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RECOMMEJYnJITIOJYS 
 
 OF THE FOLLOWING WORK. 
 
 [Extract from the Proceedings of the Synod of the German Reformed 
 Church of Pennsylvania and adjoining States, of September, 1832.] 
 
 " Unanimously Resolved, That we cordially recommend this excellent 
 work to all the members of our congregations, and pledge ourselves to use 
 our best efforts to promote its general circulation." 
 
 [From the Lutheran Observer, of Baltimore, Aug. 1835.] 
 " ' Heavenly Incense, or Christian's Companion.' — This admirable 
 Prayer Book may be had by application to the editor of this paper. The 
 print is very large and distinct, so that the aged and others, whose sight is 
 very weak, may read it with ease ; and none can use it with an upright 
 heart, without benefit." 
 
 [From the Rev. John Ludlow, D. D., Provost of the University of Penn- 
 sylvania.'] 
 
 " Philadelphia,. Oct. 11th, 1837. 
 
 Rev. and Dear Sir : — I received yours of the 9th inst, in which you 
 request an expression of my opinion in regard to a work recently published 
 by yourself, called ' Heavenly Incense.' I have only to reiterate what I 
 have frequently expressed to you in private, that I have been much edified 
 by it myself, and I am sure its extensive circulation, with the Divine bless- 
 ing, will srreatlv tend to promote a spirit of pure and serious devotion. 
 
 Yours, truly, JOHN LUDLOW. 
 
 Rev. J. S. Ebaugh." 
 
 [From the Rev. William R. Bogardus, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch 
 
 Church, of Aquae kanonk, N. J.] 
 M To all whom it may concern : 
 
 I consider the book entitled ' Heavenly Incense,' compiled by the Rev. 
 J. S. Ebaugh, to be a precious treasure in any family. I am now in pos- 
 session of the book, have perused it, and can speak of its merits from per- 
 sonal knowledge. I should be very unwilling to have my family deprived 
 of it, and could wish that it had a place in every family in my parish. It 
 would be a precious gift for parents to present to their children who are 
 settled in life. WM. R. BOGARDUS. 
 
 Aquackanonck, July 10th, 1838." 
 
 [From the Retfds Thomas De Witt, D. D. ; John Knox, D. D. ; and Wm. 
 
 C. Brownlee, D. D. ; Pastors of the Collegiate Ref Dutch Churches, 
 
 New-York.'] 
 
 The work entitled " Heavenly Incense," compiled by Rev. Mr. Ebaugh, 
 and principally translated from the devotional work of Zollikoffer, so long 
 and greatly esteemed among the pious in Germany — I highly value. I shall 
 be pleased to hear of its extensive circulation in Christian families, assured 
 that its use will prove refreshing and edifying to the devout mind. 
 
 THOMAS DE WITT. 
 
 New-York, 20th Feb. 1839. 
 
 I concur in the above estimate of the work, " Heavenly Incense." 
 
 JOHN KNOX. 
 
 I fully concur in the above recommendations. 
 
 W. C. BROWNLEE. 
 
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A 
 
 NEWLY OPENED TREASURY 
 
 OF 
 
 HEAVENLY INCENSE; 
 
 OR 
 
 CHRISTIAN'S COMPANION, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 
 
 APPLICABLE TO ALL PERSONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE. 
 
 TRANSLATED AND COMPILED CHIEFLY FROM THE CELEBRATED WORK ON THESE 
 
 SUBJECTS/OF THE 
 
 . -/; 2 
 REV. JOHN ZOLLIKOFFER, 
 
 OF HERISAU IN EUROPE. 
 
 £ TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED THREE CELEBRATED 
 
 ~ SERMONS, 
 
 BY THE LATE REV. JOHN M. MASON, D. D. 
 
 AND 
 
 REV. ALEXANDER M'CLELLAND D. D. 
 
 % . JS'bw Professor in the Theological Seminary in Neio Brunswick, N. J. 
 
 BY JOHN S.JEBAUGH, V. D. M. 
 
 In every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
 made known unto God." — PhiKppians iv. 6. 
 
 Sixth Edition, 
 
 NEW- YORK: 
 PRINTED BY MARTIN, LAMBERT 6c Co. 
 
 1839. 
 
■$A 
 
 [ts* 
 
 ^4 , 
 
 „ a 
 
 A 
 
 The Library 
 of Congress 
 
 washington 
 
 Entered according to act of Congress on the 29th of January, 1833, by John S, 
 Ebaugh, in the Clerk's Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 STEKEOirPrD BT SMITH & VALEVHWE. I*EW-YOKK. 
 
FOLLOWING WORK, 
 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE 
 
 REV. AL.EXAJVIXER, M'CLELIiAHTD, D. D. 
 
 Professor in the Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, JV*. Jersey^ 
 
 AS A TOKEN OF THE 
 
 UNDIMINISHED AND PROFOUND ESTEEM 
 
 IK WHICH HE HAS LONG BEEN HELD 
 
 BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND, 
 
 AND BROTHER, 
 
 THE COMPILER. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The almost unparalleled sale* and 
 extensive usefulness of the following 
 Standard TWorfc on Practical Piety, 
 has indneed the publisher to present to 
 the Christian Community, a seeond, 
 much enlarged, revised and stereotyped 
 Edition. To the present Edition are 
 prefixed three of the most profound, 
 original, and masterly sermons of the 
 present Age. The first is " The JMessi- 
 ah's Throne $" the second is, "*& Plea 
 for a Standing ^Ministry and the 
 third is, "d Vindication of the Spirit 
 of the present tlge." 
 
 As these are subjects of the utmost 
 importance to mankind, considered as 
 Candidates for Death, Judgement, and 
 Eternity, I hare republished them, as 
 calculated under the blessing of Ood, 
 to pour in a flood of light upon the 
 
 * There have frequently been three, four, and five and 
 as high as six and seven copies of this work sold in a 
 family, and upwards of seven hundred in one County in 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 1 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 mind, warm the affections of the soul, 
 and thus prepare us to approach a 
 throne of Grace, in order to wrestle 
 with God in supplication and prayer, 
 that he may soon beget to himself uni- 
 versal honour and glory, in accom- 
 plishing the great and glorious things 
 set forth in these splendid productions* 
 
 In reference to the other matter con- 
 tained in this volume, (which has been 
 considered by thousands of the most 
 pious and devoted followers of Christ, 
 next in value to their Bible, ever since its 
 first publication in German, about one 
 hundred and fifty years ago,) I remark, 
 that the instructions are so scriptural 
 and practical ; the Hymns so inspiring. 
 and the devotional exercises breathe 
 forth such an ardent spirit of humble 
 piety and gratitude, as unequivocally 
 evince that the Authors of them were 
 deeply impressed with a consciousness 
 of God's special and overruling provi- 
 dence, guardian protection and paren- 
 tal benevolence. The glorious perfec- 
 tions of Jehovah are acknowledged 
 with humble reverence ; whilst the 
 name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ, is magnified and praised in 
 strains of liveliest and most heartfelt 
 gratitude. 
 
 As secret scrutiny into our own 
 hearts, and private meditations, are 
 the special and only true means (under 
 
PREFACE. 7 
 
 the divine blessing:) of arriving at a 
 correct knowledge of ourselves, which 
 ever precede greater attainments in 
 the Christian l<ife 5 I venture to assert, 
 that no one can inake these devotions 
 a part of his daily religious exercises, 
 without feeling his imperfections, and 
 endeavouring to reform the whole of 
 his Life and Conduct. 
 
 In addition to what has already been 
 said in commendation of this Work, I 
 would only publish two Resolutions 
 passed by the " Synod of the German 
 Reformed Church of Pennsylvania 
 and adjacent States," as placed in their 
 Minutes of Sept. 1832 and Sept. 1835, 
 which are in substance as follows : " A 
 Prospectus to publish, on subscription, 
 a new Edition of Zollikoffer's Prayer 
 Book, &c."' was laid before Synod, in 
 order to obtain the views of this Rev. 
 Body relative to this Publication ; 
 "therefore unanimously resolved, that 
 we cordially recommend this excellent 
 Work to all the members of our congre* 
 gations, and pledge ourselves to use our 
 best efforts to promote its general circu* 
 lation." And again, " unanimously re* 
 solved, that the members of this Synod 
 use their best efforts to introduce the 
 abovementioned Work into every family, 
 where it is practicable, in aid of the 
 Home JfMissionary Cause." 
 
 And in fine, it is to be devoutly wished, 
 
8 PREFACE. 
 
 that books of this character and merit 
 were more generally multiplied, and 
 circulated throughout our highly pri- 
 vileged country 9 for the advancement 
 of correct morals and pure and unde- 
 nted religion. That that Crod who 
 is the Hearer and the Answerer oi 
 Prayer, may accompany this effort to 
 promote his honour and glory in the 
 advancement of the best interests of 
 immortal souls, is the sincere and fer- 
 vent prayer of your sincere friend and 
 
 brother, 
 
 JOHN S. EBA1JGH. 
 
 Carlisle, July 1, 1836. 
 
SERMON, 
 
 BY JOHN M. MASON, D.D., 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, IN 1802. 
 
 MESSIAH'S THRONE, 
 HEB. I. 8. 
 
 JBut unto the Son, he saith, Thy Throne^ 
 O God. is foretier and ever. 
 
 In the all-important argument which, 
 occupies thi§ epistle, Paul assumes, 
 what the believing Hebrews had al- 
 ready professed, that Jesus of Nazareth 
 is the true Messiah. To prepare them 
 for the consequences of their own prin- 
 ciple ; a principle involving nothing* 
 less than the abolition of their tew, the 
 subversion of their state, the ruin of 
 their city, the final extinction of their 
 carnal hopes, he leads them to the doc- 
 trine of their Medeemer's person in or- 
 der to explain the nature of his offices, 
 to evince the value of his spiritual sal- 
 vation, and to show, in both, the accom- 
 plishment of their economy which was 
 now ready to vanish Hway* Under no 
 apprehension of betraying the unwary 
 into idolatrous homage, by giving to 
 the JLord Jesus greater glory than is due 
 unto his name, the apostle sets out with 
 
10 Messiah's throne. 
 
 ascribing to liim excellence and attri* 
 butes which belong to no creature* 
 Creatures of most elevated rank are 
 introduced % but it is to display, by con- 
 trast, tlte pre-eminence of If im who is 
 the brightness of the Father's glory, and 
 the express image of his person* Angels 
 are great in might and in dignity ; but 
 unto them hath he not put in subjection 
 the world to come. Unto which of them 
 said he, at any time* Thou art my son t 
 To wMcli of them, Sit thou at my right 
 hand f He saith, they are spirits, minis* 
 tering spirits, sent forth to minister unto 
 than who are the heirs of salvation* But 
 unto the Son, in a style which annihi- 
 lates competition and comparison? 
 unto the Son he saith, thy throne, © God* 
 is forever and ever* 
 
 ^Brethren, if the majesty of Jesus is the 
 subject which the Holy ©host selected 
 for the encouragement and consolation 
 of his people, when he was shaking the 
 earth and the heavens, and diffusing 
 his gospel amoiag tl^e nations ; can it be 
 otherwise than suitable and precious 
 to us on this occasion ? Shall it not ex- 
 pand our views, and warm our hearts, 
 and nerve our arm, in our efforts to ex- 
 alt his faine ? ILet me implore, then, the 
 aid of your prayers 5 but far more im- 
 portunately the aids of his own Spirit, 
 while I speak of the things which con- 
 cern the King : those great things con- 
 
Messiah's throne. 11 
 
 tained in the text— his personal glory 
 — his sovereign rule. 
 
 I. His personal glory shines forth in 
 the name by whieh he is revealed; a 
 name above every name, thy throne — O 
 God! 
 
 To the single eye nothing can be more 
 evident, in the 
 
 First place, than that the Holy Ghost 
 here asserts the essential deity of our 
 JLord Jesus Christ. Of his enemies, 
 whom he will make his footstool, some 
 have, indeed, controverted this posi- 
 tion, and endeavoured to blot out the 
 text from the catalogue of his witnesses. 
 Instead of 'thy throne, O God, they would 
 compel us, by a perversion of phrase- 
 ology, of figure, and of sense, to read, 
 " God is thy throne ;" converting the 
 great and dreadful God into a symbol 
 of authority in one of his own crea- 
 tures. The scriptures, it seems, may 
 utter contradictions or impiety, but the 
 divinity of the Son they shall not attest. 
 The crown, however, which "flour- 
 ishes on his head," is not to be torn 
 away ; nor the anchor of our hope to 
 be wrested from us, hy the rude hand 
 of licentious criticism. 
 
 I cannot find, in the lively oracles, a 
 single distinctive mark of deity which 
 is not applied, without reserve or limi- 
 tation, to the only begotten Son. •Ill 
 things whatsoever the Father hath, are 
 
12 Messiah's throne. 
 
 his. Who is that mysterious Word, 
 that was in the Beginning, with God t 
 Who is the •tllpha and Omega, the be* 
 ginning and the ending, the first and the 
 last, the •llmightyf Who is he that 
 knows what is in man, because he 
 searches the deep and dark recesses ot 
 the heart? Who is the Omnipresent, 
 that has promised, W*herever two or 
 three are gatheretl together in my name, 
 there am J in the midst of them f the light 
 of whose countenance is, at the same 
 moment, the joy of heaven and the sal- 
 vation of earth ? who is incircled by the 
 seraphim on high, and walks in the 
 midst of the golden candlesticks f who is 
 in this assembly ? in all the assemblies 
 of his people ? in every worshiping* 
 family ? in every closet of prayer ? in 
 every holy heart? W*hose hands have 
 stretched out the heavens and laid the 
 foundations of the earth f Jf*ho hath re- 
 plenished them with inhabitants, and 
 garnished them with beauty, having 
 created all things that are in both, 
 visible and invisible, whether they be 
 thrones, or dominions, or principalities, 
 or powers f By whom do all things con* 
 sist ? Who is the Governor among the 
 nations, having on his vesture and on his 
 thigh a name written, King of kings and 
 JLord of lords. Whom is it the Father's 
 will that all men should honor even as 
 they honor himself? Whom has he com- 
 
Messiah's throne 13 
 
 mantled his angels to worship ? whom 
 to obey? Before whom do the devils 
 tremble? Who is qualified to redeem 
 
 millions of sinners from the wrath to 
 come, and preserve them, foy his grace, 
 to his everlasting kingdom ? Who rais- 
 eth the dead, having' life in himself, to 
 quicken whom he will, so that at his 
 voice, all who are in them 9 graves shall 
 come forth / — and death and hell surren- 
 der their numerous and forgotten cap- 
 tives ? Who shall weigh, in the balance 
 of judgment, the destinies of angels 
 and men? dispose of the thrones of 
 paradise? and bestow eternal life? 
 Shall I submit to the decision of rea- 
 son ? Shall I ash a response from hea- 
 ven ? Shall I summon the devils from 
 their chains of darkness ? The response 
 from heaven sounds in my ears; rea- 
 son approves, and the devils confess — 
 This, O Christians, is none other than 
 the great God our Saviour I 
 
 Indeed, my brethren, the doctrine of 
 our ^Lord's divinity is not, as a fact, 
 more interesting to our faith, than, as 
 a principle, it is essential to our hope. 
 If he were not the true G-od, he could 
 not be eternal life. When pressed down 
 by guilt and languishing for happi- 
 ness, I look around for a deliverer such 
 as my conscience and iny heart and the 
 word of G-od assure me I need, insult 
 not my agony, by directing me to m 
 
14 
 
 creature — to a man, a mere man like 
 myself I A creature ! a man ! My Re- 
 deemer owns my person. My immortal 
 spirit is liis property. When I come to 
 die, I must commit it into Ms hands. 
 My soul ! my infinitely precious soul 
 committed t& a mere man ! become the 
 property of a mere man ! I would not, 
 thus, intrust my body, to the highest an- 
 gel who burns in the temple above. It 
 is only the Father of spirits, that can 
 have property in spirits, and be their 
 refuge in the hour of transition from 
 the present to the approaching world. 
 In short, my brethren, the divinity ot 
 Jesus is, in the system of grace, the sun 
 to which all its parts are subordinate, 
 and all their stations refer — which 
 binds them in sacred concord ; and 
 imparts to them their radiance, and 
 life, and vigor. Take from it this cen- 
 tral luminary, and the glory is depart- 
 ed — Its holy harmonies are broken — 
 The elements rush to chaos — The light 
 of salvation is extinguished forever ! 
 
 H\rt it is not the deity of the Son, 
 simply considered, to which the text 
 confines our attention. "We are in the 
 
 Second place to contemplate it as sub- 
 sisting in a personal union with the 
 human nature. 
 
 liong before this epistle was written 
 had he by himself purged our sins, and 
 sat down at the right hand of the Jftajesty 
 
Messiah's throne. 15 
 
 on high. It is, therefore, as God mani* 
 fested in the flesh ; as my own brother, 
 while he is the express image of the 
 Fathers person, as the Mediator of the 
 new covenant, that he is seated on the 
 throne. Of this throne, to which the 
 pretensions of a creatnre were mad 
 and blasphemous, the majesty is, in- 
 deed, maintained J»j his divine power ; 
 but the foundation is laid in his me- 
 diatorial character. I need not prove 
 to this audience, that all his gracious 
 offices and all his redeeming work ori- 
 ginated in the love and the election of 
 his Father. Obedient to that will, 
 which fully accorded with his own, he 
 came down from heaven ; tabernacled 
 in our clay ; was a man of sorrows and 
 acquainted with griefs; submitted to 
 the contradictions of sinners, the temp- 
 tations of the old serpent, and the 
 wrath of an avenging God. In the 
 merit of his obedience which threw a 
 lustre round the divine law; and in 
 the atonement of his death by which 
 he offered himsetfa sacrifice without spot 
 unto God, repairing the injuries of 
 man's rebellion, expiating sin through 
 the blood of his cross ; and concilia- 
 ting its pardon with infinite purity,, 
 and unalterable truth ; summarily, in 
 his performing those conditions on 
 which was suspended all God's mercy 
 to man, and all man's enjoyment of 
 
16 
 
 Crod, in these stupendous works of 
 righteousness are we to look for the 
 cause of his present glory. He humbled 
 himself and became obedient unto deaths 
 even the death of the cross § wherefore 
 €rod also hath highly exalted him, and 
 given him a name which is above every 
 name f that at the name of Jfesus every 
 knee should bow, of things in heaven and 
 things in earth, and things under the 
 earth; and that every tongue should 
 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the 
 glory of God the Father* Exalted thus, 
 to be a Prince and a Saviour, he fills 
 heaven with his beauty, and obtains 
 from its blest inhabitants, the purest 
 and most reverential praise. Worthy, 
 cry the mingled voices of his angels 
 and his redeemed, worthy is the JLamb 
 that was slain, to receive power, and 
 riches, and wisdom, and strength, and 
 honour, and glory, and blessing. W*or- 
 thy, again cry his redeemed, in a song 
 which belongs not to the angels, but in 
 which with holy ecstasy, we will join, 
 worthy art thou, for thou wast slain, and 
 hast redeemed us to Crod by thy blood. 
 
 Delightful, brethren, transcendently 
 delightful were it to dwell upon this 
 theme. But we must refrain ; and 
 having taken a transient glance at 
 our Redeemer's personal glory, let us 
 turn to the 
 
 II. View which the text exhibits— the 
 
Messiah's throne. 17 
 
 view of his sovereign ru le— Thy throne, 
 O God. is forever and ever. 
 
 The mediatorial kingdom of Christ 
 Jesus, directed and upheld by his di» 
 vinity, is now the object of our con- 
 templation. To advance Jehovah's 
 glory in the salvation of men, is the 
 purpose of its erection. Though earth 
 is the scene and human life the limit, 
 of those great operations by which 
 they are interested in its mercies, and 
 prepared for its consummation ; its 
 principles, its provisions, its issues, are 
 eternal. "When it rises up before us in 
 all its grandeur of design, collecting 
 and conducting to the heavens of Ood 
 millions of immortals, in comparison 
 with the least of whom the destruction 
 of the material universe were a thing 
 of nought, whatever the carnal mind 
 calls vast and magnificent shrinks 
 away into nothing. 
 
 But it is not so much the nature of 
 Messiah's kingdom on which I am to 
 insist, as its stability, its administration, 
 and the prospects which they open to 
 the church of God. 
 
 Messiah's throne is not one of those 
 airy fabrics which are reared by 
 vanity and overthrown by time : it is 
 fixed of old : it is stable and cannot be 
 shaken, for 
 
 (1.) It is the throne of God. He who 
 sitteth on it is the Omnipotent. Uni* 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 versa! being: is in his hand. Revolu* 
 tion, force, fear, as applied to his 
 kingdom, are words without mean- 
 ing. Hise up in rebellion, if thou hast 
 courage. Associate witlt thee the 
 whole mass of infernal power. Begin 
 with the ruin of whatever is fair and 
 good in this little globe — Pass from 
 hence to pluck the sun out of his place 
 — and roll the volume of desolation 
 through the starry world— "What hast 
 thou done unto him ? It is the puny 
 menace of a worm against Him whose 
 frown is perdition. Me that sitteth in 
 the heavens shall laugh. 
 
 (3.) With the stability which Messi- 
 ah's Godhead communicates to his 
 throne, let us connect the stability re- 
 sulting from his Father's covenant. 
 
 His throne is founded not merely in 
 strength, but in right. God hath laid 
 the government upon the shoulder of 
 his holy child Jesus, and set him upon 
 mount Zion as his king forever. He 
 has promised, and sworn, to build up 
 his throne to all generations / to matte it 
 endure as the days of heaven / to heat 
 down his foes before his face, and plague 
 fliem that hate him. But my faithful- 
 ness, adds he, and my mercy shall be with 
 him, and in my name shall his horn be 
 exalted. Hath he said it, and will he not 
 do itt Math he spoken it, and shall it not 
 come ta passt Whatever disappoint- 
 
Messiah's throne, 19 
 
 iu e 11 ts rebuke the visionary projects of 
 nieii, or tlie more crafty schemes of 
 Satan, the counsel of the JLord, that shall 
 stand. Tlie blood of sprinkling, which 
 sealed all the promises made to Mes- 
 siah, and binds down his Father's 
 faithfulness to their accomplishment, 
 witnesses continually in the heavenly 
 sanctuary* He must, therefore, reign 
 till he have put all his enemies under his 
 feet. And although the dispensation of 
 his authority shall, upon this event, be 
 changed; and he shall deliver it up, 
 in its present form, to the Father, he 
 shall still remain, in his substantial 
 glory, a priest upon his throne, to be the 
 eternal bond of our union, and the 
 eternal medium of our fellowship, 
 with the living (*od. 
 
 Seeing that the throne of our King is 
 as immovable as it is exalted, let us 
 with joy draw water out of that well of 
 salvation which is opened to us in the 
 
 •Administration of his kingdom. 
 Here we must consider its general 
 characters, and the means by which it 
 operates. 
 
 The general characters which I 
 shall illustrate, are the following : 
 
 (1.) Jtfa/stery.—Ile is the unsearchable 
 God, and his government must be like 
 himself. Facts concerning both lie has 
 graciously revealed. These we must 
 admit upon the credit of his own testi- 
 
20 
 
 mony % with these we must satisfy our 
 wishes, and limit our inquiry. To in* 
 trude into those things which he hath not 
 seen because CSod lias not disclosed 
 them, wlietlier they relate to his ar- 
 rangements for this world or the next, 
 is the arrogance of one vainly putted up 
 hy his fleshly mind. There are secrets 
 in our Lord's procedure which he will 
 not explain to us in this life, and which 
 may not, perhaps, he explained in the 
 life to come. We cannot tell how he 
 makes evil the minister of good : how 
 he combines physical and moral agen- 
 cies of different kind and order, in the 
 production of blessings. We cannot so 
 much as conjecture what bearings the 
 system of redemption, in every part of 
 its process, may have upon the rela- 
 tions of the universe 5 nor even what 
 may be all the connections of provi- 
 dence in the occurrences of this mo- 
 ment, or of the last. Such knowledge is 
 too wonderful for us •• it is high, we can- 
 not attain it. Our Sovereign's way is in 
 the sea^ and his path in the deep waters $ 
 and his footsteps are not known. When, 
 therefore, we are surrounded with 
 difficulty; when we cannot unriddle 
 his conduct in particular dispensa- 
 tions, we must remember that he is 
 €i-od ; that we are to walk hy faith f 
 and to trust him as implicitly when 
 we are in the valley of the shadow of 
 
Messiah's throne. SI 
 
 death, as when his candle shines upon 
 our heads. — We must remember that it 
 is not for ns to be admitted into the 
 cabinet of the Ming of kings 5 that 
 creatures constituted as we are could 
 not sustain the view of his unbailed 
 agency; that it would confound, and 
 scatter, and annihilate our little in- 
 tellects. As often, then, as he retires 
 from our observation, blending good- 
 ness with majesty, let us lay our hands 
 upon our mouths, and worship. This 
 stateliness of our King can afford us 
 no just ground of uneasiness* On the 
 contrary, it contributes to our tran- 
 quillity : For we know, 
 
 (2.) That if his administration is 
 mysterious, it is also wise* 
 
 Great is our JLord. and of great power $ 
 his understanding is infinite. That in- 
 finite understanding watches over, 
 and arranges, and directs all the af- 
 fairs of his church and of the world* 
 WV are perplexed at every step ; em- 
 barrassed by opposition ; lost in confu- 
 sion % fretted ~foy disappointment ; and 
 ready to conclude, in our haste, that 
 all things are against our own good 
 and our Master's honour. Mitt this is 
 our infirmity / it is the dictate of impa- 
 tience and indiscretion. "We forget the 
 years of the right hand of the Jflost 
 Migh. We are slow of heart in learn- 
 ing a lesson which shall soothe our 
 
22 
 
 spirit s at the expense of our pride'. We 
 turn away from the consolation to be 
 derived front believing that though we 
 know not the connections and results 
 of holy providence, our ILord Jesus 
 knows then* perfectly. "With him 
 there is no irregularity, no chance, vlo 
 conjecture. Disposed before his eye in 
 the most luminous and exquisite order, 
 the whole series of events occupy the 
 very place and crisis where they are 
 most effectually to subserve the pur- 
 poses of his love. Not a moment of time 
 is wasted, nor a fragment of action 
 misapplied. What he does we do not 
 indeed know at present, but, as far as 
 we shall be permitted to know hereaf- 
 ter, we .shall see that his most inscruta- 
 ble procedure was guided by consum- 
 mate wisdom ; that our choice was 
 often as foolish as our petulance was 
 provoking ; that the success of our own 
 wishes would have been our most 
 painful chastisement, would have di- 
 minished our happiness, and detracted 
 from his praise. JLei us study, there- 
 fore, brethren, to subject our ignorance 
 to his knowledge^ instead of prescri- 
 bing, to ©bey 5 instead of questioning, 
 to believe : to perform our part without 
 that despondency which betrays a fear 
 that our JLord may neglect his, and 
 tacitly accuses him of a less concern 
 than we feel for the glory of his own 
 
Messiah's throne. 23 
 
 name. JLet us not shrink from this 
 duty as imposing too rigorous a condi- 
 tion upon our obedience, for a 
 
 (3d.) Character of Messiah's admin- 
 istration is righteousness. The sceptre 
 of his kingdom is a right sceptre. If 
 clouds and darkness are round about 
 him, righteousness and judgment are the 
 habitation of his throne* In the times 
 of old, his redeemed wandered in the 
 wilderness in a solitary way $ but, never- 
 theless, he led them forth by the right 
 'way, that they might go to a city of habi- 
 tation. He loves his church and the 
 members of it too tenderly to lay upon 
 them any burdens v or expose them to 
 any trials, which are not indispensa- 
 ble to their good. It is right for them 
 to go through Are and through water, 
 that he may bring them out into a weal' 
 thy place — right to endure chastening 
 that they may be partakers of his holi- 
 ness — right to have the sentence of death 
 in themselves, that they may trust in the 
 living God, and that his strength maybe 
 perfect in their weakness. It is right 
 that he should endure with much long 
 suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to 
 destruction •• that he should permit ini- 
 quity to abound, the love of many to wax 
 cold, and the dangers of his church to 
 accumulate, till the interposition of 
 his arm be necessary and decisive. In 
 the day of final retribution not one 
 
24 
 
 mouth shall be opened to complain of 
 injustice. It will he seen that the 
 Judge of all the earth has done right $ 
 that the works of his hands have been 
 verity and judgment, and done, every 
 one of them, in truth and uprightness* 
 let us, then, think not only respectful- 
 ly but reverently of his dispensations, 
 repress the voice of murmur, and re- 
 buke the spirit of discontent ; wait, in 
 faith and patience, till he become his 
 own interpreter, when the heavens shall 
 declare his righteousness , and all the 
 people see his glory. 
 
 Ton will anticipate me in enumer- 
 ating the means which Messsiah em- 
 ploys in the administration of his 
 kingdom. 
 
 (1.) The gospel^ of which himself, as 
 an all-sufficient and condescending 
 Saviour, is the great and affecting 
 theme. Derided by the world, it is, 
 nevertheless, effectual to the salvation 
 of them who believe. WV preach Christ 
 crucified to the Jews a stumbling-block, 
 and to the Greeks foolishness? but to 
 them who are called, both Jews and 
 Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the 
 wisdom of God. The doctrine of the 
 cross connected with evangelical ordi- 
 nances — the ministry of reconciliation ; 
 the holy sabbath ; the sacraments of 
 his covenant : briefly, the whole system 
 of instituted worship, is the rod of the 
 
Messiah's throne. 25 
 
 Redeemer's strength by which he sub- 
 dues sinners to himself ; rules even in 
 the midst of his enemies / exercises his 
 glorious authority in his church, and 
 exhibits a visible proof to men and 
 angels, that he is King in Zion. 
 
 (2.) The efficient means to which the 
 gospel owes its success, and the name 
 of Jesus its praise, is the agency of the 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 Christianity is the ministration of the 
 Spirit* All real and sanctifying know- 
 ledge of the truth and love of God is 
 from his inspiration. It was the last 
 and best promise which the Saviour 
 made to his afflicted disciples at the 
 moment of parting, I will send the Com- 
 forter, the Spirit of truth 5 * Me shall glo- 
 rify me, for he shall take of mine and 
 shall show it unto you. It is he who 
 convinces the world of sin, of right* 
 eousness, and of judgment-— who infuses 
 resistless vigour into means otherwise 
 weak and useless. For the weapons of 
 our warfare are not carnal, hut mighty 
 through €wod, God the Spirit, to the 
 pulling down of strong holds. Without 
 his benediction, the ministry of an 
 archangel would never convert one sin- 
 ner from the error of his way. Hut 
 when he descends, with his life-giving 
 influence from God out of heaven, then 
 foolish things of the world confound the 
 wise ; and weak thinsrs of th*> +vorld con- 
 
26 
 
 found the things which are mighty $ and 
 base things of the world, and things 
 which are despised, yea, and things which 
 are not, bring to nought things which 
 are* It is this ministration of tlie Spirit 
 wliicli renders tlie preaching of tlie 
 gospel to men dead in trespasses and sins 
 a reasonable service. Wlien I am set 
 down in tlie valley of vision, and view 
 the bones, very many and very dry, and 
 am desired to try tlie effect of my own 
 ability in recalling them to life, I will 
 fold my hands and stand mnte in as- 
 tonishment and despair. But when 
 the Lord €rod commands me to speak 
 in his name, my closed lips shall be 
 opened 5 when he calls upon the breath 
 from the four winds to breathe upon the 
 slain that they may live, I will prophecy 
 without fear — O ye dry bones, hear the 
 word of the Lord, and, obedient to his 
 voice, they shall come together, bone to 
 his bone? shall be covered with sinews 
 mnd Mesh / shall receive new life, and 
 stand tip upon their feet, an exceeding 
 great army. In this manner, from the 
 graves of nature, and the dry bones of 
 natural men, does the Holy Spirit re- 
 cruit the armies of the living God, and 
 make them, collectively and indivi- 
 dually, a name, and a praise, and a 
 glory, to the Captain of their salvation* 
 (3.) Among the instruments which 
 the Lord Jesus employs in the admin- 
 
Messiah's throne. 27 
 
 istration of his government, are the re- 
 sources of the physical and moral world. 
 
 Supreme in heaven and in earth, 
 upholding all things by the word of his 
 power, the universe is his magazine of 
 means. Nothing which acts or exists, 
 is exempted from promoting in its own 
 place the purposes of his kingdom* 
 Beings rational and irrational ; ani- 
 mate and inanimate ; the heavens 
 above and the earth below ; the obedi- 
 ence of sanctified, and the disobedience 
 of unsanctified, men ; all holy spirits ; 
 all damned spirits : in one word, every 
 agency, every element, every atom, are 
 but the ministers of his will, and con- 
 cur in the execution of his designs. 
 And this he will demonstrate to the 
 confusion of his enemies, and the joy of 
 his people, in that great and terrible 
 day when he shall sit upon the throne of 
 his glory, and dispense ultimate judg* 
 ment to the quick and the dead. 
 
 Upon these hills of holiness, the sta« 
 bility of Messiah's throne, and the 
 perfect administration of his kingdom, 
 let us take our station, and survey the 
 
 Prospects which rise up before the 
 church of Ood. 
 
 When I look upon the magnificent 
 scene, I cannot repress the salutation, 
 Bail thou that art highly favoured I 
 
 She has the prospect of preservation, 
 of increase, and of triumph. 
 
128 Messiah's throne. 
 
 (1.) The prospect of preservation. 
 
 The long existence of the Christian 
 church would he pronounced, upon 
 common principles of reasoning, im- 
 possible. She finds in every man a 
 natural and inveterate enemy. To 
 encounter and overcome the unani- 
 mous hostility of the world, she boasts 
 no political stratagem, no disciplined 
 legions, no outward coercion of any 
 kind. Yet her expectations is that she 
 shall live forever. To mock this hope, 
 and blot out her memorial from under 
 heaven, the most furious efforts of fa- 
 naticism, the most ingenious arts of 
 statesmen, the concentrated strength of 
 empires, have been frequently and 
 perseveringly applied. The blood of 
 her sons and her daughters has 
 streamed like water ; the smoke of the 
 scaffold and the stake, where they won 
 the crown of martyrdom in the cause 
 of Jesus, has ascended in thick volumes 
 to the skies. The tribes of persecution 
 have sported over her woes, and erect- 
 ed monuments, as they imagined, of 
 her perpetual ruin. Mwt where are her 
 tyrants, and where their empires ? the 
 tyrants have long since gone to their 
 own place 5 their names have descend- 
 ed upon the roll of infamy 5 their em- 
 pires have passed, like shadows over 
 the rock — they have successively disap- 
 peared, and left not a trace behind ! 
 
MESSIAH S THRONE. 50 
 
 9 
 
 But what became of the church ? She 
 rose from her ashes fresh in beauty 
 and in might. Celestial glory beamed 
 around her 5 she dashed dlowu the 
 monumental marble of her foes, and 
 they who hated her lied before her. 
 She has celebrated the funeral of kings 
 and kingdoms that plotted her de- 
 struction; and, with the inscriptions 
 of their pride, has transmitted to pos- 
 terity the record of their shame. How 
 shall this phenomenon be explained? 
 We are, at the present moment, wit- 
 nesses of the fact 5 but who can unfold 
 the mystery? This blessed book, the 
 book of truth and life, has made our 
 wonder to cease. The Lord her God 
 in the midst of her is mighty. His pre- 
 sence is a fountain of health, and his 
 protection a wall of Are. He has be- 
 trothed her, in eternal covenant, to 
 himself. Her living Head, in whom 
 she lives, is above, and his quickening 
 Spirit shall never depart from her. 
 Armed with divine virtue, his gospel, 
 secret, silent, unobserved, enters the 
 hearts of men and sets up an everlast- 
 ing kingdom. It eludes all the vigi* 
 lance, and baffles all the power, of the 
 adversary. Bars, and bolts, and dun* 
 geons are no obstacle to its approach 1 
 Bonds, and tortures, and death cannot 
 extinguish its influence. JLet no man's; 
 heart tremble then, because of fear* 
 
so 
 
 • - 
 
 Kief no mail despair, in these days of 
 rebuke and blasphemy? of the Chris- 
 tian cause. The ark is launched, in- 
 deed, upon the floods % the tempest 
 sweeps along- the deep; the billows 
 break over her on every side* But 
 Jehovah-Jesus has promised to con- 
 duct her in safety to the haven of peace. 
 She cannot be lost unless the pilot 
 perish. Why then do the heathen 
 rage, and the people imagine a- vain 
 thins ? Hear, O Zion, the word of thy 
 Ctod, and rejoice for the consolation. 
 Wo weapon that is formed against thee 
 shall prosper, and every tongue that shall 
 rise against thee in judgment thou shall 
 condemn. This is the heritage of the 
 servants of the Lord, and their righteous* 
 ■ness is of me, saith the JLord. 
 
 Mere preservation, however, though 
 «? most comfortable, is not the only 
 hope of the church ; she has 
 
 (2.) The prospect of increase. 
 
 Increase — from an effectual blessing* 
 upon the means of grace in places 
 where they are already enjoyed: for 
 thus saith the Lord, I will pour water 
 upon him that is thirsty, and Hoods upon 
 the dry ground s I will pour my Spirit 
 upon thy seed, and my blessing upon 
 thine offspring ; and they shall spring 
 up as among the grass, as willows by the 
 nvater-courses. 
 
 Increase— from the diffusion of evan- 
 
Messiah's throne, SI 
 
 * 
 gelical truth through papain lands. 
 For behold, the darkness shall cover the 
 earth, and gross darkness the people / but 
 the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his 
 glory shall be seen upon thee* •And the 
 Gentiles shall come to thy light, and 
 kings to the brightness of thy rising. 
 Lift up thine eyes round about and see : 
 all they gather themselves together, they 
 come to thee: thy sons shall come from, 
 far, and thy daughters shall be nursed 
 at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and 
 How together, and thine heart shall fear, 
 and be enlarged $ because the abundance 
 of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the 
 forces of the Gentiles shall come unto 
 thee. 
 
 Increase — from the recovery of the 
 rejected Jews to the faith and privi- 
 leges of God'§ dear children. Blind* 
 ness in part has happened unto Israel— 
 they have been cut off, for their unbe- 
 lief, from the olive-tree. Age has 
 followed age, and they remain to this 
 hour, spread over the face of the earth, 
 a fearful and affecting testimony to the 
 truth of God's word. They are with- 
 out their sanctuary, without their 
 Messiah, without the hope of their be- 
 lieving ancestors. But it shall not be 
 always thus. They are still beloved for 
 the fathers' sake. When the fullness of 
 
 the Gentiles shall come in, they too shall 
 be gathered. They shall discover, in 
 
$2 
 
 our Jesus, the marks of the promised 
 Messiah ; and with tenderness propor- 
 tioned to their former insensibility, 
 shall cling to his cross. Grafted again 
 into their own olive-tree, all Israel shall 
 he saved. It was through their fall that 
 salvation came unto us Gentiles. And, 
 if the casting away of them he the recon- 
 ciling of the world, what shall the receiv- 
 ing of them he hut life from the dead ? 
 What ecstasy, my brethren! the Gen- 
 tile and the Jew taking sweet counsel 
 together, and going to the house of God, 
 in company I the path of the swift mes- 
 senger of grace marked, in every di- 
 rection, by the fullness of the blessing of 
 the gospel of Christ— a nation born at 
 once — the children of Zion exclaiming, 
 The place is too strait for me •• give place 
 to me that I may dwell. The knowledge 
 of Jehovah overspreading the earth as 
 the waters cover the sea§ and all flesh 
 enjoying the salvation of God ! 
 
 This faith ushers in a 
 
 (3.) Prospect of the Church— the pros- 
 pect of triumph. 
 
 Though often desolate, and afflicted, 
 tossed with tempest and not comforted, 
 the Lord her God will then make her 
 an eternal excellency, and repay her 
 sorrows with triumph — 
 
 Triumph — in complete victory over 
 the enemies who sought her hurt. The 
 nation and kingdom, saith the Lord, 
 
Messiah's throne. 33 
 
 that wilt not serve thee shall perish ; yea 
 those nations shall he utterly wasted. — 
 The sons also of them that aMieted thee 
 shall come bentUmg unto thee; and all 
 they that despised thee shall how them" 
 selves down at the soles of thy feet; and 
 they shall call thee the city of the JLord, 
 the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 
 That great eiteoiy of her purity and 
 her peace, who shed the blood of her 
 saints and her prophets, the Jttan of Sin 
 who has exalted himself above all that is 
 called God, shall appear, in the whole 
 horror of his doom as the son of perdi* 
 Hon, whom the I^ord shall consume with 
 the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy 
 with the brightness of his coming. The 
 terrible foi\t joyous event shall be 
 announced by an angel from heaven 
 crying' mightily with a strong voice, JBa* 
 bylon the great is fallen, is fallen / *ll- 
 leluia, shall be the response of the 
 church universal, Salvation, and glory, 
 and honour, and power, unto the lord 
 our CSrod / for true and righteous are his 
 judgments ; for he hath judged the great 
 whore which did corrupt the earth with 
 her fornication, and hath avenged the 
 blood of his servants at her hand I Then 
 too, the accuser of the brethren — that old 
 serpent which is the devil, shall be cast 
 down, and bound a thousand years that 
 he shall deceive the nations no more. — 
 This will introduce the church's 
 
 3 
 
54 Messiah's throne. 
 
 Triumph— in the prevalence of right* 
 eousness and peace throughout the 
 world. 
 
 Her people shall he all righteous* The 
 voice of the blasphemer shall no lon- 
 ger insult her ear. Iniquity as asha- 
 med shall stop its mouth, and hide its 
 head. %Ml her officers shall be peace, and 
 all her exactors, righteousness. The 
 kings of the earth bringing their glory 
 and honour unto her, shall accomplish 
 the gracious promise. The mountains 
 shall bring peace to the people, and the 
 little hills by righteousness. Her prince 
 whose throne is forever and ever, shall 
 judge among the nations, and shall re- 
 buke many people? and they shall beat 
 their swords into ploughshares, and their 
 spears into pruning hooks •* nation shall 
 not lift up sword against nation, neither 
 shall they learn war any more I Every 
 man shall meet, in every other man, a 
 brother without dissimulation. Fear 
 and the sword shall be far away, 
 they shall sit every man under his vine, 
 and under his tig -tree, and none shall 
 make them afraid. For thus saith the 
 JLord, Violence shall no more be heard in 
 thy land, wasting nor destruction within 
 thy borders? but thou shall call thy 
 walls, Salvation, and thy gates, Praise. 
 
 Triumph — in the presence of God. in 
 the communion of his love, and the 
 signal manifestation of his glory. Be- 
 
35 
 
 hold, the tabernacle of God shall he with 
 men, and he will dwell with them, and 
 they shall be his people, and €wod himself 
 shall be with them, and be their God. 
 Then shall be seen, the holy Jerusalem de- 
 scending out of heaven from €w od , which 
 shall have no need of the sun, neither of the 
 moon, to shine in it 9 for the glory of God 
 shall lighten it, and the JLamb shall be the 
 light thereof. •Ind the nations of them 
 which are saved shall walk in the light of 
 it, and they shall bring the glory and hon- 
 our of the nations into it; and there shall 
 in no wise enter into it any thing that de- 
 file th, neither whatsoever worketh abomi- 
 nation, or maketh a lie 9 but they which 
 are written in the L.amVs book of life. 
 Such, according to the sure word of 
 prophecy, Trill be the triumphs of 
 Christianity ; and to this issue all 
 scriptural efforts to evangelize the 
 heathen contribute their share. That 
 mind is profane, indeed, which repels 
 the sentiment of awe ; and hard is the 
 heart which feels no bland emotion — 
 But let us pause — You exult, perhaps, 
 in the view of that happiness which is 
 reserved for the human race 5 you long 
 for its arrival ; and are eager, in your 
 place, to help on the gracious work. 
 It is well. But are there no heathen 
 in this assembly ? Are there none who, 
 in the midst of their zeal for foreign 
 missions* forget their own souls ; nor 
 
36 
 
 consider that tliey themselves neglect 
 the great salvation f Remember, my 
 brethren, that a man may be active in 
 measures which shall subserve the 
 conversion of others, &m& yet perish in 
 his own iniquity. That very gospel 
 which you desire to send to the hea- 
 then, must be the gospel of your salva- 
 tion ; it must turn you from darkness to 
 lights from the power of Satan unto God / 
 it must make you meet for the inheri- 
 tance of the saints, or it shall fearfully 
 aggravate your condemnation at last. 
 You pray, Thy kingdom come. Rut is 
 the kingdom of God within you ? Is the 
 Lord Jesus in you, the hope of glory f Re 
 not deceived. The name of Christian 
 will not save you. Retter had it been for 
 you not to have known the way of right- 
 eousness — better to have been the most 
 idolatrous pagan — better, infinitely 
 better, not to have l^eew born , than to die 
 strangers to the pardon of the Redeem- 
 er's blood, and the sanctifying virtue of 
 his Spirit. From his throne on high he 
 calls 5 calls, my brethren, to you 5 JLook 
 unto me, and heye saved, for lam God, and 
 there is none else. Seek ye the £jord while 
 he may be found; call ye upon him while 
 he is near j let the wicked forsake his way, 
 and the unrighteous man his thoughts, 
 and let him return unto the I^ord, and he 
 will have mercy upon him ; and to our 
 God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
 
Messiah's throne. 37 
 
 On the other hand, such as have fled 
 for refuge to lay hold on the hope set 
 before them, are commanded to be joy- 
 ful in their King. He reigns, O be- 
 liever, for thee. The stability of his 
 throne is thy safety. The administra- 
 tion of his government is for thy good; 
 and the precious pledge that he will 
 perfect that which concerneth thee. In 
 all thy troubles and in all thy joy com- 
 mit thy way unto him. He will guard 
 the sacred deposit. Fear not that thou 
 shalt lack any good thing — Fear not 
 that thou shalt be forsaken — Fear not 
 that thou shalt fall beneatli the arm of 
 the oppressor. " He went through the 
 tires of the pit to save thee ; and he will 
 stake all the glories of his crown to 
 keep thee." Sing, then, thou beloved, 
 Behold, €wod is my salvation $ I will 
 trust, and not he fifraid / for the JLord 
 •Jehovah is my strength and my songs 
 he also is become my salvation. 
 
 And if we have tasted that he is gra- 
 cious: if we look back with horror 
 and transport upon the wretchedness 
 and the wrath which we have escaped, 
 with what anxiety shall we not hasten 
 to the aid of our fellow-men, who are 
 sitting in the region and shadow of death. 
 What zeal will be too ardent; what 
 labour too persevering ; what sacrifice 
 too costly, if, by any means, we may 
 tell them of Jesus, and the resurrec- 
 
lion, and the life eternal ! Who shall 
 be daunted by difficulties, or deterred 
 by discouragement ? If but one pagan 
 should be brought, savingly, by your 
 instrumentality, to the knowledge of 
 Ood, and the kingdom of heaven, will 
 you not, my brethren, have an ample 
 recompense ? Is there here a man who 
 would give up all for lost because 
 some favourite hope has been disap- 
 pointed? or who regrets the worldly 
 substance which he has expended on 
 so divine an enterprise? Shame on 
 thy coward spirit and thine avaricious 
 heart ! Do the holy scriptures, does 
 the experience of ages, does the nature 
 of things, justify the expectation, that 
 we shall carry war into the central 
 regions of delusion and crime, without 
 opposition, without trial ? Show me a 
 plan which encounters not fierce resis- 
 tance from the prince of darkness and 
 his allies in the human heart, and I 
 will show you a plan which never 
 came from the inspiration of Ood. If 
 missionary effort suffer occasional em- 
 barrassment: if impressions on the 
 heathen be less speedy, and powerful, 
 and extensive, than fond wishes have 
 anticipated: if particular parts of the 
 great system of operation be, at times, 
 disconcerted : if any of the ministers of 
 grace fall a sacrifice to the violence of 
 those whom they go to bless in the name 
 
39 
 
 of the Lord / these are events which 
 ought to exercise our faith stud pa- 
 tience ; to wean us from self-sufficien- 
 cy s to teach us where our strength lies? 
 and where our dependence must be 
 fixed 5 hut not to enfeeble hope, nor re- 
 lax diligence. L<et us not despise the 
 day of smalt things, liet us not over- 
 look, as an unimportant matter, the 
 very existence of that missionary spirit 
 which has already awakened Chris- 
 tians in different countries from their 
 long and dishonourable slumbers, and 
 bids fair to produce, in due season, a 
 general movement of the church, upon 
 earth. ILet us not, for one instant, har- 
 bour the ungracious thought, that the 
 prayers, and tears, and wrestlings of 
 those "who make mention of the JLord^ 
 form no link in that vast chain of 
 events by which he will establish, and 
 witl mafae Jerusalem a praise in the 
 earth. That dispensation which of all 
 others is most repulsive to flesh and 
 Mood, the violent death of faithful mis- 
 sionaries, should animate Christians 
 with new resolution. Precious in the 
 sight of the LiOrd is the death of his 
 saints. The cry of martyred blood as- 
 cends the heavens ; it enters into the 
 ears of the Lortl of Sabaoth. It will 
 give him no rest till he rain down right' 
 eousness upon the land where it has 
 been shed, and which it has sealed as 
 a future conquest for him who in hit 
 
40 MESSIAH'S THRONE. 
 
 majesty rides prosperously because of 
 truth, and meekness, and righteousness* 
 
 For the world, Indeed, and perhaps 
 for the church, many calamities and 
 trials are in store, before the glory of 
 the liOrd shall be so revealed, that ail 
 Mesh shall see it together. I wilt shake 
 all nations, is the divine declaration, 1 
 will shake all nations / and the desire of 
 all nations shall come. The vials of 
 wrath which are now running*, and 
 others which remain to he poured out, 
 must be exhausted. The supper of the 
 great God must be prepared, and his 
 strange work have its course. Yet the 
 missionary cause must ultimately suc- 
 ceed* It is the cause of God, and shall 
 prevail. The days, O brethren, roll 
 rapidly on, when the shout of the isles 
 shall swell the thunder of the Conti- 
 nent : when the Thames and the Dan- 
 ube, when the Tiber and the Rhine, 
 shall call upon Euphrates, the Ganges, 
 and the Nile? and the loud concert shall 
 be joined by the Hudson, the Mississippi, 
 and the Amazon, singin g with one heart 
 and one voice, Alleluia! Salvation! 
 The Lord God omnipotent reigneth ! 
 
 Comfort one another with this faith, 
 and with these words : 
 
 Now, Blessed be the Lord God, the God 
 of Israel, who only doeth wondrous 
 things. And blessed be his glorious name 
 forever •• let the whole earth be tilled with 
 his glory I Amen and Amen I 
 
DR. ALEXANDER M'OLELLAND'S 
 PLEA 
 
 FOR A STANDING MINISTRY ; 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE YOUNG MEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY 
 OF NEW- YORK, ON THE 28TH OF DECEMBER, 1817. 
 
 PSALM LXXIV. 9. 
 
 There is no more any Prophet. 
 
 The question concerning the precise 
 date, occasion, and author of the sa- 
 cred ode in which we find this short 
 
 and pithy sentence, is one of the many 
 on which much has been written, but 
 little told. leaving- it to he settled by 
 those worthy pains-tahing theologues, 
 called Biblical Critics, I thinh it suf- 
 ficient for my purpose to observe, that 
 it seems imtei^^e^ as a solemn dirge 
 over the deplorable state of the Church 
 and nation of Israel. CJod had with- 
 drawn his presence and grace, ene- 
 mies had profaned the sanctuary, and 
 the synagogues were htivmt through- 
 out the land. — Among the subjects of 
 lamentation, the poet tahes particular 
 notice of the annihilation of the order 
 of men instituted by CS-od to proclaim 
 his will: "There is no more any 
 prophet, nor any who knoweth how 
 long." The prophets were a succes- 
 
42 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY, 
 
 sion of faithful men, whom Jehovah 
 raised up and distributed throughout 
 the land, to inculeate the great prin- 
 ciples of religion and morality, testify 
 against degeneracy, and confirm the 
 nation in its allegiance to himself* 
 From the very nature of their office, 
 therefore, we may conclude that their 
 influence w r as most beneficial, and 
 their loss deplorable. 
 
 I have selected, Brethren, the word§ 
 just read, merely as an introduction 
 to a series of reflections on the benefits 
 resulting from a standing religious 
 ministry ; hj which is meant a regular 
 body of men, whose exclusive employ- 
 ment is to superintend and regulate 
 the worship of €*od. I, of course, 
 have particularly in my eye the Chris- 
 tian Priesthood; not so much, how- 
 ever, as embodied in any particular 
 form — of Episcopacy, or Independen- 
 cy, or Presbytery— as abstractly and 
 essentially considered. 
 
 My object is to show, that in what- 
 ever light it be contemplated, it will 
 be found one of the most valuable in- 
 stitutions a bountiful Providence hath 
 ordained for the good of man : and 
 thus I hope to prepare you to contrib- 
 ute to its support, not only with the 
 hand, but "the heart and understand- 
 ing also." 
 
 It is possible that to some this at- 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 43 
 
 tempt may have a certain appearance 
 of arrogance and presumption ; but I 
 confess that I am entirely unable to 
 conceive the reasons oia wliicli such an 
 unfavourable judgment can be found- 
 ed. The physician is allowed to des- 
 cant on the usefulness and importance 
 of the healing* art, the civilian on the 
 noble study of the law. In both cases 
 we pardon even extravagance? for we 
 consider it the effect of a zeal hon- 
 ourable and profitable to the posses- 
 sor. Certainly, then, it should not be 
 deemed improper if we, on suitable oc- 
 casions, and with calmness and ra- 
 tionality, undertake to magnify our 
 office, by enumerating its admirable 
 benefits to mankind. I do not forget 
 the adage of the wise man, "!Let 
 another praise thee, and not thine 
 own mouth ; a stranger, and not thine 
 own lips." The maxim inculcated is 
 excellent; and I trust that not a sylla- 
 ble shall grate on the ears of my audi- 
 tors this evening inconsistent with the 
 most rigid interpretation of it. That 
 person is an object of my sincerest pity, 
 who needs to be told that the office, not 
 the man ; the order, not the insignifi- 
 cant and unworthy member who stands 
 before you, is the subject af discussion. 
 Without wasting time in further 
 preliminaries, I ask, Brethren, your 
 unprejudiced attention, craving no 
 
44 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 other verdict but that of impartial 
 justice* 
 
 In order to appreciate the value of a 
 standing religious ministry, it will he 
 necessary to examine its influence 
 
 On literature and intellectual im- 
 provement % 
 
 On morals % 
 
 On social order ; and 
 
 On the destinies of man, as a crea- 
 ture of Clod and candidate for immor- 
 tality. 
 
 Though it must he acknowledged 
 that the first point specified is in itself 
 by far tl^e least important 5 yet, from its 
 being less considered and understood, 
 I feel authorised to bestow upon it the 
 largest portion of your time and at- 
 tention. 
 
 Man is distinguished from all other 
 creatures here below, by powers of 
 thinking and intelligence, in the exer- 
 cise of which 011 the objects that sur- 
 round him lie accomplishes one im- 
 portant purpose of his creation. 
 There is an idea, indeed, current with 
 a certain class of reasoners (if so they 
 may be called) that tlie mere human 
 sciences, by which is meant all those 
 researches which have no immediate 
 connexion with religion, are to be 
 condemned and exploded, as entirely 
 unfit for man in his present condition 
 and prospects. I shall not pass out of 
 
PLEA EOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 45 
 
 my way to confute a notion so enor- 
 mously ridiculous; but shall content 
 myself with observing, that they who 
 
 thus endeavour to make the CS-ospel 
 Heaven a literal fooVs paradise, should 
 see well to it, that they are not libel- 
 ling the holy religion they profess. On 
 the contrary, it is to be cheerfully ac- 
 knowledged, that literature is the glo- 
 ry of human nature ; that tUe exercise 
 and cultivation of the intellectual 
 powers, and the enlargement of the 
 boundaries of knowledge, is not only 
 useful but ornamental to man, and an 
 illustrious part pf that divine image 
 which was originally impressed on 
 him. This remark is to be applied to 
 ait intellectual exercises — to all know- 
 ledge, — no matter what the object, no 
 matter what the department or means 
 of acquisition s and I heartily declare, 
 that the man who, after months of la- 
 borious scrutiny, presents to the public 
 the anatomical or physiological sys- 
 tem of a gnat or a mosquito, calls not 
 up one ridiculous or painful associa- 
 tion, lie has added to the riches, he 
 has added to tUe dignity of intellectual 
 man. Moreover, he has fulfilled one 
 great design of the C*od of nature in 
 creation : for why did tl\e G-od of na- 
 ture expend such admirable might 
 and skill on mere specks of being, un- 
 less for this, that man, the official ex* 
 
46 *>LEA TOR A STANDING MINISTRY* 
 
 plorer of his works, should in these 
 also discern his wisdom and power di- 
 vine ? The same holds true of the as- 
 tronomer investigating the laws of 
 universal nature, mapping the starry 
 concave and tracing the comet's 
 flight : the same of the metaphysician, 
 pushing his researches into abstract 
 being, analyzing the principles of his 
 own mind, and qualifying himself to 
 obey the first of nature's laws, " Know 
 thyself: 99 the same of the humble anti- 
 quary too, who, searching among the 
 ruins of ages long gone by, brings 
 forth many a gem to sparkle in the 
 crown of science : All, all are the be- 
 nefactors of their race, and demand 
 our grateful homage and veneration. 
 
 This, however, is mere preliminary, 
 and we proceed to elucidate in what 
 manner ^ve suppose the march of men- 
 tal cultivation to have been aided by 
 a religious order. 
 
 Here it must at once be evident, that 
 the simple fact of the separation of a 
 numerous class of the human family 
 from secular employments and cares, 
 is one of no trifling consideration ; the 
 great obstacle to intellectual improve- 
 ment in every age being in this case 
 entirely removed, and opportunity 
 presented for dedication of effort to 
 high and noble objects. We would 
 not be understood as insinuating wh at 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 47 
 
 a moment's observation would belie, 
 tliat freedom from the universal curse 
 will be always followed by propor- 
 tional advancements in knowledge ; 
 but simply that a state of exemp- 
 tion is, in itself, a privilege far from 
 contemptible. Accordingly it will be 
 found, on a careful examination, that 
 a nation never rises from a state of ig- 
 norance and barbarism until it has 
 acquired the superfluities of life, or at 
 least until a considerable portion of 
 its population is exalted above the ne- 
 cessity of labour. History has indeed 
 handed down the fame of some indi- 
 viduals who, triumphing over all the 
 disadvantages of an abject poverty, 
 have risen to the highest eminence in 
 literature and the arts. But it would 
 be easy to show that these, instead of 
 destroying the general rule, are not 
 even exceptions, as they have never 
 been found but in communities al- 
 ready civilized (partially at least) by 
 the influence of others more favoura- 
 bly situated. 
 
 But at any rate these are not the 
 grand support and dependence of li- 
 terature. They present themselves too 
 seldom to effect any durable or extensive 
 good •• they are the meteors of the intel- 
 lectual world — splendid ! wondered at! 
 talked of by posterity, and celebrated in 
 song ! yet scarcely to be ranked among 
 
48 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 the really useful and beneficial lumi- 
 naries : they are prodigies ; but, like 
 all prodigies, great only in detail ? of 
 little importance as a combined whole. 
 To make effectual progress, general 
 Science, (like all her subordinate de- 
 partments) requires a regular body of 
 men, whose situation will permit ha- 
 bits of devotion to her interests. These 
 are her true efficient force, her stand- 
 ing army ; to whose energy and skill 
 she looks for her triumph and her 
 glories. 
 
 In applying these remarks to the 
 order of men I call a " Religious Min- 
 istry," I do not forget a semblance of 
 an objection to its propriety, founded 
 on the circumstance, that though ele- 
 vated indeed above the common impe- 
 diments to mental exertion, yet so far 
 from being the regular soldiers of 
 literature, their studies and habits are 
 directed to a specifically different ob- 
 ject. This is in a measure certainly 
 true : all, therefore, we contend for is, 
 that the two objects are so intimately 
 and necessarily connected that the un- 
 interrupted pursuit of the one cannot 
 but influence most favourably the pro- 
 secution of the other. 
 
 To evince this is an easy task, and a 
 single glance is equal to a long series 
 of argumentation. For what is the 
 official duty of the ministers of reli- 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 49 
 
 gion? . To this question their very 
 name furnishes an answer. They are 
 to investigate the perfections of the 
 great First Cause ; unfold the princi- 
 ples of his moral government x explore 
 the whole Held of relation between 
 him and his creatures ; declare the re- 
 quisitions of law ; point out its foun- 
 dations; announce its sanctions; and 
 after promulging the whole system, to 
 defend it, part by part ; and by every 
 argument demonstrate its reasonable- 
 ness, beauty, and consistency: above 
 all, they are the chosen keepers of that 
 Revelation which the great Cfod has, 
 in his infinite mercy, communicated to 
 man : and must consider themselves 
 under imperious obligations to guard 
 the sacred deposit with the utmost di- 
 ligence, the intensest care, by all the 
 weapons the world above, the world 
 around, the world below, can furnish 
 to their hands* To meet the vast 
 variety of assaults, what mental re- 
 sources, what powers of reference, 
 what skill in intellectual warfare are 
 not necessary! Each disputant is to 
 be confronted on his own vantage 
 ground, each cavil to supply its own 
 refutation. Now the cursed fiend of 
 Infidelity is to be driven through the 
 ten thousand mazes of metaphysical 
 sophistry — now to be detected in the 
 garb of a philosophical sage poring 
 
50 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 ill seeming adoration o'er the astro- 
 nomic annals of f lie Hindoo. What- 
 ever be his shape, like the malignant 
 Genii of Oriental Fable, he is to be met 
 by his enemy in a similar form, and 
 has the privilege moreover of ehoosing 
 his own measures, arms, and oppor- 
 tunities* Are then the studies of hu- 
 man seienee in no way connected with 
 the employments and duties of a reli- 
 gious ministry? Nay, let a solitary 
 department be specified, of which it 
 can be said, " It is useless, unprofitable 
 lumber." 
 
 All this I grant is very far from prov- 
 ing, that the class of men I am speak- 
 ing of are learned men, or promoters 
 of learning; but I beg leave to say, 
 Brethren, it does prove that their pro- 
 fessional employment is calculated to 
 make them both / and why they are not 
 to be supposed so honest as men in 
 other professions in improving their 
 advantages, must be explained not by 
 me, but by those who deny them that 
 honesty, and are accustomed to con- 
 nect with the very name of Priesthood 
 the idea of every thing base, little, and 
 degrading. 
 
 There is another consideration 
 which ought by no means to be over- 
 looked in estimating the influence of 
 an order of men on intellectual im- 
 provement. I allude to the standing 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 51 
 
 they occupy and the opportunities they 
 enjoy of intercourse with the body of the 
 people. It is not enough for a nation 
 to have her sages and philosophers: 
 these have been found in countries 
 comparatively low in the scale of civi- 
 lization, and whose very names would 
 have been sunk long ere now in obliv- 
 ion's gulf, had they not been happily 
 attached to individual fame. This 
 however is not a situation of things to 
 be desired or sought after. It is only 
 when universally diffused through the 
 diversified classes of society, when 
 found in the thatched cottage of the 
 peasant, as well as gilded palace of his 
 lord, that literature is a rich and in- 
 valuable boon. 
 
 But how is this great object to be 
 attained ? By what means are habits 
 of thinking and refinement to be im- 
 pressed on the vast body of a people ; a 
 body composed of so many heterogene- 
 ous elements, and confessedly indis- 
 posed to admit such impression ? What 
 is in the first place to interest the feel- 
 ings of the community ? If the maxim 
 be correct, that man in a state of na- 
 ture acts only from views of present or 
 future interest, that it is vain to think 
 of exciting him to any difficult enter- 
 prise without presenting at the same 
 time a distinct and tangible object* 
 then Literature, though in her hum- 
 
52 TLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 blest form, must come to him in another 
 garb beside her own ; and great as are 
 her eharms to all who know her, must 
 borrow other charms to eatch his fa- 
 vourable notice. You may talk to him 
 indeed of the " pleasures of investiga- 
 tion, the dignity of science, its possible 
 benefits to society ;" he hears you ! he 
 assents ! but does he feel ? " Ay, there's 
 the rub V Alas ! not a syllable of your 
 fine-spun declamation conies home to 
 his " business or bosom," awakes his 
 sympathy, or affects the heart ! 
 
 But introduce your guest as the fa- 
 vourite handmaid of Religion : now 
 you rouse the sleeping energies of the 
 man, and see him rushing forward to 
 her embrace. He now sees her value ; 
 she is no more that abstract, useless, 
 unintelligible phantom he once ima- 
 gined her, but a useful, nay, necessary 
 friend. Accordingly I have no hesita- 
 tion in affirming, that all the polish 
 and improvement, all the habits of 
 thinking and reasoning prevailing 
 among the lower and more numerous 
 classes of society, are primarily derived 
 from considerations purely religious. 
 
 And here, Brethren, is the pre-emi- 
 nent advantage of the Ministers of re- 
 ligion. Invested with the venerable 
 character of Heralds of the Jflost High, 
 they enjoy the peculiar prerogative of 
 communicating the only intellectual 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 5S 
 
 ideas; adapted to an uncultivated 
 mind, and to these they have the power 
 of giving irresistible energy, by bind- 
 ing them (as it were) to its most inter- 
 esting associations, and intermingling 
 them with the awful images of eternity. 
 Thus they commence the formation of 
 new habits : they give a first impulse to 
 intellectual motion: by an engine 
 more potent than Archimedes 9 famous 
 lever, they elevate Mind from the dregs 
 in which it grovelled, and give it a 
 prospect at least of the fair and bound- 
 less fields of knowledge. 
 
 This speculation is not the air-built 
 fabric of the theorist. I appeal to fact, 
 stubborn, undeniable fact. Without 
 demanding your implicit submission 
 to the high authority of the celebrated 
 author * of "the Spirit of I^aws," who 
 has asserted that wherever there are 
 no priests the people are barbarians — 
 without insisting on the striking fact, 
 that all the mental improvement of 
 Greece and Rome was founded on, and 
 derived from, their mythological fa- 
 bles, which, though adorned by the 
 poet, were undoubtedly invented by 
 the priest; I would ask in general, 
 what is the intellectual condition of 
 those countries where the clerical 
 order is thinly sown? If we were to 
 
 * Spirit of Laws, vol. 2. book 2. 
 
54 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 believe a certain class of declaimers 
 (for, lauded be God, they are nothing 
 more) we would suppose them to be 
 perfect paradises of science — tilled with 
 trees of knowledge of spontaneous 
 growth, expanding their branches on 
 every side, and laden with all manner 
 of precious and fragrant fruits. But 
 is it thus ? I fairly ask the question : 
 Nay, is it not a fact, and a fact perfectly 
 notorious, that those are the very coun- 
 tries and sections of country where 
 humanity weeps over her degrada- 
 tion ; where mind has scarce begun to 
 germinate, and distinguish its posses- 
 sor from the " brutes that perish ?" On 
 the other hand, who, in accounting for 
 the acuteness of apprehension, the 
 spirit of investigation (however in 
 some cases improperly directed) and 
 the enlargement of mental resources, 
 which pre-eminently distinguish a cer- 
 tain section of our country, — I mean 
 New England, — will dare to overlook 
 her established order of Clergy t 
 
 I am aware of the objection that I 
 am now to confront, from facts sup- 
 posed to have occured in the European 
 world* " Who caused the decline of 
 Roman and Orecian literature ? Who 
 sunk the world into a state more hor- 
 rid than its primitive chaos, by extin- 
 guishing the sun of science in his rapid 
 course to meridian splendour? By 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 55 
 
 whose ruthless arm was the fair seraph 
 Truth precipitated into a foul and 
 gloomy dungeon, and there confined 
 for ages ? Whose ? The priests ; un- 
 doubtedly the priests : The proof is re- 
 corded in every page of history/' 
 Brethren, were we to judge of the force 
 of an argument from the force, or 
 rather the fury, with which it is urged, 
 and the pertinacity with which it is 
 supported, we would imagine this to 
 be one serious indeed. Happily, how- 
 ever, it is only one of those daring ex- 
 cursions of fancy with which great 
 geniuses, for lack of other and more 
 profitable employment, occasionally 
 amuse themselves. jLet us attend to it 
 a little closely: The idea plainly is, 
 that the established order of men called 
 the " Christian Ministry," was the 
 great agent in producing that intel- 
 lectual darkness which for eight cen- 
 turies brooded over the world. Now, 
 in answer, I would in the first place 
 ask, what the assertion really proves, 
 even on the supposition of its entire 
 truth and correctness ? Woes it evince 
 more than this — that a standing priest- 
 hood is one of those stupendous engines 
 whose misdirected force is as baneful 
 to society as their legitimate applica- 
 tion is beneficial ? Does it evince more 
 than this — that an institution intended 
 and calculated for the public good be- 
 
£<$ PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 came, by a series of unhappy incidents, 
 an impure fountain, sending fortli 
 streams of bitterness, poison, and 
 death ? But is it fair to involve the in- 
 stitution itself in an unqualified con- 
 demnation ? On this principle (and let 
 its advocates see to it) literature her- 
 self must tremble, and every thing 
 useful and ornamental to man : for 
 what has not been abused ; and what, 
 when abused, has not produced sor- 
 rows and disasters precisely commen- 
 surate with its original powers of 
 good? I might exemplify this by the 
 art of Printing, that most illustrious of 
 human inventions; but concerning 
 the author of which, on the principle 
 of the objection, it may be very proper- 
 ly asked, -whether it would not have 
 been better had he never been born ? I 
 might point out to you even the blessed 
 revelation of 'God our Saviour, which, 
 though breathing in every line peace 
 on earth and good will to man, has 
 been the occasion of the most shocking 
 scenes in the historic drama. 
 
 Hvit I deny the fact as stated in the 
 objection, and assert that the clerical 
 order were not the original causes of 
 anti- christian darkness. This, I am 
 aware, is very different from the pop- 
 ular sentiment on the subject; but I 
 am also aware that in this, as in 
 many other cases, popular sentiment 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 57 
 
 needs only to be weighed in order to be 
 found wanting. At what time did the 
 Clergy begin to exercise that gigantic 
 and terrible despotism which (as is on 
 all sides confessed) proved so injnrions 
 to the world ? Whatever may be the 
 variety of opinions on this point, none 
 certainly will venture to fix a higher 
 date than the fourth or fifth century. 
 Wow the fact is perfectly notorious, 
 that for the space of four centuries 
 prior to this period, the empire of lite- 
 rature had been in a rapid and incu- 
 rable decline. The causes of this it is 
 needless to specify : suffice it to say, that 
 the undue extension of the Roman em- 
 pire ; the utter absence of moral prin- 
 ciple ; the establishment of absolute 
 despotism ; the irruptions of the bar- 
 barous nations of the Worth ; the con- 
 sequent demolition of the monuments 
 of science and art; and the universal 
 prevalence of savage customs, habits, 
 and language ; — all combined to in- 
 duce a state of things, not only unfa- 
 vourable, but directly fatal to intellec- 
 tual improvement. Hence the observa- 
 tion of Quintilian, that even in his 
 day the Latin language was degene- 
 rating ; hence the dialogue ascribed to 
 the celebrated Pliny, 01^ the causes of 
 the decline of Roman eloquence ; and 
 hence the fact that subsequent to him, 
 no superior Roman classic is to be 
 
58 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 found. Where were the priests in 
 these ill-omened times? Where were 
 they ? In the dungeon, on the scaffold. 
 at the stake — bearing testimony for 
 their God, and sealing their testimony 
 with their blood ! 
 
 It is not denied, that subsequently to 
 this, when enthroned on the ruins of 
 Paganism, and established in imperial 
 favour, they beeame infeeted with the 
 wide-spreading malady : then they 
 also beeame centres of pestilence ; and, 
 being enveloped in the rushing dark- 
 ness by a very common re-action, in- 
 creased that darkness. In other words, 
 contracting, from prevailing example, 
 an intellectual degeneracy, they in 
 turn became influential, and most 
 powerfully contributed to extend de- 
 generacy around. Their usurpations 
 and tyrannies were nothing more than 
 the natural consequences of this deplo- 
 able state of things. They found the 
 lamp of science utterly extinguished % 
 and it is scarcely to be wondered at, 
 that they improved the opportunity to 
 become " blind leaders of the blind." 
 They saw the fair fabric of civiliza- 
 tion cloven to the base — fallen to the 
 ground ; and, instead of uselessly weep- 
 ing 9 they aspired to reign o'er the ruin. 
 In fine, like Csesar, they saw the prac- 
 ticability of reducing a world to bon- 
 dage — and who of mere mortal mould 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 59 
 
 could hare resisted a temptation so al- 
 luring ? Still, like Csesar, they did not 
 cause the evil : they only took advan- 
 tage of the wretched times in which 
 they lived : and had they not, such was 
 the state of things, that, in all proba- 
 bility, a tyrant yet more hideous would 
 have grasped the sceptre. I say not 
 this to vindicate their conduct, but 
 simply to show that, if they did exalt 
 themselves " above all called Ood," 
 and to confirm their usurpation, 
 shackled the mental energies of man, 
 they did so, in the first instance, not by 
 violence, but by invitation, from the 
 concurring circumstances in which 
 they were placed. 
 
