fear to whatever I believe to be agreeable to thy word;-may no regard to the opinions of mankind ever make me betray my own conscience,but, ever believing that thou wilt ultimately give effect to that which is right, may I rejoice in being a fellow-worker with thee for the welfare of thy crea

tures.

Above all, grant, O heavenly Father, that the truths of thy word may have a practical effect upon my temper and conduct. Deliver my mind from all vain imaginations,-all false views-all wandering thoughts,-enable me to form a correct estimate of my situation in life, and of the duty to which that situation calls me, and thus may I be enabled by thy grace to acquit myself in all things as a good servant of my Father who is in heaven.

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit, and those of all my relations and friends, during this night. Grant me the blessing of refreshing sleep; and when I awaken, to the business of another week, may it be with a heart purified by the services of this day, and more resolved than it has hitherto been to take thy word as a light to

my feet and a lamp unto my path.

Hear, for Christ's sake, these my humble prayers, and answer me in mercy, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen.

ANOTHER PRAYER FOR SABBATH MORNING.

ISAIAH lviii. 13. Call the Sabbath a delight.

BLESSED be thy name, O Lord, that though thou art the High and Holy One who inhabitest eternity, thou also delightest to dwell with the man who is humble and of a contrite heart.

Surely, O Lord, I am not worthy to lift my eyes to the place where thine honour dwelleth,—for myriads of pure intelligences serve thee day and night in thy temple; and they offer unto thee a service undebased by the imperfections which pollute the purest offering that man can present.

Yet blessed be thy name, that thou condescendest to take pleasure in the imperfect sacrifices of human praise, and that thou hast especially set apart this day, that man may refresh himself from many toils, and may consecrate all his occupa

his

tions by imploring thy blessing, and placing himself under thy care.

How pleasing are the meditations which this season awakens,-and how good was it in thee, O Father who art in heaven, to allure us to such contemplations by the rest thou hast appointed for this day!

In the beginning, thou didst create the heavens and the earth,-when as yet the generations of man had not begun to exist, thou didst graciously arrange for them their future dwelling-place; and all thy thoughts towards them were thoughts of love.

I desire, O Lord, this day to look back with gratitude and wonder to that hour when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, when thou didst look from thy throne upon the world which thou hadst made, and didst behold that all things were very good,-ánd, when resting from thy work, thou didst consecrate the first Sabbath, by shedding one blessed day of peace and love over the new-born glories of the yet unpolluted world.

Blessed be thy name, that thou hast never left thyself without a witness: for the heavens continue

to declare thy glory, and the firmament showeth forth thy handy-work ;-day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge; their line is gone into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

The covenant of the day and of the night is not broken,—for still thou givest the sun for a light by day, and the moon and stars to shine by night; and thou hast also been faithful to thy covenant of promise, that while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, summer and winter, shall not fail.

The heaven, even the heaven of heavens, is thine; but the earth thou hast given to the children of men. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof: thou sendest the springs into the valleys which run among the hills; they give drink unto every beast of the field,—and by them the fowls of heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

How manifold, O Lord, are thy loving-kindnesses