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THURSDAY EVENING.

and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before Thee. Impress our minds with a consciousness of thy greatness-not to drive us back from Thee, but to inspire us with reverence and godly fear in approaching Thee— not to diminish our confidence in Thee, but to lead us to admire the vastness of thy condescension, in deigning to open communications with creatures so mean and vile as we are. Lord, what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

be saved in thy own way. Condemned by the law which we have so often transgressed, WHEN we enter thy presence, O God, we may we turn for all our relief to the gospel; see Thee in all the glory of thy perfections. and perceiving nothing in ourselves, may we seated on a throne of universal and everlastfind in the hope of Israel, wisdom, righteous-ing empire, thousands ministering unto Thee, ness, sanctification, and redemption. May the message which concerns a dying rising interceding Saviour, be received into our very hearts, and become there a well of water springing up into everlasting life. And may we not only receive Christ Jesus the Lord, but also walk in Him; in a state of dependence upon Him, communion with Him, and conformity to Him. May we be followers of Him as dear children; imperfect but still pressing forward; not complaining of labour, but valuing rest; not murmuring under our trials, but thankful for a state-O that we were sure of reaching it!-where our sun shall no more go down, nor our moon withdraw herself, but God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.

We live in the midst of observation. Many watch for our halting, and wish our good to be evil spoken of. May we walk the more circumspectly, and by well doing may we put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; yea by our good works which they behold, may we constrain them to glorify God in the day of visitation.

We appear not alone in thy presence; but are variously connected in life. Regard those who are dear to us by the claims of nature or friendship. We ask not that Thou shouldst set them upon the high places of the earth, but O number them with thy saints in glory everlasting. O let none of them die without an interest in Christ, and be separated from us in the day when Thou wilt make up thy jewels.

Bless those who are related to us in religious bonds. And such we are delighted to consider all the followers of the Lamb, under whatever name, distinctive or reproachful, they may pass among men. May the Lord add to his people how many soever they be, a hundred-fold; and may grace and peace be multiplied unto them.

And forget not we beseech Thee, those to whom we are politically allied. Let the king live before Thee. May all who are in places of public trust be faithful to the public interests. Teach our senators wisdom. May our magistrates be men fearing God, and hating covetousness; terrors to evil doers, and a praise to them that do well: and may all ranks in the community pursue that righteousness which exalteth a nation, that being a holy, we may be a happy people, whose God is the Lord.

So we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give Thee thanks for ever; we will show forth thy praise throughout all generations. Amen. F

And yet Thou hast been mindful of us; Thou hast visited us. We have been thy charge from the womb; and Thou hast in all conditions cared for us. We have been con

stantly fed at thy table, and clothed from thy
wardrobe. How often hast Thou drawn the
curtain of night around us, and ordered crea-
tion to be quiet, while thy children have
slumbered and slept. They mercies have
been new every morning. Thy goodness has
inspired our relations and friends with all the
sentiments of tenderness and respect they
have ever expressed towards us.
And we
would not overlook the blessings of the life
that now is-

We

But O Lord, suffer us not to forget-that we want better blessings than these. want a hope beyond the grave. We are guilty, depraved, dying creatures. We need pardon and holiness, and wisdom and strength, and peace and joy: we want the earnests and foretastes of immortality. And blessed be thy name, what we so much need, and hope we can say, so much desire, Thou hast provided. We thank Thee for thy unspeakable gift. We rejoice that we have our existence in a land of gospel privileges; and where one of the first sounds that entered our infant ears, from a mother's lips, was the name of JESUS. We rejoice that we have been led to view Him, not only as a teacher and an example, but as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world: and that now in Christ Jesus, we who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ, and have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.

May we look after actual and personal benefit from Him, and never be satisfied till we can say, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day. Possess us with more of that faith which is the principle and medium of all vital godliness: may we be rich in faith; may we be strong in faith. By faith may we live, and by faith may we walk. May we feel the joy of faith, and do the work of faith. May

we abound in hope: may the charity of every | sires have not been gratified; but it was love

one of us towards each other increase; and may we be filled with all the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

that denied us, when the accomplishment of our wishes would have proved our ruin or our injury. We have had our trials, but they have been few compared with our sins; they We ought to feel a broken heart and a have been attended with numberless alleviacontrite spirit. We grieve to think how in- tions; and when we have kissed the rod, it sensible we have been to the claims of thy has fallen out of thy hand. Thou hast often authority, and the endearments of thy love; wiped away our tears, and restored peace to how little we have credited thy truth, trusted thy mourners. Thou hast never chastened thy promises, feared thy threatenings, obeyed us but for our profit. We already see the thy commands, or improved any of our ad-design of many of our griefs, and can say, It vantages. We have had line upon line, and is good for me that I have been afflicted: and precept upon precept. How numberless have in all other cases, where darkness yet clouds been our admonitions and warnings; and the dispensation, we desire to walk by faith. Thou hast said-He that being often re- We believe that Thou hast done all things proved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly well, and that thy work is perfect. be destroyed, and that without remedy.

