LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, N. J. FKOM THE LIBRARY OF PROF. WILLIAM HENRY GREEN BV 255 .H13 1868 Hall, John, 1829-1898, Family prayers FAMILY PRAYERS, FOR FOUR WEEKS. EDITED BY JOHN HALL, D.D., NE-W" YORK. NEW YORK: ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, No. 770 Broadway. Cor, of lull Street. 1868. Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 18G8, Bt ANSON D. F. EANDOLPH, In the Clerli's Olfice of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. EDWARD O. JENKINS, PRINTER AND STEREOTTPER, 20 North WiUiam Street, N. Y. PREFACE. T WAS led to issue some time ago a small volume of prayers for families, a number of which had been contributed by my friends of various evan- gelical denominations. These constitute the first- half of the present volume. The other half consists of selections — ^with occasional alterations and ab- breviations — from a small and excellent volume, published many years ago without any author's name, and now out of print. It is humbly trusted that this attempt to remove a hindrance to family religion, may, through God's blessing, have some success. It is known that many who value family prayer arc prevented from giving this privilege to their households, by the want of ability to express themselves in what they think becoming language. This little book is intended to be a temporary help to them ; and it is hoped that a beginning having been made by its use, heads of families will iv PREFACE. soon feel themselves able to forego the aid it is in- tended to furnish. In the absence of fathers, family worship is some- times omitted. It is belreved that mothers will thus be helped to keep the fire burning on the family al- tar. The Avidowed and the fatherless surelv need to call upon the Lord. Young men who are just commencing married life, and who are forming the character of their " home," are entreated to consecrate it from tlie beginning by family prayer. Petitions, suitable in some cases, and not in others, are marked with brackets ; and the prayers for par- ticular occasions at the close, will, by their very nature, suggest the place in the daily worship at which they should be used. Brethren ! to you, your wives and little ones, for whose souls' good this book has been prepared, to you it is dedicated, in respect and love. May the God of the families of all the earth bless you, help you in all your toils and cares, and bring you and yours, unbroken households, to His peaceful and eternal home, through Jesus Christ, and for His sake. J. H. PRAYERS. SABBATH MORNING. \ LMIGHTY and ever blessed God, help us to •^-^ draw near to Thee through Jesus Christ, and to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. We thank Thee that Thou hast taken care of us during the night. We bless Thee for the life, and light, and mercies of this day. fill our hearts with grati- tude for Thy great goodness ; and help us to spend the life which Thou preservest in Thy service. We know that we are less than the least of all Thy mercies. We are unworthy of Thy great good- ness. We are sinners exceedingly in Thy sight. But we thank Thee that Thou didst send Thy Son into the world to save sinners. We bless Thee that He died to make atonement for our sins, and that He ever liveth to make intercession for us. have mercy on our souls, for Jesus' sake. Send Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, and keep us ever sensible of our sinfulness and need of Christ. Help us to embrace Him as our Saviour, and rest on Him continually. May our life this day be a life of faith on Thy Son . Pardon all our sins for His sake. Ac- (7) 8 PI^A TEES. cept of lis in Him. Help us to live this day to His glory, and to show forth His praises. May wc realize His presence, and walk as seeing Thee, who art invisible. May Thy Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts, and make us holy, even as Thou art. Fit us for the dis- charge of every duty to which we may be called to- day, and help us to resist every temptation by which we may be assailed. Make Thy grace sufficient for us at all times, and perfect Thy strength in our weakness. Enable us to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil, and to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Bless all the members of this family, according to their various circumstances and wants. Thouknow- est the spiritual condition of every one of us. Make those of us who are believers, living epistles of Christ. Help us to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify Thee, our Father in heaven. Make us useful and happy in Christ. Enable us to commend our religion to all around us, by our diligence in duty, by our holy cheerfulness, and by our loving, kindly spirit. If any of us here, bowed down before Thee, are still without Christ, have mercy upon them. Pluck them as brands from the burning. Rouse them im- mediately from their carelessness. Convince them of the value of their souls. Lead them to flee at once to Jesus, and give them no rest till they have PRAYERS. 9 found peace in Him. Bless all our friends. Make them all the friends of Jesus, and cause all Thy dis- pensations to work together for their spiritual good. Bless the congregation to which we belong, and graciously revive Thy work among its members. Give a double portion of Thy Spirit to our pastor. Fill his heart with love to Christ and compassion for souls. Feed him with the hidden manna, that he may be able to give to each of us a portion in due season. Bless Thine own cause in this neighborhood. May pure and undefiled religion prevail in it. May those who are Thy children walk more consistently, and be more diligent in Thy service, and more prayerful. Awaken the unconverted from their spiritual slumbers. Bless all the means of grace. Smile on every effort made to bring sinners to the Saviour, and pour out abundantly Thy Holy Spirit. that Thou wouldest revive Thy work on every side of us ! Bless the whole church with which we are connected. Make all her ministers more faithful and self-denying, and prayerful, and successful. Strengthen their hands for the great work in which they are engaged, and cheer their hearts by permit- ting them to see abundantly of the fruit of their labors. Bless all the congregations of our church. May Thy children in them all be edified, and may the unconverted be saved. May their office-bearers be full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. May they 10 PRATERS. be ensamples to the flock, and faithful to their trust. Bless all our missions and missionaries. Crown their labors with success, and give them many souls for their hire. Have pity on those of our country- men who are still in darkness, and enlighten them. Take away the veil of unbelief from the minds of the Jews, and turn the heathen from their idols to serve Thee, the only living and true God. Bless all the churches of Thy Son. Purify every one of them, and send down upon them all showers of blessing. May grace and mercy and peace be multiplied to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Bless every effort made to extend the kingdom of Thy Son. Fill the whole earth witli Thy glory, and bring all the children of men into subjection to King Jesus. And now, Father, we commend us to Thy guid- ance and guardianship for this day. Show us the path of duty in the various circumstances in whicli we may be placed, and help us to walk in it. Keep us from all evil, and save us from every sin ; and all the glory shall be Tliine, through Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen. Our Father who art in Heaven^ c&c, SABBATH EVENING. /^ LOBD, our heavenly Father, help us to come ^-^ as children to Tliy throne of grace. Give us Tliy Holy Spirit, that He may teach us wliat to PRAYEBS. 11 ask and how to pray. Enable us to come to Thy footstool in the name of Jesus. Thou art great, and high, and holy. We are weak, and helpless, and sinful. Oh, may we approach Thee in deep hu- mility. Thou searchest our hearts. Oh, help us to fix our thoughts and desires upon Thee ! We thank Thee, Father, for Thy kindness to every one of us this day. Thou hast preserved our lives, and protected us from danger. Thou hast provided for our wants, and crowned us with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Thou hast given us Thy holy word to guide us ; and Thou dost permit us to plead with Thee in prayer for all that we require, and to surround the family altar without any visible mark of Thy displeasure upon us. But we confess that we have been forgetful of Thee, and ungrateful for Thy goodness. Our hearts have wandered from Thee. Our thoughts i^ have been too much occupied with the trifles of '-^ ^*^ time. AVe have not loved nor served Thee as we ^ ought. We have broken Thy holy law, and sinned >^*v against Thee. AVe rejoice that there is forgiveness with Thee, ^^j^ £^ that Thou mayest be feared. Oh, pardon the sins we have committed to-day, and all our sins, for Jesus' sake. Wash us in His blood. Clothe us in His righteousness. Santify us by His Spirit. Make us truly sorry for our sins, and help us to forsake them. Help us to love Thee more every 12 PRAYERS. day, and to serve Thee better. Make us like Christ. May every evening remind us of the night of death. Stir us up to meditate more on the eternal rest of Thy people. Fix our affections more and more on things above. Prepare us every one for death, and judgment, and immor- talit3^ Sanctify to us every dispensation of Thy lioly providence. When Thou givcst us pros- perity, and health, and peace, and happiness, may we receive them as coming from Thy gracious hand, and give Thee all the praise. In all our enjoyments may we remember, and love, and glorify Thee. When Thou sendest any trial, may we re- ceive it as a token of Thy love, and seek that it may yield in us the peaceable fruit of righteous- ness. Oh, may our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Draw us nearer and nearer to Thee. Grant tliat we may enjoy com- munion with Thee every day, and that we may know from blessed experience what it is to walk with God. Help us to live above the world, and let our hearts and our conversation be in Heaven. Bless every effort we have made this day to pro- mote Thy glory. Oh, make us instrumental in win- ning souls to Christ. [Bless the children in this family. Incline their hearts, Lord, to seek Thee early, and make them the lambs of Christ's fold. Give to each of them a new heart. May they sti'ive to be like the holy PRAYERS. 13 child Jesus, and love Him with all their hearts. Keep them from sin, and preserve them from all evil. Bless those who are servants in this house. May they love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and be the objects of His redeeming love. Be gracious to all whom we love. May the mem- bers of all the families with which we are con- nected be members of Thy redeemed family, and heirs of Thy glory.] Bless, Lord, all ranks and classes of men. May the poor be rich in faith ; and do Thou graciously supply all tlieir w^ants. Teach the rich to be hum- ble, and to fear Thee ; and let them not trust in uncertain riches, but in Thee the living God. Be very merciful to the sick and infirm. Sanctify their trials ; and when Thou makest their suffer- ings to abound, make their consolations much more to abound. Be a husband to every widow, and a father to every orphan. Break the yoke of the op- pressed. Sustain and deliver all who are perse- cuted for righteousness' sake. Keep all who are on the deep waters as in the hollow of Thine hand. Watch over every traveller ; and be the stay, and the portion, and the shield of those who are stran- gers in strange lands. Bestow Thy Holy Spirit richly upon the President, and all those who have authority. Endue our counsellors with celestial wisdom ; and put Thy fear into the hearts of all our legislators, and rulers, and judges, and magistrates. Bless all the people of this land with the blessings 14 P BAYERS. of Thy salvation. Have mercy upon all lands. Oh, hasten the time when all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. Bless all Christian missions. Bless the circulation of Thy holy word, and of Thy truth in every form. Stay the progress of error and sin ; and let knowledge, and righteousness, and peace, prevail throughout the whole world. And now, Lord, we commit us to Thy special care for this night. Let no evil come nigh our dwelling. Give us the sleep of Thy beloved. If it be Thy holy will, raise us in health to-morrow, htted for its duties. Be our sun, and shield, and guide us all our days and nights, and at last re- ceive us to Thy glory. All we ask is for Christ's sake ; and to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost be all glory and praise, now and for ever. Amen. MONDAY MORNING. OLORD, we approach Thy mercy-seat this morning in the name of our Great High Priest, in whose name alone we plead for access and acceptance while we worship before Thee. We thank Thee for the safety and rest of the past night ; for our safety cometh only from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth. We thank Thee that we are all living before Thee this day, to enjoy together Thy goodness and Tliy mercy. We thank Thee for one another, for our PRAYERS. 15 home, for our love and fellowsliip, and for all the comforts of life which we enjoy together. We bless Thee, Lord, for our fellowship in the truth, for the knowledge of Thy dear Son, our all-sufficient Saviour, and for the light and consola- tion of Thy word. We bless Thee for our rela- tion to Thy Church, for our fellowship with Thy people, and for all the means of instruction and godly edifying so richly provided for us. We gratefully acknowledge Thee, our God, to be the unfailing Source of these, and all our other mercies, from day to day. We have nothing which we have not received ; and we bless Thee that we are dependent upon Thee, and that all our need is supplied by Thee, according to Thy riches in glory, by Jesus Christ. We adore Thee that Thou hast made all our supplies sure to us, by Thy covenant with Thy Son, our faithful Surety, with whom Thou dost freely give us all things. Lord, let Thy Holy Spirit take away the bondage of our own spirit, — the self-seeking, so offensive and dishonouring to Thee. Thou hast the rightful claim to our love, to our submission, and our obedience. Oh, help us by Thy all-suffi- cient grace, to render unto Thee all Thou claim- est, — to love Thee with all our heart, and w^ith all our mind, and with all our soul, and with all our strength . Let us ever feel that loving Thee is our chief joy ; and let us never doubt Thy love, — that love of which Thou hast given such proof in that 16 PRAYEB 8. Thou liast not withheld from us Thy Son, but hast delivered Him up to the death for us all. Truly, Thy faithfulness hast Thou established in tlie very heavens. Lord our God, we will praise Thee with all our heart ; we will glorify Thy name for evermore, for great is Thy mercy toward us, and Thou hast delivered our souls from the lowest hell. In Thy name shall we rejoice all the day, and in Thy favour shall our horn be exalted. For the Lord is our defence, and the Holy One of Israel is our King. Lord, grant, that in loving Jesus, our love to one another may abound. May our hearts be knit together in love, that we may be helpful one to an- other, that we may grow up into Christ Jesus to- gether, taking sweet counsel together, and walking in the fear of the Lord. Let us ever be tendei'- hearted and kind, forbearing one another in love ; in all faithfulness and truth living together as becometh the gospel. Let us not bring sharae or sorrow upon one another ; and let not any be ashamed for our sakes, Lord. Keep us from being moved away from the hope of the gospel. Let us be strengthened with might by Thy Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. [0 Lord our God, bless, we beseech Thee, the young of this family. Bless them with health and strength of body and of mind, that they may be fitted to serve Thee in the activities of life. Bless PRAYERS. 17 to tliem parental love and care, that tlicy may ren- der a ready and loving obedience. May Thy grace purify their hearts, that they may be beautified with Thy salvation. Make them gentle of spirit, tender of conscience, loving and true. May they understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Oh, keep them from the evil that is in the world ; from the companionship of the ungodly ; from all fellowship with the un- fruitful works of darkness. Open up their way be- fore them to safe and useful occupations in life ; and enable them in their several callings, to exer- cise themselves to maintain, consciences void of offence toward God and toward man.] Lord, lead as forth to the duties and engage- ments of this day in Thy fear. Enable its to do whatsoever we do as to the Lord, and not as unto men ] and do Thou bless and prosper to ourselves and others the work of our hands. May the path of duty be plain to us. May our understanding and judgment be clear, that no perplexities may dis- tract us, and that no snare may entangle us. Oh, let us not forget Thee in the occupations and inter- course of life this day. May we ever have the blessed confidence that Thou art near, — our help, our shield, light of our countenance, and our God. Keep us from all willful offence, from all unkind words, from all guile, and from all unjust deeds. And as we have opportunity, may we, as the children of our Father, do good unto all men, 18 PRAYERS, especially to tliem wlio are of tlie household of faith. Our heavenly Father, we commit ourselves with all our interests into Thy hands. Undertake for us. Glorify Thyself in us. May the Holy Spirit abide with us, and carry on His good work within us, that, walking in fellowship with Jesus, we may this day overcome the world, and grow in meet- ness for the inheritance of the saints in light. And all we ask is for the sake of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be all praise and glory for evermore. Amen. MONDAY EVENING. liOUD our God, by Thy good hand upon us, we meet together at the close of another peaceful day. By Thy renewed kindness unto us, Thou hast put a new song into our mouth, even praise unto our God. We thank thee for our daily bread, for our safety and preservation, for strength for our daily labor, and for the measure of suc- cess which Thou hast granted to the works of our hands. We bless Tliee for all we have seen to-day of Thy works and ways ; for everything which has reminded us of Thee, of Thy greatness and majesty, of Thy wisdom and power, of Thy grace and truth. We have been dependent upon Thee all the day ; PRATERS. 19 and, blessed be Thy name, we have not wanted any good thing. And Thou art crowning the day with Thy goodness, in granting us the quiet of the eve- ning, the refreshing of the holy word, and the solemn exercise of prayer. Lord, Thou hast bestowed upon us many com- forts ] oh, that we were more thankful ! But wc have been more prone to repine at our privations and crosses, than to rejoice in our comforts. We have been impatient under trial, and have been tempted to envy the more prosperous condition of others. We have allowed the world to occupy an undue place in our desires, as if our life consisted in the abundance of the things which we possess. We have opened our minds to the entrance of cov- etousness, and have suffered ourselves to be fretted with cares, and anxieties, and troubles of this life. Alas ! the most precious gifts and blessings in our ^ possession have been lightly regarded, because of our sinful longing after things which Thou hast in Thy sovereign wisdom withheld. We have been oppressed with fears and apprehensions of the fu- ture. We have forgotten to look forward in the light of the promises, and we have mistrusted Thy faithfulness. We have looked so much to the things Avhich are seen and temporal, as to mar our enjoyment of the things which are unseen and eternal. our Father, we would humble ourselves for these things. We liave dishonored Thee, by 20 PRAYERS. seeking tliat satisfaction in the creature, which is only to be found in Thyself. Oh, forgive these our offences against Thee for Jesus' sake : create within us clean hearts, and let the spirit of offence be cast out. Teach us to submit ourselves to Thy chasten- ings, believing Thy love in them all. Thou hast given us Christ, and in Him eternal life. Oh, how can wo think Thou wouldst withhold from us any- thing else if it were good for us ! Lord, let us not choose for ourselves. Choose Thou for us in Thy wisdom and love, and let our hearts approve Thy choice. Be Thou our portion, our light, and our joy in Christ Jesus. Help us ever watchfully to cherish a meek and quiet spirit, ever looking unto Him who was meek and lowly of heart, that we may find rest unto our souls. May Thy Holy Spirit ever abide within us, that He may keep us steadfast in faith, that we may not be moved away from the hope of the gospel which we have heard. May He ever show us more of the sufficiency and excellency of Christ our Saviour, that He may become evermore the satisfaction and joy of our hearts. We rest only upon Jesus for our acceptance with Thee, that we may be justified freely by Thy grace, through the redemption that is in Him. Oli, let us never be ashamed to confess Him before men. Let us not shun the reproach of Christ, nor fear to suffer shame for His name. Let us not prefer our own ease or wordly comfort, when he claims our service, and asks us to take . PBATEBS. 21 up any cross for His ■ sake. Help iis to cliccr and encourage one another in every self-denying work for Him. Let none of our number hold back or turn aside ; but let us all go hand in.hand in our covenant of love, to be faithful witnesses for Him who hath given Himself for us. In the abound- ing of iniquity, let not our love wax cold. Lord, quicken us after Thy loving-kindness, that we may keep the testimony of Thy mouth. Heavenly Father, we commit ourselves to Thy kind and watchful care this night. Refresh us with rest and sleep, and let the light of a new morn- ing shine upon us in peace. And to Thee shall be the praise and the glory for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. TUESDAY MORNING. OLORD our God, we come to Thee this morn- ing as children to a father, able and willing to help us. Do Thou enable us to come in an ac. ceptable manner through Jesus Christ our Saviour, and teach us by Thy Spirit how we should pray to Thee aright. We acknowledge that it is in Thee we live and move and have our being, and that we are indebted to Thee for every good thing. We thank Thee for the mercies of the past night ; the quiet and peaceful rest we have enjoyed ; the protection granted us from danger, accident, disease, and 22 P BAYERS. death. We bless Thee for the favors of the morning, the light of another day, the health of our bodies, the renewed vigor and energy of our minds, the food of which we have partaken, and the riches^ (^of domestic happiness. We praise Thee for the numerous privileges, both temporal and spiritual, bestowed on us in this fa- vored land, the civil liberty possessed by all classes, freedom to worship God according to our conscience, just and wise laws, able and upright rulers, abundance of peace enabling us to dwell undisturbed in quiet habitations, the benefits of education and knowledge ; and, above all, the blessing of a pure gospel, that everlasting life is proclaimed to us in Thy word, and by Thy minis- ters, through faith in a crucified Saviour. Al- though we have many troubles, yet must we thank- fully acknowledge that the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage. We are not worthy, Lord, of the least of these mercies. We are sinful creatures, and our sins are very many and very great. We are by nature dead in trespasses and sins, and children of wrath as others. Instead of Thy favor we justly deserve Thy displeasure. But Thou art full of mercy : Thou dost not delight in the death of a sinner. Thou hast so loved us as to give Thine only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish. We praise Thee that He bore our sins and carried our sorrows ; that He was wounded for our transgres- PRAYERS. 23 sions, and bruised for our iniquities ; and that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make inter- cession for them. And now, Lord, for His sake have mercy upon us. We pray for pardon because we need it so much ; our iniquity is so very great. We trust we shall be forgiven through the merits of our Lord, and sprinkled with that blood that cleanseth from all sin. Be pleased, also, Lord, to sanctify us by Thy Spirit. We are corrupt as well as guilt^^ We are prone to do evil ; when we would do good, evil is present with us. Oh, deliver us from this bondage of corruption. Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean ; wash us and we shall be whiter than snow. Mortify our flesh, with its affections and lusts. And, specially, this day watch over us, and deliver lis from temptation. Lord, preserve us from covetousness, which is idolatry. May we lift our affections from things below, and set them on things above. May we count it more blessed to give than to receive. Give us our daily bread, and make us content with such things as we have. Set a watch before our mouths ,* keep the door of our lips. Incline not our heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity. Preserve us from rioting and drunkenness, and being in any other way partakers of other men's sins. Keep us pure from slander, and malice, and fleshly lusts, that war against the 24 PRAYERS. soul. May Satan this day in no way triumpli over us ; but, blessed Lord, make Thy grace sufficient for us, and perfect Thy strength in our weakness ; so shall we be glad and rejoice before Thee all the day long. All other things we stand in need of we humbly beg in the name of the Lord Jesus, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, we ascribe the kingdom, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. TUESDAY EVENING. /^UR Father which art in heaven, at the close ^-^ of another day we draw nigh to Thee in our evening family prayer. We desire to approach Thee with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. We have again to deplore our continued sinfulness. Notwithstanding frequent and repeated resolutions for good, we have often done this day, in thought, word, and deed, what we ought not to have done, and we have left undone what we ought to have done. We have not loved Thee with all our soul, and strength, and mind, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. It is known to Thee only, God, how far we have each one erred and strayed from Thy ways. How merciful and long-suffering hast Thou been, not merely to spare our lives, but, uotwitlistanding our ingratitude and rebellion, to PRAYERS. 