At the Beginning of the Year.

O THOU who art the same from everlasting to everlasting! God of the spirits of all flesh! Preserver of the children of men! hear in mercy thy servants, who raise their hearts unto thee. We acknowledge, that, in seasons past, we have often been too earnest about things of sense and time, too regardless of the objects of faith and futurity. We confess we have too often. walked in a vain show, and disquieted ourselves in vain. We cannot deny that we have been oftentimes undutiful and unthankful. Shouldst thou judge without mercy, we must be utterly destitute of hope. Shouldst thou deal with us according to our sins, we must be miserable indeed. But we rejoice that thou desirest not the ruin of thy creatures, but rather that they should repent and live. It is our desire, O God, to cast off all the unfruitful works of darkness, and to walk as children of the light and of the day. It is our purpose, that this year shall witness our greater reformation from every thing that is amiss in us, and our increasing improvement in the graces of the christian character.

If it be consistent with the purposes of thy inscrutable wisdom, we pray, O Lord! that our

lives may be spared; not merely that we may enjoy an animal existence, but that we may be furnished with an opportunity of doing and becoming better. We commit all our concerns to thee; and would submit to those circumstances, which thou, who alone knowest what is best for us, shalt ordain. If thou wilt, we desire the continuance of health and comfort. If thou shouldst send sickness or adversity to us, may we be prepared for these and all other changes in our condition. If it be thy decree, that this year we should die, may we be ready for our departure. We dare not say we will do this or that; but we would cherish one resolution, to become and always to be such as thou shalt be pleased to approve.

us unawares.

Heavenly Father! do thou preserve us from every injurious delay. Let not the night of darkness, in which no man can work, overtake Forbid that we should ever presume on life, or boast of tomorrow, or be immoderately attached to earthly things. May we always do with diligence what thou shalt appoint us to perform. If death shall approach us by slow advances, may it find us well employed; and if we are suddenly called to exchange worlds, may it not be our lot, to have treasured fear and remorse.

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O thou, who art the God of our lives and the length of our days! We would begin this year with thee; and in thy service we would spend it. Aid us in all our doings by thy most gracious favour, and preserve us from every evil. And when our years shall cease to revolve on earth, O receive us to thy presence, where there is neither beginning of years nor end of days. Hear us, O God! through our great Mediator, and unto thee, the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Spring.

O GOD! the Creator and Preserver of all things! With unerring wisdom thou maintainest the beauty and order of nature. We look up with joy and confidence to thy gracious power, which causeth the returning seasons to know their place. Thou hast sent forth thy spirit ; thou renewest the face of the earth. The laws of nature are thy government, and the effects of them are the dispensations of thy providence. Summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, are directed by thee. At one time thou givest snow like wool, and scatterest the

hoar frost like ashes; at another time thou bringest food out of the earth, and causest grass to grow for cattle, and herb for the service of

man.

Because thine eye is upon the year, from the beginning even unto the end, we are now called to rejoice that the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear upon earth, the singing of birds is come; the tree puts forth its leaves, and the fields give forth their fragrance; the mountains and hills break forth into singing, and the trees of the forest clap their hands. O Lord, how manifold are thy works!

We bless thee for the beneficial influences of the heavenly bodies; for the light of the sun, and the constant revolution of the seasons, and all the rich provision thou hast made for our present support and delight. We bless thee for all our comforts during the inclemencies of the winter, which is now past; for all the pleasant intercourse of domestic life, and the kind offices of mutual friendship and good neighbourhood; and above all, we rejoice in our capacities for contemplating thy mighty works with emotions of religious praise and pleasure.

We now behold the effects of thy powerful energy. All nature bespeaks a present Deity. We would look up to thee, from whom cometh

our help. May devotion invigorate and sanctify the labours of the approaching season. May he who plougheth, plough with religious hope. May he who soweth, duly rejoice in the expectation of his reaping. Bless thou the springing of the year, and enrich the earth with the rain of heaven; may our pastures be clothed with flocks, our vallies covered with corn, and the year crowned with thy goodness.

Above all, we beseech thee, to multiply the spiritual seed of divine truth. Crown with an abundant blessing our spiritual labours; and while we reap the harvest of bread, O may we reap the richer fruits of righteousness. As our great Exemplar hath taught us, we pray for our daily bread; and wilt thou feed us with food convenient for us. By our spiritual improvements, may we be like unto that earth, which, drinking in the rain that cometh oft upon it, bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, and receiveth blessing from God; and not like unto that, which, bearing thorns and briars, is rejected, and nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.

Establish us in every good word and work, and unite us more closely to him who is the true vine. As branches in him, wilt thou mercifully spare and purge us, and may we glorify thee,