We thank Thee, that notwithstanding our desert, this is not at present our doom. As yet we are in the number of those for whom Thou art waiting to be gracious. We are yet in the land of the living. Through another day Thou hast spared us and blessed us. May thy goodness lead us to repentance, and thy longsuffering prove our salvation. Let no evil befall us, and no plague come nigh our dwelling this night; and in the morning may we rise to walk before the Lord in the land of the living, and to show forth all his praise. We implore it in the name of him who died for our sins, rose again for our justification; and ever liveth to make intercession for us; and to whom, with the Father and Holy Spirit, be ascribed everlasting praises. Amen.

FRIDAY MORNING.

OUR voice shalt Thou hear in the morning O Lord; in the morning alone, and in our family will we direct our prayer unto Thee and will look up. How well does it become us to be thankful!-Many during the past night have had no place where to lay their head. Many the victims of disease, have been full of tossing to and fro, until the dawning of the day; so that their bed has not comforted them, nor their couch eased their complaint. Many have been deprived of rest, while watching over their connexions in pain and sorrow. How many have slept the sleep of death, and will not awake till the heavens are no more. Others whose lives are prolonged, have risen to be surrounded with want and wo; and thousands who have all things richly to enjoy, have risen only to live another day without God in the world!

And why is not this the case with us? Thou, O God, hast remembered and distinguished and indulged us. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

And thy mercies have been new every morning; yea every morning. All our de

But O what do we owe Thee for the word of thy truth, the throne of thy grace, the Son of thy love-thy unspeakable gift! What do we owe Thee, if we have any reason to hope that we are in Christ, and free from all condemnation; and that when He who is our life shall appear, we shall also appear with Him in glory and be for ever with the Lord!

Surely a gratitude becomes us that will not evaporate in a morning acknowledgment with the lip, but such as will keep us in the fear of the Lord all the day long, and lead us to ask, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? We therefore, by the mercies of God, present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Thee, which is our reasonable service.

And now, O Thou author of all good, we come to Thee for the grace another day will require-the grace its duties will requirethe grace its events will require; for we know not when we leave our apartments in the morning what a day will bring forth. But we know that we are stepping into a a wicked world, and that we carry about us an evil heart; we know that without Thee we can do nothing; and we know that there is nothing with which we shall have any concern in the day, however harmless in itself, but may prove an occasion of sinning and falling, unless we are kept by the power of God. We therefore desire to pray ourselves out of our own keeping, into thy keeping. Hold Thou us up and we shall be safe. Preserve our understandings from the subtlety of error; our affections from the love of idols; our senses from the ungovernable impressions of outward objects; our character from every stain of vice; our profession from every ap pearance of evil; and may the God of peace sanctify us wholly, and may our whole spirit, soul and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May we engage in nothing in which we cannot implore thy blessing, and to which we cannot welcome thy inspection. Prosper us in our lawful undertakings, or prepare us for disappointment. Give us neither poverty

nor riches. Feed us with food convenient | unto thy people, O visit me with thy salvafor us; lest we be full and deny Thee, and tion, that I may see the good of thy chosen, say, Who is the Lord? or lest we be poor and that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nasteal, and take the name of our God in vain. tion, and glory with thine inheritance! May every creature be good to us, being sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Teach us how to use the world, as not abusing it. Enable us to improve our talents, and to redeem our time. May we walk in wisdom towards them that are without, and in kindness towards them that are within; and do good as we have opportunity unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith.

And unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joyTo the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

FRIDAY EVENING.

O THOU incomprehensibly great and glorious Jehovah, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who only hast immortality-We adore Thee, and abase ourselves. Though we are allowed to approach Thee, we would not be mindless of the views and feelings which so well become those who as creatures are less than nothing, and as sinners are worse than nothing before Thee.

For if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us: the heavens would reveal our iniquity, and the earth would rise up against us. And why should we endeavour to deny our guilt-since even our thoughts have not been screened from thy gaze, and Thou hast set our most secret sins in the light of thy countenance: and why should we desire it-since we know that if we confess our sins, Thou art faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? From a view therefore of their exceeding sinfulness, we would confess them with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, earnestly longing to be delivered from them, and be led in the way everlasting.

