not unto us, but unto thee, shall be rendered praises everlasting. Amen.

II.

A Day of Fasting.

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou shouldst bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou shouldst cover him; and that thou shouldst not hide thyself from thy own flesh?

:

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

Then shalt thou call, and the Lord will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou shalt take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

And if thou shalt draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon-day:

And the Lord will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drouth, and make fat thy bones and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

JUST and holy God, who lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity, to thee all hearts are open, all desires

are known. Called this day to humiliation and prayer, do thou make it a sacred season to our souls, by impressing upon us every motive to sincere repentance and a holy life.

O Lord, our only hope is in thy mercy. With thee there is plenteous redemption; and having proclaimed thyself willing to forgive, we rely on divine compassion. We blush under the humiliating consciousness that thou hast been following us with thy loving-kindness, while we have been sinning against thee. Deep and abiding sorrow belongs to us. would seek that forgiveness which thy word promises, and fly to that redemption of which Christ is the minister.

We

Righteous Father, we would examine ourselves as members of a family. If we have yielded to temptation, and the year past has seen us angry without cause and beyond bounds; if we have been uncharitable, unjust, undutiful, or unkind; if plenty has been abused by luxury, and liberty by licentiousness; if our ease and safety have only led to strife, envyings, and divisions; above all, if we have been indifferent to thy worship, restrained prayer, and forgotten the Saviour who died for us; if we have thus broken the ties which should bind us to one another and to thee, do thou, merciful God, convince us of our sins and folly, and lead us back to innocence, piety, and peace. May we no longer be hardened and blinded; but let it please thee to look in tender compassion on thy frail

and forgetful children, who would now turn to thee with sorrowing and penitent hearts.

Universal Parent, we would recognize our near connection with the citizens of this nation; and as we now at thy footstool humbly and penitently confess our sins, we beseech thee mercifully to regard us all, prostrate before thee, and to hear the voice which will issue to-day from so many temples and closets, saying, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach. We mourn over the violations of piety and truth, of righteousness and law, of temperance and purity. We mourn over the existence of treachery, the displays of pride, the perpetration of cruelty, the guilt of rebellious lives. Especially we mourn over the neglect of the Bible, the Sabbath, and the sanctuary. These sins fill our faces with shame, and our hearts with dread. The land mourneth because of wickedness. O God, if we of this family have been partakers of any of these sins, may we this day humble ourselves lowly in the dust before thee in shame and self-reproach, and so repent that in future we shall be no more guilty of these offences. Cleanse us, thou pure and perfect Spirit, from every pollution, and restore us through him who died for us. Pour out upon thy people the spirit of prayer and humiliation, and show them the things which belong to their peace before this hour of reconciliation be past. O may they no longer abuse thy mercies, but keep this day such a fast as thou hast

chosen; and, loosing every bond of wickedness, become a peculiar people zealous of good works.

Supreme Director of human affairs, while we lament the sins which cleave to us and to our country, and ask thee to spare those who penitently confess their faults, we would intercede for all sorts and conditions of men. Fountain of all power, bless those in authority; and may they who make and they who execute the laws be men of wisdom and justice, of industry and truth, of piety and peace. May they ever keep our land the happy abode of freedom and order, and may virtue and judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Endue with grace and clothe with godliness the ministers of religion. May they do honor to thy truth in their public services and private conduct. Faithful and fearless, may they show thy people their transgressions. We beseech thee to bless all seminaries of learning, instructors of youth, and patrons of education, and grant that all our means of mental, moral and religious advancement may be thankfully acknowledged and diligently improved. Prosper those who labor, and may lawful trade in all its branches receive thy blessing.

Compassionate Father, we again ask thy favor on the purposes of this day. May a spirit of seriousness and self-reflection pervade all classes, and the humiliation professed be felt in truth. God forbid that we should confess sins which we do not feel, or

retain those we confess. Do thou give us such a deep persuasion of the evil of sin, that we shall wholly forsake it.

Author of nature, we ask thy smiles on the opening season. Order all things in much mercy for us, and whatever earthly good thou shalt deny us, deny us not thy heavenly grace. May the year be crowned with thy goodness, and we be permitted to rejoice before thee at its close, as the true disciples of Christ.

In the name of an ever-gracious Redeemer we offer our prayer, ascribing to thee all praise forever. Amen.

III.

A Day of Thanksgiving.

I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatness.

They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.