 But I would be unfaithful to my 
 task, Brethren, did I omit another 
 claim they can boldly make to the in- 
 dulgence of the man of science. Of 
 the little cultivation which survived 
 the wreck of Roman greatness, the 
 Clergy were the sole patrons and preser- 
 vers* If Literature, from shining as 
 the great orb of day, enlightening and 
 adorning the earth with its beams, 
 dwindled into a dying spark ; let it 
 not be forgotten that this spark was 
 preserved from extinction by the 
 Christian Priesthood. I need scarcely 
 state that the word Clergyman is the 
 same with that formerly used to desig- 
 nate one capable of writing, or call to 
 
CO PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 
 
 your recollection a fact still more strik- 
 ing, that in consideration of the abso- 
 lute need of their literary services to 
 the public, they received the privilege 
 of exemption in many cases from cap- 
 ital punishment. It is sufficient to 
 make the broad assertion, for it is in- 
 controvertible, that for four hundred 
 years, they were the centre of all 
 knowledge, both human and divine. 
 Thus, if instrumental in the general 
 ill, they were the only class of men 
 found to attempt an atonement, by 
 alleviating its weight, and setting 
 bounds to its horrid progress. 
 
 And who burst at length the unhal- 
 lowed prison of darkness and despair, 
 which, to the disgrace of humanity, 
 had so long confined ail that is dignify- 
 ing in life, and comforting in death ? 
 Who, standing over the grave of mur- 
 dered Truth, pronounced the reviving 
 sentence — " Rise, come forth V 9 Who 
 re-lighted the torch of knowledge 
 with fire from heaven, enterprised to 
 bear it over the waves, fix it on every 
 mountain top, and so gloriously suc- 
 ceeded, that in a few years it may be 
 almost affirmed, earth's remotest 
 bounds were illumined with its blaze ? 
 Great Arbiter of the destinies of man I 
 Thou didst the work 5 and when we 
 forget thy compassions, may our 
 tongues cleave to the roofs of our 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 61 
 
 mouths — may our right hands fall 
 nerveless by our side ! But, Brethren, I 
 feel no hesitation in affirming:, that 
 this illustrious event, so important in 
 all points of view to our happiness, 
 and so auspieious to our hopes, is, un- 
 der God, to be attributed to the Chris- 
 tian *JfLinistry. Is it necessary to de- 
 tail ? Who but a priest, at the head of 
 a band of priests, first dissolved the 
 charm of papal supremacy, laughed 
 at the fulminations of the anti-chris- 
 tian tyrant, and announced "Liberty" 
 to the world ? Who, I would ash with 
 redoubled emphasis, after preserving 
 from age to age, dragged from its se- 
 questered hiding-place the classic 
 page* renewing a Tally's thunder and 
 a Homer's song ? " This too claimed 
 by the priests." Yes, Brethren, the 
 priests ; call them by what name you 
 please — the Religious Order * were the 
 achievers of the glorious enterprise. 
 
 * The question, whether the restoration of Literature 
 was the effect of the reformation in religion, or vice versa, 
 is entirely unimportant. If, on the one hand, it be granted, 
 that commencing literary improvement produced those 
 materials on which our theological Reformers worked 
 with such surprising success ; it is evident, on the other, 
 that a revival of letters could never have been consum- 
 mated without a reformation in religion. A popish lite- 
 rature must of necessity be partial ; and more than this 
 was never contemplated by Leo. 
 
63 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 Blessed be God ! When I look around 
 me in the world, I ean boldly declare, 
 that the laurels they have won are not 
 wilted on their brow — that the honour- 
 able fame of forefathers has not been 
 sullied by the degeneracy of the sons — 
 that the latter succeed to their rewards 
 by a far better than hereditary claim. 
 There is not a department in the wide 
 extended circle of knowledge, but they 
 fill with reputation and success. To 
 their high honour be it said, that in 
 universities and academies, they occu- 
 py the highest and most important 
 stations; and is it going too far, my 
 auditors, to say, that theirs seems pecu- 
 liarly the province, of leading the 
 youthful mind through the clouds of 
 ignorance, and the mazes of doubt, to 
 the intellectual Eden ? The parish 
 pastor too ! humble, comparatively as 
 
 It may not be improper to remark in this connexion, 
 that in the great revolution which took place in the 16th 
 century, there appear to be three stages : — 1st. An ex- 
 citement of attention to letters, through the influence of 
 learned Greeks from Constantinople (most of them pro- 
 bably of the clerical order,) the patronage of Leo X, the 
 discovery of ancient manuscripts in Monasteries, &c. 
 &c. : 2d. A bold and successful attempt to shake oiFthe 
 fetters of Popery : And, 3dly. In consequence a general 
 liberty of sentiment and diffusion of knowledge. In the 
 first and second, the most important part undoubtedly 
 was performed by the Clergy. 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 63 
 
 is bis walk* and lowly his pretensions, 
 I would not forget. Though his name 
 be never borne aloft om the pinions of 
 fame ; though no son of song deigns in 
 elegiae strains to eelebrate his memory, 
 he also is a " light of the world," and 
 dear therefore to the bosom of every 
 enlightened well-wisher to the mental 
 dignity of man. 
 
 These things considered, can it be 
 doubted for a moment, whether the 
 withholding public sanction and pa- 
 tronage from the class of men I am 
 advocating, would be a fatal blow to 
 intellectual improvement? On this 
 subject there can be but one sentiment, 
 and I am confident that my prayer 
 will be re-echoed by all who hear me — 
 " Distant, ever distant be that day !" 
 
 II. The next object of attention is, 
 the aspect of our subject on JfKorality ? 
 or that course of conduct, both internal 
 and external, which is to be pursued 
 by man as a free and accountable be- 
 ing, and the pursuit of which is essen- 
 tial to his true happiness. Here I trust 
 my advocacy will be an easier, and 
 consequently a shorter task. 
 
 That we are naturally under a law ; 
 that there is, in other words, a distinc- 
 tion between virtue and vice, right 
 and wrong, is one of those truths which 
 force themselves on the conviction of 
 every mind to which they are present- 
 
64 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 ed. But what is this law ? How is this 
 distinction to be accurately ascertain- 
 ed? These are questions of serious 
 difficulty. It is not denied that origi- 
 nally Ood made abundant provision 
 for the well-being* of his moral crea- 
 tures, by writing the whole code of 
 duty legibly on their consciences, and 
 implanting at the same time a disposi- 
 tion to obey. But it is no less evident 
 that both these provisions have long 
 since ceased. 
 
 With respect to the first; though I 
 would not venture to assert that man, 
 if left to himself, could discover nothing 
 of the nature or foundation of obliga- 
 tion ; yet I think it must be on all sides 
 confessed, that his knowledge in this 
 case would be deplorably limited and 
 defective. The doctrine of "Innate 
 Ideas," and a " Moral Sense," discrim- 
 inating between virtue and vice, by the 
 same kind of instinct that enables a 
 well-organized system of tongue and 
 palate to discern sweet from bitter, is 
 sufficiently exploded. An idea has in- 
 deed succeeded it, and become exceed- 
 ingly fashionable, that by industry in 
 exercising his powers on the works of 
 Creation and Providence, any and 
 every human being can arrive at all 
 necessary moral results. But when 
 they consider the multiplicity of secu- 
 lar employments and cares, renderins: 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 65 
 
 the bestowment of this requisite indus- 
 try, ill all eases difficult, and in most 
 absolutely impossible, its most san- 
 guine votaries must acknowledge, that 
 little is to be expected from this mode 
 of discovery. In confirmation of this 
 remark, I appeal to the Pagan world 
 in any stage of its civilization. It had 
 lost its understanding, Brethren I JE ven 
 its philosophers we find disputing and 
 dividing on the most simple and 
 strongly marked points of ethical 
 science: and indeed so " blinded were 
 their foolish hearts," that many of 
 them, on principle and from conscience 
 too, were abject slaves to the most base 
 and beastly lusts. If this was the state 
 of things among the wise and revered, 
 what must have been the condition of 
 the mass ? Alas ! we have a statement 
 sufficiently gloomy by a writer * of un- 
 questionable authority. 
 
 But waving this, and granting for a 
 moment that every individual of the 
 human race could, and not only so, but 
 actually would, discover by unassisted 
 reason the whole system of moral obli- 
 gation, of what value is the concession, 
 so long as this remains a truth, that he 
 has lost a disposition to obey ? If the 
 heart be depraved, what profits an en- 
 lightened understanding; and that 
 
 * Rom. i. 
 
 5 
 
66 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 there is in the breasts of all men an 
 enmity to virtue and a natural prone- 
 ness to be lawless, is a position which 
 needs not my aid, after its confirmation 
 by the experience of nearly six thou- 
 sand years. 
 
 !Let not these observations be deemed 
 out of place. My object is to show, that 
 the institution of a clerical order is one 
 of the most admirable expedients to 
 settle and enforce the great principles 
 of morality ; and if, by what has been 
 suggested, it is proved that the state of 
 mankind pressingly needs such expe- 
 dients, one important step has been 
 taken in the investigation. 
 
 But how does it operate I What is 
 the precise manner of its influence in 
 checking the evils that have been spe- 
 cified? I regret, Brethren, that the 
 narrow limits prescribed to pulpit ex- 
 hibitions prevent me from attempting 
 more, than to suggest the outlines of an 
 answer. In the first place, it belongs 
 to the ministers of religion, and them 
 only, to present to the understanding a 
 full and connected system of duty and 
 laws, not like the Pandects of the 
 statesman and philosopher, in turn 
 deficient and redundant, liable to eva- 
 sion, and oft injurious to the subject ; 
 but in all its parts adapted to the na- 
 ture, and calculated to cherish the best 
 interests of man. Such, Brethren, is 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 67 
 
 the system of morality revealed in the 
 " Oospel," infidels themselves beings 
 judges. What eye so blinded as not to 
 see upon it tlie broad impress of the Di- 
 vinity ! What tongue such " a world of 
 iniquity" as to deny that its precepts 
 are "true and righteous altogether, 
 more to be desired than gold, yea than 
 much fine gold ; sweeter also than 
 honey and the honey-comb J" The 
 carnal mind may rise against its re- 
 quisitions, and shake off the yoke of its 
 authority, but even the carnal mind is 
 forced to make the mortifying confes- 
 sion, that it is " holy, just, and good/' 
 This was iiie true secondary cause of 
 the progress of the Crospel in the apos- 
 tolic age ; for so strikingly did the pu- 
 rity of its morality contrast with the 
 foul and despicable maxims of Pagan 
 wisdom, that the most hardened heart 
 could not deny its charms — could not 
 but acknowledge it was more than 
 reasonable — it was divine* 
 
 In the -n.eiLt place, it is the province of 
 the Oospel Minister to present along 
 with a pure and lovely morality, the 
 only satisfactory grounds on which it 
 is obligatory upon the conscience ; I 
 mean " the authority of the Great Crod 
 of heaven and earth." After all the 
 boasted discoveries of reason and phi- 
 losophy, we may rest assured, my hear- 
 ers, that the only firm tie of human 
 
68 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 obligation is that which hinds the crea- 
 ture to the heavenly throne ! Talk to 
 a man, urged on by lawless passion, of 
 the intrinsic reasonableness of mor- 
 tifying his appetites s read to him the 
 profoundest dissertation on " The Na- 
 ture of Things," "Eternal Fitness," 
 and "The Good of the Whole;" de- 
 claim till you are weary on the beauties 
 of virtue and deformity of vice : but if 
 you imagine that by these cords you 
 can fetter the Sampson of infuriate lust, 
 you will experience a wretched disap- 
 pointment. You " sow to the wind and 
 will reap the whirlwind," on the most 
 favourable supposition % the supposition 
 that your reasoning is understood : if 
 failing here, what success can be ex- 
 pected in the lower and uninstructed 
 classes of society ? What knows yonder 
 peasant of your "Abstract Fitnesses" 
 and " Utility ?" By what spell will you 
 operate conviction in his uncultivated 
 soul; and subduing all the natural 
 propensities of his bosom, induce him to 
 forsake the evil and perform the good? 
 Brethren, I know but one, and take 
 that away, you remove the only ram- 
 part of morality — I mean a " Thus saith 
 the Liord," re-echoing through his tem- 
 ple from the lips of the herald. Ah! 
 this he understands, this he feels, and 
 with reverential homage bows before 
 the heaven-sent mandate ! ! 
 
FLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY, 
 
 But the Gospel minister has not yet 
 exhausted his armoury. He brings to 
 bear the tremendous destinies of eter- 
 nity, the sanctions of everlasting pun- 
 ishment and reward. Now he unlocks 
 the portals of the pavilion of the Great 
 King, and unfolds the bliss and glo- 
 ries of that inheritance which is " in- 
 corruptible, undeliled, and which fa- 
 deth not away ; reserved in heaven 
 for those who are kept by the power 
 of God through faith unto salvation ;" 
 —Wow at his command 
 
 " On a sudden open fly, 
 
 With impetuous recoil and jarring- sound, 
 The infernal doors, and on their hinges grate 
 Harsh thunder," 
 
 revealing the horrid secrets of the 
 chambers of despair ! 
 
 Is this all ? nay 9 the rich field of mo- 
 tive is but beginning to be explored. 
 Now, the Eternal Father is depicted 
 looking down with infinite compas- 
 sion on a guilty world, and staying 
 the exterminating angel by the blessed 
 proclamation from the throne of his 
 glory, "I>eliver them from going 
 down to the pit, I have found a ran- 
 som !" Now, the Cross of Calvary is the 
 theme of song, and in " strains sweet 
 as angels use" are pourtrayed the 
 wonder* of redeeming love ! 
 
70 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 With such gigantic resources, we 
 may boldly ask, how can a Minister of 
 the Gospel, officiating from week to 
 week, (whatever be his personal de- 
 ficiencies) avoid producing effects on 
 the moral sentiment of his audience? 
 It is true, that he may not in all or 
 many cases attain the direct object of 
 his official mission ; that his ministra- 
 tions may not be the power of God unto 
 salvation ; still, however, the mere pe- 
 riodical statement of truths so grand 
 and glorious, must have an incalcula- 
 ble, though indirect influence on the 
 habits of a people : it must produce a 
 pure and hallowed atmosphere, com- 
 municating moral health and bloom, 
 and vigour, to all within its circle. It 
 is indeed a fact much to be regretted, 
 that with many, the affecting burden 
 of their message is made subordinate 
 to the miserable effusions of party 
 zeal ; that the sublime and eternal 
 truths of God and godliness, are so 
 often enveloped in the mystic and un- 
 intelligible jargon of the sect. But let 
 us remember, Brethren, that no insti- 
 tution, however perfect in itself, is in 
 the hands of men more than a partial 
 good: However, therefore, we may 
 lament the folly and misconduct allu- 
 ded to, (and surely it cannot be too 
 much lamented,) it not in the least de- 
 tracts from the correctness of the asser- 
 
PLEA FOR A 6TANDING MINISTRY, /I 
 
 tion that " take it all in all," the Pul- 
 pit 
 
 " Must stand acknowledged while the world shall stand, 
 The most important and effectual guard, 
 Support, and ornament of Virtue's cause.'' 
 
 These remarks I have made, confi- 
 dent that I am standing on the broad 
 and firm basis of undeniable fact. 
 Where, I ask, would the philanthro- 
 pist go to find the lovelier traits of hu- 
 man nature ; to see meekness, modesty, 
 charity, with all their kindred graces, 
 in their fullest and fairest bloom ? To 
 the land of Churches, — Pastors, — Sab- 
 baths. "Where do we expect to find 
 man warring with his fellow— sordid 
 — selfish — so basely sunk from dignity 
 and virtue, — that even his brute must 
 condescend to do him reverence? In 
 those parched wildernesses where no 
 dew of heavenly instruction falls ; 
 where the fountain of the house of Is- 
 rael is not opened ! 
 
 Oh ! how cheering to the sick and 
 weary traveller, after journeying to- 
 wards the close of the day, surrounded 
 with images of moral death, and brood- 
 ing over the thick and damning proofs 
 starting up in quick succession, of the 
 wretchedness and crime of his species — 
 suddenly, through a forest's nodding 
 tops, to catch a glimpse of the tall spire 
 
72 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 of a " Village Church" glittering in the 
 western ray : " Ifonder — yonder," (he 
 exclaims) " 1 behold a spot of verdure 
 in the howling waste, on which my tor- 
 tured feelings can repose ; there, will I 
 find some moral loveliness to compen- 
 sate for the past; there, is some kind 
 heart that throbs for the sorrows of 
 another ; there, is some kind hand 
 open to the necessities of the wretched, 
 there, will I meet a brother!!" — and 
 he is not deceived % my life on it — he is 
 not deceived. 
 
 In further illustration, I would point 
 out to you the rapid and astonishing ef- 
 fects of the establishment of the living 
 messenger, in new and barbarous dis- 
 tricts of country. Have we not heard 
 things on this subject almost incredi- 
 ble ? Have we not heard of men with 
 nothing but their Bibles in their hands, 
 merging themselves in our western fo- 
 rest, and in a very few months, sending 
 forth from the bosom of the wilderness, 
 the thrilling tidings that " by the grace 
 of God" they had created little gardens 
 of the liord, blooming and blossoming 
 as the rose ; that the drunkard, the 
 profligate, the vindictive, the vile out- 
 cast from society, were become trees of 
 righteousness, planted by rivers of liv- 
 ing water, and yielding fruit which 
 maketh glad the heart of both God and 
 man ? ]>oes not the Missionary's shout 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 73 
 
 of " Victory !" still from time to time 
 vibrate on our ears from one section 
 of country, and— another, and— ano- 
 ther? 
 
 Thank God, these facts are so notori- 
 ous that they cease to surprise : we lis- 
 ten to the accounts of the herald of the 
 cross, with the idea that such revolu- 
 tions are things of course ; the natural 
 consequence of the establishment ?f the 
 Christian priesthood. 
 
 III. Your attention is now requested 
 to the third subject of inquiry— the ef- 
 fects of a Religious Ministry on social 
 order* To those who are convinced of 
 the correctness of the observations just 
 made, this point may appear already 
 settled, and put beyond the need of 
 further illustration. If " righteousness 
 exalteth a nation; 99 if the strongest 
 and most enduring bulwark of politi- 
 cal happiness, be the integrity of the 
 body of the people ; it will necessarily 
 follow* that the Institution I am advo- 
 cating occupies no mean rank among; 
 the safeguards of the public weal. It 
 may not be amiss, however, to enter 
 into a short detail. 
 
 What is a well-ordered civil polity ? 
 Without pretending to give a formal 
 definition, we may describe it to be a 
 " voluntary association of men, in 
 which each individual sacrifices some 
 private rights for the undisturbed pos- 
 
74 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 session of the rest; binds himself to 
 conformity with certain established 
 regulations, and engages obedience to 
 certain constituted authorities.' ' JBut 
 to effect a combination of this kind, it 
 is evident there must be certain princi- 
 ples of union in those who compose it. 
 To give an example — If Government 
 be a voluntary association of indivi- 
 duals for the good of the whole ; there 
 must be found in each, a spirit of ac- 
 commodation, and mutual regard. If 
 private rights are to be sacrificed; 
 then, natural self-will, is to be super- 
 seded by deference to the rights of 
 others, and a disposition to do unto 
 others as we would that they should do 
 unto us. If obedience be expected to 
 certain constituted authorities ; who 
 sees not the necessity of meekness, do- 
 cility, and self-government? On the 
 same principle it might easily be 
 shown, that benevolence, temperance, 
 industry, and all the moral virtues are 
 the proper roots of the fair tree of poli- 
 tical happiness. When these, its na- 
 tural support, are rotten and decayed 
 — vain are all the props of armies, na- 
 vies, and legislative provision : the first 
 blast from the wilderness levels it with 
 all its honours to the ground. Under a 
 sense of this, all discerning govern- 
 ments have acted ; under the impres- 
 sion that the higher they could elevate 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 75 
 
 the tone of publie morality, the more 
 firmly they secured their own stability, 
 they have enacted laws, held forth 
 rewards, endowed academies and 
 schools, not so much to accomplish any 
 direct political object, as to diffuse cor- 
 rect and sobered habits through the 
 community. They acted wisely, breth- 
 ren ! These are the means, under God, 
 of guarding, and transmitting from 
 father to son the palladium of social 
 order and felicity. 
 
 But the enumeration is defective ; 
 and no considerations of prudish mo- 
 desty, of morbid, rather let me call it 
 affected delicacy, prevent me from ad- 
 ding to it " The Christian JfKinistry." 
 In using the phrase Christian JfKnis- 
 try, I of course 'will not be understood 
 as referring to those incarnate dae- 
 mons of the eleventh, twelfth, and 
 thirteenth centuries, whom €*od Al- 
 mighty in his tierce indignation flung 
 into the world to cairse it % and who, in 
 the disguise of priests, did curse it to a 
 degree unparalled in its annals. I 
 simply mean an order of men employ- 
 ed in religion, performing their ap- 
 propriate duties, and very respectable 
 specimens of whom are found scatter- 
 ed in every direction through our land. 
 Let none deny my right to make this 
 distinction : so long as the existence of 
 tyrants, proves nothing against a 
 
76 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 standing magistracy, so long as the 
 horrors of a degenerate democracy 
 are no argument against a well gov- 
 erned republic ; so long I have a right, 
 to distinguish between an institution, 
 and its perversion by the depravity 
 of men. This remark was in sub- 
 stance made in a former part of the 
 discussion, and it is now repeated, to 
 serve as a full answer to the stale and 
 pitiful exception made against the 
 Clergy, from the blighting influence 
 of the Roman hierarchy, on the civil 
 governments connected with it. In 
 that case, let it be remembered, we find 
 the order in its worst and degenerate 
 stage — rotten to the core, and almost 
 deprived of identity, when compared 
 with itself in other days, life have 
 reason to thank God, that in our land 
 at least, it has returned to first princi- 
 ples, and the progress of moral and 
 political light, forbids the apprehen- 
 sion that it will soon degenerate into 
 an enemy of the public and people. 
 On the contrary, we have every reason 
 to hope, that the once fallen star, will 
 long continue to move in its legitimate 
 orbit; and by diffusing a kind and 
 wholesome influence on the moral, 
 prove the richest benefaction to the 
 political world. 
 
 But to form proper conceptions on 
 this subject, more is to be taken into 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 77 
 
 consideration than the mere fact, that 
 the Clergy are the professed and official 
 inculcators of virtuous sentiment. Our 
 estimate must include all those venera- 
 ble institutions connected with them ; 
 and which, with them, always stand 
 or fall. 
 
 Who can calculate the political be- 
 nefits of the Christian Sabbath ; that 
 admirable check to progress in crime, 
 by which one day in seven regularly 
 interposes to insulate schemes of re- 
 venge — break the impetus of the tor- 
 rent of corruption — interrupt, and per- 
 haps prevent the formation of disorga- 
 nizing habits in the community ? This 
 may appear to some a reflection of tri- 
 fling moment; but it will be judged of 
 very differently by those who duly con- 
 sider it. Add to the Sabbath the Pub" 
 tic Assembly ; the solemn gathering of 
 the whole body of a people in a certain 
 district, at stated periods, to hear the 
 message of peace and salvation — to lis- 
 ten to the ever welcome story of a Sa- 
 viour's love—- to vow before the altar 
 mutual love — and sit together at a feast 
 of love. A stronger pledge of social love 
 is scarce conceivable. Can anarchy 
 lift up its hideous front among a peo- 
 ple united by such tender bonds? — or 
 if it does, will not the recollections that 
 once they went up hand in hand " to 
 the house of the Xord, to the house of 
 
78 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 
 
 the mighty Ood of Jacob; 99 there took 
 sweet counsel together, and pledged 
 one another in a cup of Mood ; will not 
 these recollections sweeten the bitter- 
 ness of enmity 9 soften the horrors ot 
 the contending scene, and fling some 
 rays of light athwart the dark desola- 
 tion ? © yes ! They Trill, they must, Bre- 
 thren ; — so long as man is man, how- 
 ever degraded and debased I 
 
 Would to God, these things were bet- 
 ter considered hy the counsellors and 
 rulers of our land s It is to be hoped, 
 the consideration would materially in- 
 fluence their conduct. Instead of look- 
 ing down on our sacred institutions as 
 things beneath their notice, or only no- 
 ticing them, to degrade them into pan- 
 ders to the base lust for popularity; 
 they would join heart to hand in scatter- 
 ing flowers around the altar, and (if I 
 may be permitted the expression) bow 
 before its minister as " The tutelary Ge- 
 nius of their country." It is told of one 
 of our celebrated statesmen, (his name 
 is not recollected, and much less cared 
 for,) that some years ago passing 
 through a part of New-England,* and 
 approaching one of its village Church- 
 es he directed to it the notice of his com- 
 panion, at the same time exclaiming, 
 H Yonder is one of our public I\ uisan- 
 
 * Or Virginia 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 79 
 
 ces." The story may possibly be un- 
 founded : but if true, it is a pity the 
 pitiful libeller bud not afterwards re- 
 fleeted, that when the base insult was 
 made public, nothing eould have pro- 
 tected him from the rage of an indig- 
 nant people, and prevented his dis- 
 jointed carcass from being flung to the 
 four winds of heaven, but the very prin- 
 ciples of Social Order regularly inculca- 
 ted front these public JYuisances I I 
 
 In fine, let our lawgivers ponder on 
 this unutterably serious truth : that if 
 they truly desire to see a death-blow to 
 all those malignant passions which are 
 the disgrace and curse of social man — 
 if they truly desire to see the whole in- 
 fernal brood of malice, avarice, lawless 
 ambition, and revenge, driven back to 
 their native dens — if they truly desire 
 to see politically verified (as we know 
 it will be) that blessed promise, " The 
 wolf shall lie down with the lamb, and 
 the leopard with the kid, and the calf 
 and young lion, and fatling together, 
 and a little child shall lead them; 99 
 they must consider it their most bound- 
 en duty, their highest interest, to be 
 " nursing fathers 99 to a Christian min- 
 istry. 
 
 IT. We hasten to the last point of in- 
 quiry — The influence of the Religious 
 Order on the eternal destinies of man 
 as a creature accountable to Crod. 
 
80 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 Brethren, I confess that I feel at this 
 moment something like a sentiment of 
 painful self-condemnation pressing on 
 my mind, as I almost fear I have been 
 abusing your indulgence, and trifling 
 with the most affecting of all subjects: 
 For what are the glories of Science, 
 what the advantages of refinement, 
 what the interests of nations, balanced 
 with the redemption of the immortal 
 spirit — that ethereal spark within, 
 which survives them all and lives for 
 ever? Does our subject have bearings 
 on this ? Yes, my auditors ; and bear- 
 ings immeasurably important. God 
 forbid that in discussing the advanta- 
 ges of a Religious Ministry, this truth 
 be forgotten, " We are ambassadors 
 for Christ, as though God did beseech 
 you by us"'—" We pray you in Christ's 
 stead, be ye reconciled to God." 
 
 That we are sinners, and consequent- 
 ly under divine malediction, is a posi- 
 tion too evident to be denied. Every 
 man has a witness in himself s Orien- 
 tal fable is not the mere dream of a 
 distempered imagination, for who has 
 not felt the " fire in the brain" of an 
 accusing conscience ? Some are in- 
 deed found, who pretend to give this 
 idea a practical refutation. Of these I 
 need only say, that could we penetrate 
 their bosoms — could we follow them to 
 the " deep solitudes and awful cells" of 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 81 
 
 contemplation— could ire tell the mean- 
 ing of that thrill, those tremors, which 
 succeed the mention of " eternity," we 
 would be better able to appreciate the 
 value of their boastings. 
 
 But it is not my business to prove 
 what the Spirit of God has established 
 beyond all gain-saying in his word : 
 There, in characters he who runs may 
 read, are written the blood-curdling 
 truths, " all have sinned," — " the soul 
 that sinneth it shall die !" For ever 
 blessed be the name of our Ood! he 
 hath put forth all the infinite compas- 
 sions of his bosom, to invent and exe- 
 cute a system of honourable restora- 
 tion. We are informed that "he so 
 loved the world, that he gave his only 
 begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
 on him should not perish, but have 
 everlasting life." We are also inform- 
 ed, that to this Son, in recompense of 
 his mediatorial work, hath been trans- 
 ferred the whole administration of this 
 system ; and accordingly, wta sooner 
 did he burst the bands of death, than 
 he formally instituted an order of men, 
 to make known his salvation, and ef- 
 fectuate his benevolent purposes to our 
 apostate race. " All power is given me 
 in heaven and earth ; go ye, therefore, 
 and teach all nations, baptising them 
 in the name of the Father, the Son, 
 and the Holy Ghost t teaching them to 
 
82 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 observe all tilings whatsoever 1 have 
 commanded you; and lo I am with 
 you alway, even to the end of the 
 world." This address of Jesus to his 
 disciples, is the religious order's Char- 
 ter of Incorporation, granted them 
 from the great King of Zion himself, 
 and clearly specifying their official 
 duties* In obedience to the terms pre- 
 scribed in it, they are to warn sinners 
 of the wrath to come ? announce the 
 unsearchable treasures of blessing in 
 the Lord Emmanuel ; and unfold the 
 nature of that " new birth," without 
 which no man can enter the kingdom 
 of God. They are to convince the 
 careless, encourage the fearful, and 
 bind up the broken heart. They are 
 to visit the abodes of poverty, igno- 
 rance, and sorrow; enriching them; 
 pouring into them tl\e light of heaven ; 
 and tilling them with life-giving con- 
 solation. "When accompanied with 
 the Master's benediction, their feeblest 
 efforts are mighty to the pulling down 
 of strong holds ; their bluntest arrows 
 are " sharp in the hearts of the king's 
 enemies." In tine, they are God's fa- 
 vourite instruments in executing the 
 most magnificent and gracious purpose 
 that ever entered his infinite mind ; 
 and in testimony of his peculiar appro- 
 bation, he hath promised, "they shall 
 shine as the stars for ever and ever." 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 83 
 
 I would not. Brethren, be understood 
 as interfering- with any of the secret 
 arrangements of the Divinity, or as as- 
 serting that salvation is confined with- 
 in the narrow limits of a preached Gos- 
 pel. God have mercy on those fero- 
 cious heart-murderers, who please 
 themselves with the sentiment that he 
 has no mercy on their fellows. We 
 dare, however, to affirm, with the ut- 
 most boldness, with the full belief that 
 truth not only warrants but requires 
 the affirmation, that the fact, of God's 
 withholding his servants from a parti- 
 cular nation or district, is a powerful 
 presumptive evidence of his having no 
 great or extensive designs of mercy in 
 its behalf. This is a subject which ob- 
 viously admits of much amplification, 
 but which, it is equally obvious, needs 
 it not. I present to you, beloved audi- 
 tors, the naked scriptural fact, that a 
 Gospel Ministry is the standing ordi- 
 nance of the great God for the salvation 
 of sinners, has been, and probably ever 
 will be ; confident that it requires no aid 
 from an artificial oratory, to make its 
 way to the hearts of all who hear me. 
 Omitting a particular notice of the 
 vast field of inference naturally open- 
 ed by the subject, I will conclude with 
 one reflection, and the application of 
 it to the occasion, on. which we are as- 
 sembled. 
 
84 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 On a review of the whole, it must be 
 evident to every candid mind, that 
 none need be ashamed of cherishing 
 and patronising the order of men, call- 
 ed the H Clergy/ 5 This I cannot help 
 thinking would be universally ac- 
 knowledged, were it not for the abject 
 slavery of many to their associations ; 
 for their recollection of what the reli- 
 gious order once was, during the pe- 
 riod of anti-christian oppression. It 
 must be confessed, that on the Priests 
 has fallen a woful share of the Sinai tic 
 curse, H I the Lord thy CJod — visiting 
 the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
 children unto the third and fourth ge- 
 neration :" why otherwise that lurking 
 sneer, that haughty supercilious smile, 
 called up in certain countenances, by 
 the most distant reference to them in 
 conversation ? Now, I ask, is this rea- 
 sonable ? Is it manly ? I certainly am 
 no enemy to the doctrine of imputa- 
 tion ; but it is a most dangerous wea- 
 pon in the hands of a fool ; and I beg 
 permission therefore to express my se- 
 rious doubt, whether Heaven ever in- 
 tended it for indiscriminate use. 
 
 It is to be hoped, however, that the 
 silly prejudice I am speaking of is 
 gradually dying away, and that the 
 Gospel minister is rising in the estima- 
 tion of all classes of the community, but 
 those whose censure is eulogy and 
 
PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 85 
 
 praise disgrace. Long may this con- 
 tinue to be the ease % and so long it most 
 assuredly will continue, as the increase 
 of intellectual light, the advancement 
 of the best temporal interests of indivi- 
 dual or social man ; but, above all, the 
 salvation of the never-dying spirit from 
 the bosom of despair, to a life eternal 
 in the heavens, are objects dear to hu- 
 man sensibilities. 
 
 I ask, then, Brethren, your patron- 
 age for the association in whose behalf 
 we are assembled this evening. Its 
 design is to supply our destitute fron- 
 tier settlements with a regular Chris- 
 tian Ministry ; by this means to diffuse 
 in that interesting section of our coun- 
 try, the blessings of civilization and 
 religion, and impress on it while in its 
 infant state habits essential to its pros- 
 perity and that of our nation at large ; 
 habits which shall " grow with its 
 growth and strengthen with its 
 strength/ 9 If you think our enterprise 
 an honourable one % if you have confi- 
 dence in our ability to conduct it, you 
 will of course be liberal in your contri- 
 butions, " as Crod hath prospered you." 
 
 Permit me to put you in remem- 
 brance, that you are not called togeth- 
 er merely to enrich our coffers at the 
 expense of your own. Whatever be the 
 ostensible object of the " Young Men's 
 Missionary Society." 0*»d. in his provi- 
 
86 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 
 
 denee. has one far more noble and 
 important* It is to test the measure of 
 your esteem for liis favourite institu- 
 tion, an institution, whieh lias done 
 more for liis glory and tlie welfare of 
 man, titan any other human or divine 
 — an institution at whieh devils trem- 
 ble, and whieh angels honour. He 
 calls you to aid in its support, not that 
 he needs your services, but because he 
 delights to find in you dispositions kin- 
 dred to his own* 
 
 Improve then the opportunity pre- 
 sented* Tour benevolence this evening 
 will never prove a source of unpleasant 
 recollections % Wo gloomy spectres will 
 it call up to haunt you. On the con- 
 trary, it may be one of those few, alas ! 
 beloved hearers, with all of us too few, 
 consolatory incidents, on which you 
 can pillow your dying heads ! 
 
 God enable you to act on this, and on 
 every occasion, under a solemn sense ot 
 your duty and responsibilities* 
 
SERMON 
 
 IN VINDICATION OP THE 
 
 RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 
 
 PREACHED APRIL 9TH, 1820, IN THE MIDDLE DUTCH CHURCH, NEW-YORK, ON THE 
 ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW-YORK MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 BY ALEXANDER M'GLELLAND, D. D. 
 
 Professor in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church in 
 New- Brunswick, JV*. /. 
 
 
 " Others mocking, said, These men are 
 drunk with new wine." — Acts ii. 13. 
 
 This was the language of certain He- 
 brew wits, on witnessing the marvel- 
 lous effects of the first effusion of the 
 Holy Spirit on the primitive disciples 
 of our ascended I^ord. They appear to 
 have belonged to that numerous and 
 respectable class of observers, who with 
 extraordinary pretensions to liberal- 
 ity, nevertheless contrive to settle them- 
 selves in the conviction of the honest 
 Hermit, who believed that the sun 
 shone no where except in his own cell, 
 and who reject the plainest truths, 
 when the belief of them will interfere 
 with any favourite conceits or habits of 
 thinking to which they have been long 
 habituated. In the present case, facts 
 were before them, with an evidence, 
 
88 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 we might suppose, entirely irresistible. 
 It was impossible for them to question, 
 that an astonishing revolution had 
 been wrought, and that, suddenly ? on 
 the persons whose eonduet they were 
 marking. Though, perhaps, not per- 
 sonally present when the prelimina- 
 ries took plaee, they had full demon- 
 stration % as full as oral testimony could 
 give, that eloven tongues sat upon 
 them, and that a mighty preternatu- 
 ral wind filled the house : and now they 
 were hearing, with their own ears, 
 these fishermen of Galilee, speaking 
 in innumerable foreign languages, in- 
 somuch that Parthians, Medes, Phry- 
 gians, Romans, Cretes, and Barba- 
 rians, lift up their hands, in utter 
 amazement, and exclaim to one ano- 
 ther, * 4 What meaneth this ? We do 
 hear them speak, in our own tongues, 
 the wonderful works of God!" But 
 what was their conclusion ? Precisely 
 such as might be expected from little 
 and shrivelled minds, pent up in the 
 dungeon of their own contracted no- 
 tions. Totally disqualified to enter in- 
 to the merits of the case, and finding 
 nothing in their preconceived maxims 
 that harmonised with the august scene 
 that opened on them, they view it with 
 the most profound incredulity, and, 
 at once, explain the whole phenome- 
 non, by the oracular judgment of the 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 89 
 
 text. This trait of intellectual charac- 
 ter is not rarely found in the world, and 
 many, we fear, are the literati of re- 
 nown, who, if weighed in the balance 
 of plain common sense, would be 
 forced to take their place among these 
 ancient sages, who, to escape the ab- 
 surdity of acknowledging their own 
 ignorance, adopted the theory, that 
 strong drink can teach languages. 
 
 On this subject, the little history, in 
 connection with the text, inculcates a 
 very profitable lesson. It administers 
 a forcible reproof to all those adorers 
 of their own little intellects, who make 
 themselves the world, by which they try 
 other worlds; a partial and limited 
 observation, the measure of all things 
 human and divine. It teaches the pro- 
 priety of a cautious, humble, and mo- 
 dest temper, when we decide on the 
 opinions of others ; since it is very pos- 
 sible that we view them through a false 
 medium, or with undue prepossessions, 
 or without that acquaintance with the 
 premises which can qualify us to arbi- 
 trate. It, likewise, warns us against 
 all precipitance, in condemning the 
 feelings and conduct of others ; suggest- 
 ing the very important reflection, that 
 what we may be disposed to call absur- 
 dity, may be only a repugnance with 
 certain absurdities of our own; and 
 that the spirit we condemn may owe 
 
90 ; VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 its misfortune, not to any intrinsic 
 demerit, but to our entire inability 
 to enter into, or appreciate it — a case, 
 we believe, of very frequent occur- 
 rence* 
 
 It is my intention, on the present oc- 
 casion, to attempt the correction of one 
 of these unfavourable prejudgments ; 
 and one, which we think, peculiarly 
 injurious, whether it be regarded in its 
 influence on society, or the individuals 
 by whom, or against whom it is exer- 
 cised. We presume there are none in 
 this assembly who are ignorant of the 
 fact, that during the last fifteen years 
 the church has been exposing herself, 
 for the first time since the Apostolic 
 days, to a charge, somewhat resem- 
 bling that alleged in the te^&t against 
 the primitive disciples. An extraordi- 
 nary and unparalleled excitement 
 prevails through Christendom, char- 
 acterized hy an earnest zeal for the 
 advancement of true religion, both at 
 home and abroad, but more especially 
 by an irrepressible desire for evange- 
 lizing the Heathen, and by this means, 
 accomplishing the promise, that " the 
 mountain of the lord's house shall be 
 established upon the tops of the moun- 
 tains, and all nations shall flow unto 
 it." Zion appears to have awoke from 
 the slumber of ages, and put on her 
 armour, and resolved, in the might of 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 91 
 
 the Lord, to take possession of the rich 
 inheritance bequeathed to her, but 
 which, through her criminal apathy 
 and sloth, has been so long in the un- 
 disturbed possession of her enemies. 
 Christians are seriously entering into 
 the grand project of christianizing and 
 civilizing the globe, and are looking 
 forward to a period, when there shall 
 not be a tribe in Tartary's wilds which 
 shall not offer to the L^ord offerings of 
 righteousness and praise ! They are 
 looking forward not merely with hope, 
 but with confidence ; not with the 
 idleness of simple expectation, but with 
 the conviction, that this glorious con- 
 summation shall be brought about 
 through their exertions ; and accord- 
 ingly, they are standing up to the work, 
 like men, with a fixedness of purpose, 
 and a calmness of resolution most as- 
 tonishing. Nothing more remarkably 
 distinguishes this excitement ; than its 
 steadiness and continuance. Unlike 
 other moral epidemics, which soon at- 
 tain their height, and sink as rapidly 
 as they rise, this is gathering new 
 strength from day to day. Ii ike Aaron's 
 rod it swallows up every thing that 
 comes in competition with it, triumph- 
 ing over the love of self, the love of ease, 
 the love of sect, and, above all, the in- 
 nate repugnance of men to expend 
 their money and time in the prosecu- 
 
92 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 lion of schemes which will not imme- 
 diately reward their pains. 
 
 Now there are not a few who, by no 
 means admire this remarkable aspect 
 of the religious world 5 nay, who view 
 it with feelings of positive dislike. 
 The great excellency on which they 
 pride themselves, is a calmness and 
 sobriety of thinking*, a strong disposi- 
 tion to recoil from every thing fanciful 
 and visionary, and, as to religious en- 
 thusiasm, they detest the very name. 
 Having thus the happiness of seeing 
 things dispassionately, and as they 
 really are, they have come to the firm 
 conclusion, that all those schemes for 
 ameliorating the condition of the 
 world, on a great and extensive scale, 
 are just about as wise and plausible as 
 the pursuit of the philosopher's stone, or 
 perpetual motion, or any other of the 
 numerous absurdities which have is- 
 sued from the brains of projectors. 
 They clearly see that your Bible Socie- 
 ties, and Missionary Societies, and 
 Education Societies, are nothing more 
 nor less than new forms of fanaticism ; 
 more harmless, indeed, than the forms 
 that went before ; but as certain to be 
 followed by disappointment and the 
 world's contempt. With these views, 
 they feel bound as men of sense and 
 consistency, to shew them no favour in 
 their practice. 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 1)3 
 
 There are others who do not consid- 
 er them in a light quite so unfavoura- 
 ble, nor do they scruple to lend them 
 their occasional sanction and assis- 
 tance. But still they have their strong 
 suspicions, and even in the act of yield- 
 ing to the entreaties of the preacher, 
 or some Christian friend, they cannot 
 divest themselves of the impression 
 that they might as usefully have 
 thrown their money into mid ocean. 
 This, we believe, is the more common 
 feeling which prevails on the subject, 
 a scepticism, a jealousy, an opinion, 
 on the whole, that the project though 
 innocent and well intended, is utterly 
 futile and vain. They do not reflect 
 that the great obstacle to success is the 
 apathy of those who are so ready to 
 prophesy failure ; and who, influenced 
 hy their own predictions, will not come 
 " to the help of the JLord, to the help of 
 the liord against the mighty !" 
 
 It may be worth our pains, therefore, 
 to offer a few considerations tending 
 to blunt the edge of these prejudices, 
 and to show, that so far from their be- 
 ing reasonable and well founded, there 
 is something in the religious spirit of 
 the age, which gives it commanding 
 claims to the respect and active sup- 
 port of every sincere lover of Ood, and 
 well-wisher to man. I am fully sensi- 
 ble, that to a large proportion of those 
 
94 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 who compose this respectable audi- 
 ence, a discussion of tiiis kind may 
 seem entirely superfluous. We doubt 
 not that many of you have long: since 
 proved by your practice that you are 
 decided friends to the generous fanat- 
 cism whose cause we -would plead s yet 
 it may be hoped, that even such will 
 not feel entirely uninterested in an at- 
 tempt to obviate the scruples of those 
 who have not the happiness of being 
 like minded* and whose co-operation 
 it would be most desirable to obtain. 
 They will permit me therefore, to ad- 
 dress myself particularly to these, and 
 perhaps the result of our vindication 
 may be their own additional establish- 
 ment in the truths we wish to incul- 
 cate. 
 
 I. In meeting the charge alleged 
 against the spirit and projects which 
 of late have become so extensively 
 popular, let us admit the assumed fact 
 in all its extent. " The Christian 
 world is cherishing unfounded expec- 
 tations — amusing itself with gazing 
 on a bubble in the sunbeam. The 
 schemes for the amelioration of the 
 great human family are impractica- 
 ble." Admit it all. Still we he^ leave 
 to promise an argument in behalf of 
 this moral intoxication, which shall 
 constrain the coldest doubter to except 
 it from that contempt with which his 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 95 
 
 philosophic spirit usually regards en- 
 thusiastic excitements. 
 
 I begin with asking him if he has 
 ever reflected on the redeeming quality 
 to be found in the principles and motives 
 from which it has originated. I believe 
 the fiercest advocates of moderation 
 will readily allow that there are cer- 
 tain cases of over-heated imagination, 
 which it is impossible to contemplate 
 without sentiments of esteem decided- 
 ly preponderating over those of dis- 
 like. When we see, for instance, a 
 man fraught with sensibility, mistak- 
 ing the aspirations of his warm heart 
 for the conclusions of sober judgment, 
 and, carried away by their influence 
 throwing himself upon an impracti- 
 cable enterprise, we may bestow one 
 thought on his too obvious indiscre- 
 tion ; but how soon is it lost sight of in 
 the splendour of his virtue ! We re- 
 spect the very dreams of such a man, 
 when, giving way to the seducements 
 of fancy, he paints some Atalantis or 
 Utopia, some land of pure delight, 
 where love and joy perpetual reign ; 
 forgetting that it is but the baseless fa- 
 bric of a vision, too splendid to be real- 
 ized in this vale of vicissitude and wo. 
 We admire a philanthropic Howard, 
 spending his life in visiting the abodes 
 of wretchedness and despair, though 
 perhaps, not one in a thousand has 
 
96 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 ever put the question, what ameliora- 
 tion he ever succeeded in effecting. 
 The mere spectacle of such godlike 
 beneficence puts to flight every thing 
 like sober calculation, and we gladly 
 surrender ourselves to the thrilling 
 emotions it excites ! 
 
 I need say but little to explain the 
 bearing of these reflections on the point 
 before us. Whatever be the insupera- 
 ble difficulties which lie in the way of 
 the great Christian scheme, the excel- 
 lence of the object and the motives 
 which have induced its prosecution, 
 are above all praise : Here we find 
 ourselves in an impregnable fortress. 
 The object is to raise to the I>eity a tri- 
 bute of glory from this fair creation — to 
 extend the knowledge of his Son, 
 through whom alone, he has been 
 pleased to manifest his glory — to eman- 
 cipate the family of man from the 
 thraldom of ignorance and sin; and 
 from the pressure of that fatal curse, 
 which, for six thousand years, has rest- 
 ed on by far the greatest part of this 
 habitable globe. To enter on this ar- 
 duous task — Christians have been im- 
 pelled by motives as pure as the object 
 is glorious ; by the disinterested desire, 
 that, " the will of God be done on earth, 
 as it is in heaven," by considering the 
 deplorable condition of those who 
 have no God, and by the conviction, 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 9? 
 
 that a§ God lias made of " one blood all 
 nations of tlte earth," so all are capa- 
 ble of being- restored to the felicity and 
 prerogatives of their exalted nature. 
 Sow, we appeal to the soberest thinker, 
 whether the charge of extravagance, 
 in such an undertaking, be not the 
 highest eulogy? For to what does it 
 amount ? Simply to this. The fervours 
 of their benevolence have carried them 
 so far beyond themselves, have so over- 
 reached their judgment and powers 
 of accurate calculation, that they have 
 given themselves up to the most de- 
 lightful fantasies, and actually cherish 
 the idea that the period is not far dis- 
 tant, when this terrible aceldama, this 
 shocking theatre of tragedy and crime 
 shall be restored to the favour of its 
 celestial proprietor ; and become what 
 it was ever &esi§gme& to be, a Paradise 
 of Gtod! Compare, nay brethren, this 
 noble frenzy with the chilling ration- 
 ality which would fain displace it, 
 and give it over to contempt: compare 
 them, after giving to iUe latter all it 
 asks, the concession that it is prudently 
 in the right. It condemns you to hope- 
 less despair. "With ruthless hand it 
 tears down the only refuge to which, 
 sickened with the sight and tales of wo, 
 you can fly for comfort and relief. It 
 tells you in short, "€*o, weep over a 
 cursed world, doomed to perpetual 
 
98 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 desolation." The advocates of this 
 withering hypothesis may glory as 
 they please in their wonder ous discern- 
 ment, their calm philosophy, their 
 freedom from the trammels of preju- 
 dice. But dearly do they purchase 
 their triumph. It is scarcely possible 
 that the milk of human kindness can 
 flow in a breast that has given it ad- 
 mission. Even if a truth, it is one 
 which Almighty God does not require 
 us to believe, and which no man, en- 
 dowed with the least tenderness of feel- 
 ing, can for a moment think of without 
 horror, and at the same time, a strenu- 
 ous endeavour to practise a delusion 
 upon his understanding in respect to it. 
 I now proceed to present the subject 
 in a point of view somewhat different, 
 and ask whether the persons -whose se- 
 rene minds revolt from the spirit which 
 at present prevails in the christian 
 world on the score of its supposed in- 
 temperance, have well considered, that 
 some portion of this evil is essential in alt 
 departments to vigorous and successful 
 exertion. Man is the child of passion, 
 and acts well only when under the in- 
 fluence of high and powerful excite- 
 ment. Calm philosophy is an instruc- 
 tive and pleasing companion no doubt ; 
 but calm philosophy has seldom led her 
 votary up the toilsome steep to his high 
 destination. To do this he must feel; 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 99 
 
 lie must feel deeply ; a lire inust be kin- 
 dled in lii§ bosom which many waters 
 cannot quench 5 then shall he achieve 
 
 what to common minds i§ little short of 
 miracle. This truth is exemplified in 
 all the great national revolutions 
 which have been witnessed on earth. 
 Have ever the shaMes of a tyrant been 
 broken by abstract reasoning? Where 
 is the people who have redeemed their 
 rights unless ~hy the exhibition of a 
 glorious fanaticism for liberty ? It is 
 true, an unenlightened and ill-directed 
 zeal is often the parent of most fatal 
 disorders. But who, reasoning from 
 this fact, would give his sanction to an 
 unmanly apathy, a waveless calm, a 
 slumber of the dead? Who does not 
 exclaim, " Better numberless disor- 
 ders, better a thousand noble ventures 
 beyond the cold rules of prudence and 
 statute technicalities, than that palsy 
 of the soul, suffering under which, a 
 whole people can forget that they are 
 men, and place their willing necks be- 
 neath the foot of some domineering 
 despot ?" 
 
 In connection with this, I may also 
 remark, that the wise observer will 
 find no difficulty in conniving at the 
 sin of even extravagant hopes anil anti* 
 cipations* The power of sentiment over 
 the judgment is well known, and the 
 man who feels deeply, seldom thinks 
 
100 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 correctly. £lated with the idea of a 
 magnificent undertaking, he is not apt 
 to judge of it precisely as he would of 
 a mathematical theorem in the soli- 
 tude of his closet 5 but this very inac- 
 curacy we love, not merely because of 
 the object and motive, (this considera- 
 tion has been already before you,) but 
 on account of its direct connection with 
 success. We admire the very falsehoods 
 of a people awaking to a sense of their 
 degradation 5 and if, in the raptures of 
 their first love to freedom, they paint in 
 the distant horizon gay and brilliant, 
 but unsubstantial visions, we know 
 that they are not only harmless, but 
 have the effect of animating their cou- 
 rage and inspiring them with a heroic 
 fortitude : It is their very extravagance 
 which keeps alive their virtue and se- 
 cures their political salvation. Our 
 conclusion then in reference to the sub- 
 ject before us, is that Christians in pro- 
 secuting their schemes for the amelio- 
 ration of the human family, are pro- 
 secuting them in the best possible tem- 
 per for success. Aware of the number- 
 less difficulties in the way, they are very 
 wisely working themselves up into that 
 sort of vehemence and tention of spirit 
 which is absolutely necessary to bring 
 their enterprise to a prosperous com- 
 pletion. They are enthusiastic, they 
 are extravagant, they are fanatical on 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 101 
 
 policy and principle, because they are 
 convinced that it is only a prodigious 
 preternatural effort which shall ena- 
 ble them to make the most distant ap- 
 proximation to their object ! We meet, 
 therefore the persons opposed to us, 
 precisely on their own ground. Allow- 
 ing the utter impossibility of succeed- 
 ing to the extent we anticipate, we only 
 ask if there be any impropriety in 
 making the experiment whether some* 
 thing can be done. But if an experi- 
 ment be made at all, we ask what is 
 so calculated to give it energy and effi- 
 ciency as the enthusiastic idea of con- 
 verting the whole world to the faith and 
 hope of the gospel ? Our object, you 
 say, is too extensive to be ever realized. 
 True, but this very consideration adds 
 to our qualifications, even for a par- 
 tial experiment, for it usually happens 
 that he finds something great who 
 seeks too much, and it is always wise to 
 propose an attainment beyond our 
 abilities, to animate us in the pursuit 
 of what is attainable. Indeed, we may 
 very solidly doubt whether the idea of 
 a partial and limited success would 
 animate the minds of men to attempt 
 the hundreth part of what is practi- 
 cable, on their own principles, and 
 whether it be not the little word, all, 
 which contains the whole element of 
 excitement. For my own wart on ana- 
 
102 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 lysing my feelings, I think I distinctly 
 perceive, that the very suggestion of a 
 doubt whether to tlie God of Salvation 
 " Every knee shall bow, and every 
 tongue shall swear," sat once chills my 
 ardor, and almost' extinguishes the de- 
 sire of attempting any thing in behalf 
 of the miserable heathen, ¥011 may 
 call this exceedingly unreasonable and 
 unphilosophieal % %&i\& you may be very 
 right: hut such is human nature, and 
 let him who censures it make it better 
 if he can. In all pursuits, in all de- 
 partments, to do much we must aim at 
 more. 
 
 But we proceed to try the question 
 by another touchstone — the incidental 
 good to society which we may expect, 
 will reward our efforts even on the as- 
 sumption that the main object in view is 
 entirely unattainable* Surely that man 
 must possess s& remarkable prudery of 
 judgment who is offended at a de- 
 lusion which, while acknowledged 
 harsnless, can be proved productive of 
 the most solid and lasting benefits. 
 
 Will it not, for instance, look with a 
 kindly eye on science ? "We put this 
 question, not so much front an opinion 
 of its real importance, as from a belief 
 that a large proportion of those who 
 entertain the prejudice we are oppos- 
 ing, affect a prodigious interest in the 
 advancement of knowledge. With all 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE 1GR, 103 
 
 respect for Christianity and its pro* 
 fessors t they are decidedly of opinion, 
 that it would be infinitely wiser, if in- 
 stead of sending: to the east and to the 
 west* a multitude of half crazed de- 
 votees, with their Bibles and Psalm 
 Books, to insult all other religions be- 
 side their own, we would commission 
 half the number of graduated literati 
 to go and measure an arc of the meri- 
 dian, collect stones, plants and cockle- 
 shells, or find out the direction of the 
 Niger. Beside the splendid discoveries 
 which would ensue on these expen- 
 ditures, there would be this eminent 
 advantage, that the liberal patrons 
 could be reimbursed by the sale of their 
 servants 9 quartos, on their happy re- 
 turn to academic bowers ! I¥ow, per- 
 haps, it will not be amiss to meet such 
 thinkers on their own principles, and 
 inform them, that though we are too 
 fanatical to throw away our money 
 for the gratification of literary vanity, 
 when the glory of God, and the salva- 
 tion of eight hundred millions of our 
 brethren are at stake, yet it is quite 
 possible that we shall prove invalua- 
 ble contributors to their own darling 
 science. We might refer them to what 
 has been already done t to the fact that 
 Greenland, Iceland, Abyssinia, the 
 South Sea Islands, and China, have 
 all been explored by enthusiasts ? that 
 
104 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 the most approved dictionary of the 
 language of two hundred millions is 
 the work of a Missionary, and that 
 every day they are adding new stores 
 to political, physical and moral sci- 
 ence. ILet it not he objected that these 
 benefits are only incidental, and valu- 
 ed by their authors in subservience to 
 something else. The same will apply 
 to nine-tenths of useful discoveries. 
 The ancients mapped the starry con- 
 cave, not from any love of astronomy ; 
 but to guide their navigation. The 
 art of printing was invented by a ven- 
 der of manuscripts, who aimed at des- 
 patch. Nov let it be urged, that they 
 who go forth are not qualified to make 
 learned research. True, they are not 
 botanists or mineralogists, but they 
 are, in general, acute and faithful 
 observers ; or if this will not content, 
 they can send the tidings that their 
 painful efforts have molified the sav- 
 age heart, and peopled the wilderness 
 with meek and gentle followers of the 
 L<amb, and then your sages may ven- 
 ture on a peregrination themselves : 
 But not to dwell oik this point, I only 
 suggest the inquiry what will be the 
 effects in reference merely to science, 
 in the space of fifty years if this mania 
 of preaching the gospel to " every kin- 
 dred and tongue, and people, and na- 
 tion," continues and makes progress t 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AfcE. 105 
 
 Not a language or dialect, to a gram- 
 matical digest of which the student 
 cannot turn in his library, not a dark 
 corner of the earth but shall be statis- 
 tically described ; and it is sometimes 
 my belief, that if ever the learned 
 world enjoy the unspeakable felicity 
 of reading an account of the North 
 Pole, they will owe it to some humble 
 Moravian or Baptist, whose warm 
 heart enabled him ti^ brave its eternal 
 snows in the hope of carrying the light 
 of life to some wretched outcast, who 
 perchance, might be found shivering 
 amid its desolations ! 
 
 Were we disposed to spend our time 
 in trifling, we would meet the mercan- 
 tile objector with the same kind of ar- 
 gument. We would detail with no 
 little plausibility the probable benefits 
 of the excitement to commerce. We 
 would suggest that it may open new 
 markets, make acquainted with the 
 products of the remotest climes, and in 
 a thousand ways (if only allowed a free 
 course) influence your prices-current. 
 
 But we address a nobler class of 
 thinkers, those who delight to contem- 
 plate things in their moral aspects and 
 tendencies, and the general argument 
 we address to such, is the efficacy of the 
 spirit we are advocating, in calling 
 forth all the charities and kindnesses 
 of the human bosom. I imagine we 
 
106 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 are on perfectly tenable ground when 
 we assert that its effects in this respect 
 have already been most astonishing, 
 that it has done more to subdue the 
 selfish feelings of our nature than all 
 the expedients united -which have ever 
 been employed. Blessed be Ood for a 
 fanaticism which has produced such 
 an exhibition of diffusive benevolence 
 and disinterested compassion in a 
 world, whence the observer of the past 
 might have been almost tempted to 
 conclude these guests had long since 
 winged their flight to their native skies* 
 {Look at the innumerable institutions 
 which, within fifteen years, have 
 sprung up for purposes purely philan- 
 thropic, including all ages, sexes, and 
 degrees, each striving for pre-eminence 
 in its labours of holy love ; and let any 
 reasoning man calculate, if he can 
 what must be tike effect of the constant 
 appeals which, through them, are 
 made to human sensibility. Mow ma- 
 ny fountains of charity have been 
 opened ! Sow many thousands have 
 been taught to feel, who otherwise, 
 perhaps, would have never known 
 they were capable of a generous emo- 
 tion! They have made the sordid 
 wretch, whose thoughts never rose 
 above the little provision to be made 
 for the daily wants of wife and family, 
 a sublime contemplative philosopher % 
 
RELIGIOU8 SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 107 
 
 who, iii schemes for the happiness of 
 his fellows, in pleasing conjectures as 
 to the good of which his hard earned 
 contributions to the treasury of the 
 Lord will be found productive at the 
 great day, in meditations on milieniat 
 blessedness, and a world redeemed 
 from wo, learns to till \^ the languid 
 pauses between his toils with finer joys 
 than the treasures of a Crossus would 
 purchase their possessor. Mut this is 
 not the whole truth. They have not 
 only given the poor man sentiments 
 and joys unknown before, but in con- 
 nection with these, a consciousness of 
 dignity, a self-respect, which though not 
 usually ranked among the virtues, I 
 am inclined to consider the foundation 
 of all. That this is their natural in- 
 fluence sufficiently appears from ad- 
 verting to the great object they have in 
 view. It is the extention of immortal 
 blessings to those who are sitting in the 
 valley of the shadow of death ; an ob- 
 ject as superior to those usually called 
 great, as the blaze of the meridian sun 
 to the glimmering of a glow-worm. 
 Now the mere idea of such an under- 
 taking fills the mind. "We feel a certain 
 pride in being able to conceive of it. 
 Wo man has ever entertained a great 
 idea without a sentiment of participa- 
 tion in its greatness. We must not for- 
 get also that the feeling of elevation 
 
108 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 proceeding from the consciousness of 
 being benefactors, and to crown all, 
 tbe sacred and blissful assurance, tbat 
 in sending tbe glad tidings of great joy 
 to a despairing world, we are further- 
 ing the designs of the Almighty, and 
 are in common with his Son and Spirit 
 and angels round his throne, his allies 
 in a cause most interesting to his infin- 
 ite mind! Oh, how base, how worse 
 than naught, in comparison, are all 
 the schemes of individual or national 
 aggrandizement which have attracted 
 the admiration of the giddy multitude ! 
 ^This, my brethren, is the peculiar glo- 
 ry of the various institutions which 
 have originated in the excitement of 
 our day, that they furnish to those 
 classes of society, who from their situa- 
 tion, are most exposed to an abject and 
 degraded spirit, precisely what they 
 need, a principle of elevation. The poor 
 man no more sinks beneath the sense 
 of utter insignificance* He finds that 
 he is good for something, for he as well 
 as others is called to drink in the hal- 
 lowed inspiration of love to Ood and 
 the souls of men. laterally may it be 
 said of this wonderous project, " It has 
 raised the poor from the dust, and lift- 
 ed the needy from the dunghill, it has 
 set him with princes, even the princes 
 of the people." Nor is this all* By 
 bringing him on a level with those 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 109 
 
 placed far above him in the scale of 
 worldly distinction, and making him 
 coadjutor in counsel and action, it con- 
 firms his moral principles, and cher- 
 ishes an emulation, a thirst for excel- 
 lence, which shall be unspeakably be- 
 neficial to his habits. Show me a man 
 who respects himself and you show 
 me a man who cannot be a villain. 
 
 There is another interesting class of 
 society on the formation of whose cha- 
 racter we may presume that the ope- 
 rations of Christian benevolence will 
 exert no inconsiderable influence : I 
 mean the young and rising spirits who 
 shall form the glory or disgrace of the 
 succeeding age. May we not consider 
 its various institutions as so many 
 schools of virtue, where the best and 
 most salutary habits are planted and 
 confirmed ? Mere they learn some- 
 thing very different from that sickly, 
 whining sensibility, which can honour 
 misery with a tear, but cannot stretch 
 a finger for its relief. Here is a chari- 
 ty which never evaporates in fruitless 
 lamentations or idle wishes ; but an ac* 
 five practical beneficence, a spirit of 
 doing good, of wiping the tear from the 
 mourner's eye, and answering every 
 well-founded claim of want without 
 complaining of weariness or toil. It 
 is on this account we attach immeasu- 
 rable importance to those numerous 
 
110 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 juvenile associations which the spirit 
 of the age has originated in various 
 sections of our country, and pray to 
 God that they niay soon include every 
 child in our land ; not so much because 
 of the amount of aid they contribute 
 to more imposing institutions or the 
 general fund of christian charity, as 
 their prodigious moral reaction on those 
 who compose them. Paint in imagi- 
 nation, brethren, thirty or forty of 
 these interesting little beings at one of 
 their regular meetings, each holding 
 in his hand the little mite with which 
 parental kindness has rewarded a 
 month's good behaviour! First yon 
 see them hearkening in mute and 
 amazed attention to some interesting, 
 but alas, too well authenticated story 
 of human wo. Mark the tear stand- 
 ing in their eye, then stealing down 
 their cheek, while they hear of Jug- 
 gernaut's bloody car, or Ganges 9 pu- 
 trid tide, or some wretched mother, 
 urged hy a horrid frenzy, making her 
 children doubly orphans hy immola- 
 ting herself on their father's funeral 
 pile ! After this you see them listening 
 to the last account of some faithful ser- 
 vant of Christ, employed in softening 
 the horrors which have left such an im- 
 pression in their young bosoms* How 
 their hearts leap with joy at finding 
 there are wise and holy men who are 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF TUB AGE. Ill 
 
 thus employed! With what emotion 
 do they hear the calls of these wise and 
 holy men for aid, — the information that 
 even children can help them; — that 
 every dollar and every cent would go 
 far to save some poor soul from death ! 
 Thus taught to feel they are next 
 taught to act. They come forward 
 and present their little pittance ; it is 
 indeed but a pittance % yet in many 
 cases, we have reason to believe, like 
 the widow's mite, possessing more va- 
 lue, in the eyes of the IMvinity, than 
 the most splendid and expensive bene- 
 factions, too often the expedient of dis- 
 tempered vanity to procure a posthu- 
 mous renown. 
 
 It may, however, be objected, that 
 hitherto no great elfects of the kind we 
 have been detailing have been found 
 to follow. We answer, the experiment 
 must have time. The excitement is, as 
 yet, too partial and limited to make a 
 perceptible impression on the mass of 
 our juvenile population. It must be ex* 
 tended, it must become universal, every 
 hamlet must receive the sacred infec- 
 tion, and then, if you perceive not the 
 proofs of its influence in the eradica- 
 tion of selfishness, and the triumph of 
 amiable and benevolent affections, we 
 will acknowledge that we have griev- 
 ously erred in our ideas of human na- 
 ture. ilJIL^.:2i 5 ii: 
 
112 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 But our argument is too strong to 
 need the aid of anticipation^ and we 
 are perfectly content, that the tree 
 be tried by its present fruits* We cite, 
 in proof of what it has already done, 
 one simple and unadorned, but unde- 
 niable fact, the decay of that foul and 
 pestilential spirit of sect which has so 
 long disgraced the church of •Fesus 
 Christ. United together in one grand 
 enterprise against the common enemy, 
 Christians have hushed their domestic 
 tumults, have emerged from their re- 
 spective camps, and come in kindly 
 contact, wondering how much of their 
 Master's image they find in those who 
 once were the objects of their fiercest 
 hate. The truth has been found out 
 at last, (the wonder is, it was not found 
 out long before,) that I may differ from 
 my neighbour and neither of us be pos- 
 sessed with a devil, and that there is 
 nothing to prevent us from uniting our 
 hearts and prayers and efforts in the 
 best of causes. 
 
 This happy revolution in feeling has 
 a two-fold connection with the great 
 excitement of the day ; 1st, By combi- 
 ning men together in the prosecution 
 of a common purpose, it must naturally 
 produce a mutual kindness of temper, 
 especially when the purpose itself is 
 purely benevolent. That man must be 
 formed in nature's roughest mould, 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 113 
 
 who can stand nncliarmed in the ma- 
 gic circle of a Bible or Missionary So- 
 ciety. Secondly, By withdrawing the 
 regards of the christian public from 
 mere speculation to schemes of active 
 usefulness, it has deprived the kindler 
 of sectarian feuds of the aliment by 
 which he is supported. The grave 
 Polemic who in days of yore, could 
 have tilled the whole city of Zion with 
 confusion, must now lay aside his pen. 
 Bent on other objects, Christians will 
 neither buy nor read him, and his 
 stupendous tomes must lie on the book- 
 sellers shelf or fare worse. Now, this is 
 excessively discouraging, and hence it 
 is that this notable and laborious race 
 is rapidly dying away, and making 
 room for mei\ 9 who, though somewhat 
 inferior in the art of syllogizing, do 
 more for Cfod and man, in one day^ 
 than their predecessors, in a long and 
 busy life. When the race is entirely 
 extinct, sectarism is at an end; for I 
 have such a charitable opinion of hu- 
 man nature, with ail its foibles, as to 
 believe that Christians would long 
 since have ceased to disgrace them- 
 selves with drawing daggers against 
 each other, had it not been for a con- 
 stant supply of those firebrands of 
 the church, learned disputatious di- 
 vines. 
 But there is still another mode, to 
 
 s 
 
114 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 which we beg leave to consider the sub- 
 ject for a moment, in reference to the 
 question of incidental benefit. May we 
 not consider the enterprise, which ex- 
 cites so universal an interest in Chris- 
 tendom, not only as increasing the 
 average amount of dignified and bene- 
 volent feeling in the social mass, but 
 as presenting to the aspiring few a thea* 
 tre for the display of extraordinary and 
 sublime heroism I as in a word, not only 
 making all good but some great t The 
 chief reason of the pleasure usually 
 taken in reading accounts of extraor- 
 dinary emergencies, is the expectation 
 we entertain that they will be found to 
 have called forth snen of correspond- 
 ing characters. When asleep or at the 
 distalf, Hercules himself is a mere ordi- 
 nary personage; it is only when his 
 arm is lifted to crush the hydra we 
 mark the brawny muscle and " spirit 
 speaking eye." Hence tl\e interest with 
 which even the tender female can fol- 
 low the warrior along his blood stain- 
 ed track, "through disastrous chan- 
 ces, moving accidents of flood and 
 field." She loves not blood, but she 
 associates with it the idea of high phy- 
 sical or mental energy : She loves not 
 disastrous chances, but she does love to 
 see man, her child, walking forth in 
 all the majesty of his being, though 
 often surrounded with accompani- 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE, 115 
 
 ments which make her weep and shud- 
 der while she admires ! 
 
 Wow my brethren, we readily allow 
 that no sueh displays can be promised 
 in the ease before us. Christianity has 
 no such heroes, nor has the spirit we 
 are advocating. It hates them, it de- 
 nounces them and is determined not to 
 rest till it has exterminated every me- 
 morial of them from the earth, " chang- 
 ing' the sword into the ploughshare, 
 and the spear into the pruning-hook." 
 But if by heroism you mean a combi- 
 nation of all great mental qualities- 
 patience under suffering — courage in 
 the most appalling dangers — wisdom 
 of counsel, and unshaken vigour of 
 purpose — then it does promise you he- 
 roes, and such a harvest of them as the 
 world has never seen. It will show you 
 men, who without any imaginable in- 
 ducement, beside the resistless impulse 
 of duty and divine compassion, have 
 cheerfully given up every earthly pros- 
 pect, torn themselves from friends — 
 country — home ! without casting one 
 lingering look behind, and have devo- 
 ted themselves to penury, nakedness, 
 perils by water, perils by land, perils 
 by the savage cruelty of those they seek 
 to save — that at the great day they may 
 appear before their Master's bar, with 
 some happy monuments of his grace, 
 who shall join in the eternal jubilee of 
 
116 VINDICATION OT THE 
 
 the Redeemed from among men ! It is 
 an easy thing, under the influence of a 
 heat of blood, excited by a score of fa- 
 vourable circumstances, to rush into 
 the midst of blood and carnage, and 
 the shrieks of the dying. But this is 
 very different from that deep habitual 
 intensity of soul required in an enter- 
 prise which has nothing in it to gratify 
 a single disorderly passion of the hu- 
 man heart. It is not exceeding difficult 
 to make up an Alexander or a Caesar 
 from very ordinary materials ; but you 
 must steal from yonder heaven its ethe- 
 real fire to animate a Tanderkemp 
 and a S warts! 
 
