our President. [Direct the consultations of our Houses of Congress.] Inspire our magistrates with integrity, and our people with the spirit of obedience. Have pity on the poor and the afflicted. Bestow Thy blessing on the rising generation. May they be trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and advance not only in useful knowledge, but in all virtue and godliness of life Finally, we pray for our Christian friends, and for all our dear relations. Being united in the bonds of Christian love, may we all seek each other's welfare, and bear each other's burthens, and thus fulfil the law of CHRIST. May those, who are strong, have grace to bear with the infirmities of the weak; and may we severally minister to each other's necessities, according to our opportunity and ability. We present these our imperfect prayers, in the name of JESUS CHRIST our Lord and Saviour. Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c. FIRST EVENING. O LORD GOD, our Heavenly Father, who art the Maker of all things, and the Judge of all men, we Thy creatures, who live upon Thy daily bounty, and are accountable to Thee for all we do, desire now to offer up our acknowledgments of Thy goodness during the past day, and to implore Thy forgiving mercy. We would lament the trespasses which we have, this day, committed. Thou seest, O LORD, all our hearts. We are blind and ignorant, prone to error, yet impatient of reproof. We often deceive ourselves with the mere appearance of goodness; but Thou knowest every false way in which we allow ourselves to walk. Pardon, we beseech Thee, for JESUS CHRIST's sake, whatever evil we have either said, or thought, or done, on this day. Pardon all the multitude of our iniquities. Teach us continually to examine our lives by the light of Thine unerring word; and vouchsafe unto us true repentance, and faith in JESUS CHRIST. We pray Thee, also, to pour out upon us the gift of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may amend our ways, and walk in newness of life. Thou hast favoured us with much religious knowledge, and with many means of grace. O let us remember, that, unto whom much is given, of them shall much be required. Let us not live, as the children of this world, employing our time in vain and unprofitable things; but let us endeavour to be useful in that station in which Thou hast placed us. As we have received CHRIST JESUS the Lord, so let us walk in Him. May we excel especially in those, cem. pers, and abound in those works, which His Gospel has required. May we be full of meekness and patience, of kindness and forbearance, of benevolence and charity. Being established in the love of God, may we also love our neighbour with a pure heart, fervently. Let us not have a name to live, while we are dead; or possess only that faith which is without works, and can profit neither ourselves nor those around us; but let us abound in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus CHRIST, to the praise and glory of God. We also beseech Thee to bless unto us the events of Thy providence and so to order all things, during the remainder of our lives, that they may issue in our eternal good. We know not what a day may bring forth. O sanctify unto us our prosperity, and our adversity; our sickness, and our health; and whatever may be the vicissitudes which Thou art pleased to send, may we consider them as coming from Thy fatherly hand, and never repine under them. May we maintain a cheerful and contented mind; and being reconciled to Thee our GoD, may we enjoy peace within ourselves, and be in charity with all men. These our imperfect supplications we humbly present in the name of JESUS CHRIST Our Saviour. Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c. SECOND EVENING. O LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY, who knowest all things, and understandest the secrets of every heart, suit Thy mercies, we pray, to our necessities; and grant unto all the members of this family such things as Thou seest to be most needful for us. We pray Thee especially to bring our hearts into full obedience to Thy Gospel. Take away from us all pride, impenitency, and unbelief: all undue love of this present world, all inordinate affection, and every evil inclination. Take from us every thing which opposes itself to the knowledge of Thy truth: and is contrary to the Spirit of Thy grace. May we humble ourselves as children in Thy sight. receiving, in sincerity and simplicity of heart, the various doctrines of Thy word. Give us, also, grace to maintain a Christian spirit, and to abound in every good work. May we be patient, and contented, thankful for our lot in life; praising and blessing Thee for all our providential as well as spiritual mercies; imploring the continuance of Thy favour; and jealous over ourselves, lest, by any evil habits which we indulge, we draw down Thine anger upon us. Make us strict in our integrity, sincere in every word, faithful in every trust, diligent in every duty, amiable in every temper of our lives. May we be zealous to do honour to the cause of Thy Gospel; and thus to recommend the religion of CHRIST. O teach us to exercise all those virtues which shone so brightly m our LORD. At the same time, may we remember our exceeding sinfulness; and thus learn to bear with all the various infirmities of others. Give us grace, also, to testify, on suitable occasions, our abhor rence of evil; and give us courage and integrity to exhort one another daily, lest any of us be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; and teach us, in the spirit of love, to serve and edify one another. And now, O LORD, wherever on this day we have failed in the performance of our duty, and in the exercise of any Christian temper, or wherever we have in any respect offended Thee, we implore Thy pardon, in the name of JESUS CHRIST. Take us under Thy protection this night; may we be safe under the shadow of Thy wings; may we com mit ourselves to Thee, in peace and comfort; may the Gospel be our consolation, in our lying down, and in our rising up-may it be an ever-present source of happiness to us :—may it lighten every trial, and reconcile us to every disappointment. May there be no place or time, no situation or circumstance, when the satisfaction, which it imparts, shall entirely leave us: but, being under its blessed influence, may our hearts be ever filled with thankfulness; and our lips, with praises. We ask every blessing, in the name of JESUS CHRIST our only Saviour and Mediator Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c |