well, and to abstain from injuring them; but make me ever ready to do them all the good in my power. And especially let me never be wanting in the discharge of those duties which belong to my particular station and relations.

Give me also wisdom clearly to discern, and effectually to pursue, my own truest welfare and happiness. Teach me to prefer the interest of my soul to that of my body; to keep all my appetites and passions under a due regulation; to cultivate the graces of humility and meekness, moderation and contentment; to possess my soul in patience, amidst all the trials and troubles of this present state; and to be, above all things, solicitous to ensure my future and eternal bliss.

I

For these most important purposes, bless, O merciful God, all the means of grace that I enjoy; and particularly the opportunities may this day have, of assembling with my fellow christians to attend the ordinances of public worship and religious instruction. Assist thy ministering servants in their addresses to thee, and in their endeavours to improve and edify their hearers; and let their services in thy sanctuary be attended with abundant success.

And now, through him who was dead, but is alive, and lives for evermore, exalted to be our Prince and Saviour, be ascribed unto thee glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR SUNDAY EVENING.

O MOST blessed and glorious God! Thy name is excellent in all the earth; and thou hast set thy glory above the heavens. Thou art great, and greatly to be praised; thou art good, and greatly to be loved; and thou art worthy to receive the united adoration and homage of all thy rational creatures. Thou needest not our services; nor canst thou receive the least advantage from our praises but never can we be more honourably or advantageously employed, than in celebrating thy perfections, admiring thy works, gratefully recollecting the past instances of thy goodness, and imploring the continuance of thy kind and favourable regards.

Blessed be thy name for the renewed opportunities I have this day had, of waiting upon thee in thy house; of joining in the public services of thy sanctuary; of hearing

thy word explained and enforced; and of being from thence instructed and encouraged in those ways of righteousness which lead to life eternal. Help me, good Lord, to make a proper improvement of these religious advantages and means of grace which thou affordest me. Enable me to live in a manner suitable to the profession I make, to the privileges I enjoy, and to the obligations and engagements I am under to thee. May thy laws be more deeply engraven on my heart, May the truths I have this day heard be so faithfully kept in mind, as to be of lasting use, for the better information of my judgement, and the regulation of my temper and conduct!

Pardon those imperfections, most merciful Father, which have attended my religious duties this day, in thy house or in my own, Forgive the deadness and dulness of my affections, the wandering of my thoughts, and the distractions of my mind. I am grieved and ashamed to think how little my heart has been engaged in the work of

praise.

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May I have the wisdom to spend my future sabbaths better; and learn to be at all times more serious and considerate, more

spiritual and heavenly-minded, than I have hitherto been. Let my thoughts be more frequently and delightfully employed in meditating on the glorious perfections of thy nature, as displayed in thy works, and in thy word. Purify my affections; that I may love thee above all, and delight in thee, and in thy laws; and renounce and detest whatever is evil in itself and displeasing to thee. And grant that I may every day feel more and more of that peace and satisfaction, which is the genuine effect of a growing acquaintance with thee, and of a close adherence to thee, in all the ways of holy obedience.

Whilst I am here in this world, help me by faith to live above. Suffer me not to mind and pursue earthly things, as if I had chosen the world for my portion, and had no better inheritance in view : but knowing that I have here no continuing city, may I seek one to come? even that which hath foundaions, whose builder and maker is God. Considering myself as only a stranger and pilgrim on earth, let me live like a citizen of heaven, and have my conversation there. Enable me, O Lord, by thy mighty power, to overcome all the difficulties and oppositions,

the trials and temptations, which I may meet with in my journey heavenward. And by making daily advances and improvements in holiness and goodness, may I be gradually grow more and more fit for a share in that glorious inheritance, which is among thy saints in light.

Blessed be thy name, O God of grace, that thou didst take compassion on a world that lay in wickedness, and was exposed to misery and ruin; and didst contrive the grand scheme of our redemption and salvation; that when the fulness of time was come thou didst send forth thy beloved Son, to execute the purposes of thy goodness; to teach us the most important and salutary doctrines; to instruct us in the knowledge of thy nature and will, of the duties which thou requirest of us, and of the blessings which thou hast intended for us; to set before us the most amiable and animating example of universal goodness, in his own character and conduct; and at length to suffer and to die, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast, with thy right-hand, exalted this our suffering and dying Redeemer, to be the Captain of our salvation; and that, having been made