15th.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, &c. Gen. i. 26-28.

Oh Thou, who didst make man in Thine own image, after Thy likeness, pure, upright, holy, and happy; let it humble us in the dust to consider not only our sad inheritance of corruption from our fallen parents, but also the extent to which we have ourselves turned Thy blessings into curses, by rejecting Thy grace. Oh do Thou now excite and fulfil more and more in us the desire to be raised from our ruined condition, by being renewed in knowledge and true holiness after our Saviour's image, that in Him we may again be blessed for ever.

Amen.

16th.

And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed, &c. Gen. i. 29-31.

Lord and Maker of heaven and earth, who providest food for man and beast give us grace so to use every creature of Thine to Thy glory, that notwithstanding the grievous change that has passed on all Thine earthly works, since they were at first pronounced " very good," we may still feel all to be good, and nothing to be refused, being received with thanksgiving, and sanctified by Thy word and prayer. And while Thou continuest to fill all things living with plenteousness, Oh do Thou feed our souls with the bread of life, which Thou only canst give, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

17th.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day, &c. Gen. ii. 1—3.

Lord of the Sabbath; who, not for Thine own sake, but for our's, didst institute, and sanctify, and bless it, by resting on the seventh day from Thine own most wondrous six days work; we implore Thy heavenly benediction, to give efficacy to Thy gracious appointment. Grant that being wholly sanctified by us, and abundantly blessed to us, it may ever prove a time of refreshing from Thy presence, and a preparation for that eternal Sabbath-keeping on high, when those who have finished their work, and kept the faith, shall rest for ever with Thee, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

18th.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Gen. ii. 7.

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Oh Lord God; impress us daily, we entreat Thee, with the humble origin of these mortal bodies from the dust of the ground, and their speedy return to the earth from whence they were taken and while, with the first Adam, we are made living souls, as Thou breathest into our nostrils that breath of life, which a moment may withdraw, and we die; Oh may it be our great anxiety and care, that the quickening spirit of the second Adam may so raise us to glory, and honour, and immortality, that we may pass from death to life everlasting, in and through Him. Amen.

19th.

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, &c. Gen. ii. 15-17.

Help us, O Lord, our God, so to regard Thine own appointments for man, in his original happy innocence, that we may now strive diligently and faithfully to do Thy pleasure wherever Thou placest us: receiving with thanksgiving all Thou still permittest us richly to enjoy, and fully satisfied with the limits Thou seest fit to prescribe to our knowledge and indulgences. Thus may we gladly take on us the easy yoke of Thy commandments, both as they regard duties and restrictions, and in serving Thee, find great reward, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

20th.

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help-meet for him. Gen. ii. 18.

Blessed Lord, whose institutions for man all display Thine infinite wisdom and goodness, appointing that which is truly good for him; we thank Thee that even in our lost and ruined condition, Thou hast sentenced none of us to be absolutely alone: and we entreat Thy grace for the faithful discharge of all the duties involved in our various social relations; that as members of one great family, we may love one another with a pure heart fervently, be ready to bear one another's burdens, and by love serve one another, still loving and serving Thee supremely, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

21st.

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none, &c. Luke xiii. 6, 7.

Blessed Lord, who in causing us to be planted in Thy vineyard, didst choose and ordain us to bring forth fruit unto Thee; we must indeed take shame to ourselves, on a review of all the years, during which Thou hast come and sought it of us in vain. We bless Thee, that through Thy forbearance, we were not, long ago, cut down as cumberers of the ground; and we pray, that since Thou still bestowest on us Thy ceaseless care and culture, we may yield henceforth, not only the fair leaves of profession, but the good fruits of holiness, to Thy glory, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

22nd.

And be answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke xiii. 8, 9.

Oh Thou, the great Intercessor, whom the Father heareth always, and through whom, we, who deserve judgment, can look for mercy; we pray for grace to profit by all those Thy dealings, which are intended to change the wilderness into a fruitful field, and the cumberer of the ground into a tree of righteousness that so, being no longer barren or unfruitful, the sparing mercy we have from year to year experienced, may not increase our final condemnation, but that we may grow up before Thee, and be one with Thee for ever. Amen.

23rd.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Cor. xi. 28.

Grant Lord, we pray Thee, that a prayerful, faithful, and frequent examination of our hearts, may produce in us such a deep consciousness of our utter unworthiness, as shall lead us to cast ourselves implicitly and exclusively on the worthiness of Christ, our all in all. Thus may we never be suffered to eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord unworthily; but remembering His death for us, and feeding on Him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving, may we expect every thing from Him, perform every thing in Him, and ascribe every thing to Him, now and for ever. Amen.

24th.

Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry, &c. Isaiah xlvi. 12, 13.

Oh Thou who art God alone: it is to Thy free grace we owe it, that we were not left among the "stout-hearted," who are far from that only righteousness by which sinners can find acceptance with Thee. Oh grant that the salvation Thou hast graciously placed in Zion, may be brought nearer and nearer to our hearts, nor tarry, till it take full and entire possession of them; that so, having part and inheritance with Thy spiritual Israel, we may strive to glorify Thee, and be honored with the wondrous name given them, of Thy glory, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

M