 I may, perhaps, be thought, by many 
 of my hearers, too profuse in my admi- 
 ration for the Missionary character. 
 I know the comparatively little esteem 
 generally awarded, even by Christians 
 to those good men who go forth to 
 preach the Oospel in foreign lands ; 
 and the significant shrug we must ex- 
 pect to encounter when we propose 
 them as models of the true moral sub" 
 lime* But this only proves the power 
 of prejudice and custom to blind the 
 eyes of the understanding. The sober 
 truth is, the world has so long been 
 habituated to false appearances, that 
 it is not prepared to appreciate the 
 truth. A debauched taste prevails in 
 morals, analogous to that sometimes 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OP THE AGE. J 17 
 
 prevalent in literature, in consequence 
 of which, modest simplicity is mistak- 
 en for tameness ; noise and bluster shall 
 pass current for all that is noble and 
 great. No w 9 if ever a renovation takes 
 place, it must be effected in like man- 
 ner with a reform in the latter, by 
 multiplying specimens of genuine ex- 
 cellence, and thus bringing back the 
 public to the charms of nature and 
 truth. L<et us cherish, therefore, that 
 godlike spirit which has arisen in our 
 day, and which is inspiring our youth 
 with the ambition of performing deeds 
 of noble daring, on a hitherto untrod- 
 den field. Who can tell what may be 
 its blessed effects on the moral percep- 
 tions of the age I Shall we not cherish 
 the exhilerating idea, that, perhaps, it 
 will fly from heart to heart, until its 
 hallowed influence shall extend from 
 the meanest cottage to the loftiest 
 throne — and kings and princes fired 
 with the noble flame, shall cease to be 
 dazzled with a false splendour, and to 
 write their claims, to the admiration 
 of posterity, in the blood and tears of 
 suffering humanity. Multiply ye bands 
 of holy worthies — multiply, go on in 
 the name of the Lord. ¥om may for a 
 time, be deprived of your well earned 
 fame, though this will not affect yon, 
 whose praise is not of men but of Ood ; 
 yet a period shall arrive when men 
 
118 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 shall praise yon, and when your bright 
 example shall recover a world from 
 the miserable weakness of honouring 
 with an exclusive admiration, those 
 who are glorious only in mischief ! 
 
 Thus we have adduced a variety of 
 considerations calculated to satisfy our 
 minds when we look at the subject 
 through the darkest medium. Acqui- 
 esce in the gloomy statement of your 
 opposers, adopt the heart-rending con- 
 viction that, so far as the main object 
 is concerned, all your prayers, and all 
 your tears, and all your sacrifices will 
 terminate in the sickness of disap- 
 pointed hope. Still, Christian philan- 
 thropists, believe that you are engaged 
 in a good work, which in some mode 
 or another will recompense your toil. 
 
 II. But I should be unfaithful to the 
 cause for which I have undertaken this 
 evening to plead, were I to neglect put- 
 ting you distinctly in mind, that the 
 assumption is perfectly gratuitous, and 
 that we have been pleased to yield it 
 merely from a disposition to accommo- 
 date ourselves to certain prejudices. 
 The idea of the absolute impractica- 
 bility is false, it flies directly in the face 
 of the promises of the faithful Ood, has 
 no foundation but in the sloth and in- 
 sensibility of men who can sleep at ease 
 amid the ruins of a fallen world. 
 
 It is not my design to intrude upon 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 119 
 
 you a full and laboured demonstration 
 on this interesting topic, but shall eon- 
 tent myself with offering a few sugges- 
 tions, which though far from including 
 the merits of the case, will be sufficient 
 to meet the sneers and surmises of un- 
 reasonable men. 
 
 We tell them in the first place, that 
 the experiment never has been made. We 
 mean that, until the present time, there 
 never was a combined and well orga- 
 nized system of means and efforts for 
 conferring benefits on the heathen* 
 Selfishness, pure unadulterated selfish- 
 ness, black as it came from hell, has 
 hitherto been the god of the most civ- 
 ilized and Christian nations. This 
 is a plain and simple fact, which we 
 venture to affirm no one in the least 
 acquainted with history can deny or 
 dilute. That there have been good 
 men in every age, who proved them- 
 selves exempt from the general charge, 
 God forbid that we should doubt ; but 
 they were as sheep among wolves, as a 
 handful of corn on the tops of the 
 mountains. Often, we may well sup- 
 pose, would they retire to weep over 
 the sorrows of apostate and benighted 
 man. Often, when reading the predic- 
 tions of the seraphic Isaiah, that " the 
 glory of the I^ord should be revealed, 
 and all flesh should see it together," 
 and stretching their mental vision over 
 
120 TINDICATION OF THE 
 
 tiie multitudes, numerous as the sand 
 of the sea, living without hope, and 
 dying in despair, would they prostrate 
 themselves in the dust ; and cry " How 
 long, © !<ord, how long?" But they 
 could go no farther, nor, indeed, were 
 they disposed ; for it would appear that 
 the saints of former generations, u t*t- 
 versally adopted ihie idea, that when 
 the millenial glory dawned upon the 
 earth, Crod would take tlie work 
 exclusively into his own hands, and 
 literally accomplish the prediction, 
 "- that nations shall he born in a day." 
 The objector, therefore, can employ no 
 argument in opposition to us ; from the 
 failure of past attempts, which pro- 
 mised as fair. We are entering on a 
 Held of enterprise entirely new, and 
 though tUe way be not very plain be- 
 fore us, though there be mountains to 
 scale — deserts to penetrate — Hoods to 
 pass — he cannot discourage us by point- 
 ing to the mouldering bones of former 
 adventurers, who fell victims to their 
 temerity. How many experiments 
 have come to a successful result, which, 
 it was thought, little worse than mad- 
 ness to comBiience — and, perhaps, in 
 reference to the case before us, the pe- 
 riod may not be far distant, when the 
 only wonder shall be, that a plan so 
 simple, so rational, and so admirably 
 adapted to gain its end, as that which 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 121 
 
 is in operation, was not thought of 
 
 ages before. 
 
 But, I observe, that reasoning from 
 very obvious analogies, we may con- 
 elude, that a vigorous and wisely con* 
 ducted experiment will be crowned with 
 success. 
 
 It is an undeniable fact, that some 
 nations have been civilized, and made 
 partakers of the light and blessings of 
 the Gospel 5 nay, where is the people, 
 who in looking back through the long 
 vista of their history, do not tlnd it to 
 terminate in a darkness as palpable as 
 that which broods, at the present mo- 
 ment over the most barbarous regions I 
 ¥¥V, whence are we sprung? ILook 
 back thou child of science and refine- 
 ment, and fix thine eye on yonder 
 squalid savage, quailing, amid his 
 companions, from that cursed goblet 
 which contains the heart's blood of a 
 brother, and call that savage father. 
 If such prodigious revolutions have 
 heei^ accomplished, may they not be 
 accomplished again ? "We enter, there- 
 fore, into the contest, with peculiar 
 advantages s Our enemies have long 
 since lost the charm of invincibility: 
 They have f^een overcome in detail, as is 
 proved l^j innumerable cheering facts, 
 and is not this sufficient encouragement 
 for us to give them battle on a more ex- 
 tended scale, espe<pis»!ly when we con- 
 
122 VINDICATION OP THE 
 
 sider the increase of our resources and 
 our skill ? — which leads me to observe. 
 That Christians in their project of 
 universal amelioration, have reason 
 to entertain futl confidence in the fitness 
 of their instrument. This reflection is 
 of no small moment, as it directly 
 meets the charge we are considering. 
 The most prominent feature of enthusi- 
 asm is generally considered to be a 
 great heat and violence of temper, 
 which its subject mistakes for an im- 
 mediate and extraordinary inspira- 
 tion, by which he is led to anticipate 
 certain events, or the accomplishment 
 of certain purposes, without regard to 
 the necessary and adequate means* 
 But how far is this from the spirit of 
 our day ! JLook at the mode in which 
 Christians are prosecuting their un- 
 dertaking, the complicated machine- 
 ry, the wheels within wheels, each of 
 which, like that in Ezekiel's vision, 
 goes backwards, forwards, sidewise ; 
 and detect, if you can, a solitary in- 
 stance in which the charge of presump- 
 tion can be substantiated. But you say, 
 that notwithstanding all the seeming 
 variety of the means and instruments 
 employed, they are, in fact, reducible 
 to one, tike printed and preached Gospel. 
 We grant it — we allow that the grand 
 engine, in the use of which they place 
 their confidence, is this blessed book, 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OP THE AGE. 
 
 which tells man what he is, and what 
 he is destined for hereafter, and what 
 he must do to secure the favour of an 
 offended Divinity. The question press- 
 es home, if this confidence be not well 
 grounded, if they have not reason to 
 believe that this is the engine, and only 
 one which gives a promise of success ! 
 L«et me inform those who are dispos- 
 ed to grapple with them on this topic, 
 that they meet an enemy strongly en- 
 trenched and not easily dislodged. 
 They will plead that they have as good 
 a right to rely on the efficacy of the 
 Bible, as the warrior on the trusty 
 blade he has tried in innumerable 
 dangers — that observation, experience, 
 facts countless as the stars of a winter's 
 sky, demonstrate a hidden virtue in 
 this little book, which nothing can re- 
 sist. They call vq^ to your attention 
 that illustrious day, when in the 
 twinkling of an eye, three thousand 
 fell down before its overpowering ma- 
 jesty, and from furious persecuting en- 
 emies of Jesus of Nazareth, became his 
 humble and affectionate followers. 
 They put you in mind of its subse- 
 quent triumphs in all civilized, and 
 many barbarous lands, until at length 
 it ascended upon the ruins of thirty 
 thousand gods, and took its seat with 
 Caesar upon the throne of the world : 
 nor did it cease to reign and put ene- 
 
124 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 mies tinder its feet, until in a fatal 
 hour, they to whom it was entrusted 
 forgot their duty ; and quietly laid 
 down beneath tlie laurels it liad plant- 
 ed ! They will then turn inward to 
 themselves. They will tell you, that 
 whereas " onee they were blind, now 
 they see," onee they were " haters of 
 God and haters of one another 5" now 
 they "love the JLord their God with all 
 their hearts, and their neighbours as 
 themselves ;" once the miseries of the 
 world could not raise a sigh .• now 
 they can weep over the darkness of a 
 single soul : and all this revolution, 
 they tell you, is the Gospel's! But if 
 you distrust their testimony, they will 
 ask you to look around. Yonder is a 
 man, who a few years ago, was a 
 wretch, on whom the vices so thickly 
 clustered, whose soul was so lost in 
 baseness, that his very presence was 
 contamination. Now he is the noble 
 hearted friend of God and man, and 
 one of the ornaments of the circle in 
 which he moves ! There is a reform- 
 ed drunkard! There a female, who 
 arrested by a secret aran, in the midst 
 of dissipation and heart-benumbing 
 gaities, bade them all an eternal fare- 
 well, and now you see her in the dis- 
 charge of a daily office of mercy she 
 has prescribed to herself, entering the 
 mansions of the poor to pour into some 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 125 
 
 lacerated heart the oil of joy and glad- 
 ness. 
 
 These are facts of every day occur- 
 rence, and which require no comment. 
 It is of no importance, in the present 
 discussion, to inquire whence this vir- 
 tue of the gospel is derived. The Chris- 
 tian, indeed, will reply, from the ac- 
 companying influence of the Spirit of 
 ©od.* But he does not ask you to join 
 in the same confession. Nay, in refus- 
 ing it, you strengthen instead of weak- 
 ening his argument; for in allowing 
 a native and intrinsic efficacy to his 
 instrument, you give it an additional 
 fitness for the mighty work in which 
 he is employing it. 
 
 "We shall be the more confirmed in 
 the justice of the expectations enter- 
 tained, if we consider that the experi- 
 ment has made some actual progress and 
 that the result is calculated to cherish 
 the most sanguine hopes. We confess 
 that little has been achieved, in com- 
 parison with what remains. But we 
 have done enough to prove that our 
 object is attainable, and therefore, this 
 
 * If it were necessary to strengthen the argument by 
 additional considerations, we might advert to those extra- 
 ordinary and glorious phenomena, usually called " Revi- 
 vals of religion" But the bearing- of these wonderful 
 exhibitions of Divine grace, on the Millenial glory, is itself 
 a large field of investigation. 
 
126 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 little is much. I refer you particularly 
 to the late intelligence from the islands 
 of the South Sea, that in many of thein 
 Christianity and the civilized arts have 
 been fully established, insomuch that 
 scarce a vestige of idolatry and sav- 
 age life is to be seen. IVow, this is most 
 highly encouraging. Let it be remem- 
 bered, that every province we gain 
 from the god of this world, increases 
 our power and his weakness ; and as 
 his dominion is not infinite, all we 
 have to do is, to go on from conquest 
 to conquest until we find ourselves 
 standing before the last strong-hold, 
 and ready to raise the shout of " rtc- 
 tory" over its prostrate battlements. 
 
 Lastly, The promise of Almighty God 
 has secured the accomplishment of our 
 hopes. Here, brethren, we take more 
 elevated ground. Leaving our sober 
 rationalist to his creeping surmises and 
 conjectures, we ascend the mount of 
 faith, thence to take a view of the New 
 Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven 
 to men, and " all the kingdoms of this 
 world, becoming the kingdoms of our 
 Lord and his Christ/' Faith, however, 
 you will remember, is not contrary to 
 reason, but only reason in the noblest 
 exercise. If the Oreat Being, whom 
 we worship, has assured us, that from 
 Eternity the world was given to his 
 Son — that in the fulness of time. He 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OP THE AGE. 127 
 
 " shall receive the heathen as his in- 
 heritance, and the uttermost parts of 
 the earth as his possession; 99 that the 
 knowledge of his glory shall extend to 
 "earth's remotest bounds and ocean's 
 wildest shore, 99 in the name of the Lord, 
 let us say " Amen ! 99 And such is the 
 assurance he has given us. It was 
 given in that first promise which was 
 announced to our first progenitor, 
 trembling at the woes which his apos- 
 tacy had produced, " The seed of the 
 woman shall bruise the serpent's 
 head. 99 It was given to believing 
 Abraham, who was enabled by it to 
 look forward to a day, when, " in his 
 seed, all the families of the earth should 
 be blessed. 99 It was given with grow- 
 ing evidence to succeeding saints, un- 
 der the Old Testament economy, who 
 lived and died in its faith — and how 
 often, and with what clearness, it is 
 unfolded in the New, I need not now 
 detail. As to the manner of its accom- 
 plishment, it is sufficient to know that 
 " Ood will pour out his spirit on all 
 flesh, 99 but yet in connectien with the 
 agency and efforts of his people. As to 
 the period, we need not perplex you 
 with mysterious commentaries oik pas- 
 sages from Scripture, almost as myste- 
 rious, for we have a plain maxim on 
 the subject which we dare to propose 
 as perfectly satisfactory. The time for 
 
128 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 God's fulfilling his promise to the 
 church, is the time when she is pre- 
 pared to receive its fulfilment, when 
 with one heart and one soul, her mem- 
 bers discharge their part of the im piled 
 contract between them and their pro- 
 miser. J>o you ask them when is the 
 time ? I answer, now, now — when his 
 people have awaked to a sense of their 
 responsibility, are combining their en- 
 ergies, are pressing round the throne 
 of his grace to put him ii^ remem- 
 brance, and are determined not to rest 
 till Jerusalem be made a praise and 
 glory in the earth. Had such a spirit 
 prevailed in the Church, the premise 
 would have heeisi fulfilled ages since, 
 and we give more for this token, that 
 the time, the set time is come, than for 
 whole libraries of apocalyptic and 
 chronological dissertations, filessed 
 Master I Behold thy servants wait for 
 thy salvation — come !Lord Jesus, come 
 quickly. 
 
 The inferences from the remarks that 
 we have offered. are these, 
 
 1st. That they who sneer at the en- 
 thusiasm of Christians in the great 
 cause in which they have enlisted, 
 would be much more wisely and pro- 
 fitably employed in asking their own 
 hearts why they feel so little. 
 
 Sdly. Instead if being drunk with 
 new- wine, our misfortunes is, a coldness. 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. i£9 
 
 an apathy, a heartlessness, compared 
 with tbe pressing requirements of the 
 case. 
 
 3dly. The unspeakable felicity of 
 having our lot cast in a day when such 
 bright prospects are opening* oul the 
 church and the world. 
 
 Lastly, the criminality of continuing 
 at ease in such a day, and in such a 
 crisis. 
 
 Christian brethren, let this last re- 
 flection produce its due impression on 
 your consciences. This earth must he 
 Ailed with the glory of the JLord* God 
 himself has purposed it, and he is not a 
 man that he should lie, " nor the son of 
 man that he should repent." But 
 though his purpose be firm and un- 
 changeable as the everlasting hills, yet 
 in his inscrutable wisdom he has made 
 its accomplishment depend upon his 
 church, and you are a part of that 
 highly privileged community to whom 
 he is saying, "Awake, awake, put on 
 thy strength, shake thyself from the 
 dust, loose thyself from the bands of thy 
 neck, O captive daughter of Zion." 
 Though a small proportion of the 
 mighty army which, under the banner 
 of Jehovah Sabaoth, is going up 
 against the high places of the enemy, 
 yet to the extent of your abilities, you 
 are as responsible as if you were the 
 whole. Each has his part assigned, and 
 
130 VINDICATION OF THE 
 
 woe to the soldier found sleeping on hi* 
 post in such an emergency. How is 
 it with you, my brethren? Are you 
 awake ? Are you doing your duty to 
 Ood, to his church and the world? — 
 When I cast my eyes over this numer- 
 ous assembly, and mark the many in- 
 dications that I am addressing a people 
 whom Ood has abundantly prospered 
 in this world's goods, insomuch that if 
 one of the poor savages for whom we 
 plead were admitted for a moment in 
 the midst of us, he would on his re- 
 turn, in all probability inform his 
 wondering countrymen that he had 
 heewi in a place where all were kings 
 and princesses, clothed in the garments 
 of the gods ; I must conclude that it is 
 not the doing of a little which will au- 
 thorise you to answer this question in 
 the affirmative. If I do not grossly err, 
 Heaven is expecting much from you, 
 my hearers, and is addressing you in 
 language you cannot misunderstand, 
 " Since it is so well with you, think of 
 your brethren," think of the thousand 
 million souls perishing for lack of know* 
 ledge I 
 
 We ask of you a proof of your fidelity, 
 this evening, to the solemn trust reposed 
 in you ; and our plea is in behalf of a 
 society, which, besides its general 
 el aims to your respect, as one of the in- 
 numerable institutions which are the 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 131 
 
 glory of our land, has some peculiarly 
 its own. It is tlie oldest not only in our 
 city but our country. It was organ- 
 ised* at tlie very commencement of tliat 
 excitement which in its progress bids 
 fair to confer such lasting benefits on 
 our race ; and is, therefore, a venerable 
 memorial (God forbid that we suffer it 
 to decay) of a period to which we can- 
 not but look back with gratitude and 
 joy. 
 
 Its special object is to evangelize and 
 civilize the heathen, especially the 
 Aboriginals of our country. In prose- 
 cuting this object, they have encoun- 
 tered many difficulties, and have often 
 heen called to hope against hope : But 
 they have been enabled hitherto to per- 
 severe, and their recompence is the 
 delightful assurance that their labours 
 of love have not heen in vain. At pre- 
 sent, their operations are confined to 
 the Tuscarora and Seneca nations on 
 our frontiers. In the former, they have 
 a respectable and flourishing church, 
 which enjoys the ministrations of a 
 young and faithful minister of Jesus 
 Christ, who also labours as a teacher. 
 Among the latter they have a catechist 
 and schoolmaster. The whole number 
 of the missionary family is seventeen. 
 Within a few months their prospects of 
 
 * In the year 1796. 
 
133 VINDICATION OP THE 
 
 usefulness, in this hitherto most degra- 
 ded tribe, have considerably brighten- 
 ed, in consequence of which, they have 
 been induced to extend their plans very 
 considerably beyond their abilities. 
 They are labouring under severe em- 
 barrassments, and though they have 
 disposed of nearly the last dollar of 
 their disposable property, the pressure 
 continues. Abstracting the considera- 
 tion of their debt, they find, on exam- 
 ining the list of their subscriptions, 
 which is their sole dependence, that 
 the annual dues fall far short of meet- 
 ing the ordinary and current expenses 
 of their Missions. It is then a most 
 painful reflection, that though provi- 
 dence is opening a door of usefulness, 
 which never has been opened before, 
 they are utterly unable to improve the 
 golden opportunity. 
 
 But it is not for them we plead, but 
 for the wretched outcasts whom it is 
 their ardent desire to save. Look at 
 them, my brethren, look at the miseries 
 of their condition I They are living 
 without enjoyment, dying without 
 hope, and day by day peopling the re- 
 ceptacle of the lost. Good God! Is 
 there a heart in this assembly, which 
 does not throb at the agonizing reflec- 
 tion, and would not give a thousand 
 worlds to escape from the' conviction 
 that it is the sober truth? Who does 
 
RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE ACE, 1S3 
 
 not grasp at the hope, that something 
 may be done for the relief of these poor 
 degraded Heathen perishing at our 
 doors, and who will refuse his part to 
 put the New York Missionary Society 
 in a situation which shall enable them 
 to grant it f 
 
 

135 
 
 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 
 
 FOR 
 
 ALL OCCASIONS. 
 
 HYMN 1. CM. Tune— Coleshill* 
 
 1 PBAY-B is the soul's sincere desire 
 Uttered or unexpress'd ; 
 The motion of a hidden fire — 
 That trembles in the breast. 
 
 3 Pray'r is the burden of a sigh, 
 The falling of a tear ; 
 The upward glancing of an eye, 
 When none but God is near. 
 
 3 Pray'r is the simplest form of speech, 
 
 That infant lips can try ; [reach 
 Pray'r the sublimest strains that 
 The majesty on high. 
 
 4 Pray'r is the Christian's vital breath, 
 
 The Christian's vital air, 
 His watchword at the gate of death — 
 He enters heav'n by pray'r. 
 
 5 Pray'r is the contrite sinner's voice 
 
 Returning from his ways, 
 While angels in their songs rejoice, 
 And cry " behold he prays." 
 
 * The tunes are called by the names attached to them 
 in a popular musical work, called the " Christian Lyre" 
 from which they are taken. 
 
156 TOR A SPIRIT OF GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 
 
 6 Oh thou by whom I come to God, 
 The life, the Truth, the Way, 
 The path of pray 9 r thyself has trod i 
 " ILord teach me how to pray," 
 
 For a Spirit of Grace and Supplication. 
 
 Jtly soul would plead thine own word, 
 
 Gods " When thou gayest seek ye my 
 face / my heart replies Thy face Isord will 
 
 1 seek." Ps. 37, v. 8. " JLet the words of 
 my mouth, and the meditation of my heart 
 be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my 
 Strength and my Redeemer." Ps. 19* 14. 
 
 O great and glorious God ! how shall 
 I render suitable thanksgiving and 
 praises unto thee, for thy special con- 
 descension and grace, in permitting me 
 (who am but dust and ashes, and with- 
 al a great and grievous sinner, and 
 unworthy of the least of thy mercies,) 
 to appear in thy presence, (who art 
 surrounded with countless thousands 
 of Holy Angels and the spirits of the 
 just made perfect through the blood 
 of Jesus, who continually praise and 
 adore thy holy name,) for the purpose 
 of presenting before thee all my wants 
 and necessities, and, for what passes 
 all understanding, the permission to 
 call thee Father, in Christ Jesus and 
 myself thy child. Tea, O Father, this 
 is condescension and grace, the great- 
 ness and preciousness of which, I can 
 
FOR A SPIRIT OP GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 137 
 
 neither sufficiently magnify, nor even 
 comprehend. Be pleased therefore, 
 to look down upon me, in thy tender 
 compassion, and enable me, by grace, 
 to worship Thee in an acceptable 
 manner. 
 
 Thou knowest, O God, that of myself, 
 I am incapable of doing any good, 
 and especially of calling upon Thy 
 holy name aright, inasmuch as I know 
 not even what or how to ask of Thee, 
 I pray thee therefore, to pour out upon 
 me, a spirit of supplication and faith, 
 and teach me how to pray, and what 
 to pray for; yea, O God, grant that 
 Jesus Christ, the Son of thy love, may 
 make intercession for me in heaven, 
 so that my prayers may be like an 
 holy incense before thee, and that I 
 may lift up mine hands and heart as 
 the evening sacrifice. 
 
 Grant, O Lord ! that I may not ven- 
 ture to come into converse with thee, 
 until my heart is suitably prepared, by 
 contemplating my manifold sins and 
 transgressions, and necessities, as also 
 thy supreme majesty, grace and com- 
 passion, that my heart may be hum- 
 bled and my hope and confidence in 
 thee may be strengthened. 
 
 Thou knowest also, O Lord, how 
 manifold and fierce are the tempta- 
 tions with which I have to contend in 
 prayer, that I am of impure lips, that 
 
138 FOR A SPIRIT OP GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 
 
 am slow of speech, that my heart is 
 changeable, that my mind is back- 
 ward, and how soon my thoughts are 
 inclined to wander, even when I most 
 sincerely desire to hold communion 
 with thee. Come then to my aid in 
 my weakness, open thou my mouth, 
 unloose my tongue, purify my lips and 
 preserve my thoughts from distraction, 
 so that I may worship thee with true 
 devotion of heart. And as satan is al- 
 ways at my side, to lead me astray; 
 therefore rebuke him, so that he may 
 not entangle me, and grant me grace 
 and enable me to gather in all my 
 thoughts and desires from earth, and 
 all sublunary objects, and lift them up 
 to heaven, and place them upon things 
 divine. — And are my wants so many, so 
 great, and such a burden, that I can- 
 not express them before thee ; O drod ! 
 make thy strength perfect m my weak- 
 ness, stir up my heart by thy Holy Spi- 
 rit, and cause it to send forth unto thee 
 groanings which cannot be uttered, 
 and penetrate thy paternal heart, and 
 cause thee to send me answers of peace ; 
 and is my heart at any time averse to 
 prayer, or drowsy, O ILord, influence it 
 with the rays of grace divine, and the 
 influences of thy Holy Spirit, so that I 
 may call upon Thee, as a Spirit, in spi- 
 rit and in truth. 
 Enlighten, O Lord, the eyes of my un- 
 
FOR A SPIRIT OF GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 139 
 
 derstanding, fit at I may desire nothing 
 of Thee, but what is consistent with 
 thy will, promotive of thine honour 
 and glory, and advanciveof mine own 
 salvation. Incline my heart especial- 
 ly, to plead with Thee for spiritual 
 benefits, for the forgiveness of my sins, 
 the renewing of the spirit of my mind ; 
 for a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, 
 Thy well beloved Son ; for a filial fear, 
 a cordial love, true faith and a lively 
 hope; for unwavering patience, and 
 eternal life ; and may I never cease, in 
 my importunate cries and supplica- 
 tions, until I have become a participa- 
 tor, of those blessings, and enjoy the 
 assurance of thy Spirit, that Thou art 
 mine and I ant thine. And enable me, 
 O Lord, by a lively faith and unwaver- 
 ing confidence, to anticipate at Thy 
 hand, all things which I ask of Thee 
 consistent with Thy will $ and should- 
 est Thou withhold Thine help, O pre- 
 serve me from impatience and fretful* 
 ness, so that I may not be disposed to 
 prescribe either time or manner of an- 
 swering my prayers unto Thee but be 
 ever ready to subject my will unto 
 thine, and thus with persevering sup- 
 plication and prayer continue to wait 
 upon Thee. 
 
 That like holy Jacob, I may wrestle 
 with Thee, until Thou blessest me, and 
 grantest me a hearing to the salvation 
 
140 FOR A SPIRIT OP GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 
 
 of my soul. Convince me, O Father, 
 that the more steadfast and perseve- 
 ring I am, even so much greater and 
 more glorious will he the displays of 
 thy grace, and that the withholding of 
 thine aid, for a season, will he abun- 
 dantly supplied by Thy love and mer- 
 cy. O, let me, therefore, always find 
 grace in Thy sight, and hearken unto 
 the sighs and petitions of Thine own 
 child* for the alone sake, of Thy beloved 
 Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 2 C. M. Tune— Mear. 
 
 1 GOD of my life, my morning song, 
 
 To thee I cheerful raise ; 
 Thy acts of love 'tis good to sing, 
 And pleasant 'tis to praise. 
 
 2 Preserved by thy almighty arm, 
 
 I passed the shades of night, 
 Serene and safe from ev'ry harm, 
 To see the morning light. 
 
 3 While numbers spent the night in 
 
 sighs, 
 And restless pains and woes, 
 In gentle sleep, I closed mine eyes, 
 And rose from sweet repose. 
 
 4 When sleep, death's image, o'er me 
 
 spread, 
 And I unconscious lay, 
 Thy watchful care was round my bed, 
 To guard my feeble clay. 
 
INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 141 
 
 5 O let the same almighty care, 
 
 Through all this day attend; 
 From ev'ry danger, ev'ry snare, 
 My heedless steps attend. 
 
 6 Smile on the minutes as they roll, 
 
 And guide my future days ; 
 And let thy goodness fill my soul, 
 With gratitude and praise. 
 
 Instructions how to begin the day with 
 
 God. 
 
 HYMN 3. C. M. Tune— Walzel. 
 
 1 COME Holy Spirit heavenly Dove, 
 
 With all thy quick'ning powers, 
 Kindle a flame of sacred love 
 In these cold hearts of ours. 
 
 2 Look how we grovel here below. 
 
 Fond of these trifling toys ; 
 Our souls can neither fly nor go, 
 To reach eternal joys. 
 
 3 In vain we tune our formal songs, 
 
 In vain we strive to rise % 
 Hosannas languish on our tongues, 
 And our devotion dies. 
 
 4 Dear Lord and shall we ever live 
 
 At this poor Aym^ rate. 
 Our love so cold so faint to thee, 
 And thine to us so great. 
 
142 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 
 
 5 Come Holy Spirit Heavenly Dove, 
 With all tliy quick'ning powers, 
 Come shed abroad a Saviour's love. 
 And that shall kindle ours. 
 
 " I laid me down, and slept / I awaked? 
 for the JLord sustained me." I*s. 3. v. 5. 
 " JLord lift thou up the light of thy coun- 
 tenance upon us." (ofls soon as the child 
 of Crod wakes up from sleep in the morn' 
 ins;, he should raise his heart to heaven* 
 in this, or a similar short prayer, and thus 
 excite his soul to a devotional frame, for 
 waiting upon the JLord.) 
 
 I thank Thee, O Heavenly Father, 
 that Thou hast watehed over and pro- 
 tected me, during the past night, from 
 all evil and danger, and hast permitted 
 uie, in the enjoyment of my usual 
 health and strength, to behold the light 
 of this morning; and I would pray 
 Thee to have me in Thy holy care and 
 keeping, and under the guidance of 
 thy Holy Spirit during this day. And 
 as thou hast awakened my body, from 
 natural sleep, O be pleased also to 
 awaken my soul from the sleep of sin, 
 and all spiritual drowsiness and grant 
 me, with the commencement of this 
 day, renewed measures of grace and 
 strength, that I may spend it, and all 
 the remainder of my life, under Thy 
 fatherly protection, and the govern- 
 

 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 145 
 
 men! of Thy Spirit, in love, obedience, 
 and in the fear of God, that I may 
 carefully guard against all sin and 
 sinful occasions, so that when the last 
 trumpet shall sound, and awake up my 
 sleeping dust, front the slumbers of the 
 grave, I may arise with joy unspeaka- 
 ble, to life everlasting in Christ Jesus 
 my Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 •£ morning prayer for a family. 
 
 06 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing, 
 for God is my defence, and the God of my 
 mercy." Ps. 59, 17. " O God, thou art 
 my God ; early will I seek thee / my soul 
 thirsteth for thee." Ps. 63, I. 
 
 O almighty, everlasting God, and 
 merciful Father in Christ Jesus! we 
 should render Thee most humble 
 thanksgiving, honour and praise, for 
 all Thy unspeakable benefits, but espe- 
 cially, for the sweet and refreshing re- 
 pose which we have enjoyed at thy 
 hand during the past night, and for 
 permitting us under circumstances of 
 so much mercy to behold the light of 
 this morning. We acknowledge, with 
 the profoundest humility, that we are 
 entirely unworthy of these and all 
 other benefits, inasmuch as we are not 
 only sinners by nature, in which we 
 are conceived and born, but we have 
 also committed innumerable actual 
 
144 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 
 
 sins, and transgressions, from day to 
 day. We beseech Thee therefore, O 
 Father of Mercies, for the sake of our 
 substitute and surety Jesus Christ, to 
 forgive us all our sins, and grant us an 
 assurance of a free pardon, by thy 
 word and the testimony of Thy Holy 
 Spirit. Be pleased also to preserve us 
 through this day, and through all the 
 days of our sojourning here on. this 
 thy foot-stool, from all sins and trans- 
 gressions, so that we may not offend 
 Thee anew, and excite Thy wrath 
 and displeasure to our eternal dam- 
 nation. 
 
 May Thy fear be continually before 
 our eyes : be pleased to increase and 
 strengthen our faith, render our hope 
 more firm, and influence our hearts 
 with a pure and holy love, to Thee, to 
 Thy holy commandments, to our neigh- 
 bours, and to all good works t create 
 within us a sincere hatred to all that 
 is sinful in Thy sight, as also a godly 
 sorrow for all past sins, together with 
 a firm resolution to live in all newness 
 of life and holy obedience. 
 
 And as according to Thy will, we are 
 to contend manfully against the world, 
 the flesh and the devil, © assist us Al- 
 mighty Ood ! Protect us by Thy provi- 
 dence, arm us with Thy power, give 
 Thy holy angels charge over us; in- 
 struct us by thy word, and govern u* 
 
INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH ftOB. 146 
 
 in all that we think or perform, and 
 let Thy own hand, at all times lead 
 and guide us, so that we may never do 
 any thing displeasing in Thy sight. 
 
 Be present with us, O God, in all the 
 duties of our callings, and make us 
 abundantly fruitful in all good works* 
 Do Thou be pleased to bless the works 
 of our hands, the words of our mouths, 
 and the thoughts and desires of our 
 hearts x and give us graee that it may 
 ever be our meat and drink to do Thy 
 will, and thereby hold fast the pearl of 
 great priee, and a eonseienee void of 
 offence towards God and man until 
 death. And as we have already re* 
 eeived innumerable blessings from 
 Thee, in our creation, preservation, 
 redemption, effectual calling and 
 sanctification ; for by almighty power, 
 didst thou create us, by thy wise prov- 
 idence we have been kindly preserved, 
 by Thine own holy word, thou hast in* 
 structed us, through faith in the blood 
 of thy son Jesus Christ, thou hast justi- 
 fied us, and sanctified us by the influ- 
 ences of thy Spirit. 
 
 Thou hast also continued thy word 
 and sacraments pure and unadultera* 
 ted among us, from our earliest exis* 
 tence, to the present period of our 
 lives, and hast, in much mercy, pre- 
 served us from merited punishment, 
 from famine, hunger, war, pestilence. 
 
 1Q 
 
146 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 
 
 and above all tilings, thou hast provi- 
 ded for us, in Christ Jesus 9 an exceed- 
 ing and eternal weight of glory, in 
 everlasting life 5 O, therefore, most mer- 
 ciful Father ! grant as grateful hearts, 
 that we may be enabled to spend the 
 remainder of our lives to thine honour 
 and glory, and with an eye continual- 
 ly directed to death, judgment and 
 eternity ; often contemplating the joys 
 of Heaven, and the awful torments of 
 hell, that each one of us, may continue 
 faithful in our calling, so that when 
 the great day of account shall come, 
 we may stand before thy judgment bar 
 and be welcomed into the joys of our 
 JLord. 
 
 And be pleased, O Lord ! to impart 
 unto each one of thy servants and 
 handmaidens, here in thy presence, 
 our part of the good things of life, of 
 health, honour, peace, joy and suste- 
 nance ; and should it please thee to 
 visit us, as thy children, with crosses, 
 and adversities, O grant us the spirit 
 of patience and of steadfastness, so 
 that they may prove wholesome medi- 
 cines to our souls. 
 
 Remember, also, in tender mercy, thy 
 beloved Church: preserve and culti- 
 vate the vine, planted by thy own hand : 
 may the manifold sufferings and tribu- 
 lations of thy believing children pene- 
 trate thy paternal heart; break the 
 
INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 147 
 
 bands of anti-Christ, be a strong tower 
 of refuge, to all who flee unto Thee in 
 tlieir affliction. 
 
 Command thy blessing also upon our 
 Christian Government s pour out upon 
 our rulers, a spirit of wisdom, and 
 knowledge and of tlie fear of €*od ; that 
 in all tlieir deliberations, they may 
 have an eye to tliine honour and the 
 best interests of the community. We 
 commend unto Thee also that branch 
 of thy Church to which we more espe- 
 pecially belong % ever continue to bless 
 it with true and faithful labourers. — 
 JLook down, in tender compassion up- 
 on all the mourners in Zion ; be unto 
 them as a well of water in a dry and 
 parched land. Pity the deluded, and 
 O reclaim them ; be a source of com- 
 fort to the tempted; be a physician 
 to ail the sick ; feeA and nourish the 
 hungry ; protect and guard the widow 
 and the orphan, and be a present help 
 to all the distressed. May our friends 
 and relations be objects of thy special 
 care and tender regard, and further 
 thou the work of their hands. O Lord 
 God! hear these our weak petitions, 
 and be merciful to us sinners, for the 
 sake of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, 
 our only Mediator and Redeemer, in 
 whose name we would call upon thee, 
 as, 
 
 "Our Father, who art in heaven* 
 
140 MORiriKa devotions for an individual. 
 
 hallo wed be thy name. Thy kingdom 
 come. Thy Trill be done on earth as it 
 is in heaven. Give us this day our dai- 
 ly bread, and forgive us our debts, as 
 we forgive our debtors, and lead us 
 not into temptation t but deliver us 
 from evil. For thine is the kingdom, 
 the power, and the glory, forever. 
 Amen. 
 
 JfEorning devotion for an individual. 
 
 HYMN 4. C. M.—Devizes. 
 
 1 ONCE more my soul the rising day, 
 Salutes thy waking eyes ; 
 Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay 
 To him that rules the skies. 
 
 H Night unto night his name repeats, 
 The day renews the sound ; 
 Wide as the heav'n on which he sits, 
 To turn the seasons round. 
 
 3 5 Tis he supports my mortal frame ; 
 
 My tongue shall speak his praise \ 
 My sins would rouse his wrath to 
 flame, 
 And yet his wrath delays. 
 
 4 On a poor worm thy pow'r might 
 
 tread, 
 And I could ne'er withstand ; 
 Thy justice might have crush 'd me 
 
 dead, 
 But mercy held thine hand. 
 
WORKING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.. 149 
 
 5 A thousand wretched souls are fled 
 
 Since the last setting sun, 
 And yet thou length'nest out mr 
 thread, 
 And yet my moments run. 
 
 6 Dear God, let all my hours be thine, 
 
 Whilst 1 enjoy the light ; 
 Then shall my sun in smiles decline, 
 And bring a peaceful night* 
 
 " O satisfy us early with thy mercy / 
 that we may rejoice and be glad all our 
 days." Ps. 90, v. 14. 
 
 O Almighty Ood and most merciful 
 and gracious Father! It is a good 
 thing, to give thanks unto thee, thou 
 Most High! To speak of thy tender 
 mercies which are renewed unto me 
 every morning, and of thy faithful- 
 ness which returns every evening. 
 Therefore would I bow with humblest 
 reverence before Thee, O thou who art 
 the Guardian of Israel, who neither 
 sleeps nor slumbers, and offer Thee 
 thanks for thy guardian care and pro- 
 tection extended unto me through all 
 the past periods of my life, and espe- 
 cially, through the silent watches of 
 the past night, in which by thy good 
 Providence, I was permitted to lay me 
 down under the shadow of thy wings, 
 and sleep secure from fear and from 
 
150 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 
 
 all evils and dangers, as to soul and 
 body. 
 
 But especially would I render thee 
 hearty thanks for tlie great love which 
 thou hast exhibited towards me in 
 Christ Jesus, by choosing - me in him, 
 and causing 1 iny unworthy name t& he 
 written in the JLamb 9 s book of life, 
 that thou didst enstamp thine image 
 upon my soul iiimy creation, and that 
 although thy Image had been defaced 
 hy sin, thou didst again renew it by 
 thy word and Holy Spirit 5 yea, and 
 that I might not be eternally misera- 
 ble, thou didst send thine only begot* 
 ten. and well beloved Son, from thy 
 bosom, to redeem me from the power 
 of sin, of satan, death and hell, and by 
 the power of his death, bring me to 
 the enjoyment of eternal glory. 
 
 d-rant ine, therefore grace, O CJ-od I 
 that I may continually keep all these 
 inexpressible benefits in fresh remem- 
 brance, and be led to laud, bless and 
 magnify Thee, and shew forth thine 
 honour, not only in words, hwt also hy 
 my life and conduct, that I may there- 
 by secure a participation of an inher- 
 itance with the saints In light. For 
 this purpose, enlighten thou the eyes 
 of my understanding and grant me a 
 new heart, that I may rightly know 
 Thee, exercise a true and living faith 
 in Thee, indulge a filial fear of Thee, 
 

 MORNING DttVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 151 
 
 and by a holy life, endeavour to walk 
 according- to thy will. And inasmuch, 
 as I have already daring my past life, 
 offended Thee, in tern thousand in- 
 stances, by sinning against Thee, and 
 have richly deserved being cast off 
 from thy favour and communion for 
 ever, I beseech Thee, €> Father of mer- 
 cies ! to forgive me all my sins, for the 
 sake of Jesus Christ thine own Son. 
 He merciful unto me, O God ! and ac- 
 cording to the multitude of thy tender 
 mercies, blot out all my transgressions. 
 Wash me, O Lord! from all my sins, 
 and purify me from all my pollutions, 
 for I acknowledge ail my transgres- 
 sions, and my iniquities are continual- 
 ly before Thee ; but O blot them all out 
 as with a thick cloud, and, cast them 
 into the ocean of oblivion, so that they 
 may no more be remembered before 
 thee forever. Create within me a new 
 heart, © God! and give me a contrite 
 spirit, that I may, as a new creature, 
 avoid all evil ways, and live in new 
 obedience unto Thee, be patient under 
 suffering, and at last die the death of 
 the righteous, and be finally happy 
 with Thee. 
 
 Implant in my heart true faith, a 
 lively hope, a itlial fear and a holy zeal 
 for thine honour and glory. Enable 
 me to exercise a godly sorrow for my 
 sins ; render me watchful in all temp- 
 
15% Wemm&i* PETOTIOK8 FOR AN IHDITIOUAL, 
 
 tations ; temperate in the use of all thy 
 mercies; fearful to offend Thee; sub- 
 missive under all thy chastisements, 
 and conscientious in all I say and do, 
 as it behoves an obedient child to do 
 unto his father* 
 
 Grant also, O blessed God! that I 
 may always be so disposed towards 
 my neighbour, that I may ever bear 
 in mind the royal commandment of 
 love. 
 
 And I would finally commend unto 
 Thee, all my interests and concerns, to- 
 gether with my friends and relatives ; 
 © preserve us all from evil and danger, 
 and command thy choicest benediction 
 upon ail our undertakings, so far as 
 consistent with thy will, be thou unto 
 us as a wall of fire ; keep us as the ap- 
 ple of thine eye, sanctify us as to soul 
 and body, so that our souls, bodies and 
 spirits, may be preserved blameless 
 unto the day of the I*ord Jesus. Give 
 thine angels charge over us, and com- 
 mand them to guide and preserve us in 
 all our ways and goings, so that no 
 evil may befal us. And, thou Author 
 and Disposer of life and death, grant 
 me at last, a happy es.it from this to a 
 better world, that I may in the exercise 
 of a true faith in Jesus Christ, in un- 
 wavering patience, and a firm hope of 
 eternal life, fall asleep in Jesus, and at 
 the last day, may rise again from the 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 153 
 
 slumbers of the tomb, with joy unspeak- 
 able to everlasting* life. 
 
 O Lord God I forgive all my wander- 
 ings even whilst engaged in prayer, 
 and grant a graeious answer to the 
 voiee of my feeble supplications, for the 
 alone sake of the prevalent intercession 
 of Jesus my Redeemer, who has pro- 
 mised, that all that we ask of Thee in 
 his name, thou wouldst give unto us, 
 and has therefore commanded us to 
 call upon thee, as " Our father who art 
 in heaven," &c. 
 
 
 Evening devotion for a family* 
 
 H Y M N 5. C. M.— Paradise. 
 
 1 NOW from the altar of our hearts. 
 
 Let flames of love arise; 
 Assist us Lord, to offer up 
 Our evening sacrifice. 
 
 2 Minutes and mercies multiplied 
 
 Have made up all this day ? 
 Minutes came quick, but mercies were 
 ]More swift and free than they. 
 
 3 New time, new favour, and new joys, 
 
 Do a new song require ; 
 Till we shall praise thee as we would, 
 Accept our heart's desire. 
 
 4 Lord of our days whose hand hath set 
 
 New time upon the score, 
 Thee may we praise for all Mir time, 
 When time shall be no more. 
 
154 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 
 
 " It is a good thing to give thanks unto 
 the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy 
 name, O JtZost High : to show forth thy 
 loving kindness in the morning, and thy 
 faithfulness every night." I*Se 92, v. 1, 2. 
 " JLet the saints bejoyfulin glory: lei 
 them sing aloud upon their beds." Ps. 
 149, v. 5. 
 
 •§t night, (when the hour of repose draws 
 nigh,) it is the duty of every true child of 
 God, to enter into serious examination 
 and reflection how he has spent the day ? 
 what sins he has committed § tvh.at oppor- 
 tunities to do good he has neglected, and 
 never venture to enter upon repose, until 
 he has been again reconciled unto God, 
 and for this purpose / with fervency of 
 soul, call upon God, for the sake ofjfesus 
 Christ, to forgive him all his sins, with 
 the sincere determination to carefully 
 guard against all manner of sin for the 
 future. 
 
 On the other hand, it becomes his tluty 
 seriously to meditate upon the manifold 
 blessings which he has received at the 
 hand of God, by which he has been kindly 
 preserved and sustained, and render unto 
 his divine benefactor hearty thanks for all 
 His benefits. 
 
 Almighty God and gracious Father I 
 we would reader unto Thee unfeigned 
 thanks «for exhibiting thyself unto us 
 during the past day, as a Refuge in 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 155 
 
 danger. Comforter in trouble, our Pro- 
 tector in the Iieat of temptation, and 
 our kind Henefactor in all our necessi- 
 ties. Our hungry, thirsty, and naked 
 bodies, bast tbou replenished with 
 food, water and raiment; and hast 
 preserved us and ours, (by giving thine 
 angels charge over us,) from all dan- 
 gers seen and unseen, thou hast also led 
 our souls into the green pastures of thy 
 word ; thou hast enlightened our dark 
 understandings, with a saving know- 
 ledge of Thee ; and Thou hast circum- 
 cised our hard and stony hearts, by the 
 power of the Holy Spirit, and awaken- 
 ed up in them the light of faith, and 
 the holy lire of pure love to Thee, and 
 hast thus bestowed upon us, ail things 
 requisite to th.e promotion of our wel- 
 fare in time and for eternity* 
 
 IVow we sincerely acknowledge and 
 confess unto Thee, that we are utterly 
 unworthy of all these mercies which 
 thou hast bestowed so bountifully upon 
 us, thy servants and hand-maidens. 
 Hut inasmuch as we cannot subsist for 
 one ti&omeMt, without tUe supplies of 
 thy mercy and grace, we would entreat 
 Thee, © most Merciful Father, that 
 thou wouldst, notwithstanding our 
 great un worthiness, continue unto us 
 thy paternal care, and renew thy mer- 
 cies unto us every morning and even- 
 ing* 
 
156 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 
 
 And O thou Father of Lights, as the 
 shades of the evening have encompass- 
 ed us, be pleased to abide with us, as 
 thy son did with his disciples at Emans. 
 Forsake not the work of thine hands, 
 and hide not the light of thy counte- 
 nance and thy grace from us, through 
 the darkness of this night. May the 
 holy angels, those heavenly watchmen, 
 remain with us, and be unto us, — as 
 formerly unto thy servant Elisha, — a 
 wall of lire, to preserve us from all the 
 power and onsets of the Prince of dark- 
 ness. When we sleep, may our hearts 
 be awake unto Thee % nay, watch thou 
 over us, Father in heaven ! so that we 
 may be preserved from falling asleep 
 in our sins, and dropping into eternity, 
 In our transgressions % but grant, O 
 Lord, that our hearts may, in the exer- 
 cise of sincere love, of firm hope of eter- 
 nal life, and of true repentance, watch 
 day and night, as those who wait for 
 the coming of their I^ord. 
 
 Preserve us from all sinful and fool- 
 ish dreams, idle thoughts, heavy cares, 
 heart-rending anxieties % from all that 
 might disturb our repose, and from all 
 manner of pollution of soul and body. 
 And should it please Thee to call any 
 of us from time to eternity, during the 
 silent watches of this night ; O be mer- 
 ciful unto us, for Jesus 9 sake, and per- 
 mit us, like Jacob of old, to behold the 
 
Bfftfftiftf DETOffOWi Fdlt A FAMILY. T37 
 
 heavens opened, and enable us by 
 Christ, the true ladder, which connects 
 heaven and earth, to ascend up unto 
 thy right hand in Paradise ; should it, 
 however please Thee, to continue us 
 longer in this world, O enable us to 
 spend our days in perfecting holiness 
 in the fear of the Lord. And O Father, 
 for this purpose, wean our sinful hearts 
 from the love of the world and all its 
 sinful lusts, that our conversation may 
 be in heaven, and that our supreme 
 affections may be placed upon heaven 
 and things divine, so as to enable us to 
 forget that which is behind, and press 
 forward towards the mark, for the 
 prize of our high calling of God in 
 Christ Jesus. 
 
 For this purpose, O, Father ! accom- 
 plish that good work of grace which 
 thou hast begun in us, to the glory of 
 thy name, and the salvation of our 
 sinful souls; and may the repose of this 
 night, prove strengthening to our frail 
 bodies, so that we may be better pre- 
 pared for the duties of the ensuing day. 
 And as thou hast covered the earth 
 with darkness, so also be pleased in 
 thine infinite compassion, to cover all 
 our sins and iniquities as with a thick 
 cloud, that we may not on account of 
 them, be banished from the light of thy 
 countenance. 
 
 Remember not the sins and trans- 
 
158 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 
 
 gressions of our youth, but remember 
 us rat her according- to thy tender mer- 
 cy and compassion in Christ Jesus, thy 
 once suffering, hut now risen and glo- 
 rified Son. Thou hast said, that light 
 shall shine forth out of darkness. O 
 enlighten us then, thou Father of 
 lights, enlighten our darkened hearts 
 snore and more with the knowledge of 
 the light of Jesus Christ, and of thy 
 glory, that as children of light, we 
 may walk in the commandments. 
 
 Bless also our Christian government, 
 that under the protection of it, all 
 things may prosper, that righteousness 
 and truth may kiss each other; that 
 peace, and the general welfare of the 
 community may spring forth and 
 bloom, and that they may ever visit 
 and abide in thine house. Fill those 
 more and more, who are stewards over 
 the mysteries, with a spirit of wisdom 
 and knowledge and the fear of God, 
 Bless thou with power in word and 
 truth, pure and holy lives. Preserve 
 our bodies from injurious diseases, and 
 our souls from the fiery darts of the 
 devil, and our nourishment from all 
 things calculated to injure our health. 
 Look down in tender compassion 
 upon all truly penitent sinners ; com- 
 fort the distressed ; redeem and 
 strengthen the persecuted; restore to 
 health all whom thou hast visited 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 169 
 
 with indisposition ; bind up the 
 wounds which thou hast inflicted 
 both as to body and soul ; protect all 
 widows and orphans as the apple of 
 thine eye ; preserve them as a compas- 
 sionate Father and righteous Judge* 
 Have mercy upon all such as cry unto 
 Thee in their distress ; wipe away 
 their tears 5 turn their lamentations 
 into joy; and give them the garments 
 of praise for the spirit of heaviness. 
 Or ant us, O Lord ! these our humble 
 petitions, for thou canst do unto us in- 
 finitely and abundantly more than we 
 can ask or think, for Jesus, thy belov- 
 ed Son's sake, who hast commanded 
 us to pray " Our Father" &c. 
 
 Evening devotion for an individual* 
 
 H Y M N 6. C. M— -Rochester. 
 
 1 LORD thou wilt hear me when I pray, 
 
 I am forever thine 5 
 I fear before thee all the day, 
 Nor would I dare to sin* 
 
 2 And while I rest my weary head, 
 
 From cares and business free, 
 5 Tis sweet conversing on my bed 
 "With my own heart and Thee. 
 
 3 I pay this evening sacrifice ; 
 
 And when my work is done, 
 Or eat Ood ! my faith and hope relies 
 Upon thy grace alone. 
 
160 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 
 
 4 Tli 11$ with my thoughts composed to 
 peace 
 I'll give mine eyes to sleep, 
 Thy hand in safety keeps my days, 
 And will my slumbers keep* 
 
 " 1 will both lay me down in peace, ana 
 sleep? for Thou Lord, only makes t me 
 dwell in safety." Ps. 4, v. 8. " The Lord is 
 my light and my salvation / whom shall I 
 fear f The Lord is the strength of my life f 
 of whom shall I be afraid I" Ps. 27, v. 1. 
 
 O most holy Ood and heavenly Fa- 
 ther, whose eyes are so pure that they 
 cannot behold iniquity ! How shall I 
 a poor sinful creature, who am by na- 
 ture a child of wrath, a slave of satan, 
 nay, a fiend as it were of hell, take 
 it upon myself to appear before Thee I 
 I am not only impure and depraved 
 by nature, and incapable of doing any 
 good, and prone to all manner of evil % 
 but I am a thousand fold more so, by 
 my actual sins and transgressions, 
 which are more in number, alas ! than 
 the hairs of my head, or the sand of 
 the sea shore. For alas ! I have trans- 
 gressed all thy commandments in ten 
 thousand instances, in thoughts, de- 
 sires, gestures, words, and deeds, and 
 have thereby excited thy wrath and 
 displeasure, profaned thy holy name, 
 grieved thy Holy Spirit, ruined my im- 
 
KYENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 101 
 
 mortal soul, rendered my conscience 
 impure and uneasy, and above all, my 
 transgressions and disobedience have 
 been daily repeated. Alas! notwith- 
 standing all thy warnings and calls 
 unto me, and mine own solemn vows ; 
 and even during the past day, I have 
 added new sins unto the black cata- 
 logue of my past iniquities. Now O 
 Lord ! what shall I say ? I know that 
 death is the wages of sin ; but I pray 
 Thee O Father ! to remember me in 
 tender mercy. May I be covered with 
 shame and confusion of face, under a 
 sense of my unfruitfulness in religion, 
 by which I have caused ethers to be 
 offended and to stumble. Create with- 
 in me a godly sorrow, which worketh a 
 repentance, which needeth not to be re- 
 pented of, that my soul may be grieved 
 on account of my sins, not out of fear of 
 punishment, or that I have thereby me- 
 rited death, hell, and eternal damna- 
 tion, but out of love to Thee, and that 
 I have with my sins, excited the wrath 
 and displeasure of such a kind and 
 compassionate father, whose bowels of 
 love and mercy towards me should 
 have ever secured my unwavering obe- 
 dience and unfeigned love to his holy 
 will and commandments. Awaken in 
 me, a true hatred to all, even my most 
 secret bosom sins, that I may guard 
 more vigilantly against them x and 
 
 11 
 
\Q% BTININ* DfcTOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 
 
 not do as heretofore : when I have in- 
 deed confessed my sins and promised 
 amendment, but alas ! have not de- 
 parted from all mine iniquities. 
 
 Cancel all my past sins, O God ! with 
 the precious blood of thy beloved Son, 
 comfort me with thy Holy Spirit, and 
 speak unto my soul, saying:, ' I am thy 
 Salvation.' I would render unto Thee, 
 
 thou Father of compassion ! most 
 hearty praise, honour and thanksgiv- 
 ing, for all the precious benefits, 
 which thou hast bestowed upon me 
 and mine, during* the past periods of 
 my life, and especially during the past 
 day, in which Thou hast crowned me 
 with loving* kindness and tender mer- 
 cies. Blessed be thy holy name, that 
 thou hast preserved me from so many 
 dangers, into which I might have fal- 
 len, and to which my heart was so 
 prone, and hast, on the other hand, as 
 
 1 trust, promoted some good through 
 my feeble instrumentality. O Lord 
 God! may the goodness which thou 
 art exhibiting unto me from day to 
 day lead me unto unfeigned repent- 
 ance ; and grant that I may not render 
 Thee thanks only in words, but that I 
 may also offer myself as to soul, body 
 and spirit unto Thee, and regulate my 
 whole life and conduct according to 
 thy will, that I may, at last see thy sal- 
 vation, and praise Thee in heaven for- 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. It* 
 
 evermore* And inasmuch as I am 
 about giving myself over to repose, I 
 would earnestly commend myself unto 
 thy care and protection, O thou Guar- 
 dian of Israel ! who neither sleeps nor 
 slumbers, and beseech Thee to spread 
 out over me and all who are near and 
 dear unto me, the protecting banner of 
 thy love, and guard us as the apple of 
 thine eye. Be thou as a wall of fire 
 around about us t watch over me with 
 thy goodness, protect me by thy grace 
 from all the works of darkness, and 
 preserve me by thine almighty power 
 from all danger ; and grant me a sea- 
 sonable and refreshing repose, that I 
 may be enabled to discharge the duties 
 of my station with cheerfulness, dur- 
 ing the coming day; and grant, that 
 although mine eyes may be closed in 
 sleep, my heart may continue awake 
 waiting for the approach of the hea- 
 venly Bridegroom of my soul, Jesus 
 Christ* 
 
 And as we do not know when we lay 
 ourselves down to sleep, whether we 
 shall be permitted to rise again from 
 our beds; or in the morning, whether 
 we shall live until the evening ; I be- 
 seech Thee most fervently, to enable 
 me to close mine eyes, in the exercise of 
 a true and living faith, and in the as- 
 surance of thy love, in true penitence 
 on account of my sins, in a firm reli- 
 
f§4 bvknino devotions for an individual. 
 
 ance on the bitter sufferings and death 
 of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, in the 
 blessed peaee of a good conscience, in 
 sincere love and reconciliation to all 
 men, and in the goodly hope of ever- 
 lasting life, when I shall rise again at 
 the last day. 
 
 Enable me also, if I am permitted to 
 rise on the coming morning, in my 
 usual health and strength, to spend the 
 day in such a manner as though it were 
 my last day on earth, so that I may be 
 enabled to meet death at last with 
 cheerfulness ; and say with the apostle : 
 If I live, I live unto the Lord, if I die, I 
 die unto the Lord ; therefore -whether 
 I live or die, I am the Lords ; and that 
 I may finally, by the sleep of death, 
 enter into that eternal life, which Thou 
 hast prepared for all "who love Thee, 
 and sincerely believe on thy beloved 
 Son Jesus Christ ; to whom with Thee, 
 and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all 
 praise, honour and glory, both now 
 and forever. Amen. 
 
 Instructions about going to bed. 
 
 When the pious Christian lays off his 
 clothes in order to go to bed, he should 
 reflect that he has been brought another 
 day nearer death, when he shall, in like 
 manner, have to lay off his body, and his 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 105 
 
 soul shall have to appear before thejudg* 
 ment bar of God, and thai it is necessary 
 therefore, by true repentance and holiness 
 to purify and cleanse it, in order that that 
 holy God, who is of such pure eyes that he 
 cannot look down upon sin, may in mevcy 
 accept and save it. 
 
 The bed in which he lays himself down, 
 should remind him of his grave, and he 
 should therefore, when retiring, send 
 forth unto his God and Redeemer, such 
 holy aspirations as the following: 
 
 © most blessed Lord and Saviour! 
 Thou who didst, by thy precious death 
 and burial, take away the sting of 
 death, and the darkness of the grave, 
 grant unto me, the precious fruit of 
 this holy triumph of thine, and be my 
 guide, both in life and death* In thy 
 name, will I lay me down in peace, 
 and rest, for Thou, O Lord ! makest me 
 to dwell in safety. Enlighten, OXord, 
 the eyes of mine understanding, that I 
 may not sleep the sleep of Death. Into 
 thy hands I commend my spirit, for 
 Thou hast redeemed me, O Thou cove- 
 nant-keeping God ! Bless and preser>e 
 me therefore, both now and forever. 
 Amen. 
 
166 PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &C. 
 
 Pious reflections and aspirations when 
 awaking in the night, and unable to 
 sleep. 
 
 " When I remember thee upon my bed, 
 and meditate on Thee in the night watch' 
 es. Because Thou hast been my help, 
 therefore will I rejoice." Ps. G3, v. 6, 7. 
 •find again says Holy Davids " TWhen I 
 awake, Iain near unto Thee." 
 
 © most merciful Ood ! by whose all- 
 wise providence, king: Ala asueres, could 
 not sleep upoia his bed of down, whilst, 
 on the other hand, thy holy apostle 
 Peter, was enabled to enjoy a comfor- 
 table repose, whilst loaded with chains 
 in prison ; behold, how nay sleep is in- 
 terrupted. Have mercy therefore, up- 
 on my feeble nataire, which stands in 
 need of naore refreshing repose ; yea, 
 O blessed Jesus, (who didst watch and 
 pray whilst thy disciples slept, and 
 who has spent many a night in prayer 
 and saapplication for any sake,) forgive 
 me any great drowsiaaess in divine 
 things; aaad if it be thy will, that I 
 shall spend this night iaa a sleepless 
 manner, O preserve me from all sinful 
 and idle thoaaghts, from all tempta- 
 tions of the eaaeaaay of soaals, and all 
 evil designs, and grant me ga'ace, that 
 while I ana awake, I may imitate the 
 example of thy dear servants Paul and 
 Silas, and praise and adore Thee in 
 
PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &C. 167 
 
 the midnight hour, and spend the time 
 in pious meditations; and permit me, 
 amidst the thick darkness with which 
 I am surrounded, to hold sweet con- 
 Terse and communion with thee* 
 
 When I contemplate myself, O God ! 
 I behold nothing but sin and sinful in- 
 firmities, which render me an object 
 of displeasure to myself. But when my 
 thoughts are directed to Thee, I behold 
 nothing but perfection and holiness. 
 
 © that I had known Thee my God, 
 from the days of my childhood, that I 
 had chosen Thee, as the most exalted 
 and perfect of beings, and had honour- 
 ed and loved Thee % that I had sought 
 and longed for Thee, as the fountain 
 of all good, nay, as the chief good, the 
 enjoyment of which, alone is sufficient 
 to satisfy the desires of my soul, and 
 that I had followed and served Thee, 
 as my Father, I^ord and King; then 
 should I have enjoyed more serenity of 
 soul, and would at present, have no 
 doubt of a participation of thy grace, 
 and my everlasting salvation. 
 
 But alas ! I have left these things too 
 much out of remembrance, and on the 
 contrary, have sacrificed the most of 
 the days of my life, to my sinful flesh, 
 and to an ungodly world ; or, if I have 
 preserved some of my days for thy ser- 
 vice, O Lord, the number of them has 
 veen so small, compared with timatw 
 
168 PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &€. 
 
 spent in the service of other objects, that 
 they are not worthy of being brought 
 into account, and hence, O L<ord, I 
 have reason to be anxiously solicitous 
 for a sense of thy forgiving love and 
 mercy. Alas ! alas ! what must my 
 God think of me, that I have been so 
 indifferent about pleasing him, that I 
 have manifested so little engagedness 
 in his service, and that, (notwithstand- 
 ing his innumerable favours, by which 
 he has, as with so many cords of love, 
 endeavoured to draw me unto himself,) 
 I have neither rightly loved nor ador- 
 ed him. 
 
 I should have to sink down, in des- 
 pair, O IiOrd ! if thy word did not assure 
 me, that thy grace and goodness are 
 infinitely greater than all my sins, and 
 that Thou art much more disposed to 
 show mercy to a penitent sinner, than 
 to inflict vengeance upon him. Hence, 
 I behold the precious ransom, which 
 thy beloved Son Jesus Christ paid down 
 for me, in his bitter sufferings and 
 death; the precious promises of thy 
 gospel ; the examples of thy tender com- 
 passion towards so many great, but 
 penitent sinners; Holy baptism, which 
 I received in my infancy, to assure me 
 of my salvation, and of that kind pro- 
 tection and the many benefits, which I 
 have enjoyed at thine hand, during 
 my whole life. All these reflections 
 
PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &C. 169 
 
 awaken within me the cheerful hope, 
 that thou wilt be merciful unto me, and 
 forgive me all my sins. 
 
 O holy and righteous God ! how of- 
 ten have I offended Thee with my sins 
 and transgressions, and yet Thou con- 
 tinues! thy goodness unto me. Thou 
 didst permit me to pass the day, which 
 has come to a close, in peace and safety, 
 and hast now permitted me to enjoy 
 the repose of the night. 
 
 O Thou Fount of every blessing! lan- 
 guage fails to express all the grati- 
 tude I owe Thee, for the many exhibi- 
 tions of thy mercy and grace towards 
 me; while I am ashamed and con- 
 founded when I remember that I have 
 too often rewarded Thee with dire in- 
 gratitude for all thy mercies. 
 
 Ah ! how many of my fellow crea- 
 tures, fare worse than I do, who are 
 much better than I am. 
 
 Alas! how many pilgrims and travel- 
 lers, fall by the hand of violence, or are 
 tossed to and fro, on the tempestuous 
 waves of the ocean, or fall into the re- 
 lentless hands of robbers, while I am 
 permitted to enjoy the repose of the 
 present night. 
 
 O how many poor captives sigh and 
 lament under the galling fetters of sla- 
 very, in the endurance of hunger and 
 thirst, of heat and cold, and of a thou- 
 sand kinds of sufferings, and are per- 
 
170 PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &LC. 
 
 mitted finally, to sink under them, 
 whilst I am permitted to lay me down 
 as it were, under mine own Tine and 
 fig-tree, in peaee and safety, and rest 
 upon my bed. How many thousand 
 sick and afflicted sons and daughters 
 of Adam, are at present, enduring hun- 
 ger and distress, and are compelled to 
 pass their days in ahject misery, whilst 
 I receive an abundance of all things, 
 at thy paternal hands ! Alas ! how ma- 
 ny of my brethren in the Lord, are ex- 
 posed to the most dire persecutions on 
 account of the gospel, and for the sake 
 of thy holy name, and are deprived of 
 thine ordinances, the greatest, nay only 
 comfort of their souls ; and are com- 
 pelled to live in hourly danger of suf- 
 fering martyrdom, in the most fearful 
 form, whilst Thou makest me to dwell 
 in safety, and to enjoy uninterrupted- 
 ly, the reading and hearing of the 
 word, to the comfort and consolation 
 of my soul. 
 
 Therefore, I thank Thee, O Lord ! for 
 every exhibition of thy goodness, and 
 for thy kind over-ruling Providence, 
 and beseech Thee, that thou wouldst 
 also remember in tender mercy, those 
 who are now in circumstances of afflic- 
 tion. Hearken unto their sighs and 
 lamentations ; console them in all their 
 distress % comfort them in their trials x 
 protect them in the midst of all their 
 
A NIGHT THOUGHT. 171 
 
 dangers $ deliver them out of their tri- 
 bulations t remove their anxieties ; 
 eonsole them with thy saving help; 
 may thy good Spirit keep them, that 
 they may acknowledge thy faithful- 
 ness and compassion, bow submissive- 
 ly to thy fatherly providence, and after 
 outriding the storms and billows of 
 time, may they with their whole soul, 
 laud and magnify thy all-sustaining 
 grace, whilst bathing their weary souls 
 in the seas of heavenly rest, through- 
 out eternity. Finally, grant unto me, 
 O Lord, and also unto all who receive 
 similar blessings at Thine hand, such 
 measures of thy grace as will fill our 
 souls with gratitude towards Thee, and 
 lead us to dedicate our souls, bodies and 
 spirits, unto thy service, and thus lead 
 us to magnify and praise Thee while 
 on earth, and when it shall please Thee 
 to transplant us to heaven, permit us 
 to unite with all the redeemed from the 
 earth, in chanting an eternal .Halle- 
 lujah. Amen. 
 
 1 JYight Thought. 
 
 HYMN. 7. C. M.— Communion. 
 
 1 HOW can I sleep whilst angels sing, 
 When all the saints on high, 
 Cry " glory to my God and King, 
 The Lamb that once did die :" 
 
\1% A NIGHT THOUGHT. 
 
 When guardian angels fill the room, 
 And hov'ring round my bed, 
 
 Do elap their wings in love to him, 
 Who is my glorious head* 
 
 3 Such joyful spirits never sleep, 
 
 Their love is ever new. 
 Then O my soul, no longer cease 
 
 To love and praise him too, 
 For I, of all the race that fell, 
 
 Or all the heavenly host, [soul, 
 
 Have greatest cause, with humbler 
 
 To love and praise him most* 
 
 3 Did God the Father love men so, 
 
 As to give up his Son, 
 To be a ransom and redeem 
 
 Them from the sins they'd done ? 
 Did Jesus leave the Father's breast, 
 
 That heav'n of heav'ns on high, 
 To come to earth, this world of woe, 
 
 For guilty worms to die ? 
 
 4 And has the Holy Ghost applied 
 
 The Blood of Christ to me, 
 To cleanse my guilty soul from sin, 
 
 And set my spirit free* 
 With me O heav'n and earth admire, 
 
 Who am of all the race, 
 The chiefest sinner, and deserve 
 
 In hell the hottest place* 
 
 ft I¥o longer then will I lie here, 
 But rise and praise and pray ! 
 And join to sing whilst I enjoy 
 A glimpse of heavenly day* 
 
Lord give me strength to die to sin, 
 To run the Christian race, 
 
 To live to God and glorify 
 The riches of his grace. 
 
 If meditation all divine, 
 
 At midnight fill my soul i 
 Sleep shall no longer all my power 
 
 And faculties controul. 
 My lovely Jesus, while on earth 
 
 Did rise before 'twas day, 
 And to a solitary place 
 
 Departed there to pray. 
 
 I'll do as did my blessed Lord § 
 
 His footsteps I will trace, 
 I'll go to meet him in the grove 
 
 And vie w his smiling face ; [Xove 
 And when my soul hath found my 
 
 Whom all my powers adore, 
 I'll bring him to my Father's house, 
 
 And let him go no more. 
 
 •Horning devotions for the JLord's day.* 
 
 HYMN 8. L. M. — Sabbath Morning. — Bartimeus. 
 
 1 HAIL, thou happy morn so glorious! 
 
 Come, ye saints, your griefs give o'er; 
 Sing, how Jesus rose victorious, 
 
 By his own almighty power : 
 Hallelujah, 
 
 To the glorious Son of God* 
 
 * Any of the following prayers may be used in the 
 family, or social circle, by substituting the plural instead 
 of the singular. 
 
174 
 
 2 Tell us, Seraphs, ye that wander, 
 When ye saw the Lord arise, 
 
 When ye saw him soaring yonder, 
 What were then yonr heavenly joys? 
 
 Then 'twas " Glory 
 To the conquering King of kings." 
 
 3 Countless bands of angels glorious, 
 Cloth- d in bright etherial blue ; 
 
 Straight the sound of Christ victorious, 
 Front their silver trumpets flew* 
 
 Christ triumphant 
 Rises conqueror o'er the tomb* 
 
 3 See, my friends, is that the Saviour, 
 Who was crown'd with cruel thorns ? 
 
 Glorious majesty and power, 
 Mow his sacred head adorns. 
 
 Hallelujah; 
 That dear head no more shall bleed. 
 
 4 Is that he, who died on Calvary, 
 Who was pierc'd with many a spear ? 
 
 Clad with countless suns of glory, 
 See, he rises through the air. 
 
 Hallelujah; 
 Zion's mourner, now rejoice. 
 
 5 Was the person, then, so glorious, 
 Which the Jews so marr'd and 
 
 spoil'd? 
 Yes, ye saints, we own his Godhead, 
 Though by some he is revil'd ; 
 
 All creation 
 Soon shall own him Lord of all. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS TOR TIIE LORD'S DAT. 175 
 
 tf Tremble, ye who him rejected, 
 
 IiO ! he breaks through yonder cloud; 
 
 Rise, ye saints, and shout triumphant, 
 Victory ! through J esus' blood. 
 
 Hark ! the trumpet 
 Sounds the resurrection morn. 
 
 O great and blessed God, the Maker 
 and Lord of heaven and earth ! Thou 
 art possessed of all power, wisdom, 
 and goodness ; all riches, majesty, and 
 dominion are thine ; and Thou art 
 worthy to be revered and honoured, 
 loved and obeyed, by all on earth, and 
 all in heaven. I adore Thee as the 
 Fountain of all being, of all happiness 
 and perfection ; and particularly as 
 the God of my life, the Author of all 
 my past and present mercies, and the 
 Foundation of all my future hopes. 
 
 My times, O Lord, are in thy hand. 
 On Thee do I constantly depend, for 
 the continuance of that life which I at 
 first received from Thee, and which I 
 am under the strongest obligations, to 
 devote entirely to thy service. But 
 more especially am I bound to honour 
 Thee, with that portion of my time 
 which Thou hast in a peculiar manner 
 consecrated to thyself. I thank Thee, 
 for the institution of the Sabbath, as 
 a day of rest, set apart from worldly 
 cares and labours, to thy more imme- 
 diate worship and service ; and would 
 
170 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUB LORD'S DAT. 
 
 esteem it a delight, holy unto the jLord, 
 and honourable. 
 
