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this day according to these our prayers; and that all the fruits of holiness may abound in us.

We ask every blessing, in the name of JESUS CHRIST Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

SIXTEENTH MORNING.

O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, who hast made the world and all things in it, whom all Thy creatures are bound to serve, in whose favour is life, and in whose displeas ure is misery insupportable; who hast placed us here for a little season, and wilt ere long call us all to judgment,-We kneel down, O LORD, praying Thee to strengthen our faith in all the promises and threatenings of Thy word; that we may indeed live as those who know themselves to be frail and dying creatures on the brink of an awful eternity.

We bless Thee for having brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel. We thank Thee that Thy Son hath died and risen again, hath broken the bonds of death, and hath opened unto us the gates of everlast ing life. We thank Thee for the glorious hopes hela out to each believer in His name and at the same time we would rejoice with trembling; remembering that condemnation which belongs to the despisers of His

Gospel, and to all who receive this grace of God in

vain.

O LORD, grant unto us faith in that eternal world to which we are hastening. May we realize these unseen things-may we turn from the love of this vain world : -may we perceive the sin which dwelleth in us, and the evil which lieth around us, and be looking forward to that blessed time when we shall put away the body of this death, and dwell for ever with the Lord. Give us grace to follow the faith and patience of Thy saints, who turned from sin to follow God, and who endured even to the end; whose hearts were estranged from things below, and whose affections were set on things above; who went through trials, and persecutions, and a great fight of afflictions, counting that He, whom they served, was worthy of all obedience, and was able at length to save and deliver them. O may we, who have the example of their faith, be willing to deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow CHRIST; not living an idle, careless life, while we call ourselves the followers of them who now inherit the promises. May we daily mortify the body of sin, and daily renew the conflict with our spiritual enemies. May we be looking continually to JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God.

May we be so animated by our Christian faith, as to be willing cheerfully to endure the evils of life; and to submit to all Thy righteous will concerning us. there be any of us who are still strangers to Thee, O

If

teach us to remember how short and uncertain are all our days on earth :-Or if there be any of us who are indolent and trifling, too much occupied with this present world, O raise our thoughts to those things which are above, that we may be fellow-citizens with Thy saints and with the household of God. May we all give diligence to make our calling and election sure— may we all repent, and forsake our sins, and believe in CHRIST―may we all die daily to the things of time, and rise to newness of life-may we all so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal. We ask every blessing in the name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

SEVENTEENTH MORNING.

O LORD ALMIGHTY, who art merciful and gracious, ong-suffering, and of great goodness,-We approach Thee as the GOD of mercy, imploring Thee to hear these our prayers, and to pardon the multitude of our sins, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST. Day after day, we add to the number of our transgressions; every night, we have the sins of the preceding day to repent of; and every morning, we have reason to fear lest we should again yield to temptation, and return to our former iniquities. We pray, therefore, for Thy preserving and protecting grace. O LORD, put Thy Spirit into all our hearts; that we, being made pure and holy in our secret thoughts, may not fail to perform all that is good and acceptable in Thy sight.

Dispose each of us on this day habitually to employ our several faculties in Thy service. While we pursue the various duties of our calling, may we have a single eye to Thy glory; and may we undertake no employment on which we cannot hope for Thy blessing. And give us such a portion of Thy grace, O LORD, we beseech Thee, that we may desire to do not only that which is in some degree beneficial; but that which is most excellent and most extensively useful. May no spirit of self-indulgence, no love of ease, no dread of opposition, no fear of shame, prevent our laying out our lives heartily in Thy service. Make us willing in all respects to deny ourselves, that we may live unto Thee. Teach us to enter into the spirit of those Christians

and Apostles of old, who counted not their lives dear unto themselves, so that they might finish their course. with joy and who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ; who living in unity and godly love, were seen striving together for the faith of the Gospel, in nothing terrified by their adversaries.

Grant unto every member of this family Thy peace, and all Thy heavenly consolations: and make us to be of one heart and one mind, praising Thee for Thy mercies, praying to Thee for Thy grace, and uniting in the confession of our daily sins before Thee.

Establish us in Thy faith, and fear, and love; and enlighten us, that we may understand Thy whole will concerning us. Where we mistake, have pity on our errors; and if we have wandered from the right way, do Thou in mercy bring us back. Lead us, O Lord, into the paths of righteousness and peace. And, if we have in any measure attained to the knowledge of Thy truth, may we bring our faith into active exercise. May we watch our hearts, and bridle our tongues, and govern our tempers. May we be ready to forgive, even as we hope to be forgiven. May we be stedfast, and mmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.

We now commit ourselves to Thee for this day; help us to live according to these our prayers; and thus may we be prepared for Thy heavenly kingdom: we ask it for our SAVIOUR's sake.

Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

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