Enable us to remember that blood which cleanseth from all sin; to believe in that grace which can subdue all our iniquities; and to resign ourselves to that agency which can deliver us from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. While many envy the men of the world who have their portion in this life, may we with Moses choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. While many seek great things for themselves on earth, things which perish in the using, and afford no satisfaction in the possessing, may the prayer of David become ours-Remember me, O Lord, with the favour Thou bearest

We sometimes hope that Thou hast already begun a good work in us; and to whom should we go for the continuance, the progress, and the completion, but to Thee, the God of all grace, and who art not only the author, but the finisher of our faith? We rejoice in what Thou hast done for others: in their deliverance and elevation we see what Thou art able and willing to do for us. We bless Thee for the promises upon which Thou hast caused us to hope; and in which Thou hast engaged to perfect that which concerneth us. We thank Thee for the means of grace, in the humble and diligent use of which Thou art pleased to draw near to those who draw near to Thee.

May we love the closet as well as the temple; and do Thou sanctify to us, not only the preaching of the gospel, but also the reading of thy word. Believing with a faith unfeigned that it is given by inspiration of God, may we find it profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. In every perplexity, may it be the man of our counsel; may we repair to it in every distress; and in the multitude of our thoughts within us may thy comforts delight our souls.

May we have an increasing conviction of our liableness to err, and our exposure to sin, that we may place ourselves under thy guiding and guardian care. As we see the vanity of the world, and meet with trials and disappointments, may we take a firmer hold of that covenant which is ordered in all things and sure; and may this be all our salvation and all our desire, when our house is not so with God, and Thou makest it not to grow. May we rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and continue constant in prayer.

May we feel more of the purifying, more of the dignifying, more of the softening influence of the religion we profess. May we have compassion one of another: love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. May we never render railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing: may we not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

May we never incur the curse of the angel of the covenant, for not coming to the help of the Lord. May we deem it an honour to be employed by Thee, and long to be instruments in thy hands. Ready to seize every opportunity of usefulness, and willing to use all our talents in thy blessed service, may we daily ask, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?

Bless our country: and as Thou hast placed us at the head of the nations, may we be for a name and a praise unto Thee in the whole earth. Largely have we been the re

cipients of thy goodness; and freely may we give. Sanction the institutions and efforts by which we are endeavouring to spread the benefits of the gospel. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, that his way may be known on earth, his saving health among all nations.

O remember the number called in various ways to suffer. Bless their daily rod, as well as their daily bread. May they feel impressions which shall never wear off: may they learn such lessons as shall never be forgotten: may they enjoy such consolations as shall enable them to say, It is good for me that I have been afflicted.

And to God only wise be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

SATURDAY MORNING.

knowing that if we have not the spirit of Christ we are none of his.

We are convinced that it is our happiness as well as duty to walk in thy ways, to keep thy statutes, and to submit to thy appointments; but we are equally convinced that thy grace alone is sufficient for us, and that without Thee we can do nothing. We cannot even stand, but as we are upholden by thy free spirit. But with Thee is the residue of the Spirit; and Thou hast engaged to give thy holy Spirit to them that ask Thee: yea Thou hast said, Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Bless us therefore with constant and increasing supplies of grace and strength: work in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure; and fulfil in us all the good pleasure of thy goodness, and the work of faith with power.

May our religion,, instead of being an occaO THOU everlasting God, the creator of all sional and partial thing, be universal and inthe ends of the earth, and the father of the variable in its influence and effects. May spirits of all flesh-We have destroyed our- we be in the fear of the Lord every day, and selves, but in Thee is our help. Our nature all the day long. May we hold communion is defiled; all the powers of our souls are with Thee in thy works as well as in thy degraded; we are vile, we are miserable; we word, and in the dispensations of thy proare without strength. We condemn our-vidence as well as in the ordinances of thy selves, and confess that we deserve to perish. If ever we are saved, it must be by goodness the most undeserved and astonishing; not only by mercy, but abundant mercy; not only by grace, but the exceeding riches of thy grace.

And such mercy and grace Thou hast been pleased to reveal and to promise and to exemplify. Thou hast told us thy designs, and unlike the forebodings of our guilty minds, they are thoughts of peace and not of evil.

We bless thee for devising means to rescue us from the perdition of sin, and restore us to a state of happiness and honour and safety, superior to our original condition. We bless Thee for the provisions of the everlasting covenant, and for the constitution of a Mediator between Thee and us. We rejoice that He failed not, nor was discouraged, but accomplished the work that was given Him to do, and said on the cross, It is finished. We exult in the thought that now thy justice is satisfied, thy truth established, thy law magnified, and a foundation laid even in thy own glory for our hope.

May we look after present and personal interest in Christ, and never rest till we can say-Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrow; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. May we know that in Him we have righteousness and strength, and are blessed with all spiritual blessings. While we are justified by his blood, may we be saved by his life. While we glory in his cross, may we bow to his sceptre, and long to have the same mind in us which was also in Him;

house.

