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O Lord, order our outward circumstances in such a manner, as thou seest to be best for us, and teach us to demean ourselves as we ought in every condition, and may all providences, whether favourable or calamitous, work together for our good.

Then may we hope that the remaining days of our pilgrimage on earth, may be crowned with joy and serenity, and that we shall finally realize those glorious scenes, and solacing anticipations, in the climes above, of which the gospel now gives the most animating prospects.

EXER. XXV.

On Divine Goodness.

1. Mas. Almighty God, the heavens declare thy glory, and the firmament sheweth thine handy work, day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night, thy knowledge.

2. Fam. There is neither speech nor language but thy voice is heard, and the operations of nature are universally before us.

3. Thou ordaineth a tabernacle for the sun, which cometh forth as a bridegroom from his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his

course.

4. His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of the earth, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

5. O Lord, our Governour, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, and thy glory above the heavens; considering the works of

thy finger, the moon and stars, thou hast ordained.

6. It behoves us devoutly to enquire, Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visiteth him?

7. Thou hast permitted him to have dominion over the works of thine hands and put all things in subjection to him.

8. All sheep and oxen: The fowls of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the sea, all acknowledge thy support and protection.

9. The children of men unite in celebrating thy wondrous works, they abundantly utter the memory of thy goodness, and sing of thy righteousness.

10. Thou Lord art gracious and merciful, long suffering and of great goodness, and thy tender mercies are over all thy works.

11. Almighty Creator, thy power, thy glory and the mightiness of thy kingdom are known unto men, thy kingdom is everlasting, and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.

12. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing, and art nigh unto all those who faithfully call upon thee.

13. Thou wilt fulfil their desire, will attend to their prayer, and grant their request. Our mouths therefore shall speak the praises of the Lord, and let all flesh render thanks to his great and holy name.

14. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the king of glory may come in.

15. Who is the king of glory? It is the

Lord, strong and mighty, even the Lord, mighty in battle.

16. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the king of glory may come in.

17. His name will endure for ever, and continue as long as the sun. All nations do call him blessed, and the whole earth be filled with his glory.

EXER. XXVI.

Peculiarly adapted for the young.

REMEMBER NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth, that your mind may be stored with treasures of comfort, before the evil days of old age come on, wherein your relish for earthly pleasures, and worldly delights, will cease, and be no more.

Seek the Lord, while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; and hearken diligently to the voice of wisdom, which addresses you in that language: "I love them who love me, and they who seek me early shall find me.”

What is your life? A vapour which appeareth for a moment, and then vanisheth away. Teach us, O Lord, so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Bebold, O Lord, thou hast made our days an hand-breadth, and our age as nothing before thee; every man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity. May the God of the spirits

of all flesh, cause us to know our end, and the measure of our days, what it is, that we may know how frail we are.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the imagination of thy heart and the sight of thine eyes, but know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee into judgment.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the ways whereof are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths peace.

Say not, "We are young; religion is too grave a business for our sprightly age; we will wait for a more convenient season," for the bloom of youth is no security against the invasion of mortal sickness, or the stroke of death; and you know not what a day may bring forth.

May young people consider, that now, in a peculiar sense, is the accepted time, and the day of salvation; and that, should their lives› be protracted to advanced age, they will nev-. er have a more convenient season to engage in the business of religion than the present.

May the grace of God temper and moderate the gaieties of their volatile age, and in duce them to be sober minded, and to consecrate their blooming spring to religion and virtue; then shall they receive a rich har. vest of joys and comforts in the autumn of life, should they attain to it.

May a consideration of God's omniscience be a constant restraint upon inexperienced youth, and dispose them to repel temptations,

in the language of Joseph-"How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God."

"Reduce, O Lord, their wand'ring minds,
Amus'd with airy dreams,

That heav'nly wisdom may dispel,
Their visionary schemes."

Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, according to God's word, and keeping his ordinances and precepts.

Early habits of piety and virtue, like new clothes on a young and comely body, set very gracefully on a young mind, and add peculiar beauties to it.

Such habits are robes of glory to blooming youth; like ornaments of grace about their heads, and chains of gold about their necks.

Flee youthful follies and vanities, and serve the Lord with a perfect heart and willing mind, hearkening to the doctrines of his word, and teachings of his ministers; lest you mourn at last, when your flesh and your heart are consumed, and say, "How have we hated instruction, and our hearts despised reproof."

O that there were such an heart in them, that they might fear the Lord, and keep his commandments always; then would it be well with them in time and eternity.

"With holy caution may they walk,
And be thy word their guide,
"Till each, the desart safely pass'd,
On Zion's hill abide."

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