have been called to thy bar during the week which is now closing! O keep us constantly in mind, that to us the period may not be far distant when we too may be required to give an account of our stewardship; of the improvement we have made of our precious time, and the various talents with which thou hast entrusted us. When the Judge of all the earth shall come upon the clouds of his glory, and every eye shall see him; Oh then, may we not be ashamed before him at his coming. Though we have too much reason to confess, that in times past we have provoked thee, and been enemies to thee in our minds by wicked works; yet may it then be found, that we are reconciled to God by the blood of the cross; and through Christ Jesus, may we be presented holy and unblameable, and unreprovable in thy sight.

We bless thee that thou hast manifested thy love towards us in sending thine only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. O give us to believe this blessed record thou hast given us of thy Son. O Lord, help our unbelief. Faith is not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. Thou alone art the author, and thou alone art the finisher of it. Lord increase our

faith: fulfil the work of faith with power; shed abroad thy love in our hearts, so shall we be vitally united to Christ our living head. If hitherto we have not known thee nor loved thee, O hasten with thine Holy Spirit, and begin the good work within us; breathe into our souls the breath of life. May we look unto the Saviour, and beneath the shadow of his cross may our hearts of stone be turned to flesh.

Spare us, we pray thee, to enter on the morrow into thy courts. May our waking thoughts be of thee; and let us welcome thy day, as a day of rest from sin and every worldly care. Prepare us for the solemnities of the Sabbath, and fit us for communion with thee. Help us to leave. the world and the things of the world, and with our loins girded and our lamps burning, to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Teach thy servants who shall minister, and strengthen them with all might by thy Holy Spirit: endue them with fidelity, wisdom, and zeal. Do thou speak unto our souls a word in due season; and may we receive the truth not as the word of a dying man, but as the word of the living God. Make it effectual to hum

ble the proud, to awaken the careless, to melt the hardened, to comfort the distressed, and to sanctify the unholy. At the close of the day may there be joy in heaven over many a repenting sinner. And may each of us, O heavenly Father, be of that happy number who have believed thy report. Now take us we beseech thee into thy care: be to us a God, and may we be to thee a people. May all who are near and dear to us be bound up together with those who shall be gathered into the heavenly garner, and rise to glory, honour, and immortality, through him that hath loved us, and given himself for us. Amen.

SACRAMENTAL EXERCISES.

The Prayer of one going to the Lord's Table.

O thou God of ordinances, I thank thee for the covenant of thy grace, and the appointed seals of it. I desire to give myself to thee, but fear I should approach to holy things unworthily. Hast not thou filled me with reverence for this command of my dying Saviour, with this desire of commu2 nion with thee, and with this willingness to be wholly thine? Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. Am I indulging any secret sin? Do I allow myself in the neglect of any holy precept? Let me not wrong my soul by a sinful absence from thy table. Let thy word, thy providence, and thy Spirit concur to make my way plain before me. Scatter my doubts. Give me stronger faith and love. O that the views of a crucified Saviour may deeply impress my mind, and a sense of his dying love constrain me to give up myself to him more solemnly than I have ever yet done.

Lord, shew me thy covenant, and help me to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I believe; Lord, help thou mine unbelief, and increase my faith. Kindle my repentance, and strike this rocky heart that it may bleed at the remembrance of my past follies; and confirm my resolutions, that I may have nothing more to do with idols. I abhor myself that I love my God, my Saviour, no better. Let that spark become a flame; let that flame be strong and steady, and the proofs of it appear in my holy obedience. O shed abroad thy love in my heart, by the Holy Spirit given unto me! Breathe upon this earthly clod: and it shall become warm. Draw me, and I shall run after thee. I had rather love thee than have all the treasures on earth. O my God, let me not be cold and lifeless at that solemnity, where I am to commemorate the most glorious love that was ever known or heard of! Be with my spirit, help my infirmities, accept me, and unite my heart to thee in everlasting bonds, through my Redeemer. Amen.