May we always distinguish between the form of godliness and the power thereof, and between life and a name to live. What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when Thou takest away his soul? O make us Israelites indeed in whom is no guile. Often may we examine ourselves, and inquire whether our religion will bear the eye of God. If we are not right, set us right and keep us right. Search us, O God, and know our heart; try us, and know our thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.

Impress us with a conviction of the vanity of the world, and the brevity and uncertainty of the time of our continuance here; that we may keep the end of life in view, and apply our hearts unto wisdom.

We are ignorant, and liable to a thousand delusions: but Thou knowest what is good for us. To Thee therefore we commit our works and our way; and to Thee we refer the choice of our inheritance.

Only be with us, and keep us in the path that we go, and give us bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that we come to our Father's house in peace; and the Lord shall be our God.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, now and for ever. Amen.

SATURDAY EVENING.

O GOD, Thou hast been the refuge and the dwelling-place of thy people in all genera

tions. To Thee the poor and the needy have always repaired for succour; and they that know thy name will put their trust in Thee. And to whom should we go but unto Thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life. There is no blessing we can implore, but Thou art able to give, and hast promised to give, and hast given already to a countless multitude, all unworthy and guilty like ourselves. Yea Thou hast not spared thine own Son, but delivered Him up for us all: and wilt Thou not with Him also freely give us all things? O make us more willing to receive the supply of all our need from thy riches in glory by Christ Jesus. And for this purpose, convince us of sin. Show us our true character and condition in thy sight. Take away the stone out of our hearts, and give us hearts of flesh. May we feel and bewail our folly and ingratitude, our pride and unbelief, the rebellion of our lives, and the corruption of our nature. May we sorrow after a godly sort, and abhor ourselves repenting in dust and ashes. Through the law, may we die unto the law, and despair of obtaining life but from thy own sovereign mercy. May we look with wonder and submission, and gratitude and delight, to the provision which Thou hast made for the glory of thy own name in the salvation of sinners. May we believe in Him whom Thou hast set forth as a propitiation for sin, and as the end of the law for righteousness: may we know Him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, and be made conformable unto his death.

Give us that hope which maketh not ashamed. Inspire us with that love which excites to all holy obedience. Pour into our hearts that joy of the Lord which is the strength of thy people; and enable us to say with Paul, The life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

And when we cannot pronounce on our own interest in divine things, may we still persevere in duty. May we wait on the Lord, and keep his way; and be humble and earnest suppliants at thy footstool, assured that they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, are blessed, and shall be filled."

say, Nevertheless not my will but thine be done. If we are called to resign any of our enjoyments, may we remember that it is the absolute proprietor and our best friend who requires them; and yield them up in the spirit of him who when stripped of all could say, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

But make us thankful for the continuance of our comforts; and that in a world of such changes and misery our indulgences have been so many and our trials so few.

Especially would we be grateful for the means of grace and the ordinances of religion, which still await us notwithstanding all our unworthiness and provocations. O Lord, teach us to profit by them more than we have done; and as to-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord our God, may we be in the Spirit on thy own day, and enter it in a state of mind suited to its solemnities, duties, and privileges. May we leave every thing worldly at the foot of the mount, while we go to worship God above. May we experience the blessedness of the man, whose strength is in Thee, and in whose heart are the ways of them. May we go from strength to strength; and at last may every one of us in Zion appear before God.

O Lord God of hosts, hear our prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. Amen.

FOURTH WEEK.

SUNDAY MORNING.

O THOU Most High! Thine eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good: thine eyes behold, and thine eyelids try the children of men. We hope we can appear to thy omniscience, and say, In the way of thy appointments we are now waiting for Thee, while our desire is to thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee.

We are sinners, but not insensible of our state. Our iniquities are great and numberPreserve us from that levity and indiffer-less; but with a broken heart and a contrite ence which are so unbecoming creatures who live continually under the eye of God, and are always on the brink of an eternal world.

May we discover nothing like selfishness and unkindness, while professing to be the followers of Him who pleased not Himself; who when rich for our sakes became poor, and went about doing good.

Let us hold ourselves at thy disposal, not only with regard to the duties, but events of life. Whatever preferences we feel, may we submit them all to thy infinite wisdom, and

spirit we pray to be delivered from them, and led in the way everlasting. Our case is desperate in itself, but there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. The combined help of men and angels could not reach our misery: but Thou art adequate to our relief.

Thou art rich in mercy. The blood of Jesus Christ thy Son cleanseth from all sin. The agency of thy Holy Spirit can subdue the most powerful corruptions. Heal us and we shall be healed; save us and we shall be saved: for Thou art our praise. Hide thy face from our sin, and blot out all our iniquity.

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