25 crown us with loving-kindness and tender mercies, and to open Thine hand liberally to supply all our wants ! Eighteousness belongeth unto Thee, Lord, but unto us confusion of face. Lay not, we beseech Thee, these sins to our charge, but, merciful Father, take them all away in the blood of the Lamb ; and ere we lay down our heads on our pil- lows to-night, may we have a sweet sense of Thy favor, an assurance that our sins are really put away for ever, and that united to the Lord Jesus, our souls are saved with an everlasting salvation. [Bless, we beseech Thee, our beloved children. Keep them in health of body ; but, above all, may their souls prosper and be in health. Teach them to love the Saviour, who said, " Suffer little children to come unto Me." May they, from their earliest years, take Him to be their Master and Friend, and ever follow in His steps. Preserve them from the evil that is in the world. As they grow in years, may they grow in grace ; and, finally, may they be Thine in that day when Thou makcst up Thy jewels.] [Bless those who help in this house. Teach us to deal justly towards them ; and may they deal justly towards us. Let them not do their work with eye- service, as men-pleasers ; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.] Establish the work of our hands. May it prosper, as far as Thou seest it is for our good. Teach us in prosperity rightly to rejoice, and in adversity to 26 PRATERS. consider. Let us not be over-anxious about any- thing ; but in every thing, by prayer and supplica- tion with thanksgiving, help us to make our requests known to God. And may the peace of God that passeth all understanding keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Bless our neighbors ; promote among them and us a spirit of kindness and brotherly love. If any of them are at enmity with us, be pleased to remove that enmity. If we have done them w^rong, enable us to confess it, and make restitution ; if they have done us wrong, may we be ready to forgive, as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. Bless the Church universal, and all, in every place, that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. May Thy ministers be men of earnestness and piety ; Thine elders and other office-bearers, men that fear Thee and hate covetousness, filled with the Holy Ghost ; and may Thy people shine as lights ir the world, holding forth the word of life. Remember in mercy our beloved country. Guide and bless the President, all judges, legislators and civil officers, that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. Restrain wicked and ungodly men among us. Put an end to drunk- enness, Sabbath-breaking, swearing, and other vices, on account of which the land mourneth. Destroy superstition and ignorance ] and may Thy word find an entrance into every family and every heart. Have pity upon the heathen world. Send forth PEA TEB8. 27 laborers unto this great harvest. And may the day soon come when all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. A¥e now commit ourselves to Thy care for the night. If we are spared to the morning, may we rise refreshed to renew our daily work. If any of us should be removed before the morning light, may we be prepared to die, and may we enter upon the rest that remaineth for the people of God. Our Father ivhicli art in heaven^ etc. WEDNESDAY MORNING. \ LMIGHTY and everlasting God, we lift our •^-^ souls to Thee in the morning of a new day. Another night has passed, and Thou hast w^atched over us for good through it. We laid ourselves down, and now we have risen again in safety, health, and peace. Each of us would say : " Bless the Lord, my soul ; and all that is within me bless His holy name." Our bodies and our minds are refreshed by the night's rest. Grant, Lord, that we may be strength- ened with might by Thy Spirit in the inner man. While the sun of nature brings light to the world, grant, we beseech Thee, that the beams of the Sun of Righteousness may gladden our souls, and chase away all unbelief and sin. Make us always to live as those who are the children of the day, casting. 28 PRATERS, off tliG works of darkness and putting on the armor of light. God of mercy, many of Thy creatures are, about this time, rising from their night's rest, and going forth to the engagements of another day. Do Thou awaken them to righteousness ; may they be delivered from the power of darkness, and be trans- lated into tlie kingdom of Thy dear Son ; and may the whole of the human race, from east to west, and from north to south, soon be made to hear and obev Thy voice, saying to them : "Awake, thou that sleep- est, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.'' And Lord, grant that we may truly hear and obey that voice ourselves. Lord, Thou knowest the end from the begin- ning, but we know not what a day may bring forth. Indeed, so ignorant are we of the future, that we cannot tell at the beginning of one hour what shall take place before the end of it. We do know some of the wants we shall have to-day, and some of the works we must do to-day. Oh, our heavenly Father, give us this day, in all respects, " our daily bread." Supply our wants, and make us diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Pre- pare us for the things that shall unexpectedly come upon us. Make us watchful and prayerful. Grant us a clear knowledge of duty in every case ; and may we have a heart forward and strong in Thy strength to do it. Blessed God, we beseech Thee to have Tliine eye upon us, and Thy hand with us, PRAYERS. 29 to guard us, to guide us, to sustain us, to comfort us, and to give us good success this day. From all the evil that is about us, and from all the evil that is within us, keep us by Thy own power. Enable us so to conduct ourselves that we may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. Thou who art rich in mercy, and who dost de- light in mercy, we commit ourselves to Thee. Bap- tize us with Thy Holy Spirit, and make this day a day of blessing to us all, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen. WEDNESDAY EVENING. OLORD GOD, enable us to worship Thee with reverence and godly fear, and with lively confidence and holy joy, according to Thy word. Thou art very great and very good. Lord, Thou art not far from every one of us ; for in thee we live, and move, and have our being. Make us to believe Thy greatness and Thy goodness, as shown by Thy providential care and bounty continually. Especially make us to know Thee better as Thou makest Thy- self known to us in Thy holy word. And oh, give us always a deepfelt sense of Thy presence with us. We now humbly approach Thy footstool, bringing to Thee our poor sacrifice of thanksgiving for the mercies of another day. They are many and great, and we value them the more because they all come from Thy fatherly kindness to us. lord, we do not 30 PRAYERS. deserve the least of them, for there has been much in us this day offensive to Thee ; and but for Thy patience and long-suffering towards us, Thou woulclst have cut us down, and cast us out. For Thy name's sake, pardon our iniquity. We would not let the day close, Lord, without the sprinkling of that precious blood which cleanseth from all sin, or without again praising Thee for the fountain wiiich Thou hast opened for sin and for unclean- ness. God, we are about to take our night's sleep. Wearied with the day's work, we need the repose which Thou hast appointed for our good. Thou givest Thy beloved sleep ; but Thou dost never slumber. As the Shepherd of Israel, Thou art always awake, and aware of all that is going on through the night, as well as in the day. Lord, keep us and our house, and all that belong to us, this night. When we wake, may our first tlioughts be towards Thee, and may the clear light of Thy love in Christ Jesus be shining on our hearts. our gracious God, Thy tender mercies are over all Thy works. Thou art the God of all the families of the earth. Thou hast opened wide the stores of Thy wonderful mercy to sinners of mankind, and art calling them to come to Thy throne of grace and be filled from Thy fulness. We pray that Thou wilt bless others as well as ourselves. Bring our relations, our friends, our neighbors, yea, all per- sons in our country, and in tlie world, to know Thee, PRAYERS. 31 and to rest in Thy love. Let Thy blessing come upon our President, his family, liis counsellors, and all this Eepublic. Continue to us the blessing of peace at home, and give us safety abroad, and as mucli prosperity as is for Thy glory. And we beseech Thee to pity and relieve the sick and the suffering, tlie bereaved and the destitute, and tliose who are in any other trouble. Lord, hear us when we thus call upon Thee, and accept us according to the riches of Tiiy glory, through our one Mediator and Advocate, Jesu? Christ, Thy Son, and to Thee, in Him, shall be the praise for ever. Amen. THURSDAY MORNING. OLORD, the God of the families of Israel, we are met at the family altar, in Thy gracious providence, to offer to Thee our morning sacrifice, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Accept our thanksgiving for the rest of the night, the refreshment of sleep, the safety and peace vouch- safed to our household, the raiment with which we are clothed, the food provided for us, and all the other temporal blessings bountifully bestowed upon us. Enable us to receive them all as the purchase of the Saviour's love, bearing the marks of His precious blood, and granted to His believing people as the portion secured for them in the everlasting cove- nant, ordered in all things and sure. Thus may we 82 PRATERS. not only enjoy these blessings, but enjoy Jesus in them, having" fellowship with Him in the participa- tion of tlicm, and accounting them so many tokens of His love. Still more, we thank and praise Thee for our spiritual privileges. Thou hast raised us up, not only in health of body, but in soundness of mind. Thou liast provided not merely the bread that perisheth, for the sustenance of our mortal bodies, but the richer food of the word, bringing to us the bread of life and the water of life, that our souls may be nourished and strengthened. Grant, Lord, that we may be duly sensible of the obligation that is laid upon us, to devote our bodies and souls to Thee and Thy service. Especially may we feel the claims of redeeming love. Help us to feel the justice of Thy claim, wherein Thou hast said unto us, " Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your body and spirit, which are His." Going forth in this spirit, may we hear the voice of Christ saying to us, " Occupy till I come." May we engage in every duty as being due and rendered to Him. So may we employ our time, and talents, and opportunities as His servants. Give us grace to remember the injunction and obey it : " Whether ye cat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." May we be faithful in all our relative duties, as husbands or wives, parents or children, brothers or sisters, masters or servants, neighbors PRAYERS. 33 or friends. In everything that we are called, either to do or suffer, may we have grace to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts always. May we do it heart- ily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men. Keep us out of temptation by Thy adorable providence ; or if we are exposed to it, may we find that God is faithful, and will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear. Help us in every lawful undertaking, and prosper our labors. May we wisely and truly fill the place assigned to us ; may we be blessed in it, and made a blessing. Help us to walk with God, and remember that we are pilgrims and strangers here. May we serve our day and generation by the will of God, and so, when we fall asleep in Jesus, may we be with the Lord. We beseech Thee to grant us these blessings for the sake of Christ our Saviour. Amen. THURSDAY EVENING. "OLESSED FATHER! another day is hastening -■^ to a close. Lord, grant that we may be duly impressed with this thought. Our actions, and words, and thoughts, our purposes, and desires, and motives, and anxieties, are all before Thee. God, Thou hast seen the evil that is in them. We confess our sinfulness. We cannot justify ourselves in Thy sight. Lord, wash us and all our services in the fountain of Christ's blood. At our be?t state we 34 PRATERS, are vanity. We have come short of Thy glory. Lord, forgive us, and accept ns in the Beloved. Then shall we lie down in peace, and take quiet sleep under the gracious care of our heavenly Father. Yet, ere we retire for rest, hear our acknowledg- ments of Thy grace and goodness toward us through- out the day. Thou didst bear with us, though un- worthy and unfaithful. Thou didst enable us to prosecute our earthly calling, though, alas, how little have we done in it for Thee ! Thou hast kept us from many dangers, seen and unseen, however unmindful we have been of Thee and Thine. Thou hast continued our opportunities of doing and receiv- ing good, though we did not improve them as we ought to have done. We can make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only. Whatever our attainments or labors may have been, we lay them all at the foot of the Cross. Jesus only is worthy. We cast the crown of blessings, wherewith Thou hast blessed us, before the throne, and the Lamb who sits upon it. For His sake, we beseech Thee to accept our services, unwortiiy as they are in them- selves. May our folly be thus made wisdom, and our weakness strength. Whatever we were enabled to do, in harmony with Thy will, may it be accepted, and blessed, and prospered. Oh, let not the day close without some benefit to ourselves and others. Forbid that it should ever be found that we had lived this day in vain. Rather PRATER8. S5 may tlie words Ave spoke, and the actions we per- formed, prove to be seeds of truth and righteousness, which shall grow and bring forth fruit abundantly. May our lives be so spent, that when we die it may be truly said of us, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord : yea, saith the Spirit, they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." Now and then may it be given us to say, " To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Living or dying may we be the Lord's. And while we thus pray for ourselves, we would not be unmindful of others. Bless, Lord, our rela- tions and friends. May they be friends of Jesus. Bless the sick and afflicted : comfort and counsel them. Bless the widow and the orphan : protect and provide for them. Bless the dying, and ripen them for heavenly rest. Bless tlie ministers of Thy word, the missionaries of the Cross, and the teach- ers of the young, and the rulers of our own and other lands. Bless the President of the United States, the legislators and all the judges of the land. Bless all the people, and may they lead peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty. These and all other blessings we ask for Jesus' sake. Amen. O FRIDAY MORNING. ETERNAL, Almighty, and most gracious God, the Giver of every' good and perfect gift, we 3G PRAYERS. bless and thank Thee for Thy love, and that Thou hast kept iis through the night, and refreshed us with sleep, that Thou hast sustained and awakened us, and brought us to the beginning of another day. We thank Thee for our life, and that we are spared to enjoy it 5^ for the ties that knit us together in our household, and that Thou hast preserved them un- broken ; for our unity, peace, and concord. We thank Thee that we not only have fellowship one with another, but with the Father and the Son ; that we know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent ; that Thy word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, and that Thy Spirit is sent to lead us into all truth. And we worship Thee, God, holy, blessed, and glori- ous Trinity, and magnify Thy name, and bow down with reverence before Thy glory. Lord, keep us from sinning against Thee this day. May Christ, the Light of the world, lighten our darkness, and scatter the evil thoughts and desires that trouble and tempt us. May Christ, the Day- spring from on high, who through the tender mercy of our God hath visited His people, visit us -whom He hath so greatly blessed, and sustain us in the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. May Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shine into our souls, heal us, and give us peace. Father, purify our hearts by the continual work of the Holy Ghost, and grant us clearer knowledge and heartier love for Thee. We have often suffered PBAYEItS. 37 evil to darken our minds ; and we have often loved tlie world, and the things of the world, and ourselves, before Thee ; and Thou hast borne with us in infi- nite compassion and forbearance, and hast not taken Thy Holy Spirit from us. Wherefore we beseech Thee, by Thy mercy in Christ Jesus, create in us a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within us, that we may worthily walk in Thy ways. Pre- vent us from strife, from hasty and angry words, from quick retort, from harsh and uncharitable say- ings. Deliver us from a stubborn and unforgiving temper, from malice towards any, from uukindness and unthankfulness, from impatience and obstinacy. Suffer us not to fall under any besetting sin, nor to yield to our infirmities, nor to give place to the devil. Keep us from all deceit and hypocrisy in life or thought or word, from a vain and foolish spirit, from lust and passion, from prejudice, from envy, and from discontent. Preserve us from the pressure of business, and the hollowness of a worldly \ life, and the fretting of care ; and grant that neither (the cares of this life, nor the deceitfulness of riches, may choke the good seed of Thy word within us. As Thou hatest sin with an infinite hatred, grant us to hate the sinfulness of our hearts ; and as Thou hast yet loved us in Jesus Christ Thy Son, and dost wash us from our sins in His blood, grant us to live this day by faith in Him in whom we have redemp- tion, and who by His sacrifice of Himself hath opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. 38 PRAYERS. Almighty God, our Eefuge and Strength, and the Helper and Comforter of Thy people, help and strengthen us this day for every good word and work, and comfort us in all trouble by the sense of Thine unchangeable love, and of Thy presence with them that seek Thee. Fit us for every duty, that we may do it faithfully and thoroughly. May both master and servant remember that we serve a Master in heaven ; that all service, the highest and the low- est, is alike to Thee ; that in Thy household we are all members one of another. May children obey their parents in all things, and maj no parents pro- voke their children to wrath. Bless our country and our President. Grant us wise and righteous laws. May our commerce and our polity manifest the fear of God and the love of His truth. May we be preserved from war, and may our rulers re- member that we are all Thy stewards. God our Father, keep watch over us, and over our beloved kindred and our friends. Help them and help us to remember that we are pilgrims and strangers here ; that Thy grace is sufficient for us ; and that we walk not by sight, but by faith, and ever looking unto Jesus, in whose name we plead with Thee. Our Father which art in heaven, etc. f PEA YEBS. 39 FRIDAY EYENIKG. A LMIGHTY and most merciful God, tlie Father -^-^ of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father, we thank Thee for all Thy love and goodness, and we praise Thee and worship Thee, the Father everlast- ing. Though Thou dwellest in light that is inac- cessible and full of glory, we know Thou carest for us, and that Thy thoughts are towards us. Wc know Thy holiness, and Thy power and Thy divine majesty ; but we know Thee through Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent, and that Thou art not far from any one of us, but like as a fatlier Thou dost pity us, and knowest our frame, and rememberest that we are dust We beseech Thee, who dwellest in the heaven of heavens, to hear us when we pray. Thou hast helped and strengthened us this day ; Thou hast given us food and raiment, health and happiness ; Thou hast guarded our homes, kept us from sickness, and led us in safety among a thousand unseen perils. Thou hast taken many difficulties out of our way, cleared up many perplexities, lifted Thy light on our darkness, encouraged us by Thy word, assisted us by Thy grace, and hast now brought us in safety to the evening. We thank Thee, God ; and we thank Thee above all for Thy dear Son, that we have all these blessings for His sake, and that He is the propitiation for our sins, and that He ever liveth to make intercession for us. 40 PRAYERS. We beseech Thee, Fatlier, for His sake, who is our merciful, and patient, and sufficient Saviour, that Thou wilt forgive us our wrong-doing and wrong-thinking, oar negligence and ignorance, and all our faults. If Thou wert only strict to mark iniquity we could not come before Thee ; for our in- iquities are countless and grievous, and Thou ablior- rest and punishest sin, and we know Thou art just. We come to Thee for pardon. We have done little of what we hoped, and we have done it ill. We have fallen into temptation; we have yielded to self-will ; we have been weak where we thought we were strong. For what angry words have escaped our lips — for our moments of heat and passion — for our ungener- ous thoughts — for our carelessness of duty — for our desire of praise and our readiness to blame — for our love of tlie world and our lust of the flesh — for our neglect of Thy word and our dullness to the voice of Christ — we beseech Thee to forgive us. If we have wronged or defrauded our neighbor ; if we have been wronged aud have not forgiven ; if we have been intolerant or unmerciful ; if we have cherished any secret sin or dislionored Thee by any public act ; if we have not confessed Christ, but have been ashamed of His gospel ; if we have not followed Him, but only our own way, — God, pardon us. Have mercy upon us, God, according to Thy loving-kindness ; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out our transgressions. Remem- P BAYERS. 41 ber not the sins of our youth : according to Thy mercy remember Thou us, for Thy goodness' sake, Lord. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin. We come to Thee believing Thy word, and that if we confess our sins Thou art faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all un- righteousness. Help us to believe in the great sacrifice of Christ our Passover, and that we have redemption through His blood. Help us to conceive of Thy holiness. And while we pray Thee for Thy grace to strengthen us against temptation and an evil heart of unbelief, we thank Thee for whatever good we have done this day, for every sin we have con- quered, for every happy thought, and for the witness Thy Spirit beareth with our spirits that we are Thy children. We carry thy treasure in earthen vessels, Lord ; sanctify us and preserve it from soil and sin. We are weak and helpless, and our trials and infirmities are many ; but we look with all confidence to Thee, and pray that Thou wilt keep us in communion with Thee, that we may trust Thee, and love Thee as our Father. We commit ourselves with all our house to Thy holy keeping, to lay us down in peace and sleep, for Thou only makest us to dwell safely. Watch over us, God, in the night, and be Thou our light in its darkness, and take us under the shadow of Thy wings. Be merciful to the sick, comfort the sorrowful, 4.2 PRAYERS. uphold the dying, and bestow Thy peace upon the bereaved. Deliver the anxious from the burden of care, and hear the cry of Thy children lifted up to Thee over all the earth. And when the night is gone, awake us, if it be Thy good and loving will ; and if we wake not here, may we awake in Thy glory, and in the likeness of Jesus Christ, our Med- iator and Redeemer. Amen. SATURDAY MORNII^G. T^TERNAL GOD ! with deep humiliation we ^^ would this morning bow before Thy throne of grace. Thou art infinitely great and good. Thou art worthy of the adoration of all Thy creatures, for Thou art possessed of boundless knowledge, unlim- ited power, unerring wisdom and infinite goodness. We rejoice that Thou art a God of mercy, and that Thou delightest to receive and pardon the vilest and the guiltiest who come to Thee through Christ in penitence and prayer. In the name of Christ we now approach and bend around the family altar. In that name alone would we ever be found addressing our prayers to Thee. We would not come in our own name. We dare not speak of any righteousness of our own, for we feel and con- fess that we have been great sinners. But we rejoice that even for such as we are, a great salvation has been provided. We praise and bless Thee, God, that Thou PRAYERS. 