Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Fourth Prayer, adapted for Autumn.

O THOU who causest the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, making the earth to bring forth all her fruits in their season! We bless thee for the rich provision thou hast made of those things necessary to bodily sustenance.

Although we have not walked in all thy statutes and kept thy commandments, yet, by thy mercy, the land has yielded her increase, and the trees their fruit. We praise thee for the blessings of harvest, which have been so abundantly plenteous, and beseech thee to direct us in the temperate and frugal use of thy various bounties. May we not expose ourselves to the accusation of wasting thy goods, nor abuse them in riotous and intemperate living. With humble thanks we would receive and enjoy thy gifts, acknowledging at the same time, that we are not worthy the crumbs which fall from the table of thy providence.

We

May our souls be impressed with divine lessons from the prospects of the season. have been planted in thy vineyard. We have been united to a choice vine; but alas! we confess with shame we have not brought grapes that are good, but wild grapes; and thou mightest in just judgment have taken away the hedge, broken down the wall, trodden under foot thy vineyard, and commanded the clouds no more to rain upon it. But we are witnesses of the divine forbearance and patience. Spare us of thy grace, and grant

us another season to bring forth fruit. When thy love does not constrain obedience, may thy terrors persuade; and by the expectation of the harvest in the end of the world, may we be awakened to sobriety, diligence, and watchfulness. Amen.

Fifth Prayer, adapted for the Winter.

INCONCEIVABLY great and glorious Lord our God! Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. The things which our eyes behold shall perish; but thou shalt endure they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. Thou art calling us at this time to witness the periodical decay of nature; yet not without a hope, from the immutability of thy character and laws, that there will be a renovation.

In the order of thy works thou art now giving snow like wool, scattering the hoar-frost like ashes, and sending thy cold, before whom none can stand. With devout gratitude we retire to our warm habitations, and solace ourselves with the unity and love of our domestic retreats. We would be practically mindful of our brethren who may inhabit the cheerless house of want. May not our hearts be cold when we see the naked, nor our hands be shut against the hungry. May the loins of the poor every where bless the rich, and may prayer, thanksgivings, and alms unitedly

ascend to thee. Appear for the protection of those, who are coming on our sea coast at this dangerous time: when they are tossed and afflicted, do thou deliver them, and bring them to their desired haven.

O thou, who rulest the year! May our reflections on the season carry religious lessons to our hearts. We would adore thy incomprehensible power, which ordains in their proper order, the effects we now behold. Thou sendest forth thy commandment upon earth, and the windy storm and tempest fulfil thy pleasure. By thee the waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. The hoary frost of heaven, who hath gender'ed it? Have we entered into the treasures of snow? All is the work of thy unsearchable wisdom, and almighty strength. We desire to be filled with a sense of thy care and love, when we consider thy multiplied provisions for the support and comfort of man and beast, during this barren, inclement season. rejoice before thee in the assurance that the elements are under thy control, subject to thy invariable laws; and that in the appointed time, thou who bindest the sweet influences of the Pleiades, wilt loose the bands of Orion, renew the face of the earth, and spread life and beauty through all nature.

We

O thou who hast given senses, reason, and speech to man! Preserve us from misemploying the leisure now offered in excessive or hurtful diversions; but may we use it for cultivating our minds, examining our hearts, and laying up stores of knowledge and goodness.

May the changes of the year lead us to consider how the fashion of this world passeth away, and to place our affections on thee, the unchangeable and eternal good.

By the death of the powers of nature, thou warnest us to remember that we are mortal; and that if by reason of strength we live many years, we may expect old age to benumb our faculties, and destroy our activity. By our diligence and fidelity in youth and manhood, may we provide comfortable reflections and pleasing hopes, to cheer us in the days of infirmity and the winter of life.

Blessed be thy name, that as we know thou wilt revive the decayed plants and torpid animals, and make the fields, now desolate, to rejoice, so thou wilt raise from the dead those who sleep in Jesus; that this mortal may put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruption. Make us thy upright and faithful servants while we live, that we may die in peace, and rest in hope, and rise in glory, through Jesus Christ, the prince of life. Amen.

Sixth Prayer, adapted to the Annual Fast.

ALMIGHTY saviour of men; the righteous Lord, who lovest righteousness; who art a consuming fire to the disobedient and impenitent, but a compassionate father to such as repent and turn unto thee! We would come before thee this day with humble confession of sin and the deepest self abasement, beseeching thee to impress on our minds every argu

ment to repentance and amendment, and to pour out on our land the spirit of prayer and humble supplication.

O thou supreme director in the affairs of human society! We thank thee for the advantages of our condition; that we enjoy liberty, safety, and plenty; that we do not groan under the miseries of tyranny, bloodshed, and ruin; that thou hast given us fruitful seasons, and preserved us from famine, pestilence, and war. Surely the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage. Yet we have made unworthy returns for thy loving kindness, and shewn ourselves undeserving of thy mercies. We lament that plenty has been abused by luxury, and liberty by licentiousness; our ease and safety by strife, envyings, and divisions. We lament that so little of the power of godliness is manifested; that so many restrain prayer before thee; and after all the expressions of thy will, do trample on the sacred authority of thy laws. Surely it is of thy mercy that we are not consumed; and hadst thou rewarded us according to our iniquities, we had before this time been made like unto Sodom and Gomorrha.

Awaken us to a sense of our manifold and repeated provocations; pardon the crying sins of our nation; forgive all who humble themselves before thee this day, and spare thy people. Shew us the things which belong to our peace before the day of reconciliation be past. Fill us with that godly sorrow for sin which works true repentance. May we no

« AnteriorContinuar »