never rest satisfied, till we are enabled to view it, as the period of our release, and the end of our conflict; till we can say with Paul, Thanks be unto God who has given us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Take us, this day, under thy protection: and make use of us for thy glory. Let thy presence go with us; and do Thou give us rest. Let thy love sweeten our comforts; and thy grace sanctify all our trials. We consecrate ourselves to Thee, body, soul, and spirit. Accept of our persons and services; and enable us to ascribe, blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen. -000-000 THURSDAY EVENING. O GOD, all thy works praise Thee, and thy saints bless Thee. By thy mercies, we again surround this family altar, and engage in the exercises of devotion. May we be concerned to worship Thee, a holy God, in the beauty of holiness; and to worship Thee, who art a Spirit, in spirit and in truth. Such worship alone, thy word requires; but such worship, thy grace alone can enable us to render. For we know from thy word-and from our own experience we know, that without Thee we can do nothing. All our sufficiency is of Thee: do Thou work in us to will, and to do, of thy good pleasure. We would call to remembrance our true character and condition before Thee. We would not go about to establish our own righteousness, or seek to deny or extenuate our guilt. We are not only unprofitable servants, but condemned criminals: we confess the number and offensiveness of our transgressions, and acknowledge But we bless Thee for the that we deserve to perish. everlasting consolation and good hope, through grace, which the gospel affords; for the news of a Mediator between Thee and us: of an High Priest, who has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; of an Advocate with the Father, who ever lives to make intercession for us; and of a Saviour, in whom it has pleased Thee, that all fulness should dwell. Produce in us, all the feelings of those who are blessed with repentance unto life. Give us that faith by which we can be justified from all things, and have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. To the Redeemer's cross may we retreat, and there find security and relief, refreshment and delight. Assure us of an interest in thy favor, which is life; and clothe us with thine image, which is the beauty and dignity of the soul. We bless Thee for thy word, which we have been reading. May it dwell in us richly in all wisdom. May we yield a suitable attention to its various parts. May we make it, not only our song in the house of our pilgrimage, but the man of our counsel, a light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our paths. May we take it along with us, into all the concerns of life; and whether we are rich or poor, whether we are parents or children, whether we are appointed to govern or serve, may we walk by this rule, that mercy and peace may be upon us. May we ever be willing that the Lord should choose our inheritance for us, and. readily and piously accommodate ourselves, to the dispensations of thy providence. May we never lean to our own understanding: may we never take a step, without asking counsel of the Lord, nor be unwilling to take one, at the intimation of thy pleasure. May we never think that Thou art less wise, and righteous, and good, in a cloudy and dark day, than in a shining one; when we cannot trace Thee, may we trust; and walking by faith, and not by sight, be fully persuaded, that just and right are all thy ways, O Thou King of saints. Regard those, who may be under the pressure of affliction. Be with them in trouble. Thou knowest the anxieties of thy people, lest by any of their temper or carriage in the evil day, they should injure the religion. they profess: let thy grace be sufficient for them: let faith and patience have their perfect work: let them glorify Thee in all their trials. Bless all in authority over us, and so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands, that they may punish wickedness and vice, and maintain true religion and virtue. May all those who are placed above others in condition, go before them in the profession of truth, and the practice of holiness, and be examples to all inferior ranks in society. And may the grace of, &c. Amen. -000-000 FRIDAY MORNING. O THOU eternal God! with Thee is the fountain of life. Thou art the Father of men and angels. Thou art the Governor of the universe, and the Judge of all. Thou dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth and there is not a word on our tongue, or a thought in our heart, but lo! O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. And Thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickedness, neither can evil dwell with Thee. How then can we presume to enter thy presence, who have rendered ourselves guilty before Thee, and have provoked thy righteous displeasure. O wretched creatures that we are! We have wearied thy patience, we have abused thy goodness, we have trampled on thy authority, and we have said unto God, Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. We lie at thy mercy. If Thou pity us not, we are undone. But Thou art long suffering, not willing that any should perish. Hast Thou not sworn by thyself, that Thou hast no pleasure in the death of Him that dieth? Hast Thou not delivered up thine own Son for us all? And wilt Thou not, with Him, also freely give us all things? Through Him as the way, the truth, and the life, may we return to Thee; and find Thee, waiting to be gracious, and exalted to have mercy upon us. Awaken our consciences. Enlighten us in the knowledge of sin and of ourselves. May we feel our personal depravity, misery, and helplessness; and from self-despair, may we be led to value the discoveries of the gospel, and to flee for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. May we rejoice in the suitableness, the all-sufficiency, and the perfect willingness of the Saviour; and find in Him, for ourselves, individually, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. As our Prophet, may we receive his instructions. As our High Priest, may we rely on his sacrifice and intercession. As our Prince, may we obey Him. As our example, may we follow Him and whatsoever we do in word, or deed, may we do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. : May integrity and uprightness preserve us. May we be Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile; and herein exercise ourselves, to have always a conscience void of offence, towards God, and towards man. May the same mind govern us, and the same spirit actuate us, in prosperity and adversity; alone, and in public; in thy house, and in our own; may we fulfil our course with diligence and perseverance ; and at last, finish it with joy. When we have passed the wilderness, and our eyes behold the swellings of Jordan, bid our anxious fears subside; and give us an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. But, O Lord, we would not reach that felicity alone. May we awaken the attention of others, and induce them to join us in the path of life; ever remembering, that if we convert a sinner from the error of his way, we shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. May we therefore seek every opportunity of usefulness: may we walk in wisdom towards them that are without; holding forth the word of life, and adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things— To whom, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen. -000-000 FRIDAY EVENING. O GOD, Thou art greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Thee. Thou art King of kings, and Lord. of lords: Thou art the blessed and only Potentate; Thou only hast immortality-thy greatness is unsearchable. But thy name is love. Thy compassions never fail. Thy mercies are over all thy works; and Thou hast displayed the exceeding riches of thy grace, in thy kindness towards us, by Christ Jesus We are not only allowed, but even enjoined to seek thy face; and assured, that they who seek the Lord, shall not want any good thing. We acknowledge that we have for.feited all claim to thy regard, and are not only unworthy, but guilty. We are convinced, that if ever we are saved, it must be according to thy mercy, for there is nothing in us, from which our recovery can arise, or on which our |