43 didst so love the world as to give Thine only-begot- ten and well-beloved Son, that He might come down to this world, and by His obedience mito death, procure a full pardon and a free salvation for all who should believe on His name. We earnestly plead that for His sake Thou wilt grant to us the forgiveness of our sins. Be pleased, Lord, of Thy great compassion to blot them all out of the book of Thy remembrance, and to write all our names in Thy book of life. Grant that by Tliy Holy Spirit enlightening us, we may clearly understand the truth which Tiiou hast taught us in the Holy Scriptures. Enable us to see the suitableness and sufficiency of Christ as our Saviour. Implant in us all that faith which unites the soul to Christ. Grant that by the Holy Ghost, we may so believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that to us there shall be no condemnation, and that we shall have present and perfect peace. our Father, accept in Christ's name our grate- ful thanks for all Thy kindness and care manifested toward us through the past night. We bless Thee that, while others were tossing on beds of pain and sickness, we slept ; and while they are this day con- fined to chambers of affliction, we are permitted to assemble here with much comfort. We have not deserved the least of Thy blessings, yet they have been great and manifold. Accept, our Father, our grateful thanks. Permit us also to plead for dear friends who may 44 PRAYEB8. be in sickness or in affliction. Be pleased to relieve them from suffering. Restore them to health. Sanctify to them their afflictions. Entering on the duties of another day, we com- mit us to Thy kind care. Preserve us, we pray Thee, from all dangers. Keep us in the hour of temptation. Give us grace diligently and faithfully to perform our duties, and to walk before Thee in holy fear, and with loving hearts, as Thy dear children. We will now ascribe unto Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, all honor and glory for ever. Amen. SATURDAY EYENIN^G. A T the close of another day, having been pre- -^-^ served by Thy good providence, we unite to worship Thee, with humble and grateful hearts. All the day long Thou hast watched over us, and therefore it is that we are here, the living, to praise Thee. We bless Thee for all our temporal mercies. We thank Thee for that precious word of Thine we have just been reading, and for the wondrous reve- lation it contains of Thine infinite love to lost sin- ners. We thank Tliee, God, that the way of salvation is so clearly made known to us. We rejoice that when we could not by any works or worth of ours save our own souls, or deliver a brother, Jesus Christ came down to earth and took on Him our PBAYEBS. 45 nature, and was made in tlio likeness of man, that He miglit redeem us from eternal death. We bless Thee, God, that of Thy sovereign grace Thou didst permit a Substitute to stand in our place. We thank Thee that of Thine infinite love Thou didst Thyself provide that Surety in the person of Thy dear Son, and didst lay on Him the iniquities of us all. We thank Thee now, and will ever thank Thee, that when we deserved to die. Thou didst draw Thy sword ''against the man that was Thy fellow," and that His life-blood was shed on Calvary to purchase life for us. We earnestly pray that that blood may be applied to each of us, so that we may know experimentally that it cleanseth from all sin. Our sins and short- comings this day have been very many. We have all offended Thee our Father ; but we ask for mercy. We plead that these offences and sins may be all removed, and that we, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and clothed in the white robes of His right- eousness, may be numbered this night amongst Thy redeemed, justified, and adopted children. Grant also that Thy Holy Spirit may be given to us to abide in us continually. We entreat that we may be so enlightened and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, that we shall have clear evidence of our be- ing regenerated children of God, and heirs of eternal glory. Help us, Lord, by Thy Spirit, ever to live as 46 PBATEBS. Thy children, animated by love to Thee, and rejoic- ing in the hope of entering at La?t into tlie full enjoy- ment of the redeemed aronnd Thy throne. Take us this night under Thy fatherly care. Give ns refreshing rest, and while we sleep watch over us. "We are brought to the end of another week, and to the eve of the day of holy rest. Prepare us for it both in body and in spirit. ^lay we haYC grace to lay aside the cares of our life, as we lay aside its toils, that we may hold a day's fellowship with Thee, the father of our spirits. Visit, we pray Thee, those who are in affliction. Bless abundantly our dear friends. Favor this land, and grant us continued peace and prosperity. Give wisdom to the chief magistrate, and to all in au- thority. Bless in large measure the Church of Christ. Bless her ministers and members. Increase her purity and zeal. Extend her borders till she fill the whole earth, and one song of praise shall ascend to Thee from all lands. Hear and accept of us in Christ, and to Thy name shall be all the praise for ever. Our Father which ^rt in heaven, etc. SABBATH MOB XIX G. /~\ LORD, most blessed and most holy, our Crea- ^-^ tor and the God of our salvation, we thank Thee that, after another week's labors, we are brought in Tliy kind providence to the day of holy PRAYERS. 47 rest. IMay the Holy Ghost so work in us this day that our hearts shall be in harmony with the day, and the holy objects to which it is devoted. We give Thee thanks for last night's sleep. We praise Thee that we are in sufficient health to enter upon the enjoyment of gospel I'jrivileges. We bless Thee for giving them unto us. Thou hast sent us the inspired word that instructs us. May we read it and hear it preached with meek and teachable spirits. Thou hast given us the ministry of the word and the house of prayer. Give us also, we beseech Thee, the help of the Holy Ghost, that we may worship Thee in spirit and in truth. God, we cannot tell hovv soon our day of grace may end. Let none of us remain without a new heart and a right spirit. Thou hast taught us that, except we be converted and become as little child- ren, we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. May every one of us, being converted unto Thee, have, througli the Lord our Righteousness, a title to everlasting life. May we all, according to our need, receive from the fulness of Jesus Christ, so that we may be satisfied in our souls from Him. We pray that Thou wouldst grant us the Holy Spirit to renew us after Thy blessed image, and create us anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, that we may be qualified for serving Thee, and made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. May the throne of iniquity within us be taken down, and the throne of God and the Lamb 48 PBATEBS. set up. Constrained by the love of Christ, may we always judge that we are bound to live not to our- selves, but to Him who died for us and rose again. If any of us are disposed to delay securing an in- terest in the Saviour whom Thou hast sent, convince us of our sin and folly. Show us that now is our accepted time and day of salvation. And may we give all diligence to make our calling and election sure. [May the children in this family, and the young everywhere, remember their Creator in the days of their youth, and know the blessedness of those who seek Thee early and find Thee.] We pray Thee, good Lord, to rule in our hearts this day. Let there be nothing in our pursuits to unfit us for Thy holy service, or to hinder the free course of Thy word. Enable us to spend the whole day in the public and private exercises of Thy worship, except so much as is taken up with works of necessity or mercy. We pray Thee, most merciful Father, to bless all who are to preach the word this day. Give them grace to be faithful. Help them to speak in the power of the Holy Ghost. Help also in their work all Sabbath-school teachers, and all others who in any way seek to labor for Christ this day. Put upon them Thy Spirit, and crown their efforts with abundant success. Revive Thy work in Thy church, and add unto her daily such as shall be saved. Lord, there are great multitudes without the Sab- bath blessings we enjoy. Let it please Thee to en- PnATEBS. 49 lighten the nations with the light of Thy word. Bless Thy servants who have gone forth to preach the Gospel among them. Take hindrances out of their way. Give them favor in the eyes of chiefs and rulers. The idols do Thou, God, utterly abolish, and make the kingdoms of the world the kingdoms of thy dear Son. Lord, we beseech Thee to give Thy blessing to all for whom we are bound to pray. Remember in Thy mercy our dear relations and friends, old and young. Give the sick the comfort of Thy presence. Comfort also the sorrowful and desolate. Save the dying. Make Thy way known upon earth, Thy saving health unto all generations. Let that time soon come of which Thou hast spoken unto us, when the heathen shall be Christ's inheritance. God of the Sabbath, who only hearest prayer hear Thou us in these our requests ; and what we fail to ask because of our ignorance, yet do Thou grant unto us according to the riches of Thy grace in Christ Jesus, our Redeemer. Amen. SABBATH EVENING. "OLESSED Lord, our Divine Father, receive, we ■^-^ beseech Thee, the praises we have joined with Thy people in offering unto Thee this day. Accept our thanks for the privileges we have enjoyed, and be pleased to make deep and lasting upon our souls the impressions of Thy holy word. B 50 PRA TER8. Our Father, we are not able to render perfect service mito Thee. When our bodies are bowed down in Thy presence, our hearts too often turn away from Thee. We hear Thy word with our ears, and yet we are as though we heard not. Par- don every one of us wherein we have offended against Thee this day. The good Lord forgive every one that has not rightly prepared himself to seek Thy face, and send down His blessing on all true dis- ciples, for the sake of Christ their Elder Brother. And now, gracious Father, we ask Thy continued care during another night. Watch over us while we are unable even to see danger. Thou keepest Thy people ; Lord, keep us, that no evil come nigh our liome, that no danger or accident befall our bodies, and that the wicked one touch not our souls. May the week which we have begun in Thy ser- vice, be spent to Thy glory. May the truths of Thy holy w^ord so impress and influence us that we shall live this week under their power. Oh, help us to be gentle, true, and honest in all our dealings with our fellow-men. Give us grace to be courageous, pure, and sincere in doing Thy will. Keep each of us from doing evil to others, and from receiving evil at the hands of others. Oh, help us to do good to all men as we have opportunity, especially unto them of the household of faith. Soon may all mankind know that Thou hast so loved the world as to give thine only-begotten Son, PRAYERS. 51 that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life. Help us. we beseech Thee, to accept this Saviour joyfully, to confide in Him firmly, and to follow Him fully. May we be made the righteousness of God in Him. And being justified by faith, may we have peace, and joy, and hope. Assured of our interest in Him, may we rise above the fear of death, and be delivered from the sin that doth most easily beset us, and run with per- severance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus as our pattern and our end. While in this world may the same mind be in us which was also in Christ. Lord our God, we are reminded this night that our life must soon come to an end. Teach us how to labor in Thy service, and let us have it said to us at last, Well done, good and faithful servants. We thank Thee that a rest remaineth for Thy people. Make us ready for its holy enjoyments. We praise Thee that Christ our Lord, has been received into glory, and placed at Thy right hand. Let us feel that we too shall come, as members of His body, to the mansions He has prepared. Let us be enabled to walk as those who are risen with Christ. Set our affections on things above, where Christ sitteth at Thy right hand. Gracious Father, we pray for those whom Thou hast joined unto us in bonds of nature or of Christ- tian love. Whatever good they have done us, or intended to do us, return Thou into their own bosom. 52 PRAYERS. Enricli them with the gifts of Thy grace ; and though they and we be separated on earth, let us, while we live, ever have a meeting-place at our Father's throne of grace ; and may we be gathered together at last in Thy glorious presence to be for- ever with the Lord. We are not worthy to approach Thee. We have no right to ask these blessings for ourselves or for others. But Jesus is worthy. We plead His fin- ished work for us. We rely on Him for acceptance, and we shall give the glory to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God for ever. Amen . MONDAY MORNING. /^ GOD, our heavenly Father, from whom we ^-^ receive every good thing, Thou didst permit us last night to cast ourselves upon Thy care. We asked safety and peace, and Thou hast watched over and strengthened our bodies with the rest of the night. And now we come to Thee to thank Thee. We do not deserve this, or any other of the proofs of Thy goodness that we enjoy. Receive our thanks, Thou Preserver of men, and deepen in our hearts the feeling that we are safe because we are kept by Thee. And now we join together as a houseliold in ask ing Thee to be with us, as a father to his children ; Oh ! enable us to look up to Thee as children to a father. Keep us in comfort and safety this day. PRAYERS. 53 Give us our daily bread, and order all our steps. Let there be nothing, our Father, in our life as a family, to grieve Thy Spirit, or to drive away Thy blessing. Show unto us what we owe to one another, and make us kind, gentle, and helpful to each other. Keep us from all fretfulness, sinful anger, and rash speaking. Guard us against errors and mistakes, and give us in all things the wisdom that cometh from above. God, give Thy blessing upon our labors this day, and help us to engage in them with contented minds ; for Thou, Lord, hast fixed our lot and given us our work to do. May we be made happy and prosperous as a household through Thy good blessing resting upon us. We pray Thee further still, heavenly Father, for the spiritual blessings that our souls need. Oh, may each of us have full and free forgiveness of sin through the redemption that is in Christ. Grant us the peace of believing. Oh, give us Thy holy Spirit, that He may put down the evil that is in each of us, and make us pure in heart. May each of us this day strive to die unto sin. Help us, God, to live unto Thee : Thou hast made us for Thy glory. Keep this, we beseech Thee, ever in the thoughts of our hearts, and let us live as be- comes those who are looking to the Lord Jesus for eternal life. Thou, God, searches t the heart of each of us. Let no secret sin lurk within us to de- stroy our peace, and break out into open rebellion against Thee. 54 PBATEBS. Wc pray Thee, God the Lord, to bless our land with peace and true prosperity. Let there be em- ployment and bread for the poor. Keep the rich from trusting in uncertain riches. Bless those who are in power and authority, and help them to rule in Thy fear. Pour out Thy Spirit on the churches, to revive them, and make us a blessing among the nations. God our Father, we join in offering these thanks and prayers to Thee in the holy name of Jesus, our only High Priest, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. MONDAY EVENING. "T ORD God Almighty, in whom we live, the Giver -L-* of every good gift, help us with one accord to come to Thee around our family altar. Hear Thou our prayers, and accept our thanksgivings for the blessings of the day. We began it looking unto Thee ; we would close it, Lord, with Thee. Thou makest us happy morning and evening. From Thee came to us the food that nourished us and the health we enjoyed this day. Thou hast given us a home, and friends, and employment. We enjoy the bless- ings of this life, without deserving them. Too often, alas ! we abuse them. We confess this sin and all our other sins before Thee. We pray for pardon for the sake of Jesus Christ, the only Saviour. PRATERS. 55 And now, we beseech Thee, Lord, to continue Thy care over us while we sleep : the darkness does not hide from Thee. Let no danger come to our home. Let the rest of the night refresh us ; and let us be strong in body and fixed in purpose on the morrow, to serve Thee more truly than we have done to-day. And as our days and nights are passing quickly away, grant that we may come nearer, everlasting Father, to Thee, in love, in childlike confidence, in knowledge and in holiness, being made meet by Thee for the inheritance of the saints in light. Almighty Father, we have many relatives and friends whom we love and who love us. Hear their prayers for us. Hear us when we commend them unto Thee. Some of them have great trials : we beseech Thee, good Lord, to support them under them. Some of them have sore temptations : give grace to them and us to overcome through the strength of Christ Jesus. Grant unto each of them the saving knowledge of the Redeemer, that, trust- ing in Him, and walking in His ways, they may come with us, and with all the family that is named after Jesus, to Thy everlasting kingdom. Lord God, there are many sick who shall wish through this night that it were morning. We pray Thee to be merciful to them in their sickness, to show them the Great Physician. Through Him do Thou heal all their diseases and forgive all their iniquities. And many, Lord, are in the night of ignorance 56 PRAYERS. and sin. merciful God, send forth Thy light unto them, and give them Thy salvation. Hear us, we earnestly beseech Thee, in these our petitions, and mercifully grant us an answer for the sake of our precious Saviour, Thy Son, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, be the kingdom, power, and glory, for ever. Amen. TUESDAY MORNING. T^LESSED and everlasting Father, who hast loved -■-^ us, and given Thy Son to be our Saviour, we thank Thee for thy word that we have now read together. We pray to Thy Holy Spirit to show us its meaning, and to write it on our hearts, so that it may form our principles and direct our steps. We adore Thee as our Maker, and own Thee as our Lord. We worship Thee in Jesus Clirist Thy Son. We could not know Thee or come to Thee but in Him. We thank Tliee for gracious invita- tions to the throne of grace ; and we pray that the Holy Ghost may be in us as long as we live, as a spirit of grace and of supplication. Lord, our holy Father, we confess before Thee our sins. Our hearts cherish evil thoughts, and our lips utter perverse and foolish things. Our hands have often done evil. We have walked in the ways of sin. We have rebelled against Thee, and done wickedly. It is of Thy mercy that we are not con- sumed. PRATERS. 51 We do not try, heavenly Father, to deny or con- ceal our sin. We cannot atone for it ; nor can we work out any righteousness of our own. Lord, save us ; we perish. We wish to look unto Jesus that we may be saved. We trust in Him. Oh, receive us, and bring us through the perils of life, and through death, to heaven, for His name's sake. We beseech Thee, most merciful God, to be with us this day in all we have to do. Make us diligent in our duties. Keep our consciences tender, that we may easily know the evil and turn from it. Let us not be afraid of men, so as to deny Christ. Oh, help us to do our common duties from love to Him, that He may be glorified. Lord, give Thy blessing to us as a family. May all under this roof be kept by Thee. Let our tastes and wishes be within what Thou dost give us of earthly blessing. Save us from all sinful waste, self- indulgence, and folly. Guard every one of us from temptation to little sins, that we fall not by-and-by into great sins. We pray for Thy blessing, Lord, on our en- gagements for the day. Help us to satisfy every just expectation of Thy people. Let us be a bless- ing and not a curse. Oh, that we may feel that we are not our own, but that we are bought with a price, even the precious blood of Jesus. Our Father, hear us when we thus call upon Thee, for Thy Son our Saviour's sake. Amen. 3^ 58 PRAYERS. TUESDAY EVENING. GRACIOUS and most merciful Fatlier, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, Thou hast been the God of Thy people in all generations. The poor have cried unto Thee, and Thou hast heard them. Help us to lift up our hearts unto Thee in our evening prayer ; and receive the humble and hearty thanks we give unto Thee for all the blessings of another day. For whatever sins we have committed against Thee to-day, we pray for Thy forgiveness. If we have forgotten Thee, or cast off Thy fear, if we have secretly murmured against Thee, doubted Thee in our hearts, or denied Thee with our lips, pardon us, we pray Thee, for the sake of Him who came to save even the chief of sinners. Lord, Thou hast seen how we have carried ourselves towards our fellow-men to-day. If we have been envious or proud, if we have taken pleasure in the sufferings of any, if we have been hard or unjust to any, par- don us, Lord. Lift upon us the light of Thy reconciled countenance, and give us grace to break off these and all our other sins by repentance. We beseech Thee, blessed Lord, to make our hearts pure, that our lives may be blameless. Keep us in constant readiness for any change of life, and for death itself. Let us not so build on eartlily bless- ings that the want of them will crush us. Be Thou, God, our portion and our inheritance for ever. PRATEBS. 59 And now, Thou God of peace, if we have ene- mies, help us to forgive them. Incline those who hate us to be at peace with us, and so let us go to rest to-night at peace with Thee our Maker, and at peace with our fellow-men. If we awake in tlie night, let us feel that Thou art near ; and if it should be Thy will that any of us should die in sleep, let us be so plainly the Lord's servants, that they who remain behind may say of us. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. We beseech Thee for our relatives and our friends. They are scattered abroad, but Thou seest them all. Give them all good things for the life that now is, and for that which is to come. We beseech Thee for the poor, the infirm, and the aged. Grant them patience under suffering, through the comfort of the Holy Ghost given unto them. We beseech Thee for the dying, that they may have the victory through the blood of the Lamb. We pray Thee also, God, on behalf of the bereaved and sorrowful. Let the fatherless find help in Thee. Teach the widow to trust in Thee. We pray Thee for all that are held captive of evil habits, and bound in sin. Deliver them, Lord, that they may praise Thee. Scatter them that are for war, and preserve peace to us. Bring heathen error to an end, and let the ends of the earth, that have so long forgotten Thy name, remember and turn unto Thee. Hear us, and preserve us now and evermore, for the sake of Christ, our Advocate with Thee. Amen. 60 PRAYERS. WEDNESDAY MORNING. IT^YER blessed Lord, tlie God and Father of our -^ Lord Jesus Christ, we desire to begin another day in Thy fear. As we go forth to its duties, we ask Thy guidance. As Thou hast kept us during the night, and suffered no evil to come upon us, so do Thou keep us, blessed Lord, to the close of this day, and let us not sin against Thee. Thou hast given us the places we fill in life. Make us contented, heavenly Father, with our lot. Pre- serve us from vain and fruitless striving after any- thing Thou secst it good to withhold from us, and help us to adorn the doctrine of our Saviour in all things. We praise Thee for our liberty, for the protection of the laws, for our friends, and for all the comforts that are given to us. Every good gift cometh from Thee, blessed Father. Make us grateful to Thee, and useful to one another, and to all around us. Help us to keep the laws of our country, and bless all our fellow-subjects. We pray Thee for the President, and all in authority, that they may be a blessing to the people of this republic, and that they may have, after this life, crowns that fade not away. Holy Father, we have sinned much against Thee. We live too much in forgetfulness of Thee, and too much in the fear of man. We do our duties with- out the due sense of Thy authority. We fail to have a single eye. Wc please ourselves when we ought PRAYERS. 61 to please Thee. We confess these our sins before Thee, and pray for Tlij forgiveness, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank Thee, gracious Lord, that there is for- giveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. Alas ! we have often abused Thy mercy. We praise Thee for the gift of Christ, who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. We pray that every one of us may be saved by Him. Lord, take away the guilt of our sins. Lord, set us free from the power of sin, and let not any iniquity have dominion over us. Especially do we beseech Thee, Thou all-seeing . God, for purity of heart. Put Thy Holy Spirit within each of us ; and where He has already come unto us, may He dwell continually with us. Lord, keep us from grieving Him by evil of any kind in our thoughts, or in our life. Let no sin be harbored in our minds : we know not into what evil we might be plunged, if left to ourselves. Leave us not, God, but keep us by Thy mighty power, through faith unto salvation. Keep all Thy people this day, heavenly Father, in peace. Give comfort to those who are suffering affliction. Pity the poor, and give the light of the Gospel to the ignorant. Comfort all the children of sorrow, and, according to the greatness of Thy power, do Thou preserve those who are appointed to die. Hear us. Lord God, in what we ask for ourselves 62 PRATERS. and for others, for the sake of Jesus Christ ; and to Thee the Father, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, one Lord, be all honor and praise. Amen. WEDNESDAY EVENING. ALMIGHTY Father, before whom we bowed this morning, and by whom we have been kept throughout the day, give us the help of Thy Holy Spirit as we worship again in Thy presence. We thank Thee for Thy fatherly care of us. Hitherto hast Thou helped us, and we join together to praise Thee and bless Thy holy name. Forgive, Lord God, the sins Thou hast seen in us this day. We come far short of what Thou hast a right to require at our hands. But, Lord, deal not with us according to our evil, but according to Thy grace in Christ Jesus, the grace that hath brought us salvation. We beseech Thee to bless and establish the work of our hands. All true prosperity comes from Thee. Let there be profit in all our labor. And give us grace whatever we do to do all Thy to glory. Lord, Thou art infinitely good and wise. Thou hast settled it that our day's labor should be followed by the rest of the night. Thou dost draw around us, and around Thine other creatures, the curtains of the night : so Thou givest Thy beloved sleep. We pray that we may sleep in safety under Thy preserving hand. Lord, we cannot tell how soon it may be Thy PRATERS. 