But Thou art the Father of mercies; the God of all grace; and the God of all comfort. Even we, poor mean dying creatures, are not beneath thy care. Thou hast been mindful of us; Thou hast visited us; and thy visitation hath preserved our spirits. The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places; yea, we have a goodly heritage. We live in a land of vision. We have the scriptures in our hands; and our ears hear the joyful sound of the gospel. We know that Thou hast not spared thine own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. We know that He has borne our grief, and carried our sorrow; that his blood cleanseth from all sin; and that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

We come in his name, and make mention of his righteousness only. We plead the obedience and sufferings of Him, who magnified the law, both in its precept and penalty, and made it honourable. May we be justi fied by his blood; and may we be saved by his life. May we be joined to the Lord, and of one spirit with Him. May we deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow Him. May the agency of thy grace, prepare us for all the dispensations of thy providence. May we be willing that the Lord should choose our inheritance for us; and determine, what we shall retain or lose; what we shall suffer or enjoy.

If indulged with prosperity, may we be secured from its snares, and use its advantages, as not abusing them. And may we patiently and cheerfully submit to those afflictions, which are necessary to hedge up our way when we are tempted to wander, to excite an abhorrence of sin, to wean us from the present evil world, and to make us partakers of thy holiness. Only assure us, and we shall learn in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content-only assure us, that Thou wilt be

with us in trouble, and that, at the end of the vale of tears, we shall enter Emmanuel's land, where the inhabitants no more say, I am sick; where our sun shall no more go down, nor our moon withdraw itself, but God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.

May our friends and relations be fellow heirs with us of the grace of life. Let our house be the tabernacle of the righteous: let children and servants be a seed to serve Thee: and among none of those who surround this family altar, may there be weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, when they shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God, and they themselves shut out.

Lord, help us all to view our religious opportunities as talents, for which we are accountable: to remember, that our greatest danger results from our highest privileges; and to fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into thy rest, any of us should seem to come short of it.

Thou hast determined the bounds of our habitation; and by the events of thy providence, many of those in whose society we delight, are separated from us. When we are absent in body, may we be often present in spirit. We commend our absent friends and kindred to thy covenant care. May no evil tidings concerning them, wound our hearts: spare them in thy mercy; may we often embrace each other in circumstances of health and comfort; or if we have had our last interview on earth, may we all meet in our heavenly Father's house, and be for ever with each other: and for ever with the Lord.

In hope of which, with every other blessing, we devoutly ascribe to the only wise God our Saviour, praise and glory everlasting. Amen.

TUESDAY EVENING.

O THOU King of Glory, we desire to approach thy divine Majesty with reverence and godly fear, and to worship Thee in the beauty of holiness. Every perfection adorns thy nature, and sustains thy throne. The heaven is thine; the earth is thine; the world is thine, and the fulness thereof. Thy power drew the universe from nothing. Thy wisdom has managed all its multiplied concerns, presiding over nations, families and individuals, and numbering the very hairs of our head. Thy goodness is boundless: the eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meat in due season: Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. How precious are the thoughts of thy mercy and grace-and so excellent is thy loving kindness, that even the children of men, put their trust under the shadow of thy wing.

Thou art the blessed and happy God. O teach us to place our happiness in thyself. May we never seek the living among the dead, nor ask with the deluded many, Who will show us any good? but may we prize the light of thy countenance; implore the joy of thy salvation; and passing by the attractions of creatures, be able to say, Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

Thou hast been infinitely more attentive to our happiness, than we ever have been, or ever can be. Thou madest man upright, and when, by voluntary transgression, we fell away from Thee, Thou didst not treat us with the severity, or the neglect, we deserved. In thy love and pity Thou wast pleased to provide for us a Saviour, who bore our grief and carried our sorrows, and put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Apply this redemption to our hearts, by the justification of our persons, and the sanctification of our natures. We confess our transgressions-Have mercy upon us. We are heavy laden-Give us rest. We are ignorant— Make us wise unto salvation. We are helpless-Let thy strength be made perfect in our weakness. We are poor and needy-Bless us with all the unsearchable riches of Christ. Having begun a religious course, may we run and not be weary, and walk and not faint. And though perplexities, and trials, and dangers await us, yet may we travel on, unchecked and undismayed, knowing, Thou hast said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Thus far, blessed be thy name, Thou hast led us on, and we have found Thee faithful to thy promises. We have had our sorrows; but Thou hast been a very present help in every time of trouble. We have had our fears; but Thou hast not suffered the enemy to triumph over us. We have sometimes been on the verge of despair, and have said, I am cast out of thy sight: but we have been enabled to look again towards thy holy temple and the shadow of death has been turned into the morning. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. Thy vows are upon us, O God: we will render praises unto Thee. For Thou hast delivered our souls from death: wilt not Thou deliver our feet from falling, that we may walk before God in the light of the living?

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We would feel the connexions which unite us to others, and by sympathy, and prayer, and praise, make their miseries and mercies our own. We would rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those that weep. Provide support and employment for the poor, and may their hands be sufficient for them. Make the widow's heart to sing for joy; and in Thee, may the fatherless find mercy. Visit those that are on beds of sickness, and

prepare them for thy pleasure that if they live, it may be to serve Thee; and if they die, it may be to enjoy Thee. Bless our nation. May every department of our government be under the control of infinite wisdom and goodness; and let righteousness and peace be the stability of our times. Do good, in thy good pleasure, unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem: and may all our churches, like the original disciples, continue in the apostles' doctrine, and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.

Protect and refresh us through the night season: and then cause us to hear thy loving kindness in the morning; for in Thee do we trust; cause us to know the way wherein we should go, for we lift up our souls unto Thee. We implore it through the intercession of thy dear Son, and our Saviour.

And blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.

-000-000

WEDNESDAY MORNING.

O GOD, Thou art incomprehensible, and in none of thy works and ways, can any of thy creatures find Thee out, unto perfection. Yet Thou hast not left thyself without witness, nor called us to worship an unknown God. Thou hast been pleased to reveal thyself to us, as far as our wants and welfare require; and, among other endearing characters, we can discern Thee, as a God hearing prayer.

Thou never saidst to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. A glorious high throne, from the beginning, has been the place of thy people's sanctuary. And