 Many seasons of mercy, and means of 
 grace have I foolishly wasted, or sin- 
 fully abused. Yet, blessed be thy name, 
 Thou hast now brought me to see the 
 light of another of the days of the Son 
 of Man. O let not this Sabbath be ad- 
 ded to the number of my lost Sabbaths ; 
 but help me to spend it in thy fear, to 
 employ it in holy acts and devout exer- 
 cises, and to improve it to my spiritual 
 edification, and to my increase in di- 
 vine knowledge, grace, and comfort. 
 
 This is the day in which the great 
 Redeemer of the world, after having 
 made his soul an offering for sin, broke 
 the bands of death, and rose triumph- 
 ant from the grave. O that I, being 
 quickened together with him, and rais- 
 ed from the death of sin, to a life of 
 righteousness, may be engaged to seek 
 those things which are above, where 
 he now sits at thy right hand ! Help 
 me to chase away carnal and worldly 
 affections from my heart, and to raise 
 my thoughts and views to spiritual and 
 heavenly objects. And may all my sen- 
 timents, words, and actions from the 
 beginning to the end of this thy day, be 
 holy and unreprovable in thy sight. 
 
 Give me, O Lord, such worthy ap- 
 prehensions of thine adorable nature 
 and attributes, such admiring views 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 177 
 
 of thy creating power and wisdom, of 
 thy providential care, and of thy re- 
 deeming* love and grace, as shall ex- 
 cite in my soul all suitable affections 
 towards Thee ? the deepest veneration, 
 the purest love, the firmest hope, and 
 sublimest joy. Form my soul to a re- 
 semblance of thyself; and grant that 
 by the influence of thy good Spirit, I 
 may be renewed in the spirit of my 
 mind, and enabled to put on that New 
 Man who, after God, is created in righ- 
 teousness and true holiness. May the 
 great work of religion, in all its 
 branches, be considered by me as the 
 most honourable, the most important, 
 and the most delightful employment in 
 which I can be engaged. And in this 
 business, let me never be slothful or ne- 
 gligent, but always prepared to serve 
 Thee with cheerfulness, fidelity and 
 zeal. 
 
 I would this morning, with all pos- 
 sible seriousness and solemnity, renew 
 the dedication of myself to thee, my 
 God. Thine I am, by the strongest ties 
 of duty, interest and gratitude; and 
 thine I would forever be. Take Thou 
 the full possession of my heart, which 
 Thou hast formed for thyself: and help 
 me to make an unfeigned surrender of 
 all that I am, and all that I have, to 
 Thee, the great proprietor of all. With 
 purpose of heart would I cleave unto 
 
 12 
 
178 MORNLNG DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 
 
 Thee* O keep me close to thyself; and 
 let nothing* he able to separate me 
 from thy love* 
 
 Help me, O Lord, to live under a con- 
 stant sense of thy presence, and to main- 
 tain an habitual communion with 
 Thee, my Heavenly Father, and with 
 thy Son, Jesus Christ. May I find it 
 good for me to draw near unto Thee, 
 from time to time, in the exercise of 
 private and public devotion; and be 
 in the happy number of those whom 
 Thou choosest, and causest to approach 
 unto Thee with acceptance ; whom 
 Thou satisfies! with the goodness of thy 
 house, and cheerest with the hope of 
 worshipping and serving Thee more 
 perfectly in thy heavenly temple. 
 
 In an humble imitation of thy diffu- 
 sive goodness, O Thou most benevolent 
 of Beings, I would desire to cherish in 
 my heart, a sincere good will and fer- 
 vent charity to all my fellow creatures, 
 who are thy offspring. Nor let me 
 think it enough, merely to wish them 
 well, and to abstain from injuring 
 them, but make me ever ready to do 
 them all the good in my power. And 
 especially, let me never be wanting in 
 the discharge of those duties which 
 belong to my particular station and 
 relations. 
 
 Give me also wisdom clearly to dis- 
 cern, and effectually to pursue my own 
 
17& 
 
 trust, welfare and happiness. Teach 
 me to prefer the interest of my soul to 
 that of my body; to keep all my appe- 
 tites and passions under a due regula- 
 tion ; to cultivate the graces of humility 
 and meekness, moderation and con- 
 tentment, to possess my soul in patience, 
 amidst all the trials and troubles of this 
 present state ; and to be, above all 
 things, solicitous to ensure my future 
 and eternal bliss. 
 
 For these most important purposes, 
 bless, O merciful God, all the means of 
 grace that I enjoy ; and particularly 
 the opportunities I may have this day 
 of assembling with my fellow Chris- 
 tians, to attend the ordinances of pub- 
 lic worship and religious instruction. 
 Assist thy ministering servants in their 
 addresses to Thee, and in their en- 
 deavours to improve and edify their 
 hearers ; and let their services in thy 
 sanctuary be attended with much suc- 
 cess. 
 
 And now unto Hiui who was dead, 
 but is alive, and lives forevermore, who 
 has redeemed us to God, by his blood, 
 and is exalted to be our Prince and 
 Saviour — to him be glory and domin- 
 ion forever and ever — Amen. 
 
180 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 Evening devotions for the Lord's day. 
 
 HYMN 9. C. M.— Winter. 
 
 1 FREQUENT the dayofGodretnrn§ 9 
 
 To slued his quick'ning beams ; 
 And yet how slow devotion burns ; 
 How languid are its flames ! 
 
 2 Aecept our faint attempts to love. 
 
 Our frailties, laord, forgive ; 
 We would be like thy saints above, 
 And praise Thee while we live. 
 
 3 Increase, O liord, our faith and hope, 
 
 And fit us to ascend, 
 Where the assembly ne'er breaks up, 
 And Sabbaths never end : 
 
 4 [Where we shall breathe in heav'nly 
 
 air, 
 With heav'nly lustre shine ; 
 Before the throne of God appear, 
 And feast on love divine. 
 
 5 There shall we sing, and never tire, 
 
 But sound immortal lays ; 
 And with the bright seraphic choir 
 Shout our Immanuel's praise.] 
 
 O most blessed and glorious God ! 
 thy name is excellent in all the earth ; 
 and thou hast set thy glory above the 
 heavens. Thou art great, and great- 
 ly to be praised, thou art good, and 
 greatly to be loved ; and worthy to re- 
 ceive the united adoration and ho- 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE XORd's DAY. 181 
 
 mage of all thy reasonable creatures* 
 Thou needest not, indeed, our services, 
 nor canst receive the least advantage 
 from our praises 5 but never can we be 
 more honourably and advantageously 
 employed than in celebrating thy per- 
 fections, admiring thy works, grate- 
 fully recollecting the past instances of 
 thy goodness, and imploring the con- 
 tinuance of thy kind and favourable 
 regards. 
 
 Blessed be thy name for the renewed 
 opportunities I have this day had of 
 waiting upon Thee in thy house, of 
 joining in the public services of thy 
 sanctuary, of hearing thy word ex- 
 plained and enforced, and of being 
 from thence instructed and encouraged 
 in those ways of righteousness which 
 lead to life eternal. Help me, good 
 liord, to make a proper improvement 
 of those religious advantages and 
 means of grace which thou affordest 
 me 5 let me not abuse them by resting 
 in them, but be solicitous that the ends 
 for which they are designed may be 
 answered in me. Suable me to live in 
 a manner suitable to the profession I 
 make, to the privileges I enjoy, to the 
 obligations and engagements I am un- 
 der to Thee. O that thy laws may be 
 more deeply engraven on my heart! 
 O that the truths I have this day heard, 
 may be so faithfully kept in mind, as 
 
182 EVENINQ DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 to be of lasting use ? for the better in- 
 formation of iny judgment, and regu- 
 lation of my temper and conduct. 
 
 FaFdoii those imperfections most 
 mereiful Fattier, which have attended 
 my religious duties tliis day, in tliy 
 liouse or in niy own. Forgive the 
 deadness and dullness of my affections, 
 tlie wandering of my tliouglits, and 
 the distractions of my mind* I am 
 grieved and ashamed to think how 
 little my heart has been ewLgn^eA in 
 the work of prayer and praise. With 
 what indilference have I heard the 
 messages of thy grace, and attended 
 to the notices of thy will ; and how un- 
 affected have 1 been with a sense of the 
 evil of sin, the worth of my soul, the 
 weight of eternity, and the greatness 
 of that futuve glory and felicity which 
 will be the certain portion of all that 
 truly love and serve Thee ! 
 
 Oh that I may have the wisdoan to 
 spend my Sabbaths better, and learn 
 to be at all times more serious and con- 
 siderate, more spiritual and heavenly- 
 minded, than I have heeik hitherto! 
 I*et my thoughts be more frequently 
 and delightfully employed in medita- 
 ting on the glorious perfections of thy 
 nature, as displayed in thy works, and 
 in thy word. Purify my affections, 
 that I may love Thee above all, and 
 delight in Thee and in thy laws % and 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 183 
 
 may I renounce and detest whatever is 
 evil in itself and displeasing to Thee. 
 And grant that I may every day feel 
 more and more of that peace and sat- 
 isfaction which is the genuine effect of 
 a growing acquaintance with Thee ; 
 and a close adherence to Thee, in all 
 the ways of holy obedience. 
 
 Whilst I am here in this world, help 
 me by faith to live above it. Suffer me 
 not to mind and pursue earthly things, 
 as if I had chosen the earth for my por- 
 tion, and had no better inheritance in 
 view; but, knowing that I have here 
 no continuing city, may I seek one to 
 come ; even that city which has foun- 
 dations, whose builder and maker is 
 Ood. Considering myself as only a 
 stranger and pilgrim on earth, let me 
 live like a citizen of heaven, and have 
 my conversation there. Enable me, O 
 Lord, by thy mighty power, to over- 
 come all the difficulties and opposi- 
 tions, trials and temptations, which I 
 may meet with in my journey heaven- 
 wards. And by making daily advan- 
 ces and improvements in holiness and 
 goodness, may I be gradually growing 
 more and more lit for a share in that 
 glorious inheritance which is among 
 thy saints in light. 
 
 Blessed be thy name, O Ood of grace, 
 that Thou didst take compassion on a 
 world that lay in wickedness, and was 
 
184 
 
 exposed to misery and ruin ; and didst 
 contrive tlie grand sclieme of our re- 
 demption and salvation t ttiat when 
 tlie fullness of time was come, tliou 
 didst send forth thine own Son into the 
 world, to execute tlie purposes of thy 
 goodness § to teach us the most impor- 
 tant and salutary doctrin es ; to instruct 
 us in the knowledge of thy nature and 
 will 5 of the duties thou requires! of us, 
 and of the blessings thou hast intended 
 for us 5 to set before us the most amia- 
 ble and animating example of univer- 
 sal goodness, in his own character and 
 conduct ; and at length to suffer and 
 die, the just for the unjust, that he 
 might bring us to €*od. Blessed be thy 
 name, that thou hast, with thy right 
 hand, exalted this our suffering and 
 dying Redeemer, to be our Prince and 
 Saviour % and that having been made 
 perfect through sufferings, he is become 
 the Author of eternal salvation to all 
 them that obey him. 
 
 Blessed be thy name, that the tidings 
 of this salvation have reached my ears ; 
 and that the kind offers of grace, peace 
 and eternal life, are held forth to me 
 in the gospel of thy Son ; that thou art 
 waiting to be gracious unto me, and 
 earnestly inviting and importuning 
 me to be reconciled unto Thee. O that 
 I may cheerfully comply with thy mer- 
 ciful invitations % and that I may 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR^ THE LORD'S DAY. 185 
 
 thankfully accept thine offered bless- 
 ings on thine own terms, and be taught 
 most highly to value, and wisely to im- 
 prove all those inestimable privileges 
 and advantages of a spiritual nature 
 with which thou hast favoured me. 
 
 For the many temporal mercies Thou 
 art bestowing upon me from day to 
 day i and particularly for the preser- 
 vation and supplies of the day past, I 
 would likewise offer unto Thee my 
 unfeigned tribute of gratitude and 
 praise. O let a sense of thine unmerit- 
 ed goodness abide continually on my 
 heart ; and help me not only to speak, 
 but to live to thy praise. 
 
 And now be pleased to take me, O 
 Liord, into thy care and protection this 
 night. ]>efend me from all evils and 
 dangers, and refresh me with sweet 
 and comfortable repose. I^et me lie 
 down with holy thoughts of Thee ; and 
 when I awake, let me be still with 
 Thee. 
 
 I would recommend to thy kind and 
 gracious regards, all my relatives and 
 friends. I>o them good and bless them 
 with all such spiritual and temporal 
 blessings as thou knowest to be most 
 proper and needful for them. Visit in 
 mercy, such as are under affliction. 
 Oive them patience and submission to 
 thy will? relieve their distresses, and 
 afford them all the necessary supports, 
 
186 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORd'd DAY. 
 
 and those divine consolations, which 
 are neither few nor small* 
 
 Extend, O thou <8od and Father of 
 all, thy loving kindness and compas- 
 sion to the whole human race. Send 
 the light of thy glorious gospel through 
 every part of the habitable world ; and 
 wheresoever it shines, may it be the 
 means of spreading not only knowledge 
 and truth, hwit righteousness and peace 
 amongst them. Continue thy merciful 
 regard to this land of my nativity. In- 
 spire our rulers with wisdom and in- 
 tegrity; guide all our public counsels 
 and affairs for the best ; watch over 
 our liberties ; pardon our national sins 
 and work a thorough reformation 
 amongst us. Be gracious to all who 
 minister in holy things ; and succeed 
 their endeavours for promoting the 
 cause of true religion, hy their useful 
 instructions and exemplary lives. 
 
 Hear me, good I^ord, in these my im- 
 perfect petitions, and mercifully accept 
 of this my evening sacrifice of prayer 
 and praise. Keep me in thy fear and 
 in thy favour, through the remainder 
 of my short and uncertain life ; support 
 and comfort me in my dying moments; 
 and after death be Thou my portion 
 and exceeding great reward, through 
 Jesus Christ, the Son of thy love; in 
 whom I desire to be found living and 
 dying, and by whom I would ascribe 
 
187 
 
 to Thee, O heavenly Father, all honour, 
 glory and dominion, now and ever — 
 
 Amen. 
 
 Devotions for the Isord's day morning. 
 
 HYMN 10. C. M.— St. Martin's. 
 
 1 COME, dearest Eord and feed thy 
 
 sheep, 
 On this sweet day of rest ; 
 © bless this flock and make this fold 
 Enjoy an heavenly rest. 
 
 2 Weleome and precious to my soul, 
 
 Are these sweet days of love ; 
 But what a Sabbath shall I keep, 
 When I shall rest above. 
 
 3 I come, I wait, I hear, I pray, 
 
 Thy footsteps, lLord I trace, 
 Here, in thine own appointed way, 
 I wait to seek thy face. 
 
 4 These are the sweet and precious days 
 
 ©n which my Eord I've seen ; 
 And oft when feasting on thy word, 
 In raptures I have been. 
 
 5 © if my soul when death appears, 
 
 In this sweet frame be found, 
 I'll clasp my Saviour in my arms, 
 And leave this earthly ground. 
 
 6 Eong for that delightful hour, 
 
 When from this clay undress'd, 
 I shall be cloth'd in robes divine, 
 And be forever blest. 
 
188 
 
 O Eternal sand Almighty Ood, hea- 
 ven is thy throne, and this earth is but 
 thy footstool! I adore thine infinite 
 condescension for making that to be 
 my duty which I ought ever to esteem 
 my greatest privilege — the permission 
 and opportunity of praising Thee, and 
 celebrating thy perfections. The re- 
 turn of this sacred morning excites 
 in my mind a fresh and grateful re- 
 membrance of thy kind regard to my 
 soul, as well as to my body. With the 
 sincerest gratitude I thank Thee, O 
 Thou beneficent Parent of all, for 
 every instance of thy goodness towards 
 me. All I have, I derived at first from 
 thy bounty. All I enjoy, fiows from 
 the same divine munificence. It is 
 owing to thy care that I have been kept 
 in safety through the darkness and si- 
 lence of the past night. And it is an 
 instance of thy fatherly compassion 
 that not only security, but comfortable 
 rest and refreshing sleep have been my 
 portion. How great is tl^j kindness to 
 the children of men ! How amazing 
 thy goodness! Bless the I^ord, O my 
 soul, and let ail that is within me bless 
 his holy name. May I never forget thy 
 mercies, which are renewed every 
 morning. I thus thank and adore 
 Thee, as the former and preserver of my 
 mortal body. But I would, in the most 
 exalted strains of devotion, praise Thee, 
 
189 
 
 as the Father of spirits, and the author 
 of all my intellectual powers and fa- 
 culties. Accept my most profound and 
 thankful acknowledgments for the 
 light of reason, and the injunctions of 
 conscience, whereby I am in some mea- 
 sure informed of thy glorious perfec- 
 tions, and of the services which Thou 
 hast enjoined, to make me happy both 
 here and hereafter. But especially, 
 and above all, I desire to praise Thee 
 with the warmest gratitude, for the 
 unspeakable gift of thy Son Jesus 
 Christ our Lord, for the clear manner 
 in which my duty is made known in his 
 gospel, and for the many divine and 
 powerful motives by which the prac- 
 tice of it is enforced. At the same time 
 I praise and bless Thee, for the institu- 
 tion of religious ordinances, and for 
 the setting apart one day in seven, that 
 I may withdraw my thoughts from the 
 business, the cares and the amusements 
 of life. May this sacred time be always 
 employed by me to the best of purposes. 
 May I devoutly converse with Thee, my 
 Almighty Creator and Supreme Gov- 
 ernor, in the offices of prayer and de- 
 votion. Teach me to know thy will, to 
 become acquainted with the rules and 
 measures of my duty, and thus make 
 me wise unto eternal salvation. In- 
 struct me how to meditate on thy per- 
 fections with unfeigned devotion, and 
 
190 DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY MORNING. 
 
 sincere fervour of affection. By this 
 means may I contract a veneration 
 and love for thy matchless attributes, 
 until the strongest and purest desires 
 are excited in my soul, and I am urged 
 on to acquire as near a resemblance to 
 Thee in thy most glorious perfections, 
 as a frail creature can attain. 
 
 O Lord, I lament with the deepest 
 contrition of soul, the little progress I 
 have made in acquiring this divine 
 temper. How negligent have I been 
 in thy service ! How cold and languid 
 my devotions! How often in my im- 
 mediate addresses to Thee, the heart 
 searching God, have my thoughts wan- 
 dered, and my devotions been careless- 
 ly performed I My afiections have been 
 withdrawn from Thee, the centre of 
 every thing amiable, glorious and su- 
 premely excellent, and have been fixed 
 on the mean, ignoble objects of time 
 and sense. I confess this with shame 
 and the sincerest sorrow of heart, and 
 would humble myself before Thee for 
 such languor and carelessness. At the 
 same time I acknowledge I have been 
 guilty of many iniquities. I have sin- 
 ned against clear light, and the best 
 instructions and resolutions. I have 
 offended in thought, in word and in 
 deed. I have transgressed thy laws, 
 which are the laws of reason, and the 
 only sure means of conducting me to 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY MORNING. 191 
 
 happiness. Gracious and compassion- 
 ate God, blushing and confusion of 
 face must cover me ; remorse and con- 
 trition must till my breast, on account 
 of my rebellion, my ingratitude and 
 niy aggravated and lienious transgres- 
 sions. All I can plead before Thee is 
 mercy. In that, all my hopes and ex- 
 pectations centre. Adored be thy for- 
 giving love in Jesus Christ thy Son, 
 who is the Way, the Truth and the 
 jLife, and through whom sinful, peni- 
 tent mortals may approach Thee and 
 find acceptance. I come in his name, 
 in thine own appointed way, resolving 
 to comply with the terms of the gospel 
 covenants. Give me light sufficient to 
 instruct me, and strength sufficient to 
 enable me to put my good resolutions 
 into practice. O Thou Father of all 
 mercy, Thou God of ail grace, forgive 
 all my sins, and grant me all that as- 
 sistance which shall be requisite for 
 me in every situation. 
 
 May I be watchful over myself, and 
 guard against a careless or a sensual 
 temper. May I be mortified to the 
 world and its enjoyments, and possess 
 true Christian moderation. May the 
 devotions I shall engage in, and the 
 instructions I shall receive this day, 
 prove effectual to this good purpose. 
 May my mind be enlightened by hear- 
 ing divine truths ; and my soul eleva- 
 
19$ DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY MORNING. 
 
 ted by prayer and praise. May the de- 
 votions of tlie gospel be so strongly im- 
 pressed upon my heart, as to enable me 
 effectually to oppose every temptation, 
 and to triumph over all my spiritual 
 enemies. May I wean myself more 
 and more from time and sense ; and 
 show that I am a ehild of God and 
 born from above, by having my con- 
 versation in heaven, even while I live 
 in the present world. Suffer no trial 
 to await me in which my good disposi- 
 tions shall be overcome or weakened ; 
 but when virtue shall be at any time 
 ready to give way before more power- 
 ful tempations, do Thou who has ac- 
 cess to the human heart, pour such light 
 and strength into my soul, as shall ex- 
 cite proper considerations within me, 
 and shall restore me to my true self; to 
 the influence and direction of con- 
 science, and religion. May the govern- 
 ing principles of my life be faith in 
 Christ, and unfeigned, unreserved obe- 
 dience and submission to Thee my 
 Heavenly Father. Enable me contin- 
 ually to be making a progress in holi- 
 ness and to aim at its highest at- 
 tainments. 
 
 With respect to my worldly situation, 
 I know not what is best. All I ask is to 
 be placed in such a state as shall most 
 effectually tend to improve me in divine 
 knowledge and Christian virtue. To 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 19'$- 
 
 this end may I ever regard the present 
 life in its true light, as designed to train 
 me up for another and a better world ; 
 towards which the nearer I advance, 
 the more prepared may I become. 
 However things are ordered as to my 
 worldly condition, make me wholly 
 resigned to thy disposing wilt, and 
 fully convinced of the wisdom, proprie- 
 ty and kindness of all thy dealings. Lift 
 up the light of thy reconciled counte- 
 nance upon me, in my passage through 
 this transitory state. Fill me with all 
 that joy of heart which ariseth from 
 the testimony of a good conscience, and 
 the enlivening expectation of the hea- 
 venly happiness. Fit me for every sit- 
 uation in life, and, above all, prepare 
 me for death. When that last scene 
 shall approach, enable me to place a 
 firm trust in thy mercy as displayed in 
 the gospel. May my dismission hence, 
 be full of Christian hope and joyful 
 confidence, and after death, be Thou 
 the eternal consolation of my soul. 
 
 O Thou universal Parent of nature, 
 favour the whole world with the same 
 spiritual privileges which I enjoy. 
 May the kingdom of the Redeemer 
 soon come. May his name be glo- 
 rified, and his religion be spread 
 throughout the earth. Bless in a par- 
 ticular manner the nation to which I 
 belong. May each one contribute his 
 
 13 
 
194 MORNlNa DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAV, 
 
 part to help forward a general refor- 
 mation* 
 
 May all my friends and relations be 
 blessed by Thee, and be the friends of 
 God and the promoters of virtue and 
 true religion. O God reward nil my 
 benefaetors and forgive all my enemies. 
 Condescend to be favourably present 
 in all worshipping assemblies this day. 
 Make good thine ancient promise % 
 that wheresoever two or three are met 
 together in thy name, there Tliou wilt 
 be with them, and bless them. May a 
 divine energy and blessing accompany 
 me, and all with whom I shall this day 
 join in ordinances of a religious na- 
 ture. May these imperfect services here 
 below, fit me in the best manner for 
 bearing a part in the exalted praises 
 of angels above, and for eternally re- 
 siding in thy blissful presence, wlio art 
 the everlasting light of all thy saints. 
 These devout thanksgivings and hum- 
 ble petitions I sincerely offer unto Thee, 
 the Source of all perfection and the 
 Fountain of all good, in the name and 
 as the disciple of thy Son, Jesus Christ x 
 to whom be glory in the churches, 
 world without end.— Amen. 
 
EVENINGS DEVOTIONS FOR THE IBRD's DAT. I9£ 
 
 Evening devotions for the Z<ord 9 s day. 
 
 HYMN. 11. L. M.— Brewer. 
 
 1 GREATGod, to Thee my e veiling sons? 
 With humble gratitude, I raise ; 
 
 let thy mercy tune my tongue, 
 And fill my heart with lively praise* 
 
 2 Mercy, that rich unbounded store, 
 Does my unnumbered wants relieve ; 
 Among the daily craving* poor, 
 
 On thy all-bounteous hand I live* 
 
 3 My days unclouded as they pass, 
 And ev'ry gentle rolling hour, 
 
 Are monuments of wond'rous grace, 
 And witness to thy love and pow'r. 
 
 4 [Thy love and po w'r, celestial guard, 
 Preserve me from surrounding harms 
 Can danger reach me, while the I^ord 
 Extends his kind protecting arms ?] 
 
 5 Seal my forgiveness in the blood 
 Of Jesus ; — his dear name alone 
 
 1 plead for pardon, Gracious God, 
 And kind acceptance at thy throne* 
 
 6 let this blest hope mine eyelids close x 
 With sleep refresh my feeble frame ; 
 Safe in thy care may I repose, 
 
 And wake with praises to thy name* 
 
 Most merciful and ever blessed God, 
 Thou art the Sovereign Lord of heaven 
 and earth. From Thee I receive all 
 my present enjoyments $ and in Thee 
 
every hope of happiness in another and 
 better world doth entirely centre. 
 
 I adore Thee as the first cause, and 
 the last end of all thing's ; as that al- 
 mighty, ever living and Supreme God, 
 before whom angels and arch- angels 
 bow down and prostrate themselves 
 with the profoundest veneration. 
 Thousands of gloriHed spirits sur- 
 round thy throne, ten thousand times 
 ten thousand minister in thy presence, 
 and think it their greatest felicity to 
 contemplate thy attributes, and to en- 
 joy the smiles of thy favour. 
 
 Blessed, thrice happy are these thy 
 servants, who thus dwell in thy hea- 
 venly temple, who see thy face with- 
 out a veil, and keep an everlasting 
 sabbath in celebrating thy perfections, 
 and praising Thee in the most exalted 
 strains of gratitude and love. 
 
 Blessed also, in a lower degree, are 
 thy servants, who approach Thee in 
 thine earthly courts, to see the milder 
 displays of thy glory, and taste thy 
 mercy and grace. 
 
 Thanks to thy great and glorious 
 name, for the frequent opportunities 
 which I have had of enjoying this sa- 
 cred privilege. Particularly I bless 
 Thee for that opportunity -which hath 
 been afforded me this day. May I have 
 reason to say that it hath been good for 
 me to draw nigh unto God in his house 
 
197 
 
 of prayer. May I feel the happy effects 
 of it in those pious and devout senti- 
 ments which it shall lead me to cherish, 
 in those holy resolutions which it shall 
 engage me to form, and in those virtues 
 and upright actions which it shall en- 
 able me continually to practice. 
 
 I thank Thee for the ordinances of 
 religion, which Thou hast heen pleased 
 to institute; for the directions which 
 thy holy word contains; and for the 
 instructions which it affords; which 
 are in the best manner calculated to 
 make me wise unto eternal salvation. 
 
 When I reflect on all these advan- 
 tages, and consider my own base in- 
 gratitude, and tl^e little improvement 
 I have made of all these favours, my 
 soul is filled with grief and sorrow. 
 I stand in continual need of mercy to 
 overlook my numerous failings, and to 
 pardon my repeated offences. I have 
 sometimes sinned through ignorance : 
 I have more frequently transgressed 
 through carelessness and inattention. 
 If at any time I have offended through 
 presumption, most gracious Crod, I en- 
 treat Thee, for thy mercy's sake in 
 Jesus Christ, to overlook and pardon 
 these, and all my other iniquities. 
 
 Lead me to have a just sense fixed in 
 my mind of the odious nature and de- 
 structive tendency of all sin. Convince 
 me, in the most powerful and effectual 
 
198 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORd'd DAT. 
 
 manner, that nothing can tend to se- 
 cure my true happiness either here or 
 hereafter, hitt the sincere practice of 
 holiness and virtue. 
 
 As Thou hast instituted the ordinan- 
 ces of religion to he the means of im- 
 pressing this truth on my soul 9 grant, O 
 Heavenly Father, that I may make 
 them subservient to this good purpose. 
 
 If a just sense of the odious nature of 
 sin, hath been excited in my mind by 
 any of the exercises of devotion in 
 which I have this day engaged, enable 
 me to cherish and strengthen this prin- 
 ciple more and more* May I hate sin 
 with a more perfect hatred, than I 
 have hitherto done, and love and pur- 
 sue holiness and religion with greater 
 fervency and affection of soul. 
 
 I acknowledge, O Thou most com- 
 passionate of all beings, that I have not 
 made so good a use of my faculties for 
 obeying and serving Thee, as I might 
 and ought to have made. My attention 
 hath been too often fixed on the trifling 
 vanities and amusements of this world, 
 to the neglect of those awful and im- 
 portant concerns which relate to my 
 heavenly and eternal state. I confess, 
 that often when I have heen present in 
 thine house, and joining, as to the out- 
 ward part, in worshipping Thee, the 
 Supreme Ruler of the universe, my 
 heart and my affections have been 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD S DAT. 199 
 
 wandering- after earthly pursuits, and 
 I have paid that regard to the creature, 
 which is alone due to Thee, the Al- 
 mighty Creator and Sovereign Lord 
 of all. 
 
 Adored be thy goodness and mercy, 
 that Thou art ever disposed to pardon 
 penitent returning sinners; and for 
 this end hast appointed an advocate in 
 heaven, Jesus Christ the righteous, who 
 is become a propitiation for all the 
 errors and imperfections which are 
 repented of and forsaken. 
 
 For thy mercy's sake in him, I most 
 humbly entreat Thee to pardon all the 
 sins I have been guilty of in my past 
 life, U> forgive all the negligence and 
 inattention I have shown in thy wor- 
 ship, and to accept those of my services, 
 however imperfect, which have been 
 attended with sincerity and upright- 
 ness of heart. 
 
 May I ever value it as my greatest 
 privilege that I can so often join in 
 solemn addresses to Thee, and grate- 
 fully acknowledge thy goodness and 
 mercy, in concert with those who are 
 blessed and supplied by the same bounty 
 and munificence. May such impres- 
 sions be by this means made on my 
 mind as shall engage me to cherish the 
 most grateful, pure and benevolent af- 
 fections. By often meditating on thy 
 divine glories, may I be induced to love 
 
soo 
 
 Thee with my whole heart, to serve 
 Thee with the greatest sincerity of soul, 
 and to acquire some resemblance to 
 Thee, the infinite source of all perfec- 
 tion and happiness. May I never be- 
 come carnal and sensual by my con- 
 verse with earthly things 5 but may I, 
 by frequent acts of piety and devotion, 
 raise my affections to unseen things, 
 and live a heavenly life even while I 
 am on earth. May I guard myself from 
 the snares, and escape the corruptions 
 which are in the world through lust ; 
 and by this means become in some mea- 
 sure partaker of a divine nature. May 
 I ever consider this life a pilgrimage, as 
 vain, troublesome, and uncertain. May 
 I al w ays look upon heaven as my settled 
 abode and lasting home, and regard 
 my true life as hid with Christ in Ood 5 
 that when Christ, who is my life shall 
 appear, I also may appear with him in 
 glory. Enable me ever to possess a true 
 government over all my inferior appe- 
 tites and passions. Suffer me never to 
 give way to vicious pursuits or sensual 
 indulgences. May a due sense of thine 
 awful presence and inspection ever ac- 
 company me. In the most secret retire- 
 ment, as well as in public, may I con- 
 sider myself as under thine eye, and 
 accountable to thee for all my thoughts, 
 words, and actions. Under the influ- 
 ence of this persuasion may I maintain 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 201 
 
 purity in my heart, sincerity and truth 
 in all my words, and holiness in all my 
 conduct. May I ever do to others as I 
 would they should do unto me; thus 
 in ay I fulfil all righteousness. 
 
 From beholding thy goodness and 
 mercy so conspicuously and glorious- 
 ly displayed in the works of creation, 
 and especially in the work of redemp- 
 tion, may I be induced to cherish a be- 
 nevolent and a merciful temper. May 
 I do good to all as I have opportunity. 
 May I ever cherish that meekness and 
 humility which shone so illustrious in 
 my divine Saviour, and be always more 
 ready to forgive than to revenge any 
 injury or affront. Keep far from me 
 all pride and haughtiness, all anger 
 and malice. Enable me ever to act the 
 worthy, generous, Christian part, in 
 relieving the necessitous as far as my 
 abilities extend, and in aiding my fel- 
 low creatures by my advice, my in- 
 fluence and my earnest endeavours; 
 that the blessing of the poor and afflict- 
 ed may come upon me, and that I may 
 in some measures resemble Thee, the 
 Ood of all mercy and the universal Pa- 
 rent of all good. 
 
 Fit me for all the various changes 
 which in the course of thy providence 
 I may be called to pass through in this 
 frail uncertain state. Make me ever 
 contented with the whole of my situa- 
 
202 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 tion, knowing that all thine appoint- 
 nients are wise and good. Dispose me 
 ever to be thankful for the mereies 1 
 enjoy ; even the most afflictive circum- 
 stances, and to eye a divine and father- 
 ly hand in all thy dealings. By this 
 means, prepare me for every occur- 
 rence in life, that whether prosperity 
 or adversity be my lot, I may possess 
 those graces, and acquire those virtues 
 which shall adorn each situation, and 
 which shall enable me to discharge the 
 duty required of me. I know my own 
 insufficiency for these things ; I am con- 
 scious of my own weakness and frailty. 
 I have in time past heen frequently 
 overcome by temptations, even contrary 
 to my own good resolutions. Ho Thou, 
 therefore, the Father of spirits, grant 
 me the assistance of thine own Divine 
 Spirit, that I may be enabled by thy 
 strength to perform all these things in 
 a right and acceptable manner. Make 
 all my public religious exercises, and 
 all my private devotions and secret 
 meditations, greatly beneficial to this 
 good purpose. Especially may this 
 present humble address to the throne 
 of thy grace ; and the pious acknow- 
 ledgments I have this day joined in 
 offering Thee, be serviceable to this end. 
 When I return to my worldly con- 
 cerns and stated employment in the 
 ensuing week, may it appear by the 
 
203 
 
 whole of my behaviour in them, and 
 the whole of my behaviour in future 
 life, that I have really this day been 
 conversing with God. May this day's 
 retirement from the cares of the world 
 be reflected on with pleasure through 
 the whole of my continuance here. 
 May it even prove a never-failing" 
 source of joy and delight when days 
 and weeks shall be at an end, and the 
 uninterrupted enjoyment of Thee, the 
 everlasting source of perfection and 
 happiness, shall be the reward of my 
 labours. 
 
 O Thou sovereign Lord of the uni- 
 verse, hear the prayers which have this 
 day been presented unto Thee for those 
 parts of the world which lie buried in 
 darkness and ignorance. Give thy Son 
 the heathen for his inheritance, and 
 the uttermost part of the earth for his 
 possession. Be favourably mindful of 
 my native land, and of all that are 
 connected with it. 
 
 May we improve the mercies we en- 
 joy and be long continued to be that 
 happy people, whose protection and 
 defence is ever nigh at hand, the living 
 Ijord of heaven and earth. May those 
 who are connected with me in the 
 bonds af nature and friendship, be re- 
 lated to thee in the bonds of an ever- 
 lasting covenant, well ordered in all 
 things and sure. May those from 
 
204 EVENING DEVOTTONS FOR THE LORd's DAY. 
 
 whom I have received favours, be 
 abundantly blessed and rewarded by 
 Thee. May all those who wish me ill, 
 if any such there be, obtain the same 
 forgiveness from €*od which I hope 
 and expect to obtain. Bless the family 
 to which I stand related. May every 
 member of it be a living member of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 May the return of every such sacred 
 opportunity as I have this day enjoy- 
 ed, be embraced by me with the great- 
 est readiness, and improved to the most 
 valuable of all purposes, the helping 
 forward my preparation for heaven 
 and eternal happiness. May I make 
 all the events which befai me in life, 
 conducive to the same important ei^A f 
 that my meetness for future glory may 
 be continually increasing the longer I 
 remain here below. 
 
 With such holy thoughts and devout 
 dispositions, I would lay myself down 
 to receive the refreshment of sleep dur- 
 ing the ensuing night, committing my- 
 self, and all for whom I am concerned 
 to thine almighty protection and care. 
 O thou Guardian of Israel, who nei- 
 ther slumberest nor steepest, keep far 
 from this dwelling, and from all who 
 reside in it, all dangers and terrors 
 during the silent and defenceless hours 
 of rest, and cause us all to awake in 
 the morning in health and strength, 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 205 
 
 refreshed with the comfortable repose 
 of this night, and qualified to engage 
 in those duties which may lie before 
 each of us on the ensuing day* 
 
 This, my evening sacrifice of prayer 
 and praise, I offer to Thee, the supreme 
 Lord of heaven and earth, in the name 
 of thy well beloved Son, Jesus Christ, 
 through whom I would ascribe unto 
 Thee, as is most justly due, the king- 
 dom, the power, and the glory, for ever 
 and ever. — Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Jflonday morning* 
 
 HYMN 12. L. M.— JSTewry. 
 
 1 AWAKE my soul, and with the sun 
 Thy daily course of duty run ; 
 Shake off dull sloth and early rise 
 To pay thy morning sacrifice. 
 
 2 Redeem thy mispent time that's past ; 
 liive this day, as if 'twere thy last : 
 To improve thy talents take good care 
 'Gainst the great day thyself prepare. 
 
 3 I«et all thy converse be sincere, 
 Thy conscience as the noonday clear s 
 Think how the all-seeing God, thy 
 
 ways 
 And all thy secret thoughts surveys. 
 
 4 Wake and lift up thyself, my heart, 
 And with the angels bear thy part ; 
 Who all night long unwearied sing* 
 Glory to thee, eternal King. 
 
$00 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 
 
 5 I wake, I wake, ye heavenly choir s 
 May your devotions me inspire ; 
 That I like you my age may spend, 
 Like you may on my God attend. 
 
 6 May I like you, in God delight, 
 Have all day long my God in sight i 
 Perform like you my Maker's will ; 
 
 ! may I never more do ill. 
 
 7 Glory to Thee, who safe has kept, 
 And hast refreshed me while I slept : 
 Grant, Lord, when I from death 
 
 shall wake, 
 
 1 may of endless life partake. 
 
 8 Lord, I my vows to thee renew : 
 Scatter my sins as morning dew % 
 Guard my first spring of thought and 
 
 will, 
 And with thyself my spirit fill. 
 
 9 Direct, controul, suggest this day, 
 All I design, or do or say, [might, 
 That all my powers, with all their 
 In thy sole glory may unite. 
 
 lO Praise God from whom all blessings 
 flow, 
 Praise him all creatures here below; 
 Praise him above, ye angelic host; 
 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 
 
 O most great, most gracious, and 
 most glorious God ! The Almighty 
 Maker and all- wise Governor of the 
 universe ! The Father, the Friend and 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 207 
 
 Saviour of mankind ! All possible ex- 
 cellence is centered in Thee ; nil real 
 and substantial good streams forth 
 from Thee s and under a lively sense of 
 thine adorable perfections, thine in- 
 exhaustible fulness, and unlimited 
 bounty, would I this morning come 
 before Thee to offer Thee the tributes 
 of praise and thanksgiving*, and to 
 present my prayers and supplications 
 at the throne of thy grace. 
 
 Adored be that power and goodness, 
 which at first produced me into being, 
 and whereby I have been constantly 
 supported and liberally supplied with 
 all things needful to my comfortable 
 subsistence in this present state. I 
 thank Thee particularly for the safety 
 and repose of the last night ; that I then 
 laid me down and slept, and have 
 awoke this morning in health and 
 peace, because thou hast sustained me. 
 Thus far, O Thou Preserver of men, 
 hast Thou been pleased to spare my 
 forfeited life ; and numberless as my 
 sins and provocations against Thee 
 have been, Thou art still folio wing me 
 with thy mercies and favours. O let 
 me not despise the riches of thy good- 
 ness, and forbearance, and long suffer- 
 ing, or forget that it is the design of all 
 to lead me to repentance. 
 
 Blessed be thy name for ttke encour- 
 agement thou hast given me to repent 
 
208 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 
 
 of my sins, by the kind assurances of 
 thy readiness to pardon and accept of 
 all who are truly penitent. Blessed he 
 thy name, that, unworthy as I am of 
 the common bounties of thy providence, 
 thou hast freely offered to my accept- 
 ance, a share in the far richer treasures 
 of thy grace. Never can I enough ad- 
 mire that unexampled love which thou 
 hast manifested towards us, apostate 
 creatures, in sending thy only begotten 
 Son into the world, that we might live 
 through him : that we might be formed 
 to a life of holiness here, by the influ- 
 ence of his word and spirit, and raised, 
 at length, by his mighty power, to a 
 life of eternal glory and felicity in an- 
 other and a better world. O suiter me 
 not to neglect that great salvation 
 which he has brought within my 
 reach ; but make me duly solicitous to 
 secure an interest in it, by such a lively 
 faith in him, as shall effectually engage 
 me to devote myself to him in all the 
 ways of holy obedience. 
 
 Help me, O God, to live under a con- 
 stant sense of my absolute and entire 
 dependence upon Thee, as well as of 
 my unspeakable obligations to Thee; 
 and impart to me those powerful influ- 
 ences of thy grace, which are necessa- 
 ry to enable me to mortify my sinful 
 inclinations, to bear afflictions as I 
 ought, to make a right use of every 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. $09 
 
 mercy and enjoyment, and to discharge 
 the various duties of life in a holy and 
 acceptable manner. And whatever 
 portion of time thou mayest allot me 
 on earth, enable me to redeem it from 
 vanity and sin ; and to employ it so as 
 may turn to the best account, not only 
 in the life that now is, but in that also 
 which is to come. May I be making 
 daily advances in all wisdom, right- 
 eousness, and goodness, in piety and 
 purity, in humility and meekness, in 
 contentment and heavenly-minded- 
 ness. Let me not be anxiously careful 
 about the things of this life ; what I 
 shall eat, or what I shall drink, or 
 wherewithal I shall be clothed; but 
 let me seek, in the first place, the bless- 
 ings of thy kingdom, and the right- 
 eousness which thou requirest, as the 
 necessary qualification for the enjoy- 
 ment of them ; depending upon thy 
 promise, that all these things — so far 
 as they are needful, shall then be added 
 to me. 
 
 Keep me this day in innocence, and 
 in love to Thee, and to all about me. 
 In all my ways let me acknowledge 
 Thee, and do thou direct my paths. 
 Teach me to guide my affairs with dis- 
 cretion ; and in every respect to act in a 
 manner suitable to the station wherein 
 thy providence has placed me, and to 
 the general relations which I sustain. 
 
 14 
 
210 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 
 
 Bless the family to which I belong- s 
 and all my dear relatives and friends, 
 whether near or at a distance. May 
 
 we fee all interested in thy peculiar fa- 
 vour and friendship ; faithful in our 
 duty to Thee here on earth, and happy 
 in the enjoyment of Thee hereafter in 
 heaven. All which, and whatever else 
 thou seest needful and proper for me, 
 for them, and for all mankind, I hum- 
 bly entreat, for thy goodness' sake in 
 and through Christ Jesus thy Son, who 
 has taught us to address Thee, under 
 the endearing character of " Our Fa- 
 ther who art in heaven, 59 &c. 
 
 Devotions for Jllonday evening. 
 
 HYMN 13/ L. M. —Evening Hymn. * 
 1. 
 
 GLORY to Thee, my God, this night, 
 For all the blessings of the light : 
 Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, 
 Under the shadow of thy wings. 
 
 2. 
 Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son, 
 The ills that I this day have done ; 
 That with the world, myself, and Thee, 
 I, ere I sleep, at peace may be. 
 
 3. 
 Teach me to live, that I may dread 
 The grave as little as my bed % 
 Teach me to die, that so I may 
 Triumphing rise at the last day. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 211 
 
 4. 
 O may my soul on Thee repose, [close : 
 And with sweet sleep mine eyelids 
 Sleep, that may me more vigorous 
 
 make, 
 To serve my God. when I awake. 
 
 5. 
 When in the night I sleepless lie, [ply : 
 My soul with heavenly thoughts sup- 
 JLet no ill dreams disturb my rest, 
 IVo powers of darkness me molest. 
 
 6, 
 Let my blest Guardian, while I sleep, 
 His watchful station near me keep, 
 My heart with love celestial fill, 
 And guard me from the approach of ill* 
 
 7. 
 May he celestial joys rehearse, 
 And thought to thought with me con- 
 verse, 
 Or, in my stead, all the night long, 
 Sing to my God a grateful song. 
 
 8. 
 Lord let my soul forever share, 
 The bliss of thy paternal care ; 
 'Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above, 
 To see thy face, to sing thy love. 
 
 9. 
 O when shall I, in endless day, 
 For ever chase dark sleep away, 
 And hymns divine with angels sing, 
 Glory to Thee, eternal King. 
 
212 DETOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 
 
 10. 
 
 Praise Ood, from whom all blessings 
 
 flow, 
 Praise him, all creatures here below. 
 Praise him above, ye angelic host x 
 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ohost. 
 
 Lord, my Ood, Thou art ever mer- 
 ciful and gracious. Thou causest the 
 outgoings of the morning and of the 
 evening, to rejoice over me. I desire, 
 at this time, with a grateful sense of 
 the numberless favours Thou hast con- 
 ferred upon me, and art continually 
 renewing, day by day, to offer Thee my 
 evening sacrifice of prayer and thanks- 
 giving. I<et the words of my mouth, 
 and the meditations of my heart, be 
 acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my 
 strength and Redeemer. 
 
 1 adore Thee as the author of my life 
 and being ; as the former of my body, 
 and the Father of my spirit. I bless 
 Thee, that Thou hast made me a rea- 
 sonable creature, hast designed me for 
 immortality, and hast placed me here 
 in a state of discipline, in order to train 
 me up by a variety of exercises and 
 trials, experiences and improvements, 
 for the business and blessedness of ano- 
 ther and a better state. 
 
 And though I have in many instances 
 acted in a manner unbecoming the 
 dignity of my rational nature, and 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 213 
 
 been far from answering, as I ought, 
 the great ends of my creation ; yet, 
 blessed be thy name, Thou hast not 
 dealt with me according to my deserts, 
 but continually, hitherto, hast Thou 
 upheld my soul in life ; and thy visita- 
 tion hath preserved my spirit. I thank 
 Thee, O Lord, for the watchful care 
 and kind supplies of thy providence, 
 for my health and strength, for my 
 food and raiment, for my relatives and 
 friends, and all my social advantages 
 and enjoyments. 
 
 But more especially would I praise 
 Thee for the advantages and oppor- 
 tunities Thou hast afforded me, for im- 
 proving in the knowledge and prac- 
 tice of true religion ; for obtaining the 
 pardon of my sins, and an interest in 
 thy forfeited favour, through the me- 
 diation of thy Son ; and for securing a 
 title to that glorious inheritance, to 
 the lively hope of which Thou hast be- 
 gotten us again, by his Resurrection 
 from the dead : — an inheritance incor- 
 ruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth 
 not away, reserved in heaven for those 
 who are kept by the power of God, 
 through faith, unto salvation. Suffer 
 me not, I beseech thee, to receive thy 
 grace in vain ; but teach me so highly 
 to value, and so diligently to improve 
 all my present privileges and advanta- 
 ges, as that I may be prepared and 
 
214 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 
 
 qualified for those still greater bless- 
 ings, which Thou wilt hereafter bestow 
 on the an that love and serve Thee. 
 
 Forgive ine, O Thou Father of mer- 
 cies, that I have hitherto made Thee 
 such unsuitable returns for thy great 
 love and goodness; that I have lived 
 so much a stranger to Thee ; that I 
 have loved Thee no more, and served 
 Thee no better ; that I have been so 
 negligent in the discharge of my social 
 and relative duties, and so careless, 
 even about my own highest concerns, 
 my spiritual and everlasting interests. 
 Pardon ail tlie innumerable transgres- 
 sions and provocations of my past life ; 
 and particularly whatever Thou hast 
 seen amiss in my temper or conduct 
 this day. Give me that godly sorrow 
 for sin which worketh repentance un- 
 to salvation, needing not to be repent- 
 ed of; and enable me to act a wiser 
 and a better part in all respects for the 
 time to come. 
 
 Create in me a clean heart, O God, 
 and renew a right spirit within me. 
 And hy the eHicacy of the exceeding 
 great and precious promises of thy 
 word, and the influences of thy bless- 
 ed Spirit, may I not only escape the 
 corruptions that are in the world, 
 through lust, but be transformed into 
 the image of thy moral perfections, 
 and become a partaker of a divine na- 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 215 
 
 ture. For this purpose let me give all 
 possible diligence to §idd to my faith 
 fortitude, and to fortitude prudence, 
 and to prudence temperance, and to 
 temperance patience, and to patience 
 godliness, and to godliness brotherly 
 kindness, and to brotherly kindness 
 universal charity, that so these things 
 being in me, and abounding, I may be 
 neither inactive nor unfruitful in the 
 knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord. 
 Thus let me make my calling and elec- 
 tion to the privileges and hopes of the 
 gospel, sure and steadfast ; as knowing 
 that if I do these things I shall never 
 fall, but that an entrance shall be ad- 
 ministered unto me abundantly into 
 the everlasting kingdom of my dear 
 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Make me particularly mindful of the 
 duties I owe to those with whom I am 
 especially connected by the ties of rela- 
 tion or friendship, and help me to take 
 the most prudent and eifectuai means 
 to promote their comfort and welfare. 
 I would commend them as well as my- 
 self, to thy blessing and favour. IMrect 
 us, O Lord, by thine unerring wisdom 5 
 defend us hj thine almighty power and 
 provide for us hj thy never-failing 
 goodness, through the various scenes 
 and changes of this transitory state : 
 be our support and comfort in the aw- 
 ful hour of death, and our everlasting 
 
210 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 
 
 portion and happiness beyond tbe 
 grave. 
 
 I would likewise, O most merciful 
 God, recommend to thy gracious re- 
 gard, the whole world of mankind. 
 Pity their follies and infirmities ; deli- 
 ver them from their sins, and from all 
 those evils that are the fruits of sin. Be 
 favourably mindful of my native land, 
 and of all that are connected with it. 
 Preserve our rights and liberties, both 
 civil and sacred ; and let truth, righte- 
 ousness, and peace, flourish and prevail 
 amongst us. May our magistrates, su- 
 preme and subordinate, rule in thy 
 fear, and be the ministers of God unto 
 us for good. Have mercy on the sick 
 and afflicted, provide for the poor and 
 ikeeAy^ and do good unto all as their va- 
 rious cases and necessities may require. 
 
 As Thou hast brought me to the close 
 of this day in safety, so I beg the con- 
 tinuance of thy care and protection 
 this night. Watch over me, O Thou 
 Preserver of men, in my defenceless 
 moments, and, after quiet and refresh- 
 ing sleep, raise me up in the morning, 
 fitted for the duties and events of an- 
 other day. And when this succession 
 of days and nights shall be no more, 
 receive me into that state, where I shall 
 serve Thee without intermission, and 
 yet without weariness, through a long, 
 happy and endless day. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 217 
 
 Wow unto the King: eternal, immor- 
 tal, invisible, the only wise God, be 
 honour and glory, forever and ever. — 
 Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Tuesday morning* 
 
 HYMN 14. L. M.— JWw Sabbath. 
 
 1 ARISE, my soul ! with rapture rise ! 
 And, fill'd with love and fear, adore, 
 The awful Sovereign of the skies, 
 Whose merey lends me oike day more. 
 
 2 And may this day, indulgent Power! 
 Not idly pass, nor fruitless be ; 
 
 But may eaeh swiftly flying hour 
 Still nearer bring my soul to Thee. 
 
 3 But can it be ? that power divine 
 
 Is thron'd in light's unbounded blaze ; 
 And countless worlds and angels join 
 To swell the glorious song of praise : 
 
 4 And will he deign to lend an ear, 
 When I, poor abject mortal, pray? 
 Yes, boundless goodness ! he will hear, 
 Nor cast the meanest wretch away. 
 
 5 Then let me serve Thee all my days, 
 And may my zeal with years increase ; 
 For pleasant, Lord, are all thy ways. 
 And all thy paths are paths of peace. 
 
 Almighty and most merciful Father! 
 Thou art the great parent of the uni- 
 verse, and the supreme Lord of all, by 
 whom all things were created at first, 
 
218 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 
 
 and are continually supported and 
 governed. I adore the glorious perfec- 
 tions of thy nature, tlie boundless pow- 
 er, wisdom and goodness which f lion 
 liast displayed in all Thy works, and 
 most gratefully acknowledge tlie libe- 
 ral communications of thy bounty and 
 beneficence to me, who am unworthy 
 of the least of thy mercies. I bless Thee 
 for every instance of thy kindness and 
 favour that I have experienced through 
 all my past life, and particularly for 
 the "watchful care of thy good provi- 
 dence, by which I have been secured 
 from the dangers of the last night, and 
 brought to see the light of another 
 day, in peace and comfort. 
 
 Thy mercies, O Lord, are new unto 
 me every morning ; great is thy faith- 
 fulness ! And hence it is that I am not 
 consumed, even because thy compas- 
 sions fail not. Shouldst Thou have 
 dealt with me according to the num- 
 ber and weight of my transgressions, I 
 should have long since been stripped 
 of all my forfeited enjoyments, and 
 have been wretched indeed beyond all 
 conception, and beyond all hope of be- 
 ing restored to thy favour. 
 
 But blessed be thy name, I am still 
 continued in the land of the living, a 
 monument of thy patience and for- 
 bearance % furnished with a variety of 
 good things relating to the life that 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 219 
 
 now is, and encouraged to hope for far 
 better blessings in the life to come, 
 through thy wonderful love and grace 
 manifested to a sinful world, by thy 
 Son Jesus Christ. With admiration 
 and gratitude would 1 contemplate the 
 wise and gracious method thou hast 
 contrived for recovering lost sinners to 
 thyself, by the teaching and example, 
 the sufferings and death, the resurrec- 
 tion and ascension of this our once 
 abased, but now glorified Redeemer ; 
 who is able to save even to the utter- 
 most, all that come unto Thee by him ; 
 seeing that he ever lives to make inter- 
 cession for us. 
 
 Grant me, O most merciful God, an 
 interest in the benefits of his mediato- 
 rial undertaking* Help me to seek 
 and secure the blessings of pardon, 
 peace and eternal life, by a cheerful 
 compliance with those terms of repent- 
 ance, faith and new obedience, on 
 which they are offered to my accept- 
 ance. Enable me rightly to value and 
 carefully to improve all my present 
 privileges and all my future prospects 
 as becometh a Christian. And by that 
 grace of thine, which bringeth salva- 
 tion to men, teach me to deny all un- 
 godliness and worldly lusts, and live 
 soberly, righteously and piously in this 
 present world : looking for that blessed 
 hope, even the glorious appearing of 
 
220 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 
 
 the great God and our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ ; who gave himself for us to re- 
 deem us from all iniquity, and to puri- 
 fy unto himself a peculiar people zeal- 
 ous of good works* 
 
 Being bought with a price of such 
 inestimable value, O let me never live 
 as if I were at my own disposal ; but 
 engage me to serve and glorify Thee, 
 not only with my body but with my 
 spirit, which are thine. L<et me choose 
 Thee, O Thou greatest and best of 
 beings, as my I^ord and my God, my 
 guide and my guardian, my portion 
 and felicity ; and let me cheerfully re- 
 sign myself to be governed, directed 
 and disposed of by thine unerring wis- 
 dom, and according to the good plea- 
 sure of thy goodness. 
 
 Help me this day, and every day, so 
 to walk as to please Thee, and to be 
 constantly improving in the divine life 
 and likeness. Keep me by thy grace, 
 from falling into sin, which is the 
 greatest of all evils ; then may I be as- 
 sured that Thou wilt preserve me from 
 every thing else that might do me hurt ; 
 and even cause all things to work to- 
 gether for my good. Prepare me for 
 the general scenes and changes that 
 may lie before me in this variable and 
 transitory state, and especially, for that 
 great and most important change, 
 which I must pass through by death. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 221 
 
 Teach me to lire always as I shall wish 
 to have lived when I conie to die. At 
 that awful season, put strength and 
 confidence into my departing spirit; 
 and after death receive me into thy 
 more immediate presence, where there 
 is fullness of joy ; to dwell at thy right 
 hand, where there are pleasures for- 
 ever more.— Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Tuesday Evening. 
 
 HYMN 15. L. M German Air, 
 
 1 WHEN restless on my bed I lie, [fly, 
 Still courting sleep, which still will 
 Then shall reflection's brighter power 
 Illume the lone and midnight hour. 
 
 3 If hush 9 d the breeze and calm the tide, 
 Soft will the stream of inem'ry glide, 
 And all the past, a gentle train, 
 Waked by remembrance, live again. 
 
 3 If loud the wind, the tempest high, 
 And darkness wraps the sullen sky, 
 I muse on life 9 s tempestuous sea, 
 And sigh, O I^ord, to come to thee. 
 
 4 Toss 9 d on the deep and swelling wave, 
 O mark my trembling soul and save ! 
 Give to my view that harbour near, 
 Where thou wilt chase each grief and 
 
 fear! 
 
 Most great and glorious God! with 
 all humility and reverence, would I 
 
222 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 
 
 prostrate myself before Thee, under a 
 deep and affecting sense of thy majesty, 
 and my own meanness ; of thy bounty, 
 and my indigence ; of thy holiness, and 
 my guilt. 
 
 Without Thee, O Lord, I am nothing, 
 I have nothing, and can do nothing. 
 Upon Thee Ao I constantly depend for 
 life, and breath, and being. I need the 
 perpetual exertion of thy power for the 
 continuance of my existence ; and the 
 support of my faculties ; I need thy 
 wisdom to direct my uncertain steps, 
 thy goodness to supply my daily wants, 
 thy mercy to pardon my numberless 
 sins, and thy grace to assist me in the 
 discharge of my duties. And I would 
 rejoice that Thou art ever ready to aid 
 and befriend me. 
 
 Most gratefully must I acknowledge 
 that hitherto Thou, O Lord, hast helped 
 and sustained me s provided for my ne- 
 cessities both of soul and body ; caused 
 thy goodness daily to pass before me ; 
 afforded me a plenty of the means of 
 grace, and raised me, by the gospel of 
 thy Son Jesus Christ, to the hopes and 
 prospects of eternal glory. Bless the 
 Lord, O my soul, and all that is within 
 me, praise and magnify his holy name ! 
 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
 not all his benefits ; who forgiveth all 
 thine iniquities, who healeth all thy 
 diseases, who redeemeth thy life from 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 
 
 destruction, and crowneth Thee with 
 loving-kindness and tender mercies. 
 
 What reason have I, great Crod, to 
 lament that my heart has heen no more 
 affected with a sense of thy goodness ; 
 that I have foolishly slighted, and in 
 many instances, abused thy favours ; 
 and not only neglected thy service, but 
 acted in direct opposition to thy holy 
 nature and will ! I have neither obeyed 
 nor loved Thee as I ought ; but have 
 rebelled against thy sovereign authori- 
 ty, and made the most unworthy re- 
 turns for all the expressions of thy pa- 
 ternal tenderness. 
 
 Lord, God, gracious and merciful ! 
 Pity my infirmity, and pardon my 
 sins. And though I have so long, so 
 often, and so ungratefully offended 
 Thee, yet cast me not off from thy fa- 
 vour, but effectually recover me from 
 my wanderings to thyself. Help me to 
 renounce and detest -whatever is dis- 
 pleasing in thy sight; and with my 
 whole heart, to return and cleave un- 
 to Thee. And enable me, I beseech 
 Thee, unfeignedly to comply with those 
 merciful terms on which the blessings 
 of the gospel are offered to me, that so 
 I may be accepted of Thee in the be- 
 loved, and blessed with all spiritual 
 blessings in heavenly things and places, 
 in Christ Jesus. 
 
 1 would desire daily to be making 
 
224 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 
 
 some advances in religious knowledge* 
 by reading, meditation, and a diligent 
 use and improvement of all those helps 
 with which I am, or may be, furnished 
 for this purpose. Grant that the more 
 I know of thy nature, thy will, and thy 
 grace, the more I may be disposed to 
 love thee, with all my heart, and soul, 
 and mind, and strength ; to yield a 
 cheerful compliance to thy sovereign 
 w "ill, and to hope and trust to rejoice 
 and delight myself in Thee. 
 
 And whilst I am endeavouring to 
 fulfil the first and great command- 
 ment, by making Thee, O most glorious 
 and gracious God, the object of my su- 
 preme veneration and affection, sub- 
 mission and confidence, suffer me not 
 to forget the second, which is like unto 
 it, of loving my neighbour as myself. 
 I would labour to cultivate a sincere 
 good will for all mankind; fervently 
 wishing the happiness of every one; 
 rejoicing in that tender love which 
 thou exercisest towards all thy crea- 
 tures, and cheerfully contributing 
 whatever lies in my power to relieve 
 the distresses and to promote the wel- 
 fare of those that are round about me. 
 Especially would I desire to be found in 
 the discharge of those duties and obliga- 
 tions which result from the particular 
 station, circumstances, and relations 
 wherein thy providence has placed me. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 255 
 
 Accept of my thanksgivings for the 
 mercies of the day past, which thou 
 hast added to the sum of all my past 
 favours. Long as I live will I praise 
 the Lord, and magnify thy holy name 
 while I have any being. Pardon 
 whatever has been amiss in my dispo- 
 sition or behaviour this day % and ena- 
 ble me to be more upon my guard 
 against offending Thee for the time to 
 come. 
 
 And now, Lord, what wait I for? 
 Truly my hope is in Thee and under 
 the shadow of thy wings will I put my 
 trust. Watch over me this night. Suf- 
 fer not any evil thing to come nigh this 
 dwelling. May I lie down in thy fear, 
 be refreshed with seasonable rest and 
 sleep, and arise in thy favour fitted and 
 disposed for the duties of the following 
 day. And grant that every day which 
 thou shalt please to add to my life on 
 earth, may be so spent and improved 
 as to increase my fitness for the joys and 
 glories of the heavenly state ; through 
 the mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son, 
 in whose most comprehensive words, I 
 continue to pray for myself, and for all 
 my brethren of mankind, as " Our Fa- 
 ther," &c* 
 
 15 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING* 
 
 Devotions for Wednesday Jtlorning. 
 
 HYMN. 16. L. M.— Litchfield. 
 
 1 IN sleep's serene oblivion laid, 
 I safely pass'd the silent night ; 
 Again I see the breaking shade, 
 I drink again the morning light. 
 
 2 New born, I bless the waking hour, 
 Once more with awe rejoice to be ; 
 My conscious soul resumes her power. 
 And springs my guardian God to 
 
 thee I 
 
 3 O guide me thro 9 the various maze, 
 My doubtful feet are doomed to tread ; 
 And spread thy shield's protecting 
 
 v blaze 
 Where dangers press around myhead* 
 
 4 A deeper shade will soon impend, 
 A deeper sleep mine eyes oppress ; 
 Yet then thy strength shall still defend* 
 Thy goodness still delight to bless* 
 
 5 That deeper shade shall break away, 
 That deeper sleep shall leave mine 
 
 eyes ; 
 Thy light shall give eternal day — 
 Thy love the rapture of the skies I 
 
 O Thou infinitely great and adora- 
 ble Majesty of heaven and earth I 
 Thou art ever present in all parts of 
 thy vast dominions, and not far from 
 any of thy creatures. Thou know* 
 est my downsitting and mine uprising t 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. 227 
 
 thou understandest my thoughts afar 
 otf, thou compassest niy path and my 
 lying down, and art acquainted with 
 all my ways. 
 
 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit ? 
 or whither shall I flee from thy pres- 
 ence ? I am convinced, O Lord, that it 
 is as impossible to escape the notice of 
 thine eye, as it is to subsist without 
 thy supporting hand, or to fee happy 
 without thy favour. For even the 
 darkness hideth not from Thee ; but 
 the night shineth as the day : the dark- 
 ness and the light are both alike to 
 Thee. © that I may be therefore care- 
 ful to set the Lord always before me ; 
 to remember wherever I am, and what- 
 ever I am about, that thou Ood seest 
 me ; to live under a constant sense of 
 my necessary dependence upon Thee, 
 and of my numberless obligations to 
 Thee ; and accordingly to seek thy fa- 
 vour with iny whole heart, and to 
 dread thy displeasure above all things! 
 
 How deeply indebted am I to that 
 goodness of thine which at first pro- 
 duced me into being, and has hitherto 
 upheld me in life, preserved me from 
 perpetual dangers, seen or unseen, and 
 given me so many days of comfort and 
 nights of repose ! How precious are 
 thy thoughts of kindness and acts of 
 mercy unto me, O Ood ! Mow great is 
 the sum of them ! If I attempt to count 
 
22S DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. 
 
 them they are more in number than the 
 sand. When I awake, I am still with 
 Thee; and see new occasions every 
 morning to meditate on thy unwearied 
 tenderness and care. But my highest 
 obligations are to thy sovereign grace, 
 for supplying me with the means of re- 
 ligious instruction; for affording me 
 the most desirable helps and advan- 
 tages both for knowing and doing thy 
 will ; and for setting before me the 
 views and hopes of immortal life and 
 happiness in the gospel of thy Son, 
 Jesus Christ. Blessed be thy name for 
 all thou hast done, art doing, and (if 
 my sins prevent not the effects of thy 
 goodness) wilt continue to do for my 
 temporal, spiritual and eternal wel- 
 fare. Eiord help me to fall in with thy 
 gracious and merciful designs ; and let 
 me not frustrate them by my own care- 
 lessness, ingratitude and rebellion 
 against Thee. 
 
 Give me good Iiord, a just sight and 
 sense of my unworthiness, folly and 
 guilt. What I know not, teach Thou 
 me ; and whereinsoever I have done 
 iniquity, or acted contrary to any of 
 the laws of piety, truth, charity, or so- 
 briety, may I do so no more. Search 
 me, O God, and know my heart; try 
 me and know my thoughts ; and see if 
 there be any wicked way in me ; and 
 lead me in the way everlasting. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. 229 
 
 Keep me this day, and every day, 
 from sinning against Thee. JTIay I live 
 in thy fear all the day long, and be al- 
 ways on my guard against the many 
 snares and temptations with which I 
 am surrounded. Help me to keep my 
 heart with all diligenee ; knowing that 
 from thence are the issues of life. Let 
 no vain thoughts, or corrupt imagina- 
 tions, be harboured in my mind. Let 
 me not give way to any unruly passions, 
 or inordinate affections. Let me set a 
 watch at the door of my lips, and take 
 heed that I offend not with my tongue. 
 Suffer me not, I beseech Thee, to fall 
 into any irregularity of conduct. May 
 I daily walk with Thee in a course of 
 holy living, so as to approve myself in 
 thy sight; and not only from a prin- 
 ciple of godly fear, solicitously avoid 
 whatever is offensive to thy holy ma- 
 jesty, but from the nobler principle of 
 love, make it my supreme delight to 
 serve, and imitate, and please Thee. 
 
 Prepare me, O Lord, for all the oc- 
 currences of the day. Teach me to see 
 and own thy hand in every mercy and 
 enjoyment. Or if Thou sufferest any 
 trouble or affliction to befal me, help 
 me in a becoming manner to submit to 
 thy will, believing that it is good for me 
 to be afflicted, and endeavouring, by a 
 wise improvement of thy chastisements, 
 to become a partaker of thy holiness. 
 
230 DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 
 
 Give me a sympathetic sense of the 
 sufferings of others t and do Thou. O 
 God, pity and relieve them. Mercifully 
 comfort such as are cast down ; and be 
 a present help to them that are in trou- 
 ble. Let thy blessing* be upon every 
 member of the family to which I belong. 
 Assist us all in the faithful discharge of 
 our respective duties, and make us 
 mutual blessings to each other. Guide 
 us by thy counsel through life, and af- 
 terwards receive us to glory. All which 
 I humbly entreat for thy mercy's sake 
 in Christ Jesus; through whom I 
 would ascribe to thy divine majesty, all 
 honour and glory, thanksgiving and 
 praise, both now and forevermore. — 
 Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Wednesday Evening* 
 
 HYMN 17. P. M.— Evening. 
 
 1 ERE I sleep, for every favour, 
 This day show'd by my God, 
 I do bless my Saviour. 
 
 2 I^eave me not, but ever love me $ 
 IiCt thy peace be my bliss, 
 
 Till Thou hence remove me. 
 
 3 Thou my Rock, my Guard, my Tow- 
 
 er ; 
 Safely keep, while I sleep, 
 Me with all thy power. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 231 
 
 4 And whene'er in death I slumber, 
 Let me rise, with the wise, 
 Counted in their number. 
 
 Or eat and gracious Ood ! Thy mer- 
 cies are new unto me every morning*, 
 and thy faithfulness every evening. 
 Through thy good hand upon me, I am 
 now brought to the close of another 
 day, and would take this occasion to 
 reflect with gratitude on thy great and 
 undeserved goodness to me all tHe days 
 of my past life; to acknowledge my 
 obligations to Thee for all that I am, 
 and have, and my entire dependence 
 upon Thee for all that I need, and for 
 all that Thou hast encouraged me to 
 hope for, humbly entreating that Thou 
 wilt enable me to honour and praise 
 Thee, to love and serve Thee as the most 
 excellent, amiable and beneficent of all 
 beings, my father and friend, my Lord 
 and my Ood. 
 
 With shame and sorrow must I con- 
 fess myself utterly unworthy of thy 
 mercies, and lament that I have made 
 Jko better improvement of them ; and 
 that the Ood in whose hand my breath 
 is, and whose are all my ways, I have 
 not glorified as I ought. 1 would, 
 grieve that I have lived so unmindful 
 of Thee and of thy benefits, so forget- 
 ful of my duty to Thee, and to my fel- 
 low creatures, and so neglectful of my 
 
232 DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 
 
 own highest interests. Hour much of 
 my precious time have I wasted and 
 mispent, in following after lying vani- 
 ties ! How careless have I been of my 
 temper and conduct, of the due govern- 
 ment of my thoughts and affections, my 
 words and actions ! And in how many 
 instances have I positively offended 
 Thee, acted injuriously to others, or 
 done wrong to my own soul* 
 
 Thou, O I*ord, knowest all my fool- 
 ishness, and my sins are not hid from 
 Thee* Give me also a just sense of their 
 number, aggravations and malignity. 
 Help me truly and sincerely to repent 
 of them, so that I may be entitled to the 
 pardon and remission of all my trans- 
 gressions, through the redemption that 
 is in Christ Jesus thy Son* Blessed be 
 thy name that, great and grievous as 
 my offences against Thee have been, 
 Thou hast not left me in a helpless and 
 hopeless state, but that there is mercy 
 and forgiveness with Thee that Thou 
 may est be feared, and that in thy right 
 hand there is plenteous redemption. 
 
 Blessed be thy name for the covenant 
 of grace and peace which Thou hast 
 established with us as the sinful chil- 
 dren of men, in thy Son's blood ; where- 
 in the promises of pardon, acceptance 
 and eternal life, are made to those who 
 return unto Thee in the way of repent- 
 ance, faith and new obedience ; and the 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 233 
 
 assistance of thy Holy Spirit is offered 
 to all that ask it. O that I may be ena- 
 bled so to comply with the terms of this 
 covenant as to be entitled to an interest 
 in its inestimable blessings ; and may I 
 study to make a proper improvement 
 of them by a continual progress in 
 grace and holiness. 
 
 I would desire to redeem the time 
 that I have lost, by applying myself, 
 with increasing diligence, to the prac- 
 tice of my duty, in its whole extent. 
 Make me more faithful and constant in 
 thy service, and more ready to every 
 good work, than I have hitherto been. 
 May true wisdom and piety, justice and 
 mercy, temperance and patience, hu- 
 mility and meekness, adorn the whole 
 remainder of my life. And whatsoever 
 things are true, whatsoever things are 
 venerable, whatsoever things are just, 
 whatsoever things are pure, whatso- 
 ever things are lovely, whatsoever 
 things are of good report ; if there be 
 any virtue, and if there be any praise, 
 may I so think of these things as to 
 make them the com stant objects of my 
 pursuit and practice. 
 
 Keep me, O Lord, steadfast to my 
 covenant engagements. Help me to 
 maintain my integrity, and to perse- 
 vere in the practice of piety and virtue 
 amidst all those temptations to evil, by 
 which I may be assaulted, from within 
 
234 DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 
 
 or from without* I*ct no worldly al- 
 lurements or terrors turn me aside from 
 the straight path of my duty. JLet me 
 esteem the pleasures of religion and a 
 good eonseienee as ineomparably supe- 
 rior to all sensual pleasures, or crimi- 
 nal indulgences. Suffer me not to be 
 anxiously careful about any inferior 
 or temporal concerns, so as to neglect 
 the one thing needful, the great busi- 
 ness of religion and the security of my 
 immortal interests. Hut help me good 
 liord. to be every day making some 
 preparation for my approaching 
 change, and for appearing before Thee 
 with acceptance, when after death. I 
 shall be called to judgment. And by a 
 patient continuance in well doing, may 
 I so seek for honour, glory and immor- 
 tality, as in the end to obtain eternal 
 life. 
 