63 will that we should sleep the sleep of death. Oh, prepare us for whatever Thou art preparing for us. May every one of us be in Christ ; may the heart of every one of us be a new heart. May the life of each of us, whether long or short, be a holy life ; and when we die, may each of us fall asleep in Jesus. Being made free from sin, and being the servants of God, may we each have fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Gracious Father, we remember in our prayers those with whom we mingle in our daily life. Give them Thy good blessing. Show us how to do them good, for Christ^s sake. Keep us from receiving evil from others. May the Lord Jesus be our example, and give us grace to commend His blessed service to all around us. \ Bless, we beseech Thee, all our kindred, young \ and old, not only with the blessings of this life, but, above all, with the pardon of sin and the salvation that is in Christ. Lead the feet of the young in the way of peace. Keep the aged from the love of the world, and. give them the hope that maketh not ashamed. Bless, we beseech Thee, Thy people in these lands. Maintain the truth as it is in Jesus among us. Bless all Bible and tract societies, and all efforts for the salvation of souls. Bless the labors of ministers and Sunday-school teachers, for the sake of Christ Jesus. Our FatJier ichich art in heaven^ etc. 64 PRAYERS. THURSDAY MORNING. T ORD God Almighty, our Divine Preserver, who -^-^ dost make our mornings and evenings happy, we come to renew our sacrifice of praise, and to offer once more our prayer to Thee in the holy name of Jesus Christ. We cannot pray unto Thee aright, Lord, witliout the help of Thy Holy Spirit. It is the living that praise Thee, Lord : the dead can- not. Make every one of us alive unto Thee, that with joyful lips we may glorify Thy great name. Thy good gifts come to us, Lord, with so much constancy, that we are in danger of forgetting the hand that bestows them. Lord, keep us from this sin. Make us mindful of Thy goodness, and constant in our praises and our service. Let us eat our meat with gladness. Let us enjoy the comforts Thou givest, because they are Thy gifts to us. Keep us from abusing them by any reckless waste, or sinful indulgence of the flesh. Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, let us do all to Thy glory. Thou God of salvation, we bless Thee for the way of life opened up to us, guilty sinners, through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, our Redeemer. We had no claim upon Thy grace. Freely and of Thine own mercy Thou didst give Him a ransom for us. We glorify Thee for the riches of Thy grace, for the completeness of His work, for the freeness of Thine offer. How shall we escape if we neglect so great r PEA TUBS. 65 salvation ? What more could have been done for us than Thou hast done? And yet, Lord, we are by nature inclined to neglect it. Oh ! keep us from this sin. Create in every one of us a new heart — a heart that will believe in and love the Redeemer. Show to every one of us His fitness and His fulness, and make every one of us to rejoice in Him. Let all sorrows and trials endear Him to us the more. May we grow up into Him in all things, and do all our duties and bear all our trials in the strength He gives unto His people. God, our Lord, we cannot tell what Thou art- preparing for us this day. Our lives are in Thy hands. We arc content that they should be in Thy holy keeping. Help us in all such duty and effort as Thou shalt call us to this day, and maintain in us, we pray Thee, a single eye to Thy glory. Grant us the discretion with which good men manage their affairs. Keep us from making mistakes. Oh, give us sound judgment, and hopeful spirits, that we may not grow weary in well-doing ; and do Thou crown all our labors with Thy blessing. Gracious Lord, who hast knit us together as tlie members of one family, help us to promote one another's good, to bear one another's burdens and to help one another. Provide for all our wants as a household. Let us not desire anything, our holy Father, of which we cannot tell Thee. Let us thus have happy fellowship with Thee, by Thy Spirit dwelling in us ; and let us have true communion 60 PRATERS. with one another in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Eedeemer. And unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. L THURSDAY EVEI^^ING. ORD GOD ! Thou art the Preserver of all men, especially of them that believe. Thou makest the sun to shine on the evil and the good. Thou hast special care over them that know and fear Thee, *and Thou makest all things to work together for their good. Blessed Lord, we should not have known Thee if Thou hadst not sought us out, and restrained us, and instructed us from Thy word. And we do not fear Thee as we should. Even this day we have offended against Thee, and we need Thy forgiveness, which we now liumbly ask, through Christ Jesus, and for His name's sake. We thank Thee for Thy goodness to us, and to all mankind, in creating and in bestowing so many blessings. We praise Thee for Thy goodness to us in this land, where we enjoy so much liberty, and have so many means of happiness. Make us, and all our fellow-citizens, truly thankful ; and enable us all to live in Thy fear, and to serve Thee in truth and righteousness. Give Thy guidance and bless- ing to the President of these United States. Guide P BAYERS. 67 those who are appointed for the making and execut- ing of our laws. Drive every evil thing away from among us, good Lord, and make us a happy, united, and God-fearing people. We adore and praise Thee for Thy saving grace shown to Thy church in Christ Jesus, her living Head. Thou hast given Him for our sins, and rais- ed Him for our justification. Thou hast set Him at Thy right hand. May each of us be of His body. Let not one of this family, God, be lost. What should it profit us, Lord, though we gained the world, and lost our souls ? save us, for Thy mercy's sake, in Christ Jesus ; and let us be at last a whole family in heaven. Another day has passed, Lord ; and we bless Thee at its close, and thank Thee for the peace, en- joyment, and power to labor it brought us. What- ever we have tried to do to Thee this day, Lord, accept. Pardon our dull afi'ections, our great un- belief, our secret love of sin, and our open shortcom- ings ; and let the falls and errors of to-day be borne in mind, that we may be more humble and watchful in time to come. And now we beseech Thee to take us under Thv divine care during the night. Let us remember, as we lie down, how soon tlie grave shall cover us ; and let us be assured of our safety in Jesus Christ, that we may not fear death and the grave. Thou that hearest prayer, we thank Thee for the communion of saints, and that we are one with 68 PRAYERS. all tliem that in every place call upon Thee in Christ Jesus. We pray for all our brethren in Him — tliose whom we know, and those whom we shall only know in heaven. We especially beseech Thee to bless those with whom Thou hast united us on earth. Bless our own kindred, and let us have grace to help one another as one in Christ Jesus. Bless our pastor, and make him a blessing to all' his flock. Give zeal and wisdom to all who bear office in the church of God. Enrich our fellow-worshippers with heavenly gifts, and revive true religion among us. We pray for all Christians in sickness, that they may be healed and comforted, or carried safely through their last agony. We pray for all mourn- ers, that they may be comforted of the Holy Ghost. We pray for all backsliders, that they may be re- covered by Thy grace, and brought with us, and Avith all Thy true people, to heaven, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen. FRIDAY MORNING. f~\ TITOU holy and eternal Father, whose crea- ^^ tures we are, and by whose gracious care we are preserved in being, help us once more to pre- sent to Tliee our morning prayer. Not in our own name, but in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy well-be- loved Son, do we come before Thy Throne of Grace. For His sake we beseech Thee to receive us gra- PBAYER8. 69 ciousl}', to heal our backslidings, and to love us freely. With our hearts we thank Thee for our safe keep- ing and our refreshing sleep during the past night, and for the use of all our active powers this morning. Thou hast not dealt with us after our sins, nor re- warded us according to our iniquities. Bless the Lord, our souls, and forget not all His beneiits. May we all feel that we are as dependent on Thee now when raised up, and going forth to the day's work, as we were when we lay helpless on our beds during the hours of darkness. And may we be sensible of our obligations as well as of our depen- dence ; and willingly, throughout this day and all the days of our life, devote every power of body and of mind to Thee in grateful and loving obedi- ence. Alas ! God, we have to confess our grievous short-coming in this respect in the past. We have not loved or served Thee as we ought to have done. We have been imthankful for Thy mercies, disobe- dient to Thy commands, and indifferent to Thy calls. Our iniquities are increased over our heads, and our trespass is grown up into the very heavens : we arc ashamed, and blush to lift up our face to Thee, O our God. But our hope is in Thy mercy, which has borne with us hitherto, and is extended to us still. We humbly look to Jesus, whom Thou hast set forth to be the propitiation for our sins, in whom believ- ing, Thou hast assured us, the guilty obtain forgive- 70 PRATERS. ness, and the weary find rest. We take refuge from Thy wrath, and from our own unrighteousness, in His precious blood and finished righteousness. We desire with all our hearts, to accept Him as made of Thee unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. We rejoice to think that we are complete in Him. And we pray to be enabled to prove in our experience the efficacy of His death and resurrection to the uttermost. Anx- ious as we are to be pardoned, we would be no less anxious for purification and cleansing. Grant us all Thy grace to the discharge of the duties to which we are called this day. Make us diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Whatever our hand findeth to do, may we do it with our might. Turn our hearts from that covetousness which is idolatry. In our intercourse with our fellow-men enable us to be meek, and for- giving, and kind, esteeming others better than our- selves. If at any time we are provoked by the self- ishness of our neighbors, let us not yield to wrath or revenge, neither give place to the devil, but con- sider Him who endured such contradiction of sin- ners against Himself, lest we weary and faint in our minds. Under whatever ills we may be call- ed to bear, let us possess our souls in patience, and endure as seeing Him who is invisible. If at any time we are in doubt what course to take, may our heart turn upward with the prayer " Lord, what wilt Thou have us to do?" Save us from the com- PRAYERS. 71 panionship of the wicked and from the counsel of the foolish. May we embrace every opportunity of doing good to the bodies and the souls of men, and abstain from whatever is fitted to give them pain or do them harm. And knowing tlmt we can- not boast ourselves of the morrow, may the work assigned to this day be done in its season. When- soever death shall overtake us, may it find us as faithful servants, waiting for the coming of our Lord. We pray for all who are in affliction this morning. Consider their affliction and their pain, and forgive all their sins. When Thou hast tried them, may they come forth as gold. May Thy Holy Spirit so bring home to them the truths of the glorious Gos- pel, that their hearts, if hardened, may be broken into repentance, and, if broken, may be bound up and healed. Comfort the bereaved and the mourner, succor the poor and needy. In Thee let the widow and the fatherless find mercy. Prepare the diseased and dying for their great change. Show kindness and do good to Zion, Thine own hill. Make Thy church a praise in all the earth. Soon may all men know the joyful sound, and all nations whom Thou hast made come and worship before Thee, and glo- rify Thy name. All we ask is in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen. 72 P BAYERS. FRIDAY EVENING. OLORD, Thou art great, and doest wondrous things. Thou art God alone. Among the gods there is none like Thee, neither are there any works like unto Thy works. Thou doest all things according to Thy pleasure, and all that Thou doest is wise and good. Thy mercy is in the heavens, and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. With un- feigned submission to Thy authority, and reverence for Thy majesty, and gratitude for Thy goodness, do we. Thy unworthy and sinful creatures, come be- fore Thy footstool to-night. Oh, help us to praise Thee with joyful hearts, and to exalt Thy name to- gether. To Thee, by whom our wants have been this day supplied, and our lives preserved, and our souls delivered from death, do we offer our evening wor- ship. We adore and give thanks. Oh, that all men to whom these great and undeserved mercies have been given in common with ourselves, would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works unto the children of men ! All that Thy pure eyes have seen amiss in our actions, our motives, and our tempers, graciously forgive. We rejoice to know that if we confess our sins, Thou art faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Well may we tremble, because of our exposure to Thy wrath and curse ; but, thanks be to Thy name, Thou hast told us, in PRATERS. '73 Thy word, of the great love wherewitli Thou hast loved us, even when we were dead in sin, in sending Thy Son to suffer and die in our stead, that we might have redemption through His blood, and enter into life eternal. Thanks be unto God for this unspeakable gift. Lord, help us to do all that in us lies to adorn His doctrine, to advance His cause, and to promote the honor of His name. Knowing His preciousness in our own experience, may we commend Him to our fellow-men. May we look on this world as He looks on it : love it with His love, and long for its conversion with somewhat of His yearning com- passion. Bring down, God, all that is opposed to the progress of Christ's gospel. Destroy every form of superstition and idolatry that exists. Put the wicked in fear. Let not the needy be alway forgotten, nor the expectation of the poor perish for ever. Bring Thy sons from far, and Thy daughters from the ends of the earth. Oh, that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion ! To thy watchful care, God of our life, we com- mend us all through the silent hours of the night. Keep us all as the apple of Thine eye. Abiding in the secret place of the Most High, and lying down under the shadow of the Almighty, may ours be the sleep of Thy beloved. Thou who hast delivered us from the destruction that wasteth at noon-day, save us also, we beseech Thee, from the pestilence that walketh in darkness. May all whom we love be precious in 4: 74 PRATERS. Thy sight, and wherever they are, Lord, let Thine angel encamp about them to defend from all ill. Have mercy on all who are racked with pain, and who will seek for rest but find none. Be kind to their frail and suffering bodies, and save their immortal souls. Be gracious to all those to whom this night is to be the last on earth. May they be in Christ as their Refuge and Saviour before they appear in His presence as their Judge. If it please Thee, spare us to see the light of a new day, and raise us up strengthened both in body and mind for the duties of the morrow, to Thy glory and praise. But if it should be otherwise, may the angels who minister to the heirs of salvation, bear our souls home to the bosom of our Lord. As for us, may w^e behold Thy face in righteousness, may ^ve be satisfied when we awake with Thy likeness. Whether we Avake or sleep, we would make this our rejoicing, that Thou wilt show us the path of life, and that in Thy presence is fulness of joy, and at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. Let these our prayers come before Thee as in- cense and the lifting up of our hands as the even- ing sacrifice, for Jesu's sake. Amen. SATURDAY MORNIKG. TERCIFUL and Blessed Father, whose preserv- ing care has been over us through the past night, receive our thanks this morning. Give us PRAYERS. 75 grace to offer the sacrifice of praise unto Thee. Help us as a family to cherish becoming gratitude to Thee for lives lengthened, for health spared, and for raiment, food, and shelter. In the home Thou hast given us enable us so to enjoy Thy good gifts, that we may glorify Thee, the Giver of them all. Lord, our Heavenly Father, we own that we are not worthy to claim one, even the least, of these benefits. If we say or think that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. We have gone astray like lost sheep. Our hearts have often been closed against Christ and open to His enemies. Our words have often been rash, scornful, and proud. By our words we might well be condemned. In our lives we have not honored Thee ; we have been turned aside from doing Thy will by the fear of man, and by the love of sin. We confess these sins before Thee. We pray for forgiveness through that only atonement, of which Thy word speaks to us ; and we ask Thy grace, for Christ's sake, to enable us to forsake these sins, and follow after holiness. And now, most blessed Father, who hast settled our lot in life, and given us far more than we had any right to expect, give us contentment, that we may not dishonour Thee, or disquiet ourselves in vain. Give us, we likewise beseech of Thee, a true knowledge of what Thou dost require of us, and make us diligent and faithful both to Thee, our Master in heaven, and to our fellow-men upon earth. May that gracious Lord, who for us became poor. 76 PRAYERS. and lived among poor men, be with our spirits wliile we are engaged about the work of the day. May we receive help from Thee, through Him, to work with our hands the thing which is good, and to do all with a single eye to thy glory. merciful Lord, we are in great need of spirit- ual blessings. Our love to Thee is cold : we pray Thee to increase it. Our faith is weak : we beseech Thee to strengthen it. And, Lord, do not leave any of us, or any of our friends, among the enemies of Christ. May they and we be reconciled to Thee through tlie Redeemer, and have forgiveness through His blood. Thou hast bronght us to the last day of this week. Help us so to spend our lives that when their last day shall come, we shall have nothing to do but to fall asleep in Christ Jesus, assured that our life is hid with Christ in God. We implore Thy blessing upon all men. Give patience to the poor, and enrich them with spiritual blessing^. Succor all the distressed, and direct the ignorant into the way of peace. Lord, look in pity upon heathen lands. Pity those whose gods cannot hear and help them. Reveal Thyself unto them in Jesus Christ. Make Thy way known unto all men, and fill the earth with peace and righteous- ness. God, our Father, hear us in these peti- tions, for the sake of Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. PRATERS. 77 SATURDAY EVENING. OLORD, Thou hast been the dwelling-place of Thy people through all generations. The poor have cried unto Thee, and have been delivered. Our fathers trusted in Thee, and were not put to shame. Not one word has failed of all that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy people. "We, too, can declare that Thou art good and doest good. We join together in praising Thee. Thy hand has been opened wide, and Thou hast supplied all our wants. Father, it is meet that we should praise Thee. We worship Thee, our Lord. We join our voices with those of the angels, and glorify Theo for Thy love. We adore Thee, the Holy One, God in Christ, revealed to us by the Holy Ghost. We are thankful unto Thee that Thy Son, one with Thee, equal in power and glory, became man for us. We believe in the Holy Ghost, one with Thee, Father, and with Thy Son. May we receive strength from Thee, to honor Thee all the days of our lives ; and in the life to come, let it be given us to serve Thee for ever. Accept our thanks, good Lord, for the blessings of the week now closing. Pardon all the evils we have done. Let not the guilt of our sins rest on our consciences ; but let us in repentance and faith close the week at peace with Thee in Christ, and at peace with all our fellow-men. All prosperity cometh from Thee, Lord. Es- 78 PRAYERS. tablish and prosper the work of our hands. Do for us as Thou didst for Joseph long ago. Make a blessing to go wherever we are. Do good in Thy good pleasure to all who do us good, or intend good unto us. Return their kindnesse sevnfold into their own bosoms. If any are enemies to us, help us to forgive them when we know it, and do Thou, Lord, forgive them and turn their hatred into good- will, for all hearts are in Thy hand. Heavenly Father, we have come now to the eve of the Sabbath. As we lay aside our daily toils, and take rest for our bodies, help us. Lord, also to lay aside all worldly cares, and all thoughts about our lawful business, that we may on the morrow worship and serve Thee with all our strength and all our minds. Make the day of rest a day of joy and gladness to us, and to all whom we love, and prepare us and them for the eternal Sabbath. Lord, who hast given the church and the min- istry to us, be with Thy servant our minister, and with all true preachers of Christ's holy Gospel. May their spirits be taught and purified by the Holy Ghost, that they may minister the truth unto Thy people. And, Lord of the harvest, send forth many faithful laborers into the world, and gather the precious wheat into the garner of the Lord Jesus. Heavenly Father, we beseech Thee on behalf of all the children of men, who are in danger or diffi- culty. Many to-night are journeying far from the I PRAYERS, 79 comforts of home as we enjoy tliem, and many are on the sea. Lord, help them to look up to Thee, and do Thou turn upon them Thine eyes, and give them peace and safety. Many, Lord, who love Thee are in sorrow. Oh, that they may be comfort- ed with the comfort of the Holy Ghost ! They are one with us, though we know them not, and we plead on their behalf. When they walk through the waters, be Thou, Lord, with them. Spare those, Lord, who are not fit to die, and cheer Thy children as they pass through the dark valley. Many of our fellow-sinners, Lord, are in the midst of temptation. Lord, deliver them. Bless the societies that labor for the good of our race. Favor every society of this kind with which we are connected, either by giving or receiving, and make it the means of much and lasting good. Crown the efforts of every Christian worker with Thy blessing. Lord, turn not away Thine ear from our prayer and intercession, and what we fail in asking, fail not Thou, good Lord, to grant, for Christ's sake. Amen. SECOND FORTNIGHT. SUNDAY MORNING. r\ ALMIGHTY God, the God of the Spirits of ^-^ all flesh, in whom we live, and move, and have our being ; who hast preserved us all our life long, and brought us to the beginning of this day in safety : we come into Thy presence, trusting to the multitude of Thy mercies, through the merits and mediation of Jesus, Thy beloved Son. our God ! we acknowledge that we are unwor- thy even to speak unto Thee. We have provoked Thee to anger by our sins. We have grievously de- parted from Tliee. We have neglected Thy word, rejected the Gospel of Thy Son, and profaned Thy holy Sabbaths. Yet now, Lord, for the sake of Jesus, look upon us with compassion ; and as Thou hast granted us the privilege of another Sabbath, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may worship Thee, this day, in Spirit and in truth. We grieve to think how often we have offered to Thee the sacrifice of fools, and drawn near to Thee with our lips, while our hearts were far from Thee. (80) PRAYERS. 81 Teach us how to pray, we beseech Thee. our Father, fulfil Thy promise, and give to us Thy Holy Spirit. Put life and energy into all the services of this day ; that we may enjoy Thy presence, in all we do, or hear, or say. Manifest Tliyself to our souls. Meet us in Thy house of prayer ; and so bless us, and sanctify to us every means of grace, that this day may be to us an earnest of the rest that remaineth for the people of God. Accept our gratefid thanks, Lord, for unnum- bered mercies which we have received — for health, while many are suffering from sickness — for food and raiment, while others are in need of both. But above all, would we bless and praise Thee, for the gift of Thy beloved Son, Jesus. Oh, that we may this day learn to love Him more. May the preaching of His Gospel be accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost to our hearts, revealing Him to us, and showing us more of His loveliness and beauty, than we ever discovered before. Lord, we Avould see Jesus ; we would feed on Jesus ; we would enjoy the blessedness of spiritual union with Him, our risen Head. We plead with Thee, Lord, for those to whom Thou hast committed the ministry of Thy word, and who shall stand up in thy name this day, to preach the Gospel of Thy grace. Do Thou break the bread of life, and bless it, and give it in their hands, that they may deal it out to those precious souls over whom Thou hast placed them. Enable them to trust 4* 82 PR A YER8. more to the teaching of Thy Spirit, than to the words of man's wisdom. Especially bless him to whom we this day look for instruction ; and grant that a word in season may be conveyed to our souls, to quicken us to increased devotedness, and to higher enjoyment of the things of God. Open the treasury of Thy grace, Lord, and satisfy us with Thy ful- ness. So remove every cloud of ignorance and un- belief, that we may see Thee in the fulness of Thy glory ; and so delight ourselves in Tliee, that every thing on earth may lose its glory, by reason of the glory that excelleth. So shall .this Sabbath be to us a blessed foretaste of the joys to come. In the name of Jesus we ask these blessings. For His sake give more than we desire or deserve. And to Him, with Thyself, and the eternal Spirit, be all honor and glory, for ever. Amen. SUNDAY EVENING. (~\ EVER blessed Lord,who hast revealed Thyself ^-^ in Jesus as a merciful God, able and willing to save them to the uttermost that come unto Thee by Him, we now draw near in His name. "VVe acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we, from time to time, have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against Thy divine majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings. We PRATERS. 