Blessed also be thy name, that thou hast been pleased to send thy Holy Spirit to breathe a new life into the souls which were dead in trespasses and sins; and that, by his influence, a great harvest is preparing in time for thy heavenly kingdom.

It is also, O Lord, our consolation to know that, though all the things of this earth are hastening to dissolution, and though even those greater orbs that beautify the firmament shall perish, thou wilt remain for ever the same, and of thy years there shall be no end. Thou wilt ever, therefore, preserve the souls which thou hast made; and we are enabled to look forward to all the changes of eternity with the pleasing assurance that thou wilt never leave us, if we have devoted ourselves to thy will, but that, amidst all the changes which everlasting ages may bring forth, thine everlasting arms will be round about us.

Grant, O heavenly Father, that with such great prospects before me, I may be enabled to form a proper estimate of all earthly things. Teach me so to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom; and, ever remembering that here I have no continuing city,-that a thousand unfore

seen events may at any moment call me into thy presence, and that, even though I should live to the utmost term of human life, it is but as a few days, enable me so to live, while I have health and strength, as I shall wish to have done when I come to die. May I now devote myself to all virtue, and to all praise, and think no labour too great, that I may lay hold on the prize of everlasting life.

Enable me to act at all times on enlarged and comprehensive views of my true interests. May I never be induced to sacrifice, to any pleasures of this life, my welfare in that life to which I am advancing; but, looking steadfastly to that hour when I shall be called to resign my place among all temporal objects, may I act at all times under the guidance of those principles which will extend their influence into eternity.

And may the recollection of the passing nature of all earthly things keep me from being, at any time, too much depressed by the sorrows or disappointments of this fleeting scene. But, O Lord, afflict not, in thine anger, the few and evil days that are appointed for man upon the earth; but let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us

early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad, according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us: yea, the work of our hands establish thou

it.

Into thy hands, O Father, I commit my spirit through this night. Be merciful unto me, and bless for my Redeemer's sake. Amen.

me,

E

MORNING PRAYER FOR FRIDAY.

1 COR. XV. 20. Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that sleep. ACTs i. 9. And while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

I THANK thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast made me capable of feeling my relation to thine uncreated perfection. How high, O Lord, is the distinction to which I am thus raised; and how invaluable is the privilege which that distinction implies! I am indeed placed but on the footstool of thy throne, and it is but a dim and imperfect view which I am capable of attaining of thy nature and attributes; but, amidst all my imperfections, thou hast implanted in my nature the indications of high honour to which I may yet attain; and it becomes me to cherish ceaseless gratitude, because I have been encouraged and commanded to commit

all my ways and thoughts to thee, who art pleased to reveal thyself as our Father in heaven, and who hast called us to aspire after communion with thee, and after a gradual approximation to the perfections of thy nature.

Surely, O God, thou hast made man but a little lower than the angels; thou hast crowned him with glory and with honour, and hast made him lord over all thy works.

But blessed, O Lord, be thy name, that our prospects have not been limited to this passing life. In a short time, indeed, we must resign our place upon this earth; and our eyes, which have seen thy perfections manifested in the things which thou hast made, must close for ever on every thing that is beneath the sun. The days of our lives, O Lord, are fast hastening away; and the seeds of death, which are implanted in our nature, remind every man, that the hour is approaching when he must bid adieu to this living scene.

But blessed be thy name, that even this our mortal part shall not perish. For thou, Lord, canst breathe into our dry bones, that they may live again; and in that word of comfort by which thou