 Pity and reform a world that lies in 
 wickedness. Direct our common and 
 national concerns, so as may be most 
 conducive to the public welfare. Sup- 
 port, relieve, and comfort the afflicted. 
 Remember all my dear relations and 
 friends : make them heirs of the grace 
 of life 5 partakers of thy special favour 
 here, and of eternal glory in the world 
 to come. 
 
 O Thou great Shepherd of Israel, 
 who never slumberest nor sleepest ! 
 Take me I beseech Thee, into thy pro- 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 235 
 
 tection this night and defend me from 
 all dangers and disasters* Let me lie 
 down in peaee with Thee, with my 
 own conscience, and with all man- 
 kind. Refresh my body with com- 
 fortable rest and sleep, that in the 
 morning I may be fitted and disposed 
 with renewed vigour to serve Thee, 
 and discharge the duties of my station. 
 Be Thou my God and Guide through 
 life, my support and comfort in death ; 
 and after death my everlasting portion 
 and felicity. 
 
 And now unto him who is able to do 
 for ine far more exceedingly than I can 
 ask or think, be glory through Christ 
 Jesus, world without end. — Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Thursday Jflorning. 
 
 HYMN 18. C. M.— St. Olives. 
 
 1 TO Thee let my first oif 'rings rise, 
 
 Whose sun creates the day, 
 8 wift as his giadening influence flies, 
 And spotless as his ray. 
 
 2 This day thy fav'ring hand be nigh ! 
 
 So oft vouchsafed before I 
 Still may it lead, protect, supply, 
 And I that hand adore. 
 
 3 If bliss thy providence impart, 
 
 For which resign- d I pray, 
 Give me to feel the grateful heart, 
 And without guilt be gay. 
 
236 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 
 
 4 Affliction should thy love intend 
 
 As vice or folly's cure, 
 Patient, to gain that gracious end, 
 IHay I the means endure. 
 
 5 Be this, and ev'ry future day, 
 
 Still wiser than the past ; 
 And when I all my life survey, 
 May grace sustain at last. 
 
 O Lord God Almighty ! Thou art the 
 blessed and only potentate ? the King 
 of kings, and Lord of lords; the great 
 Creator of heaven and earth ; the sove- 
 reign Lord and proprietor of the uni- 
 verse. The heavens are thine, with all 
 their hosts ; the earth also is thine, with 
 the fulness thereof; the world, and they 
 that dwell therein. In thy hand is the 
 soul of every living thing, and the 
 breath of all mankind. Thy domin- 
 ion is an everlasting dominion t and 
 thy kingdom is from generation to gen- 
 eration. Thou dost according to thy 
 own will amongst the armies above, 
 and amongst the inhabitants of this 
 lower world ; and there is none that 
 can stay thine hand, or that may say 
 unto Thee, what dost Thou t 
 
 But, blessed be thy name, this thy un- 
 controllable power is constantly direct- 
 ed by unerring wisdom, and exerted in 
 effecting the purposes of thy boundless 
 goodness. So that there is the most 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 237 
 
 abundant reason for all thy intelligent 
 creatures to rejoice that the Lord Ood 
 omnipotent reigneth ; and in this joy I 
 would bear my part. 
 
 I adore Thee, O Lord, as the author 
 of my being, the Ood of my life, and the 
 length of my days. I acknowledge my- 
 self obliged by all Thou hast done for 
 me in my creation, preservation, and 
 redemption, to serve Thee with fidelity 
 and zeal. In thy continued care and 
 kindness would I cheerfully confide 
 and quietly acquiesce in thy all wise 
 disposals ; being convinced of thy abso- 
 lute right to rule over me, and to do 
 with me as Thou pleasest; and that 
 whatever Thou appointest is fittest and 
 best. And accordingly to Thee, my 
 heavenly Sovereign, do I this morning 
 lift up my eyes, earnestly desiring to 
 learn thy will, to seek thy face, and to 
 obtain thy favour. 
 
 I thank Thee, that Thou hast given 
 me a law to be the rule of my life and 
 conduct : that Thou hast by thy united 
 lights of nature and of scripture, taught 
 me what is good, and what Thou the 
 Lord my Ood requirest of me ; even to 
 do justly, to love mercy, and to walk 
 humbly with Thee my Ood. I thank 
 Thee, that as thy laws are most reason- 
 able and excellent in themselves, so 
 they are enforced by the most engaging 
 and endearing motives ; and that Thou 
 
238 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING, 
 
 hast made it as much my interest as it 
 is my duty to serve Thee. 
 
 Most deeply would I lament my guilt 
 and folly in having lived so unmind- 
 ful of Thee and thy laws ; in having 
 despised thine authority, abused thy 
 goodness, and counteracted thy gra- 
 cious and benevolent intentions in my 
 favour. Mercifully pardon and for- 
 give whatever has been amiss in my 
 past temper and conduct, and enable 
 me to rectify it, hy a course of new and 
 better obedience for the time to come. 
 I desire to renounce all those foreign 
 lords that have too long had dominion 
 over me; and would now consecrate 
 myself afresh to Thee ; all that I am, 
 and all that I have; the members of 
 my body and the faculties of my soul ; 
 my worldly possessions, my time, my 
 talents, and my influence over others, 
 to be employed in thy service, and used 
 for the advancement of thine honour 
 and interest in the world. 
 
 Yet from a sense of my own weak- 
 ness, and after many lamentable 
 proofs of the instability of my good re- 
 solutions, I am forced to give up all self 
 trust and confidence ; and would earn- 
 estly seek the aids of thy grace, which 
 alone is sufficient for me ; begging that 
 Thou wilt manifest thy strength, in my 
 weakness, ©diver me, O God, by thy 
 mighty power, from the dominion and 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 239 
 
 tyranny of every worldly and fleshly 
 last; from the bondage of eorrupt 
 habit*, the influence of vain customs, 
 and the contagion of evil examples. 
 Fix the great principles of religion 
 deeply upon my heart. Fill my soul 
 with good affections towards thyself; 
 and towards all my fellow creatures ; 
 and may the whole of my conduct be 
 governed and regulated thereby. Also 
 enable me so to improve all the dispen- 
 sations of thy providence, the instruc- 
 tions of thy word, and the influence of 
 thy Spirit, as to be daily advancing 
 from grace to grace, and from strength 
 to strength, till I shall appear at length 
 perfect before Thee in Zion. 
 
 To Thee, O God, who hast kept me 
 the night past, and caused the light of 
 another morning to open with comfort 
 upon me, would I again commend my- 
 self, entreating the continuance of thy 
 kind and favourable regard this day. 
 Preserve me from the snares and dan- 
 gers to which I may be exposed, and 
 especially from the sins which most 
 easily beset me. Quicken me to the dis- 
 charge of the several duties that may 
 lie before me, and prepare me for what- 
 ever occurrences I may meet with, 
 whether prosperous or adverse. 
 
 Remember all my relations and 
 friends, to do them good. Forgive my 
 enemies, if I have any, and enable me 
 
240 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 
 
 to forgive them. Pity and relieve those 
 that are in distress ; and suit thy bless- 
 ings to the wants, capacities, and qua- 
 lifications of all thy creatures. Gra- 
 ciously hear these my humble requests, 
 which I offer up to Thee, in the name 
 of Jesus, the Son of thy love ; to whom, 
 and through whom to Thee, O heaven- 
 ly Father, I would ascribe everlasting 
 praises. — Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Thursday Evening. 
 
 HYMN 19. C. M.— Brattle- Strett. 
 
 1 BREAD Sovereign, let my evening 
 song 
 Like holy incense rise ; 
 Assist the offerings of my tongue 
 To reach the lofty skies. 
 
 « Through all the dangers of the day 
 Thy hand was still my guard, 
 And still to drive my wants away, 
 Thy mercy stood prepared. 
 
 3 Perpetual blessings from above 
 
 Encompass me around, 
 But O, how. few returns of love 
 Hath my Creator found ! 
 
 4 What have I done for him who died 
 
 To save my wretched soul ? 
 How are my follies multiplied, 
 Fast as my minutes roll ! 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 241 
 
 5 IiOrd, with this guilty heart of mine, 
 
 To thy dear cross I flee, 
 And to thy grace my soul resign, 
 To be renew'd by Thee. 
 
 6 Sprinkl'd afresh with pardoning 
 
 blood, 
 I lay me down to rest, 
 As in th' embraces of my God, 
 Or on my Saviour's breast. 
 
 Holy, holy, holy E-ord God Almighty, 
 who art, and wast, and art to come I 
 Thou art the righteous laord, who 
 lovest righteousness and hatest iniqui- 
 ty. Thy countenance beholdeth the 
 upright with the most favourable re- 
 gard; but Thou hast no pleasure in 
 wickedness, neither shall evil dwell 
 with Thee. Yet, not with stand lug 
 thine irreconcileable aversion to sin, 
 Thou art nevertheless kind and com- 
 passionate to returning sinners, slow 
 to anger, and of great mercy ; not will- 
 ing that any should perish, but that all 
 should come to repentance. 
 
 With shame and sorrow for the num- 
 berless sins and offences of my past life, 
 and particularly for what T have 
 thought, or said, or done amiss this 
 day, would I now humble myself before 
 Thee, admiring that goodness and pa- 
 tience of thine, which I have so un- 
 gratefully abused; entreating an in- 
 
 16 
 
242 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING, 
 
 terest in thy forgiving- mercy, and si 
 restoration to thy forfeited favour ; and 
 resolving in the strength of thy grace, 
 to depart from all iniquity, and to 
 regulate my future temper and conduct 
 in a manner more agreeable to thy 
 holy nature and will. 
 
 Enable me, O Thou great pattern of 
 all moral excellence, to purify myself, 
 as Thou art pure, to hate all sin with a 
 perfect hatred, effectually to renounce 
 and forsake every evil way, and to re- 
 turn unto Thee with my whole heart. 
 As Thou, who hast called me to the 
 profession and privileges of true reli- 
 gion, art holy, so may I be holy in all 
 manner of conversation. Help me, I 
 beseech Thee, to cleanse myself from 
 all pollutions both of the flesh and of 
 the spirit, and to perfect holiness in 
 thy fear. 
 
 Thou hast given us a perfect rule ta 
 walk by ; but alas ! how exceedingly 
 defective is our best obedience ! Who 
 can understand his errors? Cleanse 
 thou me from secret faults. And though 
 I can never hope, in this "weak state of 
 flesh and blood, to be free from all in- 
 firmities and miscarriages, yet 9 blessed 
 'JLord, keep back thy servant from pre- 
 sumptuous sins : let them not have do- 
 minion over me, but may I so live as to 
 maintain my integrity, and to be ac- 
 counted upright before Thee ; being in- 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 243 
 
 nocent from all great and allowed 
 transgressions. Give me, O God, such 
 views of thy greatness and goodness 
 and especially of tliy love and mercy to 
 a lost world, through thy Son Jesus 
 Christ, as may fill my soul with reve- 
 rence and admiration ; with love and 
 gratitude, with hope and confidence ; 
 as may draw but my strongest desires 
 after Thee, and engage me to repose 
 and delight myself in Thee. Help me 
 to yield an unreserved obedience to all 
 thy commands, and an humble submis- 
 sion to all the diposals of thy provi- 
 dence. I<et me always live and act 
 under a sense of thy presence, and be 
 careful to keep up such a daily inter- 
 course and communion with Thee as 
 may tend to cherish eTery pious dispo- 
 sition and affection, to fit me for nearer 
 approaches to Thee, and an uninter- 
 rupted enjoyment of Thee in the world 
 to come. Teach me, O thou Father of 
 Spirits, seriously to consider the nature 
 of my own soul, and to set a suitable 
 value upon it. Conscious of the dig- 
 nity and importance of this immortal 
 principle, let me labour and resolve to 
 secure its happiness, whatever present 
 gratifications are to be resigned, or 
 whatever temporal sufferings are to be 
 endured to that end. Help me so to 
 cultivate and improve my understand- 
 ing, and so to govern my affections, pas- 
 
244 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 
 
 sions, and appetites, as shall not only 
 prevent nie from injuring myself or 
 others, but best answer the great ends 
 of my creation, and promote my noblest 
 satisfaction and enjoyment. May I be 
 clothed with humility and decked with 
 the ornament of a meek and quiet spi- 
 rit, which is in thy sight of great price. 
 May I be temperate in all things, pure 
 in heart and chaste in conversation; 
 maintaining a fixed abhorrence of all 
 prohibited sensual indulgences. May I 
 learn, in whatsoever state I am, there- 
 with to be content; and let patience 
 have her perfect work, that I may 
 be complete and entire wanting no- 
 thing. 
 
 Give me, likewise, I beseech Thee, O 
 Thou lover of righteousness, peace and 
 truth, a proper temper towards my fel- 
 low creatures. Make me careful to 
 render unto all their dues, and to pro- 
 vide things honest in the sight of all 
 men. May I take pleasure in doing 
 every good office in my power to all 
 around me, and especially to those with 
 whom I am most nearly connected by 
 the ties of natural relation, affinity or 
 friendship. And grant that in my ge- 
 neral conduct, I may act under the in- 
 fluence of that wisdom which is from 
 above; which is first pure, and then 
 peaceable, gentle and easy to be en- 
 treated, full of mercy and of good fruits, 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 245 
 
 without partiality and without hypo- 
 crisy, 
 
 Extend thy merciful regard to the 
 whole world of mankind. Send the 
 light of thy glorious gospel to the most 
 distant parts of the earth ; and make 
 it every where effectual to enlighten 
 the ignorant, to reclaim the vicious, 
 and to promote the knowledge of di- 
 vine truth, and the practice of univer- 
 sal holiness amongst men. l>weli in 
 this land of my nativity ; be Thou the 
 watchful guardian of our rights and 
 liberties ; reform us from the highest to 
 the lowest, and delight over us still to 
 do us good. Relieve and comfort all 
 that are in distress. Succeed the labours 
 of the honest and industrious; cause 
 the earth to bring forth her increase 
 in due season, and satisfy our poor 
 with bread. 
 
 Accept, good liOrd, of my grateful 
 acknowledgment for all the blessings, 
 spiritual and temporal, personal and 
 relative, with which thou hast favour- 
 ed me thus far in life, and particularly 
 for the mercies of the day past. I would 
 take encouragement from hence cheer- 
 fully to confide in the continuance of 
 thy care and kindness. Into thy hands 
 I commit the keeping of myself, and of 
 all that are most dear to me this night. 
 Protect us, if it be thy will, from every 
 evil and danger, grant us quiet and 
 
246 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 
 
 comfortable repose, raise us up again 
 in health and safety the ensuing day, 
 and preserve us to thy heavenly king- 
 dom through the mediation of thy Son, 
 Jesus Christ. — Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Friday •Homing* 
 
 HYMN 20. S. M.— America. 
 
 1 SEE how the rising sun 
 
 Pursues his shining way ; 
 And wide proclaims his Maker's 
 praise, 
 With ev'ry bright- ning ray. 
 
 2 Thus would my rising soul 
 
 Its heav'nly parent sing ; 
 And to its great original 
 The humble tribute bring. 
 
 3 Serene I laid me down 
 
 Beneath his guardian care t 
 I slept, and I awoke and found 
 My kind Preserver near ! 
 
 4 Thus does thine arm support 
 
 This weak defenceless frame ; 
 But whence these favours, Lord to me, 
 So worthless as I am ? 
 
 ft O ! how shall I repay 
 
 The bounties of my Crod ? 
 This feeble spirit pants beneath 
 The pleasing painful load. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 247 
 
 6 Dear Saviour to tliy cross 
 
 I bring my sacrifice ; 
 T ing'd with thy blood, it shall ascend 
 With fragrance to the skies. 
 
 7 JMy life I would anew 
 
 Devote O Lord, to thee ; 
 And in thy presence I would spend 
 A long eternity. 
 
 Most glorious God ! Thou art light, 
 and in Thee is no darkness at all. The 
 perfections of thy nature are bright, 
 beautiful and majestic, far beyond all 
 our ideas and conceptions. Thou art 
 possessed of irresistible power and un- 
 erring wisdom ; of unblemished purity, 
 the most serene benignity, and consum- 
 mate bliss. Thou dwellest in light in- 
 accessible, and art the Father of lights, 
 with whom there is no variableness, 
 nor shadow of turning, and from 
 whom all thy creatures derive what- 
 ever excellencies or advantages they 
 possess. For Thou, © Lord, art the 
 great source and original of all our 
 natural powers and capacities ; of all 
 our moral attainments and improve- 
 ments s of all the good we do, and of 
 all the blessings we either enjoy or 
 hope for. 
 
 I praise Thee, for the discoveries 
 Thou hast made of thy transcendent 
 glories, in the works of thine hands, 
 
248 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 
 
 " in the heavens above, in the earth 
 beneath, in the infinite varieties of thy 
 creatures around ine, and in my own 
 stupendous frame of body and mind." 
 Hut more especially would I praise 
 Thee, for the brighter discoveries of 
 thy word, and that, although no man 
 hath seen God at any time, yet the only 
 begotten Son, who is in the bosom of 
 the Father, hath declared him unto 
 us, so far as was expedient for us to 
 know him. I adore Thee, O Lord, for 
 all the sacred and important instruc- 
 tions which he hath communicated, 
 concerning thy nature and will, thy 
 love and grace ? and particularly that 
 he hath brought life and immortality 
 to light, by his glorious gospel, and di- 
 rected our feet into those paths of 
 righteousness which lead to certain 
 and endless bliss. 
 
 Shine, © Thou great parent of light, 
 into my dark and beclouded mind s 
 dispel the shades of ignorance and 
 error, and give me that spiritual wis- 
 dom, whereby I may be enabled to 
 discern things that differ, and to ap- 
 prove those things that are excellent. 
 Help me to walk all the day in the 
 light of tUj countenance § and in thy 
 light may I see light. Nor let me take 
 up with the bare knowledge of thy 
 will, but set myself to do it with dili- 
 gence, fidelity and zeal. Sanctify me 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 249 
 
 by thy truth ; thy word is truth. Grant 
 that my faith may grow exceedingly ; 
 let it purify my heart, and work by 
 love, and bring forth the peaceable 
 fruits of righteousness. 
 
 Make me sensible of the force and 
 efficacy of those motives to holiness and 
 virtue, which are set before me in the 
 gospel. Suffer me not, in the midst of 
 that light which beams forth upon me 
 from thence, to sleep, as too many others 
 do ; but may I watch and be sober. 
 May I walk as becomes a child of light 
 and of the day, and not as of the night 
 and of darkness. Enable me to work 
 the work of him that hath sent me, 
 while it is day, knowing that the night 
 cometh, wherein no man can work. 
 Whatsoever my hand findeth to do, for 
 advancing thine honour and interest 
 in the world, for promoting the wel- 
 fare of others, especially of those for 
 whom I ought to be particularly con- 
 cerned, or for securing the salvation of 
 my own soul, may I do it with all my 
 might, and be careful to make the best 
 improvement I am able, of whatever 
 portion of time Thou may est add to my 
 earthly pilgrimage. And grant that I 
 may walk in that path of the just, 
 which is as the shining light, and will 
 shine more and more unto the perfect 
 day. 
 
 Accept of my grateful acknowledg- 
 
250 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 
 
 meiits. O Lord, for the care Thou hast 
 taken of nte, and the numberless fa- 
 vours Thou hast conferred upon me, 
 from the beginning of my life to the 
 present moment, and particularly for 
 the security and repose of the past 
 night : may this day pass over my head 
 in innocence and peace, and every part 
 of it be spent so as to turn to some good 
 account, to myself and others. To thy 
 care and blessing* I commend myself, 
 and all that are near and dear to me, 
 entreating that Thou wilt keep us al- 
 ways in thy fear, and encompass us 
 with thy favour. Help us to serve Thee 
 faithfully while we live, and make us 
 happy in Thee, and with Thee, after 
 death, through the mediation of Jesus 
 Christ the Son of thy love, in whose 
 name and words I would sum up all 
 my requests for myself and others, to 
 Thee, Our Father, &c. 
 
 Devotions for Friday Evening. 
 
 HYMN 21. S. M.— Aylesbury. 
 
 1 THE day is past and gone, 
 
 The ev'ning shades appear ? 
 O may I ever keep in mind, 
 The night of death draws near. 
 
 2 I lay my garments by, 
 
 Upon my bed to rest ; 
 So death will soon remove me hence, 
 And leave my soul undrest. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 251 
 
 3 Lord, keep me safe this night, 
 
 Secure from all my fears ; 
 May angels guard me while I sleep, 
 Till morning light appears. 
 
 4 And when I early rise, 
 
 To view th' unwearied sun, 
 Hay I set out to win the prize, 
 And after glory run. 
 
 5 That when my days are past, 
 
 And I from time remove. 
 Lord, I may in thy bosom rest, 
 The bosom of thy love. 
 
 © blessed God, Thou Father of mer- 
 cies, and God of all grace, peace and 
 consolation ! Thou art love ; the most 
 benevolent of all beings, the great eter- 
 nal Fountain of felicity. Thou and 
 Thou only, art originally, perfectly 
 and essentially good in thyself, and 
 Thou delightest in doing good contin- 
 ually. Thou art good unto all, and 
 thy tender mercies are over all thy 
 works. All thy works praise Thee, O 
 Lord, and it becomes thy saints to bless 
 Thee ; and in a particular manner to 
 magnify thy goodness that supremely 
 glorious and amiable perfection of thy 
 nature, which renders Thee the wor- 
 thy object of our most delightful con- 
 templation, and grateful praise. I 
 would rejoice in all the displays of thy 
 diffusive benevolence, through the 
 
252 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 
 
 whole creation around me, but more 
 especially would I praise Thee for the 
 wonderful acts and instances of thy 
 loving kindness to the children of men, 
 and for the experience that I myself 
 have had of thy bounty and benignity. 
 
 I adore Thee as the former and the 
 Father of mankind, whose wise and 
 powerful goodness is manifested in the 
 curious structure of our bodies ; but 
 much more in the sublime powers and 
 faculties of our minds 5 whereby we are 
 most nearly allied to Thee our maker, 
 and rendered capable of knowing, 
 loving, serving, imitating, and enjoy- 
 ing Thee, the great Origin and Source 
 of life, and light, perfection, glory and 
 blessedness. 
 
 I adore Thee likewise for every in- 
 stance and effect of thy providential 
 care and kindness which I have ex- 
 perienced in common with the rest of 
 my species, for those measures of bodi- 
 ly health and strength that I enjoy, 
 for the free and regular exercise of my 
 mental powers 5 for my liberty, my 
 friends, and " all the necessaries, con- 
 veniences, and comforts which thy 
 liberal hand has provided, to render 
 my passage through this state of trial 
 and discipline easy and agreeable to 
 me." 
 
 But above all things would I praise 
 Thee for the provision thou hast made 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 253 
 
 for my future well-being in another 
 and better state of existence, after this 
 present life (which is forfeited by sin) 
 shall be ended. Adored be the riches 
 of thy redeeming love and grace, as 
 manifested in sending thine only be- 
 gotten Son into the world to seek and 
 to save that which was lost ; to recover 
 guilty rebels to thyself, and by his life 
 and doctrine, his sufferings and death, 
 his resurrection from the dead, and 
 the power and authority with which 
 he is invested at thy right hand, to ef- 
 fect the pardon, sanctification, and 
 salvation of all, who will submit to be 
 taught, to be ruled, and saved by him. 
 But while I am thus thankfully re- 
 cognizing these expressions and dis- 
 plays of thy matchless love and pater- 
 nal tenderness, how much reason have 
 I with shame and confusion of face to 
 lament my past ingratitude, and the 
 many unworthy returns I have made 
 for thy great and unmerited goodness! 
 Father, I have sinned against heaven 
 and in thy sight, and am no longer 
 worthy to be owned or treated as a 
 child of thine. I acknowledge that 
 my transgressions have been many 
 and great ; and wretched indeed must 
 I be, shouldst thou deal with me ac- 
 cording to my deserts. But Thou hast 
 proclaimed thyself to be the L<ord, the 
 Lord God, merciful and gracious, long 
 
254 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 
 
 suffering', and abundant in goodness 
 and truth; keeping mercy for thou- 
 sands, forgiving iniquity, transgres- 
 sion and sin. This is thy name forever, 
 and in this naine would I hope and 
 trust. O east me not off from thy pres- 
 ence, I beseech Thee, and take not thy 
 Holy Spirit from me, but in the multi- 
 tude of thy tender mercies remember 
 Thou me. Blot out all my transgres- 
 sions, wash me thoroughly from mine 
 iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins, 
 ©raw me effectually ta thyself, hy the 
 cords of love, which are the bands of a 
 man; receive me graciously and love 
 me freely. 
 
 I would desire always to retain such 
 a grateful sense of my obligations to 
 Thee, as shall prove a principle of con- 
 stant and universal obedience to thy 
 laws, and engage me greatly to take 
 delight in thy commandments. May I 
 fear the ILord and his goodness, and 
 dread nothing so much as to abuse thy 
 kindness, and weary out thy patience. 
 May I love Thee also above all, and, 
 considering Thee as my portion and 
 chief good, let the desires of my soul be 
 drawn out after Thee, and my delight 
 be created in Thee. 
 
 And help me, O Thou Ood of love, to 
 cultivate a most sincere and cordial 
 benevolence to all my fellow creatures, 
 regarding them as thine offspring, and 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 255 
 
 doing the utmost, within my little 
 sphere, to promote their welfare, and 
 to advance that happiness, which is the 
 great end of all thy works of creation, 
 providence and redemption. But let 
 me love those with a peculiar and dis- 
 tinguished affection, who are most like 
 Thee, and who are the objects of thy 
 special love. Let all bitterness, and 
 wrath, and clamour, and evil speaking 
 be put away from me, with all malice, 
 and may I be kind to those about me, 
 tender hearted, and ready to forgive 
 such as may offend me, even as I hope, 
 through Jesus Christ, to obtain forgive- 
 ness of Thee. Teach me to love even 
 my enemies, to wish well to them that 
 hate me, (if any such there be,) and to 
 return good for evil, that so I may ap- 
 prove myself one of thy genuine chil- 
 dren, and be merciful as Thou art mer- 
 ciful, and perfect as Thou my heavenly 
 Father art perfect. 
 
 From my past experience of thy ten- 
 der care and unwearied kindness, I 
 would take encouragement to hope 
 that goodness and mercy will follow 
 me all the days of my future life % and 
 desire most cheerfully to trust Thee 
 with myself, and with all that belong 
 to me, to be disposed of as Thou shall 
 see good. Into thy hands I commend 
 myself this night, both soul and body. 
 Let me lie down with holy and delight- 
 
256 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING. 
 
 fill thoughts of Thee, and in the morn- 
 ing, when 1 awake, let my heart be 
 raised afresh in sentiments of love and 
 gratitude to Thee $ and, with renewed 
 pleasure and resolution, let me devote 
 the remainder of my life to thy service. 
 These my supplications and thanks- 
 givings, I humbly offer up to Thee, O 
 most merciful Father, in the name of 
 Jesus Christ thy well beloved Son, and 
 my all sufficient Saviour 5 to whom be 
 all glory and dominion forever and 
 ever. — Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Saturday JHorning. 
 
 HYMN 22. C. M.— Melody. 
 
 1 IIOSAMA, with a cheerful sound, 
 
 To God's upholding hand ! 
 Ten thousand snares attend us round, 
 And yet secure we stand. 
 
 2 That was a most amazing pow'r 
 
 That raised us with a word, 
 And ev'ry day, and ev'ry hour, 
 We lean upon the liord. 
 
 3 The evening rests our weary head % 
 
 And angels guard the room ; 
 "We wake and we admire the bed, 
 That was not made our tomb. 
 
 4 The rising morning can't assure 
 
 That we shall end the day ; 
 For death stands ready at the door 
 
 To take our lives away. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING* 257 
 
 5 Our breath is forfeited by sill 
 To God's avenging law ; 
 We own thy grace, immortal King, 
 In every gasp we draw* 
 
 G God is our sun, whose daily light 
 Our joy and safety brings ; 
 Our feeble flesh lies safe at night* 
 Beneath his shady wings. 
 
 Eternal and infinite Jehovah ! Thou 
 art God, and there is none besides 
 Thee, the great original and support 
 of universal nature 5 "who derivest thy 
 being from none, but givest being to 
 all things. Thou art self-sufficient 
 and all-sufficient ; supremely blessed 
 in thyself, and the author of all good 
 to thy creatures. Thou, O liord art 
 worthy to receive honour, and glory, 
 and blessing % for Thou hast created 
 all things, and for thy pleasure they 
 are and were created ; for the display 
 of thy goodness, and the communica- 
 tion of thy felicity* O that I may be 
 enabled to praise and glorify Thee as 
 I ought, and to seek my happiness 
 alone in Thee* 
 
 I would desire always to regard 
 Thee as my origin and end % to remem- 
 ber that my own being, in particular, 
 is derived from Thee, and perpetual- 
 ly supported by Thee ; and that it is 
 in consequence of having obtained 
 help of God that I continue unto this 
 
 17 
 
258 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING. 
 
 day an instance of thy sparing and 
 preserving mercy, and a witness of tliy 
 overflowing beneficence. How libe- 
 rally bast tbon provided, most gra- 
 cious Lord, not only for the supply of 
 my wants, but for my innocent delight 
 and comfort! What a profusion of 
 gratifications for my outward senses 
 and imagination I What nobler plea- 
 sures for the entertainment of my 
 mind, in the discovery of the most sub- 
 lime and important truths I And above 
 all, ho w much ami indebted to Thee 
 for those moral powers and capacities 
 with which Thou hast endowed me % 
 for those benevolent propensities im- 
 planted in my nature, which, while 
 they carry me out of myself, contri- 
 bute so largely to my own felicity % and 
 for that highest of all human satisfac- 
 tions, which arises from knowing,: 
 loving, serving and enjoying Thee, un- 
 der the endearing characters of my 
 Father and Friend, my Portion and 
 chief Good ! 
 
 O that my heart may be duly affected 
 with a sense of the benefits Thou hast 
 already conferred upon me, and of the 
 most valuable blessings thou hast en- 
 couraged me to hope for hereafter, 
 through the mediation of thy Son Jesus 
 Christ ! Continue to me, I beseech Thee, 
 all needful communications of thy mer- 
 cy and favour. Grant me such a share 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING. 259 
 
 of outward accommodations and en- 
 joyments as Thou mayest see conve- 
 nient for me, but above all, lead me in 
 the paths of righteousness, to the true 
 perfection and felicity of thy nature* 
 
 Forgive me, great and blessed Ood, 
 hat I have wandered so far from Thee ; 
 kat I have been so unmindful of the 
 duties I owe Thee ; and have taken so 
 little care to secure that felicity which 
 is centered in Thee ; that I have commit- 
 ted those two great evils, of forsaking 
 Thee, the Fountain of living waters, 
 and hewing out to myself cisterns, bro- 
 ken cisterns that can hold no water. 
 O convince me of the folly of seeking 
 for happiness in any thing short of 
 thyself, or in any other way than in 
 that of thy commandments. 
 
 Convince me, that in thy favour only 
 there is life ; and that thy loving kind- 
 ness is better than life, with all its en- 
 joyments. Help me to choose Thee as 
 my all-sufficient and never-failing por- 
 tion : and accordingly to hope, and 
 trust, and delight myself in Thee. And 
 let it be my constant care and endea- 
 vour, so to order my inward temper and 
 my outward conduct and behaviour as 
 is most agreeable to thy will ; so as most 
 effectually to gain thy favour and ap- 
 probation ; and thereby to secure, not 
 only my own peace and comfort, but 
 my future and everlasting welfare. 
 
260 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 Enable me this day to walk closely 
 with Thee % to act as under the notice 
 of thine eye, and to rejoice in the mani- 
 festations of thy love. Prepare me for 
 whatever scenes of prosperity or ad- 
 versity may lie before me % and succeed 
 me in all my endeavours after self-im- 
 provement and usefulness to others. 
 Bless all my friends* relations and ac- 
 quaintances ; unite us all to one ano- 
 ther in the bonds of mutual love, and 
 to thyself, by the practice of piety and 
 holiness % and grant that, after serving 
 Thee, and our generation, according 
 to thy will, in our several stations here 
 upon earth, we may at length be re- 
 ceived into the joys and glories of 
 thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus 
 Christ thy Son the great Captain of 
 our salvation. 
 
 Now unto him of whom, and through 
 whom, and to whom are all things, be 
 glory forever. — Amen. 
 
 Devotions for Saturday Evening. 
 
 HYMN 23. P. M.— German Hymn. 
 
 SOFTLY now the light of day 
 Fades upon my sight away ; 
 Free from care, from labour free, 
 Lord, I would commune with Thee. 
 
 Thou whose all-pervading eye 
 Nought escapes without, within, 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 261 
 
 Pardon each infirmity. 
 Open fault, and secret sin. 
 
 3 Soon, for me, the light of day 
 Shall forever pass away ; 
 Then from sin and sorrow free, 
 Take me, Lord, to dwell with Thee. 
 
 4 Thou who, sinless, yet hast known 
 All of man's infirmity ; 
 
 Then, from thine eternal throne, 
 Jesus, look with pitying eye. 
 
 O Thou supremely great, and incom- 
 prehensible glorious Being ! Thou in- 
 finite and eternal Spirit, who art the 
 only living and true God ; unchange- 
 able in thy nature, universal in thy 
 presence, and uncontrollable in thy 
 dominion; of whom, and through 
 whom, and to whom, are all things ! 
 
 I¥o works are like unto thy works s no 
 excellences and perfections are worthy 
 to be compared with thine; which 
 shine forth in all thy designs of crea- 
 tion, of providence, and of redemption. 
 I would desire to meditate upon them 
 with a sacred and salutary delight. 
 Enable me, €> Thou Father of Spirits, 
 to worship Thee in spirit and in truth, 
 to revere thy irresistible power, to ad- 
 mire the depths of thy unsearchable 
 wisdom, and to rejoice in all the com- 
 munications and displays of thy exu- 
 berant goodness. Help me so to con- 
 
262 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 template the beauty and glory of thy 
 moral attributes, thy truth and righte- 
 ousness, thy purity and benignity, as 
 that I niay be transformed into the 
 same image, from glory to glory. And 
 frosn a full conviction of the equity of 
 thy government, and the beneficial de- 
 sign and tendency of all thy laws, may 
 I be disposed to yield a cheerful and 
 unreserved compliance with every in- 
 timation of thy will* 
 
 Forgive me, O most gracious God. 
 that my thoughts have heen no more 
 fixed upon Thee 5 that my affections 
 have been no more drawn out after 
 Thee; that I have been so unlike to 
 Thee, the pattern of all perfection ; 
 and have taken so little care to serve 
 and please Thee. Under a deep and 
 humbling sense of my past sin and fol- 
 ly, I would now resolve by thy divine 
 assistance, to cultivate a growing ac- 
 quaintance with Thee % and all suita- 
 ble dispositions towards Thee ; a great- 
 er conformity to thine adorable excel- 
 lences in the spirit of my mind, and a 
 more entire obedience to thy precepts 
 in the course of my life 5 that so I may 
 bring forth all the fruits of righteous- 
 ness which are hj Christ Jesus, to the 
 praise and glory of God. 
 
 Rlessed be thy name, O God of grace, 
 for the revelation Thou hast made of 
 thyself to us, of the duties Thou requi- 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR SATUNDAY EVENING. 263 
 
 rest of us, and of the blessedness which 
 Thou hast designed for us, in the gos- 
 pel of thy Son* I praise Thee, that 
 Thou didst send him into the world, 
 not to eondem the world, but that the 
 world, through him, might be saved ; 
 to offer pardon and forgiveness to peni- 
 tent offenders ; to point out the way to 
 eternal life and happiness, through his 
 instructions and example % and to seal 
 the promises of that new covenant, of 
 which he was the mediator, with his 
 dying blood. And as, by thy determi- 
 nate counsel and foreknowledge, he 
 was delivered up to sufferings and 
 death for our offences, so I praise 
 Thee, that by the energy of thy mighty 
 power, he was raised again for our 
 justification, that we might have the 
 fullest assurance of our acceptance 
 with God, through him, and that be- 
 cause he lives, we might live also. 
 
 Grant me, © Iiord, I beseech Thee, a 
 saving interest in the blessed fruits of 
 his life and doctrine, of his sufferings 
 and death, of his resurection and exal- 
 tation at thy right hand. And for this 
 end, excite and cherish in my soul, a 
 true, lively and efficacious faith in him. 
 The life which I live in the flesh I would 
 desire to live by the faith of the Son of 
 God, who loved me and gave himself 
 for me. And O that the great and in- 
 teresting truths which he has brought 
 
264 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 to light in his glorious gospel, may not 
 only gain the assent of my understand- 
 ing, hut sink deep into my heart, and 
 have a eommanding influence on the 
 whole of my conduct ! ILet me imbibe 
 the spirit as well as the doctrine of Je- 
 sus, my gracious L<ord. H-et the same 
 mind be in me which was also in him. 
 May I take his yoke upon me, and learn 
 of him who was meek and lowly of 
 heart, that so I may And rest to my soul. 
 And help me to walk worthy of that 
 high and holy calling, wherewith he 
 has called me ; worthy of the great 
 and important privileges that are con- 
 ferred upon me, and of the glorious 
 hopes that are set before me. 
 
 Raise my affections more and more, 
 blessed God, to those things that are 
 above ; and teach me to moderate my 
 regard to all inferior and sensible ob- 
 jects. Free me from all inordinate 
 cares about the things of this life ; 
 from all distrust of thy good provi- 
 dence ; from all repining language and 
 discontented thoughts. And enable 
 me in every situation and circum- 
 stance of life to be not only patient and 
 resigned, but cheerful and thankful ; 
 knowing that all things are ordered 
 by Thee in the wisest and best manner, 
 and so as shall work together for good 
 to them that love Thee. 
 
 IWost gratefully would I adore that 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 265 
 
 goodness and mercy of thine that have 
 attended me all my days, and supplied 
 me with all things needful to my com- 
 fortable subsistence in life. And I par- 
 ticularly bless Thee, at this time, for 
 the protection and supplies of the day 
 and week past. Pardon, I beseech 
 Thee, whatever fresh guilt I may have 
 contracted therein. And as one day 
 and week is passing away after another 
 in swift succession, let me be careful to 
 redeem the time I have lost or mispent, 
 hy a redoubled diligence in thy service, 
 for the remainder of my uncertain life ; 
 and to improve every opportunity of 
 doing or receiving good, and of pre- 
 paring for that eternal state to which I 
 am hastening. Continue thy watchful 
 care over me this night ; and grant me 
 such refreshing sleep as may tit me for 
 serving Thee acceptably and profita- 
 bly on thy own day ensuing. 
 
 And O Thou common father of man- 
 kind, permit me to breathe forth my 
 fervent wishes for the welfare of all my 
 brethren, the fellow members of that 
 great family of thine which is spread 
 over all the earth. O that all might be 
 partakers, not only of the bounties of 
 thy providence ; but of the richer bless- 
 ings of thy grace; that all might so 
 come to the knowledge of thy truth, as 
 to be saved according to thy gracious 
 will, through Jesus Christ, the media- 
 
266 DEVOTIONS EOR SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 tor between God and man, who gave 
 himself to be a ransom for all, to be 
 testified in dne time ! Let all Christian 
 churches every where flourish, and also 
 abound in truth and peace, in love, 
 and in all good works. Let all the 
 lands of the whole world, and the do- 
 minions thereto belonging, be still fa- 
 voured by thee ; and let the inhabitants 
 thereof be careful to make a better 
 improvement of thy distinguishing fa- 
 vours. Bless our rulers and governors, 
 supreme and subordinate, and make 
 their administration productive of 
 great and extensive good. Give success 
 to the labours of those who preach the 
 gospel of thy Son, in its purity and sim- 
 plicity 5 and may the power of godli- 
 ness be visible in the lives of all profes- 
 sing Christians. Have mercy on such 
 as are in affliction ; and afford them 
 suitable and seasonable relief. Bless 
 the family to which I belong ; may every 
 member of it be graciously regarded by 
 Thee ; and may all my friends be thine. 
 Preserve them from all real evil 5 and 
 delight over them to do ihem good. 
 
 And now unto him who is able to 
 keep us from falling, and to present us 
 faultless before the presence of his glory 
 with exceeding great joy 5 to the only 
 wise God our Saviour, be glory and ma- 
 jesty, dominion and power, both now 
 and forever. — Amen. 
 
CORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 267 
 
 •Horning devotions for the Lord's day. 
 
 H Y M N 24. C. M.— St. George's. 
 
 1 LORI>, in the morning; Thou shalt 
 
 hear, 
 
 JIj voice ascending' high ; 
 To Thee will I direct my prayer, 
 To Thee lift up mine eye. 
 
 2 Up to the hill§ where Christ is gone, 
 
 To plead for all his saints, 
 Presenting at his Father's throne 
 Our songs and our complaints. 
 
 3 Thou art a Ood, before whose sight 
 
 The wicked shall not stand ; 
 Sinners shall ne'er be thy delight, 
 Nor dwell at thy right hand. 
 
 4 But to thy house will I resort, 
 
 To taste thy mercies there ; 
 I irill frequent thy holy court, 
 And worship in thy fear. 
 
 5 O may thy Spirit guide m.y feet 
 
 In ways of righteousness ! 
 Make ev'ry path of duty straight, 
 And plain before my face. 
 
 " If thou turn away thy foot from the 
 Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my 
 holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, 
 the holy of the JLord, honourable? and 
 shalt honour him, not doing thine own 
 ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor 
 speaking thine own words / then shalt thou 
 delight thyself in the Ltord." — Is. 58. 13. 
 
* 
 268 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 
 
 Almighty God, Maker of heaven and 
 earth ! Most merciful Father and Au- 
 thor of all good ! Inasmuch as Thon 
 hast set apart one day of the week and 
 dedicated it to thy service, how reason- 
 able is it that all mankind should 
 honour the Sabbath, and keep it holy 
 unto Thee ; as it is incumbent on all 
 creatures to hearken unto Thee, and 
 obey thy commandments. But alas ! 
 I must confess, that I have profaned 
 many Sabbaths ; that I have often been 
 a hypocritical professor of thy name ; 
 a forgetful hearer and an awful despi- 
 ser of thy word 5 for which, Thou 
 mightest justly have given me over, to 
 hardness of heart and blindness of 
 mind. But Thou, O God I hast hither- 
 to, in much mercy spared me, and per- 
 mitted me to enjoy the light of another 
 Sabbath 5 grant, therefore, O liord, 
 that I may duly appreciate this distin- 
 guished favour % and as Thou hast per- 
 mitted me, to behold the light of this 
 day, even so may the rays of the sun 
 of righteousness illuminate the eyes of 
 my understanding. Enlighten and 
 govern me hy thy good Spirit, that I 
 may walk in all holiness of life and 
 conduct before Thee, this day 5 teach 
 me to realize, that Thou hast not set 
 this day apart and commanded us to 
 keep it holy, to indicate that Thou hast 
 pleasure in idleness, or to lead us to 
 
269 
 
 imagine that thy service consists in 
 resting our bodies ; but that ire may 
 thereby be freed from all hindrances, 
 so that we may devote our bodies, souls 
 and spirits to thy service. Grant, © Fa- 
 ther, that I may ever call the Sabbath 
 my delight, and spend it in thy fear ; 
 that I may not do mine own works, or 
 follow mine own will, or speak mine 
 own words, but devote it wholly to thy 
 service. For this purpose, pour out thy 
 If oly Spirit, O God, upon me, that he 
 may illuminate my mind, and turn my 
 heart entirely unto Thee, and thus 
 draw off all my thoughts and desires 
 from earth and earthly objects, and 
 elevate them to Thee, and serve Thee 
 with my whole heart, as a Spirit, in 
 spirit and in truth. Bless all the 
 means and ordinances of thy grace, 
 which I may this day enjoy, to my sal- 
 vation. Permit me to exercise a pro- 
 found reverence in prayer, before thy 
 divine majesty, to realize my misery as 
 a sinner before God, and to exercise an 
 unshaken faith in thy divine promises, 
 a grateful remembrance of all past fa- 
 vours, and a sincere love towards my 
 neighbours. 
 
 Open Thou mine eyes when hearing 
 thy word, that I may behold wondrous 
 things ovtt of thy law; unstop mine 
 ears, that I may hear it for eternity, 
 and grant me an obedient heart, thai 
 
270 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 I may receive tlie truth in tlie love of 
 it. Strengthen and sanctify my memo- 
 ry in swell a manner, that I may seri- 
 ously meditate upon what I hear, and 
 treasure it up in a good and honest 
 heart, and make it the rule of my faith, 
 life and conduct, so that I may increase 
 in knowledge, grow in faith, and be 
 quickened as to the inner man, and 
 bring forth all the fruits of good living, 
 and improve this Sabbath, (which is a 
 type of that rest which is eternal in the 
 heavens,) as a blessed means of con- 
 ducting me thither. 
 
 O Thou great ILord of the Sabbath ! 
 sanctify unto me this day of rest. ILet 
 thy good Spirit rest upon me, that my 
 soul may find rest in Thee, amidst the 
 fiery trials and temptations, with 
 which I am surrounded ; in that dread 
 which fills me with terror, so that I may 
 devote ail the powers and faculties of 
 my soul and body to the contemplation 
 of thy works, obeying thy command- 
 ments, calling upon thy name, exalt- 
 ing thine almighty power, praising thy 
 condescension and grace, and in exer- 
 cising Christian sympathy, love and 
 benevolence towards all my fellow 
 creatures. Grant, O God, that I may 
 walk this whole day before Thee, and 
 be perfect ; that I may be meek in all 
 my conversation like Moses ; that I may 
 seek thy holy face like him, and so regu- 
 
271 
 
 late my whole life, as to be aeeeptable 
 in thy sight, here on earth, and when 
 this life shall have been terminated, be 
 introduced into that rest purchased 
 and prepared for me, by Christ my Re- 
 deemer, to spend an eternal Sabbath in 
 the enjoyment of unspeakable pleasure? 
 atthy right hand, for evermore. — Amer 
 
 HYMN 25. Vs.—Hotham. 
 
 1 SAFEli Y through another week, 
 Ood has brought us on our way % 
 l<et us now a blessing seek, 
 Waiting in his courts to-day : 
 Day of all the week the best; 
 Emblem of eternal rest. 
 
 2 While we seek supplies of grace, 
 Through the dear Redeemer's name % 
 Show thy reconciling face — 
 
 Take away our sin and shame : 
 From our worldly cares set free, 
 May we rest this day in Thee. 
 
 3 Here we come thy name to praise, 
 Xet us feel thy presence near ; 
 
 May thy glory meet our eyes, 
 While we in thy house appear : 
 Mere afford us, liord, a taste 
 Of our everlasting feast. 
 
 4 May the gospel's joyful sound, 
 Conquer sinners, comfort saints ; 
 Make the fruits of grace abound 
 Rring relief from ail complaints I 
 Thus let all our Sabbaths prove, 
 Till we join the church above. 
 
272 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 
 
 Evening devotions for the JLord^s dap* 
 
 HYMN 26. L. M.— Wells. 
 
 1 SWEET is the work, my God, my 
 
 King, [sing, 
 
 To praise thy name, give thanks and 
 To show thy love by morning light, 
 And talk of all thy truth at night. 
 
 2 Sweet is the day of saered rest, 
 
 No mortal eare shall seize my breast : 
 O may my heart in tune be found, 
 Like David's harp of solemn sound. 
 
 3 My heart shall triumph in the Lord, 
 And bless his works, and bless his 
 
 word ; [shine ! 
 
 Thy works of gr aee, how bright they 
 Ho w deep thy eounsels ! how divine ! 
 
 4 Fools never raise their thoughts so 
 
 high s [die ; 
 
 Like brutes they live, like brutes they 
 Like grass they flourish, 'till thy 
 
 breath 
 Blast them in everlasting death. 
 
 " Me that loveth me, heepeth my com- 
 mandments." — John 14. 
 
 Holy and righteous art Thou, the 
 everliving and Almighty God! Thou 
 wast, and art, and shall be to all eter- 
 nity, the unehangeable Jehovah ! 
 Sanctify, O God, my nature, in order 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 273 
 
 that I may be enabled to sanctify thy 
 name. As thou permittest me to enjoy 
 the pleasant fruits of thy goodness and 
 compassion, in granting* me life and 
 breath, health and strength, O impart 
 unto me such a measure of thy holi- 
 ness, as will enable me to live and die 
 unto Thee ; sanctify all the affections 
 of my heart, the thoughts and intents 
 of my soul, the words of my mouth, 
 and the works of my hands, that they 
 may all be acceptable in thy sight. 
 Sanctify the prayer which I offer unto 
 Thee, at the close of this thine holy 
 Sabbath, as an evening sacrifice, and 
 prepare me to render suitable praises 
 and thanksgivings unto thy great and 
 holy name. 
 
 Especially would I acknowledge, 
 with heart-felt gratitude and thanks- 
 giving, as a special proof of thy love 
 towards me an unworthy sinner, that 
 Thou hast permitted me to enjoy the 
 privileges and means of engaging this 
 day, in thy service, and to sit under 
 the droppings of thy sanctuary in thy 
 house, and to join with thy people, to 
 offer unto Thee a sacrifice of thanks- 
 giving and praise, to acknowledge 
 before Thee all my sins, to hear thy 
 blessed word, in order to grow wise 
 unto salvation, to confirm my hope 
 and confidence in the promises of the 
 gospel, and to inflame my heart with 
 
 18 
 
274 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY 
 
 a holy zeal in the amendment of my 
 whole life. 
 
 Grant, © l<ord, that the good seed of 
 thy holy word, which has this day 
 been sown into my heart, may not 
 have fallen by the way side, so as to be 
 trodden under foot, or to be destroyed 
 by the fowls of the air, or upon stony 
 ground, so as to perish under the 
 parching rays of the sun, or among 
 the thorns, so as soon to be choked 
 in its growth ; but may it have fallen 
 on fruitful ground, so as to bring forth 
 fruit an hundred fold, to the honour 
 and glory of thy holy name, and to 
 the salvation of my immortal soul. 
 
 And grant, O most gracious and mer- 
 ciful Father, that I may treasure up 
 thy word, and the instruction, admo- 
 nition and comfort contained in it, in 
 my heart like Mary of old ; that it may 
 cause a holy burning within me, like 
 unto the two disciples on the way to 
 Emaus 5 that it may incite me to search 
 the scriptures, like the Sereans, and 
 cause me to rejoice like unto the Ethio- 
 pian Eunuch; and that I may so im- 
 prove it in life, sufferings and death, 
 that my ignorance maybe removed, my 
 drowsiness be dispelled, and that I may 
 be guarded against all selfishness and 
 sin ; that I may overcome all tempta- 
 tion, suppress all sinful desires, and be 
 comforted amidst all my crosses and 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD ? S DAT 276 
 
 tribulations. Grant also, that it may 
 prove the strength of my heart in 
 death, and an unequivocal pledge of 
 everlasting happiness and salvation. 
 
 But inasmuch, O Lord, as all our 
 performances, and even the services of 
 this day, are imperfect and partake of 
 sin, even the hearing of thy word, the 
 weakness of my faith, and the imper- 
 fection of my obedience to thy will and 
 commandments, O pardon Thou, all 
 my short-comings in thy sight and ser- 
 vice, for the sake of thy beloved Son 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 And as this is a day of the Son of 
 Man, on which he, by his resurrection, 
 overcame death, and sealed the for- 
 giveness of my sins, and imparted unto 
 me a lively hope of an inheritance, 
 incorruptible, undefiled and which 
 fadeth not away ; O be pleased, gra- 
 cious God, so to enlighten and sanctify 
 my heart, by thy Holy Spirit, that I 
 may ever bear in mind, that with thy 
 Son, Thou hast given me all things, 
 and made me a participator of thy 
 heavenly grace, of his precious merits, 
 and all the pleasures of thy right hand 
 forevermore. 
 
 And, O Jesus, Thou Son of the living 
 God, as Thou art offered unto me on 
 this holy day, nay, wert exhibited to 
 me in the preaching of thy gospel, as 
 crucified for my sins, O grant me grace 
 
276 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORd's DAT* 
 
 rightly to know Thee, cordially love 
 Thee, and to derive constant supplies 
 of comfort from a participation in the 
 rich blessing's flowing- from thy suffer- 
 ings and death, so that I may be ena- 
 bled steadfastly to follow Thee, through 
 evil as well as through good report, 
 whilst sojourning here in this vale of 
 tears, until thou shalt at last introduce 
 me into thy Father's house, forever to 
 dwell with Thee, to behold and parti- 
 cipate with Thee, in all thy glory. — 
 Amen. 
 
 HYMN 27. C. M.— Melody. 
 
 1 When, O dear Jesus, when shall I 
 
 Behold thee all serene ; 
 Blest in perpetual Sabbath day, 
 Without a veil between ? 
 
 2 Assist me while I wander here 
 
 Amidst a world of cares ; 
 Incline my heart to pray with love, 
 And then accept my pray'rs. 
 
 3 Thy Spirit, O my Father give, 
 
 To be my guide and friend ; 
 To light my path to ceaseless joys, 
 "Where Sabbaths never end. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 277 
 
 Devotions for JfKonday Jflorning. 
 
 HYMN 28. 8, 8, 6. — Anticipation, 
 
 1 OI¥CE more niy eyes behold the day. 
 And to my God my soul would pay 
 
 Its tributary lays : 
 © may the life preserved by Thee, 
 With all its pow'rs, and blessings be 
 
 Devoted to thy praise. 
 
 2 Beneath the shadow of thy wings, 
 (Israel's great keeper King of kings,) 
 
 My weary head found rest : 
 TYo dire alarms, or raeking pains, 
 Devouring flames, or galling ehains, 
 
 Disturb my peaceful breast. 
 
 3 How many sinee I laid me down 
 Have launched into a world un- 
 known, 
 
 To meet a dreadful doom ; 
 While some on wat'ry billows toss'd, 
 Or wand'ring on an unknown coast, 
 
 Have sigh'd in vain for home. 
 
 4 But, I am spared to see thy face, 
 A monument, of saving grace, 
 
 And live to praise thy name : 
 Still be thou near, my gracious Lord, 
 To keep and guide ; and hy thy word, 
 
 Peace to my soul proclaim. 
 
 5 Let me enjoy thy presence here 
 In ev'ry storm my heart to cheer, 
 
 Till Thou shalt bid me rise, 
 
278 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 
 
 Where sin and sorrow never come, 
 Till at my blest eternal home, 
 I wake in sweet surprise* 
 
 " Teach me thy way, O JLord : I will 
 walk in thy truth : unite my heart to fear 
 thy name." Ps. 86, 11. 
 
 O Almighty Father, maker of Hea- 
 ven and earth ! From the inmost re- 
 cesses of my soul, would I thank Thee 
 for permitting me to lay me down, un- 
 der the shadow of thy wings, to enjoy 
 the repose of the past night, and to 
 arise this morning in health and 
 strength, to enjoy the cheerful saluta- 
 tions of the light of this morning. I 
 have now enjoyed another sabbath, 
 which is past and gone; and am 
 brought by thy good providence, to the 
 commencement of another day of the 
 week ; © Lord be pleased to blot out, 
 with the past night, for Jesus' sake, 
 all my sins and transgressions, and 
 cast them far behind Thee, into the 
 Ocean of oblivion. Fnabie me by thy 
 grace, to commence the labours and 
 duties of this day with cheerfulness, 
 and grant, that as 1 spent the Sabbath 
 in worshipping Thee as a Spirit, in 
 spirit and in truth ; so may I spend this 
 and all the other days of the ensuing 
 week, in an interrupted attention to 
 the duties of my calling. Bless and es- 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 279 
 
 tablish, O Father, the work of my 
 hands, and may I never be forgetful of 
 Thee, but in all the labours of the day, 
 accomplish thy holy will, live blame- 
 less in thy sight, in all situations and 
 cireumstances of life, be fervent in 
 prayer, patient under tribulation, hope 
 in thy mercy, and when my great 
 change shall come, may I fall sweetly 
 asleep in Jesus. Assist me this day and 
 all the days of my life, with power from 
 on high, to watch against and with- 
 stand all the fiery temptations of the 
 world, the flesh and the devil, and ena- 
 ble me to subdue all the combined ene- 
 mies of my soul, and thus keep myself 
 pure from the pollutions of an ungodly 
 world. 
 
 And, O Ood ! as thou didst on this day 
 of the week create the firmament, the 
 place of heavenly light, whence all thy 
 creatures enjoy this inestimable bless- 
 ing according to their different spe- 
 cies, O be pleased to grant unto my soul 
 the light of thy word, that I may con- 
 tinually walk before thee, in all up- 
 rightness, in the way of grace and 
 peace, that I may not stumble. Or ant, 
 in much mercy, that the clearness of 
 this light, which dissipates the moral 
 mists and darkness of the understand- 
 ing, overcomes the stubbornness of the 
 will, purifies the unholy desires of the 
 heart, and proves a guide to the feeUs 
 
280 DEMOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 
 
 may never become darkness in me, be- 
 cause my deeds are evil ; but preserve 
 and increase unto me, O thou Father of 
 lights! this blessed Light of life and sal- 
 vation, which shows me so clearly, that 
 by nature and practice I am nothing 
 but impurity ; that my life is filled 
 with vanity, that infirmities await me 
 in death, and that in the cold grave to 
 which I am hastening, my body shall 
 become food for corruption, earth and 
 worms ; that of myself I have nothing, 
 and without Christ's strengthening 
 me, I am not able to think a good 
 thought, speak a good word, or do a 
 good deed; that I am moreover sur- 
 rounded with many enemies ; exposed 
 to storms, to all manner of crosses, tri- 
 bulations and adversities, so long as I 
 remain the tempestuous billows of 
 time ; that for the few seasons of joy 
 and pleasure which I enjoy, I have to 
 endure much dishonour and anxiety ; 
 and for short seasons of refreshing, I 
 am subject to long and tedious suffer- 
 ings of pain and anguish. Grant there- 
 fore, O Lord, that this knowledge of 
 ray situation, as a probationer on this 
 thy footstool, may ever tend to increase 
 my zeal and diligence, in working out 
 my soul's salvation, with fear and trem- 
 bling, whilst I continually look unto 
 thee, to work in me, to will and to do, 
 according to thine own good pleasure. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 2«1 
 
 And, as we call this Jflonday* preserve 
 me © Lord from being as changeable 
 in the work of godliness, as the moon 
 is in light; but grant that I may con- 
 tinually, not decline, but grow in holi- 
 ness ; thus increasing in the grace and 
 knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, as constantly as I increase 
 in days and years, until the light of my 
 faith, be as the full moon and all my 
 walk and conversation shall be pleas- 
 ing in thy sight, O Lord my Strength 
 and my Redeemer. 
 
 And as Thou, O God, didst on this 
 day of the week, create the clouds, 
 that they might pour out rain upon 
 the earth, even so be pleased to pour 
 out a fruitful shower of thy grace, 
 upon my heart, to remove its hardness 
 and barrenness, that thy word may 
 take deep root, spring forth in a joy- 
 ful hope, and expand in cordial love, 
 and finally bring forth the saving 
 fruits of all good works. 
 
 Thou didst also, on this day, divide 
 the waters of the firmament from the 
 waters of the earth. Be pleased, in like 
 manner, © God I hy thy grace, to divide 
 and scatter tl\e Hoods of tribulation, 
 that they may not overflow my souL 
 
 Thou didst finally, on this day, create 
 
 * The days of the week are called after the Sun, 
 Moon, and Planets. 
 
282 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 
 
 the pure air, without which I could 
 not for a moment live, move or even 
 breathe. O then be pleased, gracious 
 God, to breathe forth upon me, the in- 
 fluences of thy grace and Spirit, with- 
 out which all my prayers, sighs and 
 devotion, must immeditely expire, and 
 any soul must soon loose all necessary 
 power and disposition to engage in thy 
 service. 
 
 Or ant me, O heavenly Father, that 
 so long as I draw breath, I may also 
 experience the life-giving and saving 
 effects of thy grace, to enable me to 
 live unto Thee and in thy service, and 
 to laud, magnify and adore thy holy 
 name to all eternity. — Amen. 
 
 HYMN 29. L. M.— Park- Street. 
 
 1 BEHOLD, the sun adorns the sky, 
 And darts his cheering rays on high ; 
 From east to west, in glorious march, 
 He gilds the wide expansive arch. 
 
 3 The warbling larks, in triumph 
 
 mount, 
 And all the scenes of morn recount ; 
 While sounding groves and vallies 
 
 ring, 
 With praise to heav'n's eternal King. 
 
 3 Begin, my soul the morning song ; 
 I^et thankfulness inspire thy tongue: 
 The kindness of thy God proclaim, 
 And tell the wonders of his name. 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. }J83 
 
 4. Sing how his hand thy life defends, 
 And for thy guard his angel sends : 
 In grateful praise his name adore, 
 When fleeting days shall be no more. 
 
 5 [Yes, O my Grod I thy glorious name, 
 My soul shall thro 9 the day proclaim ; 
 1*11 bear thy kindness on my heart, 
 While ev'ry pow'r performs its part.] 
 
 Evening Devotions for J9tonday. 
 
 HYMN 30. & 8. ^—Willowbxj. 
 
 1 NO farther go to night, but stay, 
 Dear Saviour, till the break of day i 
 
 Turn in, dear Lord, with me ; 
 And in the morning when I wake. 
 Me in thine arms, dear Jesus, take, 
 
 And 1*11 go on with Thee. 
 
 3 Now, Lord, be with us on our way ; 
 Unveil thy face, thine arm display, 
 
 Thy glory let us prove s [walk, 
 
 I>o Thou, dear Saviour, with us 
 That while with Thee we sweetly 
 talk, 
 Our hearts may burn with love. 
 
 3 May we in faith still journey on, 
 Till we arrive where Thou art gone; 
 
 And see thy face in heave'n ; 
 Then, when in glory we shall meet, 
 In what sweet concert shall we sit, 
 
 And sing of sins forgiv'n. 
 
284 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 
 
 "But as for me, my prayer is unto 
 Thee, O Lord* in an acceptable time s O 
 Crod, in the multitude of thy mercy, hear 
 me, in the truth of thy salvation." — Ps. 
 6». 13. 
 
 O eternal and holy Ood, and most 
 mereiful Father in Christ .Testis the 
 Redeemer ! I thine unworthy and un- 
 profitable servant (or hand-maid) ac- 
 knowledge, with unfeigned humility, 
 that I am a great and grievous sinner, 
 that I have transgressed all thy holy 
 commandments, and alas ! have this 
 day, by sins, committed in thoughts, 
 words and deeds, increased the moun- 
 tain of mine iniquities. To the riches 
 of thy goodness, forbearance and long- 
 suffering, am I entirely indebted, for 
 being spared in the land of the living, 
 and that I have not been, long since, 
 cut down, and cast into that lake, 
 which burnetii with fire and brim- 
 stone, there to receive the just rewards 
 of my demerits. 
 
 Thou, O Lord, knowest all my sins, 
 and mine iniquities are all open be- 
 fore Thee. My heart condemns me on 
 account of them, but Thou, O liord, 
 art much greater than my heart, and 
 knowest all things, and yet Thou ex- 
 ercisest much forbearance and long- 
 suffering towards me, and hast even 
 condescended to promise me the par- 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY 285 
 
 don of all my sins, for Christ's sake, 
 on condition of my repentance and 
 true faith in the ILord Jesus Christ. 
 Therefore, would I take my flight un- 
 to Thee, and appeal front the throne 
 of thy justice, righteousness and spot- 
 less holiness, to the throne of thy mercy 
 and grace, which are infinitely greater 
 than all my sins, and I beseech Thee, 
 most fervently, to look down upon me, 
 in the face of thine anointed Son, 
 Jesus Christ, in whom Thou art ever 
 well pleased. 
 
 I would moreover render Thee spe- 
 cial praises and thanksgiving O God ! 
 for the many instances of thy favour 
 towards me through the day which 
 has just come to a close. Thou hast 
 spread over me the banners of thy pro- 
 tecting love, and hast guarded me from 
 evil and danger, and hast granted me 
 many visitations of mercy and grace, 
 and I beseech Thee, Parent in heaven, 
 to take me into thy holy care and keep- 
 ing, through the coming night, so that 
 I may be preserved from all the power 
 of the devil. Permit me in thy name, 
 to both lay me down and sleep ; let no 
 ill dreams disturb my repose, no unne- 
 cessary cares oppress my mind, nor sin- 
 ful thoughts trouble my soul. Preserve 
 my body from pain and sickness, my 
 food from every thing injurious to 
 health ; and those who are near and 
 
286 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 
 
 dear unto me from trouble and distress, 
 and keep us all as the apple of thine 
 eye. And if it be consistent with thy 
 holy will, permit me to arise on the 
 coming inorning, in health and 
 strength, fitted for the dnties of the 
 day, to the praise of thy most worthy 
 name, to the promotion of the welfare 
 of my fellow creatures, and mine own 
 best interests in Christ Jesus our Re- 
 deemer to everlasting salvation* 
 
 Thou, O blessed Saviour, didst, on the 
 last Monday of thy sojourning on earth, 
 curse the barren fig tree, because it 
 brought forth leaves, without fruit, 
 and afterwards purified the temple at 
 Jerusalem, and didst teach and per- 
 form miracles therein. I acknowledge, 
 with humility, that I have also been 
 too unfruitful in good works and that 
 I have brought forth more leaves than 
 fruit. My heart, which should ever be 
 a holy temple and dwelling place for 
 Thee, through a lively faith in thy 
 blood, is, alas ! too full of all manner 
 of simple thoughts, lusts and desires. 
 
 I am, alas! more blind in mind in 
 divine things, and more lame in the 
 faculties of my soul, in obeying thy 
 precepts, than those blind and lame, 
 which Thou didst heal in the temple, 
 and therefore, deserve to be cursed like 
 unto the barren fig-tree, and to be ex- 
 cluded from the fellowship of thy peo- 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 287 
 
 pie. But I entreat Thee, O blessed Sa- 
 viour, to have mercy on me, and exercise 
 forbearance towards me, in my imper- 
 fections, and barrenness, teach me thy 
 will, lieal all my spiritual sickness, 
 purify and sanctify my soul, from all 
 evil propensities, prepare my heart to 
 be an acceptable dwelling place, and 
 dwell therein, as in thy temple. Make 
 me fruitful, as a tree planted by the 
 water brooks ! which brings forth its 
 fruit in due season, and whose leaves 
 never wither ; open, also, the eyes of 
 my mind, that I may rightly know 
 Thee, and learn thy will. 
 
 Perfect thy strength in my weakness, 
 and guide me by thy Holy Spirit, that 
 I may dedicate all the faculties of my 
 soul and body to thy service. When 
 Thou didst heal the sick and afflicted 
 in the temple, the children cried out 
 hosanna to the Son of David ! whilst 
 the high priest and the scribes were en- 
 raged against Thee, and plotted thy 
 destruction. O be pleased, gracious 
 Lord, to assimilate me, in disposition, 
 to those little ones, and preserve me, in 
 much mercy, from the angry and in- 
 human passion, evinced by the high 
 priest and scribes. Grant that I may 
 ever learn more and more of Thee, in 
 and from thy works, and ever confide 
 in Thee, as the only and true Saviour 
 of mankind, and with joy spread thy 
 
288 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY 
 
 praise abroad, and rejoice, when Thou 
 dost good unto my brethren of man* 
 kind ; and may I be induced to imitate 
 thy blessed example of love and good* 
 Trill towards men, and love Thee, that 
 I may enjoy thy love, both in time and 
 for eternity, — Amen. 
 
 HYMN31. 8, 7,-— Vesper Hymn. 
 
 1 I* OBD, with growing heart I'd praise 
 
 Thee, 
 
 For the bliss thy love bestows ; [me. 
 For the pardoning grace that saves 
 
 And the peace that from it flows : 
 Help, OXord, my weak endeavour, 
 
 This dull soul to rapture raise : 
 Thou must light the flame, or never 
 
 Can my love be warm'd to praise r 
 
 2 Praise, my soul, the God that sought 
 
 thee 
 Wretched ivand'rer, far astray ; 
 Found thee lost, and kindly brought 
 thee 
 From the paths of death away: 
 Praise, with love's devoutest feeling, 
 Him who saw thy guilt-born fear, 
 And, the light of hope revealing, 
 Bade the blood stain'd cross appear. 
 
 3 Lord this bosom's ardent feeling 
 
 Vainly would my lips express : 
 Low before thy footstool kneeling, 
 Deign the suppliant's prayer to 
 bless : 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 289 
 
 Let thy grace, my soul's chief trea- 
 sure, 
 
 Iiove's pure flame within me raise ; 
 And since words can never measure, 
 
 Let my life show forth thy praise. 
 
 •Horning Devotions for Tuesday. 
 
 H Y iM N 32. P. M. 7, 6.— Romaine. 
 
 1 TO Thee, in each bright morning, 
 
 Father of all, we pray ; 
 While thought and fancy drawing, 
 
 Lead on the rising day ; 
 To Thee, in life's last even, 
 
 We'll tune our feebler breath ; 
 Hear all our sins forgiven, 
 
 And softly sleep in death. 
 
 3 When from death's sleep we 'waken, 
 
 No fears shall us surprise ; 
 All earthly things forsaken, 
 
 What joys shall meet our eyes? 
 With raptures then increasing, 
 
 For ever we'll rejoice ; 
 And praises never-ceasing, 
 
 Shall wake each tuneful voice. 
 
 u Teach me to do thy wilt; for Thou art 
 my Crod / thy Spirit is good ; tead me 
 into the tand of uprightness." — Ps. 143. 
 
 O Almighty €rod and merciful Fa- 
 ther, I would render Thee most hear- 
 ty thanks, for the fatherly protection 
 extended unto me through the past 
 
 19 
 
290 * MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 
 
 night: Thou hast preserved my soul 
 from fear and anxiety, my body from 
 disease, my life from death, my food 
 from all injuriousness, my conscience 
 from offence, my honour from shame, 
 and all that I am and possess from in- 
 jury and accident ; and now in thine 
 abounding love and mercy, which is 
 better than life, Thou hast permitted 
 me to rise from my bed of repose in per- 
 fect health, to behold the light of this 
 morning. In thy name, O Lord, will 
 I now commence the business of this 
 day, according to thy will, and entreat 
 Thee, that as Thou hast been my Pre- 
 server from evil and danger through 
 the past night, so continue, through this 
 and all the succeeding days of my life, 
 to be my very present help in every 
 time of need. Inasmuch as Thou, © 
 Father, hast, in tenderness, watched 
 over me, and permitted me to enjoy a 
 sweet and refreshing sleep ; be pleased 
 also, to guard me whilst I am awake, 
 and abide with me while engaged in 
 the discharge of the duties of my call- 
 ing, so that I may do nothing hut what 
 is consistent with thy will, promotive 
 of thy glory, and that may redound 
 to the best interests of my friends and 
 neighbours, as well as my own salva- 
 tion. 
 
 I moreover confess unto Thee, O 
 Thou holy and righteous €rod ! and 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 291 
 
 that with much §hame and confusion 
 of face, that I have hitherto, with the 
 multitude, both of my original and 
 actual, open and secret sins, most 
 shamefully profaned thy holy name, 
 despised thy holy word, defaced thine 
 image within me, done despite to thy 
 Holy Spirit, abused thy mercy, wound- 
 ed my conscience, injured my good 
 name, offended my neighbours, and 
 have thereby, not only deprived my 
 own soul of the precious consolations 
 of thy holy word, and of the protection 
 of thy good Spirit, but have also, justly 
 increased thy displeasure, and above 
 all, treasured up thy wrath against the 
 day of final retribution. Therefore, 
 would I cry unto Thee, O for help, that 
 I may not perish in my sins. May the 
 influences of thy Spirit and thy grace, 
 affect my hard heart, with a feeling 
 sense of my sins and miseries, that 
 mine eyes may become, as it were, a 
 fountain of tears, to run down, both 
 day and night, for my sins, and that I 
 may humble myself in sackcloth and 
 ashes, under thine Almighty hand, for 
 having sooftenand grievously offended 
 Thee. And, © €*od, I beseech Thee, to 
 forgive me all mine iniquities, and can- 
 cel them, with the precious blood of 
 thine only begotten and well beloved 
 Son, Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, and 
 for his sake grant me thy Holy Spirit 
 
292 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 
 
 to renew my heart, enlighten mine eyes* 
 subdue my stubborn "will, change my 
 sinful purposes, and to ever present be- 
 fore mine eyes, the evil fruits and rui- 
 nous consequences of sin, that I may 
 more carefully guard against the 
 smallest deviation from the path of 
 duty, and no longer continue in the 
 services of satan, the world or the flesh ; 
 but continue to serve Thee with fidelity, 
 all the days of my life, in righteousness 
 and true holiness, which is ever well- 
 pleasing in thy sight. 
 