83 grieve that we have not loved Thee with all our heart, with all our mincl, with all our soul, and with all our strength. Our worship of Thee has been marked by iniirmity ; and imperfection has ap- peared in our holiest acts of devotion. We betake ourselves to Jesus. We come to the cleansinor fountain of His blood, to be washed from the defile- ment of the day. We come to lay hold upon His strength, renouncing all self-dependence ; and, in the full conviction of our utter unworthiness, to receive that blessing from Thee, which, for His worthiness. Thou wilt bestow. Our Father, hear us. We would rejoice that the whole burden of our sin has been laid upon Jesus, who was made sin for us. We would now receive the blessing, which by His Gospel has been made known to us this day, that Jesus being our Advocate — Jesus our Mediator — Jesus our atoning Priest — our conscience may be eased of the burden of sin ; so that we may lie down in peace, and in the assured hope, that if death should visit us before the morning's light, we should be found accepted in Jesus. We beseech of Thee, blessed Lord, to pour upon us of the Holy Spirit, to give effect to Thy word which we have this day heard. The seed has been sown in our hearts ; but in vain shall we have received it, unless Thou follow it with Thy blessing. Do thou command the clouds that they so rain upon us, that our hard hearts may be softened ; that the seed sowed may be nourished ; and that an abund- 84 PBAYEBS. ant increase be produced. Thouliast said, " Whoso- ever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Give it us, we pray Thee, for the sake of Jesus ; that so Thy glory may be revealed to us, and our hearts may rejoice in the possession of Thy love. For Thee we wish to live ; in Thee we wish to die ; keep us ever near unto Thee, and allow us to walk in the light of Thy countenance. precious Saviour, our risen and exalted Head, take us into more close and happy union with Thyself, and nourish our souls with thy Spirit from day to day. And, Lord, wC would remember before Thee those who have been engaged this day in the min- istry, or teaching of Thy holy word. Strengthen them with the food which they have prepared for others ; and enable them to exhibit an example of those precepts, which they have labored to teach. Pardon those who have run, unsent, into the shepherd's office, and have taken on them to preach a Saviour, of whom they are ignorant. Lord, awaken them ; Lord, convert them ; and rescue Thy people from the curse of an unfaithful ministrj^ And now. Lord, we commend ourselves to Thy care and keeping. Watch over us during the night. Preserve us from all dangers both of body and soul. Refresh our weary bodies with needful rest : and if a new day be added to our lives, enable us to show that we have not been forgetful hearers of Thy word, but, by Thy blessing, may we be doers of it. Hear us, for the sake of Him, through whom alone PRAYERS. ^ 85 we can expect an answer to our prayers, or accept- ance of our tlianksgivings — the Lord Jesus Christ ; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed, as is most due, everlasting praise. Amen. MONDAY MORNING. "OLESSED Lord, who hast renewed Thy mercies ^^ to us this morning, and hast raised us up to see the light of another day, unto Thee do we lift up our souls in prayer, while we bow ourselves before Thy throne of grace. Adored be Thy mercy which has provided a way of acceptance for us, mis- erable sinners, through Jesus, the Son of Thy love. Adored be that goodness which allows us to come to Thee,Avith boldness, and to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Through Him we come — through Him we pray ; for His sake, hear and answer us. our God, we are ashamed, and blush to lift up our faces before Thee, for our iniquities have in- creased over our heads, and our trespass has grown up into the heavens. We are ungrateful children — rebellious children ; and Thou art a lono;sufferin<>: and most merciful Father. But, Lord, we desire not to persist in ingratitude, or rebellion. "We hate ourselves on account of them ; but we are so tied and bound with the chain of our sins, that we can- not follow Thee as we desire. We therefore come to Thee this morning, pleading Thy promise, through 86 , PRAYERS. Jesus, that Thou wilt give tlie Holy Spirit to them that ask. Lord, "we ask it. With all our heart aiul soul we ask it ; for it is only as Thou dost endue us with power from on high, that we shall be enabled to resist the temptatious of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We have labored in our own strength to conquer sin, and have failed. Our flesh cleaveth upon the earth. Though bound to Thee by every tie of gratitude, yet our affections will not dwell upon Thee. Though once warm in Thy service, we again grow cold and forsake Thee. our Father — our loving Father — our compassionate Father, — have pity upon Thy poor weak children, who are struggling to love and serve Thee, in the midst of a world of sin and iniquity. We earnestly desire to overcome sin, yet have no power to do so. But we bless and praise Thee, that Thou hast made provision for our wants, and thatThou hast promised that Thy strength shall be made perfect in our weakness. Lord, endue us with the Holy Spirit, for all the purposes of holi- ness, and growth in grace, and subduing of the flesh, and mortifying carnal desires, and enjoyment of spiritual things, that we may abound in the work and enjoyment of the Lord. We are now entering upon the new week, Lord, and we desire to be more devoted to Thee — to come out from the world and to be separate — to war against every thing that may rolj us of our peace, or provoke Thee to withdraw from us the light of Thy countenance. We wish to live to Thv PRAYERS. 87 glory, and to walk with thee all the day long. But who is sufficient for these things ? Lord, we are not, but Thy Spirit can enable us. Give us, then, the Holy Ghost in all the power which we are en- titled to ask for, and which Thou seest right to be- stow. Make lis holy. Stamp thine image upon our hearts ; and enable us to manifest the life of godli- ness. We bless Thee for any enjoyment we have had in spiritual things. We praise Thee even for the desire to serve Thee ] and we beseech of Thee to strengthen us to follow, what Thou hast taught us to love. But, Lord, if there be any amongst us who are yet strangers to these precious truths ; who are yet living in the indulgence of sin ; for Jesus' sake have mercy upon them. Open their eyes to see their danger. Open their eyes to see the sacrifice for sin, in the blood of Jesus, and the remedy for the love Of sin, in the regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, From all the temptations to which we may this day be exposed, good Lord preserve us. Keep us humble ; distrustful of ourselves, but confident of strength in Thee. Let us not run into forbidden ways, nor expect protection but in the path of duty. Grant these our petitions, Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen. 88 PRAYERS. MONDAY EVENING. 'ITTE come before Thee this Evcaing, gracious ^ ^ Lord, under a consciousness of our sinful- ness, and of thine exceeding holiness. Thou art the Holy One. Thou canst not bear iniquity. To the cleansing fountain of the Saviour's blood do we come. We would there wash, and be clean ; and upon the altar of His merits, present this, our even- ing sacrifice of prayer and praise. Thy goodness has spared us through another day. We come to Thee to render an account of our stewardship, and to tell Thee how we have this day been engaged in Thy service. Lord, Thou knowest all before we speak ; yet would we tell Thee : we would conceal nothing — deny nothing. We are verily guilty before Thee. Our own consciences accuse us of having left undone what we might have done, and having done what we should not have done. Lord, we cry unto Thee for the Holy Spirit, that we may be kept close to Thee, and that we may have that continued spiritual mind which is joy and peace. May the Spirit be in us as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, enriching us with the knowledge and love of Jesus ; and taking of His glory, and showing it unto us. All our happiness, blessed Jesus, is gone, if thou dost hide Thyself ; and without the light of the Spirit we cannot see thee. We wish to see Thee — to live upon Thee — to feed upon Thee. Oh, may Thy love be shed PRA TEES. 89 abroad in our licarts by the Holy Gliost, that our love to Thee may be perfect, engaging our best affections, and employing all our powers of mind and body in Thy service. Thou didst love us, when we cared not for Thee ; yea, when by wicked works we were Thine enemies. Oh, break Thou these hard and flintv hearts, which refuse to melt at the re- membrance of Thy love ; and so take possession of us, tliat every thought, and word, and action, may be brought into captivity to Thine obedience. Hemove from us all envying, and strife, and divisions, and whatever belongs to that carnal mind, which is enmity against Thee ; and grant that the fruit of the Spirit may abound in us to Thy glory, and to our great joy. Make us humble, lowly in our own eyes, esteeming others better than our- selves. Enable us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Strengthen the faith of those amongst us to whom thou hast already bestowed it ; and give it, for the sake of the Lord Jesus, to those who have it not. Oh, let none of us be deceived concerning our souls' salvation ; nor allow us to hope well of ourselves, while that hope is not found- ed upon the sacrifice of Jesus. Show us our real state and character. Take away every false prop upon which we have leaned, and establish us upon Jesus, the rock of ages — the unfailing founda- tion of the sinner's hope. We praise thee, Lord, for unnumbered mercies, of which we are utterly unworthy. We praise thee, 90 PRAYERS. if we have at all been enabled to live to Tliy glory this day, — to resist temptation — to conquer sin — to confess Thee before the ungodly — and to warn sin- ners of the wrath to come. We bless Thee that thou hast not given us over to a reprobate mind, nor taken us away in the midst of our iniquities. Oh, that as we ought we may now praise Thee, and that all that is within us may bless Thy holy name. Unto Thy care we now commend ourselves this night. We will lay us down in peace, if Thou speak peace to us through Jesus. May our last thoughts be of Thee ] and when we Avake, may Thy Spirit bring heavenly things to our mind. Pardon the imperfections of our prayers ; supply what we have omitted to ask for, and do all for the sake of Jesus. Amen. TUESDAY MOKNUSTG. IVFOST blessed Lord, who delightest in showing xtX niercy to those who honor Thy beloved Son ; we, renouncing all self-dependence, and trusting to that complete atonement which He has made upon the cross, come into Thy presence this morning. We humble ourselves before Thee on account of our sins. Goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our lives. Thou hast commended Thy love to us, in that Thou hast given Thy Son for our sins ; and yet we have requited Thy goodness and Thy love by ingratitude and rebellion. Lord, we PBA TEES. 9L hate ourselves on account of sin. We long to be delivered from it. We wish for that holiness which is happiness. AVe feel our utter inability to conquer a single sin. We therefore cry unto Thee, our Fa- ther. We knock at Thy door this morning, and im- plore of Thee to come forth, and to give us a Father's blessing. We do not ask for riches — for honors — for the good things of this world. But we pray of Thee to give us the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, to resist the temptation of the world, the flesh and the devil. Baptize us with the Holy Ghost. Condemn sin in our members ; and as those members have too long been employed as instruments of unrighteousness, may they now, and ever, and unceasingly, be employed in Thy happy service. We desire, Lord, that no darling sin be retained ; but enable us, by the Spirit, with unsparing severity to crucify every unholy affection and lust. We pray for the mind that was in Christ Jesus ; and to that end, give us the Spirit that was in Jesus. Lord, confirm and strengthen in us whatever Thou thyself hast planted ; and root out of us all things that offend against the holiness that becomes Thy faithful followers. And, Lord, look in mercy upon any how kneel- ing before Tliee, who are yet unconverted by the Spirit of Christ — who love the world in preference to Jesus, and who follow its ways instead of the ways of holiness. Show them their danger, we be- seech Thee, and show them their loss. Convince 92 PBA TER8. them that they are in the road that leads to the ruin of their souls. Give them Thy Spirit to display be- fore them the love and beauty of Jesus ; that their affections may be withdrawn from unworthy objects, and centred upon Him. adorable Redeemer, so manifest thy love to each of us, that we may esteem Thee the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely ; and so be filled by Thy love, that our hearts and thoughts may dwell upon Thee all the day long. And while we pray to Thee for those things which we stand in need of, we would praise Thee for what we have already received. Praise be to Thee for the blessings of the past night ] that we laid us down to sleep, and were raised in safety. Praise be to Thee if we begin this day with any increased desire to live to Thy glory. Oh, if we have this not, give it us before we rise from our knees. Praise be to Thee for health, for food, for raiment. But above all, praise be to Thee for the unspeakable gift of Thy beloved Son, Jesus. And now. Lord, w^e pray Thee to watch over us while we pass through the world this day. Lead us not into temptation — deliver us if tempted. En- able us to glorify Thee in our several callings in life. Let nothing so occupy us, as to drive Thee for a mo- ment from our minds ; but be Thou ever present, to regulate our tempers, our affections, and our pur- suits. Hear these our prayers, O Lord, and when Thou dost hear, forgive. Pardon the imperfection of our solemn services, and accept us and them, for PRAYERS. 93 the sake of Him in wliora Thou art well pleased, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. TUESDAY EVENING. ^~\ GOD, who, though Thou dwellest in the higli- ^^ est heavens, hast respect unto those who pray to Thee on earth in the name of Thy dear Son, Jesus, let Thine ear be attentive to the prayer which, in His name, we now offer unto Thee. We come under a deep sense of our utter unwor- thiness of the least of Thy mercies. We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs that fall from Thy table ; and yet dost Thou allow us to ask for the portion of children. Thou art very merciful, Lord ; Thy love in Christ is unsearchable. Yet give us the Spirit, that we may know more of that love. Though it be a love that passeth our full understanding, teach us to understand it more per- fectly. The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things that are revealed in Thy word. Give us the Spirit, we implore Thee, for Christ's sake ; and may we, by it, be led to the understanding and enjoyment of all that Thou hast revealed. give us the Spirit, to lead us into all Thy truth. We lay aside our own wisdom ; we yield ourselves to Thee ; and pray of Thee to teach us all that Thou wouldst have us to know. Nor less do we pray to Thee, Lord, for the spirit of holiness. Thou seest how much of world- 94 PRATERS. liness still cleaves to us — liow our unholy desires seek to be gratified. We pray for strength against these our enemies. That the flesh may be subdued, we pray for the Spirit to resist it — to crucify it. We pray that, as Thou hast saved us from tlie pun- ishment of sin, Thou wilt grant us the Spirit, that we may be wholly freed from the power of sin. We would realize more of the joy of heaven while wc walk on earth — that joy wdiich follows the con- quest of sin. our Father, we hate ourselves on account of sin — we grieve that our hearts should wander from Thee for a single moment. Take pos- session of us — occupy us — subdue us to the obedi- ence of faith. Be Thou in us the conqueror of sin, the promoter of holiness. Purify us from the de- filement that belongs to the flesh, and sanctify us by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. We are conscious that much imperfection has marked our service this day, and that we might have done more for Thy glory had we been stronger in the faith, and more impressed Avith a sense of Tln^ love. Oh, shed abroad that love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, we beseech thee, that we may ever walk under the abiding influence and constraining power of the love of Jesus. Teach us not only to feel, but to act like those who are no longer their own, but are bought with a price — even vfith the price of the Saviour's blood. But, gracious Lord, we would not only pray to Thee for what we need, we would also praise Thee PBAYEB8. 95 for what we have received. We praise Thee for having spared us from merited condemnation. We praise Thee that thou didst not give us over to a re- probate mind. We praise Thee that thou hast plucked us as brands from the burning. We praise Thee for whatever of sin we have been empowered to con- quer. Praise be to Thee for the unspeakable gift of Thy Son Jesus, through whom all blessings flow to us. Oil that, as we ought, we may praise Thee now on earth more perfectly, and sing to the praise of Thy redeeming love in the courts of Thy heavenly glory. And do Thou, Lord, the God of grace, who liast called us into thine eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that we have suffered a while make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us. Do Thou, the very God of peace, sanctify us wholly ; and may our whole spirits, and souls, and bodies be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. To Him, with Thyself, and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, for ever. Amen. WEDNESDAY MORNING. TTOLY Lord God of Hosts! thou author of our ^^ being ; thou Lord of heaven and earth ! How could we have dared to speak to Thee, or to raise our eyes to the place where Thine honor dwelleth, hadst thou not opened a way of access through the Lord Jesus Christ ! He is our only Saviour. Lord, 96 PRAYERS. we disclaim all others, and cling to His cross as the only refuge of our guilty souls. We grieve to think of our base ingratitude to- ward Thee, who art so worthy of the best of our hearts' affections. We are pained to think what trifles draw our hearts from Thee, and how they are prone to settle upon earthly things. God, for Thy mercy's sake, give us the victory over ourselves. We acknowledge that we are insufficient, of our- selves, to control the passions of our minds. We ask deliverance from self. our Father, hear us, and send the Holy Ghost into our hearts, to reign and rule over every thought within. We wish to be brought under the power of the Spirit. We long for the conquest of sin, for the subduing of self to the service of Jesus ; and that the leaven of the Spirit may work itself into all we think, or do, or say. We wish that the life which we now live may be by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave Himself for us. We wish to have sin and the flesh crucified. We would not spare the most beloved earthly object that interferes with our de- votedness to Thee. Lord, we desire to be wholly Thine. Take from us what Thou wilt, so that Thy love be left to us. Oh, hide not the light of Thy blessed countenance, our Father, and we shall be happy, though stripped of every earthly posses- sion. — Whom have we in heaven to plead for us, but Thee, adorable Jesus ? Whom, then, upon eartli should we desire in comparison of Thee? PRATERS. 97 Otlier lords have dominion over us ; but from henceforth thou shalt be our all-in-all. We make, not this promise, Lord, trusting to our own strength, for we have had painful experience of our helplessness. But we make it in reliance upon Thy promise, that thou wilt give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it ; that Spirit which is able to keep the lamp of love alive. Dispel every cloud of unbelief, and warm our hearts with the beams of Thy love. Knit our hearts to Thee in a bond that no earthly power can sever, so that we may each be enabled to say — "To me to live is Christ — to die is gain." We beseech Thee also, our Heavenly Father, for our country, that its rulers may be guided and gov- erned by Thee, and that they who frame our laws may be directed from above. Make our judges a terror to evil doers, and restrain iniquity in our land. Establish Thy fear in the hearts of our fel- low-citizens that they may be gathered with us final- ly into Thine everlasting kingdom through Jesus Christ. And, blessed Jesus, who art dishonored by the works of Thine own hands, and despised by a world which Thou hast made, teach us so to love Thee as to love the time of Thine appearing, and to pray, with all our hearts, that Thy kingdom may come, when Thy will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven ; when Thou shalt bind the enemy, and rule the world in righteousness. From the power of 5 98 PRATEBS, the enemy of our souls, do Thou this day deliver us, and enable us to maintain an unceasing conflict with whatever opposes our spiritual growth and enjoy- ment. Now, unto Him that is able to keep us from fall- ing, to the only wise God our Saviour, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory, majesty, do- minion, and power, both now and for ever. Amen. WEDNESDAY EVENING. UNTO Thee do we lift up our hearts, Thou that dwellest in the heavens. In Thy great mercy hear us ; and answer the prayers and accept the praises which we present unto Thee, in the name of Jesus. Lord, teach us how to pray. Solemnize our hearts. Enable us to withdraw our minds from worldly thoughts, and to worship Thee with spirit- ual minds. Forever blessed be Thy name, for the privilege of praying to Thee — of telling Thee all our wants, and griefs, and sadness ; and for the as- surance, that, for the worthiness of Jesus, Thou dost bestow upon us Thy heavenly blessings. We have much to grieve over, Lord. Our coldness, and deadness, and slothfulness in Thy service, cause us grief and pain. We would love Thee more, and serve Tliee better ; but our hearts are still too fond of earthly things ; and often have we to draw our- selves into Thy presence, when we sliould run with P BAYER 8. 99 the fullness of delight. For the sake of Thy dear Son, grant us more of the Spirit. Nourish the life which Thou hast given us. Keep up the power of religion in our souls. Lead us to enlarged views of the Redeemer's glory, and deeper views of the evil of our hearts. Show us more of the evil of sin, and the beauty of holiness. Strengthen us by the Spirit, to imitate the example of Jesus ; and give us the mind that dwelt in Him. We ask for great things, our Father ; but Thou hast encouraged us so to do ; Thou lovest to bless Thy poor weak ones, who cry unto Thee, and who, mourning their deficiency, look to Thee for strength. Blessed Jesus, Thou art our strength. Be Thou strong in us. And may Thy Spirit be powerful in us this day. . We have much to contend with, — the world, with all its seducing pomp and vanity — the flesh, with all its unholy desires — the devil, with all his art and power, are leagued against us. But give us the Spirit, our God, and we. shall be strengthened to resist. Increase Thy gifts to all who know Thee, Lord. Make Thy Church a glory in the earth. Call many more to be faithful preachers of Thy holy word. Teach those who minister in holy things to be less of this world, and more ensamples of holi- ness, and of deadness to the things of this passing life. Reveal by the Spirit the neglected truths that lead to personal holiness. Enable us to cease from man, and to follow the unerring rule of Thy word of truth. V 100 PBA TUBS. For Thy care of us during the past day, we give Thee thanks, Lord. Take us, and all whom we desire to remember in prayer before Thee, under Thy watchful providence this night. Preserve us through the remaining part of the day of life ; and may we be blessed by Thee, to rejoice at the close of this day in the prospect of endless glory through Jesus. To Him, to Thyself, heavenly Father, and to the Holy Ghost, be endless praise ascribed. Amen. THURSDAY MORNING. OTHOU whose name is Jehovah — the self-ex- istent God, whose creatures we are, we live upon Thy bounty ; it is our duty to acknowledge our dependence on Thee, and worship at Thy foot- stool from day to day. Wo praise Thee that Thou hast permitted us to do so this morning ; that Thou hast even provided a way of access to Thyself, through the Lord Jesus Christ ; and that, by Him, we can not only come with acceptance, but with the expectation of being supplied, from Thy bounty, with whatever is needful for time and for eter- nity. We know not, Lord, what is for our good. We dare not, therefore, ask for any thing temporal, beyond the mere necessaries of life. Give us food and raiment, and make us therewith content. We beseech of Thee to bless us with plenty from Thy PRAYERS. 