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spiritual songs, singing, and making melody in our hearts unto the Lord. We are repairing to the house of instruction-enable us to receive the kingdom of God as a little child. Teach us of thy ways. Lead us into all truth. And let us be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

For this purpose, let thy presence go with us; and let thy word come to us; not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. Bless all the churches of the faithful; and the ministers of the everlasting gospel, of every name, and of every nation. Clothe the priests with salvation; and let thy saints shout aloud for joy. May our country prosper in all her lawful interests, both domestic and foreign. Bless the chief magistrate of our nation, and all that are in authority; may they rule in thy fear, and be guided by thy counsel; and may the people lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children, and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; establish thou the work of our hand upon us, yea, the work of our hand, establish thou it.

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*And we especially invoke thy blessing, O Lord, to attend this day all the instructions imparted in Sabbath schools and Bible classes. We pray that thou wilt be graciously pleased to grant the influences of the Holy Spirit, that that instruction may be impressed deeply on the heart and may produce abundant fruit in the life. Give grace, Almighty God, to those who are teachers in those schools; that they may be deeply impressed with their responsibility; that they may be themselves thy children; and that they may engage in their work with an earnest desire to benefit those entrusted to their charge. May their minds be enlightened that they may understand thy holy word. May they see clearly the great plan of redeeming mercy. May they be enabled to present thy truth simply, clearly, with affection, and with prayer. May the sacred Spirit -the Comforter-be given them, to guide them into all truth. And do thou be pleased to bless all children

in those schools. Preside over them and give to them thy Holy Spirit. Grant to them tender, teachable minds. May they learn the paths of wisdom, and delight in instruction. May their hearts be given to the Saviour in their early years. May they come to him, who, when on earth, said, Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. Take, O blessed Saviour, those lambs of the flock, into thine arms, and guide them by thine unerring counsel. Defend them from the perils and temptations of life, and conduct thou them to the joys of thine everlasting kingdom. [May our own children be trained up in the knowledge of thy name; and whatever instruction in accordance with thy word may be imparted to them in the family, the Sunday school, or the sanctuary, we pray that it may be attended with thy blessing, and be the means of fitting them for the duties of this life, and for the joys of thine eternal kingdom.]*

These mercies, and all we need, we humbly ask in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, our most gracious Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

SABBATH EVENING.

Jay.

Ir is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O, Most High, to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.

We this evening acknowledge the blessings, not only of another day, but of another sabbath. We bless thee that the sabbath was made for man, and that thou hast hallowed such a portion of our time, for purposes so important, but which, alas, we, are prone to neglect. Thus thou art affording us opportunities to retire and to learn, among all the cares of life, that one thing is needful; and to hear the inquiry, what is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul. Thus we have moments of leisure, in which we can more fully investigate our character; examine our condition; and ask, for what purpose we entered this mortal stage, and what will become of us when these scenes close.

We thank thee that the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, and that we have a goodly heritage: so that we can add to private meditation and devotion, the public ordinances of religion; and can sit under our own vine and fig-tree, none daring to make us afraid. We bless thee, that we have not only the Scriptures, but the ministry of the gospel; and have this day not only read, but heard the words of eternal life.

But, O God, the effects we experience while waiting upon thee, though delightful, often prove like the morning cloud, and early dew. Before the lapse of a single day, we are compelled to complain, My soul cleaveth unto the dust; and to pray, quicken thou me according to thy word. Render therefore the impressions made upon us, deep and durable: keep these things for ever in the imagination of the hearts of thy people; and let thy word dwell in us richly, in all wisdom.

May the instructions we receive, attend us in every part of our life, and regulate, and excite us in the discharge of all our relative duties, so that whether we are husbands or wives, parents or children, masters or servants, we may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. May we be satisfied with no knowledge, no belief, no professions, no feelings in religion-while our hearts are void of thy love, and we are strangers to that grace which bringeth salvation, and teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world.

We take shame to ourselves, not only for our open violations of thy law; but for our secret faults, our omissions of duty, our unprofitable attendance on the means of grace, our carnality in worshipping thee; and all the sins of our holy things. Our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is gone up into the very heavens-and there, he is gone also, who is our Advocate with the Father, and the Propitiation for our sins. Behold his hands and his feet: and hear, O, hear, the voice of the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Pity those who have this day been deprived of the public means of grace by sickness or infirmity. Let them know that thou art not confined to temples made with hands: be with them in trouble; and give them

their vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope.

And remember the millions who were never favoured with the advantages we enjoy, and would be grateful for the crumbs that fall from our table. But they never smiled when a sabbath appeared. They never heard the name of Jesus. They feel guilt, but know nothing of the blood that cleanseth from all sin; they feel depravity, but know nothing of the renewing of the Holy Ghost. No one proclaims among them the balm of Gilead; and the physician there. O, send out thy light and thy truth. Let thy way be known on earth; thy saving health among all nations.

We now commit ourselves, with all our connexions, into thy hands. Guard us through the defenceless hours of sleep, from every evil to which we are exposed. If, as life is always uncertain, it should please thee to call us hence this night-may we awaken in glory, and be forever with the Lord: or if thou shouldst continue us in being-may we rise in health and comfort, to pay thee the homage of a grateful heart, in a course of cheerful obedience.

In thy favour is life-Do thou bless us, and we shall be blessed-safe from every evil, and sure of every good.

And prepare us at length for the rest that remains for thy people; in which we shall join the general assembly and church of the first born in ascribing-blessing and honour, and glory, and power, to him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.

MONDAY MORNING.*

Jay.

O THOU, who hast characterized thyself as the hearer of prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come: and that we may come with acceptance and success, we come in the name of the great intercessor, Jesus Christ, the righteous and thou Eternal Spirit of grace and suppli

* The first Monday in the month is observed, by most Christian denominations, as a monthly concert of prayer for the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

cation, do thou make intercession for us, by making intercession in us, according to the will of God.

Bless the services in which we were engaged on the past day. Let a savour of divine things be left on our spirits; and be diffused in our conversation. Let those around us take knowledge of us, that we have been with Jesus; and may our profiting appear unto all men. May our light shine before men. May we be manifestly the disciples of Christ. May we put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, forgiving one another. May we be followers of God, as dear children: may we be perfect, as our Father, who is in heaven, is perfect.

We confess and bewail, not only our deficiencies, but our backslidings also. O, recall us to thyself; enable us to feel our first love, and to do our first works. Yea, may we forget the things that are behind, and reach forth unto those that are before. May we not only have life, but may we have it more abundantly; and not only be fruitful, but bear much fruit.

May our improvements correspond with our privileges; and our practice with our knowledge. May our wills always bow to the decisions of our judgments; may we choose what we approve, and never condemn ourselves in the things that we allow.

May all our churches continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer; and may the Lord add daily to their number, such as shall be saved.

May the dead hear the voice of the Son of God, and live. May those who are asking the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, find a teacher that will say to them, This is the way, walk ye in it, when they turn to the right hand, and when they turn to the left. Let the rich be poor in spirit; and the poor be made rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which thou hast promised to them that love thee. Let the ignorant be enlightened; and let those that are wise, become fools, that they may be wise.

*We acknowledge thee, O, most merciful God, as the Father of all flesh. Thou hast made of one blood all the nations of men, to dwell on the face of all the earth;

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