ful, that we have our existence in a christian country, and where we can hear words, by which we may be saved. O, how important, how suitable, how encouraging are the discoveries, the doctrines, the promises, the invitations of the gospel of peace. We are lost; but here is presented to us a free, full, and everlasting salvation. We are left without strength; but here we learn, that help is laid on one that is mighty. We are poor and needy; but here we behold the unsearchable riches of Christ. We are blind and ignorant; but in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We thank Thee O God for thine unspeakable gift, and we cordially accept of thy mercy extended to us, through the mediation of thy dear Son. We rejoice that he has been delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification; and that He is now exalted at thy right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour. We abandon every other refuge to hide in, and every other foundation to build upon, and make him our only hope, and our only confidence. And while we depend on his death, and make mention of his righteousness only, we admire his example, and desire to be conformed to his image. May we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and increasingly resemble Him, whose life was beneficence; whose soul was meekness and humility; who pleased not himself; and who, of obedience the most trying and difficult, could say, I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea thy law is within my heart. May his glory fill our minds; may his love reign in our affections; and at his cross, and at his tomb, may we burn with ardour to live, not to ourselves, but to Him that died for us and rose again.

Let the number of his followers daily increase; and may none of our friends be found among his

enemies. Pour thy Spirit upon our seed, and thy blessing upon our offspring. Let our sons be as plants grown up in their youth, and our daughters as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace. May our domestics be the servants of God; may they do his will from the heart; and be prepared for that world, where those who serve, will be as those who are served, and all the distinctions now necessary, will be done away, and none remain, but those which arise from char acter. And whatever be our conditions in life, may we fill them as christians; may we escape the snares to which they expose us; discharge the duties that grow out of their circumstances; enjoy with moderation and gratitude their advantages; and improve with decision and diligence, their opportunities and resources of usefulness. May every place and every company, in which we are found, be benefited by us.

And whatever may be the opinion of our fellow creatures concerning us, may we be satisfied and happy, in having the testimony that we please God. We are now going forth into the concerns of another day. Take us under thy protection and influence. Guide us in all our steps. Enable us to realize thy presence and thy providence. Succeed us, in all our lawful endeavours, or prepare us for disappointment; and assure us that we are in the number of those to whom all things are working together for good; and who will for ever acknowledge-marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are all thy ways, O thou King of saints. Amen.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

GOD over all, blessed for evermore.

We de

sire to acknowledge thy Being and agency; to adore thy perfections, and to admire the works of thy hands. Thou hast made summer and winter. Thou hast appointed the moon for seasons, and the sun knoweth his going down. The day is thine; the night also is thine: and thou makest the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. To that throne, from which none were ever repulsed or sent away empty, we again approach for mercy and grace to help in time of need. Let our prayer come before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Preserve us from formality, in those exercises in which we so daily engage; and alarm · our fears, lest we should provoke Thee to say, in vain do they worship me.

For this purpose, enable us to realize thine all seeing eye, to remember with whom we have to do and what we have to do with Him: may we deeply feel the guilt of the sins we confess, and hunger and thirst after the blessings we implore. And while we review the numberless blessings we have received from thy hands, may we be more than ever sensible of our unworthiness, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may be disposed to show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and walking before Thee in holiness and righteousness all our days.

He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. We bless Thee this evening, as the Preserver of men. Another day has been added, by thy good providence, to the season of thy long suffering, and the time of our preparation for eternity. We lament that the design of our being placed and continued here, has been so imperfectly subserved;

that in so many things we have offended, and in all, come short of the glory of God. If, where much is given, much will be required, and the servant who knew his Lord's will, and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes-if Thou, Lord should mark our iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? We cannot answer Thee for one of a thousand of our transgressions: the review of a single day is enough to plunge us into despair—our only relief is, that there is forgiveness with Thee; and that with Thee there is plenteous redemption.

But while we hope in thy mercy, we would not abuse it. We would not sin that grace may abound; or be evil, because Thou art good. But since Thou art good, and ready to forgive, we would the more sincerely grieve, that ever we have offended a Being, so worthy of our devotedness; and be the more concerned in future, to walk so as to please Thee.

Create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us. Set a watch, O God, upon our mouth; keep the door of our lips. And in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by thy grace, may we have our conversation in the world, and in the church, and in the family.

We again commend ourselves to thy care. As Thou hast been through the day, our sun and our shield, be Thou through the night, our shade and our defence. Undisturbed by anxieties, unalarmed by fears, undistressed by pain, or indisposition, may we retire and enjoy repose. Remind us, by putting off our garments, and lying down to sleep, of putting off the body, and sleeping in the grave, the house appointed for all living. Prepare us for the night of death, the morning of the resur rection, and the day of judgment.

And all we implore, is through the Mediation of Him, who bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be endless praises. Amen.

THURSDAY MORNING.

We would address Thee, O God, in the language of the publican, which so well becomes us, and say, from our hearts, God be merciful to me a sinner. Sinners we are by nature and practice; sinners thy word proclaims us to be; sinners, we hope we feel ourselves to be; and acknowledge that Thou art justified when Thou speakest, and clear when Thou judgest.

Yet Thou hast not left us to despair; nor have we a mere peradventure to encourage us-who can tell if God will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him that we perish not? We have all the assurance we could desire, that with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him, plenteous redemption. Conscious of the number and heinousness of our offences, we could not have approached Thee with confidence, without a previous token for good. But thou hast stretched forth the golden sceptre, and said "touch and live; I will be merciful to thy unrighteousness, and thy sins and iniquities will I remember no more. May we encourage ourselves, by a sense of thy all-sufficiency, by faith in thy promises, and by views of the experience of others, and ask and receive, that our joy may be full. To that dear refuge, in which so many have been sheltered from every storm, may we repair; and in that fountain for sin, always open, and free for all, may we be cleansed from all our defilements. G