101 spiritual store. Give us a deep sense of our own unworthiness. Show us more of the corruption of our own evil hearts, that we may trust them less, and cling to Thee the closer for strength to resist their unholy propensities. We confide in the blood of Jesus for the pardon of all that is past ; and we implore the Holy Spirit, to shed abroad the love of Jesus in our hearts. Give to us then, the Holy Spirit, to make known that love to our souls — to make us holy — to make us faithful, zealous, and de- voted witnesses for Jesus, in the midst of an ungod- ly world. Lord, we wish to manifest in our lives the power of godliness ; to be living epistles, read and known of all men ; to exhibit the Spirit's work in subduing our flesh. Make us. Thy members, a temple of the Holy Ghost ; and may our lives pro- claim that God is in us of a truth. Lord, we pray for greater light and enjoyment in the reading of Thy holy word. We wish to feed upon its precious truths — to love it as the record of our Father's will — to prefer it to every other study. May we find it profitable for doctrine, reproof, cor- rection, instruction in righteousness ; and may we, by it, be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Grant, Lord, that w^e may not be carried about with every wind of doctrine, tossed to and fro in doubt and danger. But may the Spirit lead us to a sound interpretation of Thy holy word ; so that we may grow up into Christ in all things, being nourished by the sincere milk of the word. 102 P BAYERS. Enable us to walk in wisdom toward them that arc without — to show all forbearance in all things — to reprove shi in the spirit of love — and to mani- fest, that while we hate the sin, we are moved by kindness towards those whom we are called to re- buke. Teach us, also, to correct those faults in our- selves which we discover in others. Look in pity, we pray Thee, upon our native land. Heal all divisions and distractions ; and pour the oil of the Spirit upon its troubled waters. May that righteousness which exaltoth a nation be ours ; and put away from us that sin which is a reproach to any people. Have mercy upon those its inhab- itants who are sitting in darkness, and in the sha- dow of death. Raise up faithful men to declare to them the Gospel of Thy grace. Open a door for the effectual preaching of Thy holy word ; and bless those that read it by the power of the Spirit ; so that Thy truth may be known amongst men, Thy saving health to all this nation. Accept our thanks for the blessings of the past night ; for peace, protection, and health. Keep us this day in Thy faith and fear. May we walk as in Thy presence, assured that there is not a thought in our hearts but Thou knowest it altogether ; and may we do all things to Thy glory. May the very God of peace sanctify us wholly ; and we pray that our whole spirits, souls, and bod- ies, may be preserved blameless, unto the day of the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. May PRATERS. 103 we then appear with Him in glory. We ask all for the same Saviour's sake. Amen. THURSDAY EVENING. TT^ATHER of all mercies, who hast watched over ■^ us during this day, and brought us to the close of it in safety ; before we lay ourselves down to take our rest, we would commend our bodies and souls to Thy careful keeping. Blessed Jesus, through Thee we now come to the throne of grace ; and through Thee we look to be cleansed from the defilement which we have con- tracted in our walk through the world this day. Blot out as a cloud our transgressions, and as a thick cloud our sins ; for we return unto Thee, be- cause Thou hast redeemed us. Enter not into judgment with Thy servants, Lord, for in Thy sight shall no flesh living be justi- fied. We do not say that we have no sin, for then should we deceive ourselves : but we confess our sin, and believe that Thou art faithful and just to forgi^»3 it us. Do so, precious Saviour, we beseech Thee, and remove from us the guilt of all that our consciences, this night, accuse us of. But we would not only praise Thee for deliver- ance from the punishment of sin ; we most earnest- ly pray to be delivered from its power. The law of sin that is in our members, is our misery. When we would do good, evil has been present with us ; 104 PRATERS. and the evil that we would not, that we have too often done. We therefore come to Thee, this night, as well for the pardon of the sins of the day, as for' strength for the future. If another day be added to our lives, show Thy power in enabling us to cru- cify sin. Send the Holy Ghost into our hearts, that we may be sanctified, body, soul, and spirit. Grant that all carnal affections may die in us ; and that all things, belonging to the Spirit, may live and grow in us ; and being fed by the manna of Thy word, and the water of the Spirit, may grow daily in grace, and in the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus. But Thou, Lord, who search est all hearts, canst alone tell whether we all thus hate sin, and thirst for holiness. Oh, if there be any present, who use these words without feeling them ] who join in an expression of hatred to sin, yet love it in their hearts, and cannot bear to part with it, in mercy visit them with Thy salvation. Create within them clean hearts, Lord, and renew right spirits with- in them. Convince them that the wages of sin is death ; and make known to them that eternal life, Avliich is the gift of God, through Jesus. Oh, give us all one heart, and one mind, and one spirit, that none, now kneeling before Thee, may be wanting amongst the number of Thy people : but that our names may be written in the Lamb's book of life. Bless us, Lord, in our several stations. Bless those who rule — bless those who serve. Moy we. PBATEBS. 105 in our respective callings, adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, in all things ; and while we sup- port the name of Christian, may we not contradict it, by the practice of what is hateful to Christ. Lord, we would be wholly Thine. We yield ourselves as clay into the hands of the potter. Make us holy vessels, meet for our master's use ) and fill us with the Spirit, in all such power, as Thou seest it right we should possess. Come, Ho- ly Spirit, come ! Purify us — illuminate us — sanc- tify us — seal us — that we may perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. To the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be now ascribed all praise, majesty, and dominion, for ever. Amen. FRIDAY MORKING. A LMIGHTY GOD, who hast commended Thy -^^ love to us, in that, whilst we were yet sin- ners, Tliou didst give Thy Son to die upon the cross for us all ; be Thou mercifully pleased to show us the light of Thy countenance, and bless us, and com- fort us, while we now draw near to worship Thee. We come through Jesus. AYe trust alone to the atoning blood of Jesus. We acknowledge no other Mediator but Jesus. All our dependence is in Him for time and eternity. Thou art greatly to be praised, O Lord, for the love Thou hast shown to us guilty sinners. We 5* •106 PRATER S. have rebelled against Thee ; we have provoked Thee to anger ; we have been transgressors against Thy laws ; and thou wouldst have been just hadst Thou condemned us to the lake of fire. Yet in mercy Thou hast spared us, and hast made known to us Thy willingness to save, by the Son of Thy love. Just, indeed, wilt Thou be in condemning those who neglect or reject that Saviour. And yet, Lord, we should have rejected Him, if Thou hadst not turned our hearts. Be Thy name adored, for those amongst us who believe ; be Thy mercy entreated for tliose who yet believe not. Give them the light of the knowledge of Thy glory, in the face of Jesus Christ. Cause the day-spring from on high to visit them. And let none of us, O Lord, be satisfied with a mere salvation from the punishment of sin. Give us such a hungering and thirsting for righteousness — such an ardent love for holiness — as will make us press after an abundant entrance into Thy heav- enly kingdom. We desire that v;^hatever others do we may serve the Lord. We therefore pray of Thee, blessed Lord Jesus, vrho hast received the Spirit for the Church, to grant it us in all the power and measure that Thou seest v^e require. We pray Thee to cleanse this tabernacle of flesh by the Spirit. Mortify our carnal desires ; lead us to the higher enjoyment of the spiritual things ; increase our love to Thee. For this we need, we ask, the Spirit ; and may we be raised above the world, to live in happy, peaceful waiting for Tliy coming. Maintain PRAYERS. 107 this happy frame in those to whom Thou hast given it, and bestow it npon those who have it not. Cut Thou those tics that bind our souls to earth. Enable us to walk through this world as Jesus did — as strangers in a barren land. Oh, we grieve to feel how much our hearts still cling to the tilings of earth. Strengthen us for the time that remains ; and enable us to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Fill us with the Spirit, that the love of Christ may constrain us to speak thereof, one with the other ; and to go forth, and tell to those who are in darkness what a precious Saviour we have found. We thank Thee, Lord, for the rest, protection, and preservation of the night past. We thank Thee that we have had whereon to lay our heads, while others were in want and wretchedness. Give us hearts to feel for their miseries, and to relieve them. Be thou near to us all the day long, and let not our hearts wander from Thee. Let Thy word be the rule of our lives. Thy Son our holy example, and Thy Spirit our heavenly teacher. Let thy glory be our aim in whatever we do or say ; and teach us so to value the joy of Thy countenance, as to make any sacrifice rather than lose it for a moment. Oh, shine upon us, our gracious Lord, at this time ; shine, and the clouds of unbelief shall be scattered. May each member of this family, being endued with the power of the Spirit, be brought under the influence of the gospel of Christ, that we may be a house- 108 PRATERS. hold fearing God and working righteousness, that all anger, and wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking, may be put away from us ; and tliat the law and service of love may prevail over that of rigor or of fear. May the peace of God rule in all our hearts, and may we enjoy and exhibit the blessed- ness of them who dwell together in unity ; so that walking in the faith of the Gospel, we may all be found in the household of faith. To the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be everlasting praise, majesty, and dominion, now and for ever. Amen. FRIDAY E VENIN G. 13LESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scrip- -■^ tures to be written for our learning, and in those Scriptures hast revealed to us Thy love, in sparing not Tliy Son, but delivering Him up for us all ; grant that by patience and comfort of Thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast that blessed hope of everlasting life. Make us to feel, Lord, tliat it is indeed a blessed hope — a hope, for the enjoyment of which may we be ready to part with all we possess. May Jesus be precious to us — more precious than thousands of gold and sil- ver. Oh, may our hearts rejoice in Thy salvation, that in sincerity we may say, Whom have we in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that we desire beside Thee. PRATERS. 109 Gracious Lord, Thou hast added to our lives another da}^ More privileges, more blessings have been added to our store ; and we are conscious of much ingratitude. What shall we render unto Thee for all the benefits that we have received from Thee ; ' for life — for health — for food — for raiment — for preservation from a thousand evils to which others are exposed — for tlie means of grace — and, above all, for the hope of glory through Jesus? Lord, we have nothing to give which has not first been received from Thee. We can only add to our debt of gratitude, and draw a plea from all Thy bounties to ask Thee still for more. . We do so, Lord. We pray Thee to add to all Thine other gifts the gift of the Holy Spirit, to enable us to en- joy them — to enjoy Jesus, to feast upon His love — • to be so united to Jesus as to lose our love for every unlawful earthly object, and for every lawful one which interferes with our devotedness to Tliee. . Enable us, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit I to mortify the flesh, with its affections and lusts, I which rise in opposition to Jesus, to enter gladly into the humiliation of Jesus, to walk through the i world as Jesus did, a stranger to all its joys, and pleasures, and pursuits. Deliver us from the love of the world. We have promised to renounce it, with its pomps and vanities. But, Lord, we cannot do so of ourselves. Give to each of us the Holy Ghost, enduing us with power from on high, planting the love of heavenly things within us , and 110 PRAYERS. mortifying our attachment to the things of the world. May our old nature be so buried that the new man may be raised up in us. May we have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh ; and may each day that brings us nearer to our eternal home, find us more weaned from the world, and more united to Christ. Pardon, Lord, whatever we have this day been guilty of, whether they be sins of commission or omission. Give us now such contrition of heart for offending against Thee, a God of love, as will make us more watchful over our hearts, should we be spared for another day. Give to us all that godly sorrow which worketh repentance not to be repent- ed of, and a thorougli hatred even of the appear- ance of evil. Make us a holy people, that Thy name may be sanctified in the midst of us. For the blessings which ^we enjoy this night, accept our earnest expression of thankfulness. May we lie down at peace with Thee through Jesus ; and may a sense of reconciliation through His blood give peace and joy to our hearts. Should death or sick- ness this night visit us, may every fear be removed in the confidence of acceptance through Jesus. Give us that confidence, if we have it not, so that they who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage, may know the glorious libcrtv, from danQ:er and from fear, which is to be enjoyed through the Saviour of sinners. PRA YEItS. Ill Lord, hear us ; Lord, answer us ; and, Lord, abundantly bless us, for the sake of Thy Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen. SATURDAY MORNING. r\ ALMIGHTY GOD, who givest liberally to ^-^ all men, and upbraidest not, and dost not des- pise the meanest of Thy creatures who come unto Thee in the name of Jesus ; hear us, and answer us, while, through Him, as the way, the truth, and the life, we come boldly to Thy throne of grace. Thou hast encouraged us to ask for great things, and we desire now to do so ; yet not for the things of this world — for its riches, its honors, or its goods, which might prove a curse instead of a blessing : but we ask for spiritual things — for the pardon of daily sin, through the blood of Jesus — for an assur- ance of that pardon, speaking peace to our souls — for an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, en- abling us successfully to resist the temptation of the evil one, and to manifest in our lives the power of the grace of God. These, blessed Lord, are large petitions, but Thou hast encouraged us to expect great things. We acknowledge that we have not, because we asked not — that we have been straiten- ed in ourselves, and not in Thee — that our conquest over sin might have been greater, had we waited upon Thee more for the Spirit. Oh, then, now that Thou hast put it into our hearts to ask, satisfy our 112 PRAYEBS. largest desires, and give us all that we stand in need of. Oh, make us holy, for the Saviour's sake, whatever else Thou art pleased to deny. We give Thee thanks, Lord, for Thy preser- vation of us during the night past. We might have perished by fire, or have been visited by the pesti- lence that walketh in darkness. Oh, how great is Thy goodness to us, when we reflect how many have spent the night in agony of body or of mind, while we have been kept in health and quietness. Lord, we would praise Thee for these things ; and as ev- ery gQod gift Cometh from Thee, we beseech Thee to enable us to show forth that praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives. And now that we enter upon the last day of the week, we would ask tlie spirit of self-examination, that we may review those days that are gone, and be humbled to confess, and strengthened to forsake, all that conscience accuses us of. May we remem- ber that this is the preparation of the Sabbath. Make it so to us, we pray Thee. Enable us to set our house in order, and so to arrange our worldly business, that we may serve Thee without distrac- tion on Thy holy day, should we be allowed to en- joy it. But forasmuch as we know not what a day may bring forth, oh, teach us to live this day as though it were our last ; as though we had a certainty of the call of death, or of the Saviour's coming, this night. Cut every tie which binds us to earth ; PRAYEB8. 113 overcome our attacliment to the things of the world ; and enable us to sit completely loose to all but Thee. And oh, may the roots of our affections strike deep- er into Jesus, that, being stablished, and grounded, and confirmed in Him, we may be proof against the storms of adversity, and the force of temptation. Correct, we beseech Thee, whatever Thou seest amiss in our tempers and dispositions. Subdue the risings of unholy passion ; say to the ruffled waves, Be still ; let meekness and humility prevail over harshness and pride ; and may the loving spirit of the Saviour be manifest in all we say or do. We pray of Thee to look this day upon Thy min- istering servants, who are to stand up on the mor- row to preach tlie Gospel of Thy grace. Be witli them in their preparation for the holy work. May the Holy Ghost so fill them with the love of Jesus, and the love of souls for His sake, that they may speak that they do know, and testify that they have seen and felt of the riches of redeeming love. Feed their own souls while they prepare to feed their flocks, and cause that an abundant blessing may follow their labor in the Lord. Grant these our petitions, O Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 114 PRAYERS. SATURDAY EVENING. OGOD, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions, which we present to Thee in the name of Jesus. We adore Thy holy name, that when Jesus offer- ed not expiation for angels that sinned, we were visited by Him in mercy, and that for us reconcilia- tion has been made. Forbid it, gracious Lord, that we should reject so great a benefit, or slight such wondrous love. Apply to each of us the fidl virtue of that Saviour's sacrifice. Cause us to rejoice that our sins are blotted out, and that, through Jesus, we stand complete in all the will of God. But, Lord, we confess that we are bound with the chain of our sins ; that sin has often dominion over us ; and that we are too often led captive by Satan at his will. We implore Thee, of Thy great mer- cy, to loose us ; to deliver us from the love of sin ; to give us the Spirit to subdue the flesh ; and to keep us in the obedience of Christ. The ways of sin are slavery ; Thy service is perfect freedom. Make us free, then, blessed Lord, not only from the punishment of sin, by the blood of Jesus, but from the dominion of sin, by the power of the Holy Ghost ; that we may sanctify the Lord God in our hearts ; that we may be able to cease from sin, to walk in holiness and righteousness all the days of PRAYERS. 115 our life, and to enjoy the holy liberty of the chil- dren of God. We mourn to think how much the things of the world prevailed to draw our hearts from Thee ; what toys and trifles pleased iis, when we found but little pleasure in Jesus. Oh, deliver us from a worldly spirit. Let us feel that this world is not our rest ; that it is polluted ; and that all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life — is not of the Father, but is of the world. Heavenly Father, may we be crucified to the world, and the world to us, so that we may serve Thee with a single eye, and live for Thee alone. We bless Thee, at the remembrance of Thine un- merited mercies. We praise Thee, that we, who have provoked Thee so often to anger, who have grievously sinned and rebelled against Thy laws, liave not been visited by sudden judgment, and doomed to suffer in the lake of fire. Oh, Avhat a mercy that we have been spared, and not cut off in the midst of our iniquities ! We call upon our souls to praise Thee, Lord, and all that is within ns to bless Thy holy name. Let us not spend that life which we have forfeited, and which Thou hagt so mercifully spared, on sin or vanity, but take it all to Thyself. Take it. Lord, for we cannot give it Thee. Make us Thine. Make us, as Thy mem- l)ers, a temple of the Holy Ghost, and reign within us, lord over every thought, and word and action. Look in mercy, we pray Thee, upon all who are 116 PRATERS. in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other ad- versity. Give tliem patience under their suffer ino:s, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. May Thy chastisement yield the peaceable fruits of right- eousness in those who are exercised by it. Have pity on all prisoners and captives. Lead them to Jesus, who in His Gospel proclaims the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Ec- claim the backsliders. May they grieve to have forsaken a loving Saviour, and to have preferred, before Him, the wages of iniquity. Put words into their mouths, that they may return and say, " Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.'' Forgive, we beseech thee, Lord, the sins of the day, the sins of the week, for Jesus' sake. We would lie down at peace w^ith Thee this night through Jesus, so that if this night our souls should be required of us, we may be found in Jesus, accept- ed in Him, the Beloved. Every prayer we present unto Thee, in his name. Grant to us needful rest this night ; and if we awake in life to see the Sabbath, may the Spirit meet us with an early blessing, and tune our hearts to sing the praise of Jesus. Amen. SUNDAY MORNING. O ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, who hast so loved a guilty world as to give Thy Son Jesus Christ to die upon the cross for its sin, we draw near PRATERS. 117 to Thee through Him, and implore acceptance for the Saviour's sake. We give Thee thanks, eternal Jehovah, for the blessing of another Sabbath ; that we are called from earthly cares to spend this day with Thee. A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. But, Lord, we have spent many Sabbaths without any enjoyment of Thee. We have satisfied ourselves with the form, while destitute of the power of god- ^ liness. We have made confession of sins, for which 1 we never mourned, and made promises of amend- ment, whicb we never kept. We desire that the time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought such folly and deceit. We know, Lord, that we cannot enjoy an eternal Sabbath, unless Thy Sabbaths on earth be the joy of our heart. We therefore pray most earnestly that Thou wilt send into our hearts the Holy Spirit, that Ave may see Thee and enjoy Thee in all the ordinances of this day. Let all Thy goodness pass before us, that we may be led to admire the wonders of Thy love. Make us hate the sins that caused the sufferings of the Saviour, and adore the love which carried Him through them all. blessed Jesus, as Thou didst die, cause sin to die in us ; as Thou didst rise from death, so make us rise to newness of life ; and as Thou dost employ Thy risen life to the glory of the Father, so make us feel that being bought with a price, we are no longer our own, but should glorify Thee with our bodies and our spirits, which are 118 PRAYERS. Thine. We would make a solemn surrender of ourselves to Thee this day, to be and to do all that Thou dost wish. Be with us while we attend Thy house of prayer. Solemnize our hearts with a sense of Thy presence, and gladden our hearts with the manifestation of Thy love. Remove from us all wandering of mind and levity of spirit. Let us not do our own ways, nor find our own pleasure, nor speak our own words, on this Thy holy day ; but make it our care to imi- tate on earth what we hope to enjoy with Thee in heaven. Meet us in private prayer, and enable us to employ part of this day in self-examination and study of thy Holy Word. If we are employed for the benefit of others, may we remember that thy Spirit alone can bless our labors ; and for that, let us be diligent in prayer. Prepare our hearts to re- ceive the seed of heavenly truth ; and may none of us harden those hearts against the convictions of conscience. We beseech Thee to bless Thy servants who are commissioned by Thee to preach Thy truth this day. Teach them, that they may teach others. May they not trust to the words which man's wisdom teach- eth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Cause many to know that Thy Gospel is the power of God unto salva- tion, by leading them to believe its precious truths. May the Holy Spirit so accompany the word preached, that this may be a day of rejoicing to PRAYERS. 119 many, by loosing their spiritual bonds, enlightening their spiritual darkness, removing their unbelieving fears, and manifesting Jesus in the beauty of holiness. Most gracious Lord, who hast bestowed upon us the unspeakable gift of the Gospel of Christ, we would remember before Thee those heathen nations who now sit in that darkness which once enveloped our land. Lord, have mercy upon them. And whilst Thy Gospel is a witness among all nations, may it be the power of God to the sal- vation of many who hear it. Get glory to Thyself by the conversion of sinners ; and add unto Thy Church daily from among the Gentiles such as should be saved. Lord of the Sabbath, hear our prayers, and may this Sabbath be to us a foretaste of eternal rest, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. SUNDAY EVENING. MOST gracious Lord, who hast added to our many mercies the enjoyment of another Sab- bath, and hast allowed us this day to hear the mes- sage of thy full and free salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, bless us while we now worship Thee in his name. Conscious that we are unable to retain the good seed of Thy Word, or to bring any fruit to perfec- 120 PRATERS. tion without the power of the Spirit in our hearts, we, Thine unworthy servants, beseccli Thee now to give tliat Spirit to us. We have this day had life and death, blessing and cursing, laid before us. Empower us to refuse the evil and to choose the good. Increase whatever convictions may have been forced upon our minds by the truth, and strengthen whatever resolutions we may have formed of living more devotedly to Thee. Grant that the seed sown may not be plucked away by the enemy of our souls ere it take root. Break our stony hearts, that they may not resist that heavenly seed. Remove the weeds of worldly cares, which would choke the tender blade ; and may our hearts be so wrought upon by the Spirit, that they may bring forth an hundred fold of spiritual fruit to Thy glory. And while we feel humble before Thee under a sense of guilt, and of the imperfection that cleaves to our very best services, we would also praise Thee for whatever enjoyment Thou hast given us in the service and ordinances of the day. Where- in we have failed in this experience, give us still to enjoy it before we retire to rest ; that our souls may not end this day of spiritual feasting in spiritual lieaviness, nor suffer hunger while Tliy table is spread for their spiritual repast. Lord, we are straightened in ourselves, and not in Thee. We have not, because Ave ask not aright. We ask with cold- ness and deadness, when we should cry unto Tliee with fervent supplication and agonizing prayer. PRATERS. 