward him who laid down his life for us. How much therefore doth it become us to acknowledge that " our sins are "manifold!" Grant, O Lord, that we may not only own this with our lips, but confess the humbling truth with unfeigned repentance. With these views we intreat thee to lead us to the table of our Lord; and there, though so undeserving of such favour, may our hearts be refreshed by the remembrance of his compassion, and the consideration of those wonders of power, wisdom, and grace, which shine forth in the redemption of man. There, with` all thy church, may we triumph in the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the communion of the Holy Ghost. There may we be favoured with such a sense of thy presence, |