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FIFTH EVENING.

Almighty and everlasting God, who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, yet hast promised forgiveness to all those who repent of the evil which they have done,—we draw near to Thee under a deep sense of our unworthiness, for we have transgressed in thought, word, and deed; and when we look back on our past lives, we are confounded by the multitude of our offences. Many have been the sins, of which Thou, and Thou only, hast been the witness. O LORD, save us from that wrath which we have merited. Thou willest not the death of a sinner; but, rather, that he should turn from his wickedness and live. Fulfil towards each of us those gracious promises which Thou hast made in JESUS CHRIST and enable us to rejoice, in the sense of Thy favour here, and in the hope of eternal life in the world to come.

And lest, through our frailty, we should again yield to the power of our manifold temptations, grant unto us both the guidance of Thy providence and the help of Thy Holy Spirit. Put into our hearts good desires; and enable us, by Thy grace, to bring the same to good effect. Correct whatever is amiss in us. Deliver us from pride and vanity, and from the too great love of earthly things; from that fear of man which bringeth a snare, and from all inordinate indulgence. Save us from envy, hatred, and malice. Let not the sun go down upon our wrath. Let us go to rest, this night, full of charity and benevolence; and maintaining a

conscience void of offence towards Thee and towards all men May o'r hearts be a fit habitation for Thy Spirit; and may our souls and bodies be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord JESUS CHRIST.

With these prayers for ourselves, we offer up our intercessions for others also. Let the light of Thy Gospel shine upon all mankind. Have mercy on this land. Bless our President, and all in authority under him. Strengthen their hands, that they may effectually repress wickedness and vice; and maintain Thy true religion among us. Give grace to all ministers of the Gospel, that they may both preach Thy word, and be examples of virtue and godliness. Send down Thy blessing, both temporal and spiritual, upon our several relations and friends; and unite with us in Christian bonds those who are already joined to us by the ties of nature and affection. Be merciful to those who are in any trouble of mind, body, or estate.

Regard in tender compassion the young of this family. May they daily learn the fear of the Lord; and may they ever walk in Thy commandments.

We now beseech Thee to continue to us Thy gracious protection through this night. Into Thy hand we commend our bodies, and our souls; our temporal, and our eternal interests. Thou, O LORD, neither slumberest nor sleepest:-O take us all under Thy special care-defend us from every danger; and grant us such refreshing sleep, that we may be fitted for the duties of the following day. And give us grace so to live, that we may never be afraid to die; but that whether we live, we may live unto the Lord; or whether we

die, we may die unto the Lord :—all which we ask in the name, and through the mediation of JESUS CHRIST, our blessed Saviour.

Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

SIXTH EVENING.

ALMIGHTY AND EVERLIVING GOD, Author of our being, supporter of our lives, and source of all our hopes both in this world and in that which is to come :-we lift up our evening prayer to Thee, in acknowledgment of Thy divine goodness, and of our continual dependence upon Thee.

We thank Thee for Thy merciful protection this day By Thee have we been sustained ever since we were born; and by Thy gracious care we are now enabled to lie down in peace. Blessed be Thy name if we have been in any measure preserved from evil. We are

exposed to dangers on every side; to innumerable ills, which afflict the body; and to many sorrows of the mind. We live in the midst of an ensnaring world; our own hearts are ever ready to deceive us; and our great spiritual adversary goeth about seeking whom he may devour. devour. O LORD, our hope and confidence are only in Thee. Be Thou unto us a rock of defence, that we may be saved from the power of our enemies. In

every season of temptation, in the period of adversity, in the time also of prosperity, in the hour of death, and in the Day of Judgment, good LORD, deliver us!

We beseech Thee to pardon the sins which we have this day committed. Although we profess to love Thy name, yet, in how many things do we continue to offend. We often hear Thy holy word; we are instructed in every part of Thy sacred truth:-but how little fruit do we bring forth which is worthy of our Christian calling; and of that care which Thou in Thy providence and grace, hast bestowed upon us! We earnestly implore Thy pardon, in the name of JESUS CHRIST. Be Thou merciful to us, for our Saviour's sake; and send Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may more deeply repent, and may reform our lives, and be disciples of CHRIST not in name only, but in deed and in truth.

Be pleased to sanctify to the good of our souls whatsoever events have befallen us on this day. May we be gathering wisdom from the scenes which we see around us. When we behold instances of patience and long-suffering, of meekness and gentleness, of lovingkindness and charity, may we follow them: and when we witness the mortality of others, may we be reminded that our time also is short; and that blessed is that man whom his Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching.

Bless, we earnestly beseech Thee, our several friends and relations. Be Thou bountiful to our benefactors.

Show Thy special mercy to the children of this family. Give wisdom to those who shall be appointed to instruct them; and provide for them friends who shall

guide them in the right way, and shall prove a blessing to the end of their lives.

We pray for the President of the United States, that he may experience Thy best blessings: [for our Congress, that their counsels may be directed to our true interests, and to Thy glory:] for our magistrates, that they may not fail to be a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them who do well: for the ministers of the Gospel, that they may go forth in Thy strength, and preach Thy pure and unadulterated word, and have abundant success: for our great men, that they may be examples of virtue to those beneath them: for the poor, that they may be preserved from repining at their lot, and may live in all godliness and honesty and for those who are sick or in trouble, that they may patiently endure the afflictions of the Lord, and in due time find deliverance. We thus commend to Thy gracious care both ourselves and others; and we desire to lie down in perfect charity with all men.

O LORD, hear us in these our prayers, for JESUS CHRIST'S sake; to whom, with THEE and the HOLY GHOST, be all honour and glory, world without end. Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

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