121 * Pour upon us the Spirit of grace and supplica- tion, that we may pray as we should ; that, praying in the Spirit, heaven may be opened to our pray- ers ; and that our souls may be abundantly satisfied out of the store-house of Thy grace. We desire this night, Lord, to promise before Thee, with all solemnity, that, the Spirit being our helper, we will no longer endeavor to serve two masters, but that, renouncing the service of the world and sin, we will take Thee as our Master, our Father, and our God. Confirm this resolution. Record it by the Spirit upon the tablet of our hearts. Give us strength to adhere to it, and to renounce all that the world admires and esteems, whicli stands in the way of our entire surrender to Thee. Again we pray Thee, Lord, confirm our best resolutions, in Thy strength formed this night. And may the power of the Holy Ghost so work within us, that if spared to see another day, we may be enabled to resist and overcome the temptations by which we may be assailed, to return to the world and its ways. Oh, for grace to take up our cross and follow Jesus, though exposed to trial and persecution for His sake ! Keep us mindful that it is they who suffer with Jesus here, who shall reign with Him in His kingdom ; while they who refuse the cross and deny Him, shall be denied before the angels of God. Lord, hear us ; Lord, answer us ; and 6 122 PRAYERS. Lord, abundantly bless us, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. / MONDAY MO RINGING r> O MERCIFUL GOD, who hast promised that where two or three meet together in Thy name, there Thou wilt be in the midst of them, fulfil that promise to us, Thy waiting people, who come to worship Thee this morning, in the name of Jesus. Another day Thou hast added to our lives, and dost call upon us to show whether we will be doers of the word which sve heard upon the past Sab- bath, or whether we have been but forgetful hearers. Lord, the desire of our hearts is to follow Thee fully. But we need more power than we can com- mand. We are surrounded by temptations, and our own evil heart is the worst of our foes. We implore of Thee to take pity on us, and to send the Holy Ghost, to confirm us in the love and practice of godliness. blessed Lord, leave us not to walk alone this day through the dangers by which we are beset, but be Thou with us, that we may lean upon the arm of our beloved. Fill us with such love to Thee as will enable us to brave the scorn or persecution of the world, in following Thy holy will ; and teach us to count all things but loss for tlie excellen- cy of the knowledge of Christ. Our business in life PRAYERS. 123 is to live to Thy glory. While others, who know Thee not, are careful and troubled about many things, may the one thing needful occupy the first place in our hearts this day. Set a watch, Lord, before our lips, that we offend not with our tongue. Put away from us, not only evil speaking, lying, and slandering, but remove all levity of speech, of man- ner, or of thought. Give to us that spiritual mind which is life and peace ; and may our care this day be, to maintain communion with Thee at any sacrifice. Make us not only true and just in all our deal- ings, but may we, after the command of Jesus, be willing to suffer wrong or take reproach, rather than break a bond of peace or charity. Enable us to im- prove every opportunity of usefulness that may oc- cur, either by relieving the needy, though by doing so we need to deny ourselves ;Cor by speaking a word in season,i though we may be exposed to re- proach for our zeal. Grant us, O blessed Jesus, so to live upon Thee, to feed upon Thee, to enjoy the prospect of being Avith Thee in glory, that we may not be anxious for the possession of those worldly things which are tlie objects of the world's ambition. Be Thou our portion, and we shall be therewith content, take what Thou mayest away. Have pity, Lord, upon all who are in want and wretchedness. While we are in the enjoyment of plenty, give us a heart to feel for those who suffer from hunger and nakedness ; and never let us waste V i J i { ]24 PRATERS. on luxury or vanity, what might relieve Ihc miser- ies of numbers in our land. Teach us to do to others what we would wish to have done to our- selves. And now, gracious Lord, we pray Thee to be with us through the whole of this day. May we take nothing in hand but what is warranted by Thy will and word, and may all we undertake for Thy glory prosper. For Thee we would labor, for Thee we would suffer shame. Grant to us the lio^ht of Thv countenance, and all will be well. Now, to God only wise, be glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. MONDAY EVENING. r\ LORD GOD, who hast given Thy Son to die ^-^ for sinners, and hast, through Him, proclaimed peace and good- will towards men ; we enter into Thy presence, through His mediation, to enjoy the privilege of communion with Thee. We accept it, Lord, as an unspeakable favor, that we are allowed to speak unto Thee ; and more, that we can be assured of Thv willino^ness to re- ceive and bless us in Jesus. Grant us now the Spirit of prayer and of supplication. May the Spirit sanctify our hearts ; and our thoughts being withdrawn from worldly things, may we have joy in communion with Thee. PRAYERS. 125 We give Thee thanks, blessed Lord, for Thy care and protection of us during the past day. We are unworthy of the least of Thy mercies ; and yet Thou art merciful to our infirmities, and compas- sionate to our wants. Thou art, indeed, a God of love. Give us of Thy loving Spirit, O Lord. May we be changed into Thine image, from glory to , glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. May all the evil tempers and passions that belong to our carnal nature be subdued by the Spirit. May love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, and meekness, the fruit of Thy Spirit, prevail over tlie works of the flesh. Conform us to the likeness of Jesus. Enable us to imitate the example of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, but lived and died even for His enemies. Give us the universal love of Jesus to the world, the peculiar love of Jesus to the Church. Crucify all selfish feelings within us ; and may the subdued and chastened Spirit of Christ be ever manifest in us. Enlarge our hearts to love our en- emies ; and remove for ever all malice or revenge. As we believe Thou hast forgiven us, make us wil- ling from the heart to forgive those who may have injured us. our Father, we pray Thee, that if any here present are yet uninfluenced by Thy Spirit, Thou wilt mercifully bestow it upon them for Christ's sake. Do Thou, Lord Jesus, who art the good Shepherd, lead them to Thy fold, and mark them as the sheep of Thy pasture. Teach us all to know 126 PRAYERS. our hearts, that wc may not deceive ourselves with tlie form of gotlliness, nor expect salvation while we walk in indulged sin. Wash us all in the blood of Jesus. Purify us all by the Holy Spirit ; and seal us with that Spirit unto the day of redemption. As Tliou hast been about our path this day, Lord, so be Thou about our bed this night. Give us rest and refreshment for our weary bodies ; and if a new day be added to our lives, may new supplies of Thy Spirit be vouchsafed, to enable us to spend that day in Thy service. Keep us from day to day, in prayer, in watchfulness, in activity, and in peace with Thee, through Jesus, till our day of life is spent, and our sun shall set in glory. Grant all, heavenly Father, for Jesus Clirist's sake. Amen. TUESDAY MOR:^riNG. /"\ LORD, our Heavenly Father, Almighty and ^-^ Everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, look with pity on those here assembled in Thy name, and in dependence upon the Lord Jesus, to worship at Thy throne of grace. Thou hast mercifully answered the prayers which we offered up on the last evening ; Thou hast pre- served us from the perils and dangers of the night, and Ave are here to thank Thee for Thy mercy. Bat, gracious Lord, we need a continuance of tliat mercy PRAYERS. 127 from day to daj^ ' We cannot walk this day in the strength of yesterday. jWe are dependent on Thee for everything ; make us content to be so, that Thou mayest have all the glory. Hear us now, for the sake of Jesus, while we renew our petitions, and make our requests known unto Thee in prayer. Blessed Lord, we need supplies both for our bodies and for our souls. We ask Thee, then, as regards the things of life, to give Avhat is required to preserve our bodies in health for Thy service. We covet not luxury, to feed tlie cravings of an un- lawful appetite ; nor clothing, to adorn these taber- nacles of clay. But give us food and raiment as Thou seest fit, and teach us to be therewith content. For our hungry souls we now desire spiritual food. Oh, that we hungered less for the meat that perishes, and more for that which endures unto everlasting life ! Give that hungering and thirsting after righteousness to those amongst us who have it not, and satisfy the desires of those within whom Thou hast already created it. ever blessed Lord, come Thou and take posses- sion of our hearts. Cause us to feel the power of Thy love. We would be crucified with Christ to all the things of time and sense. We would enter into the valley of humiliation with Him — partake of His sorrows, and share in His griefs. We would have our will so subject unto Thine, so as to lose all will of our own, that Thou alone be glorified. We would mortify self, that Thou alone mayest live within us. 128 PRAYERS, v We would regulate our lives, to live to Thy glory ; and cut off every indulgence which interferes with our enjoyment of Thee. We would determne to know nothing on earth but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And may the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, whose office it is to create these desires within us, come and fill us with mighty power, and(strengthen us to accomplish what Thou dost teach us to approve^ May He be in us a Spirit of holiness — a Spirit of humility — a Spirit of boldness in the cause of Christ, not for our own glory, but that Jesus may be glori- fied by us. Almighty God, whom we love for the gift of the Son, and of the Spirit, accept our grateful but imperfect thanksgivings for Thine inestimable bene- fits. And teach us, we pray Thee, to love that Holy word which reveals Thy truth to us. We grieve to think how often we neglect it — how often we read it with carelessness — how often we prefer to it the words of man. Give us the Spirit to see its hidden treasures, that we may read it, not by constraint, but with the joy of those whose souls are enriched by its store. And cause, Lord, we pray Thee, that it may be known and valued through the dark places of our land. Have mercy on those who would interfere to check the progress of Thy word. Give them to see the danger of fighting against God ; and reveal to tlicm the knowledge of that truth which will turn their enmity into zeal for Thy glor}'. PRAYERS. 129 Now to Thee, the Almighty God, who art able to keep us from falling, with the adorable Redeemer, and the ever blessed Spirit, three persons in one God, be ascribed everlasting praise, by us on earth, as by all in heaven. Amen. TUESDAY EVENING. \ LMIGHTY GOD, Father of our Lord Jesus ■^-^ Christ, and Father of all mercies, who hast shown Thy love to a guilty world by the best of gifts — a Saviour ; look with pity, wo pray Thee, upon Thy most unworthy servants, who, through that Saviour, present ourselves before Thee, to offer our evening sacrifice of prayer and praise. Lord, we could not hope for acceptance, hadst thou not assured us of Thy willingness to receive us. Thou art a God of perfect holiness, and we are creatures of iniquity and rebellion. Yet hast Thou commended Thy love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ; He, the just one, for us, the unjust, that He might bring us to Thee. But, gracious Lord, our own rebellious hearts would have refused the favor of Thy love, hadst Thou not overcome their hatred to holiness. Breathe still more into our souls the breath of a new and livinjr principle, causing the death of our carnal desires, and quickening us to all the power of godliness. We want not merely to know Thy truth ; we would 6^ 130 PBATEUS. feel it and practise it. To will is present with us, but how to perform that which is good we know not. Grant to us the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, we pray Thee, to be in us the life of holiness — the instructor in righteousness — the re veal er of Christ, and the witness with our spirits, that we are Thy children. Lord we are but babes in spiritual knowledge, whereas, for the time, we should be teachers of Thy truth to others. Make us to grow in grace, and in l^ the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Deliver us from all spiritual indolence — from all carnal in- dulgence — from the pampering of the flesh, and from the love of case, which will quench Thy Holy Spirit. May we never forget that we are in an enemy^s country, and that we should endure hardness, as o-ood soldiers of Jesus Christ. Enable us to pi-actise self-denial — to keep our bodies under, and bring them into subjection, lest, after the profession of * Thy truth, we should become castaways. Remove the evil tempers of our liearts ; that neither anger, malice, revenge nor uncharitableness, may appear in us, who call ourselves the followers of the meek and forgiving Saviour. Teach us the value of time, we pray Thee ; that we may never waste that for which" the ungodly would give the wealth of worlds at the last ; nor employ in idleness of pursuit or . conversation, those moments for which we shall be called to give account. our God, we yield Thee our hearty thanks that PRAYERS. 131 Thou hast dealt so mercifully with us — that Thou didst spare us when we deserved punishment — that Thou didst not cut us off in the midst of our iniquities, while the load of unpardoned sin lay heavy upon us ; and when our souls, had they been called to Thy bar, must have been doomed to most merited punishment. Look upon us now, we pray Thee ; and if any here kneeling in Thy presence, are yet unchanged, and careless about the things that belong to their peace, oh, pity them — change them — convert and sanctify them ; and allow them not to dream of safety, while they are in the utmost peril of perishing. Draw them to the cleansing foun- tain of a Saviour's blood, for the removal of past guilt ; and supply them with the Spirit's power, to sanctify them for the time to come. We beseech Thee, Lord, for this land, that it may be filled not with men only, but also with truth and righteousness. Bless those who are subduing the earth and make them Thy servants through Jesus Christ. Instruct our rulers, and bless our judges ; make our country a joy and a praise in the earth, and let her people be all righteous. Where- ever our language is spoken make it the means of spreading the good knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, Lord, do we look for Thy protection during another night. Make us thankful that we are not exposed to the sufferings which many en- dure from cold and nakedness. Who are we, that 132 PRAYERS. we should be protected, while others perish through want ? Oh, give us hearts to feel for the miseries of others, and to deny ourselves, that we may con- tribute to their relief. Hear, and answer our pray- ers, Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. WEDNESDAY MO RISING. r\ MOST MIGHTY GOD, who, though Thou ^-^ liumblest Thyself to receive the adoration of the heavenly host, art yet willing, for the sake of Jesus, to welcome even sinners, such as we are, who come to Thee in His name ; hear us while througli Him we draw near to Thee in prayer, and present this our morning sacrifice. We thank Thee for the protection of the past night. We thank Thee that we were allowed to lie down in peace, and to awake in safety. Oh, what cause have we to praise Thee, when we con- sider the miseries to which others of our fellow-crea- tures have beeii exposed, and from which we have been preserved! How many were in want and wretchedness during the past night, while we were in ease and comfort ! How many lay upon beds of sickness, racked with pain and torture, while we were in the enjoyment of refreshing sleep ! How many lay down in health, and slept in death before this morning's light, while we are still in the land of the living, and are spared to hear that the door PRATERS. 133 of mercy still is open — that Jesus still waits to be gracious — that there is still pardon through His precious blood — that this is the accepted time — the day of salvation. Praised be the Lord God for His unnumbered and most unmerited mercies ! Let all that is with- in us praise His holy name. Where should we now have been had death visited us during the last night? Lord, Thou knowest; and our consciences know likewise. Make those of us, we pray Thee, who are conscious of having rejected the Lord Jesus, and of being still unprepared to die, dread to spend another day, without life through a Saviour's death. Thou art now more willing to give than we are to ask. Lord, lead us all to Jesus, that those who have known Him not, may this day be made acquainted with Him as an all-sufficient Saviour : and that thev 7 V who have, may know Him still more perfectly. Pour upon us an abundant measure of the Holy Ghost. Open the windows of heaven, and rain a gracious shower of the Spirit's blessings upon our thirsty souls. Cause that the wilderness within may be turned into the garden of the Lord. ^Yc grieve to think that we should have found pleasure . in those sins which caused the sufferings of the Sou of God. May we hate them for the future ; and. by the power of the Spirit working in us, may the love of holiness be so planted in our hearts, that we may find more pleasure in its ways, than we ever had in the ways of carnal enjoyment. 134 PRATERS. May the Spirit enable us, from love to Thee, to conform to the precepts of Thy holy word. Lord, Thou hast given us many talents to employ in Thy service. Make us faithful stewards. Enable us to trust Thee for food and raiment, which Thou hast pledged Thyself to provide ; and may we not dis- trust Thee, nor disobey Thee, by laying up treasures on the earth. Be Thou our treasure, from day to day ; then, whereour treasure is will our hearts be also ; and our all shall be devoted to Thy service. Bless our relations and friends, who are yet wanderers from the fold of Jesus. Lord, we carry them in the arms of faith, and lay them before Thee and say, heal them for Thy mercy's sake. Pour out Thy Spirit upon them, Lord. Turn them from darkness to light, from the love of the world to the love of Thee. Whatever Thou may est take from them of the things of this life, oh take not away Thy loving-kindness, but save Thou their immortal souls. May all who are dear to us by the ties of nature, be made still more dear by the stronger bonds of grace. All our prayers and praises we present unto Thee, Lord, in the name of Him, through whom alone Thou canst accept us — the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. PRATERS. 135 WEDNESDAY EVENING. Tj^ATHEK of all mercies, the author of our being, ■^ the source of our every hope and joy, and com- fort, whose goodness has preserved us througli another day, behold us here before Thee, this night, and enable us to worship Thee in Spirit and in truth. We are conscious of manifold transgressions — of unnumbered sins. Thou art all love to us, and we are all insrratitude towards Thee. Look not at us, as we are stained with sin ; but look at us in the face of Thine anointed. We shelter ourselves be- hind the Saviour ; and putting on the Lord Jesus, we dare to come to Thee with boldness. We are now complete in Him. Hear us, speaking through the Saviour — our substitute ; and give to us all the blessings which we are allowed to ask in His name. AYe would make farther confession of our sins, Lord. We have erred and strayed from Thee like lost sheep, having no will of our own to return. We have tried the pleasures of the world, and found them wanting ) we acknowledge that we have never enjoyed an hour's peace in the way of sin. Thou much offended and much insulted Father, we turn unto Thee. Thou mightest justly spurn us from Thy presence, to reap the fruit of our deserving. But Thou art God, and not man, therefore we are not consumed — therefore have we hope — therefore do we now return to Thee, and say. Enter not into 136 PRATERS. judgment with Thy servants, Lord ; pardon all iniquity, and receive us graciously, for the sake of Thy beloved Son. our God, we disclaim every idea of acceptance now or ever, except through the blood of the Lord Jesus. No merits — no righteous- ness — no goodness have we to plead : we cling to the cross of Jesus, as our only refuge from the wrath to come. And now, Lord, while we praise and bless Thee for what Thou hast done, we would say unto Thee, " What wouldst Thou have us to do ? Make Thy way plain before our face. Open Thou our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of Thy law. AVith our whole hearts do we seek Thee : oh, let us not wander from Thy commandments." And, our God, hear us, while we still farther implore of Thee to grant us the Holy Spirit, to subdue sin in our flesh. Sanctify us by the Spirit. Guide us by the Spirit. Fill us with the Spirit. May the Spirit lead us into all truth ; and strengthen us to follow what we have been taught to approve. Oh, for the Spirit, in power, that we may have power over the world, the flesh, and the devil. Rule our rulers, we pray Thee, Lord ; govern our governors, and give our senators that wisdom that cometh from Thee, that all their consultations may tend to the advancement of Thy glory and the good of Thy Church. May Thy Spirit rule in all their hearts ; and may Thy word be the rule of all their actions. Oh, protect us ever from unholy PRAYERS. 