according to knowledge; as wives, being in subjection to the husband, and having on the ornament of a meek * and quiet spirit. Intercession. We ask for blessings on our native land. Lord, we would sigh before thee for all the abominations of our country: O how does the swearer, the sabbath-breaker, the covetous, the licentious, and the blasphemer abound on every side! Because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Spare us, good Lord, spare us, for thy name's sake. Grant, we beseech thee, that as we have been peculiarly distinguished by thy mercies, so it may have to be said of us, 'surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people, for what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for." Pour out of thy Spirit upon all that have the direction of public affairs; on all that minister in holy things; on the magistrates, and on the people; that a general revival of religion may appear among us. Cause thy Church every where to flourish and increase. We pray especially for an increase of the zeal, purity, and love, humility and devotion of thy people. Let Zion break forth on the right hand and on the left. Add daily to thy church, in our own country, and in heathen lands, such as shall be saved. Bless every Missionary gone forth to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and may more and more grace be given unto them all, that they may labour zealously, wisely, and abundantly in thy cause. 66 Thanksgiving. And now, Lord, accept our unfeigned thanksgivings for all those blessings which we daily so richly enjoy.— We thank thee more especially for those many dear ties of relationship, affection, and Christian principles, which bind us together. We bless thee for all that sy mpathy of feeling and union of heart which thou hast given us; and we pray that we may be more and more knit together in Christian love. But, beyond all other mercies, we bless thee for the common salvation of Jesus Christ; for his birth, his life, his death, and his resurrection; for all that he was, and is, and will be. Blessed be God for the gift of his Son Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, our only hope, and our sure refuge. [We trust that we may say we are one in Christ, members of that body of which he is the head; and we bless and praise thee for this thy unspeakable mercy. We thank thee for this opportunity of assembling ourselves together, and we pray that, however we may be separated here below, or however scattered in different stations, as we have now met together here on earth, we may hereafter all meet in heaven, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.] Our Father, &c. PRAYER FOR THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. I. ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the God of the spirits of all flesh, the earth is thine, and the fulness thereof, the round world, and they that dwell therein. We come, as sinners, but trusting in thy beloved Son, our Advocate, and the propitiation of our sins, and looking for the promised spirit of grace and supplication. Lord, we confess before thee our own sins, and those of our country. Like thy people of old, while we have been greatly distinguished by privileges, we have also been a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters. We have forsaken the Lord, and have provoked the holy one of Israel. And chiefly, now, we would confess our coldness and indifference in extending the blessings of that glorious gospel which Thou hast entrusted to us. How slothful and unconcerned have we been to communicate to others the privileges which we enjoy, and to use all the means which thou hast given unto us of imparting the knowledge of Christ to distant lands! To us belongeth shame and confusion of face-to us, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. But to the Lord our God belongeth mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him. to thee. We beseech thee give us a zeal for thy glory. Fountain of light, and life, and grace, pour upon us thy quickening Spirit, to animate and excite us to devote ourselves Raise up, we pray thee, those who shall unceasingly pray, and give, and think, and labour, for the spread of thy truth. Revive the days of the primitive Church, when thy people, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. May the true light come more and more to thy Church, and the glory of the Lord rise upon her, and may she arise and shine; and may the Gentiles come to this light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lord, we plead the glory of thy great name, the faithfulness of thy promises, and the happiness of thine own creation; and with these pleas, we ask that the Heathen may be given to Christ for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. II. O LORD, the King of Glory, hast thou not said, "it shall come to pass in the last days, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh ?" Behold! in these last days, give now to us that ask. With thee is the residue of the Spirit, and the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear. Have respect unto the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. May the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, on those people now sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. We pray thee to hasten the coming of that time, when it shall not be asked, Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? but it shall be said, The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the sight of all nations, and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. And grant, gracious Lord, that while the fulness of the Gentiles is coming in, all Israel may also be saved. May the veil which remaineth upon their hearts when Moses is read, be taken away by their turning to the Lord. May this branch which has so long been broken off, at length be grafted into its own Olive-tree. O let the Deliverer come out of Sion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And while we thus pray, we thank thee, good and gracious Lord, for all the blessed signs of the times in which we live. We bless thee for the beginning of a general desire to spread thy truth through the world, and that Societies have been raised in these latter days, among all denominations of thy servants, for evangelizing the Heathen, and for their conversion from dumb idols to the liv ing God. We thank thee for any success given to these efforts, and would thereby be encouraged to persevere in more zealous labours, and more fervent prayers. III. O FATHER of lights, and giver of all wisdom, bless every Society formed for the conversion of Jews or Gentiles, and for the spread and advancement of thy truth. at home, or abroad. Guide the minds of all who conduct their affairs. In all their difficulties and trials, comfort and support them. Especially direct them in the choice of fit instruments. Give them the discerning of spirits, that none may be sent forth but such as thou hast called, prepared, and qualified for the blessed yet arduous office of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ. Greatly increase the number of such labourers. Give, O give thou the word, and great shall be the company of the preachers. Bless all who support thy cause at home. May they that love thy Jerusalem prosper in body and soul: in endeavouring to water others, may their own souls be watered. Look with thy favour on all Missionaries now among the Heathen. O prepare the way in the wilderness. May every valley be exalted, every hill made low; may the crooked be made straight, and the rough places plain; and the word of the Lord every where have free course and be glorified. May thy doctrine, constantly preached by thy servants, drop as the rain, and distil as the dew, and thy word never return unto thee void, but prosper abundantly, and accomplish all that for which thou dost send it. Give thy servants health and strength, vigour of mind, and devotedness of heart; and may they all be chosen vessels to bear thy name before the Gentiles. May the deadening influence of climate, heathen customs, and loss of means of grace, be more than counteracted by a special supply of thy Holy Spirit. May it have to be recorded of each one of them,-He was a good man, and full of the Holy |