powers are dissipated with false hopes and false fears; nor can I support the lingering torment of society with myself. But when I return to Thee, sighing and thirsting after Thy Divine Fellowship, my Soul is abundantly satisfied, and filled with inborn Tranquillity and Joy in the Holy Ghost. Nothing can disturb its Peace, while it feels Thy Presence, exults in Thy Favour; and, in all things, quietly resigns to Thee, who art infinitely Wise to contrive, Good to incline Thee, and Powerful execute what is best for me in the whole O, then! may I always love and obey Thee, without the least murmuring or distrust; and consider whatever befals me now, as meant to discipline and prepare me for future happiness. May I bear every thing with Contentment, Fortitude and Equanimity; neither too much elated or dejected at any thing which this earthly scene can give or take away, since I am not qualified to judge of the tendency of things in the whole. Give me a lively Faith in Thy promises, and save me from all irreligion and profanation of Thy Holy Name; for Thou art the All-seeing Governor and tremendous Judge of the world, and wilt not hold them guiltless who profane or neglect the awful reverence of Thy glorious attributes-May I never neglect it, and never forget the worship and grateful praises which are due to Thee, both in private and public; for I can never be without a prompter! All Thy works, with unceasing voice, echo forth Thy wondrous praises. The splendid Sun, with the annumbered orbs of heaven, through the pathless Void, repeat their unwearied circuits; that, to the uttermost bounds of the Universe, they may proclaim Thee the Source of the Justest order and unabating harmony. This Earth rolls round the various seasons of the year, that, in all her changes and appearances, she may speak Thee the original of all beauty; and every other creature that lives thereon, (Man, foolish man, excepted), seems to rejoice in its state and be happy, that it may pronounce Thee the Parent of all wisdom and goodness! Shall I then, who am favoured above them all, with reason and voice articulate, mar the grand Chorus? Shall I be the only peevish string in the tuneful instrument?-Oh no!-save me, Thou Sovereign Power! Thou Universal Good! save me from such a perverse ungrateful conduct. Let not Me, Me alone, who am here so highly endowed, wander as if deaf, blind and dumb, in the midst of Thy applauding works; but may I walk forth with the morning Sun, and under the evening Sky, while my feeling Soul attends, and my consenting Heart beats unison, to the voice of Nature; for the same is Thy voice, sounding aloud in the ears of the wise. Thus may I go on my way through life, corresponding with the general harmony, and praising Thee for all things-Praising Thee for my reasonable being, for my preservation; and above all for the light of Thy Gospel, and my Redemption through Christ Jesus. This is that astonishing plan, by which Thou hast reconciled Justice with Mercy; and while all Superior Beings, inhabiting wide through nature, make every sphere vocal in praises to Thee for this act of Love, let not me, for whom the wonderful work was wrought, be the only reasonable creature that is silent about it, and that perceives nothing grand or august in it. Sooner let me forget to breathe, than forget to extol Thee for it. May I mingle in frequent worship with the hosts of Heaven, and swell their universal Anthem, adoring its depth, adoring its sublimity, adoring its riches! Often may my raptured heart break forth to Thee in strains like these "Bless Jehovah, O my Soul, and all that is within "me bless His Holy Name! Bless Jehovah, O my "Soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives "all thine inquities, and heals all thine infirmities; "who redeems thy life from destruction, and crowns "thee with loving kindness and tender mercies."Forever bless Jehovah, O my Soul; His Name is "excellent in all the Earth; His glory is far above "the Heavens. He, only He, is worthy to be cele “brated with eternal praises!" 3. With regard to others, teach me an unbounded Love and Benignity of heart. Save me from that meanest of all vices, a selfish unfeeling for the practice Soul, coiled up within its own narrow 3. Petitions of the Social ing others. Duties respect- orb. May I consider myself as related to that universal republic of being, whose common Parent Thou art; and, in a particular manner, feel for all my own species; weeping the lovely tear of sympathy with those that weep; and mingling the generous joys of congratulation with those that joy! next, may I calmly and decently take my departure from this present stage; nor let me, when I have endeavoured to act up to my character in every former scene, flag under the last. Let me rather, O God! confront the king of terrors with Christian resolution, in the hopes of being placed with the Righteous at Thy Son's Right-hand, in that terrible Day, when He shall come in all His glory to judge the world; and in the hopes of returning with Him through the gates of the New Jerusalem, amidst the shouts and congratulations of all the hosts of heaven, with them to celebrate the praises of the Godhead in that endless state of unmixed Joy, which is to be the consummation of virtue and happiness! That this may be my blessed state, I beg through the merits and mediation of the same Jesus Christ, who has taught me to aid my imperfect Petitions, by saying: Our Father, &c. |