nature and providence; that we may manifest a more becoming reverence for thy perfections, and a truer concern for thy honor and service.

We also pray thee, O God, to teach us the knowledge and the government of ourselves; may we keep our hearts with all diligence, amidst all the trials and changes of the world; in prosperity may we be humble, temperate, and charitable; in adversity may we be patient, and wholly resigned to thy will. Save us, O gracious God, from anger and malice, from revenge and uncharitableness, from pride and presumption, from the snares of the wicked and the fatal influence of every evil example; give us prudence to direct our affairs, resolution to preserve our innocence, and wisdom and constancy to retain our integrity as long as we live. In whatever station thou art pleased to appoint our lot, and wherever we are, in public or in private, may it be our uniform and steady pur

pose to discharge our duty with fidelity; and in that solemn day, when thou, supreme over all, shalt judge the world by Jesus Christ, may we appear with humble confidence and joy, and be admitted into thy glorious and everlasting kingdom.

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O God, we implore thy blessing on all that is dear and valuable to us. pray thee to bless our country, our rulers, our friends, the churches of Christ, the ministers of religion, the instructers of youth, the rising generation, and all the means of establishing, preserving, and diffusing the principles of liberty, holiness, and virtue.

Keep us this night by thine almighty power; be always our defender, guide, and friend; and to thee, the infinite and eternal God, we will ascribe continually all glory, honor, and praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THURSDAY MORNING.

O THOU great Creator, governor, and supporter

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of men; thou dwellest in light, and art the father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. Grateful for the care which thou hast exercised over us during the night past, we would cheerfully submit selves to thy guidance through the day upon which we have entered. Keep us in thy faith and fear, and secure us from every evil of soul and body. Impress on our hearts a solemn sense of thy universal presence. Preserve us from any snares and dangers to which we may be exposed, and especially from the sins which do most easily beset us. Prepare us for new occurrences, whether prosperous or adverse, and quicken us in the discharge of those duties which lie before us.

Thou prolongest our lives, that we may attain more and more to the true end of life. May this day witness some improvement in knowledge, piety, and virtue. May it witness our diligence in that

occupation to which thou hast called us. We desire and purpose to keep consciences void of offence, and to abstain from every action offensive to the eye of divine purity; but the experience which we have had of our frailty makes usdiffident of our strength. Our confidence is in thy power to strengthen our faith, invigorate our obedience, and cause us to run in the way of thy commandments. We implore thine aid, that we may walk before thee this day, and all the days of our lives. Help our endeavors after improvement and usefulness; enable us to make every day some progress in a holy life teach us to feel the uncertainty and value of our days on earth; and when they shall be numbered and finished, receive us into the light and bliss of thy glorious presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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THURSDAY EVENING. O GOD, the Father of mercies, the God of love,

and of all consolation; we thy servants unite to present unto thee our unfeigned thanks, for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us and all the children of men.

We thank thee, that thou hast created us in thine own image; endued us with social affections; implanted in our hearts a sense of good and evil; and called us to the fear and love of thee, the greatest and best of beings. We praise thee for our continual support, and for all the comforts of our lives. Thou givest us health and fruitful seasons, and fillest our hearts with food and gladness. Blessed be the Lord, even the God of our salvation, who daily loadeth us with benefits.

Above all, we thank thee for thy great mercy, in sending thy well beloved Son Jesus Christ into the world, to instruct us by his excellent doctrine; to guide us by his perfect example; and to fill us with the joyful hope of eternal life.

Thou hast

been mindful of us and blessed us; thou thou hast dealt bountifully with us, and done great things for us. We will bless thee at all times; thy praise shall be continually in our mouths.

We acknowledge before thee, O God, who rulest the children of men with wisdom and goodness, that we have not duly improved thy manifold mercies. Though thou hast nourished and brought us up as children, we have sinned against thee. We desire to forsake all our evil ways, and to return unto thee with our whole hearts; and we humbly beseech thee, who art slow to anger and ready to forgive, that thou wouldst pardon all our transgressions. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us, and grant us thy salvation.

Lead us by thy gracious hand in the path of our duty; and, in the time of temptation, let thy good Spirit be with us, to keep us from falling. May our minds be purified from all

sinful affections; may falsehood and deceit have no place in our words; and, in all our ways, may we obey thy commandments; that being holy in thy sight, we may obtain thy favor, and may finally be received into thine everlasting kingdom.

We pray unto thee, O gracious God, in behalf of all our friends. Supply their wants out of the stores of thy bounty; let thy watchful providence evermore defend them from evil; and let thy goodness and mercy follow them all the days of

their lives.

We address our united devotions unto thee, the giver of all good things, in the name and as the disciples of Jesus Christ; and now unto the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, dwelling in light to which no man can approach, whom no hath seen or can see, be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

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FRIDAY MORNING.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being; we, thy needy creatures, render thee our humble praises, for thy preservation of us from the beginning of our lives. to this day. We thank thee for refreshing us with the slumbers, and guarding us from the dangers of the past night. For all thy mercies we bless and magnify thy glorious name, humbly beseeching thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

And since it is by thy mercy, O gracious Father, that another day is added to our lives, we here dedicate both our souls and our bodies to thee and thy service in a sober, righteous, and godly life; in which resolution do thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

But, O God, who knowest the weakness of our nature, and the manifold temptations which we daily meet with, we humbly beseech thee to have compassion on our infirmities, and to give us the constant assistance of thy holy Spirit, that we may be effectually restrained from sin and excited to our duty. Imprint upon our hearts such a dread of thy judgments, and such a grateful sense of thy goodness to us, as may make us both afraid and ashamed to offend thee; and keep in our minds a lively remembrance of that great day, in which we must give an account of our thoughts, words, and actions, and according to the works done in the body, be rewarded punished, by him, whom thou hast appointed the judge of the quick and dead, thy Son Jesus Christ.

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In particular, we implore thy grace and pro

tection for the ensuing day. Keep us temperate in our meats and drinks, and diligent in our several callings. Grant us patience under any afflictions thou shalt see fit to lay on us, and minds always contented with our present condition. Give us grace to be just and upright in all our dealings; quiet and peaceable; full of compassion; and ready to do good unto all men, according to our abilities and opportunities. Direct us in all our ways, and prosper the works of our hands in the business of our several stations. Defend us from all dangers and adversities; and be graciously pleased to take us and all things belonging to us under thy fatherly care and protection. These things, and whatever else thou shalt see necessary and convenient to us, we humbly beg in the name and as the disciples of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Redeemer. Amen.