Thus saith the Lord, ye shall reverence my sanctuary; I will be sanctified by those who enter my sacred courts, and before all the people I will be glorified.

Blessed is the man, O Lord, whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee; he shall be satisfied with thy goodness and pass the time of his sojourning in joy and tranquility.

The light of thy countenance shall beam perpetual day upon his soul, and afford him joys and pleasures superiour to the highest worldly fruitions.

Thou wilt guide his feet into the path of the just, which, like the dawning light, increaseth gradually in lustre to the perfect day.

Refreshing foretastes of the pleasures of a celestial paradise will be his consolation and solace during his present pilgrimage, and when he enters the eternal world, his soul will be enraptured with the joys of his Lord.

EXER. XI.

The majesty, power and beneficent providence of God, displayed in the phenomena and operations of nature.

Mas. PRAISE the Lord, O our souls; O Lord our God, thou art exceeding glorious; thou coverest thyself with light, as with a garment, and art clothed with majesty and honour.

Fam. The heavens and the earth exhibit astonishing displays of thy power, wisdom and goodness, and conspire to excite adoring admiration, and to fill our souls with devotion.

Who is like unto the Lord our God, who doth whatsoever he pleaseth, in heaven and on earth, in the seas, and in all deep places ? The sun, the moon and the stars hath he divided unto all the nations, that dwell upon the. face of the whole earth.

All the elements are turned about by his counsels, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them, in the execution of his purposes of correction or mercy.

He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars. He turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night.

He looketh on the earth and it trembleth he toucheth the hills and they smoke.

;

He ruleth the raging of the sea; when the waves thereof arise, he stilleth them, and setteth a bound that they may not pass over.

God thundereth marvelously with his voice; be directeth the sound of it under the whole heaven, and his lightnings unto the ends of the earth.

The God of glory thundereth upon many waters; his voice is powerful and full of majesty; it breaketh the cedars, even the cedars of Lebanon.

He causeth the vapours to ascend; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

By the breath of God frost is given, and the breadth of the waters is straitened; he saith to the snow, be thou on the earth, and casteth forth his ice like morsels.

He also blesseth the springing of the earth, and reneweth the face of nature in the season thereof; so that the pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys covered with corn.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of men, and crowneth the year with his goodness.

O Almighty Sovereign, may we stand in awe of thy glorious majesty, and may these instances of thy power and beneficence in the order and operations of nature, inspire us with a religious veneration of thy universal all-disposing providence, and teach us always to put our trust in thee, and refer ourselves to thy care and blessing.

O thou cause of all causes, throughout the whole system of nature, and Supreme Disposer of events, we would acknowledge thee in all our ways, beseeching thee for thy mercy's sake, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to be our present guardian and friend, and our final and eternal portion. Amen.

EXER. XII.

The mind relieved, in the view of present promiscuous providences, by the prospect of future retributions.

Mas. O THOU Judge of all the earth, persuaded that thy will is perfect rectitude,

we would bow with reverent submission at thy sacred footstool, and adore the dispensations of thy righteous providence.

Fam. Righteous is the Lord, and upright are his judgments; for the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

The Lord is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity; wherefore then doth the wicked prosper, and oppress the man that is more righteous than himself?

When we consider this, doubts arise, and we are almost ready to say, verily we have cleansed our hearts in vain, and washed our hands in innocency.

But when we go into the sanctuary of the Lord, this difficulty is removed; for there we learn the future state of the wicked; that the displeasure of the Almighty will finally overtake them.

Though a sinner do often transgress, and his days be prolonged; yet surely we know that it shall be well with them who fear God, but not with those who disregard him.

Though there be often one event to the righteous and to the wicked; yet behold the day cometh, when we shall discern between him who serveth God, and him who serveth him not; for verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God who judgeth in the earth.

God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, and render to every one according to his works.

May we rest in the Lord, and wait pa

tiently for him; be not discouraged because of him, who prospereth in his way, or the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

For evil doers will finally be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb; but those who wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth, and be glad in his salvation.

Though clouds and darkness sometimes surround his throne, yet persuaded of the justice and rectitude of his government, we will cheerfully acquiesce in his dispensations, and adore the wisdom and benevolence of his administrations, amidst all the intricacies of providence.

Shall mortal man be more just than God? Is not my way equal, saith the Lord? Are not your ways unequal? Man was not made to question, but adore.

If smiling mercy crown our lives, we will gratefully celebrate the divine goodness; and should adversity be our lot, we will repress every murmuring thought, and adore the divine justice.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and causeth all things to work together for good to those who love him.

May the Most High impart his grace to enable us to comply with the methods of his discipline towards us, in this world, that mercies and afflictions may conspire to promote our preparation for glory, honour and immortality, in the world to come.

And when the present chequered scene of mortal things shall close upon us, may the great Governour of futurity admit us into his