THANKSGIVINGS

FOR

PARTICULAR EVENTS.

FOR RAIN AFTER A LONG
DROUGHT.

-THOU hast never left thyself without witness, but hast been continually doing good, even to the unthankful and unworthy, in giving them rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, and filling their hearts with joy and gladness. We acknowledge, that the heavens over us might have been brass, and the earth under us iron. We have justly deserved the calamity; and thy power, without a miracle, could havs inflicted it: but though Thou hast tried our patience, and awakened our fears, Thou hast not forgotten to be gracious. We praise Thee, for sending us the seasonable and plentiful rain, by which Thou hast refreshed and revived the drooping fields, so that the earth promises to yield her increase.

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FOR FAIR WEATHER AFTER MUCH RAIN.

O GOD, Thou art good, and doest good. Thou hast again surpassed our deserts, and been better to us than

our fears. Thou hast caused the clear shining after rain; so that in the meadows, the hay appeareth; and in the fields, Thou art preparing of thy goodness for the poor. Thou preservest man and beast. May we feel our entire dependence upon Thee; and by prayer and praise, give Thee the glory that is due unto thy holy

name.

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ness.

FOR A GOOD HARVEST.

-AGAIN Thou hast crowned the year with thy goodThe grain might have perished in the earth; or have failed of maturity, for want of the showers and of the sunshine-but Thou wast pleased to bless the springing thereof and we saw, first the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear. We hailed the valleys standing thick with corn, and heard the little hills rejoicing on every side. In due time the mower filled his hands, and the binder of sheaves his bosom : and the appointed weeks of harvest have been afforded us, to gather in the precious produce. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the long-. ing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

We have again witnessed thy faithfulness and truth in the promise-while the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease-may we learn to trust Thee in all thy engagements.

And make us thankful, that as we have no famine of bread, so we have no famine of hearing the word of the Lord. With regard to the soul, as well as to the body. Thou fillest us with the finest of the wheat,

FOR PEACE.

-O THOU that stillest the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people; we bless Thee, that Thou hast made peace in our borders, and called us to adore Thee, as the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.

We lament the evils of war, both natural and moral ; and confess with shame, that ever since man became an apostate from Thee, he has been an enemy to his brother, and that from the death of Abel, our earth has been a field of blood. O, let thy word be speedily accomplished. Let the nations learn war no more, but beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; and only emulate each other in husbandry, and commerce, and science, and religion.

O Thou Prince of Peace, preside in every council. May all public teachers recommend peace. In private life, may we follow peace with all men; and cherish the principles and the dispositions, which will prepare us for that world, where we shall enter into peace, and the sound of war will be heard no more.

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FOR A SAFE RETURN FROM A
JOURNEY.

We

-AS the keeper of Israel Thou hast been with us, not only in the house, but by the way. We might have. been injured by wicked and unreasonable men. might have been left, groaning under the pain of bruised or fractured limbs. Our lives might have been spilt, like water on the ground, which cannot be gathered up

again; and the first tidings that reached our friends, might have plunged them into anguish.

But all our bones can say, Who is a God like unto Thee? Thy secret too, in our absence, has been upon our tabernacle, and secured it from all evil-O that it may be the tabernacle of the righteous; and be ever filled, not only with the voice of rejoicing, but of praise.

And be with us in all the future journey of life; guide us by thy counsel, uphold us by thy power; and supply all our wants, til! we come to our Father's house in peace.

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FOR RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS.

—ALL our times are in thy hand. All diseases come at thy call, and go at thy bidding. Thou redeemest our life from destruction, and crownest us with loving kindness and tender mercies. We bless Thee, that Thou hast heard prayer, and commanded deliverance for our friend and thy servant, who has been under thine afflicting hand. He (or she) was brought low, but Thou hast helped him: Thou hast chastened him sore, but not delivered him over unto death. May he not only live, but declare the works of the Lord.

As Thou has delivered his eyes from tears, his feet from falling, and his soul from death; may he daily inquire, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? and resolve to offer unto Thee, the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and to call upon the name of

the Lord.

And may we ever remember, that a recovery is only a reprieve; that the sentence which dooms us to the dust is only suspended; and, that at most, when a few

years are come, we shall go the way, whence we shall not return. May we therefore secure the one thing needful; and live with eternity in view.

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FOR SAFE DELIVERY IN CHILD BIRTH.

-WE bless Thee on the behalf of thine handmaid, who is now saying, I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice, and my supplication. Thou hast been with her in the hour of pain and peril, and made her the joyful mother of a living and well formed infant. Complete thy goodness by the renewal of her strength, and her ability to appear again in all the duties of her important station.

Let the impressions produced by recent mercies, be rendered as durable as they are lively may she remember, and pay Thee the vows, which her soul made when in trouble.

May the life spared, and the life given, be dear in thy sight, and devoted to thy glory: and may every addition made to the world of creatures, be found an accession to the church of the living God.