Imatges de pàgina
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to be admitted when all earthly things shall have

passed away.

O send down thy good Spirit into our hearts. May his blessed influences sanctify our affections, -and elevate our desires, and purify our conduct, -and render our whole lives models of the sanctification and charity of the gospel. By his influences may we all be gifted with true faith in thy beloved Son, with gratitude for that great salvation which he has wrought out for us, and with a desire to imitate his conduct in all that we do. And by the same operation, may our love to each other be increased, so that in all things we may be examples to those who are around us, and may finally obtain the salvation of our souls.

We especially pray, O heavenly Father, for those who have yet to pass through the many cares and dangers of this life, for the young, whose hearts are yet unstained by the great sins that prevail in the world, and who have to undergo that great trial, by which they are either to become qualified for everlasting life, or finally to be shut out from the fellowship of the blessed.

How awful, O Lord, is this thought! O impress

it deeply upon the tender consciences of the young, -and may they now begin to remember their Creator in the days of their youth, before the years draw nigh when they shall say, We have no pleasure in them. Adorn them, O Lord, with all useful and excellent gifts,-with that true knowledge which is the ornament of life,-with that firm integrity which will not be led aside by any solicitations, and with that tenderness of affection which will unite them in the bonds of love to all with whom they are connected. Grant them also an early desire to fulfil the law of their Creator and Redeemer, -may they be early taken as disciples of the Son of God, and receive, while their hearts are yet unhardened by vice, such impressions of the value of Divine truth, as may set all the vain wisdom of the disobedient at nought.

Especially, O Lord, keep them from the evil that is in the world,-from the fatal effects of bad example,―and from the thousand snares that beset them on the right hand and on the left. Let thy good providence be ever with them, to lead them and to guide them; and, having done well their part in time, may they be enabled to look back

from the last scene of life with triumph, and to say, Now is our race completed, and our warfare is accomplished! We have fought a good fight,we have finished our course, we have kept the faith ;-henceforth there is laid up for us a crown of life.

And, O most merciful God, who art the neverfailing friend of all them that call upon thee, grant that these our earthly devotions may be blessed for these important purposes. May we all have cause to rejoice, that we have thus sought for thy blessing; and on every season of prayer and of meditation, may thy Spirit descend, to make it an earnest of the joy which awaits all thy redeemed.

And grant, grant, O most merciful Father, that we all, who have been so closely united in time, may at last meet in thy heavenly kingdom;-may none of those who now bow before thee be wanting in that day when thou makest up thy jewels;—but, when our varied years upon the earth are finished, and the aged and the young have each been gathered in their appointed time to all the generations that have gone before us, may our spirits rejoin each other in

everlasting bliss, and be throughout eternity em– ployed in thy service.

And now to thy name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be ascribed all glory and honour, dominion and praise, world without end.

Amen.

ANOTHER FAMILY PRAYER

FOR THE MORNING OR EVENING OF THE SABBATH

DAY.

PSALM 1XV. 2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

BEHOLD US, O Lord, and those whom thou hast given us. Look down in mercy from thy throne in heaven upon this family now met for thy worship; sanctify all our affections, and assist us in all our duties; and may the homage which we now offer, being presented from contrite hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We bless thee for the high rank thou hast been pleased to give us among thy creatures, and for the rational and immortal nature with which we are endowed. We thank thee, that we are made capable of looking up to thee as our Father in heaven; of joining together, as we now join, in thy worship;

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