May we watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. When we grow indolent and careless, awaken us by lively apprehensions of thy presence, and of the eternal world, on the borders of which we perpetually move; may we feel the infinite importance of improving the few transient periods intervening between us and death; may we daily and hourly answer some of the grand purposes of life and religion. May every place and every company be the better for us. May we diffuse knowledge and happiness by our conversation, example, and influence; and like our Lord and Saviour, go about doing good. Whatever advantages we possess, may we never forget that this is not our rest. May we arise and depart hence, not by quitting our stations, or undervaluing the duties attached to them, but by rising above the world as our portion, setting our affections on things above, and having our conversation in heaven. Expecting a succession of encounters in passing through an enemy's land, may we take to us the whole armour of God: and looking for thorns and briers in our marchings through a wilderness, may our feet be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Fit us for every changing scene; and in all the events that would alarm or perplex us, may our minds be stayed upon God, and our thoughts be established. May we remember that trials from thy hand are blessings in disguise, and that when they come to be unveiled, and we can view them in their designs and effects, they will draw forth our gratitude and praise. Till we can walk by sight, enable us to walk by faith; and may nothing weaken our pursuasion, that all thy ways are mercy and truth to thy people; and that all things work together for good to them that love Thee. Do We would not forget those that are in affliction. not Thou, O God, forget them. Whatever be their losses or distresses, help them to say, Yet the Lord thinketh upon me. May they know that thy thoughts towards them are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to bring them to an expected end, though it may be by a painful passage. Comfort those who are on beds of languishing. Enter the house of mourning. Be the father of the fatherless, and the husband of the widow, and the friend and helper of the poor and needy-and have mercy upon all men. Our Father, &c. SATURDAY EVENING. O GOD, Thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, continually doing wonders. And it is not one of the least of thy wonderful works that we are yet on this side an awful eternity, and not reaping the due reward of our deeds. We look on each other this evening with astonishment, and exclaim, It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. Our whole life has been a scene of provocation against thy divine majesty; and if we, with all our ignorance and self-love, can see so much depravity in ourselves, what must have presented itself to THY view, O Thou, who knowest all things, in whose sight the very heavens are not clean, and who seest more pollution even in our duties than we ever found in our sins! There is no health in us. We have no works or worthiness to excite thy regard. and if ever we are saved, it must be according to thy own purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. We come to Thee in the dear name of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us; who magnified the law and made it honorable; who put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; and now ever liveth to make intercession for us This foundation Thou thyself hast laid in Zion and thy word assures us, that whosoever believeth on Him shall not be confounded. We hope our dependence upon Him is not a vain reliance, because we love his service as well as his sacrifice, and long to wear his image as well as to be justified by his blood. We hope we are willing to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow Him-in the regeneration and whithersoever He goeth. O make us partakers of that salvation which is designed to deliver us from our sins, and to bring us into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Put thy laws into our minds, and write them in our hearts. Render our obedience to thy will holily natural and delightful to us. Rectify all our principles, and give us clear, and consistent and influential views of divine truth. May we never undervalue or neglect any part of thy revealed will; but regard the practice the gospei enjoins, as well as the doctrine it exhibits; prize its commands as well as its promises; and cultivate such a disposition as will render every religious duty a spiritual privilege. Sanctify in us every relation, office, transaction, and condition in life. Keep us if we prosper from being exalted above measure; and if exercised with adversity, suffer us not to be swallowed up of over-much sorrow. May divine grace preserve the balance of the mind in all our varying circumstances, and teach us, in whatsoever state we are, not only to be content, but to glorify God, and be an edifying example to those around us. May we always be principally concerned for soul-prosperity, and be willing to submit to any means, however trying, that thy wisdom shall judge necessary to promote and secure it. May we so pass through things temporal as not to miss those that are eternal at last, or to lose sight of them for a moment now. and our hands been in the mire: Too long have our feet us, elevate us; our souls cleave unto the dust, quicker Thou us according to thy word. May none of thy mer cies be lost upon us; but may they prove the means of exciting our gratitude, warming our devotion, and encour aging our confidence. May none of our trials be unim proved—may all embitter sin, wean us from the world, and endear to us the scriptures, the throne of grace, and the sympathy of that Almighty friend who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Let none of our religious opportunities be unsanctified; may we be thankful for the frequency of their recurrence; may we gladly avail ourselves of them; and instead of resting in the mere outward performance, may we be concerned to worship Thee in spirit and in truth, and to obtain from thy word all the benefits it is intended and adapted to afford. For this purpose, we implore thy blessing on the solemnities of the Sabbath which is so soon to open upon us. May we in the morning awake with Thee, and begin, go through, and end the day, in thy faith, fear, and love. May we have satisfactory evidence in our own minds, that we do not wait upon Thee in vain; and may our profiting appear unto all men. And thus by all the discipline of thy family, and the ordinances of thy house, may we grow in grace, and in out meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light. And when the evening of life itself shall arrive, and we are called to retreat from every mortal care, may we close the period of toil and trouble by falling asleep in Jesus, and open our eyes on the rest that remains for the people of God. and enter the temple above, to go no more out. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, now and forever. Amen. SECOND WEEK. SUNDAY MORNING. O THOU King eternal, immortal, invisible, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, and whom no man hath seen or can see. Thou art incomprehensible, and the highest archangel cannot find Thee out unto perfection. Yet Thou hast been pleased to reveal thyself, and by means of thy word we behold Thee in every character and relation that can suit our necessities, or encourage our hope. Thy throne is in the heavens, and thy kingdom ruleth over all; and all nations before Thee are as nothing; yet Thou condescendest to regard the things that are done in the earth, and despisest not the prayer even of the destitute. Thou art exalted above all blessing and praise our goodness extendeth not to Thee-but unless thine be extended to us, we are undone for ever. Without Thee we can do nothing; we ARE nothing. In Thee we live and move and have our being. The way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. We are universally indigent and dependent; but as Thou art able, so Thou art willing to take the charge of us and here we are the living to praise Thee, and to acknowledge that goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our lives. We bless Thee that Thou has regarded our souls as well as our bodies, and no less provided for our future interests than our present. When there was no eye to pity |