 And O God, Thou didst as the Al- 
 mighty Maker of all things, on this day 
 of the week, gather together the waters 
 of the earth, so as to cause the dry land 
 to appear, and bring forth grass, herbs 
 and trees, and to be inhabited by both 
 men and beasts % be pleased, therefore, 
 likewise to remove all impure and un- 
 holy desires and propensities of natu- 
 ral depravity, from my soul, and ren- 
 der it an acceptable dwelling place for 
 thy good and Holy Spirit. 
 
 Thou didst, moreover, on this day, 
 command hy thine Almighty power* 
 the earth to bring forth all manner of 
 herbage and vegetation, to adorn the 
 earth, and for food and sustenance to 
 both thy rational and irrational crea- 
 tures. Ingraft, also, in my heart, I be- 
 seech Thee, O Lord, the immortal seed 
 of thine incorruptible word, that I 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 293 
 
 may thereby be made fruitful in all 
 good works, and be begotten anew 
 unto a lively hope of eternal life. 
 
 Thou, O God, didst finally on this 
 day, cause the earth to bring forth all 
 manner of trees, to bear fruit accord- 
 ing to their kind. Be pleased, O Ood, 
 in like manner, to render iny soul a 
 tree of righteousness, planted by thine 
 own hand, in the vineyard of thy 
 church, that it may bring forth all the 
 pleasant fruits of the Spirit, faith, 
 love, hope, meekness, patience, friend- 
 ship and holiness, so that I may in due 
 time, be transplanted into the heaven- 
 ly Paradise, to partake among all the 
 redeemed from among men, of the 
 soul-satisfying fruits of glory, "which 
 are ever found on the tree of life, 
 Christ Jesus ; to whom, with Thee, O 
 heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit, 
 be all praise, honour and thanksgiv- 
 ing forever and ever. — Amen. 
 
 HYMN 33. S. M.— Kentucky. 
 
 1 A charge to keep I have, 
 A Ood to glorify ; 
 A never-dying soul to save, 
 And fit it for the sky. 
 
 3 To serve the present age, 
 My calling to fulfil ; 
 O may it all my powers engage, 
 To do my master's will. 
 
294 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 
 
 3 Arm me with jealous care. 
 
 As in thy sight to live ; 
 And ©, thy servant, Lord, prepare, 
 A strict account to give ! 
 
 4 Help me to watch and pray, 
 
 And on thyself rely, 
 Assur'd if I my trust betray, 
 I shall forever die. 
 
 Evening devotions for Tuesday. 
 
 HYMN 34. C. M. — Mount Pleasant. 
 
 1 DOT Ood the spring of all my joys, 
 
 The life of my delights, 
 The glory of my brightest days, 
 And comfort of my nights ! 
 
 2 In darkest shades, if Thou appear, 
 
 My da wning is begun ; [star, 
 
 Thou art my soul's bright morning 
 And Thou my rising sun. 
 
 3 The opening heavens around me 
 
 shine, 
 With beams of sacred bliss, 
 If Jesus shows his mercy's mine, 
 And whispers I am his. 
 
 4 Uly soul would leave this heavy clay, 
 
 At that transporting word, 
 Run up with joy the shining way, 
 To see and praise my .Lord* 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. £95 
 
 S Fearless of hell and ghastly death, 
 I'd break through every foe ; 
 The wings of love and arms of faith, 
 Would bear mi e conqueror through. 
 
 Our Father who art in heaven, this 
 day is now past and gone, and num- 
 bered with those beyond the flood, but 
 I am yet in the land of the living, and 
 permitted by thy grace to appear once 
 more on praying ground and pleading 
 terms before Thee. I would therefore, 
 render unto Thee unfeigned thanks- 
 giving and praise, for supplying all 
 my returning wants, out of thy exhaust- 
 less fulness of mercy and grace, through 
 the past day ; although I have griev- 
 ously offended against thy majesty, 
 and therefore, rather deserve thy hot- 
 test displeasure, than the exhibitions of 
 thy grace. But I most humbly beseech 
 Thee, for the sake of the precious blood 
 of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, forgive me 
 all my sins, and may his blood cleanse 
 me from every pollution, and be pleased 
 to clothe me with the robe of his inno- 
 cence, that my transgressions may no 
 more come up in judgment against me 
 forever. 
 
 Be pleased also, to take me into thy 
 holy care and keeping, through the 
 ensuing night. Watch over me, and 
 all those who are near and dear unto 
 me, and protect us from the common 
 
296 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 
 
 enemy of mankind — §atan 9 from all the 
 fears and dangers of the night, from 
 sinful dreams, from the breaking in of 
 enemies, from all accidents of fire and 
 water, and from all manner of evil, as 
 to soul and body. Be unto us, as a Trail 
 of fire round about us, and preserve us 
 as the apple of thine eye. 
 
 Watch Thou over us, O Thou Guar- 
 dian of Israel, who neither sleeps nor 
 slumbers, and give thine holy angels 
 charge over us, to preserve us in safety; 
 so that w e may not only awake in the 
 morning, and pursue the business of 
 the day, with zeal and diligence ; but 
 be also careful to make it the first bu- 
 siness of the day, to send forth our 
 praises unto Thee, and fervently im- 
 plore the presence and guidance of thy 
 good and Holy Spirit. 
 
 And incline my heart, Heavenly Pa- 
 rent, to esteem nothing in this world so 
 highly as thy favour, and to hate no- 
 thing so much as my sins, and to ever 
 dread to excite thy wrath and displea- 
 sure against me. 
 
 Be pleased, also, graciously to pre- 
 serve me from ever placing my happi- 
 ness upon the transitory sands of vain 
 glory, or the perishable objects of time 
 and sense, and much less upon the fleet- 
 ing gratifications of the sinful lusts of 
 the flesh, which, as soon as the sun- 
 shine of prosperity goes down, are past 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 297 
 
 and gone, and with the light of life are 
 extinguished forever. Grant © God, 
 for this purpose that I may thoroughly 
 realize, how fleeting are wordly riches, 
 how foolish are the lusts of the flesh, 
 ho ir inconstant are the honours of this 
 world, how dangerous the breath of 
 popularity, how vain and transitory is 
 even life, how awful is death and judg- 
 ment, and how strict Trill be the scru- 
 tiny and stern the account, which I 
 must render unto the Judge of the quick 
 and the dead, of all my thoughts, words 
 and deeds in this probationary state. 
 Teach me by thy holy word and Spirit, 
 that I have no continuing city here; 
 but that I am a pilgrim and stranger 
 here on earth, and to seek my birth- 
 right in heaven, and, as I have hither- 
 to, alas ! placed my desires upon the 
 vain and trifling things of time and 
 sense, and have thus spent my time and 
 labour in vain ; I entreat Thee to in- 
 cline my heart, to lift its affections to 
 heaven and things divine, and to desire 
 and long for nothing so much, as the 
 gifts and graces of thy Spirit and ever- 
 lasting life. Grant me grace, © Lord, 
 to partake of that bread which cometh 
 down from heaven, to strengthen me to 
 work out my soul's salvation, with fear 
 and trembling. 
 
 And grant, that I may desire the ob- 
 jects of this world, only to increase my 
 
298 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 
 
 desires after the realities of eternity ; 
 that I may employ the good things of 
 this world, only in extending the 
 hand of aid to the poor and needy, 
 and abound more in all good works ; 
 that I may desire health, only to be 
 able to serve Thee with more cheerful- 
 ness ; and strength and power that I 
 may fight manfully against thine and 
 mine enemies, and the prolonging of 
 my days, that I may the longer con- 
 tinue to show forth thy praise in the 
 land of the living. 
 
 And, O blessed Saviour, it was on this 
 day, that Thou wert anointed, by the 
 pious Mary, with precious ointment, 
 and thy feet were bathed with tears, 
 against thy burial ; O I beseech Thee, 
 also, to anoint me more and more, 
 with the oil of gladness, and the influ- 
 ences of thy Spirit, to eternal life. 
 
 On this day, also, did the rulers 
 among the Jews, conspire together 
 against thy life ; O deliver me now 
 and at all times from the power of 
 mine enemies, break asunder their 
 bands, so that I may serve Thee all the 
 days of my life in righteousness and 
 true holiness, according to thy will. 
 
 I commend, finally, all my dearest 
 interests unto Thee 5 O preserve my life 
 from all sickness and disease — my soul 
 from all sinful dreams, lusts and de- 
 sires, so that I may rest in Thee, and 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 299 
 
 jrise in the morning with new vigor, to 
 discharge the duties of the day in obe- 
 dience to thy will and holy command- 
 ments. And to the Father, Son and 
 Holy Spirit, he all the praise, both 
 now and forever. — Amen. 
 
 HYMN 35. C. M.—St. John's. 
 
 1 © God, thy gifts of tender love 
 
 Are every evening new ; 
 And morning mercies from above 
 Distil like early dew* 
 
 2 Thou spread- st the curtain of the 
 
 night 
 To guard our sleeping hours ; 
 Thy sovereign word restores the light, 
 And wakes our drowsy powers. 
 
 3 We yield ourselves to thy command, 
 
 To Thee devote our days ; 
 For constant blessings from thy hand, 
 Demand our constant praise. 
 
 •Morning devotions for Wednesday. 
 
 HY M N 36. L. M.— Newton. 
 
 1 FROM every stormy wind that Mows. 
 From every swelling tide of woes, 
 There is a calm, a sure retreat, 
 
 'Tis found beneath the Mercy Seat. 
 
 2 There is a place where Jesus sheds 
 The oil of gladness on our heads, 
 
 A place than all besides more sweet — 
 It is the blood-bought Mercy Seat. 
 
300 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 
 
 3 There is a scene where spirits blend, 
 Where friend holds fellowship with 
 
 friend ; 
 Tho' sunder'd far — by faith they meet 
 Around our common Mercy Seat. 
 
 4 Ah ! whither could we flee for aid, 
 When tempted, desolate, dismay'd— 
 Or how the host of hell defeat, 
 Had suffering* saints no Mercy Seat ! 
 
 5 There ! there, on eagle wings we soar : 
 And sin and sense seem all no more, 
 And heaven comes down our souls to 
 
 greet, 
 And glory crowns the Mercy Seat. 
 
 6 Oh, let my hand forget her skill, 
 My tongue be silent cold and still, 
 This bounding heart forget to beat, 
 If I forget the Mercy Seat. 
 
 " The mercy of the Lord hath no end, 
 but is renewed every morning, and great 
 is his faithfulness." — Lam. 3. 38, 33. 
 
 O most merciful Ood, Thou Father of 
 eternal light and life ! I would call 
 upon my soul, and all that is within 
 me, to magnify and adore thy holy 
 name, for permitting me to lay me 
 down under the shadow of thine Al- 
 mighty wings, and to sleep securely 
 during the past night, and to arise this 
 morning to behold the light of another 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 301 
 
 day, in the enjoyment of my usual 
 health and strength. 
 
 O what is man that Thou shouldest 
 be mindful of him, or the son of man 
 that Thou shouldest set thine heart 
 upon him ; Thou hast made all crea- 
 tures for him, and didst especially, on 
 this day, create tiro great lights, and 
 didst place the Sun and the Moon in 
 the firmament of heaven, to give light, 
 both by day and by night, and to divide 
 the seasons, years, months and days — 
 to regulate his labours — to invigorate 
 his body — to ripen the fruits of the earth, 
 and to cause the earth to bring forth its 
 products in rich abundance. Way, 
 Thou didst present him with a light, 
 yet infinitely more brilliant : even the 
 light of thy prophetic word, and in or- 
 der that he might behold the riches of 
 thy goodness and thy grace, didst Thou 
 cause the sun of righteousness to rise 
 upon him, by his genial rays, to shine 
 into his heart — to illuminate his under- 
 standing — to quicken him to diligence 
 in accomplishing thy will, and to make 
 him a participator among the saints 
 in light and glory, of those pleasures, 
 which are at thy right hand forever- 
 more. O God, I would sincerely rejoice 
 in this light, and earnestly desire, that 
 every recess of my soul may be pene- 
 trated, by the gracious rays of this sun 
 of righteousness. 
 
 ■ 
 
30£ MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 
 
 I humbly acknowledge, that Thou 
 hast laid me under infinite obligations 
 to exalt Thee above all objects in the 
 universe ; inasmuch as thou hast given 
 me a preference to all other creatures ; 
 that I am solemnly bound to love Thee 
 with all my heart, because of thy lov- 
 ing-kindness and tender compassion, 
 exhibited continually towards me, and 
 for making all other creatures subser- 
 vient to my best interests ; and to return 
 Thee unceasing praises and thanks- 
 givings, as well as an unwavering obe- 
 dience to all thy commandments, be- 
 cause thy tender mercies are renewed 
 unto me every morning, and thy faith- 
 fulness returns every evening. I am, 
 therefore, ashamed and confounded, 
 when I reflect upon my past life and 
 conduct, how utterly negligent I have 
 been in the discharge of my duties to- 
 wards Thee ; for how can I plead any 
 excuse for my ingratitude and disobe- 
 dience towards Thee? Shall I seek 
 refuge under pretended ignorance of 
 Thee and thy will ; but how can I, inas- 
 much as the heavens declare thy glory 
 and the firmament showeth forth thy 
 handy work ? Shall I plead ignorance 
 of thy laws ? Why Thou hast put thy 
 word into my mouth, and hast engra- 
 ven thy laws upon my heart. Shall I 
 say that I have never heard of the light 
 of thy gospel, when I know that it has 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY 303 
 
 come into the world and hat li shined 
 into darkness. O no, blessed God, the 
 reason, alas ! is, that I have loved 
 darkness better than light, because my 
 deeds were evil. And beeanse of my 
 evil deeds, Thou mightest have justly 
 east me into outer darkness, where 
 there is nothing but weeping and 
 gnashing of teeth. But with Thee 
 there is forgiveness, that Thou mayest 
 be feared. There is yet balm in Gilead 
 to heal all my wounds ; there is balm 
 and healing in Christ Jesus, in his 
 merits and obedience — salvation in his 
 blood — hope in his resurrection— joy in 
 his ascension into heaven — nay, ever- 
 lasting comfort in his sitting at the 
 Father's right hand, as my intercessor. 
 O Thou divine Advocate ! be pleased 
 to manage all my dearest interests and 
 concerns. O blessed Saviour, out of 
 whose opened side, there flows a pure 
 and cleansing stream — purify Thou 
 me from all filthiness of the flesh and 
 spirit. Bless me with that peace which 
 Thou hast promised to all thy dear 
 people, that my heart may be relieved, 
 alike from fear and despair. Recon- 
 cile me with thy Father and my Father, 
 with thy God and my God. 
 
 And as all my hope is in thy unmerit- 
 ed mercy, O may that mercy be a pat- 
 tern for my continued imitation, in 
 forgiving those who trespass against 
 
304 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 
 
 me — in sympathizing with the weak 
 and afflicted, to assist them in their 
 necessities, comfort them nnder their 
 crosses and tribulations, and aid them 
 to bear their cross with patience. O 
 Parent in heaven, may I, as thy obedi- 
 ent child, continually tread in thy foot- 
 steps, and as Thou didst, on this day, 
 create the sun, which has just arisen 
 to shine again, on the just and on the 
 unjust, do Thou likewise, enable me to 
 let the light of my knowledge, and the 
 quickening rays of my love, expand 
 towards all, but especially to the 
 household of faith. As mine eyes 
 now behold the precious light of the 
 sun, so be pleased to draw off my 
 thoughts and desires from the vain and 
 ignoble things of time and sense, and 
 place them on heaven and things di- 
 vine, so that they may ever find their 
 chief pleasure and happiness in Thee. 
 And as the sun thaws the snow and 
 ice, so in like manner, O Lord, melt 
 Thou my icy and frozen heart, by the 
 rays of thy grace, into true and un- 
 feigned repentance. As the sun dispels 
 and purifies all the dense fogs and in- 
 jurious vapors, which float in the air, 
 so may the gracious influence of thy 
 good Spirit, dispel and banish from my 
 benighted understanding, all the moral 
 mists and fogs of error and unbelief, 
 and purify the desires of my heart from 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 305 
 
 sill manner of sin. As the sun runs his 
 1111 deviating course in the heavens, so 
 as to turn neither to the right nor the 
 left, even so be pleased, O Lord, to 
 guide and govern me, that I may con- 
 tinually, run the way of thy command- 
 ments, and never wander astray, into 
 the forbidden paths of sin. 
 
 As the sun continually ascends higher 
 and higher, until it arrives at its meri- 
 dian splendour, so enable me, O Lord, 
 to increase continually in grace, right- 
 eousness and true holiness, that I also, 
 may shine as a light of the world, and 
 be without spot and blemish, in the 
 midst of a perverse and ungodly gene- 
 ration, so that I may in due time, shine 
 forth as the sun in the kingdom of thy 
 glory. As finally the sun rejoices as a 
 strong man to run a race, so may I run 
 the race set before me, even unto the 
 end, rejoicing in every dispensation of 
 thy providence, that I may at last ob- 
 tain the gracious reward of the right- 
 eous, even a diadem of unfading glory, 
 for Jesus Christ the Redeemer's sake, to 
 whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, 
 one God — be all honour, glory and do- 
 minion forever and ever. — Amen. 
 
 20 
 
506 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Evening devotions for IWednesday. 
 
 H Y M N 37. P. M. Vs.— Sovereign Grace. 
 
 1 SING, my soul his wondrous love, 
 Who, from yon bright throne above. 
 Ever watchful o'er our race, 
 
 Still to man extends his grace. 
 
 2 Heaven and earth by him were made, 
 All is by his sceptre sway'd ; 
 
 What are we that he should show 
 So much love to us below ? 
 
 3 God, the merciful and good, 
 Bought us with the Saviour's blood ; 
 And, to make our safety sure, 
 Guides us by his Spirit pure. 
 
 4 Sing, my soul — adore his name 
 I*et his glory be the theme : 
 Praise him till he calls thee home, 
 Trust his love for all to come. 
 
 " Blessed are the pure in hearty for they 
 shall see God." — Mat. 5. 8. 
 
 Most holy and adorable God I I hum- 
 bly confess that I atn a sinful creature 
 — that I am by nature a child of dark- 
 ness, and as such, I am ashamed to lift 
 up mine eyes to the place where thine 
 honour dwelleth, inasmuch as I have 
 sinned against Heaven and in thy sight, 
 and have insulted thy majesty in times 
 and ways without number, and have 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 307 
 
 thereby justly deserved thy righteous 
 judgments* Jffy conscience accuses and 
 convinces me, that I have hitherto 
 given the deceitful lusts of sensuality, 
 which are all works of darkness, the 
 preference; even to the inheritance 
 among the saints in light; by suffering 
 my reason, (which is the only remain- 
 ing light I enjoy,) to be darkened by ig- 
 norance and hardness of heart; and 
 although Thou hast stretched out thine 
 hands to awake me, both late and 
 early, yet I have gone on in the vanity 
 of mine own imaginations, and not 
 followed the guidance of thy Holy 
 Spirit, but the devices of mine own evil 
 heart ; and have, therefore, richly de- 
 served to be banished from thy presence, 
 into outer darkness, where there is 
 weeping and wailing and gnashing of 
 teeth. Nay, if Thou wouldest even cast 
 all my former transgressions into the 
 unfathomable ocean of thy love, yet the 
 sins which I have committed this day, 
 alas ! are sufficient to merit my eternal 
 condemnation. My disorderly passions 
 — impure thoughts — foolish imagina- 
 tions and idle conversation, together 
 with the multitude of my unfruitful 
 works, cast down my heart within me. 
 I know not any apology to offer, O 
 liord, for my shameful abuse of thy 
 mercy, the criminal misimprovement 
 of time, despising of thy grace, and ne- 
 
308 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 
 
 greeting the manifold opportunities af- 
 forded sue of doing good. O how ne- 
 gligent have I been in the discharge of 
 the duties of my calling ! How drowsy 
 in the exercises of devotion ! How cold 
 and indifferent in the confession of my 
 sins ! How careless in the use and ap- 
 plication of thy word, although it is 
 the only sure means of healing the 
 spiritual maladies of my soul ! Even 
 the supplications and prayers which I 
 direct to thy mercy seat, for the remo- 
 val of my wants and necessities, and 
 the healing of mine infirmities, are con- 
 nected with many imperfections. O 
 Lord, have mercy upon me, a poor 
 miserable sinner. Enter not into judg- 
 ment with me, for before Thee shall no 
 flesh living be justified. Afford me, O 
 Lord, a deep sense of my great folly 
 and depravity; and awaken within 
 me, an earnest desire after more en- 
 gagedness in thy service— a hearty re- 
 pentance for my past sins, and present 
 hardness of heart ; and, inasmuch as I 
 cannot pray unto Thee as I should, O 
 cause thy Holy Spirit to make interces- 
 sion for me, with groanings which 
 cannot be uttered, and the blood of thy 
 Son Jesus Christ to speak far better 
 things for me, than the blood of Abel. 
 O God, suffer not the glorious light of 
 heaven to go down over thy wrath to- 
 wards me, but be merciful towards me, 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 309 
 
 for the alone sake of thine only be- 
 gotten and well beloved Son, my Sa- 
 viour and Redeemer, who alone is the 
 atonement for our sins, so that my poor 
 soul may this night, find peace and rest 
 in Thee, as my wearied body may be 
 refreshed and invigorated hy seasona- 
 ble sleep, so shall I unintermittingly 
 laud and magnify thy name, O Lord, 
 my strength and my Redeemer, and 
 with joy make known my unfeigned 
 gratitude towards Thee, throughout 
 all eternity, for thy unbounded love, in 
 whieh Thou hast ehosen me before the 
 foundation of the world ; for thy good- 
 ness in whieh Thou hast created me 
 anew, according to thine image ; for 
 thine unspeakable mercy, in which 
 Thou hast provided for my eternal sal- 
 vation, through the blood of thy Son § 
 for thine unmerited grace, in which 
 Thou hast brought me the knowledge 
 of the truth ; and for thy paternal pro- 
 vidence, with which Thou hast pro- 
 tected me i chastening me with mild- 
 ness, and hast so bountifully supplied 
 all my returning wants, until the pre- 
 sent period of my existence. 
 
 O blessed Jesus, Thou who wast sold, 
 on this day, for thirty pieces of silver, 
 like the most abject slave i O be pleased 
 to deliver me, from the slavery of sin, 
 and forbid that I ever should, like 
 Ahab, sell myself to work iniquity. 
 
310 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDESNDAT. 
 
 May my heart be so deeply impressed 
 with the awful nature of this sin of Ju- 
 das, as well as with the d eadful pun- 
 ishment of it, that I may thereby, ever 
 be deterred from betraying thy divine 
 truth, or ever be induced to renounce 
 my faith in Thee for any fascinating 
 offers of a deceitful world, be they ever 
 so great or alluring. 
 
 And, O Thou Bread of Life, who 
 didst endure hunger for my sake, and 
 Thou Fountain of the waters of Leba- 
 non, who didst for my sake, experience 
 thirst ! O Thou Joy of mankind, who 
 on my account, didst experience sor- 
 row ! O thou who art Faithfulness and 
 Truth itself! who for my sake wast be- 
 trayed! O Thou Wedding Garment, 
 which for my sins was laid off! O 
 Thou Ransom for the sins of the whole 
 world, who wast sold for my transgres- 
 sions ! O thou Life and Resurrection 
 of all who place their hope and trust in 
 Thee, who didst die, to deliver me from 
 death eternal ! O ingraft thy love, so 
 deep in my heart, that neither hunger 
 nor thirst, neither sufferings nor na- 
 kedness, neither hope of reward nor 
 fear of persecution, neither death nor 
 life, may ever be able to eradicate it 
 from my soul. 
 
 O gracious Redeemer, Thou didst ex- 
 ercise friendship towards deceptions 
 Judas Iscariot, although, Thou didst 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 311 
 
 well know, that satan had entered into 
 him, to instigate him to betray Thee, 
 and didst even permit him to give 
 Thee, the false and treacherous kiss % © 
 how much more friendship wilt Thou 
 manifest towards thy true friends, who 
 love Thee with their whole hearts, and 
 remain faithful unto Thee to the end ? 
 If Thou wert friendly towards him, 
 who was full of deception and hypo- 
 crisy towards Thee ; O what grace and 
 loving-kindness may such anticipate 
 at thy hand, who cleave unto Thee 
 with all their hearts ? 
 
 Now blessed Lord ! as thou searchest 
 and desirest the heart above all things, 
 and wilt not accept either of our offer- 
 ings or services, without they proceed 
 from the sincerity of soul ; O give me 
 such a heart, which is purified from 
 all hypocrisy, and renew in me, a right 
 and obedient spirit, in order that I 
 may offer unto Thee, according to thy 
 will, the sacrifice of such a heart, as is 
 well-pleasing in thy sight, of a heart, 
 the thoughts of which are pure — the 
 desires holy — the undertakings upright 
 — so that all my words and works, may 
 proceed from a pure heart, and my 
 heart may not, on the great day, when 
 all the secret thoughts and intents of 
 the heart, shall be revealed, condemn 
 me; but that it may be accepted of 
 Thee, O Ood, and be filled with that 
 
312 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 
 
 fullness of joy, which no eye hath seen, 
 no ear hath heard, and which has 
 never entered into the heart of man to 
 conceive, for Jesus 9 sake, in whose 
 name, and upon whose command and 
 in whose words, we further call upon 
 Thee, as — Our Father, &c. — Amen. 
 
 •Morning Devotions for Thursday. 
 
 HYMN 38. H. M.— Amherst. 
 
 1 UPWARD I lift mine eyes, 
 
 From God is all my aid ; 
 The God that built the skies, 
 And earth and nature made : 
 
 God is the tow'r to which I fly ; 
 
 His grace is nigh in ev'ry hour. 
 
 2 Uly feet shall never slide, 
 And fall in fatal snares, 
 
 Since God, my guard and guide, 
 Defends me from my fears. [sleep, 
 
 Those wakeful eyes which never 
 Shall Israel keep, when dangers 
 rise. 
 
 3 No burning heats by day, 
 Nor blasts of ev'ning air, 
 Shall take my health away, 
 
 If God be with me there : [shade, 
 
 Thou art my sun, and Thou my 
 To guard my head by night or 
 noon. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 313 
 
 4 Han Tliou not giv'n thy \% ord< 
 To §ave my soul from death? 
 And I can trust my Lord 
 To keep my mortal breath : 
 
 I'll go and come, nor fear to die, 
 Till from on high Thou call me 
 home. 
 
 44 The Lord is nigh unto all them that 
 call upon him, to all that call upon him 
 in truth* He will fulfil the desire of them 
 that fear him •• he also will hear their cry, 
 and will save them." — Ps. I4#>. 18, 19. 
 
 O holy and righteous Ood ! who lia- 
 test the workers of iniquity and art 
 alone merciful unto those who fear and 
 love thee, who extendest thy fatherly 
 protection unto all who trust in thee, 
 and providcst for all who cast their 
 care upon Thee. I would love and 
 praise thy holy name, and render Thee 
 cordial thanks, for protecting me in 
 safety through the past night, and per- 
 mitting me to awake this morning, in 
 the enjoyment of perfect health and 
 strength. I acknowledge, O Lord! 
 with the profoundest humility, that if 
 I had laid me down to sleep without 
 thy protection, many accidents and 
 dangers might have befallen me ; but 
 under thy preserving care, I have en- 
 joyed the refreshing repose of another 
 night, and am now prepared to enter 
 
314 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 
 
 upon the discharge of tlte labours and 
 duties of ray calling with cheerfulness. 
 
 I cordially beseech Thee therefore 
 to lift upon nie the light of thy counte- 
 nance, so that I may not be tempted to 
 turn aside from the path of duty, nei- 
 ther hy the natural depravity of my 
 heart, or the example of the ungodly, 
 but that I may carefully follow the 
 light of thy blessed word, and studi- 
 ously regulate all my thoughts, words 
 and deeds this day, according to thy 
 word and will. Criiide me, O Lord ! 
 by thy Holy Spirit, into all truth, and 
 preserve me from all evil ; may thy fear 
 be continually before mine eyes, so that 
 I may improve this and all the succeed- 
 ing days of my life to thine honour, 
 and to the peace of mine own con- 
 science. 
 
 Increase within me the gifts of faith 
 and hope, that I may continually exer- 
 cise a filial confidence in thy promises, 
 which are yea and amen, in Christ 
 Jesus, unto thy people, and in mercy 
 prevent it that I should either by care- 
 lessness or the pride of the fiesh, or any 
 other temptation, forfeit a gracious as- 
 surance of reconciliation with Thee, 
 through the precious blood of thy dear 
 son. l>issipate the thick and impure 
 vapours of my depraved heart, which 
 wounds my soul, darkens my mind, 
 perverts my will, and inclines my af- 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. SI 5 
 
 flections and desires to evil. Purify my 
 soul, body and spirit by breathing forth 
 upon nte the influences of thy Hely 
 Spirit, and assure me continually, that 
 I am thy child, and that thou art my 
 Abba Father, and very present help in 
 every time of need. 
 
 And inasmuch as I am a great sin- 
 ner, and have often grievously offend- 
 ed Thee, not only through thoughtless- 
 ness ; but also by sinning against better 
 light and knowledge, and the revealed 
 testimony of thy holy word and Spirit, 
 to the great injury of my soul, and in- 
 sulting of thy majesty and have thereby 
 rendered myself unworthy of thy grace 
 and favour, O be pleased not to look 
 down upon me, in my unworthiness, 
 but look upon me in the face of thine 
 annointed Son Jesus, my Saviour. 
 
 To thine unbending justice which 
 cries for vengeance upon me, I would 
 oppose, his bitter sufferings and excru- 
 ciating death. O be pleased holy Fa- 
 ther in Heaven, to accept of these as a 
 ransom front all my sins. Blot them 
 all out of the book of thy wrath with 
 his crimson blood, so that they may 
 never be remetnbered against me, and 
 seal unto my soul, by thy Holy Spirit, 
 the free forgiveness of all mine iniqui- 
 ties, to the peace and joy of my con- 
 science, unto the day of perfect re- 
 demption. 
 
316 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 
 
 It was on this day, O Lord, that thou 
 didst create the sea and other waters 
 with all manner of fish, and also the 
 air, which thou didst fill with an in- 
 numerable multitude and variety of 
 fowls i may I enjoy grace at thy hand, 
 therefore, to contemplate the glorious 
 works of thine almighty power, wis* 
 dom and goodness, so as to ascend up 
 in my affections and desires from the 
 creature, to the all-wise, omnipotent 
 and bountiful Creator of all these 
 things, which thou hast brought into 
 existence for our comfort and subsis- 
 tence. 
 
 Nay, O Ood! as Thou didst, on this 
 day, render the waters fruitful, even so 
 make me also fruitful hy thy word and 
 Spirit, in all good words and works. 
 As Thou didst on this day create the 
 fowls, that they might fly through the 
 air ; in like manner elevate, also, my 
 soul, so that it may ascend on the 
 wings of faith and hope, even unto 
 Thee, and seek those things which are 
 on high — where is fulness of joy and 
 pleasures forevermore. 
 
 Finally, as the fowls of heaven know 
 their appointed time when to come, 
 and when to go ; O L<ord grant me also 
 thy grace, so that I, as a rational and 
 intelligent creature, may know the 
 time of my gracious visitation, and 
 work out my soul's salvation with fear 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 317 
 
 and trembling, so that I may at last be 
 received into the mansions of eternal 
 glory. All of which* I ask of Thee, 
 in the name and for the sake of mine 
 only Intercessor and Redeemer, J esus 
 Christ, to whom, with Thee, and the 
 Holy Ghost, be eternal praises. — Amen* 
 
 Evening devotions for Thursday. 
 
 HYMN 39. C. M.— Clifford. 
 
 1 TO Zion's hill I lift mine eyes, 
 
 From thence expecting aid % 
 From Z ion's hill, and Zion's God, 
 Who heav'n and earth has made. 
 
 2 Thou, then, my soul in safety rest, 
 
 Thy guardian will not sleep ; 
 His watchful care that Israel guards, 
 Will thee in safety keep. 
 
 3 Sheltered beneath th' Almighty's 
 
 wings, 
 Thou shalt securely rest ; [thee 
 
 Where neither sun nor moon shall 
 By day or night molest. 
 
 4 At home, abroad, in peace, in war, 
 
 Thy God shall thee defend ; [mage, 
 Conduct thee through life's pilgri- 
 Safe to thy journey's end. 
 
 " Wherefore, let them that suffer accor- 
 ding to the will of God, commit the keep* 
 
318 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 
 
 ing of their souls to him in welt doing* as 
 unto a faithful Creator*" — 1 Pet* 4. 19. 
 
 Almighty God and compassionate 
 Father in heaven ! I thank thy great 
 and holy name, for all the exhibitions 
 of thy goodness and thy grace, unto me 
 as to soul and body, and especially for 
 thy kind protection afforded me 
 through the day which is just past and 
 gone. I have enjoyed another day to 
 repent and prepare for the final day of 
 retribution, but alas! how little good 
 have I done ! I entreat Thee, O Ood ! 
 in the multitude of thy tender mercies, 
 to forgive me, for Jesus 9 sake, all my 
 sins and blot out all mine iniquities. 
 
 On this evening didst Thou, O blessed 
 Redeemer, eat the passover, with thy 
 disciples, in which they received Thee, 
 by faith, to the nourishment of their 
 souls. O be pleased, likewise, to come 
 in unto me, and sup with me, in this 
 life, so that I may at last be accounted 
 worthy to sit at thy table, with Abra- 
 ham, Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom 
 of thy glory. 
 
 It was, likewise, on the evening of 
 this day, O compassionate Saviour ! 
 that Thou didst give thyself unto thy 
 disciples in the sacrament of thy sup- 
 per, and on the day following didst of- 
 fer thyself for me on the cross % © there- 
 fore, be pleased to grant me a true and 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 319 
 
 living faitli, also to apprehend and 
 apply tliy crucified body and shed 
 blood unto my never-dying soul. 
 
 Grant that I may be encouraged by 
 thy agony and fear — that I may be 
 comforted by thy deadly conflict — that 
 I may be clothed by thy nakedness — 
 that I may be reprieved by means of 
 thy sentence unto death — that I maybe 
 purified from all my sins by thy blood 
 — that I may be healed by thy wounds 
 — and that I may be made alive by thy 
 death. Forbid it, O Lord, that I, (who 
 cost that precious blood, which flowed 
 so freely on Calvary,) should ever be 
 plucked out of thy hand, or that thy 
 blood should have been shed, and thy 
 sighs and lamentations vented in vain. 
 
 But grant, blessed Jesus, that thy 
 agony and bloody sweat and conflict, 
 thy voluntary surrender of thyself into 
 the hands of thine enemies, thy bands, 
 the accusation and sentence passed 
 upon Thee, the disrobing and scourg- 
 ing of Thee, the crowning of Thee with 
 a crown of thorns in token of mock 
 royalty, the smiting Thee upon the 
 cheek, the mockery and shame which 
 thou didst endure, together with thy 
 agony blood and death, on the ac- 
 cursed cross, may all be effectual to 
 my soul's salvation. 
 
 And O Thou dear Redeemer ! what 
 should I be ready and willing to suffer 
 
320 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 
 
 for Thee, in return for all that Thon 
 didst endure in body and soul, both in 
 the garden and on the cross for my sake, 
 when the united powers of earth and 
 hell bore down on Thee and the wrath 
 of almighty God drank up thy spirit ? 
 insomuch that all nature was con- 
 vulsed, and sympathized with Thee in 
 thy sufferings and death ? 
 
 © any liord and my God ! who hast 
 called me unto the knowledge of thy 
 divine truth ; nay by thy Holy Spirit, 
 and the nails with which Thou wast 
 nailed to the cross, hast ingrafted thy 
 love deep in my heart ; grant that in 
 future nothing may be able to separate 
 me from Thee, and thy love, neither 
 tribulation nor anguish, nor persecu- 
 tion ; neither height nor depth ; neither 
 the present nor that which is to come, 
 neither life nor death ; but that I may 
 be most firmly assured, that all these 
 things must work together for good to 
 me, and to all who love Thee in sin- 
 cerity and truth. 
 
 O Thou divine Saviour ! I could not 
 endure a thousandth part for Thee, of 
 that which Thou didst endure for me ; 
 I could not endure the lightest punish- 
 ment which my sins have merited; 
 much less that which would merit 
 eternal life. All the tribulations of the 
 present life, are not worthy to be com- 
 pared to the glory, which shall be re- 
 
EVENING DEVOTION* FOR THURSDAY. 321 
 
 vealed in me and all thy believing chil- 
 dren, in a coining world, for these are 
 temporal, whereas the other is eternal. 
 These are the common lot of the chil- 
 dren of Ood, in the school of discipline 
 of the travellers to Mount Zion — the me- 
 dicine of the soul — the seal of love and 
 excitement to devotion, a trial of the 
 faith — the exercise of my patience, a 
 proof of my steadfastness, and an un- 
 erring evidence of my assimulation 
 unto Thee. And am I chastised — it is 
 only that I may be judged of Thee, so 
 that I may not be finally condemned 
 with an ungodly world ; shall tribula- 
 tion, or bonds, or imprisonment, or 
 banishment into misery, nay even 
 death, be able to separate me from thy 
 love, O Lord ? O no !— I know, full well, 
 that without thy permission, they can- 
 not befal me — that thy mercy can sweet- 
 en them, and that they are set apart in 
 thy love, for the advancement of my 
 best interests ; nay, that they all tend, 
 much more, to bring me into commu- 
 nion with Thee, than to separate me 
 from thy love. 
 
 How should I, therefore, deny Thee, 
 who hast purchased me with so vast a 
 price ? Why should I grieve thy Holy 
 Spirit, who comforts me in all my suf- 
 ferings? How can I set a superficial 
 value upon thy blood, when it was the 
 infinite price paid down for my re- 
 
 21 
 
322 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 
 
 demption ? O how can I any more of* 
 fend Thee, blessed Saviour ! inasmuch 
 as Thou art my peace, and by thy blood, 
 hast reconciled me with thine offended 
 Father! Nay, how can I ever be for- 
 getful of Thee, who art ever, and in all 
 places so mindful of me ? Thou art my 
 €*uide in all my ways — Thou art my 
 Cfuardian when at home — my Interces- 
 sor and Advocate in prayer — my Com- 
 fort in tribulation — Thou openest thy 
 munificent hand and suppliest my table 
 with food — and commandest thy bene- 
 diction upon all the work of mine 
 hands. I would, therefore, O heavenly 
 Parent! commend unto thine unva- 
 ried goodness and kind protection, my 
 body, soul and spirit, through the en- 
 suing night, and cordially beseech 
 Thee, to spread over me the protecting 
 banners of thy love, so that I may en- 
 joy a comfortable repose, and awake 
 in the morning refreshed and invigo- 
 rated for the duties of the day, and 
 grant unto me, the guidance of thy 
 Holy Spirit, that in all I undertake or 
 do, whether asleep or awake, whether 
 labouring or enjoying rest, whether I 
 go up or down, I may do all under thy 
 gracious governance, in thy fear, and 
 to the praise and honour of thy most 
 holy name, for the alone sake of Jesus 
 Christ, my strength and my Redeemer, 
 in whose words I would again conclude 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 323 
 
 my prayer, by calling on Thee, as Our 
 Father, who art in heaven, &c. — Amen. 
 
 • Horning devotions for Friday. 
 
 HYMN 40. L. M.— Kimbolten. 
 
 1 TO God, the universal King, 
 
 I^et all mankind their tribute bring; 
 All that have breath, your voices 
 
 raise, 
 In songs of never-ceasing praise. 
 
 2 The spacious earth on which we 
 
 tread, [head, 
 
 And wider heav'ns streach'd o'er our 
 A large and solemn temple frame, 
 And celebrate its Builders fame. 
 
 3 Here the bright sun that rules the 
 
 day, [way; 
 
 As through the sky he makes his 
 To all the world proclaims aloud, 
 The boundless sovereignty of C*od. 
 
 4 When from his courts the sun retires, 
 And with the day his voice expires, 
 The moon and stars adopt the song, 
 And through the night his praise 
 
 prolong. 
 
 5 The listening earth with rapture 
 
 hears [spheres ; 
 
 Th' harmonious music of the 
 
324 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 
 
 And all her tribes the notes repeat, 
 That God is wise, and good, and 
 great. 
 
 6 Bat man, endow'd with nobler 
 pow'rs, 
 His God in nobler strains adores : 
 His is the gift to know the song, 
 As well as sing with tuneful tongue* 
 
 ''But it is good for me to draw near to 
 God: I hare put my trust in the JLord 
 God, that I may dectare all thy works." — 
 Fs. 73. 28. 
 
 O merciful God and heavenly Fa- 
 ther ! Creator of all things, and judge 
 of all mankind ! Thou great and ex- 
 alted God! I, thy unworthy servant, 
 (or hand-maid,) eonfess freely, and 
 with a broken heart, that I am a great 
 and grievous sinner ; alas ! I was not 
 only coneeived and born in sin, but 
 have also coneeived sin in my heart, 
 and brought it forth in my whole life, 
 as my daily work 5 so that if I were to 
 attempt to justify myself in thy sight 
 I should be covered with shame and 
 confusion of face, and anticipate thy 
 everlasting wrath and displeasure. 
 Inasmuch, however, as I learn from 
 thy holy word, that Thou art a merci- 
 ful and gracious God — long-suffering 
 and forgiving of iniquities, transgres- 
 sions and sins — that Thou wilt be found 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 325 
 
 merciful unto all who seek Thee in sin- 
 cerity, and call on Thee in humility of 
 soul, for mercy and forgiveness; and 
 that a full and perfect satisfaction has 
 been made unto all the demands of thy 
 justice, by the ignominious and excru- 
 ciating death of thy innocent Son 
 Jesus, our only Mediator and Saviour, 
 which he endured on this day of the 
 weeks I would therefore, approach 
 unto Thee with the most unwavering 
 confidence, and beseech Thee to for- 
 give me all my great, grievous and 
 manifold sins. Forgive me, O God, for 
 the sake of this thy Son, all the sin in 
 which I was conceived and born, and 
 those which I have committed against 
 thy will and commandments, during 
 my life until the present period of my 
 existence; for I would exercise im- 
 plicit faith in Thee, and sincerely de- 
 sire to amend my life and conduct. 
 Thou didst on this day, pay down the 
 ransom for my soul, so that neither 
 satan, death nor hell, nor damnation 
 have any claims upon me, nor shall 
 ever bring me into condemnation. 
 
 I thank Thee, also, O God, for all thy 
 great and incomprehensible benefits, 
 Thou hast bestowed upon me, both as 
 to body and soul, and especially, for 
 permitting sue to rest securely, as in the 
 arms of thy love, and under the shadow 
 of thy wings, and guardianship of thy 
 
326 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 
 
 holy angels, through the past night, 
 and hast permitted me to arise in 
 health and strength, to behold the 
 light of this morning. Teach me, O 
 Lord, from day to day, how to success- 
 fully withstand all my sinful propen- 
 sities, and to crucify the lusts of the 
 flesh. Assist me foy thy grace, to with- 
 stand the evil desires of the flesh, and to 
 offer all the faculties of my soul and 
 body, as instruments of righteousness, 
 that they may become holy, O God, as 
 Thou art holy. 
 
 O Almighty Creator and gracious 
 Redeemer of mankind ! I would lift 
 my hands and eyes to Thee, whose 
 hands, on this day, created me. I would 
 lift my heart up unto Thee, whose heart 
 was, on this day, pierced with the fatal 
 spear, for my sins; nay, I would lift 
 my body and soul to Thee, whose body 
 and soul, were lifted up upon the fatal 
 tree, as a perfect offering for the sins of 
 all who come unto God, by the merits 
 of thine atoning blood. O gracious 
 God, may those hands by which I was 
 created, be ever extended to my assist- 
 ance in all the trials and labours of this 
 wearisome pilgrimage on earth. May 
 those arms which were eiLtend.e^L on the 
 cross, be laid underneath and round 
 about me, so that I may be so united 
 with Thee, that nothing may ever be 
 able to separate me from thy love. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 327 
 
 © Thou faithful Creator, who didst 
 at first, create me out of nothing, pre- 
 serve me by thy grace, from rendering 
 myself worse than nothing. O Thou 
 gracious Redeemer, who didst save 
 that which was lost ; suffer not those 
 whom Thou hast redeemed to come 
 short of thy salvation. Although the 
 wiles of satan are great, yet Messed be 
 thy name, thy goodness and thy grace 
 are far greater — although my sins are 
 many and awful in thy sight, yet 
 where sins abound, thy grace much 
 more abounds. O forbid, that the work 
 of thy grace, should be interrupted, or 
 thine image, which Thou hast com- 
 menced engraving upon my heart, 
 should be ever, on account of my sins, 
 blotted out. Thou hast, O Lord, done 
 much good unto me — although I pos- 
 sessed, in creation, light, yet by my sins 
 have I turned this light into darkness ; 
 but thou hast again turned my dark- 
 ness into light — although Thou didst 
 create me free, yet I plunged myself 
 into slavery, but by thy word and Spirit, 
 Thou hast again set me at liberty — al- 
 though I was created happy, yet I 
 thrust myself into abject misery, but 
 Thou hast, hy thy suffering and death, 
 instated me in more than original 
 happiness ; yes, O Lord, my loss has, by 
 thy grace, become my unspeakable 
 gain, inasmuch as thou hast exalted 
 
328 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 
 
 me, by thy redemption, higher than I 
 was before my fall, as Thou hast re- 
 deemed me not only from death, but 
 unto an everlasting and unchangeable 
 inheritance, to a glorious crown of life 
 in thy kingdom, to pleasures and feli- 
 cities, which no eye hath seen, no ear 
 hath heard, and which have never en- 
 tered into the heart of man to conceive* 
 How can I, O l<ord, ever make suitable 
 returns of gratitude to thee, for thy 
 goodness unto me s most assuredly 
 should I keep those eyes pure, which 
 are to behold thy majesty; to conse- 
 crate my ears to thy praise, which are 
 to hear inexpressible things ; and to 
 preserve my heart from all sinful lusts 
 and inclinations, which is to enjoy 
 such pleasures as have never entered 
 into the heart of man. Grant O God, 
 that I may ever be mindful of these 
 duties, and that I may be ever will- 
 ing and ready to put them into fulfil- 
 ment* 
 
 O heavenly Parent! Thou art the 
 holy one in Israel, who didst create 
 me in righteousness and holiness 5 © 
 Jesus ! Thou Holy ILanth of God, who 
 hast redeemed me, that I may serve 
 Thee in holiness all the days of my 
 life 5 O Holy Spirit, Thou holy and 
 blessed Gift of the Most High, Thou 
 who hast sanctified and delivered me 
 from the slavery of sin, and hast call- 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 329 
 
 ed me to a participation of the inher- 
 itance of the saints in light, that I may 
 already be holy here, so that I may be 
 perfectly holy and happy in heaven 
 hereafter. O Thou Holy Trinity ! 
 sanctify me entirely, so that my whole 
 body, soul and spirit may be preserved 
 blameless, unto the day of perfect re- 
 demption. Faithful art Thou, O God, 
 who hast called me from darkness 
 unto light, O therefore, be pleased to 
 do for me, abundantly more and better 
 things than I am able to ask or am 
 worthy to receive, for Jesus 9 sake, to 
 whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, 
 be all honour and praise, both now 
 and forever. — Amen. 
 
 Evening devotions for Friday. 
 
 H YMN 41. C. M.— Arundel. 
 1. 
 
 YE that obey th' immortal King, 
 
 Attend his holy place % 
 Bow to the glories of his pow'r, 
 
 And bless his wondrous grace. 
 
 a. 
 
 "Lift up your hands by morning light, 
 And send your souls on high ; 
 
 Raise your admiring thoughts by night, 
 Above the starry sky. 
 
330 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 
 
 3. 
 
 The God of Zion cheers our hearts 
 With rays of quick'ning grace ; 
 
 The God that spread the heavens 
 abroad , 
 And rules the swelling* seas. 
 
 " Cause me to hear thy loving '-kindness 
 in the morning $ for in Thee do I trust •• 
 cause me to know the way wherein I 
 should walk $ for I lift my soul to Thee." 
 — Ps. 143, 8. 
 
 © merciful, gracious God, and ever 
 faithful Redeemer ! Thou who didst, 
 on this day, at first create and then re- 
 deem man — Thou didst at first blow 
 the breath of life into his nostrils, and 
 didst afterwards, for his sake, thyself 
 give up the ghost and die. Exhibit 
 thyself towards me as a faithful Crea- 
 tor, to provide for thine own work, 
 and as an Almighty Saviour, to pre- 
 serve that which Thou hast purchased 
 with thy blood. Permit not thy hatred 
 against sin, to extinguish thy love to- 
 wards me, thy creature, or my trans- 
 gressions to prevent the operations of 
 the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ, 
 upon my soul. 
 
 I readily acknowledge, O blessed 
 Jesus, that my sins have merited the 
 displeasure of thy heavenly Father, 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 331 
 
 but Thou hast inade an atonement for 
 me — my foolish and sinful lusts and 
 desires, migiit well have brought down 
 the severest ehastisement upon me, but 
 Thou hast permitted them to fall upon 
 Thee. I>eath would have been the just 
 wages of mine iniquities, but Thou 
 didst suffer this dreadful penalty in my 
 stead. 
 
 On this day, did my first father Adam, 
 beeome a living soul, but Thou O bless- 
 ed Saviour, didst as the seeond Adam, 
 give up the ghost. 
 
 On this day, Adam in the garden of 
 Paradise, violated the eommand of 
 God — and on this day, in another gar- 
 den, thy soul on this aeeount, was sor- 
 rowful, even unto death. On this day, 
 Adam reached forth his hand, and 
 partook of the forbidden fruit of the 
 tree of knowledge of good and evil ; 
 and on this day, wast Thou, for this 
 cause, lifted up upon the fatal tree of 
 the accursed cross. 
 
 On this day, Adasn fell into a deep 
 sleep — his side was opened, and Eve as 
 the companion of his bosom, was 
 created out of his rib, as flesh of his 
 flesh and bone of his bone ; and in like 
 manner, on this day did the sleep of 
 death fall upon Thee, O Jesus, thy side 
 was opened, whence proceeded thy be- 
 loved bride, the church which Thou 
 didst purchase with thy blood. 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY 
 
 On this day Adam brought upon hint- 
 self and his offspring, a tremendous 
 curse i and on this day, O beloved Je- 
 sus, didst Thou purchase for us, as 
 members of tliy body, an everlasting 
 benediction. Thou didst restore all, 
 and more than Adam lost. Alas ! how 
 sorely didst Thou suffer, for that which 
 he thoughtlessly passed over % for Thou 
 didst pay down the ransom for all his 
 and our sins and transgressions. 
 
 O JLord Jesus ! be pleased to grant me 
 the hand of faith, that I may receive a 
 sufficiency of this, thine infinite merit, 
 to satisfy for the enormous amount, 
 and to remove far from me the grievous 
 burden of my sins ; strengthen Thou 
 those hands of faith, that I may lift 
 them up to thy heavenly Father, and 
 receive from his hand a free and full 
 remission of all mine iniquities, signed 
 by thy blood, and ratified and confirm- 
 ed by thy cross, on which Thou didst, 
 ou^ this day, finish the work of our re- 
 demption. I believe, O Lord Jesus, do 
 Thou strengthen my faith ; for on this 
 condition, Thou hast promised me a 
 participation of thyself and all the 
 merits of thy blood ; if Thou hadst re- 
 quired even much more at our hands, 
 it would have been our bounden duty 
 to render it to Thee, in order to ran- 
 som our souls 5 how much more are 
 we, therefore, bound to render Thee 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. S33 
 
 unfeigned obedience, when Thou com- 
 manded ns to "believe and live:" to 
 cast our confidence entirely upon Thee, 
 and Thou wilt deliver us from all evil; 
 to lay hold of the ransom money that 
 Thou hast paid for us ; to cease to do 
 evil and learn to do well, and enjoy 
 peace with God, life and salvation, 
 nay, thyself, with all the treasures and 
 pleasures which are at thy right-hand 
 forevermore. 
 
 O Thou divine Saviour ! on this day 
 thy sufferings all terminated, and on 
 the evening of this day, were all thy 
 pains and miseries laid in the grave. 
 O grant that all my sufferings and 
 anxieties may now also end, and per- 
 mit me to enjoy a sweet and refreshing 
 repose, during the silent watches of the 
 present night. 
 
 Thou, O God, didst permit Adam, in 
 Paradise, to sink into a deep sleep, from 
 which Thou didst, in mercy, speedily 
 awake him, nay, Thou, O Lord, didst, 
 on this day, sink into the sleep of death 
 on the cross ; and didst rise again on the 
 third day, in a triumphant manner, 
 from the slumbers of the grave ; O per- 
 mit me, also, to sleep securely, as under 
 thy protection, and awaken on the 
 coming morning, refreshed and in- 
 vigorated, so a.s to engage in, and pro- 
 secute the duties of the day with cheer- 
 fulness. Strengthen then Thou my 
 
334 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 
 
 soul, with faith in thy resurrection, 
 and wake up my sleeping- dust, in the 
 last day, to everlasting life — to the en- 
 joyment of thy everlasting kingdom, 
 which Thou hast prepared for all who 
 cordially love and serve Thee. 
 
 O Thou God of Peace ! who hast 
 brought again from the dead, the 
 great Shepherd of thy sheep, by the 
 blood of the everlasting covenant! 
 Make me ready for every good word 
 and work, to accomplish thy will and 
 create within me whatever is pleasing 
 in thy sight, through Jesus Christ, to 
 whom, with Thee and the Spirit of all 
 grace, be all the praise, power, majes- 
 ty and glory forever and ever, — Amen. 
 
 Jfloming devotions for Saturday. 
 
 HYMN 42. L. M.— Russia. 
 
 1 GREAT God, indulge my humble 
 
 claim, 
 Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest; 
 The glories that compose thy name 
 Stand all engaged to make me blest. 
 
 2 Thou Great and Good, Thou Just 
 
 and Wise, 
 Thou art my Father and my God ; 
 And I am thine by sacred ties, 
 Thy son, thy servant, bought with 
 
 blood. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 335 
 
 3 With early feet I love V appear 
 Among- thy saints and seek thy face ; 
 Oft have I seen thy glory there, 
 And felt the pow'r of sovereign grace. 
 
 4 Not fruit nor wines that tempt our 
 
 taste, 
 Nov all the joys our senses know, . 
 Could make me so divinely blest, 
 Or raise my cheerful passion so* 
 
 5 My life itself without thy love 
 
 IVo taste of pleasure could afford ; 
 'T would but a tiresome burden prove, 
 If I were banish' d from the Lord. 
 
 6 Amidst the wakeful hours of night, 
 When busy cares afflict my head, 
 One thought of thee gives new delight, 
 And adds refreshment to my bed. 
 
 7 I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice, 
 While I h a ve breath to pray or praise ; 
 This work shall make my heart re- 
 joice, 
 
 And spend the remnant of my days. 
 
 " *1§ the heart panteth after the water 
 brooks, so panteth my sout after Thee, O 
 God* JfKy sout thirst eth for €wod $ when 
 shall I come and appear before God." 
 — Ps. 42. 1, 2. 
 
 O Thou holy God and compassionate 
 Father I how shall I repay all thy bene- 
 fits, bestowed upon me from my earliest 
 
336 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 
 
 infancy to the present period of my life I 
 How shall I render suitable thanksgiv- 
 ing for thy unmerited goodness exhi- 
 bited unto me, especially in permitting 
 me to rest securely under the banners 
 of thy love, during the past night, and 
 to arise to behold the light of this morn- 
 ing, in health and comfort? Thou per- 
 mittest me, O God, to number one week 
 of my existence, after another, until I 
 at my appointed time, shall arrive at 
 the rest which Thou hast appointed for 
 thy people, when I shall be permitted 
 to enter into thy everlasting kingdom. 
 Remit, O Holy Father, all my sins, with 
 which I have offended Thee — trans- 
 gressed thy commandments, wounded 
 my conscience, and injured my fellow 
 creatures, may I commence the duties 
 of this day, in the enjoyment of thy fa- 
 vour, and the aid of thy Holy Spirit, so 
 as to spend it in thy service. 
 
 O Thou omnipotent Creator of 
 heaven and earth ! who didst, on this 
 day, rest from all thy labours, and 
 blessed and hallowed it, permit me, 
 also, after this wearisome pilgrimage 
 shall have terminated, to enjoy a sweet 
 and uninterrupted rest with Thee in 
 heaven, where I shall enjoy an eternal 
 Sabbath — celebrate an unending jubi- 
 lee — sing an everlasting hallelujah — 
 wear an unfading crown — receive an 
 incorruptible inheritance — and enjoy 
 
MORN1KG DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 33? 
 
 a fullness of joy and pleasures with 
 Thee forevermore. 
 
 O Lord Buy CJod I niay this rest be ever 
 tlie object of my chief desires, the pearl 
 of great price, which £ long for, the 
 wished-for haven, towards which my 
 desires, hy the guidance of thy Spirit, 
 are directed. Draw off the desires of 
 my heart from ail vain and perishable 
 objects, and place them entirely upon 
 heaven and things divine % burst asuii« 
 der the bands, by which my affections 
 have heen. fettered to the sublunary 
 and fleeting objects of time and sense, 
 and unite them even unto Thee, in 
 righteousness and true holiness. Con- 
 tinue and increase in my soul, a deadly 
 hatred to all evil and poisonous fruits 
 of the flesh, and a sincere hunger for 
 the fruit of the Tree of Life, the grace of 
 thy Holy Spirit. Forbid that I should 
 seek rest, under the transitory shadow 
 of a withering gourd, like Jonah, but 
 may I seek my rest under the wide- 
 spread shadow of thy cross. Forbid 
 that I should, like tHe fteuhenites of 
 old, desire to take up my abode on this 
 side of Jordan; but grant unto me a 
 safe passage through the crimson flood, 
 which flowed from the sacred head, 
 hands, feet and side of thy dear Son my 
 Saviour, into the heavenly Canaan % 
 and, inasmuch as I cannot enter upon 
 immortality, but by the endurance of 
 
 22 
 
338 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 
 
 temporal death, O be pleased to smooth 
 my way down to the chambers of the 
 grave— banish from me all fear of 
 death, and may I realize, that his sting: 
 is taken away. Assure me, for this 
 purpose, that death shall not harm me ; 
 but that I shall, thereby, be delivered 
 from all crosses, anxieties, pain, sin 
 and death, and be introduced into un- 
 interrupted joy — inexpressible honour 
 and immortality, and the enjoyment of 
 such felicity, as eye hath not seen, ear 
 hath not heard and as has never en- 
 tered into the heart of man to conceive ; 
 that the vanities of this transitory 
 world shall no sooner fade away be- 
 fore mine eyes, than I shall be sur- 
 rounded with happiness and glory; 
 that instead of this frail tenement of 
 clay, in which I at present sojourn, I 
 shall enter into the City of God, whose 
 streets are paved with gold, whose 
 gates are set with pearls, and whose 
 walls are built with precious stones: 
 that instead of a few friends, which I 
 leave behind, these mine eyes shall be- 
 hold Thee, the omnipotent and glo- 
 rious God, in all thy majesty — Thee my 
 dear Redeemer in the refulgence of thy 
 glory — Thee, the Comforter of my soul, 
 the Holy Ghost in all thy holiness — the 
 holy angels and arch-angels in all their 
 splendour — all the redeemed from 
 among men, shining like the bright- 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. SS9 
 
 ness of the firmament, and like the 
 stars in the kingdom of heaven, in per- 
 fect felicity — where I shall no more suf- 
 fer hunger, or thirst, or labour, or toil, 
 or any pain or want — where I shall no 
 more need any speeial dwelling, inas- 
 much as the heaven of heavens will 
 constitute my everlasting dwelling- 
 place — nor any speeial temple, as God 
 himself shall be my temple— nor any 
 light, as the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, 
 will be my light. 
 
 O gracious God ! may the hope and 
 desire after this blessed rest, sweeten 
 all my labours and toils — lighten all 
 my crosses and tribulations, and de- 
 liver me from all my sorrows and af- 
 flictions. May my heart be, thereby, 
 strengthened so that I may never grow 
 ■weary in the discharge of the arduous 
 duties of my calling, or faint under 
 heavy crosses and temptations, but go 
 on joyfully, and persevere even unto 
 the end, until I at last arrive in the 
 possession of the much wished and 
 longed for land of promise — receive 
 from thy hand the allotment of my 
 blessed inheritance, and with all holy 
 angels and redeemed ones, praise, laud 
 and magnify thy holy name forever 
 and ever, through Jesus Christ my Sa- 
 viour and Redeemer. — Amen. 
 
340 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 
 
 Evening devotions for Saturday. 
 
 HYMN 43. 8's. & Vs.^-Bartimeous. 
 
 f Hot %m 
 
 1 COME Thou fount of every blessing, 
 Tune my heart to sing- thy grace ; 
 Streams of mercy never ceasing, 
 
 Call for songs of loudest praise i 
 Teach me some melodious sonnet, 
 Sung by flaming tongues above: 
 Praise the mount — I'm fixed upon it, 
 Mount of God- s unchanging love* 
 
 3 Here I'll raise my Ebenezer % 
 
 Hither by thy help I'm come ; 
 And I hope, hy thy good pleasure, 
 
 Safely to arrive at home. 
 Jesus sought me when a stranger, 
 
 Wand'ring from the fold of Gods 
 He, to save my soul from danger, 
 
 Interpos'd his precious blood. 
 
 3 O ! to grace, how great a debtor, 
 
 Daily I'm constrain'd to be ! 
 Let thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, 
 
 Bind my wandering heart to Thee t 
 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
 
 Prone to leave the God I love — 
 Here's my heart, O ! take and seal it I 
 
 Seal it from thy courts above. 
 
 M fa»n not worthy of the least of alt the 
 mercies, and of alt the truths, which 
 Thou hast shewed unto thy servant*" 
 —Gen. 33. lO. 
 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. S41 
 
 O eternal Ood ! Thou Lord of heaven 
 and earth ! I would with unfeigned 
 sincerity of soul, praise, adore and 
 magnify thy majesty, wisdom and om- 
 nipotence, for all the wonderful works. 
 Which Thou didst create in six days, as 
 also for the sanctified rest which Thou 
 didst enjoy on this day, by which Thou 
 hast assured use of a blessed and ever- 
 lasting rest in heaven. 
 
 OiLord! how can I ever make ade- 
 quate returns of gratitude and praise 
 for all thy goodness, which Thou hast 
 bestowed upon me, not only through 
 this day, which is just past and gone, 
 but also, through the past week and 
 all the periods of my past life ? From 
 my youth up, hast Thou led and guid- 
 ed me in infinite wisdom — Thou hast 
 governed me in the most fatherly man- 
 ner, and protected me by thine almigh- 
 ty power — Thou hast blessed me both 
 as to soul and body — defending me from 
 evil and danger, and delivering me 
 from trouble, and hast stretched out 
 thy paternal hand over me and mine, 
 through the past week, to our preser- 
 vation, and hast prospered the works 
 of our hands in such wise, that we 
 have not lacked any good. It is true 
 that sufficient for the day is the evil 
 thereof, and each week has its mea- 
 sure of cares and anxieties, but Thou, 
 O Lord, hast not onlv enabled me to 
 
342 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 
 
 overcome the evil, but also, to pass 
 through the trials and cares of the past 
 week, with comfort, and to arrive at 
 another seasonable rest, to invigorate 
 my wearied frame. Well may my 
 heart and tongue in joy exclaim : the 
 Lord hath done great things unto me, 
 whereof I am glad. 
 
 O gracious God! I know and ac- 
 knowledge that I have, alas ! in in- 
 numerable instances, offended Thee, 
 and excited thy just displeasure, 
 through the past week, insomuch that 
 it is matter of astonishment to me, 
 that Thou shouldest deal so gently 
 with me, But I am grieved on ac- 
 count of my transgressions. O that 
 I had never been guilty of one sin 
 against Thee, but had yielded a con- 
 stant and unreserved obedience to thy 
 will and commandments ! Forgive 
 me all my sins % and as thy beloved Son 
 Jesus Christ, on this day, laid in the 
 grave, but was not permitted to see 
 corruption x in like manner, O Lord, 
 bury all the sins which I have com- 
 mitted, not only through the past 
 week, but also, through all my past 
 life, in the grave of eternal oblivion. 
 O forgive me, for Jesus 9 sake, and re- 
 member me in much mercy, O God, so 
 that I may sink sweetly into the arms 
 of sleep, and arise on the coming 
 morning, refreshed and prepared for 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 343 
 
 thy service, for which thou hast crea- 
 ted me, and to which I am solemnly 
 bound by the work of redemption 
 through Jesus Christ* 
 
 And as my blessed Redeemer, after 
 his resurrection, never entered into the 
 grave again, even so, grant, O Lord, 
 that after Thou hast raised me out of 
 the grave of sin, I may not again 
 plunge into it ; but render my heart, 
 (which by nature is harder than the 
 rock out of which the sepulchre was 
 hewn, in which the body of my Sa- 
 viour was laid,) a worthy receptacle in 
 which this Saviour, not as dead, but 
 as living, may forever be retained. © 
 that I may enjoy the coming Sabbath 
 of rest in him ! for alone in him do I 
 find rest for my soul — real joy for my 
 heart, and complete satisfaction for all 
 the longing desires of my spirit. In 
 him is opened up, a living fountain, 
 in which there is a fulness of joy, and 
 at his right-hand there are pleasures 
 forevermore. 
 
 And as Thou, O kind and compas- 
 sionate Father! hast provided for me 
 through the past week, in like man- 
 ner, preserve me through the present 
 night, and send, for this purpose, the 
 holy angels that they may come in 
 unto me and tarry with me, as they did 
 with Lot, and that they may continu- 
 ally encamp round about me, and pro- 
 
344 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 
 
 tect me during the repose of the ensuing 
 night, so that I may arise on the com- 
 ing morning, with gladness of heart, 
 to enter upon the discharge of the du- 
 ties, and enjoyment of the precious 
 privileges of the day. And as I know 
 not, how soon the evening of my life 
 shall arrive, I beseech Thee, O L<ord, to 
 continue with me, when the evening 
 arrives, and forsake me not. With 
 Thee, © Messed Saviour, it was even- 
 ing, when Thou didst commend thy 
 Spirit into the hand of thy Father, on 
 the cross ; O have mercy then upon me, 
 an unworthy sinner, when the evening 
 of death shall set in with me, and sepa- 
 rate my soul and body. When I am no 
 longer to behold the light of this world, 
 be Thou iny present helper in this time 
 of greatest need, and preserve within 
 me the spark of faith, that it may not 
 be extinguished. And although all, 
 as to my dying body, may be turned 
 into darkness, O grant that the rays 
 of thy divine grace may continue to 
 shine into my soul, so that I may 
 fall sweetly asleep in Jesns, and en- 
 ter into thine everlasting kingdom, 
 there to spend an eternal Sabbath 
 of rest, free from all cares and anxie- 
 ties, and resting from all my labours, 
 whilst I am without intermission, en- 
 gaged in 'swelling praises and thanks- 
 givings unto Father, Son, and Holy 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 545 
 
 Ghost, as my Triune God in covenant. 
 — Allien* 
 
 H Y M N 44. C. M.— Bedford. 
 
 1 BEGONE, my worldly cares away, 
 
 Nor dare to tempt my sight ; 
 Let me begin the ensuing day, 
 Before I end this night. 
 
 2 Yes, let the work of pray'r and praise 
 
 Employ my heart and tongue ; 
 Begin, my soul 2 thy Sabbath days 
 Can never be too long. 
 
 3 liet the past mercies of the week 
 
 Excite a grateful frame ; 
 Nor let my tongue refuse to speak 
 Some good of Jesus' name. 
 
 4 On wings of expectation borne, 
 
 My hopes to heaven ascend ; 
 
 I long to welcome in the morn, 
 
 With thee the day to spend. 
 
 HYMN 45. C. U.—Barby. Plymouth 
 
 1 I LOVE to steal awhile away 
 From every cumbering care, 
 And spend the hours of setting day, 
 In humble, grateful prayer. 
 
 5 I love in solitude to shed 
 
 The penitential tear, 
 And all his promises to plead, 
 Where none but God can hear. 
 
346 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 
 
 3 I love to think on mercies past, 
 
 And future good implore, 
 And all my care and sorrows cast 
 On him whom I adore. 
 
 4 I love by faith to take a view 
 
 Of brighter scenes in heav'n ; 
 The prospect doth my strength renew 
 While here by .tempests driv'n. 
 
 5 Thus, when life's toilsome day is o'er, 
 
 May its departing ray 
 Be calm as this impressive hour, 
 And lead to endless day. 
 
 ---- 
 
PART II. 
 
 Supplication for grace rightly to hear 
 the word of God. 
 
 HYMN 45. C, M f — Clarendon. 
 
 1 FATHER of mercies, in thy word 
 
 Wliat endless glories shine ! 
 Forever be thy name adored 
 For these celestial lines. 
 
 2 Here, may the wretched sons of want 
 
 Exhaustless riches find ; 
 Riches above what earth can grant* 
 And lasting as the mind* 
 
 3 Here, the fair tree of knowledge 
 
 grows, 
 And yields a free repast ; 
 Sublimer sweets than nature knows 
 Invite the longing taste. 
 
 4 Here, springs of consolation rise 
 
 To cheer the fainting mind § 
 And thirsty souls receive supplies, 
 And sweet refreshment find. 
 
 5 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice 
 
 Spreads heavenly peace around, 
 And life, and everlasting joys 
 Attend the blissful sound. 
 
348 SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE RIGHTLY 
 
 6 Oh, may these heavenly pages be 
 
 My ever dear delight 5 
 And still new beauties may I see, 
 And still increasing light ! 
 
 7 Divine instructor, gracious Lord, 
 
 Be Thou forever near, 
 Teach me to love thy sacred word, 
 And view my Saviour there. 
 
 " Search the scriptures ,• for in them ye 
 think ye have eternal life / and they are 
 they which testify of me." — John 5. 39. 
 
 O ever blessed C*od and Father ! my 
 soul would rejoice, and my heart would 
 exult with gladness within me, when 
 I reflect on thy exuberant goodness to- 
 wards me, in permitting me to enjoy 
 thy word, through which I may learn 
 thy works and will to my comfort, in 
 all tribulations and adversities. But 
 especially would I thank Thee, that 
 while the precious volume of thy word, 
 is to multitudes who profess the Chris- 
 tian name, a sealed book, and they are 
 fed with the mere husks of the tradi- 
 tions of men, from which they can- 
 not derive the least true comfort or in- 
 structions, Thou hast granted me the 
 gracious privilege of reading and 
 contemplating these sacred oracles. 
 Grant, therefore, O Father ! that I may 
 ever make a due improvement of these 
 invaluable blessings, by attentively 
 
TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. S49 
 
 reading and inwardly digesting the 
 precious truths and doctrines contain- 
 ed in thy holy word. And, inasmuch 
 as I cannot, in consequence of my na- 
 tural depravity, read and understand 
 thy word without the blessed influences 
 of thy Holy Spirit, © be pleased to pour 
 out thy Spirit into my heart, to the en- 
 lightening of my mind, in order that I 
 may comprehend and understand it, 
 and incline Thou my will to exercise a 
 true faith and yield a cheerful and un- 
 wavering obedience to all thy will and 
 commandments. Forbid that thy word 
 should ever prove a dead letter, or be- 
 come a savour of death unto death to 
 me, but grant that it may be a savour 
 of life unto life, and a seed of regene- 
 ration. Crrant that this seed may take 
 deep root within me, and bring forth 
 much fruit unto everlasting life ; that 
 I may be thereby constrained to make 
 progress in the amendment of my whole 
 life — be greatly consoled and borne up 
 in all trials and temptations — be 
 strengthened in faith and patience, 
 and confirmed in all manner of good 
 works, and thus be edified unto life 
 eternal. May it not only sound in my 
 ears, but also penetrate my heart, so 
 that I may continue faithful in the 
 confession of the truth unto the end, 
 and finally receive the end of my faith, 
 even the salvation of my soul, through 
 
350 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR GOD'S 
 
 Jesus Christ my Mediator and Redeem- 
 er. — Allien* 
 
 Instructions how to hear Crod-s holy word 
 with profit. 
 
 HYMN 46. 87877 7 Treasure, 
 
 1 PRECIOUS Bible I what a treasure 
 
 Does the word of God afford ! 
 All I want for life or pleasure, 
 
 Food and med'cine, shield and 
 sword. 
 JLet the world aeeount me poor, 
 Having this, I want no more. 
 
