have, at any time, done them, or us, any injury; and grant to Christians of all denominations, whatever thou knowest to be proper and necessary for them. And now, O heavenly Father, we desire with all humility of soul and body, to adore thy incomprehensible Majesty, and to magnify thy great and glorious name, for the manifold and undeserved favours which thou hast bestowed upon us; but above all "for thine inestimable love, in the redemption of the world, by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace here, and for the hope of glory hereafter.” Imprint on our minds and memories such a deep and lasting sense of thy mercies, that we may "shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days."

We confess, with true contrition of heart, that we are not worthy of the least of thy favours; but we entreat thee to forgive us, and to blot from the book of thy remembrance all our past transgressions. We commend our souls and bodies, and all that belong to us, to thy fatherly protection this night; beseeching thee to give thy angels charge over us, that no evil or danger of any kind may come near

to hurt us.

Refresh our bodies with quiet rest and sleep; and when thou shalt think fit to take us out of this world, give us everlasting peace in thy heavenly kingdom; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. AMEN.

An Address to Persons in different Stations of Life, on the Duty of reading and studying the HOLY BIBLE.

LET me exhort you to "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES,"* habitually and daily, with fervent prayer for the help of the Holy Spirit. The command is express, the obligation universal, and the benefit immense. Whatever situation of life you may fill, there is something in the Scriptures that concerns you, something that it is infinitely important you should know or remember.

PARENTS, HEADS OF FAMILIES.Read the BIBLE† for your own sakes, and

*John v. 39.

+ But it will be of little use to read, unless at the same time also you reflect; unless you apply what you read to

for the sake of your children and servants. God expects that you will not only read in private, but that you will also instruct your families. He requires you "to keep the words which he hath commanded in your heart; to teach them diligently to your children; to talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up."*

How then can you live in the neglect of family prayer? or how can you instruct your family, if you yourselves are wilfully ignorant of the sacred writings? If you have hitherto neglected this important duty, do

* Deut. vi. 6, 7.

those great purposes which the Scriptures were meant to promote,—the amendment of your faults, the improvement of your hearts, and the salvation of your souls.

SO no longer. Remember what the Lord said concerning Abraham: "I know him that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."* Remember likewise the determination of Joshua:

"As

for me and my house, we will serve the

Lord." +

CHILDREN.-You also should read the Bible every day of your life, in order to become "wise unto salvation." Jesus said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not." And again, "They that seek me early shall find me." The child Samuel "early sought the Lord." Josiah was but eight years old, when he did that

*Gen. xviii. 19. † Josh. xxiv. 15.