true character and condition in thy sight. Take away the stone out of our hearts, and give us hearts of flesh. May we feel and bewail our folly and ingratitude; our pride and unbelief; the rebellion of our lives, and the corruption of our nature. May we sorrow after a godly sort, and abhor ourselves, repenting in dust and ashes. Through the law, may we die unto the law, and despair of obtaining life, but from thy own sovereign mercy. May we look with wonder, and submission, and gratitude, and delight, to the provision which Thou hast made for the glory of thy own name, in the salvation of sinners. May we believe in Him, whom Thou hast set forth as a propitiation for sin, and as the end of the law for righteousness-may we know Him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings; and be made conformable unto his death.

Give us that hope which maketh not ashamed. Inspire us with that love which excites to all holy obedienoe. Pour into our hearts that joy of the Lord which is the strength of thy people and enable us to say with Paul, The life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

And when we cannot pronounce on our own interest in divine things, may we still persevere in duty; may we wait on the Lord, and keep his way; and be humble and earnest suppliants at thy footstool, assured, that they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, are blessed— and shall be filled.

Preserve us from that levity and indifference which are so unbecoming creatures, who live continually under the eye of God, and are always on the brink of an eternal world.

May we discover nothing like selfishness and unkindness, while professing to be the followers of Him, who

pleased not Himself; who, when rich, for our sakes became poor; and went about doing good.

May we hold ourselves at thy disposal, not only with regard to the duties, but events of life. Whatever preferences we feel, may we submit them all to thy infinite wisdom, and say, Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. If we are called to resign any of our enjoyments, may we remember, that it is the absolute proprietor, and our best friend who requires them; and yield, in the spirit of Him, who when stripped of all, could say, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

But make us thankful for the continuance of our comforts and that in a world of such changes and misery, our indulgences have been so many, and our trials so few.

Especially, would we be grateful for the means of grace, and the ordinances of religion, which still await us, notwithstanding all our unworthiness and provocations. O Lord, teach us to profit by them more than we have done and as to-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord our God, may we be in the spirit on thy own day; and enter it in a state of mind suited to its solemnities, duties and privileges. May we leave every thing worldly at the foot of the mount, while we go to worship God above. May we experience the blessedness of the man, whose strength is in Thee, and in whose heart are the ways of them. May we go from strength to strength; and at last may every one of us in Zion appear before God.

O Lord God of hosts, hear our prayer, give ear O God of Jacob. Behold O God, our shield, and look upon the face of thine Anointed. Amen.

11*

FOURTH WEEK.

SUNDAY MORNING.

We hope we

O THOU most high. Thine eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good: thine eyes behold, and thine eyelids try the children of men. can appeal to thy omniscience, and say, In the way of thy appointments, we are now waiting for Thee, while our desire is to thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee.

We are sinners, but not insensible of our state. Our iniquities are great and numberless; but with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, we pray to be delivered from them, and led in the way everlasting. Our case is desperate in itself, but there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. The combined help of men and angels could not reach our misery: but Thou art adequate to our relief.

Thou art rich in mercy. The blood of Jesus Christ, thy Son, cleanseth from all sin. The agency of thy Holy Spirit can subdue the most powerful corruptions. Heal us, and we shall be healed; save us, and we shall be saved; for Thou art our praise. Hide thy face from our sin, and blot out all our iniquity. Create in us also, O God, a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us. Illuminate our understandings with the light of life. May we know the truth, and may the truth make us free, Give us tender and wakeful consciencies; and may

they always smite and torment us when we sin against God. May we be consistent and uniform in the whole of our conversation and conduct; the same alone and in company; in prosperity and adversity; esteeming all thy commandments concerning all things to be right, and hating every false way-Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile.

May we never be satisfied with any present progression in the divine life: but this one thing may we do, forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth unto those that are before, press towards the mark, for the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus. May we add to our faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity; and may all these things, not only be in us, but abound.

And while we never forget what is necessary to constitute the christian character, may we never neglect what is needful to complete it. May we be concerned to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour; to recommend the religion of Jesus to all around us; and to induce observers to say, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

Enable us to accommodate ourselves to the dispensations of thy providence, with the views and feelings of christians. May we know how to be abased, and how to abound; may we learn in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content; yea, in every thing, may we give thanks; knowing that all the ways of the Lord, are mercy and truth, to those that trust in Him.

May we feel the ties that unite us to our fellow-creatures, especially to our fellow-christians. By sympathy, and praise and prayer, may we make their mercies and

miseries our own; rejoicing with them that rejoice, and weeping with them that weep.

Regard the sons and daughters of distress; and as afflictions are not immutable dispensations, and we are allowed to pray for temporal blessings conditionally, if it be thy pleasure, command deliverance for them: or should thy wisdom continue the trial, keep them from sinking or sinning in the evil day; let thy strength be made perfect in their weakness; and in the multitude of their thoughts within them, may thy comforts delight their souls.

Be with those who will pass the day in absence from thy dear abode. Though Thou art with thy people in trouble, yet Thou hast taught them, by experience, to value thy ordinances, and to esteem a day in thy courts, better than a thousand. Olet them not pass an unprofitable, though a silent sabbath: let their meditation of Thee be sweet; and though not in thy house, may they be in thy Spirit, on thy own day.

And make those thankful, who are exempted from spiritual privations; and have liberty, and health, and strength, to go into thy house, in the multitude of thy

mercies.

We bless Thee that this is our privilege. May we know the day of our visitation, and embrace the things that belong to our peace. May we hear with solemnity of mind, knowing that for all these things, God will bring us into judgment. May we hear with prayer, remembering that whoever may plant or water, Thou alone canst give the increase. May we be doers of the word, and not hearers only; and may we keep in memory what is preached unto us, that we may not believe in vain. May we carry into ordinary life, the various portions of divine truth, which successively engage our attention,