 2 Food to which the world's a stranger, 
 
 Here my hungry soul enjoys ? 
 Of excess there is no danger, 
 
 Though it fills, it never eloys : 
 On a dying Christ I feed, 
 He is meat and drink indeed ! 
 
 3 When my faith is faint and sickly, 
 
 Or when Satan wounds my mind, 
 Cordials to revive me quickly, 
 
 Healing med'cine here I find ; 
 To the promises I flee, 
 Each affords a remedy. 
 
 4 In the hour of dark temptation 
 
 Satan cannot make me yield ; 
 For the word of consolation 
 
 Is to me a mighty shield : 
 "While the scripture truths are sure 
 From his malice I'm secure. 
 
HOLY WORD WITH PROFIT. 351 
 
 5 Vain his threats to overcome me, 
 
 When I take the Spirit's sword : 
 Then with ease I drive him front me 9 
 
 Satan trembles at the word : 
 'Tis a sword for conquest made, 
 Keen the edge, and strong the blade* 
 
 6 Shall I envy then the miser 9 
 
 Doting on his golden store ? 
 Sure I am, or should be wiser, 
 
 I am rich, 'tis he is poor. 
 Jesus gives me, in his word, [sword* 
 food and med'cine, shield and 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
 "JBtessed are they that hear the word of 
 God, and keep 'it? 9 — I. like 4. £2. 
 
 The humble and pious Christian who 
 would desire to hear the word of God 
 with profit, must: 
 
 In the first place, enter into a suit- 
 able preparation for it, so that he may 
 set under the preaching of the gospel 
 with a holy reverence, and a sincere 
 spiritual hunger for this manna from 
 heaven, as the only true nourishment 
 of his soul. Hence says the preacher 
 Solomon, "Keep thy foot when thou 
 goest to the house of God, and be ready 
 to hear." — Eccl. 5. 1. Now we remark: 
 
 1. That the church is the house of 
 God, in which he displays his gracious 
 presence among his people, according 
 
852 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR GOD*S 
 
 to the promise: "Where two or three 
 are gathered together in my name, 
 there I will be in the mid§t of them" 
 to bless them. "We may therefore, with 
 propriety say of sueh assemblies what 
 the patriareh J acoh said of Bethel : 
 " Surely the ILord is in this place, and 
 I knew it not," and again, " This is 
 none other but the house of God, and 
 this is the gate of heaven." — Gen. 28. 
 16^ 17. Hence the indispensible neces- 
 sity of appearing on all such occasions 
 in the presence of Jehovah, with the 
 profoundest reverence. When Moses 
 was about approaching unto the burn- 
 ing bush, the ILord said unto him : 
 "Draw not nigh hither; put off thy 
 shoes from off thy feet, for the place 
 whereon thou standest is holy ground." 
 — Ex. 3. 5. In like manner must we 
 put off our shoes, viz s all sinful, un- 
 seemly, earthly thoughts and cares, 
 when we go up into the house of God, 
 to wait upon him according to his will 
 and ordinances. 
 
 And as food is only truly nourishing 
 to us, when we receive it with a good 
 appetite ; even so must the preaching 
 of God's holy word, be received as 
 spiritual food for the soul, with a sin- 
 cere and longing desire to be thereby 
 nourished and strengthened, and be 
 built up unto eternal salvation. Hence 
 says the apostle Peter : " Desire the sin- 
 
HOLY WORD WITH PROFIT. $53 
 
 cere milk of the word, that ye may 
 grow thereby." — 1 Pet. 2. 2. 
 
 It follows, therefore, as a matter of 
 course, that we must direct our serious 
 and undivided attention to the preach- 
 ed word, after the example of those 
 who heard the preaching of our Sa- 
 viour himself, of whom it is said s 
 " The eyes of all them that were in the 
 synagogue were fastened on him*"— * 
 Luke 4. 2©. 
 
 2. If we would hear the preaching 
 of God's holy word, with benefit to our 
 immortal soul, we must ever bear in 
 mind, that it is our bounden duty to 
 receive it not as the word of man, but 
 the "word of God. For, although it be 
 preached by man, yet it was not either 
 conceived or invented by man, but holy 
 men spake and wrote as they were in* 
 spired by the Holy Ghost ; and hence 
 every true minister of the gospel is an 
 ambassador of the ]Lord Jestis Christ. 
 Hence says the apostle Paul : " We 
 have this treasure in earthen vessels, 
 that the excellency of the power may 
 be of God, and not of us. 59 — 2 Cor. 4. 7- 
 And the blessed Redeemer himself de- 
 clares in relation to all his minister- 
 ing servants: "He that heareth you, 
 heareth me." — liiike 10. 16. And we 
 have a most interesting and strik- 
 ing exemplification of the manner in 
 which we must hear and receive the 
 
 23 
 
354 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR GOD J S 
 
 messages of God's word, in the re- 
 markable ease of young Samuel, as 
 left on record, 1 Saw. 3. lO; where we 
 are informed that when God was 
 about revealing himself to him, he 
 called the second time unto him in the 
 night, saying : Samuel ! Samuel ! He 
 however imagined that it was the voice 
 of a mere man — the voice of Eli the 
 priest, and while this was the case, God 
 gave him no further information on the 
 subject, but as soon as Samuel realized 
 that it was the voice of God, he imme- 
 diately exclaimed : "Speak I^ord for 
 thy servant heareth;" and it was then 
 that God made a revelation of himself 
 to him. Even so will the preaching of 
 God's word remain barren and un- 
 fruitful in us, while we receive it not as 
 the word of God, but as the word of 
 man. Faith thus implanted in us, will 
 only be a temporal and not a divine 
 and living faith. Wow, in order to sal- 
 vation, it is necessary that we exercise 
 a divine faith, that is, such a faith 
 which relies implicitly on the testimo- 
 nies of God. 
 
 3. In the next place we remark, that 
 profound and undivided attention to 
 the preaching of the gospel, is indis- 
 pensably necessary, inasmuch as the 
 doctrines of our salvation are hereby 
 exhibited unto us — doctrines, into 
 which the angels desire to look and 
 
HOLY WORD WITH PROFIT. 355 
 
 delight to hear. And hence, if we 
 would derive profit from the preached 
 word, we must receive it in the exer- 
 cise of a true and living faith. What 
 was the great reason, why the great 
 mass of the Israelites, who came up 
 out of Egypt, fell in the wilderness and 
 finally perished ? Why the apostle 
 Paul informs us in the fourth chapter 
 of his epistle to the Hebrews, in explicit 
 terms, that it was their unbelief. Hence 
 arises the necessity i>£ our applying all 
 the doctrines, admonitions, reproofs 
 and consolations, held forth to us in the 
 public exhibitions of God's word, as 
 directly to ourselves, as if there were 
 no other individual present, or as if the 
 ambassador of Christ addressed him- 
 self to us individually, and in accord- 
 ance with what the apostle has ex- 
 pressly stated to us on this subject, 
 when he says : " For whatsoever things 
 were written afore-time, were written 
 for our learning, that we through pa- 
 tience, and comfort of the scriptures 
 might have hope." — Rom. 15.4. And as 
 the best nourishment will prove utterly 
 unavailing to a man, unless he par- 
 takes of it ; so in like manner, the best 
 and most effectual sermon cannot pro- 
 fit us, unless we receive and apply this 
 word to our own souls. And we, there- 
 fore, remark again, that this cordial 
 reception of the preached gospel, must 
 
256 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR, &C. 
 
 be connected with a practical perform* 
 ance of that which we hear, as we are 
 informed was the case with Cornelius 
 and his household, when he replied to 
 the apostle Peter : " Now therefore are 
 we all here present before God, to hear 
 all thing's, that are commanded thee of 
 God.' 9 — Acts lO. 33. And for which the 
 Psalmist prays, when he exclaims t 
 " Teach me, © Lord, the way of thy 
 statutes; and I shall keep it unto the 
 end.' 9 — Ps. 119. 33. 
 
 Finally, to a profitable hearing: of a 
 preached g-ospel, if we desire that it 
 should make a suitable impression 
 upon our souls, we must treasure up 
 that which we hear, in our hearts, so 
 as often and seriously to reflect, and 
 converse with the members of our fa- 
 milies often on it; hence says the Sa- 
 viour : " Blessed are they that hear the 
 word of God and keep it." — JLuke 11. 
 28 ; and in a word, we must be careful 
 to regulate our "whole faith, life and 
 conduct according to the precious doc- 
 trines and ordinances of the gospel; 
 therefore saith the lord s "Hear, O 
 Israel, the statutes and judgments 
 which I speak in your ear this day, 
 that ye keep and do them." — I>eut. 5* 
 1 ; and the blessed Redeemer : " If ye 
 know these things, happy are ye if ye 
 do them. 99 — John 13. 17. 
 
SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE, &C. 357 
 
 Supplication for grace, rightly to hear 
 and improve the word of God* 
 
 HYMN 48. 7. 6.—- Supplication. 
 
 1 FATHER of our dying i.ord, 
 
 Remember us for good ; 
 O fulfil his faithful word, 
 
 And hear his speaking blood ! 
 Give us that for which he prays ; 
 
 Father, glorify thy Son s 
 Show his truth, and power and grace, 
 
 And send the promise down. 
 
 2 True and faithful Witness Thou, 
 
 © Christ, thy Spirit give ! 
 Hast Thou not received him now, 
 
 That we might siow receive ? 
 Art Thou not our living head ? 
 
 Life to all thy limbs impart. 
 Shed thy love, thy Spirit shed, 
 
 In every waiting heart. 
 
 3 Holy Ghost, the Comforter, 
 
 The gift of Jesus, come ; 
 Glows our heart to find Thee near, 
 
 And swells to make Thee room ; 
 Present with us Thee we feel, 
 
 Come, O come, and in us be ! 
 With us, in us, live and dwell 
 
 To all eternity. 
 
 "Mow sweet are thy words unto my 
 taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my 
 mouth." " Thy word is a lamp unto my 
 feet, and a light unto my path." — Ps. 
 119.103,105. 
 
358 SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE, TO HEAR 
 
 O eternal Ood and gracious Fatlier 
 in Christ Jesus ! Thou hast said in thy 
 word if any man lack wisdom let him 
 ask it of Thee, with the promise that 
 all which we ask of Thee, in the name 
 of thy beloved Son, Thou wilt grant 
 unto us. Relying, therefore, on this 
 promise, I would prostrate my self in the 
 profoundest humility before Thee, and 
 confess that I am unworthy to hear thy 
 holy word, as I have, alas! in times 
 and ways without number, transgress- 
 ed against it, and lived in opposition to 
 its holy precepts s and I, therefore, of 
 myself am incapable to hear thy word 
 in a profitable manner, as my mind is 
 spiritually blind and ignorant, and my 
 affections and desires are averse to all 
 that is spiritually good. I am ignorant 
 in hearing, drowsy in stttenAin§; 9 and 
 forgetful as to retaining thy word; I 
 therefore beseech Thee, O heavenly 
 Parent I to not only in mercy, permit 
 sue to hear thy word, hu.t also to grant 
 me grace, that I may hear thy word to 
 ihe editlcation and salvation of my 
 soul. Make me, €> Father, like unto a 
 new born ^b^he^ desiring the pure milk 
 of thy soul sanctifying word. May it 
 ever prove sweeter to me than honey, 
 and the honey-comb ; open Thou my 
 heart, as Thou didst that of ILydia, so 
 that I may attentively hearken unto 
 thy messages, which I receive. Anoint 
 
AND IMPROVE THE WORD OF GOD. 359 
 
 mine eyes with the influences of thy 
 Holy Spirit, that the scales of igno- 
 rance and unbelief may fall off, and I 
 may behold wonders out of thy law* 
 Sanish from mine eyes all unseason- 
 able sleep, from mine ears all supine- 
 ness and indifference, and eradicate 
 out of my body and soul, ail which 
 would prove detrimental to the hear- 
 ing, receiving and preserving of thy 
 word and will* 
 
 Cfrant unto thy ministering servant 
 grace, rightly to understand the mys- 
 teries of thy gospel, and to open his 
 mouth with boldness, in declaring the 
 whole counsel of CSod, and to apply it 
 with power to all those who hear. May 
 his words be clothed with divine power 
 from on high, so that they may rouse 
 my conscience, and that all imj sinful 
 affections and desires may be entirely 
 eradicated. And grant thai; 1 may 
 hear and receive the preached word, 
 not as the word of man, hut (as it is in- 
 deed and truth) thine own word — that 
 I may not only rejoice in its blessed 
 consolations, but also, readily submit 
 to its faitfui rebukes and warnings* 
 May I not take offence at thy servant, 
 the preacher when he, in fMe discharge 
 of his duty, corrects me; Izivt may I 
 continue to love him more for his 
 fidelity, in endeavouring to promote 
 my eternal welfare, as one who has, 
 
S60 SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE, &C. 
 
 in due time, to give an account for my 
 soul. 
 
 And as I ain by nature, prone to for- 
 getfulness, and satan is ever on the 
 alert, to remove the impressions made 
 by thy word on my heart, O be pleased 
 to ingraft it deeply in my soul, so that 
 I may never forget it, but preserve and 
 practice it to my soul's salvation. And 
 as the knowledge of the truth, is of the 
 greatest injury to us, when we neglect 
 carrying out this knowledge in a prac- 
 tical and holy obedience, I beseech 
 Thee to bestow upon me the gracious 
 dews of thy Holy Spirit, that I may 
 thereby, be made abundantly fruitful 
 in holy desires — that my mind may 
 abound in heavenly contemplations — 
 my tongue dwell on the wonders of 
 thy love — my hands be diligent in all 
 good works, and may I thus continu- 
 ally exhibit myself as a faithful doer 
 of thy word, in the discharge of all 
 Christian duties, to the honour of thy 
 holy name, and to the salvation of my 
 soul in the day of the ILord Jesus Christ, 
 to whom, with Thee and the Holy Spi- 
 rit, be all the glory forever and ever. 
 — Amen. 
 
 
A PRAYER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &C. S61 
 
 •df Prayer of an humhle believer, under 
 dejection of spirit, in consequence of 
 not being able to hear the word of God 
 with that attention and interest which 
 he desires. 
 
 HYMN 49. C. M.— Irish. 
 
 1 My soul lies clearing to the dust ; 
 Lord give me life divine ; 
 Front vain desires and ev'ry lust, 
 Turn off these eyes of mine. 
 
 3 I need th' influence of thy grace 
 To speed me in my way, 
 Lest I should loiter in my race, 
 Or turn my feet astray. 
 
 3 When sore afflictions press me down? 
 
 I need thy quickening pow'rs ; 
 Thy word that I have rested on, 
 Shall help my heaviest hours. 
 
 4 Are not thy mercies sovereign still, 
 
 And Thou a faithful God ? 
 "Wilt Thou not grant me warmer sgeal- 
 
 To run the heav'nly road ? 
 
 5 Does not my heart thy precepts love, 
 
 And long to see thy face ? 
 And yet how slow my spirits move, 
 Without enlivening grace ! 
 
 6 Then shall I love thy gospel more, 
 
 And ne'er forget thy word ? 
 When I have felt its quick'ning po w'r, 
 To draw me near the Lord. 
 
362 A PRAYER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &C. 
 
 " Open Thou mine eyes, O God, that I 
 may behold wonderous things out of thy 
 Maw."— Ps.ll». 18. 
 
 O most merciful and gracious God ! 
 What great reason have I to be grate- 
 ful towards Thee, for calling me to a 
 participation of the blessed privileges 
 enjoyed in thy church, in which Thou 
 permittest me, from time to time, to 
 hear thy word preached and expound- 
 ed, and encouraged to yield obedience 
 to thy will, and to work out my soul's 
 salvation, whilst Thou permittest the 
 great majority of mankind to live 
 and die in ignorance and superstition. 
 O that I may make a diligent use and 
 improvement of these means and or- 
 dinances of grace I Mwt I am, alas I 
 too negligent, in observing and re- 
 alizing these precious prerogatives, 
 which Thou art affording me, above 
 so many of my fellow creatures. I 
 realize indeed, that I am permitted 
 to appear in the assemby of thy saints, 
 where thy voice of love and mercy is 
 proclaimed unto me ; hut I am, alas ! 
 too often no better than a mere statue 
 of wood or stone, which has ears, hwtt 
 hears not ; for, although thy servants 
 preach thy word with zeal and ener- 
 gy, I am inclined to sleep, or if I ever 
 feel wakeful, my mind is too often 
 filled with vain, foolish and sinful 
 
A PRATER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &C. 363 
 
 thoughts; and although I resolve to 
 hearken to thy word; yet, I experi- 
 ence little benefit to my soul ; my mind 
 is indeed somewhat enlightened, but 
 my heart is not much softened or im- 
 proved. I am acquainted "with the 
 doctrines and instructions of thy 
 word ; but I do not increase in a sav- 
 ing knowledge and faith in Jesus 
 Christ. I believe thine encouraging 
 promises, but alas ! I am not thereby 
 induced to love and serve Thee with 
 all my heart; thy threatnings pene- 
 trate mine ears, but I am not induced 
 from a fear of incurring thy displeas- 
 ure, to depart entirely from all iniqui- 
 ties, and to amend my life; and al- 
 though I conceive a good resolution to 
 change my course of life and conduct, 
 yet, alas! it endures but for a short 
 time, being like unto a transient fiaine 
 of fire, which emits no heat, but soon 
 expires ; I have scarcely passed out of 
 the door of thy house, until I have for- 
 gotten what I have hesued^ and am like 
 unto a riddle drawn up out of the wa- 
 ter, which contains scarcely a drop of 
 water, and return again, alas ! to of- 
 fend Thee with my sins and transgres- 
 sions. Satan, thine and my sworn 
 enemy, moreover, is not idle, but is 
 ever ready to persuade me, that the 
 hearing of thy word will not tend to 
 my salvation, but rather bring upo*> 
 
364 A PRAYER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &G« 
 
 me an aggravated condemnation, as I, 
 as a servant, (or band-maid) who know 
 his (her) master's will, but do it not, 
 shall be beaten with many stripes* 
 Now, O God and Father of all mercy 
 and grace I I confess all these things, 
 with grief and sorrow of soul, and re- 
 pent it in dust and ashes before Thee, 
 and beg of Thee most fervently gra- 
 ciously to forgive all these grievous 
 sins. O enlighten, gracious Ood, the 
 eyes of mine understanding, so that I 
 may conceive and comprehend the 
 mysteries of thy kingdom. Incline 
 Thou my will to yield a cheerful and 
 unreserved obedience unto Thee. Awa- 
 ken within me a pure and holy flame 
 of devotion to hear thy word, and 
 strengthen my weak memory, to trea- 
 sure it up in a pure heart. Grant that 
 I may ever keep thy word before mine 
 eyes, and make it the man of my coun- 
 sel, and the rule of my faith, life and 
 actions, that I may apply the threaten- 
 ings contained in it to the amendment 
 of my whole life, that I may apply its 
 holy admonitions, so as to urge me on 
 in perfecting holiness in the fear of the 
 Lord, and may it ever be my ardent de- 
 sire to become more and more assimi- 
 lated to Jesus, the pattern of all moral 
 perfection, until I at length, attain the 
 full measure of the stature of Christ 
 Jesus, and am at last introduced into 
 
a: prayer after hearing a gospel sermon. 3(?5 
 
 that glory and felicity, in which I 
 shall no more need any intermediate 
 means, to know Thee or learn thy will, 
 bat where the Lamb of God himself, 
 shall lead and guide me in all knowl- 
 edge, amidst the green pastures and 
 ever-flowing' treasures of love divine, 
 which issue from the throne of God ! 
 And now to Thee, the King Immortal, 
 Invisible and only wise God, Father, 
 Son and Holy Ghost, be ascribed all 
 the praises, power, dominion and 
 glory forevermore* — Amen. 
 
 *1 prayer after hearing a gospel sermon* 
 
 HYMN 50. 7's & 6's.— Who's like Jesus. 
 
 1 JESUS Thou hast bid us pray, 
 
 And never, never faint ; 
 "With the word a power convey, 
 
 To utter our complaint ! 
 Quiet shalt thou never know, 
 
 Till we from sin are freed : 
 O, avenge us of our foe, 
 
 And bruise the serpent's head ! 
 
 2 We have now begun to cry, 
 
 And we will never end, 
 Till we And salvation nigh, 
 
 And grasp the sinner's Friend : 
 I>ay and night we'll speak our wo, 
 
 Importunately plead ; 
 O, avenge us of our foe, 
 
 And bruise the serpent's head. 
 
366 A PRAYER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 
 
 3 Speak the word, and ire shall be 
 
 From all our bands released ; 
 Only Thou canst set us free. 
 
 By satan long oppress- d i 
 Now thy power almighty show. 
 
 Arise, Thou conquering Seed ! 
 O, avenge us of our foe, 
 
 And bruise the serpent's head ! 
 
 4 To destroy his work of sin, 
 
 Thyself in us reveal ; 
 Manifest thyself within 
 
 Our flesh, and fully dwell i 
 Enter with us here below, 
 
 And make us free indeed s 
 O, avenge us of our foe, 
 
 And bruise the serpent's head ! 
 
 5 Stronger than the strong man Thou, 
 
 His fury eanst control : 
 Cast him out, by entering now, 
 
 And keep our ransom'd soul. 
 Satan's kingdom overthrow, 
 
 On powers of darkness tread; 
 ©, avenge us of our foe, 
 
 And bruise the serpent's head ! 
 
 © To the never-ceasing cries 
 
 Of thine elect, attend ; 
 Send deliverance from the skies, 
 
 Thy mighty Spirit send 5 
 Though to man Thou seemest slow, 
 
 And not our cries to heed s 
 O, avenge us of our foe, 
 
 And bruise the serpent's head I 
 
A. PRAYER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 867 
 
 7 Come, O Come, all glorious Lord I 
 
 Wo longer now delay, 
 With the Spirit's tiro-edged sword. 
 
 The erooked serpent slay ! 
 Bare thine arni, and give the Mow, 
 
 Root out the hellish seed : 
 O, avenge us of our foe, 
 
 And bruise the serpent's head ! 
 
 8 Jesus, hear thy Spirit's call, 
 
 Thy Bride, who bids Thee come: 
 Come, Thou righteous Judge of all, 
 
 Pronounce the tempter's doom : 
 Doom him to eternal wo, 
 
 For all his angels made ; 
 IVow avenge us of our foe, 
 
 Forever bruise his head ! 
 
 " Wherefore receive with meekness the 
 ingrafted word, which is able to save your 
 souls / and he ye doers of the word, and 
 not hearers only, deceiving your own* 
 selves." — James I. 21, 22. 
 
 O most merciful Ood and Father in 
 heaven 2 I would present unto Thee, 
 in deepest humility of soul, the fruits 
 of heart and tongue, even the warmest 
 gratitude and praise, for all the bless- 
 ings Thou hast bestowed upon me, as 
 well for the body, as more especially 
 for the light of thy truth, which Thou 
 hast presented to me so plainly and 
 pointedly in the preaching of thy word, 
 by which Thou makest known thy 
 
368 A PRAYER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 
 
 mind and will in relation to my duties 
 towards Thee, and to work out my soul's 
 salvation, in Christ Jesus. O I^ord ! 
 awaken me to a true and living know- 
 ledge of this exceeding grace and com- 
 passion towards me, notwithstanding 
 I have often neglected paying that at- 
 tention to thy word, which is necessary 
 to enable it to bring forth fruit, and by 
 which I have richly deserved to be 
 given over to a reprobate sense, so as 
 to cause thy word to prove a savour of 
 death unto me, but still Thou hast per- 
 mitted me once more to hear thy mind 
 and will proclaimed unto me, in a 
 preached gospel. Grant me, blessed 
 Ood, a broken and penitent heart, to 
 weep over my inattention and base 
 ingratitude towards Thee. Way, be 
 pleased to water the seed which has 
 just been sowed into mine heart, with 
 the early and latter rains of thy grace, 
 that it may take deep root, spring up, 
 and bring forth much fruit meet unto 
 repentance and salvation. May my 
 darkened understanding be thereby 
 enlightened — my stubborn will be bow- 
 ed into obedience of faith — my troubled 
 heart be comforted — my weak faith, 
 love, hope and patience all be strength- 
 ened, and my sinful life be amended, 
 and I be enabled to make continual 
 progress in the narrow way which 
 leads unto everlasting life. Strengthen* 
 
A PRATER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 869 
 
 O Lord, for this purpose, my memory, 
 so that I may be enabled to retain the 
 preeious truths which I hear, to sincere* 
 ly love them, and continually meditate 
 awk Thee, and earnestly resolve to live 
 according to all thy commandments, 
 and thus work out my soul's salvation 
 with fear and trembling, so that I may 
 not belong to the number of those who 
 have the form of godliness, but deny its 
 power, or those who hear much, but do 
 little, and thereby treasure up unto 
 themselves the wrath of God against 
 the day of wrath, and the revelation of 
 the righteous judgment of God. 
 
 But O may I be like a tree planted 
 by the water course, which brings its 
 fruit in due season, and whose leaves 
 do not wither — that I may not bring 
 fruit of the flesh but of the Spirit — such 
 as love, peace, joy, patience, friendship, 
 benevolence, faith, meekness and vir- 
 tue. 
 
 But, O Lord, as Thou knowest full 
 well, that in consequence of my flesh 
 lusting against the Spirit, and the law 
 in my members warring against the 
 law in my mind, it is with great diffi- 
 culty that I accomplish any good, nay, 
 that I often grow weary in well-doing 
 — that I am moreover scoffed at by the 
 people of the world, and that satan 
 goes about continually, as a roaring 
 lion, seeking how he may render my 
 
 24. 
 
370 SACRAMENTS OP THE CHURCH OF €KM>„ 
 
 progress in the way to heaven difficult.. 
 © CJod ! I entreat Thee to replenish my 
 soul with grace and power from on 
 high, to remain steadfast in the fulfil- 
 ment of my good resolution, and in- 
 crease in the knowledge and grace of 
 -my JLord and Saviour J" esus Christ, and 
 to remain faithful unto the end, so that 
 I may at last, through the riches of thy 
 free grace, receive the end of my faith* 
 even the eternal salvation of my never- 
 dying soul I — Amen. 
 
 SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD. 
 
 HYMN 51. C. M.— Whiting. 
 
 1 MY Saviour Ci-od, my Sovereign 
 
 Prince, 
 Reigns far above the shies ; 
 Rut brings his graces down to sense, 
 And helps my faith to rise. 
 
 2 My eyes and ears shall Mess his name : 
 
 They read and hear his word ; 
 My touch and taste shall do the same, 
 When they receive the ILord. 
 
 3 Raptismal water is designed 
 
 To seal his cleansing grace % 
 While at his feast of bread and win© 
 He gives his saints a place ; 
 
INSTRUCTIONS. 371 
 
 4 Bat not the waters of a flood 
 
 Can make my flesh so clean ; 
 As by his Spirit and his blood 
 He'll wash my soul front sin. 
 
 5 Not choicest meats, nor noblest wines, 
 
 So much my heart refresh % 
 As when my faith goes thro 9 the sign's, 
 And feeds upon his flesh. 
 
 6 I love the Lord, that stoops so low, 
 
 To give his word a seal : 
 But the rich grace his hands bestow, 
 Exceeds the figures still. 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
 As to the nature and objects of the 
 Sacraments of the Christian Church, 
 we remark, that our gracious €*od, on 
 account of our weakness and infirmi- 
 ties, hath ordained the sacraments for 
 ns, thereby to seal unto us his promises, 
 and to be pledges <o>£ the good- will and 
 grace of €fod toward us, and also to 
 nourish and strengthen our faith % 
 which he hath joined to the word of 
 the gospel, the better to present ta our 
 senses, both that, which he signifies to 
 us by his word, and that which he 
 works inwardly in our hearts, thereby 
 assuring and confirming in us, the sal- 
 vation which he imparts to us. For 
 they are visible signs and seals of an 
 inward and invisible thing, by means 
 whereof, God worketh in us by the 
 
372 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 
 
 power of the Holy Ohost. Therefore, 
 the signs are not in Tain or insignifi- 
 cant, so as to deceive us. For Jesns 
 Christ is the true object presented by 
 them, without whom they would be ot 
 no moment. Moreover, we are satisfied 
 with the number of sacraments which 
 Christ our Lord hath instituted, which 
 are two only, namely, the sacrament 
 of baptism, and the holy supper of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 The Sacrament of Baptism. 
 
 HYMN 52. C. M.— Cambridge. 
 
 1 THE sacraments are holy signs 
 
 And precious gospel seals ; 
 They exhibit what the Lord designs. 
 And what his word reveals. 
 
 2 But these are not themselves the grace, 
 
 Which signs and seals set forth ; 
 The supper's not the sacrifice, 
 Hfor water the new birth. 
 
 3 The sacraments were never meant 
 
 A substitute for grace ; 
 They're not the truths they represent, 
 Nov must they take their place. 
 
 4 Sinners may publicly profess, 
 
 And signs and seals receive, 
 
 Of what they never did possess, 
 
 Or what they don't believe. 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM, 373 
 
 5 Man may baptize, but 'tis the liord 
 Regenerates the heart ; 
 None but the Spirit, by his word. 
 That blessing ean impart. 
 
 S Preserve us, Lord, from self-deceit, 
 From resting on a sign ; 
 Bestow what symbols indicate, 
 And give us life divine. 
 
 7 Let none who preach the gospel hide 
 This solemn truth from meik : 
 They may with water be baptiz'd, 
 Yet not be born again. 
 
 Inasmuch as Jesus Christ, who is 
 the end of the law, hath made an end, 
 by the shedding of his blood, of all 
 other sheddings of blood, which men 
 could or would make as a propitia- 
 tion or satisfaction for sin: and that 
 he, having abolished circumcision, 
 which was done with blood, hath in- 
 stituted the sacrament of baptism in- 
 stead thereof; by which we are re- 
 ceived into the church of God, and 
 separated from all other people and 
 strange religions, that we may wholly 
 belong to him, whose ensign and ban- 
 ner we bear: and which serves as a 
 testimony to us, that he will forever be 
 our gracious Crod and Father. There- 
 fore, he has commanded all those, 
 who are his, to be baptized with pure 
 water, "in the name of the Father, 
 
374 THE SACRAMENT OF EAPTISM. 
 
 and of tlie Son, and of the Holy 
 
 G-laosf |" thereby signifying to us, that 
 as water washeth away tlie filth of the 
 body, when poured upon it, and is seen 
 on the body of the baptized, when 
 sprinkled upon him ; so doth the blood 
 of Christ, hy the poiver of the Holy 
 CS-host, internally sprinkle the soul, 
 cleanse it from its sins, and regenerate 
 ns from children of wrath, unto chil- 
 dren of CS-od. Wot that this is effected 
 l^j the external water, but by the 
 sprinkling of the precious blood of the 
 Son of God; who is our Red Sea, 
 through which we must pass, to escape 
 the tyv^imj of Pharaoh, that is, the 
 devil, and to enter into the spiritual 
 land of Canaan. Therefore, the min- 
 isters, on their part, administer the 
 sacrament, and that which is visible, 
 but our liord giveth that which is sig- 
 nified by the sacrament, namely, the 
 gifts and invisible grace; washing, 
 cleansing and purging our souls of all 
 filth and unrighteousness ; renewing 
 our hearts, and filling them with all 
 comfort ; giving unto us a true assur- 
 ance of his fatherly goodness ; putting 
 on us the new man, and putting off the 
 old man with- ail his deeds. There- 
 fore, we believe, that every man who 
 is earnestly studious of obtaining life 
 eternal, ought to be but once baptized 
 with this holy baptism, without eye* 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 375 
 
 repeating the same: since we cannot 
 be born twice. Neither doth this bap- 
 tism only avail tis 9 at the time when 
 the water is poured upon as, and re- 
 ceived by us, but also through the 
 whole course of our life % therefore, 
 we detest the error of the ana-bap- 
 tists, who are not content with the one 
 only baptism they have once received, 
 and moreover condemn the baptism of 
 the infants of believers, whom we be- 
 lieve ought to be baptized and sealed 
 with the sign of the covenant, as the 
 children in Israel formerly were cir- 
 cumcised, upon the same promises, 
 which are made unto our children. 
 And indeed Christ shed his blood no 
 less for the washing of the children of 
 the faithful, than for adult persons ; 
 and therefore, they ought to receive 
 the sign and sacrament of that, which 
 Christ hath done for thein, as the ILord 
 commanded in the law, that they 
 should be made partaker§ of the sa- 
 crament of Christ's suffering and 
 death, shortly after they were born, by 
 offering for them a lamb, which was 
 a sacrament of Jesus Christ. More- 
 over, what circumcision was to the 
 Jews, that baptism is to our children. 
 And for this reason Paul calls baptism 
 the circumcision of Christ. 
 
376 THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 
 
 Infant Baptism* 
 
 H Y M N 53. C. M.— Brattle Street. 
 
 1 THUS saith the mercy of the Lord, 
 
 " I'll be a God to thee ; 
 I'll bless thy num'r ous race, and they 
 Shall be a seed to me 
 
 2 Abra'm believed the promised grace, 
 
 And gave his child to God % 
 But crater seals the blessing now 
 That once was sealed with blood* 
 
 3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms, 
 
 To our fore-fathers giv'n ; 
 He takes young children to his arms, 
 And calls them heirs of heav'n. 
 
 4 Our God, how faithful are his Trays ! 
 
 His love endures the same : 
 Nor from the promise of his grace 
 Blots out his children's name. 
 
 5 With the same blessings grace en- 
 
 dows 
 The Gentile and the Jew t 
 If pure and holy be the root, 
 Such are the branches too. 
 
 6 Then let the children of the saints 
 
 Be dedicate to God % 
 Pour out thy Spirit on them, Lord ! 
 And wash them in thy blood. 
 
 7 Thus to the parents and their seed 
 
 Shall thy salvation come % 
 And numerous households meet at last 
 In one eternal home. 
 
THE SACRAMENT OP INFANT BAPTISM. S77 
 
 S Thy faithful saints, eternal King I 
 This precious truth embrace ; 
 To Thee their infant offspring bring, 
 And humbly claim thy grace. 
 
 The principal parts of the doctrine 
 of holy baptism are these three : 
 
 First* That we with our children are 
 conceived and born in sin, and there- 
 fore, are the children of wrath, inso- 
 much that we cannot enter into the 
 kingdom of God, except we are born 
 again. This, the dipping in, or sprink- 
 ling with water teaches us, whereby 
 the impurity of our souls is signified, 
 and we admonished to loath, and hum- 
 ble ourselves before God, and seek for 
 our purification and salvation without 
 ourselves. 
 
 Secondly* Holy baptism witnesseth 
 and sealeth unto us the washing away 
 of sins through Jesus Christ. There- 
 fore, we are baptised " in the name of 
 the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
 Holy Ghost." For wfeeia we are bap- 
 tized in the name of the Father, God 
 the Father witnesseth and sealeth unto 
 us, that he doth make an eternal co- 
 venant of grace with us, and adopts us 
 for his children and heirs, and there- 
 fore, will provide us with every good 
 thing, and avert all evil or turn it to 
 our profit. And when we are baptized 
 in the name of the Son. the Son sealett 
 
378 THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 
 
 unto us, that lie doth, wash us in bis 
 blood, front all out* sins, incorporating 
 us into the fellowship of big death and 
 resurrection, so that we are freed from 
 ail our sins, and accounted righteous 
 before Crod. In like manner, when we 
 are baptized in the name of the Holy 
 Ghost, th.e Holy Ghost assures us, by this 
 holy sacrament, that he will dwell in us, 
 and sanctify us to be members of Christ, 
 applying unto us, that which we have 
 in Christ, namely, the washing away of 
 our sins, and the daily renewing of our 
 lives, till we shall finally be presented 
 without spot or wrinkle among the as- 
 sembly of tUe elect in life eternal. 
 
 Thirdly s Whereas, in all covenants, 
 there are contained two parts? there- 
 fore, are we 'hj God, through baptism, 
 admonished, of, and obliged unto new 
 obedience, namely, that we cleave to 
 this one God, Father, Son and Holy 
 Ghost | that we trust in him, and love 
 him with all our hearts, with all our 
 souls, with all our mind, and with all 
 our strength'; that we forsake the 
 world, crucify our old nature, and 
 walk in a new and holy life. 
 
 And if we sometimes, through weak- 
 ness, fall into sin, we must not, there- 
 fore, despair of God 9 § mercy, nor con- 
 tinue in sin, since baptism is a seal and 
 undoubted testimony, that we have an 
 eternal covenant of grace with God. 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 379 
 
 And although, onv young children do 
 net understand these things, we may 
 not, therefore, exclude them from bap- 
 tism, for as they are without their 
 knowledge, partakers of the condem- 
 nation in Adam, so are they again re- 
 ceived unto grace in Christ; as God 
 speaketh unto Abraham the father of 
 all the faithful, and therefore unto us 
 and our children. Gen. xvii. 7. Saying, 
 u I will establish my covenant between 
 me and thee, and thy seed after thee, 
 in their generations, for an everlasting 
 covenant ; to be a God unto thee, and 
 to thy seed after thee." This also the 
 apostle Peter testities, with these words, 
 Acts ii. 30. " For the promise is unto 
 you, and to your children, and to all 
 that are afar off, even as many as the 
 !Lord our God shall call." Therefore 
 God formerly commanded them to be 
 circumcised, which was a seal of the 
 covenant, and of the righteousness of 
 faith z and therefore, Christ also em- 
 braced them, laid his hands upon them 
 and blessed them s Mark, Chap. x. 
 
 Since, then, baptism is come in the 
 place of circumcision, therefore, in- 
 fants are to be baptised as heirs of the 
 kingdom of God, and of his covenant. 
 And parents are in duty bound, farther 
 to instruct their children herein, when 
 they shall arrive at years of discretion* 
 That, therefore, this holy ordinance of 
 
380 THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 
 
 Cod, may be administ ered to his glory, 
 to our comfort, and to the edification 
 of his church, let us call upon his holy 
 name: 
 
 O Almighty and eternal Cod, we be- 
 seech Thee, that Thou wilt be pleased 
 of thine infinite mercy, graciously to 
 look upon these children, and incorpo- 
 rate them by thy Holy Spirit, into thy 
 Son Jesus Christ, that they may be bu- 
 ried with him into his death, and be 
 raised with him in newness of life ; that 
 they may daily folio w him, joyfully 
 bearing their cross, and cleave unto 
 him in true faith, firm hope, and ar- 
 dent love : that they may, with a com- 
 fortable sense of thy favour, leave this 
 life, which is nothing but a continual 
 death, and at the last day, may appear 
 without terror before the judgment seat 
 of Christ thy Son, through Jesus Christ 
 our liord, who with Thee and the Holy 
 Chost, one only Cod, lives and reigns 
 forever. — Amen. 
 
 In addition to the representation of 
 these truths, parents or sponsors are to 
 answer the following questions : 
 
 Firsts Whether you acknowledge, 
 that although our children are con- 
 ceived and born in sin, and therefore 
 are subject to all miseries, yea, to con- 
 demnation itself; yet that they are 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. $81 
 
 sanctified in Christ, and therefore as 
 members of his church ought to be bap- 
 tized ? 
 
 Secondly : Whether you acknowledge 
 the doctrine which is contained in the 
 old and new testament, and in the ar- 
 ticles of the Christian faith, and which 
 is taught here in this Christian church, 
 to the true and perfect doctrine of sal- 
 vation ? 
 
 Thirdly : Whether you promise and 
 intend to see these children, when come 
 to the years of discretion, (whereof thou 
 art either parent or witness,) instructed 
 and brought up in the aforesaid doc- 
 trine, or help, or cause them to be in- 
 structed therein, to the utmost of your 
 power ? 
 
 •Answers Yes. 
 
 Then the minister of Ood's word, in 
 baptizing, shall say : I baptize thee in 
 the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
 and of the Holy Ghost. — Amen. 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 Almighty God and merciful Father, 
 we thank and praise Thee, that Thou 
 hast forgiven us, and our children, all 
 our sins, through the blood of thy be- 
 loved Son Jesus Christ, and received us 
 through thy Holy Spirit as members of 
 thy only begotten Son, and adopted us 
 to be thy children, and sealed and con- 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 
 
 firmed the same unto us by holy bap* 
 tism : we beseech Thee, through the 
 same Son of tlty love, tliat Thou wilt 
 be pleased always to govern these bap- 
 tized children, by thy Holy Spirit, that 
 they may be piously and religiously 
 educated, increased and grow up in the 
 [Lord Jesus Christ, that they then may 
 acknowledge thy fatherly goodness 
 and mercy, which Thou hast shown to 
 them and us, and live in all righteous- 
 ness, under our only Teacher, King 
 and High Priest, Jesus Christ; and 
 manfully tight against, and overcome 
 sin, the devil and his whole dominion, 
 to the end that they may eternally 
 praise and magnify Thee, and thy Son 
 Jesus Christ, together with the Holy 
 Ghost, the only true €*od. — Amen. 
 
 •Adult Baptism. 
 
 HYMN 54. L. M..— Old Hundred. 
 
 1 'TWAS the commission of our ILord, 
 66 Go teach tike nations and baptize :" 
 The nations have received thy "word, 
 Since he ascended to the skies. 
 
 2 He sits upon th' eternal hills 
 
 "With grace and pardon in his hands, 
 And sends his covenant, with the seals, 
 To bless the distant heathen lands. 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 383 
 
 3 ;; Repent and be baptized." be saith, 
 "For the remission of your sins;*' 
 
 And tbus our sense assists onr faith. 
 And shows ns what his gospel means. 
 
 4 Onr souls he washes in his blood, 
 As water makes the body clean $ 
 And the good Spirit of our God 
 Descends like purifying rain* 
 
 5 Thus we engage ourselves to Thee, 
 And seal our covenant with the Lord; 
 O may the great eternal Three 
 
 In heav'n our solemn tows, record ! 
 
 However children of Christian pa- 
 rents, (although they understand not 
 
 this mystery,) must be baptized by 
 virtue of the covenant ; jet 3 it is not 
 lawful to baptize those who are come 
 to the years of discretion, except they 
 first be sensible of their sins, and make 
 confession both of their repentance 
 and faith in Christ z for this cause did 
 not only John the Baptist preach (ac- 
 cording to the command of God,) the 
 baptism of repentance, and baptized 
 for the remission of sins, those who con- 
 fessed their sins. Mark 1. and Luke 3. 
 But our Lord Jesus Christ also com- 
 manded his disciples to teach all na- 
 tions, and then to baptize them, in the 
 name of the Father, and the Son, and 
 of the Holy Ghost, Matthew 28. Mark 
 16. Adding this promise: "He that 
 
384 THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 
 
 believeth and is baptized shall be 
 saved.' 9 According to which rule, the 
 Apostles, as appeareth front Acts 2. 10 9 
 and 16, baptized none who were of 
 years of discretion, but such who made 
 confession of their faith and repen- 
 tance ; therefore it is not lawful now- 
 a-days, to baptize any other adult per- 
 sons, than such as have been taught 
 the mysteries of holy baptism, by the 
 preaching of the gospel, and are able 
 to give an account of their faith by the 
 confession of the mouth. Since there- 
 fore you I¥. are also desirous of holy 
 baptism, to the end, it may be to you a 
 seal of your ingrafting into the church 
 of God, that it may appear that you 
 do not only receive the christian reli- 
 gion, in which you. have been privately 
 instructed by us, and of which also you 
 have made confession before us : but 
 that you (through the grace of God) in- 
 tend and purpose to lead a life accord- 
 ing to the same ; you are sincerely to 
 give answer before God and his church : 
 
 First* I>ost Thou believe in the only 
 true God, distinct in three persons, Fa- 
 ther, Son and Holy Ghost, who hath 
 made heaven and earth, and all that 
 in them is, of nothing, and still main- 
 tains and governs them, insomuch that 
 nothing comes to pass, either in hea- 
 ven or on earth without his divine will t 
 
 •Answer — Yes. 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 155 
 
 Secondly s Dost thou believe that thou 
 art conceived and born in sin, and 
 therefore art a child of wrath by na* 
 tnre, wholly incapable of doing any 
 good, and prone to all evil ; and that 
 thon hast frequently, both in thought, 
 word and deed, transgressed the com- 
 mandments of the Lord : and whether 
 thou art heartily sorry for these sins f 
 
 •Answer — Yes. 
 
 Thirdly* Dost thou believe that 
 Christ, who is the true and eternal 
 God, and very man, who took his hu- 
 man nature oik him out of the flesh and 
 blood of the Virgin Mary, is given thee 
 of God, to be thy Saviour, and that thou 
 dost receive by this faith, remission of 
 sins in his blood, and that thou art 
 made by the power of the Holy Ghost, a 
 member of Jesus Christ and his church ? 
 
 •Answer — Yes. 
 
 Fourthly 9 Dost thou assent to all the 
 articles of the Christian religion, as 
 they are taught here, in this Christian 
 church, according to the word of God ; 
 and purpose steadfastly to continue in 
 the same doctrine to the end of thy life) 
 and also, dost thou reject all heresies 
 and schisms, repugnant to this doctrine, 
 and promise to persevere in the com- 
 munion of our Christian Church, not 
 only in the hearing of the word, but 
 also in the use of the Lord's Supper? 
 
 •Answer— Yes. 
 
 25 
 
386, THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORIES SUPPER, 
 
 Fifthly : Hast thou taken a firm reso- 
 lution always to lead a C iiristian life $ 
 to forsake the world, and its evil lusts* 
 as is becoming* the members of Christ 
 and his church 5 and to submit thyself 
 to all Christian admonitions ? 
 
 •Answer — Yes. 
 
 The good and great €*od mercifully 
 grant his grace and blessing to this 
 your purpose, through Jesus Christ— 
 Amen* 
 
 COMMUNICANT'S COMPANION. 
 
 The Lord's Supper* 
 
 HYMN 55. L. M.— Alfretou. 
 
 1 -'TWAS on that dark, that doleful 
 
 night, 
 "When pow'rs of earth and hell arose, 
 Against the Son of God's delight, 
 And friends betrayed him to his foes t 
 
 2 Before the mournful scene began, 
 He took the bread, and hless'd, and 
 
 brake $ 
 What lore thro 9 all his actions ran ! 
 What wand'rous words of grace he 
 
 spake ! 
 
 3 " This is my body, broke for sin. 
 Receive and eat the living food *" 
 
THE SACRAMENT OP THE LORD'S SUPPER. 867 
 
 Then took the cup, and bless'd the 
 
 wine : 
 " 'Tis the new covenant in my blood* 99 
 
 4 For u§ his flesh with nails was torn, 
 He bore the scourge, he felt the thorn $ 
 And justice pour'd npon his head 
 Its heavy veangeancc, in our stead. 
 
 5 For us his vital blood wa§ spilt, 
 To buy the pardon of our guilt ; 
 When for blaek er imes of greatest size, 
 He gave his soul a sacrifice. 
 
 e " Do this, (he cried,) 9 till time shall end 
 In memory of your dying friend : 
 Meet at my table, and record 
 The love of your departed Iiord." 
 
 7 Jesus, thy feast we celebrate, 
 
 "We show thy death, we sing thy name ; 
 Till Thou return, and we shall eat 
 The marriage supper of the Lamb. 
 
 Beloved in the L<ord Jesus Christ, at- 
 tend to the words of the institution of 
 the holy supper of our I^ord Jesus 
 Christ, as they are delivered by the 
 holy apostle Paul, 1 Cor. xi. 23 — 30. 
 
 " For I have received of the I^ord, 
 that which also I delivered unto you 
 that the laord Jesus, the satne night in 
 which he was betrayed, took bread; 
 and when he had given thanks, he 
 brake it, and said, take, eat ; this is my 
 
388 THE SACRAMENT 07 THE LORD'S SUFFER. 
 
 body, which is broken for you, this do 
 in remembrance of me. And after the 
 same manner also, he took the cup, 
 when he had supped, saying, this cup 
 is the new testament in my blood ; this 
 do ye, as oft as ye drink it in remem- 
 brance of me : for as oft as ye eat this 
 bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew 
 the Lord's death till he come. 'Where- 
 fore, whosoever shall eat this bread, 
 and drink this cup, of the Lord un- 
 worthily, shall be guilty of the body 
 and blood of the Lord. But let a man 
 examine himself, and so let him eat 
 of that bread, and drink of that cup $ 
 for he that eateth and drinketh un- 
 worthily, eateth and drinketh damna- 
 tion to himself, not discerning the 
 Lord's body." That we may now cele- 
 brate the supper of the Lord to our 
 comfort, it is above all things necessary, 
 
 First: Rightly to examine ourselves. 
 
 Secondly g To direct it to that end, for 
 which Christ hath ordained and in- 
 stituted the same, namely to his re- 
 membrance. The true examination 
 of ourselves, consists of these three 
 parts. 
 
 First: That every one consider by 
 himself, his sins and the curse due to 
 him for them, to the end that he may 
 abhor and humble himself before God : 
 considering that the wrath of God 
 against sin is so great, that (rather 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUfrPER. $89 
 
 than it should go unpunished) he hath 
 punished the same in his beloved Son 
 Jesus Christ, with the bitter and shame- 
 ful death of the cross. 
 
 Secondly $ That every one examine 
 his own heart, whether he doth be- 
 lieve this faithful promise of God, that 
 all his sins are forgiven him, only for 
 the sake of the passion and death of 
 Jesus Christ, and that the perfeet righ- 
 teousness of Christ is imputed and free- 
 ly given him as his own, yea, so per- 
 fectly, as if he had satisfied in his own 
 person for all his sins, and fulfilled all 
 righteousness. 
 
 Thirdly: That every one examine 
 his own conscience, whether he pur- 
 poseth henceforth to shew true thank- 
 fulness to God in his whole life, and 
 to walk uprightly before him; as 
 also, whether he has laid aside un- 
 feignedly all enmity, hatred and envy, 
 and doth firmly resolve henceforward 
 to walk in true love and peace with 
 his neighbour. 
 
 All those, then, who are thus disposed, 
 God will certainly receive in mercy, 
 and count them worthy partakers of 
 the table of his Son Jesus Christ. On 
 the contrary, those who do not feel this 
 testimony in their hearts, eat and drink 
 judgment to themselves. 
 
 Therefore, we also, according to the 
 command of Christ and the apostle 
 
390 
 
 Paul, admonish all those who are de* 
 filed with the following sins, to keep 
 themselves from the table of the I^ord, 
 and deelare to them that they have no 
 part of the kingdom of Christ ; sueh as 
 all idolators, all those who invoke de- 
 ceased saints, angels or other creatures, 
 all those who worship images ; all en- 
 chanters, diviners, charmers, and those 
 "who confide in such enchantments; all 
 despisers of God and his word, and of 
 the holy sacraments % all blasphemers ; 
 all those who are given to raise discord, 
 sects and mutiny in church or state ; 
 all perjured persons; all those who 
 are disobedient to their parents and 
 superiors ; all murderers, contentious 
 persons, and those who live in hatred 
 and envy against their neighbours ; all 
 adulterers, whoremongers, drunkards, 
 thieves, usurers, robbers, gamesters, 
 covetous, and all who lead offensive 
 lives. 
 
 All these, while they continue in such 
 sins, shall abstain from this meat, 
 (which Christ hath ordained only for 
 the faithful,) lest their judgment and 
 condemnation be made the heavier. 
 But this is not designed, (dearly belov- 
 ed brethren and sisters in the Lord,) to 
 deject the contrite hearts of the faith- 
 ful, as if none might come to the sup- 
 per of the Lord, but those who are 
 without sin : for we do not come t<* this 
 
THE SACRAMENT OP THE LORD'S SUPPER. 391 
 
 supper, to testify thereby that we are 
 perfeet and righteous in ourselves ; but 
 on the contrary, considering that we 
 seek our life out of ourselves in Jesus 
 Christ, we acknowledge that we lie in 
 the midst of death : therefore, notwith- 
 standing we feel many infirmities and 
 miseries in ourselves, as namely, that 
 we have not perfect faith, and that we 
 do not give ourselves to serve God with 
 that zeal as we are bound, but have 
 daily to strive with the weakness of 
 our faith, and the evil lusts of our flesh ; 
 yet, since we are (by the grace of the 
 Holy G-host) sorry for these weakness- 
 es, and earnestly desirous to fight 
 against our unbelief, and to live ac- 
 cording to all the commandments of 
 God: therefore, we rest assured that 
 no sin or infirmity, which still remain- 
 eth against our will, in us, can hinder 
 us from being received of God in mer- 
 cy, and from being made worthy par- 
 takers of this heavenly meat and 
 drink. 
 
 JLet us now also consider, to what end 
 the IiOrd hath instituted his supper, 
 namely, that we do it in remembrance 
 of him. Now after this manner are 
 we to remember him by it. 
 
 Firsts That we are confidently per- 
 suaded in our hearts, that our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, (according to the prom- 
 ises made to our forefathers in the old 
 
£9f TH* SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 testament,) was sent of the Fattier into 
 the world : that he assumed our flesh 
 and blood; that he bore for us the 
 wrath of God (under which we should 
 have perished everlastingly) from the 
 beginning of his incarnation, to the 
 end of his life upon earth; and that 
 he hath fulfilled, tor us, all obedience 
 to the divine law, and righteousness : 
 especially, when the weight of our sins 
 and wrath of God pressed out of him 
 the bloody sweat in the garden, where 
 he was bound that wc might be freed 
 from our sins : that he afterwards suf- 
 fered innumerable reproaches, that we 
 might never be confounded. That he 
 was innocently condemned to death, 
 that we might be acquitted at the 
 judgment seat of God: yea, that he 
 suffered his blessed body to be nailed 
 to the cross — that he might fix thereon 
 the handwriting of our sins; and hath 
 also taken upon himself the curse due 
 to us, that he might fill us with his 
 blessings ; and hath humbled himself 
 unto the deepest reproach and pains 
 of hell, both in body and soul, on the 
 tree of the cross, when he cried out 
 with a loud voice, " my God, my God ! 
 why hast Thou forsaken me ?" That 
 we might be accepted of God, and 
 never be forsaken of him : and finally 
 confirmed with his death and shed« 
 dins of his blood, the new and eternal 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF THM LORD'S SUPPER. 393 
 
 testament, that covenant of grace and 
 reconciliation, when lie said, it is fin- 
 ished. 
 
 And, that we might firmly believe that 
 we belong to this covenant of grace, 
 the L.ord Jesus Christ, in his last sup- 
 per, took bread, and when he had 
 given thanks, he brake it, and gave it 
 to his disciples, and said, take, eat, this 
 is my body which is broken for you, 
 this do in remembrance of me ; in like 
 manner also after supper, he took the 
 cup, gave thanks and said, drink ye 
 all of it ; this cup is the new testament 
 in my blood, which is shed for you and 
 for many, for the remission of sins ; this 
 do ye as often as ye drink it in remem- 
 brance of me : that is, as often as ye eat 
 of this bread and drink of this cup, you 
 shall thereby, as by a sure remem- 
 brance and pledge, be admonished 
 and assured of this my hearty love and 
 faithfulness towards you ; that, where- 
 as you should have suffered eternal 
 death, I have given my body to the 
 death of the cross, and shed my blood 
 for you ; and as certainly feed and 
 nourish your hungry soul with my cru- 
 cified body, and shed blood, to ever- 
 lasting life, as this bread is broken be- 
 fore your eyes, and this cup is given to 
 you, and you eat and drink the same 
 with your mouth, in remembrance of 
 me* 
 
394 THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 From this institution of tlie holy sup- 
 per of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see 
 that he directs our faith and trust to 
 his perfect sacrifice, (once offered on the 
 cross) as to the only ground and foun- 
 dation of our salvation, wherein he is 
 become to our hungry and thirsty souls, 
 the true nteat and drink of life eternal. 
 For by his death, he hath taken away 
 the cause of our eternal death and mi- 
 sery, namely, sin s and obtained for us 
 the quickening Spirit, that we by the 
 same, (which dweileth in Christ as in 
 the head, and in us as his members,) 
 might have true communion with him, 
 and be made partakers of all his bless- 
 ings of eternal life, righteousness and 
 glory. 
 
 Besides, that we by the same Spirit 
 may also be united as members of one 
 body in true brotherly love, as the holy 
 apostle saith, "For we, being many, 
 are one bread and one body : for we 
 are ail partakers of that one bread." 
 For as out of many grains one meal is 
 ground, and one bread baked, and out 
 of many berries being pressed together, 
 one wine fioweth, and mixeth itself to- 
 gether ; so shall we all, who by a true 
 faith are ingrafted into Christ, be alto- 
 gether one body , through brotherly 
 love, for Christ's sake, our beloved Sa- 
 viour, who hath so exceedingly loved 
 us 5 and not only ®U®w this in word, 
 
THE SAOFAMENT OF THE .LORD'* SUPPER. .39$ 
 
 but also in every deed towards one 
 another. 
 
 Hereto assist us, the Almighty God 
 and Father of our ILord Jesus Christ, 
 through his Holy Spirit. — Amen. 
 
 That we may obtain all this, let us 
 humble ourselves before God, and with 
 true faith implore his grace. 
 
 O most mereiful God and Father, we 
 beseeeh Thee, that Thou wilt be pleas- 
 ed in this supper, (in which we cele- 
 brate the glorious remembrance of the 
 bitter death of thy beloved Son Jesus 
 Christ,) to work in our hearts through 
 the Holy Spirit, that we may daily, 
 more and more with true confidence, 
 give ourselves up unto thy Son Jesus 
 Christ, that our afflicted and contrite 
 hearts, through the power of the Holy 
 Ghost, may be fed and comforted with 
 his true body and blood; yea, with 
 him, true God and man, that only 
 heavenly bread: and that we may no 
 longer live in our sins, but he in us, and 
 we in him, and thus truly be made par- 
 takers of the new and everlasting tes- 
 tament, and the covenant of grace. 
 That we may not doubt but Thou wilt 
 forever be our gracious Father, never 
 .more imputing our sins unto us, and 
 providing us with all things necessary, 
 as well for the body as the soul, as thy 
 beloved children and heirs s grant us 
 
396 THE 8ACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 also thy grace, that we may take up- 
 on us our cross cheerfully, deny our- 
 selves, confess our Saviour, and in all 
 tribulations, with uplifted heads ex- 
 pect our Iiord Jesus Christ front hea- 
 ven, where he will make our mortal 
 bodies like unto his most glorious body, 
 and take us unto him in eternity. Our 
 Father which art in heaven, &c. — 
 Amen* 
 
 Strengthen us also by this holy sup- 
 per, in the Catholic undoubted Chris- 
 tian faith, whereof we make confes- 
 sion, with our mouths and hearts, say- 
 ing: 
 
 I believe in God the Father Almighty, 
 maker of heaven and earth: and in 
 Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; 
 who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
 born of the Virgin Mary, suffered un- 
 der Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead 
 and buried, he descended into hell : the 
 third day he rose again from the dead, 
 he ascended into heaven, and sitteth 
 om the right-hand of God the Father 
 Almighty ; from whence he shall come 
 to judge the quick and the dead. 
 
 I believe in the Holy Ghost; the 
 holy Catholic church ; the communion 
 of saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the 
 resurrection of the body ; and the life 
 everlasting. — Amen. 
 
 That we may be now fed with the 
 
THE fcACRAMENT Or THE LORD'S StfPPER. 10? 
 
 true heavenly bread, Jesus Christ, let 
 us not cleave with our hearts unto the 
 external bread and wine, but lift them 
 up on high in heaven, where Christ 
 Jesus is our advocate, at the right 
 hand of his heavenly Father, whither 
 all the articles of our faith lead us; 
 not doubting, but we shall as certain- 
 ly be fed and refreshed in our souls 
 through the working of the Holy 
 Ghost, with his body and blood, as we 
 receive the holy bread and wine in re- 
 membrance of him. 
 
 In breaking and distributing the 
 bread, the minister shall say : 
 
 The bread which we break, is the 
 communion of the body of Christ. 
 
 And when he giveth the cup : 
 
 The cup of blessing which we bless, 
 
 is the communion of the blood of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 During the communion, there shall 
 or may be devoutly sung, a psalm, or 
 some chapter read, in remembrance 
 of the death of Christ, as the 53d chap- 
 ter of Isaiah, the 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 
 and 18th chapters of John, or the 
 like. 
 
 After the communion the minister 
 shall say i 
 
 Beloved in the Lord, since the Lord 
 hath now fed our souls at his table, 
 
898 THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 let us therefore jointly praise his holy 
 name with thanksgiving, and every 
 one say in his heart, thus : 
 
 Bless the Lord, O my soul 5 and all 
 that is within nie, bless his holy name. 
 
 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
 not all his benefits. 
 
 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: 
 who healeth all thy diseases. 
 
 Who redeemeth thy life from destruc- 
 tion, who crowneth thee with loving- 
 kindness and tender mercies. 
 
 The Lord is merciful and gracious, 
 slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. 
 
 He hath not dwelt 'with us after our 
 sins, nor rewarded us according to our 
 iniquities. 
 
 For as the heavens are high above 
 the earth, so great is his mercy towards 
 them that fear him. 
 
 As far as the east is from the west, so 
 far hath he removed our transgressions 
 from us. 
 
 Like as a father pitieth his children, 
 so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 
 
 Who hath not spared his own Son, 
 but delivered him up for us all, and 
 given us all things with him. There- 
 fore, God commendeth his love to- 
 wards us, in that while we were yet 
 sinners, Christ died for us; much 
 more then, being now justified in his 
 blood, we shall be saved from wrath 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, 399 
 
 through him: for, if, when we were 
 enemies, we were reconciled to God 
 by the death of his Son; much more 
 being reconciled, we shall be saved 
 by his life. Therefore shall my mouth 
 and heart show forth the praise of the 
 Lord from this time forth for ever more. 
 Amen. 
 
 Let every one say with an attentive 
 heart : 
 
 O Almighty, merciful God and Fa- 
 ther, we render Thee most humble 
 and hearty thanks, that Thou hast of 
 thy infinite mercy, given us thine only- 
 begotten Son, for a mediator and a 
 sacrifice for our sins, and to be our 
 meat and drink unto life eternal, and 
 that Thou givest us a lively faith, 
 whereby we are made partakers of 
 such thy benefits — Thou hast also been 
 pleased, that thy beloved Son Jesus 
 Christ should institute and ordain his 
 holy supper for the confirmation of 
 the same. Grant, we beseech Thee, O 
 faithful God and Father, that through 
 the operation of thy holy Spirit, the 
 commemoration of the death of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ may tend to the daily 
 increase of our faith, and saving fel- 
 lowship with him, through Jesus 
 Christ thy Son, in whose name we con- 
 clude our prayers, saying — Our Father 
 who art in heaven, &c. 
 
400 THE ACRAMKNT OP THB LORD'S SUPPER, 
 
 From the whole of the foregoing: 
 description of the form of the adminis- 
 tration of the lord's Supper, we learn 
 the following to be the scriptural doc- 
 trine, concerning this sacred institu- 
 tion, viz : 
 
 That our Saviour Jesus Christ did 
 ordain and institute the sacrament of 
 the holy supper, to nourish and sup- 
 port those whom he hath already re- 
 generated and incorporated into his 
 family, which is his church. TYow 
 those who are regenerated, have in 
 them a two -fold life, the one corporal 
 and temporal, which they have from 
 the first birth, and is common to all 
 men : the other spiritual and heaven- 
 ly, which is given them in their second 
 birth, which is effected by the word of 
 the gospel, in the communion of the 
 body of Christ ; and this life is not com- 
 mon, but is peculiar to God's people. 
 In like manner, God hath given us, for 
 the support of the bodily and earthly 
 life, earthly and common bread, which 
 is subservient thereto, and is common 
 to all men, even as life itself. But for 
 the support of the spiritual and hea- 
 venly life, which believers have, he hath 
 sent a living bread, which descended 
 from heaven, namely, Jesus Christ, 
 who nourishes and strengthens the 
 spiritual life of believers, when they eat 
 him, that is to say, when they apply 
 
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 401 
 
 and receive liim by faith in the Spirit. 
 Christ, that he might represent unto as 
 this spiritual and heavenly bread, 
 hath instituted an earthly and visible 
 bread, as a sacrament of his body, 
 and wine as a sacrament of his blood, 
 to testify by them unto us, that, as cer- 
 tainly as we receive and hold this sa- 
 crament in our hands, and eat and 
 drink the same with our mouths, by 
 which our life is afterwards nourished, 
 we also do as certainly receive by faith 
 (which is the hand and mouth of our 
 soul) the true body and Mood of Christ 
 our only Saviour in our souls, for the 
 support of our spiritual life. Now as 
 it is certain and beyond ail doubt, that 
 Jesus Christ hath not enjoined to us the 
 use of his sacraments in vain, so he 
 works in us all that he represents to us 
 by these holy signs, though the manner 
 surpasses our understanding, and can- 
 not be comprehended hj us, as the ope- 
 rations of the Holy CS-host are hidden 
 and incomprehensible. In the mean 
 time we err not, when we say, that 
 what is eaten and drunk by us is the 
 proper and natural body, and the pro- 
 per blood of Christ. I£ut the manner 
 of our partaking of the same, is not 
 by the mouth, but 'hy the Spirit through 
 faith. Thus then, though Christ sits 
 at the right hand of his Father in the 
 heavens, yet doth he not, therefore, 
 
 26 
 
403 
 
 cease to make as partakers of himself 
 by faith. This feast is a spiritual table? 
 at which Christ communicates him- 
 self, "with all his benefits to us, and 
 gives us there to enjoy both himself* 
 and the merits of his sufferings and 
 death, nourishing, strengthening and 
 comforting our poor comfortless souls % 
 by the eating of his flesh, quickening 
 and refreshing them by the drinking 
 of his blood* Further, though the sa- 
 craments are connected with the thing 
 signified, nevertheless, both are not re- 
 ceived by all men : the ungodly indeed 
 receives the sacrament to his condem- 
 nation, but he doth not receive the 
 truth of the sacrament. As Judas and 
 Simon the sorcerer, both indeed re- 
 ceived the sacrament, but not Christ, 
 who was signified by it, of whom be- 
 lievers only are made partakers, last- 
 ly, we receive this holy sacrament in 
 the assembly of the people of Crod, with 
 humility and reverence, keeping up 
 amongst us a holy remembrance of the 
 death of Christ our Saviour, with 
 thanksgiving: making there confes- 
 sion of our faith, and of the Christian 
 religion. Therefore, no one ought to 
 come to this table, without having pre- 
 viously rightly examined himself \ lest 
 by eating of this bread and drinking 
 of this cup, he eat and drink judgment 
 to himself. In a word, we are excited 
 
INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER, 408 
 
 by the use of this holy sacrament, to a 
 fervent love towards God, and our 
 neighbour. Therefore, we reject all 
 mixtures and damnable inventions, 
 which men have added unto, and 
 blended with the sacraments, as pro- 
 fanations of them : and affirm that we 
 ought to rest satisfied with the ordi- 
 nance, which Christ and his apostles 
 have taught us, and that we must 
 speak of them in the same manner as 
 they have spoken* 
 
 Instructions in relation to a worthy re- 
 ception of the JLorei-s Supper. 
 
 HYMN 58. L. M.-— Windham. 
 
 1 LORD, I am thine, entirely thine, 
 Purchased and sav'd by blood divine ; 
 With full consent thine I would be, 
 And own thy sovereign right in me. 
 
 2 Here, Lord, my flesh, my soul, my all, 
 I yield to Thee beyond recall ? 
 Accept thine own, so long withheld $ 
 Accept what I so freely yield. 
 
 3 Grant one poor sinner more a place 
 Among the children of thy grace ; 
 
 A wretched sinner, lost to God, 
 
 But ransom'd by ImmanuePs blood. 
 
 4 Thine would I live— thine would I die, 
 Be thine through all eternity ; 
 
404 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD^S SUFFER. 
 
 The voir is past beyond repeal % 
 And now I set the solemn seal. 
 
 5 Be Thon the witness of my vow. 
 Angels and men attest it too ; 
 That to thy board I now repair? 
 And seal the saered eontraet there* 
 
 6 Here at that cross, where flows the 
 
 blood, 
 That bought my guilty soul for God ; 
 Thee, my new master, now I call, 
 And consecrate to thee my all. 
 
 7 Do Thou assist a feeble worm, 
 The great engagement to perform % 
 Thy grace can full assistance lend, 
 And on that grace I dare depend. 
 
 It was a signal favour which was 
 shown unto Simeon, as recorded by 
 the evangelist : that he received the as- 
 surance of the Holy Ghost, that he 
 should not depart this life, until his 
 eyes should see the Saviour of the world 
 in the flesh; and in accordance with 
 this promise, when he was led up into 
 the temple, by the influence of the Holy 
 Spirit, he was permitted to see the long 
 promised Messiah. On this memora- 
 ble occasion, he was so overjoyed on 
 beholding the child J esus, that he took 
 him into his arms, and embracing him 
 exclaimed: "Iiord! now lettest Thon 
 thy servant depart in peace, according 
 
INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 405 
 
 to thy word, for mine eyes have seen 
 thy Redeemer." Now this special, way, 
 even a greater favour is bestowed upon 
 thee, O humble and believing Chris- 
 tian, so often as thou art invited by 
 this blessed Saviour to approach unto 
 his holy table, where thou mayest be- 
 hold with thine eyes, receive with thy 
 hands, and partake of with thy mouth 
 the word and bread of life, for with 
 these visible signs, (not, however, in 
 and of them,) thou canst participate 
 of the body and blood of the eternal 
 Son of God, not indeed in a corporal, 
 but in a spiritual manner,, (for his 
 word is spirit and life,) but actually 
 and really, for he is the bread of life 
 which cometh down from heaven, and 
 his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood 
 is drink indeed, as he himself empha- 
 tically says : John <$• 63, and 48. 50. 
 53, not common, but a spiritual and 
 soul-satisfying food, which pertaineth 
 unto everlasting life. The food of an- 
 gels — the preciousness of heaven— the 
 flesh of thy Redeemer, which he repre- 
 sents as crucified before thine eyes, and 
 which he will impart unto thee, as as- 
 suredly as thou exercisest a true and 
 living faith in his atoning blood. 
 
 But in order to receive such a divine 
 favour, a thorough examination and 
 preparation of soul, are indispensably 
 necessary, according to the admoni- 
 
406 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORd'8 SUPPER. 
 
 tion of tbe apostle Paul, 1 Cor. lis 
 " Bat let a man examine himself, and 
 so let bim eat of this bread and drink 
 of this eup, for whosoever eateth 
 and drinketh unworthily, eateth and 
 drinketh damnation, not discerning 
 the Lord's body." And, my dear friend, 
 if God warned and forbade every iui- 
 cireumeised person, on the penalty of 
 death, to eat of the Paschal Lamb, 
 and commanded even the circumcised 
 not to approach unto this sacred ordi- 
 nance, until after three days solemn 
 preparation, how much more obvious- 
 ly nesessary is it for those who would 
 desire to approach unto this sacred 
 feast of the Lord's supper, to enter pre- 
 viously upon a due and solemn prepa- 
 ration of soul ? 
 
 But if you would sincerely desire 
 thus to prepare, it is necessary for you : 
 
 1. To acquire a fundamental know- 
 ledge of the essential doctrines of the 
 Christian religion — the ten command- 
 ments — the subjects of prayer, as ex- 
 pressed in the Lord's prayer, "Our 
 Father," &c— the twelve articles of the 
 Christian faith — the doctrine of the 
 Trinity-— the elevated person and offi- 
 ces of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ — his 
 sufferings, obedience and merits, as 
 also the institution of both the holy 
 sacraments, viz : Holy Baptism and 
 the Lord's Supper, especially the latter, 
 
INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 407 
 
 in order that you may realize the ben- 
 efits of the institution of this sacred 
 ordinance : how you may be prepared 
 to participate often of it t how to enjoy 
 a comfortable remembrance of his bit- 
 ter sufferings and death, "when at his 
 table; and thus renew thy baptismal 
 covenant, to the strengthening of thy 
 faith — to assure thee of thy salvation, 
 and by which he finally imparts him- 
 self, as thy living Redeemer, with all 
 his merits unto thee, to enjoy him for- 
 ever. 
 
