dence to thy parental arms, and may it be my ceaseless endeavour that my future life may correspond with the magnitude of the favours with which thou hast blessed me.

And for this purpose, O Lord, take away from my heart and imagination all those delusions which have hitherto concealed from me the perfect way of thy commandments. Alas! O Lord, every man walketh in a vain show, and amidst those constant successions of hopes and of fears, of vain fancies and earnest longings, which vary the course of this mortal life, we are all liable, at every moment, not only to lose that tone of just thought which we ought to maintain, but to wander into those ways of sin which lead to destruction.

How often, O Lord, during the past years of my life, have I fancied that all was well and happy with me, while in reality I had no sure ground of hope, and was the victim of delusions that were estranging my heart from thy law,—and how seldom, even in my best moments, have I been able to look on life and all its vanities as I shall do when-on the bed of death-all its false colours have vanished, and the approach of judgment and of eternity shall

awaken me, if thy grace desert me not, to a just appreciation of all the things that occupy the heart and labour of man under the sun. How unable have I ever been to see life, as it will hereafter ap.. pear to those who have escaped from its cares, and who shall be permitted to review it from the serene elevation of the life that is to come.

It is not, O Lord, in man that walketh to direct his own steps, or altogether to free himself from the many follies and false views that are constantly besetting him; for man is but dust, and his heart, and imagination, and understanding, are all subject to innumerable sources of error and of delusion. But yet, O Lord, it is consolatory to know that there is a power which is stronger than man, and which is graciously exerted for his ultimate welfare, -it is consolatory to know that, as the breeze of heaven bloweth upon the earth, and quickeneth into new life and renovated beauty that which springeth out of it, and covers all nature with glory and with happiness, there is also a regenerating spirit, which has been ordained to breathe over the wilderness of life,-to check that which is evil, and to foster that which is good,-to infuse new life

into those dry bones which sin had deprived of their strength,—and, finally, to prepare a great harvest upon the earth for the everlasting security of the garner of God.

O let this regenerating spirit be now given unto me, for the sake of him who took our nature upon him, and who, before he ascended unto thy right hand, promised this gift to all his followers. Remember, O Lord, that, as an earnest of this gift, thou didst send thy spirit as cloven tongues of fire to settle on the heads of the first preachers of our faith,—and that, as in the day when the law was given from Sinai, there were thunders and lightnings, and the sound of a trumpet waxing louder and louder,-on that greater day, when the heralds of thy Son were qualified to be his ambassadors to all nations, thou didst descend as a mighty rushing wind, and didst thus signify that spiritual energy which was to be exerted for the regeneration of thy

creatures.

By the operation of this good spirit, may I be enabled to walk humbly with God all the days of my life,-under the constant recollection of my past failures and great weakness,-and with a vi

gilant jealousy, lest a promise having been given me of entering into rest, I may finally come short of it.

By the same good influence, may I be enabled to understand clearly what I ought to do, that I may at last be approved of thee,—may all refuges of lies be taken away from me,-and may I be enabled to devote myself to a faithful, vigorous, and conscientious discharge of all the duties of the station in which thou hast placed me,-ever believing that this is the trust which thou hast commanded me to occupy, and that it is by the manner in which I manage it, that my future place in thy kingdom shall be determined.

Let thy good providence go with me into every scene into which I may be called. Keep me, O God, from meeting with any temptation that is above my strength, or from ever falling into that careless and profane state of mind which is the forerunner of ruin to them that perish.

Make me truly thankful for the wonderful gift of thy beloved Son, whom thou hast given to be the propitiation for the sins of men. May I properly understand and duly value the merits of that

interposition which he made on our behalf,-and to his death and meritorious life may I ever look as my only grounds of acceptance in thy sight.

Grant, O heavenly Father, that, with the view of soon commemorating his dying love for man, I may be enabled to spend the days which are yet given me for preparation, in that holy, humble, and devout state of mind, which the performance of so solemn a duty requires. Let no levity distract my thoughts, nor any compliance with the sinful customs of the world disqualify me for sitting down at thy holy table, but by prayer, and devout meditation, and by a diligent performance of all the duties of my station, may I be prepared for offering that holy and reasonable service which thou wilt approve.

And grant, O Lord, that the influence of this day of humiliation may extend to all the days of my life, and may that portion of my existence, which yet remains for me upon the earth, be so sanctified and kept by thy holy care, that when this life has come to an end, I may enter, with all those who have loved thy law, into the greater services of the sanctuary that is on high.