137 laws ; and defend iis from the evil of unfaithful governors. To Thy protection we this night commend our- selves, Lord. Keep us in safety both of body and soul, and seal us with the Holy Ghost, unto the day of redemption, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. THURSDAY MORNING. r\ EVER BLESSED LORD, who art good and ^-^ gracious to unthankful sinners ; who dost not measure Thy blessings by our deservings, but, ac- cording to the multitude of Thy mercies, dost give us all things that pertain to life and godliness : hear us, while in the name of Jesus we present our- selves before Thee, this morning, to draw out of the fulness that is treasured up in Him all needful strength for the wants of this day. Lord, we are poor and miserable, and weak, and helpless creatures. We have no sufficiency of our own ; no, not even to think a good thought. Our sufficiency is all of Christ. We praise Thee, bless-L ed Saviour, that what we are not. Thou art for us ; \ that what we have not, Thou hast for us ; that while / we are nothing, we are complete in Thee. our God, give us the Spirit to open to us the treasures of Thy holy word — to unfold to us the glories of the Saviour — to reveal to us that which the natural eye cannot see, and the natural mind can- not understand. Give us the Spirit to see Christ — 138 PRAYERS. to know Christ — to enjoy Christ — to live upon Christ. Give us the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. Our souls are athirst for Thee, the living God. Oh, satisfy us with Thyself, and make us feel, from happy experience, that Thou art a satisfying portion. We know, blessed Lord, because Thou hast said it, that Thy ways are pleasantness, and all Thy paths are peace. But we wish to know it more from our own enjoyment. We wish to be so dead to the world, and crucified to the things of the Avorld, that we may ever walk in those ways of pleasantness, and follow those paths of peace. Di- rect our steps, we pray Thee. May the Spirit's brightness dispel the darkness of our minds, and light our way to the fulness of the glory of Jesus. Thou who hast said, " Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," receive us who throw ourselves upon that promise, and come unto Thee now for the Spirit to rest from sin, and to rest in Thee. Do Thou render us, and our services, acceptable unto the Father ; and cause us to know that all power in heaven and earth is given unto Thee, by bestowing upon us the power of the Spirit which Thou hast received for the Church. And, Lord, have pity upon Thy Church ; endow her with the Holy Ghost ; and send forth the Spirit, to lead Thy servants into all truth. Oh, may Thy people again be of one mind, and one spirit, striving PRAYERS, 139 together for the faith of the Gospel. We acknow- ledge that too many seek their own things, and not the things Avhich are Jesus Christ's. Revive the spirit of Christian love amongst ns. Clothe Thy members with tlie garments of holiness ; and cause them to hold forth tlie word of life — to shine as lights in the world. Visit the dark places of the earth with Thy salva- tion. Direct the hearts of Thy faithful servants to preach Thy truth, in the love of it, to those who are sitting in the shadow of death. Gather in the num- ber of Thine elect, and hasten Thy kingdom, Lord, when Thy will shall be done on earth, as now it is done in heaven. Accept our praises, Lord, for unnumbered mercies. Praise be to Thee for food, for raiment, for health, and strength. Praise be to Thee for freedom from bodily suffering. Praise be to Thee, that we are not with those who are delivered to chains of darkness, reserved unto the judgment of the great day. Praise be to Thee for the unspeak- able gift of thy Son, Jesus. Crown all Thy mercies, we beseech Thee, with the gift of the Spirit, enabling us to value and enjoy the Saviour. And to Thyself, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, be all praise ascribed by us on earth, as by all in heaven, for ever. 140 PRAYERS. THURSDAY EVENING. TT^ATHER of all mercies, our reconciled Father -*- ill Christ Jesus, teach us to pray unto Thee in the Spirit, and answer the prayers which Thou dost teach us to offer up. We come to Thee in the name of Jesus. Eor His worthiness' sake, hear us, and bless us. Thy goodness has brought us to the close of an- other day in safety. We are here to praise Thee for Thy watchful providence over us, and for all the blessings of this life which we have so undeservedly received at Thy hands. But above all, would we adore and magnify Tliy holy name, for the provision Thou hast made for our spiritual wants, in Jesus, the Son of Thy love. Praised be Thy name, that Thou hast accepted the sacrifice of Jesus in our be- half, that Thou art reconciled to us through the blood of His cross, that Thine anger is turned away from us, and that through Him we have access with boldness unto Thee. Praised be Thy name, that in Him all fuhiess dwells, and that we are called to re- ceive out of that fulness, grace for grace. AVe come to draw largely from tliat spiritual store this night. We come to entreat Thee, as our heavenly Father, to pity the weakness and infirmity of Thy poor children upon earth, and to give us of Thy Holy Spirit to raise our drooping souls to the blessedness of spiritual enjoyment. Let not the world, the flesh, or the devil, have place in our PBA YEBS. 141 hearts. Establish Thy throne within us. Subdue every thought to Thy willing obedience. Work Thou in us, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost. Give us strength to resist and overcome all the sin- ful desires and lusts of our flesh. May Christ be formed within us the hope of glory. May the life Avhich we now live be by the faith of the Son of God. May the Spirit mould us into the image of Jesus, that the mind that was in Jesus may also be in us. May the works of the Spirit be so manifest in our lives, that they who fear Thee not may be constrained to acknowledge, that God is in us of a truth. Lord, Thou knowest all hearts. Thou seest whether we all have been taught by the Spirit to love the Lord Jesus, and to flee to Him for refuse from the wrath to come. If any here present are yet strangers to themselves, to Jesus, and to Thee, oil, send forth the Spirit into their hearts. Awak- en them from tlie slumber of sin, from the death of sin, to walk with Thee in newness of life. Speak but the word, and they shall be healed, and may their renovated powers be wholly consecrated to Thee. And now, blessed Lord, we commend ourselves to Tliy care and keeping this night. Thou, the Shep- herd of Israel, neither slumberest nor sleepest. Watch over us, and guard us from all harm, both of body and soul. Keep us in that continued enjoy- ment of Thy presence, and sense of Thy love, that 142 PRAYERS. we shall fear the grave as little as our bed ; that we may even rejoice in the prospect of the end of life, and of the coming day of the Redeemer's glory. Wean ns more and more from the present evil world, and reveal to us more and more the glory of the world to come. So shall we live as strangers and pilgrims ; so shall we enjoy that peace which pass- eth all understanding ; so shall we walk with Thee through life ; and so shall we gladly hail the advent of Jesus, or wake to rise and reign with Him on the morning of the resurrection. Grant these our petitions, Heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. FRIDAY M0R:N'ING. ll/rOST blessed Father and God, whom to know ■^-^ is life eternal, and whom to serve is perfect freedom, give us the light of the knowledge of Thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ ; and help us now, through Him, to offer to Thee a spiritual sacrifice. Thy mercies are new every day ; great is Thy faithfulness. Thou hast again preserved us in safety during the night, and dost allow us to worship Thee this morning in peace. For all the blessings of this life, accept our thanksgiving. Day unto day, and night unto night, declare Thy love and boun- tifulness to us. Thou fiUest our hearts with joy and gladness — Thou protectest us as with a shield. But ^ PRAYER8. 143 our God, renew the supplies of the Holy Spirit, to furnish our lamps with oil for the day, that we may shine as lights in the world. ( We cannot live this day upon the strength of yesterday. Give us a fresh supply — an increased supply, that we may be more holy, less worldly, more devoted, less slothful, than before. We would go forth as witnesses for Jesus this day. We pray for strength to trample on the world and its toys. We pray Thee to remove the vail that hides Thy glory, and to allow us by the Spirit to taste the power of the world to come. Display be- fore us the unseen realities of Thine eternal kingdom, that we may rise above the things of time and sense. Lord, we grieve to think how much the world still prevails to draw our hearts from Thee. Crucify us to the world, and the world to us. May we be dead to its enjoyments ; may we find no pleas- ure in any thing on earth, except as it leads us to Thee, or is connected with Thy service. Make us truly to be citizens of a heavenly city — strangers here in the land of our pilgrimage. May our con- versation one with another be upon the glory that is to be brousrht to us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. May our hearts have no place for the trifling concerns of this passing scene. Grant to Thy faithful people, Lord, the enjoy- ment of all Thy spiritual gifts. Make the Church a temple of the Holy Ghost. Be Thou seen in the midst of her ; and may each member of Thy body 144 PRAYERS. ** here on earth be an epistle of the Spirit, read and known of all men. Oh, separate Thy Church from the world, and let it shine as a city set upon a hill. Strengthen the hands of those who labor in Thy word and doctrine. May the truths of Thy re- vealed word be taught them by the Spirit, that they may teach others. Lead us into all Thy truth Lord ; sanctify us by Thy truth — Thy word is truth. We praise Thee, our God, for the blessings of Thy providence and Thy grace ; for freedom from merited sufferings, and for the hope of eternal glory through Jesus. We praise Thee for a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour. Bestow Thine as- cension gifts on us, merciful Lord Jesus Christ, and endue us with power from on high. Give faith to those who have it not ; increase that faith to those wdio possess it ; and may our lives be those of faith, rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God. Blessed Lord, Thou only knowest what trials and temptations may befall us this day. Keep us b}^ Thine almighty power ; preserve us from tempta- tions, if it be Thy will ; deliver us, if tempted. En- able us to keep in mind the hope of our calling ; and neither to say nor to do what may be incon- sistent with our profession. Wc would live this day as though it were our last : strengthen us so to do. Let the power of the Spirit be felt by us, subduing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and bring- ing every thought, and word, and action, into cap- tivity to Thee. PBAYERS. 145 Father of mercies, hear our prayer, and let our crying come unto Thee. Be Thou our very present help this day, and in every time of need, for the sake of Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. FRIDAY EYENI:N^G. A LMIGHTY GOD, Father of all mercies, whose ■^-^ we are, and whom we ought to serve ; whom to know is life eternal, and whom to obey is perfect freedom : we adore Thy majesty, as we are allowed to see Thee, in the face of Jesus Christ. We are sinful and rebellious creatures, and Thou art a consuming fire for sin. But eternal praise be to Thy wisdom, which provided a way whereby Thou couldst be a just God, and yet a Saviour, — just in Thine abhorrence of sin — a Saviour of sin- ners, through the satisfaction of Thy Son. We praise and bless Thee for the Gospel which reveals Thy love to us in Jesus — that Thou hast laid help upon One that is mighty — that Thou hast delivered us from going down to the pit, because Thou hast found a ransom. Lord, accept us, this night, in Him — Thy Son — Thy beloved — the Lord our Bight- cousness. We take hold of His salvation ; we appear before Thee as His members ; we rejoice, that in Him we are justified from all things — that in Him Thou art a God of love. Oh, for the Holy Ghost, to shed abroad in our hearts the love of Thy 7 146 PRAYERS. name ; to increase in us true religion ; to nourish us with all goodness ; and to keep us in Thy love ! Lord, it is pain and grief to us that we do not serve Thee better. Our hearts are too often charged with the care and occupation of earthly things. Our flesh cleaveth to the earth, and our affections stray away from Thee, whom we have charged them to love. Pity us, our God. Have compassion upon us while we are struggling against the temptations of tlie world, the flesh, and the devil. Leave us not in our own strength to contend with spiritual wick- edness in high places ; but let Thy strength be made perfect in our weakness. Put upon us Thy heavenly armor. Endue us with power from on high. Bap- tize us with the Holy Ghost, that we may be refined from the dross of earthly-mindedness, and purified to serve Thee in spirit and in truth. And our ever precious Saviour — our great High Priest — our Advocate with the Father, plead Thou our cause ; and supply all spiritual blessings, for the strength- ening and refreshing of our souls. All that we can desire is treasured up in Thee. Give forth, without scarceness, whatever we need, for Thy service, and for the enjoyment of heavenly things ; so that we shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in tlie work of our God. Lord our guide, make it plain how Thy ser- vants should serve Thee. Leave us not in doubt, who, in sincerity of heart, look to Thee for direc- tion ; but let the pillar and the cloud go before us. PRAYERS, 147 Lord, rouse Thy slumbering servants amongst us and make tliem ready for the bridegroom's coming. Give us oil in our lamps, and oil in our vessels ; and so wean our hearts, even from the lawful engage- ment of worldly things, that we may be ready at any moment to go forth when the cry shall be heard. *' Behold the bridegroom cometh." If there be any present, Lord, who could not welcome the advent of Jesus, enable them so to do. Prepare their hearts to obey the Gospel of His grace. Give them faith in Jesus as a Saviour, and the spirit of adoption to call Thee Abba, Father. Oh, curse not the barren fig trees, but spare them yet a little longer, and supply that Spirit which will cause them to bring forth fruit to Thy glory. Let these our petitions be lieard and answered by Thee, Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake. Ameu. SATURDAY MORNING. OLORD GOD, our Creator and preserver, who hast brought us into being, and sustained us all our life long, though unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, we praise Thee for these the blessings of this life. But above all would we adore Thee for the manifestation of Thy love to a guilty world in the gift of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We come before Thee, Lord, to receive those spiritual gifts which Thy love has provided and which are treasured up in Jesus. We hunger and 148 PBA TERS. thirst after righteousness ; feed us, this morning, with the bread of life ; satisfy our thirst from the stream of the Spirit ; and in the strength of this heavenly portion will we go forth upon our journey this day. Blessed Lord, we ask Thee thus to feed us, for no food for our souls is to be found upon earth. We travel through a wilderness ; and yet we are too often contented here, as though this were our place of rest. Lord, suffer us not so to be. May we be weaned from this world that our affections may be turned to Jesus, and set on Him, the desire of our souls. our God, we are weary by reason of sin. All that is in us is unclean. Our evil hearts give us unceasing pain. Grant us, then, the Spirit to sustain us in the spiritual warfare — to keep eternal things in constant view before our minds — to display the love of Jesus, and to satisfy our hearts out of His fulness. We would adorn the doctrine of Christ in all things. We would display the power of the Holy Ghost in subduing sin, conquering our unruly and unholy tempers, and producing wdthin us the meekness and gentleness of Jesus. Grant us that chastened temper which ever yields to the influence of love, and displays itself in the spirit of love, in all we think, or do, or say. AVe ask not for worldly things, Lord. Feed us with food convenient for us ; be Thou our portion, and we ask no more. We pray Thee, Lord, to give us a perfect knowl- PR A TER8. 149 edge of ourselves. Our hearts are deceitful, as well as desperately wicked. Leave us not in doubt or ignorance as to our real state in Thy sight. If the work of grace be not already begun — if any of us have thought too favourably of themselves — if they have been deceiving themselves with the name of Chistian, without the power of the Spirit of Christ. — oh, work in them, this very day, that needful change of heart which will make them meet for the inheritance of the saints in liglit. May we all be born again of the Spirit ; and may we be made full partakers of the divine nature. And enable those amongst us, Lord, whom Thy Spirit has effectually called, to make full proof in our lives of an indwelling God. Teach us to walk after the example of Jesus ; to live as strangers and pilgrims upon earth ; to deny ourselves the enjoy- ment of earthly things, that we may have to give to those who are in need. Give us tender consciences awake to every danger that might disturb the peace of our souls. Manifest Thy glory to us, that being dead to the glory of this world, we may live upon the enjoyment of the hidden life of Jesus, and the assured hope of eternal life through His name. May our hearts be with our treasure in heaven, and may our conversation be of heavenly things. Preserve us this day, we beseech Thee, from the evils of the world through which we pass. ^lay we walk as separate from its pleasures and pursuits, and choose rather to suffer affliction with the people 150 PRAYERS. of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a sea- son. Keep us mindful that this day is the prepara- tion of the Sabbath, so tliat no worldly care or busi- ness may be allowed to interfere with the day of sacred rest. Hear us, answer us, and bless us, for the sake of Him, through whom Thou canst receive us with acceptance — the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. SATURDAY EVENING. liTOST blessed Lord, by whose kind providence ^^ we have been brought in safety through another week, and are now permitted to worship Thee, through Jesus, meet us with tliy favour, and manifest thyself to our souls, wliile we now ap- proach Thy throne of grace. We come with holy awe, and with filial confi- dence. We speak to Thee with Immility, and yet with boldness. Thou loves t Thy Son Jesus, and thou loves t to bless sinners, tlirough Him. Bless us, then, for through Him alone we come. But though thou bless us not, we will worship and praise Thee for Thine eternal excellence. We love to think of Thy holiness. We rejoice at Thy hatred of sin. Yet, Lord, we know that Thou wilt bless us, for thou delightest in showing mercy. O God, we are just tlie objects for Thy compas- sion, for we are poor and needy sinners. Work upon us ; subdue us to Thine obedience ; exalt us to Thy holiness ; get glory in us, and by us ; make PRAYERS. 151 US monuments of Thy grace and of Thy redeeming love. Empty us completely of self ; fill us with the fulness of Thy Spirit. Breathe a new and holy life into those amongst us who may yet be dead in sin. Let none of us now kneeling in Thy presence be wanting amongst the number of those who shall appear with Thy Son in His glory. heavenly Father, we confess that we are too much occupied with the things of time and sense ; that we cannot shake off the world and its ties as Thy word directs and our consciences approve. Occupy us so with Thj^self, that we shall have neither time nor taste for what does not directly tend to profit. our Father, we are very weak. We are easily led to follow the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have a crafty enemy, who watches for our halting, and suits his temptations to our peculiar weakness. Do thou interfere in our" behalf Strengthen us with might by Thy Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith ; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the length and breadth, and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which pass- eth knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fulness of God. Give us that fulness of Thyself, God, and we shall be satisfied. And grant to Thy Church at large, Lord, the greater enjoyment of Thy heavenly gifts. Revive Thy work in power if it be Thy will. Manifest Thy- 152 PRATERS. self in the midst of Thy people ; and make Thy people holy vessels to be inhabited of Thee. Give the Spirit abundantly to those who are to stand up on tlie morrow, to preach the Gospel of Thy grace. Remove their dependence on all human power, and teach them to trust alone to the accompanying power of the Holy Ghost. And do Thou bless their faithful testimony, and confirm it by signs fol- lowing. Raise up many more to testify of Jesus, and raise the standard of ministerial devotedness. Oh, prepare the hearts of the thoughtless, the care- less, the ungodly, and the worldly, to receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save their souls, that Satan may not prevail to choke the seed by the weeds of worldy cares. May the coming Sabbath be a blessing to the soul of each of each of us — a day in which the Lord may be magni- fied amongst us. Bless the various institutions in our land, estab- lished to benefit the sick and needy, or to promote the knowledge of Thy holy word. Give to their governors a single eye to Thy glory ; and may they be taught to wait upon Thee for that blessing of the Spirit, which alone can give success to their labors. Take charge of us this niglit, Lord ; and refresh our weary bodies with needful rest. To thy bless- ing, heavenly Father, we commend ourselves in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. NOTE. The following petitions and thanksgivings are added for such occasions as arise in families, and are to be selected and used in connection with the prayers of the day. Those not accustomed to pray with others often feel some difficulty in offering such petitions, from inabihty to de- scribe the case without any awkwardness. An attempt to meet this difficulty is here made. The explanatory clauses prefixed, had better be used at the beginning of the family worship, before the reading of Scripture ; and the more simply and naturally they are spoken the better. Religion is to be part of our daily life, not an addition to it, or an interruption of it. PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS. [One of our number is now sick and not witli us. We must not forget liim (or her) in our prayers.] LORD, who senclest sickness or health accord- ing to Thy holy will, remember the suffering one of our number. If it be Thy will, restore to health again, and make this trial a blessing to him (or her) and to us all, that we may not proudly count upon constant health, but may walk before Thee in lowliness and meekness all the days of our lives, through our blessed Redeemer, Christ Jesus. [One of our number is dangerously sick, and we need help from God, and must not fail to ask it.] "1/f ERCIFUL Lord, who dost not Avillingly afflict ■^^ the children of men. Thou dost lay care and trouble upon us, through the serious illness of one of our number. Lord, we pray in humble submission to Thy will for life and health ; but if tliis sickness is to be unto death, Lord, give par- don of all his (or her) sins, and Thine own blessed peace. Grant unto him (or her) full trust in Him who hath conquered death, and risen from the grave, (155) 156 P MAYERS. and who ever liveth at Thy right hand. Hear us, Lord, ill this our earnest and united petition, for Je>us' sake. [Our friends (or iieigTibors) are in sorrow, and we ought not to forget them in our prayers.] f^ EACIOUS God, Thou hast sent sorrow into ^-^ the dwelling of our friends (or neighibors), whose name we have just named. We beseech Thee for them. Give them patience under affliction. Let this chastening be in love, and for their profit. Give them the joy of Thy salvation ; and when there is darkness in Thy providence, may they have much light from the promises of Thy holy word, through Jesus Christ, in whom all the promises are given. Sanctify this sorrow to us and to all around us for Jesus' sake. [There is now one more under our roof, and we should pray that his (or her) coming may be a blessing to all.] T ORD God, in Thy providence, which orders all ~^ our ways, and directs the steps of all that wait on Thee, Thou hast brought another into our dwell- ing, and we pray Thee that his (or her) stay may be the means of increased happiness to all of us. Make us to know what we owe to one another in our several places and relations, and enable us to act towards one another, that we may each do good, both temporal and spiritual, all the days of our lives. ^PRAYERS. 157 [We shall not have at our family worship again, for some time at least ; and we ought particularly to commend him (or her) to the Divine protection.] {~^ RACIOUS Father, we desire to join together ^-^ with all our hearts in committing to Thy care him (or her) who uo\y leaves our dwelling. Go Thou, heavenly Father, who art everywhere present, with him (or her), to give safety and peace in all the ways of life, to bestow the peace that comes from knowing and serving Christ, and to give at last an entrance with us, and with all the family that is named after Jesus, into Thy heavenly king- dom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. [We have to be thankful that one more is added to our family, and should ask the Lord to make this little one His own child.] f^ GOD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, we ^^ desire to thank Thee for the safety of Thy child in the time of weakness. AVe bless Thee for a living mother, and for the child Thou hast given. We pray that the life spared, and the new life now bestowed, may be both consecrated to Thy service and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. And do Thou, for His sake, help us, and all parents, to train the children committed to our care for Thy service and glory. 158 PRAYERS. [Our congregation is now witliout a pastor, and we are told to ask the Lord of tlie harvest for the laborers.] T^LESSED Father, we thank Thee for all the -■^ good we have ever received through the preaching of the gospel. Enable us to profit by all we are permitted to hear in Thy house. Be pleased to send among us a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, who shall be a true am- bassador of Christ among us, and by Thy grace win many to the Lord, and comfort Thy people, for the sake of Jesus our Lord, who is also King and Head over His church. [When we want employment, we should tell this and all our wants to the Lord, who knows what is best for us, and who has the hearts of all men in His hand.] A LMIGHTY Father, who givest us strength to -^-^ labor, and who.se will it is that we should work with our hands tlie thing which is good, be pleased to point out to us in Thy providence what Thou wouldst have us to do. Give? us full confidence in Thy care and faithfulness, and make all things to work together for our good, for the sake of our blessed Lord and Saviour. [It has pleased God to take away from us one of our house- hold, and we should not forget to ask Him to sanctify His providence to us all.] f~\ LORD, Thou hast seen it good to send Thy ^-^ messenger Death into this dwelling. Thy will PRATERS. 159 be done. Keep us from murmuring or secretly re- pining. And be pleased, God, to make this re- moval a blessing to all of us who survive May we have grace so to number our days that we may ap- ply our hearts unto wisdom. Cause us to hear Thy voice saying to us, "Be ye therefore also ready." Prepare us, Lord, for the duties of life, and the solemn hour of death, for Christ's sake. FOR THE JEWS. O MERCIFUL Saviour, look with compassion upon Israel's benighted children. Take Thou the vail from their hearts. Graft Thou them into their own olive tree. Cause them to look to Thee whom they have pierced, and mourn. May their hearts be stirred to seek and find their long-expected Messiah ; and may the blood which they once called down in vengeance upton their heads be to them the blood of sprinkling, speaking better things than that of Abel. Reveal Jesus to them" by the Spirit, as the way, the truth, and the life. Bless those who labor amongst them ; and guide them by the Spirit to testify of Christ. FOR MISSIONARIES. GRACIOUS Lord Jesus, who didst command Thy disciples to go into all nations, and preach the Gospel to every creature ; we ask Thy 160 PRAYERS. blessing upon Thy faithful servants, who have gone forth in Thy name, and according to Thy will, to publish Thy salvation in heathen lands. Grant them an abundant measure of Thy Holy Spirit. May they shine as lights in the dark places of the earth. May they be faithful unto death. As they go forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles, do Thou stir up the hearts of Thy people to send them on their way. May they so live the life of Jesus, as to preach by the holiness of their lives ; that Thy holy name by them be not blasphemed. -f Date Due ,|^ 9 Q ' !!l til ^