 2. Again, you must enter upon a tho- 
 rough examination of yourself, as re- 
 lates to your former life and conduct, 
 as also, especially the present frame 
 and disposition of your soul, that you 
 may thus become deeply sensible of the 
 misery into which you have volunta- 
 rily plunged yourself, and have there- 
 by rendered yourself unworthy to ap- 
 pear at such a heavenly feast* for this 
 purpose, take the ten commandments 
 of God, as the rule of thy life, and re- 
 member how often and fearfully you 
 have violated each one of them* Hum- 
 ble thyself, therefore, under the mighty 
 hand of €*od, and confess with an 
 humble and broken heart, thy sins, 
 and wrestle with him in supplication 
 and prayer, for the forgiveness of thy 
 sins, and the sanctification of thy soul, 
 without which no one can see Ood.— 
 
408 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 Heb. 12. A sid, inasmuch, as without 
 Christ neither the one nor the other can 
 be hoped for ; as he is the only and all*- 
 sufficient Saviour, who has purchased 
 us the forgiveness of our sins by his 
 death, and sanctities us through his 
 word and Spirit, according to the de- 
 claration of the apostle, 1 Cor. 1. 30 : 
 " Christ Jesus is made unto us of God, 
 wisdom, and righteousness, and sancti- 
 fication, and redemption: 99 and again, 
 2 Cor. 5. 19—21 s " God was in Christ 
 reconciling the world unto himself, not 
 imputing unto them their sins, for he 
 hath made him to be sin, (that is, an 
 offering for sin) who knew no sin, that 
 we might be made righteousness before 
 God." Hence, take refuge to him — re- 
 member his bitter sufferings and death, 
 as the only ransom money of thy poor 
 sinful soul — entreat the Father for the 
 sake of these sufferings and death, to 
 be merciful unto you, and pardon all 
 your sins and transgressions — call on 
 the Liord Jesus Christ to aid you, by his 
 all-prevailing intercession, and his 
 Holy Spirit, and thus manifest your 
 sincere and longing desire, your hun- 
 ger and thirst for the righteousness of 
 God, in Christ Jesus — call upon God, 
 as a triune God in covenant, with a 
 contrite spirit, ever bearing in mind 
 what the Psalmist says in the fifty-first 
 Psalm s " The sacrifice which is accep- 
 
INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 409 
 
 table to God, is a broken stud contrite 
 spirit i a broken and burdened lie art 
 God will not despise." Therefore, © 
 Christian friend, exercise an implicit 
 confidence in God, that lie will not re- 
 ject your supplications when proceed- 
 ing from such an heart, but will most 
 assuredly hear and answer them in 
 much mercy, according to his promises 
 of grace made to his penitent believ- 
 ing Children, when he says s " JLet the 
 wicked forsake his way, and the un- 
 righteous man his thoughts s and re- 
 turn unto the Lord, and he will have 
 mercy upon him, and to our God, who 
 will abundantly pardon." — Is* 55. 7. 
 " He that believeth on the Son, hath 
 eternal life, but he that believeth not 
 the Son, hath not life, hmt the wrath of 
 God abideth on him."— John 3. 36. 
 
 But bear also in mind, that true re- 
 pentance and faith in Jesus Christ, 
 are inseparably connected with a re- 
 newing in the spirit of the mind, and 
 a thorough amendment of our life, ac- 
 cording to the admonition of the apos- 
 tle Paul g « That ye put off* concerning 
 the former conversation, the old man, 
 which is corrupt according to the de- 
 ceitful lusts % and be renewed in the 
 spirit of your mind ; s^md. that ye put 
 on the neiv man, which after God is 
 created in righteousness and true holi- 
 ness $"— Ephes. 4. S3— 84, and strive to 
 
410 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 renounce all manner of sin, so as to 
 commit no sin knowingly or intention- 
 ally, but on the contrary, to live godly, 
 soberly and righteously according to 
 God's holy will, to the utmost of your 
 power. But be careful to see well to it, 
 that you keep this solemn resolution, 
 and that you do not, in any way, violate 
 it ; for only such as " continue faithful 
 until the end shall be saved." — Hath. 
 24. 13. Be not like those who at times, 
 especially when they intend to ap- 
 proach to the Lord's supper form reso- 
 lutions, nay, vow most solemnly unto 
 God, to amend their lives, but after this 
 solemn transaction is past, very seldom 
 think of the fulfilment of their pro- 
 mises, but continue to live in the com- 
 mission of all their former sins, nay, 
 only grow bolder in their high-handed 
 rebellion against the God of heaven, 
 and thus testify to all around them, 
 that all their professions were false 
 and hypocritical — but cheerfully go on, 
 perfecting holiness in the fear of the 
 Lord — strive against all manner of sin, 
 and cease not, until you have broken 
 off from all your sinful practices — seek 
 opportunities to exercise yourself in 
 doing good ; and be particularly care- 
 ful to lay off all malice, hatred and ir- 
 reconciliation, for nothing is more 
 displeasing to God, and nothing is 
 more opposite to the nature and de- 
 
INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 411 
 
 sign of this holy sacrament, which is a 
 feast of love, in which we are to ex- 
 hibit in all its soul-thrilling effects, this 
 cardinal virtue of the religion of the 
 blessed Jesus— Love to God and love to 
 our neighbour. 
 
 Now if this be the true state of your 
 soul, you may approach with joy to 
 the supper of our Lord, and suffer no- 
 thing to prevent you from approach- 
 ing this holy table. Let not a view of 
 your mi worthiness keep you back, for 
 who is worthy to appear at the table 
 of the great God our Saviour, and to 
 partake of his flesh and his blood? 
 JLet not your sins and short-comings in 
 the sight of God, prevent you, for Je- 
 sus came into the world, not for the 
 righteous, but to seek and to save that 
 which was lost, and hence he has in- 
 stituted this supper, not for the righ- 
 teous, or else he would have held it 
 alone in heaven, but he instituted it for 
 sinners, who sincerely repent, and ar- 
 dently desire a participation in the 
 merits of his atoning blood. There- 
 fore, remember, my dear friend, the 
 words of our blessed Redeemer : " Come 
 unto me all ye that labour and are 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of 
 me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, 
 and ye shall find rest for your souls." 
 IWath. 11. 88, 29. Let then the Ian- 
 
412 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 guage of your soul respond s " yes, bless- 
 ed Jesus, in compliance with this invi- 
 tation, I will come unto Thee, for I 
 also belong to the number of tliose who 
 are weary and heavy laden; as my 
 sins are a burden too heavy for me to 
 bear. €> liord assist and succour me ! 
 I will ciieerftiily take upon me the yoke 
 of thy commandments, deny myself, 
 take ttp my cross and follow Thee ; O 
 let my soul, therefore, find grace in thy 
 sight, salvation in thy wonnds and rest 
 in thy house ! 
 
 Say not within you, my faith is too 
 weak jet 9 I dare not approach this 
 sacred ordinance, in which faith has 
 to do all, for remember, that although 
 your hand be weak, yet you may lay 
 hold upon Jesus. And this Redeemer, 
 who admonishes us, in his word, to re- 
 ceive the weak in faith, will also do 
 this unto thee, " for he will not break 
 the bruised reed, nor quench the smok- 
 ing flax. 9 ' Recollect further, for thy 
 comfort, that this feast was not insti- 
 tuted only for the strong, but also es- 
 pecially for the weak, in order thereby 
 to strengthen them, so as to enable 
 them to apprehend the blessed Re- 
 deemer, and to hold sweet communion 
 with him, to an increase of their love, 
 strengthen their faith and holy resolu- 
 tions, to infix their hope more firmly 
 on Jesus as the rock of ages, so that it 
 
INSTRUCTIONSIN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 413 
 
 may keep them both sure and stead- 
 fast in all tbe storms and trials of time, 
 until they are introduced into the im- 
 mediate presence of Jehovah, where 
 there is fulness of joy and pleasures 
 for them to enjoy for ever more. 
 
 Now in all cases, where the ministers 
 of the everlasting gospel, have, in the 
 judgment of Christian charity, reason 
 to believe, that applicants for Church 
 communion, indulge such views and 
 are thus disposed, it becomes their so- 
 lemn duty to admit them into regular 
 communion with the people of €*od, 
 and professed followers of the meek 
 and lowly Jesus. This sacred transac- 
 tion is performed ~hy a vast majority 
 of the accredited ambassadors of the 
 l<ord Jesus Christ, in different branch- 
 es of his church, hy the imposition of 
 hands, in confirmation in the presence 
 of the congregation, after the appli- 
 cants for church communion, have 
 answered the following or similar in- 
 terrogations in the affirmative, viz : 
 
 1. I>o you sincerely believe the scrip* 
 teres of the old and new testament, to 
 be the true and infallible word of God, 
 from which nothing is at any time to 
 be taken, and to which nothing is at 
 any time to be added ? 
 
 2. ]>o you believe the doctrines taught 
 in this branch of the church of Jesus 
 Christ, and in which you have receiv- 
 
414 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 ed instructions, to be the true and per- 
 fect doctrines of salvation ? 
 
 3. Do you solemnly, as in the pre- 
 sence of God and these witnesses, re- 
 nounce the devil— the world — and all 
 ungodliness and promise to yield a 
 cheerful and unreserved obedience to 
 the will and commandments of God ; 
 to grow in grace, and holiness, and to 
 persevere therein to your happy end ? 
 So answer yes. 
 
 Which being done, after a most so- 
 lemn invoking of the special presence 
 and favour of Almighty God, by the 
 minister and congregation, (all kneel- 
 ing before the throne of grace) to de- 
 scend on all who are now renewing 
 their covenant with Jehovah, the min- 
 ister of the gospel lays his hands upon 
 them, and pronounces this or a similar 
 benediction on them, viz : 
 
 " God the Father, God the Son and 
 God the Holy Ghost, even our triune 
 and covenant God, grant you his grace 
 — protect you from all manner of evil, 
 and enable you to grow in grace, and 
 in holiness, and to persevere therein, 
 unto your happy end. — Amen." 
 
 The persons thus solemnly set apart 
 and publicly dedicated to the service 
 of God, now arise from their knees 
 and receive the right hand of fellow- 
 ship of the pastor or minister, thus 
 
SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 415 
 
 confirming, as a, public evidence of 
 their being* received into the full com- 
 munion of the church of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Self-examination and confession of sins, 
 before approaching the Lord's Supper. 
 
 HYMN58. L. M.— Portugal 
 
 1 WHAT strange perplexities arise ? 
 What anxious fears and jealousies? 
 What crowds in doubtful light ap- 
 pear ! 
 
 How few, alas, approved and clear ! 
 
 2 And what am I ? — My soul, awake, 
 And an impartial survey take ; 
 Does no dark sign, no ground of fear, 
 In practice or in heart appear ? 
 
 3 What image does my spirit bear ? 
 Is Jesus form'd, and living there ? 
 Say, do his lineaments divine 
 
 In thought, and word, and action 
 shine ! 
 
 4 Searcher of hearts, O search me still ; 
 The secrets of my soul reveal ; 
 
 My fears remove — let me appear 
 
 To God, and my own conscience clear* 
 
 5 May I consistent with thy word. 
 Approach thy table, O my Lord ! 
 May I among thy saints appear ? 
 Shall I a welcome sruest be there ? 
 
416 SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 6 Have I the wedding- garment on, 
 Or do I naked, stand alone ? 
 O ! quicken, clothe and feed my soul. 
 Forgive my sins, and make me whole* 
 
 SELF-EXAMIMTIOX. 
 
 O Almighty and holy God! Before 
 I would venture to approach unto thy 
 holy table, I know that it behooves me 
 to sanctify my lips, by the humble con- 
 fession of my sins— that mine eyes should 
 prove a fountain of tears, when reflect- 
 ing on my past transgressions — that I 
 should wash mine hands in innocency, 
 and purify my heart in the precious 
 blood of my dear Redeemer, for thy 
 word teaches me, that it is not meet to 
 cast that which is sanctified to dogs, 
 nor the precious pearl before swine — 
 but what is so holy as the body and 
 blood of thy Son, in which the rays of 
 thy divine majesty shine forth in the 
 most refulgent manner I "Where is 
 there a pearl of so great a price to be 
 found, as this held forth to my view in 
 this holy sacrament? And where is 
 there a dog or swine so impure as I am ? 
 But I must confess, O Ood, that in con- 
 sequence of my natural depravity and 
 actual transgressions, no dog has so 
 often turned to his vomit ; nor swine to 
 her wallowing in the mire, as I have 
 wallowed in sinful lusts, and into 
 which I had sunk even deeper, if thy 
 
SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 417 
 
 preventing grace had not been shed 
 abroad in my heart. 
 
 O Lord God ! It is impossible for me 
 to remember, and much more impossi- 
 ble to recount all my sins, which I have 
 committed against Thee, in thought, 
 word and deed. In my very best works, 
 I find much imperfection — my most so- 
 lemn and devout addresses, must, as of 
 themselves, in consequence of being 
 polluted with sin, be an abomination 
 in thy pure and holy eyes, if Thou wert 
 to enter into strict judgment of them ; 
 and how much more, must all my sins 
 be an abomination unto Thee ? 
 
 The means which Thou hast intro- 
 duced in thy law and holy gospel, and 
 hast prescribed for my salvation, have 
 only tended to increase my sins, and 
 render them a greater burden, because 
 I have, alas ! only abused them. Each 
 line off thy holy commandments, which 
 is calculated to direct me, as with a 
 finger, in the way to heaven, has been 
 perverted so as to direct me in the way 
 to perdition. Adam only eat once of one 
 forbidden fruit, but I have, alas I eaten 
 ofttimes and of many forbidden fruits. 
 
 1. For inasmuch as according to thy 
 first commandment, Thou hast enjoin- 
 ed it upon me, to seek my true happi- 
 ness and felicity in Thee — place my im- 
 plicit trust and confidence upon Thee, 
 and await all my prosperity alone 
 
 27 
 
418 
 
 from thy hand ; hut instead of doing 
 this, I have suffered my heart to he 
 riveted to earthly things — my desires 
 to be plaeed upon the honours of this 
 world, on perishing riehes, nay, I have 
 made idols of sinful lusts, and have 
 loved them more than thy love and fa- 
 vour, which are better than life. Thy 
 kingdom and thy righteousness, which 
 I should have been careful first to seek, 
 I have only been too little concerned 
 for. I have also, often murmured 
 against thy all-wise providence, and 
 have envied the prosperity of the un- 
 godly, and on the other hand, I have 
 stumbled and been offended at the 
 crosses of thy people, and have been 
 fretful under thy chastening rod — I 
 have not sufficiently feared thy judg- 
 ments against sin, nor trusted in thy 
 promises, by which Thou designest to 
 remove all my doubts — I have not been 
 sufficiently troubled under a sense of 
 thy displeasure, nor manifested the zeal 
 I ought to have done, for thine honour 
 and glory, nor sought Thee with my 
 whole heart, in thy word and ordi- 
 nances, so as to learn to know Thee, 
 that I might cordially love Thee, nor 
 loved Thee so as to dread exciting thy 
 displeasure, when I should have been 
 ready to do and to suffer any thing, 
 rather than transgress thy holy will. 
 3. Thou hast commanded me, in the 
 
f ELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE TUB LORD*g SUPPER. 419 
 
 second commandment, not to make 
 unto myself any graven image, nor 
 any likeness thereby to represent unto 
 myself thy incomprehensible majesty, 
 or to worship Thee, but on the contra- 
 ry, to regulate all my actions, accord- 
 ing to thy word, which is the only true 
 rule of my faith and conduct, the polar 
 star of my heart, a lamp unto my feet, 
 and a light unto my way, to lead me 
 to worship Thee, as a Spirit, in spirit 
 and in truth. But, alas ! I have oft- 
 times served Thee according to my 
 vain imaginations, and the delusive 
 conceptions of my sinful heart. 
 
 When I poured out my prayers be- 
 fore Thee, or set under the preaching 
 of thy word, I have not been so pre- 
 pared as I should have been, but have 
 performed both with little zeal and 
 devotion, and have not represented 
 unto myself thy sacred Majesty and in- 
 finite wisdom, with which Thou not 
 only fillest both heaven and earth, but 
 with which Thou also searchest the 
 hearts and triest the reins of the chil- 
 dren of men, and knowest all the se- 
 cret thoughts and intents of the heart. 
 
 3. According to thy third command- 
 ment, I am bound to make mention of 
 thy holy name, (before which all knees 
 must bow,) only in a holy and reveren- 
 tial manner, to confess it with cheer- 
 fulness, to worship it with zeal, and in 
 
420 SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD 9 3 SUPPER. 
 
 thoughts, words and deeds, to honour? 
 praise and glorify thy holy name % but 
 instead of doing this, 1 have taken thy 
 holy name in vain — visited thy house 
 more from eustom than from a spirit 
 of zeal and engagedness in thy service, 
 and have sought to please man more 
 than God* And although I have set 
 under the preaching of the gospel, yet 
 I have received hut little benefit from 
 the enjoyment of these sacred and pre- 
 cious privileges, inasmuch as I have 
 suffered my attention to be diverted 
 from thy word, by vain and foolish 
 thoughts, or suffered myself to be over- 
 taken by untimely sleep. And although 
 I have confessed thy go§pel, yet I have 
 not led a life corresponding with the 
 holy doctrines which I profess, but have 
 often received the grace of God in vain* 
 4. According to thy fourth com- 
 mandment, Thou hast made it my 
 solemn duty, to remember the Sabbath 
 day, to keep it holy, as a monument of 
 thy great work of creation, and 
 which I am bound to dedicate wholly 
 to thy service in the exercise of all the 
 duties of religion, to the praise and 
 honour of thy holy name ; and for this 
 purpose, to abstain from all manner 
 of unnecessary work, so that I may 
 commence an eternal sabbath, already 
 in this world, and in due time, spend a 
 never-ending rest with Thee in hea- 
 
SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 421 
 
 ven, font I humbly confess, that instead 
 of doing this, I have let too many sab- 
 baths run to waste* and have at best, 
 come far short of sanctifying* the sab* 
 bath as enjoined upon me in this com- 
 mandment, for after spending an hour 
 or two, in thy service, I have, alas ! oft- 
 times spent the remainder of the day 
 in an idle and unprofitable manner, 
 and instead of improving these pre- 
 cious seasons, by reading, hearing and 
 meditating on thy word, how often 
 have I either neglected these duties al- 
 together or attended to them, at best, 
 in an indifferent and drowsy frame of 
 mind! 
 
 5. In the fifth commandment Thou 
 hast made it obligatory on sue, to love, 
 honour and obey my parents and su- 
 periors ; but how often, O Ood, have I 
 been stubborn and disobedient towards 
 them, and although I have not entirely 
 cast off the yoke of obedience, yet I have 
 frequently manifested great indisposi- 
 tion and impatience as to performing 
 their just and reasonable commands, 
 and thus, instead of honouring my 
 spiritual and temporal superiors, I 
 have often heaped indignity upon their 
 persons and standing. 
 
 6. The sixth commandment prohibits 
 me, not only front injuring my neigh- 
 bour, as to his body, but also to be ever 
 watchful, according to my foest abili- 
 
422 SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER.^ 
 
 ties, to protect and promote his interests 
 and welfare, as well as mine own. both 
 as to body and soul, in this, and for a 
 coming world. But how often have I 
 by the intemperate nse and abuse of 
 thy benefits, through envy, hatred and 
 strife — through bad counsel and exam- 
 ple, jeoparded the life and well-being 
 of both myself and my neighbour; 
 and when I have at times, been offend- 
 ed by him, have I indulged a spirit of 
 anger and revenge, so as to let the sun 
 go down, not only once, but ofttimes 
 over my anger, before I was recon- 
 ciled with him again s and so far was 
 I from loving mine enemies, and doing 
 good unto them which hate me and 
 despitefully use me, that I even rejoiced 
 over their misfortunes, and wished all 
 manner of evil to befall them. 
 
 7. In the seventh commandment, 
 Thou hast commanded me to avoid 
 and flee from every opportunity and 
 temptation to uncleanness, and to use 
 all possible means to live a virtuous, 
 pure and holy life ; in order to the per- 
 formance of which, I should have been 
 daily on my guard, and by watching. 
 fasting and prayer, crucified the lusts 
 of the flesh, and have preserved my 
 heart and mind from all impurity, and 
 my body which should be a temple for 
 the Holy Ghost, pure and holy : but in- 
 stead of doing this, Thou knowest, O 
 
SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORd's SUPPER. 428 
 
 Cod, how often I have, by unclean 
 thoughts, light and trilling words, and 
 vain and foolish actions, rendered my 
 soul utterly impure and abominable 
 in thy pure and holy eyes. 
 
 §. In the eighth commandment the 
 duty is made obligatory upon me, to 
 practice righteousness— to give unto 
 each one of my fellow creatures his 
 due — to be satisfied with my situation 
 and circumstances, and to eat my bread 
 in the sweat of my brow, and to give 
 unto the poor and needy according to 
 my ability, and to use the good things 
 of this life, which Thou bestowest upon 
 me, so as not to abuse them. But I con- 
 fess with humility before Thee, that I 
 have been an unfaithful servant — that 
 I have performed but few deeds of cha- 
 rity, and have thereby sinned against 
 the poor; but I have moreover, been 
 rather engaged in laying up treasures 
 on earth, than in longing after heaven, 
 and have been often tempted to em- 
 ploy unjust means, for the accomplish- 
 ment of these objects. 
 
 9. According to thy ninth command- 
 ment, I am bound at all times, to speak 
 the truth without dissimulation — to 
 judge of all things with charity, and 
 to protect my neighbour's honour and 
 character, to the utmost of my power. 
 But instead of doing this, I have not 
 only often envied him his good fortune, 
 
424 
 
 but have also, ofttimes spoken evil of 
 him, and whereas, I should have 
 covered the nakedness and imperfec- 
 tions of my superiors, with the mantle 
 of love, I have followed too closely the 
 example of Ham, and have sported 
 with them, and have published them to 
 others. I should also have endeavour- 
 ed to live in strict conformity to all thy 
 holy commandments, and to keep my- 
 self unspotted from the world ; but I 
 have indulged in many sins, and have 
 polluted my conscience and injured my 
 good name by my transgressions, nay, 
 my whole life has been a tissue of false- 
 hood, inasmuch as although I pro- 
 fessed the form of godliness, yet I have 
 denied the power thereof. 
 
 10. In the tenth commandment 
 Thou, O God ! hast enjoined upon me 
 to be content with whatever Thou in 
 thy inscrutable wisdom mayest see pro- 
 per to bestow upon me, especially as 
 Thou art wont to bestow much more 
 good than I deserve, and much more 
 than many of thy dear children in the 
 world enjoy; but alas! I have often 
 murmured when Thou hast given 
 others more than I possess, and have 
 indulged a sinful covetousness for for- 
 bidden objects, and have thus been 
 tempted to neglect rendering Thee 
 suitable thanks for the favours which 
 I receive at thy munificent hands. 
 
SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 425 
 
 And what shall I say further ? All of 
 thy holy commandments are exceed- 
 ing broad, and extend not only to our 
 words and actions, hut also to the very 
 inmost thoughts, desires and intents of 
 the heart. My proneness to sin, al- 
 though I may not actually consent 
 unto it — the lusts which arise within 
 me against my will — the vain and fool- 
 ish thoughts of the day, and the sinful 
 dreams of the night, although they are 
 not within my controul, are still dis- 
 pleasing in thy sight. Ah ! who can 
 say he is of a pure heart ? or who can 
 understand his errors ? O Lord ! 
 cleanse Thou me from secret faults, 
 and grant me the free and full remis- 
 sion of all my known and unknown 
 sins. My sins bear down upon my 
 heart, like a heavy burden, and yet I 
 have not rent my heart with godly sor- 
 row and repentance on account of 
 them, so as (according to the religion 
 of Jesus) to resolve in reliance on thy 
 grace, to deny myself of all ungodliness 
 and worldly lusts, and to live godly, 
 righteously and soberly, so that I may 
 at last, through thy grace, obtain the 
 salvation of my soul, in a participation 
 of the inheritance among the saints in 
 light. The gifts and graces which 
 Thou hast bestowed upon me, by thy 
 Holy Spirit, I have not been careful to 
 stir up within me, nor have I been 
 
426 8ELF-EXAMINATI0N BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 daily engaged in working out my soul § 
 salvation, with fear and trembling, as 
 I ought to have done. When I on for- 
 mer occasions, have participated with 
 thy people at thy table, I solemnly 
 pledged myself to Thee, to amend my 
 life, but I have as often violated this 
 solemn promise, and have polluted my 
 soul anew with all manner of sinful 
 lusts and desires, so as to fall deeply 
 into sin, by thus participating in an 
 unworthy manner of the crucified bo- 
 dy and shed blood of my Redeemer, 
 which Thou hast ordained to cleanse 
 my soul from all manner of sinful pol- 
 lutions. 
 
 O the wretched man that I am ! who 
 shall deliver me from the body of this 
 death ? Alas ! no one, but Thou, who 
 art the only and sufficient Saviour of 
 my soul, and who as such, hast given 
 thy holy body and hast shed thy pre- 
 cious blood in crimson streams, as a 
 continued pledge of thy unchanging 
 love, and which I am now about re- 
 ceiving as a seal of my eternal salva- 
 tion. 
 
 Ah! liord ! wash Thou mine hands 
 in innocency— purify my mouth by an 
 humble and penitent confession of all 
 my sins, cleanse Thou mine heart 
 through a true and living faith in thy 
 blood, in order that I may receive this 
 bread of life, and this food of angels, 
 
42* 
 
 with clean bands, and eat it with a 
 sanctified mouth, and receive it into a 
 pure and honest heart. 
 
 O Lord ! grant me also grace in this 
 examination of my soul, that I may 
 find that my desires are pure and 
 fervent — my knowledge sufficient — my 
 penitence on account of my sins, not hy- 
 pocritical — that my purpose of amend- 
 ment is sincere and steadfast — my love 
 upright and ardent, and that my faith 
 may be a true and living faith. 
 
 And when I am thus clothed with 
 this wedding garment, O be pleased, 
 gracious Saviour, to enable me to ap- 
 proach unto thy holy table, with hu- 
 mility of heart, and to retire from it 
 again with joy and gratitude, and that 
 I may receive, by faith, in connection 
 with the broken bread — thy, for me, 
 crucified body, and with the poured 
 out wine — thy, for me, shed blood, and 
 with both, the forgiveness of all my 
 sins — adoption into the family of God, 
 by grace — union with thy spiritual 
 body, and the glorification of both my 
 body and soul, in thy kingdom % amen, 
 ILord Jesus I Amen. 
 
428 ENCOURAGEMENT AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 vt*»™uragement on the day of the Lord?* 
 
 Supper. 
 
 H Y M N 59. C. M.—Coleshill. 
 
 1 YE wretched, hungry, starving poor* 
 Behold a royal feast ! [store, 
 
 Where mercy spreads her bounteous 
 For ev'ry humble guest. 
 
 ft See Jesus stands with open arms ; 
 He calls, he bids you come ; 
 Guilt holds you back, and fear 
 alarms ; 
 But see, there yet is room — 
 
 3 Room in the Saviour's bleeding heart t 
 
 There love and pity meet ; 
 Nor will he bid the soul depart, 
 That trembles at his feet. 
 
 4 In him the Father reconciled ; 
 
 Invites your souls to come ; 
 The rebel shall be call'd a child, 
 And kindly welcomed home. 
 
 5 O ! come, and with his children taste 
 
 The blessings of his love ; 
 While hope attends the sweet repast 
 Of nobler joys above. 
 
 6 There, with united heart and voice 
 
 Before th' eternal throne, 
 Ten thousand thousand souls rejoice, 
 In ectasies unknown. 
 
429 
 
 7 And yet ten thousand thousand more, 
 Are welcome still to come % 
 Ye longing, souls the grace adore ; 
 Approach, there yet is room. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT. 
 
 " Behold I stand at the door, and knock § 
 he that will hear my voice, and open the 
 door, Twill come in to him, and will sup 
 with him, and he with me." — Rev. 3. 2©. 
 
 As soon, O my soul, as thou awakest 
 in the morning, on which thou art in- 
 vited to approach unto the table of the 
 Lord, encourage thyself in the Lord, 
 and say: this is the day of grace on 
 which salvation is brought nigh unto 
 my soul. Arise, my soul, arise! Wake 
 up from the dire sleep of sin — from all 
 carnal thoughts and earthly cares and 
 anxieties ; arise from all dead works, 
 and Christ shall give thee light. To- 
 day, is a day of refreshing— a day of 
 joy and feasting — a day of reconcilia- 
 tion, nay, the day of grace, on which 
 I am to make my peace with God, 
 therefore, arise ! Wake up, O my soul! 
 Go up into the presentee of God ! Ho- 
 sanna ! O Lord help t © Xord, grant 
 prosperity, to the glory of thy holy 
 name, and to the salvation of my never- 
 lying soul — Amen. 
 
 And is it possible, O God, that Thou 
 eallest such a poor miserable creature 
 
430 ENCOURAGEMENT AT THE LORD'S SUPPER* 
 
 as I am? — one who has so often de- 
 spised thy mercy — so frequently excited 
 thy displeasure — given the world and 
 its sinful lusts, the preference, and have 
 thereby richly merited thy wrath and 
 the flames of hell. Thanks ! everlast- 
 ing thanks be unto Thee, O Father in 
 heaven ! for this unmerited mercy and 
 loving kindness towards me, in calling 
 me, unworthy as I am, to participate 
 of this sacred feast. In dependence 
 upon thy call, I will draw nigh with 
 joy? — © may thy will be done; render 
 me, O Lord, by thy grace, (through 
 which I am so affectionately invited 
 to draw nigh unto Thee, in the way of 
 thine own appointment,) acceptable in 
 thy sight, and preserve me continually 
 in thy love. 
 
 O Lord, be merciful unto me a poor 
 sinner, for I stand in much need of thy 
 mercy. As I am nothing without Thee, 
 so I am unable to do any thing good 
 without thine aid, for, O my Lord and 
 my God, it is only through thy grace 
 strengthening me, that I can do all 
 things. Inasmuch, then, as it is neces- 
 sary, on this day of help, that I enjoy 
 much grace, to sincerely repent — to ex- 
 ercise a godly sorrow for my sins, and 
 to receive this soul-nourishing and re- 
 freshing sacrament, at thy table, in the 
 exercise of true devotion — fervent love 
 —and a living and saving faith in thy 
 
DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD*S SUPPER. 431 
 
 blood, O be pleased to perfect thy Al- 
 mighty power in my weakness, and 
 work in me, O tord, both to will and 
 to do, according to thine own good 
 pleasure, for Jesus Christ my Saviour's 
 sake — Amen. 
 
 Devotions when receiving the JLord 3 $ 
 
 Supper. 
 
 HYMN 60. P. M.— Calvary. 
 
 1 Hark ! the voice of love and mercy 
 
 Sounds aloud from Calvary; 
 See ! it rends the rocks asunder, 
 
 Shakes the earth, and veils the sky ! 
 " It is finish'd !" 
 Hear the dying Saviour cry. 
 
 2 It is finish'd! O what pleasure 
 
 Do these precious words afford ! 
 Heav'nly blessings, without measure, 
 
 Flow to us from Christ the JLord s 
 It is finish'd ! 
 Saints, the dying words record. 
 
 3 Finish'd, all the types and shadows 
 
 Of the ceremonial law! 
 Finish'd, all that God had promis'd $ 
 
 Death and hell no more shall awe : 
 It is finish'd ! [draw. 
 
 Saints, from hence your comforts 
 
 4 Happy souls, approach the table, 
 
 Taste the soul-reviving food ! 
 
432 DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 nothing's half so sweet and pleasant, 
 
 As the Saviour's flesh and blood* 
 It is finished ! 
 Christ has borne our heavy load. 
 
 5 Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs, 
 Join to sing the pleasing theme ; 
 
 All on earth, and all in heav*n, 
 Join to praise Immanuel's name ? 
 
 Hallelujah I 
 
 Glory to the bleeding Lamb ! 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 "Hie that eateth my flesh and drinketh 
 my blood* abideth in me, and I in him," 
 says the Redeemer* — John ©. 56. 
 
 O great God ! Graeious and merci- 
 ful Father in Christ Jesus ! Thou in- 
 vitest me once more to the communion 
 of the treasures of thy grace, as Thou 
 hast prepared the table before mine 
 eyes, and callest me to participate of 
 the pledges of thy love, and the seals 
 of thy covenant, which Thou hast esta- 
 blished in Christ Jesus the Son of thy 
 love. 
 
 When I, however, remember that 
 Thou art a holy God, nay, that Thou 
 art holiness itself, and that Thou wilt 
 be sanctified by all them, who would 
 approach unto Thee; but that I am 
 entirely impure and polluted, as to 
 soul and body, in my whole life and 
 
DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 433 
 
 actions. I am cast down and am 
 afraid to appear at this sacred feast ; 
 for X know, O Ood, that no one can ap- 
 pear acceptably in thy presence ; but 
 in the beauty of holiness, clothed in a 
 precious wedding garment ; consisting 
 of the most excellent of heavenly gifts 
 and graces — penitence for sin— true 
 knowledge of a saving faith — fervent 
 love towards Thee and my neighbours 
 — new obedience— undissembled holi- 
 ness — love and zeal in doing all man- 
 ner of good works, 
 
 ITIy heart, therefore, sinks under dis- 
 couragement, as I can scarcely venture 
 to approach unto Thee, inasmuch as I 
 am poor and naked, being not clothed 
 with any of these divine virtues. For, 
 on examining myself, I find so much 
 blindness of mind, that I am so often 
 lead otf from the narrow way of holi- 
 ness ; that my faith is so weak and 
 wavering, that it scarcely deserves the 
 name — that my obedience is so imper- 
 fect, that I more frequently oppose, 
 than do thy holy will — that my love is 
 so faint, that it almost expires — that 
 my repentance is so transient, that I 
 daily fall into errors and sin. How of- 
 ten am I, in the midst of my devotional 
 exercises without zeal, and unfruitful 
 in good works ? All my righteous- 
 ness and holiness is like unto a filthy 
 garment ; and above all, my heart is 
 
434 
 
 frequently so hard and impenitent, 
 that £ feel no concern about those 
 things which belong to my peace; and 
 my desires after Thee, O blessed Jesus, 
 are cold/ although Thou art my only 
 Saviour and Redeemer. Alas ! alas I 
 how great is the depravity of my hard 
 and stony heart I 
 
 ftow, O liord my €*od, shall I ap- 
 proach ? Ah ! how shall I stand before 
 Thee ? Shall I flee ?— but whither ? O 
 !Lord ! two things press sorely upon my 
 conscience ; on the one hand, my con- 
 science accuses me of many great and 
 grievous sins — thy holy law thunders 
 the sentence of condemnation and 
 death, in mine ears — thy justice and 
 holiness till me with terror, and thy 
 wrath threatens me with eternal per- 
 dition. On the other hand, thy grace 
 affords me a pleasing hope — my Sa- 
 viour exclaims : come unto me all ye 
 that are weary and heavy laden with 
 sin, and I will give you rest 5 and these 
 holy signs and seals before me 9 are 
 pledges of thy grace and loving-kind- 
 ness. 
 
 O ! then for counsel ! Shall I remain 
 at a distance, because I am a sinner ? 
 Shall I refuse to approach a throne of 
 grace, because I am wretched and 
 heavy laden? Shall I not go to this 
 all-sufficient fulness of thy grace, be- 
 cause I am so indigent ? Ah, no I I 
 
DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD'S IUPPER. 435 
 
 have come, because the greatness of 
 my misery and necessities demand a 
 speedy and powerful help and relief. 
 Thou art indeed a righteous judge of 
 all stitf-necked sinners who remain 
 out of Christ z but Thou art also, a 
 compassionate Father, to all such as 
 are in Christ Jesus — with Thee there is 
 mercy and forgiveness, not only, that 
 Thou mayest be feared, but that we 
 may also put our trust in Thee; and 
 this I can certainly do, for Thou hast, 
 for this purpose, given thine only be- 
 gotten and well beloved Son into death, 
 to reconcile me with thyself ; nay, for 
 this purpose, O blessed Jesus, didst 
 Thou come into the world, that Thou 
 mightest redeem me from all iniquity, 
 and make me happy in heaven. Wow, 
 for sealing unto me this grace, Thou 
 givest me these holy signs and seals, 
 that my faith may foe thereby strength- 
 ened and confirmed, and that I may 
 taste and experience the loving-kind- 
 ness and tender compassions of the 
 iLord towards me, a sinner. 
 
 I villi, therefore, approach unto 
 Thee, in this ordinance, with heart- 
 felt sorrow and penitence for sin 5 — I 
 confess, deplore and detest my sins and 
 short-comings in thy sight ; and I be- 
 seech Thee most fervently, O Ood, to 
 break my hard and stony heart yet 
 more ; — I believe and place all my hope 
 
430. DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD ? S SUPPER. 
 
 and confidence in thy free and unmer- 
 ited mercy and grace, and on the mer- 
 its of Jesus Christ my only Redeemer J 
 
 be pleased to strengthen my faith 5 — 
 
 1 would come with a renewed resolu- 
 tion, t& amend my life and conduct % © 
 liord, enable me by thy grace, to not 
 only will? but also to do, according to 
 thy good pleasure. 
 
 I now approach, also, O blessed Sa- 
 viour, to receive according to thy com- 
 mand, the consecrated bread and 
 wine, to the preservation, strengthen* 
 ing and refreshment of my spiritual 
 life* O enable me to feed by faith, on 
 thy body, which was crucified for me, 
 and refresh me hy thy precious blood, 
 that was shed for the forgivness of my 
 sins* 
 
 Unto Thee would I commit myself, 
 as to soul, body and spirit, both in life 
 and death, © ratify and confirm unto 
 me, therefore, thy grace — establish me 
 in a joyful hope — permit me to experi- 
 ence peace and joy in niy soul — strength- 
 en me by thy heavenly manna, whilst 
 I have to combat in the wild wilder- 
 ness of this life, until I, at length ar- 
 rive on the imperishable shores of the 
 heavenly Canaan, in the enjoyment of 
 the rest prepared for thy people. Per- 
 mit me, therefore, now to be a partici- 
 pator with thy people here at thy table, 
 in this kingdom of thy grace, so that 
 
HOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 437 
 
 I may also, in due time, be permitted 
 to sit down at thy table, with Abra- 
 ham Isaac and Jacob, in the king- 
 dom of thy glory in heaven — Amen and 
 Amen. 
 
 Holy ejaculations, when the believing 
 communicant approaches to the JLord's 
 Supper* 
 
 HYMN 61. P. M.— Mendon. 
 
 1 VAUV delusive world adieu. 
 
 With all of ereature good, 
 Only Jesus I'll pursue, 
 
 Who bought me with his blood ; 
 All thy pleasures I'll forego, 
 I'll trample on thy wealth and pride; 
 Only Jesus will I know. 
 
 And Jesus crucified ! 
 
 2 Other knowledge I disdain, 
 'Tis all but vanity % 
 
 Christ, the Lamb of Cfod, wag slain, 
 
 He tasted death for me ! 
 Me to save from endless wo, 
 The sin atoning victim died ; 
 Only Jesus will I know, 
 
 And Jesus crucified I 
 
 3 Him to know is life and peace, 
 And pleasure without end, 
 This is all my happiness, 
 
 On Jesus to depend ; 
 
 i 
 
435 HOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD 5 S SUPPER. 
 
 Daily in his grace to grow, 
 And ever in his love abide ; 
 Only Jesus will I know, 
 And Jesus crucified ! 
 
 4 O that I could all invite, 
 This saving truth to prove ; 
 Show the length, and breadth, and 
 height, 
 And depth of Jesus 9 love ? 
 Fain I would to sinners show, 
 This blood alone by faith applied | 
 Only Jesus will I know* 
 And Jesus crucified J 
 
 HOL.Y EJACULATIONS. 
 
 "Blessed are they which are called to 
 the marriage supper of the JLamb." — 
 Rev. 19. 9. 
 
 1. When the communicant approach- 
 es the table. 
 
 Behold! O blessed Saviour, I ap- 
 proach unto thy table, where my hun- 
 gry and thirsty soul longs and desires 
 for Thee. Here I am, O Jesus, that my 
 soul may be satisfied with good. O be 
 pleased to nourish and refresh unto 
 life eternal. O impart unto me, in 
 thine infinite and everlasting love, the 
 merits of thy crucified body and shed 
 blood, after which my soul so earnestly 
 hungers and thirsts. O blessed Jesus, 
 with desire do I look unto Thee, and 
 
fcOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD** SUPPER. 4S9 
 
 ir ait with longing of soul, upon Thee, 
 for the communications of thy love* 
 
 2. When the communicant sees the 
 bread broken and the wine poured 
 out. 
 
 O my dear Redeemer, how mueh 
 didst Thou suffer — how awfully was 
 thy sacred body torn and mangled, and 
 thy precious blood shed ! This was all 
 done, not only for, but also through my 
 great and grievous sins ; — they pressed 
 too heavily upon thy soul, which caused 
 thy sweat to fall like great drops of 
 blood, to the ground. My sins were the 
 thorns, the scourge, the nails, the spear, 
 by which thy precious body was so in- 
 humanly broken and mangled, and 
 thy precious blood was made to How. 
 O Lord Jesus, may thy crucified body 
 and shed blood, be applied to heal nay 
 wounded soul from all manner of sin. 
 
 3. When the communicant receives 
 the consecrated bread. 
 
 Now, be pleased to enable me, by 
 faith, to receive Thee, © blessed Jesus, 
 into the inmost recesses of my soul, so 
 that Thou mayest be as intimately and 
 really united with me, by thy Spirit, as 
 the bread and wine are united with 
 my body. 
 
 O blessed and holy bread ! which re- 
 presents the Bread of Life; I receive 
 Thee, © precious Saviour ! who wast 
 
440 HOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD S SUPPER. 
 
 not only given unto death, for me, but 
 art also given with all thy saving 
 benefits, by faith, to me. O Thou true 
 Bread of heaven ! be pleased to 
 strengthen and nourish my soul with 
 thy crucified body unto life eternal, so 
 that my soul may hunger no more for- 
 ever. 
 
 4. When the communicant receives 
 the consecrated wine* 
 
 O soul-satisfying refreshment ! which 
 represents the precious blood which 
 flowed from the side of my dear Re- 
 deemer, to heal all the wounds of my 
 soul, and to cancel all my sins and 
 transgressions. O Lord Jesus, may this 
 blood purify and cleanse my sinful 
 heart, that I may thereby enjoy peace 
 and rest for my soul, so that it may 
 never thirst. 
 
 5. Ejaculations after receiving the 
 sacrament. 
 
 O my dear, once crucified, but now 
 glorified Redeemer, I have now re- 
 ceived Thee, anew in my soul, that I 
 may be united with Thee, as the 
 branch is unto the vine, and as the 
 bread and wine are united with my 
 body. Now it is, as Thou knowest, sny 
 heart's sincere desire, that thy crucifi- 
 ed body, and thy precious blood, which 
 was shed for my sins, may be as really 
 
DEVOTIONS AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 441 
 
 treasured up in my soul, by the influ- 
 ence and communion of thy Holy Spi- 
 rit, as I have just received this broken 
 bread and poured wine into my body. 
 O J esus ! I would receive Thee, with 
 all thy gifts and benefits ; dwell in fu- 
 ture within my heart, so that I may be 
 enabled to say, with the full assurance 
 of faith s my beloved is mine and I am 
 his ; I am crucified with Thee ; I live, 
 yet not I, but Jesus lives in me ; Thou 
 hast loved me and given thyself into 
 the death for me. 
 
 Devotional exercises after the JLord 9 $ 
 
 Supper. 
 
 HYMN 62. S. M.— Silver Street. 
 
 1 O bless the liord, my soul ! 
 I^et all within me join : 
 
 And aid my tongue to bless his name* 
 Whose favours are divine. 
 
 2 O bless the £<ord, my soul I 
 Nor let his mercies lie, 
 
 Forgotten in unthankfulness, 
 And without praises die. 
 
 3 'Tis he forgives thy sins ; 
 'Tis he relieves thy pain; 
 
 'Tis he that heals thy sicknesses, 
 And makes thee young again. 
 
448 DETOTIONS AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPElli 
 
 4 He crowns thy life with love, 
 When r ansom - d from the grave ; 
 
 He, that redeem'd my soul from hell, 
 Hath sovereign pow'r to save. 
 
 5 He tills the poor with good, 
 
 He gives the sutT'rers rest ; [prond, 
 The Lord hath judgments for the 
 And justiee for th- opprest. 
 
 6 His wond'rous works and ways 
 He made by Moses known ; 
 
 But sent the world his truth and graee, 
 By his beloved Son* 
 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 "Jtly beloved is mine and I am his," 
 says the bride to .Jesus Christ. — Cant. 2. 
 16. " JBtess the JLord, O my soul? and 
 alt that is within me. bless his holy name. 
 Bless the LiOrd, O my soul, and forget 
 not all his benefits •• who forgiveth all 
 thine iniquities 9 who healeth all thy dis- 
 eases § who redeemeth thy life from de- 
 struction ,• who crowneth thee with lov- 
 ing kindness and tender mercy." — Ps. 
 103. 1—4, 
 
 © my God — my Father— my Saviour 
 — my Helper, and the Author of all my 
 comfort! In what exalted strains of 
 gratitude, shall I praise, laud, magnify 
 and adore Thee, for all the manifesta- 
 tions of thy wondrous grace towards 
 
44$ 
 
 me, a poor unworthy sinner, from 
 time to time, but more especially, on 
 the present day and occasion ? It was 
 not enough for Thee to create me 
 originally, after thy glorious image, 
 when I was brought into existence, but 
 Thou hast also created me anew in 
 Christ Jesus, by thy Spirit, after I had 
 apostatized from Thee, and lost thine 
 image. 
 
 It was not enough for Thee, O I^ord ! 
 to provide for and protect me as to my 
 body, from evil and danger, but Thou 
 hast also blessed me, as to my soul, with 
 spiritual benefits, and provided for me 
 a better, nay, an eternal life beyond the 
 grave. Of this, Thou hast given me 
 this day, the most solemn pledges at 
 thy table. I may now, therefore, ex- 
 claim, in thine own language : " It is 
 finished!" My covenant is renewed — 
 ratified and confirmed with Thee. 
 
 O blessed ! thrice blessed be thy holy 
 name, O Jesus! my Saviour, that it has 
 pleased Thee, to condescend to come in 
 unto me, and sup with me according to 
 thy promise. How could I, as a sinful 
 creature, anticipate such distinguished 
 blessings? Is it possible, that Thou 
 wilt hold communion with such a sin- 
 ner as I am, nay, even permit me to 
 feed by faith, on thy sacred body and 
 blood? Well may I be astonished at 
 thy great condescension and incom- 
 
444 DEVOTIONS AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 prehensible love towards me. O Lord, 
 grant that I may ever remember this, 
 and evince most fervent gratitude to- 
 wards Thee. As Thou hast come in 
 unto me, O Thou Blessed of the ILord ! 
 be ever zealous for thine house, and the 
 place where Thou dweliest. Permit 
 no unclean guest of impure thoughts 
 or desires to intrude into this temple of 
 thine. But O Lord, ever preserve me 
 from polluting thy holy garment, with 
 which Thou hast clothed me, or from 
 violating the covenant, which Thou 
 ratified and sealed, or the vows which 
 I have made unto Thee, so that I may 
 liot forfeit my birth-right to a mansion 
 %m my Father's house in heaven. 
 
 May I be continually willing and 
 ready for every good word and work, 
 so that my life may ever be conformed 
 unto thy sufferings and death, and that 
 I may abound more and more in thy 
 love and favour, and be found in the 
 great day of the Lord, clothed with the 
 wedding garment, having on my body 
 and soul, the seal of Jesus my Saviour, 
 and receive the soul- thrilling wel- 
 come : come ye blessed of my Father, 
 inherit the kingdom prepared for you, 
 from the foundation of the world ; and 
 thus may I be forever with the Lord ! 
 —Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen. 
 
PRAYER AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 445 
 
 Prayer of one 9 who has just been at the 
 JLord's table, but who has enjoyed little 
 or no refreshing from the presence of 
 the Lord* in participating of this sa« 
 cred ordinance. 
 
 H Y M N 63. C. M.-— Burstal. 
 
 1 O FOR a closer walk with God, 
 
 A calm and heavenly frame $ 
 A light to shine upon the road, 
 That leads me to the Lamb ? 
 
 2 Where is the blessedness I knew 
 
 When first I saw the Lord? 
 Where is the soul-refreshing view 
 Of Jesus, and his word? 
 
 3 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd! 
 
 How sweet their memory still ! 
 But they have left an aching void 
 The world can never fill. 
 
 4 Return, O Holy I>ove, return, 
 
 Sweet messenger of rest I 
 I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, 
 And drove Thee from my breast* 
 
 5 The dearest idol I have known, 
 
 Whatever that idol be, 
 Help me to tear it from thy throne. 
 And worship only Thee. 
 
 6 So shall my walk be close with God* 
 
 Calm and serene my frame ; 
 So purer light shall mark the road 
 That leads me to the Lamb. 
 
446 PRATER AFTER THE LORD'S IUPPKR. 
 
 " I sought him whom my soul loved, hut 
 I found him not; I called unto him, but he 
 answered me not." — Cant. 3. 1. and 5. 8. 
 
 Gracious and merciful God and Fa- 
 ther ! I, as a poor and unworthy sin- 
 ner, appeared at thy holy table, in com- 
 pliance with thine invitation and com- 
 mand, and have received the holy signs 
 and seals, with which Thou art wont 
 to ratify and confirm unto all who ap- 
 pear, as worthy guests at thy table, the 
 forgiveness of their sins, and sweet and 
 endeared communion with Thee and 
 thy Son Jesus, as the Bride-groom and 
 Redeemer of their souls ; and have no- 
 ticed how others of my dear brethren 
 in the I^ord, rejoiced in spirit, and re- 
 turned Thee their fervent thanksgiv- 
 ing, for the blessings Thou didst bestow 
 upon them ; but I, alas ! wretched sin- 
 ner that I am, felt distressed and bowed 
 with much anxiety. Alas! my heart 
 is insensible, nay, almost dead, and 
 can scarcely raise its desires any more 
 to Thee ; my faith and hope are so 
 weak, that I almost faint by the way, 
 and although my soul should have 
 been strengthened and confirmed at 
 thy table ; yet instead of this, I am more 
 terrified and cast down than before. 
 
 O Lord my God ! how miserable do I 
 feel ? And wilt Thou hide the light of 
 thy countenance any longer from me, 
 
PRATER AFTER THE LORl/s frUPPER. 447 
 
 and permit me to sit in tlie shades of 
 darkness. Wilt Thou any longer with- 
 hold comfort from my poor comfortless 
 soul ? Shall I continue to hunger and 
 thirst, and wilt Thou not nourish and 
 refresh me ? Shall I continue to seek 
 Thee, sorrowing, and shall I not find 
 grace in thy sight ? Shall I continually 
 sigh and cry unto Thee, and wilt thou 
 not wipe away the tears from mine 
 eyes? Or hast Thou forgotten to he 
 gracious, and turned thy compassion 
 into wrath ? Alas ! what am I to think 
 of this? The reason why I was not 
 comforted to day, must be found in 
 mine own soul ; it must be because of 
 some secret poison, which lurks in 
 mine heart, which has thus impeded 
 my growth in grace, and has so op- 
 pressed my soul ; there must be some 
 accursed Achan in the citadel of mine 
 heart, which causes me to fear and flee 
 before mine enemies ; my preparation 
 for this sacred transaction, has either 
 been too imperfect, or my heart and 
 soul have been surrounded with too 
 many imperfections and blemishes to 
 be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my 
 strength and my Redeemer. 
 
 I acknowledge, O Lord, thy righte- 
 ousness — I am well convinced that 
 Thou wouldst not have permitted me 
 to lack any good thing, if my sins had 
 not induced and compelled Thee to do 
 
-148 PRATER AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 it. I did not appear before Thee, and 
 at thy tahe in a suitable manner, and 
 hence Thou withholdest the blessing 
 and comfort, which Thou art wont to 
 bestow, in this feast of love divine. 
 
 But, O gracious Crod I I will not de- 
 spair, but resolve on seeking Thee, 
 with more purpose of heart, for Thou 
 art wont to hide the light of thy coun- 
 tenance from thy children, and to de- 
 prive them of the joy of thy life-giving 
 favour, for a season, in order that they 
 may, thereby, be led to seek thy face, 
 with more fervent cries and tears, and 
 when they have at length found favour 
 in thy sight, to lead them to appreciate 
 it more highly, and to preserve this 
 precious pledge of thy love, as the ap- 
 ple of their eye. 
 
 I would, therefore, prostrate myself 
 before thy throne, O Lord, and beseech 
 Thee, most earnestly, to come to mine 
 aid, with the comforts of thy good 
 Spirit. Strengthen my weak faith, 
 which is as small as a grain of 
 mustard-seed, and make it a fruitful 
 tree of righteousness. Confirm my 
 sinking hope, and cause it to take deep 
 root in thy promises. And, O €fod, 
 sanctify my heart-renew it by thy 
 power, and give it life through the in- 
 fluences of thy Holy Spirit— purify it 
 by the blood of the everlasting cove- 
 nant — break it more and more in pieces 
 
449 
 
 irith the hammer of thy word — melt it 
 more thoroughly by the influences of 
 thy Spirit, and erer guide it according- 
 to thy Holy will. 
 
 Comfort, O JLord, my agonized soul 
 and permit me soon to experience the 
 loving efficacy of this bread, which 
 cometh down from heaven ; and should 
 it not please Thee to satisfy my soul 
 frith that fulness which maketh the 
 soul drunk frith lore and joy in others, 
 O be pleased to impart, at least, such 
 communications of thy favour, as will 
 keep my anxious soul from fainting 
 within me. If I am not permitted to 
 partake abundantly of the bread of 
 thy children, O be pleased to grant 
 that I may receive the crumbs of thy 
 grace, which fall from thy table, 
 among the dogs. I frill, moreover, O 
 XfOrd, not despair, nor suffer my soul 
 to be entirely cast down within me. 
 Thy fvord says s seek ye my face $ there- 
 fore, thy face, © JLord, frill I seek, and 
 will continue to cry, until Thou con- 
 descendest to bless me. 
 
 Nay, it is already a blessing, that I 
 am mot permitted, in the agony of my 
 soul, entirely to despair, but am still so 
 anxiously desirous to obtain grace in 
 thy sight. Well may I exclaim, frith 
 the mother of Sampson : If the I^ord 
 desired to slay me, he would not hare 
 done this. Why then, O my soul, art 
 
 29 
 
450 PRAYER AFTER THE LORD*S SUFFER* 
 
 Thou so east clown? or why so disquiet* 
 ed within me? Mope thou in Ctod, for 
 thou shalt yet praise him, who is the 
 light of thy countenance, and thy God* 
 He will not break the bruised reed, nor 
 quench the smoking flax, but by his 
 own Almighty arm, carry on the "work 
 of his grace, and make his strength 
 perfect in thy weakness. 
 
 O JLord ! I am poor and needy, there- 
 fore, remember me in mercy? and 
 strengthen and comfort me in my mis- 
 ery. I will Trait upon Thee, the God 
 of my salvation ! O comfort me with 
 thy Spirit, lead me by thy counsel, and 
 receive me at last into glory, where 
 sighing and sorrow, shall forever flee 
 away, and where Thou shalt wash 
 away all tears from mine eyes, and 
 grant me a fulness of joy in thy pre- 
 sence, and pleasures forevermore at 
 thy right hand. O Lord God Almigh- 
 ty, most gracious and merciful, hear 
 these my humble petitions and suppli- 
 cations, for Jesus' sake*— Amen* 
 
PART III. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 INSTRUCTIONS, HYMNS, AND PRAYERS, 
 
 NOT ONLY FOR THE SICK AND DYING, 
 
 BUT ALSO, 
 
 APPLICABLE TO ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. 
 
 Instructions and advice how to address 
 sich persons* 
 
 HYMN 64. 8 4—8,8,4. P. M.— Welsh Melody. 
 1. 
 
 THERE'S a friend above all others, 
 
 Oil, how he loves ! 
 His is love beyond a brother's, 
 
 Oh, how he loves ! 
 Earthly friends may fail and leave us, 
 This day kind, the next bereave us, 
 But this friend will ne'er deceive us, 
 
 Oh, how he loves ! 
 
 2. 
 Rlessed Jesus! would' st thou know him, 
 
 Oh, how he loves ! 
 Oive thyself e'en this day to him, 
 
 Oh, how he loves ! 
 
452 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICE. 
 
 Is it sin tli at; pains and grieves thee* 
 Unbelief and trials tease thee ? 
 Jesus can from all release thee, 
 Oh, how lie loves ! 
 
 3. 
 
 liove this friend who longs to save thee? 
 
 Oh, how he loves I 
 Dost thou love ? He will not leave thee? 
 
 Oh, how he loves ! 
 Think no more then of to-morrow, 
 Take his easy yoke and follow, 
 Jesus carries all thy sorrows. 
 
 Oh, how he loves I 
 
 4. 
 
 All my sins shall be forgiven. 
 
 Oh, how he loves I 
 Backward all thy foes he driven, 
 
 O, how he loves I 
 Best of blessings he'll provide thee, 
 Nought but good shall e'er betide thee, 
 Safe to glory he will guide thee, 
 
 Oh, how he loves I 
 
 5. 
 Pause, my soul ! adore and wonder, 
 
 Oh, how he loves J 
 Nought can cleave this love asunder, 
 
 Oh, how he loves ! 
 Neither trial, nor temptation, 
 Doubt, nor tear, nor tribulation. 
 Can bereave us of salvation * 
 Oh, how he loves I 
 
INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 45$ 
 
 6. 
 let us still this love be viewing? 
 
 Oh, how lie loves ! 
 And though faint keep on pursuing*, 
 
 Oh, how he loves ! 
 He will strengthen eaeh endeavour, 
 And when pass'd o'er Jordan's river* 
 This shall be our song forever, 
 
 Oh how he loves I 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
 "•find we desire that everyone of you 9 
 do show the same diligence, to the full 
 assurance of hope unto the end $ that ye 
 he not slothful, hut followers of them, 
 who through faith and patience inherit 
 the promises." — Heb. ©. 11, IS. 
 
 It is well known, that many divines 
 in England, Holland, France and 
 other countries, have rendered the 
 church of Jesus Christ, and the world, 
 most important services, by writing 
 and publishing various books ou the 
 subject of comforting tlie sick, in all 
 manner of circumstances, so that to 
 the superficial observer, it might ap- 
 pear alltogether unnecessary to add 
 any more to -what has already been 
 published on this subject 5 but in rela- 
 tion to this, we may safely say, that too 
 much correct information cannot be 
 disseminated owjl a subject of which we 
 can never learn enough. In order that 
 
454 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 
 
 I may render this work what it pro- 
 fesses to he, in the title page: "A Chris- 
 tian's Companion," I shall now pro- 
 ceed to submit a few thoughts on the 
 subject of addressing the sick and af- 
 flicted ; not, however, with a view of 
 confining any of the ministers of the 
 gospel, or any of Ood's dear people to 
 this, or any other mode of visiting and 
 adressing the sick, but only to repre- 
 sent to all, who may read this publi- 
 cation, the means which have been 
 adopted, and proved successful, in the 
 hands of many of the servants of the 
 JLord Jesus Christ, in administering 
 comfort, and imparting aid to many 
 of the sick and afflicted sons and 
 daughters of Adam. 
 
 It is beyond all doubt, one of the 
 most solemn and important duties, in- 
 cumbent on a pastor of the flock of 
 Christ, to know well, how to visit the 
 sick and afflicted, in the most suitable 
 and profitable manner, so as to ad- 
 minister seasonable instruction — effi- 
 cacious consolation, and to prepare 
 such for a happy exit from time to 
 eternity. To be able to do this, it is 
 highly necessary to make due prepa- 
 ration for this arduous task. The first 
 thing then, that is here necessary, ac- 
 cording to my opinion is, that the min- 
 ister of the gospel or pious friend, who 
 visits the sick, should not only address 
 
INSTRUCTIONS WHUN VISITING SICK. 455 
 
 many appropriate and comforting 
 passages of sacred scripture, in succes- 
 sion unto the sick s but that he follow 
 carefully, the example of an able and 
 experienced physician, who when he 
 visits the sick, especially if he jet en- 
 joys the use of his reason, and can 
 speak, first enquires of him, where his 
 complaint lies — where he experiences 
 most pain, and then prescribes the 
 means and medicines for him ; accord- 
 ingly, first enquire into the state and 
 frame of his mind, and learn how he 
 is disposed to receive this visitation 
 from the hand of God, and then take 
 occasion, according to the answers he 
 may give, to regulate his addresses, 
 admonitions and consolations unto 
 him. 
 
 Something of the following nature, 
 may not be unsuitable : 
 
 Dear brother (or sister) inasmuch as 
 I learned that you were attacked with 
 sickness and affliction, I considered it 
 a duty incumbent on me, to pay you a 
 visit, not only for the purpose of sympa- 
 thizing with you, but also, to enjoy 
 some conversation with you, and if 
 possible to encourage and comfort you 
 in the Lord. 
 
 If nature teaches us to sympathize 
 with you, in your sickness, faith teach- 
 es us no less, to rejoice with you, in the 
 prospect that your perpetual happi- 
 
456 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 
 
 ness is now drawing nigli ; fake, there- 
 fore, for granted z 
 
 1. That fl^e time has now arrived, 
 that God Almighty requires yon to re- 
 hearse unto him, all what you have 
 learned during your past life of Chris- 
 tianity | and that this visitation is in- 
 tended as a school of virtue, to exereise 
 you, in bringing forth the fruits of a 
 true and living faith. 
 
 Ton know, that the true ehild of God, 
 is in duty bound to serve God all the 
 days of his life ; but when sueh an one 
 is visited with a painful disease, he 
 would appear to be ineapable to serve 
 God, but no ! For your encourage- 
 ment, remember, that hy patient suf- 
 fering, pious conversations and sighs, 
 and a holy example, you may effectual- 
 ly honour and serve your God in sick- 
 ness, whilst at the sauie time, your 
 friends and acquaintances will be 
 much edified ; for this purpose, there- 
 fore, attend to the following represen- 
 tations and counsels : 
 
 You have learned by Christianity, 
 that all temporal afflictions and suf- 
 ferings, and consequently sickness, do 
 by no means come hy chance, but from 
 the paternal hand of God. From that 
 God who is just in all his works ; but 
 who is also true and faithful, and will 
 not suffer us to be tempted above mea- 
 sure, but regulates all trials and ***mp- 
 
INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 45*7 
 
 tations, so as to enable n§ to bear lip 
 under theiii. It Is lie who wounds and 
 easts down with sickness, by way of 
 chastisment, not only impenitent and 
 ungodly sinners, but also, liis dearest 
 and most beloved children. 
 
 2. Believe, therefore, most firmly, that 
 God, in visiting you, at present, with 
 suffering, does not do it beeause he is 
 your enemy, or seeks thereby to destroy 
 you, but rather that he may draw you, 
 as his beloved ehild to himself; remem- 
 ber that whom Ood loves, he loves unto 
 the end, and out of pure and infinite 
 love to us, gave his only begotten and 
 well beloved Son, to redeem us, and 
 sends his Holy Spirit into our hearts, 
 to sanetify and eomfort us, and that out 
 of this same love towards us, he sends 
 siekness to try us, and to humble us 
 under his Almighty hand, and to thus 
 prepare us, for eternal life with him in 
 glory. 
 
 Our heavenly Father employs va« 
 rious means, to advanee us towards a 
 blessed immortality ; at one time, he 
 uses the rod lightly, and does us much 
 good from the heavens and the earth, 
 as to soul and body, in order to gain 
 our hearts and affections to himself, 
 and that he grants us also his soul-in- 
 spiring word, to make us wise unto sal- 
 vation ; but at other times he uses the 
 rod with severity, and lays hold of our 
 
458 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 
 
 bodies and our souls, by various crosses 
 and distressing sicknesses, that he may, 
 thereby, chastise us so that we may not 
 be condemned with an ungodly world. 
 That he changes the unending suffer- 
 ings of hell, which his children have 
 deserved by their sins, as well as the 
 ungodly, into a temporal affliction ; and 
 that this what God is now doing unto 
 you, and that he may remind you of 
 his displeasure against sin, he has sent 
 this attack of illness upon you, which, 
 although it should grow ever so severe, 
 would only be like a falling dew com- 
 pared to a tremendous storm. 
 
 3. God takes occasion by means of 
 this visitation, to remind you of your 
 remaining sins and impurities— that 
 you are not better than others — that 
 you may thereby be led to humble 
 yourself, under the Almighty hand of 
 God. 
 
 Acknowledge then your sins and mis- 
 eries, and remember how often you 
 have violated and transgressed the 
 will and commandments of God. And 
 as you will find an incalculable num- 
 ber of sins and iniquities, in the regis- 
 ter of your heart, prostrate yourself as 
 a poor, unworthy, guilty and hell de- 
 serving sinner, before the throne of 
 God, and confess before him with 
 heartfelt penitence, all your sins, and 
 see well to it, that you feel much more 
 
INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 459 
 
 cancer lied about your sins than about 
 your sickness ; acknowledge before 
 God witli a broken la ear t and contrite 
 spirit , that you have not only merited 
 this chastisement, but everlasting death 
 and misery; and call upon God most 
 fervently, to forgive you all your trans- 
 gressions, for the alone sake of the bit- 
 ter sufferings and bloody death of Jesus 
 Christ ; lay hold on him by faith, and 
 sigh unto him in the following, or a 
 similar manner. 
 
 Prayer of a sick person for the forgive* 
 ness of sins. 
 
 HYMN 65. L. M.— Windham. 
 1. 
 
 SHOW pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive, 
 Let a repenting rebel live 5 
 Are not thy mercies large and free ? 
 May not a sinner trust in Thee ? 
 
 2. 
 My crimes are great, but don't surpass 
 The power and glory of thy grace ; 
 Great God, thy nature hath no bounds, 
 So let thy pardoning love be found. 
 
 3. 
 Oh, wash my soul from every sin, 
 And make my guilty conscience clean t 
 Here on my heart the burden lies, 
 And past offences pain my eyes. 
 
460 PRATER WHEN VISITING 6ICK. 
 
 4. 
 My lips with shame nay sins confess, 
 Against tliy law, against tliy grace ; 
 Lord, should thy judgments grow se- 
 vere, 
 I am condemned, but Thou art clear. 
 
 5. 
 Should sudden vengeance seize my 
 
 breath, 
 I must pronounce Thee just in death : 
 And if my soul were sent to hell, 
 Thy righteous law approves it well. 
 
 6. 
 Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord, 
 Whose hope, still hovering round thy 
 word, [there 
 
 Would light on some sweet promise 
 Some sure support against despair. 
 
 "J know, O JLord, that thy judgments 
 are rights and that Thou in faithfulness 
 hast afflicted me." — Ps. 119. 75. 
 
 O holy and gracious Ood and Fa- 
 ther ! 1, as a poor broken-hearted sin- 
 ner, come before Thee and acknow- 
 ledge that this sickness has not come 
 by chance, hut in thy holy and all- wise 
 Providence. Ah! Lord! I know that 
 thy hand lays heavy on me, because of 
 my sins, but I know also that in the 
 midst of deserved wrath. Thou remem- 
 berest mercy. 
 
 While I take a retrospective view, 
 
PRAYER WHEN VISITING SICK, 461 
 
 and recollect how many thousand 
 times I have transgressed thy holy law, 
 and have thereby excited thy just dis- 
 pleasure, and have deserved thy wrath, 
 both in time and for eternity ; I humbly 
 confess that this affliction is nothing 
 compared to what I merited at thy 
 hand. Thou mightest in justice, have 
 cut me oft* so suddenly as to prevent me 
 from enjoying* an opportunity to call, 
 even once, upon Thee, for mercy and 
 forgiveness. But Thou hast gracious- 
 ly preserved me, and exercisest even 
 now, the most fatherly regard towards 
 me, in visiting me as thy dear child, 
 and hast sent this sickness, to lead me 
 to unfeigned repentance and amend- 
 ment of life % for thy word assures me, 
 that the child that Thou lovest, Thou 
 chastenest, and that Thou correctest 
 every son that Thou receivest. 
 
 O how merciful art Thou unto me, © 
 indulgent Father in heaven ! Before 
 this I was much diseased, as to my soul, 
 without a knowledge of the dreadful 
 malady, but now by means of this visi- 
 tation, I am led to a knowledge of my 
 sins and imperfections, to know how 
 awfully I have heeik wounded. O Fa- 
 ther of mercies, in tender compassion,, 
 and for Jesus 9 sake, turn away thine 
 eyes from my sins, and reward me not 
 according to my deserts. Lord! thy 
 favour is better than life, and with 
 
462 PRAYER WHEN VISITING SICK. 
 
 Thee we find mercy § Thou hast not 
 only placed thy mercy above all thy 
 works, and above all my manifold and 
 grievous sins, but above the sins of the 
 whole world, which are infinite. 
 
 Therefore, wash me, O blessed Jesus, 
 with thy blood, and purify me front all 
 my impurities, which bear with such 
 oppressive weight upon my conscience. 
 And as Thou didst die for me, nay, didst 
 endure inexpressible anguish for my 
 sake, when I was yet thine enemy, O 
 be pleased now to be my sympathizing 
 Intercessor with thy Father in heaven, 
 after that Thou hast now reconciled 
 me unto thyself — cheer me with the 
 light of thy countenance, as Thou didst 
 Blary Magdalene — a deeply fallen Pe- 
 ter, and even a penitent thief on the 
 cross ; although there may be nothing 
 in me which is pleasing in the sight of 
 God, yet, he takes pleasure in those, 
 who approach and call upon him, in 
 thine all-prevailing name, for forgive- 
 ness of sins — life and salvation. 
 
 O l<ord of my life ! my times are in thy 
 hands ; if it, therefore, be consistent 
 with thy holy will, rebuke this disease 
 and cause it to vanish; speak but a 
 word, and thy servant (or hand-maid) 
 shall be restored to health and strength, 
 and my soul shall yet praise Thee in the 
 land of the living ; but if Thou hast ap- 
 pointed this illness as a messenger to an- 
 
PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 463 
 
 nonnce to me my departure from time 
 to eternity, thy will, O God, be done. 
 
 Behold! O Father and Redeemer, 
 here am 1 1 grant me sincere repent- 
 ance and true faith in Jesus Christ thy 
 Son, that I may fall sweetly asleep in 
 Jesus, and that my last sigh may be : 
 Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commit 
 my spirit — Amen. 
 
 4. In the next place are you appre- 
 hensive that this sickness is a forerun- 
 ner of death, then remember what a 
 mercy God is bestowing upon you, in 
 thus sending you this messenger to 
 rouse you to set your house in order, by 
 weaning your affections and desires 
 from the world, and to enable you to 
 overcome your natural aversion to pass 
 over the swelling of the Jordan of death. 
 
 And behold ! what a suitable and sea- 
 sonable means this affliction is, to ena- 
 ble you to make a Christian prepara- 
 tion for death ; O resign, therefore, to the 
 will of God, your heavenly Father, and 
 address him in the following manner* 
 
 Prayer for entire submission to the will 
 of Crod in sickness. 
 
 HYMN 66. C. M. — Resignation. 
 
 1 NOT from the dust afflictions grow, 
 Nor troubles rise by chance ; 
 Yet we are born to cares and woes I 
 A sad inheritance ! 
 
464 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 
 
 2 As sparks break out from burning 
 
 coals, 
 And still are upwards borne ; 
 So grief is rooted in our souls, 
 And main grows up to mourn : 
 
 3 Yet with my €*od I leave my cause. 
 
 And trust his promised grace ; 
 He rules me by his well-known laws, 
 Of love and righteousness. 
 
 4 Mot all the pains that e'er I bore, 
 
 Shall spoil my future peace, 
 For death and hell can do no more 
 Than what my Father please. 
 
 " It is the Lord, let him do with me as 
 seemeth good in his sight." — 1 Sam. 3. IS. 
 
 O eternal Ood and Father! Thou 
 hast created and preserved me, and 
 Thou hast blessed me all the days of 
 my life, and kindly provided for me in 
 every situation and circumstance — no- 
 thing could befall me without a cause 
 — nothing 'without thy will and provi- 
 dence, I know also, that Thou chas- 
 tisest thy children in mercy, with the 
 design of imparting greater blessings 
 unto them. O Eiord, here I am, as thy 
 child, and humbly cast myself under 
 thy rod — do unto me as it seemeth good 
 in thy sight — preserve me hy thy grace, 
 and use the means according to thy 
 good pleasure, to draw me nigh unto 
 
PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 465 
 
 thyself. I am not anxious about the 
 termination of this sickness, so that I 
 may only enjoy thy favour which is 
 life, and thy loving kindness which is 
 better than life ; remember, therefore, 
 
 Lord, my infirmities, and grant that 
 
 1 may ever rejoice in thy favour* 
 
 I am thy creature — thy servanlr-Hthy 
 child — nay, thy possession, therefore, 
 will I hope and trust in Thee. As Thou 
 hast a treasure of grace in store, for all 
 who put their confidence in Thee, I 
 will lay my hand upon nay mouth and 
 be still, and silently and patiently wait 
 until my change comes — Amen. 
 
 5. Nothing is more profitable and sa- 
 lutary to the sick, than to open up the 
 treasure of glorious promises contained 
 in the holy word of God, in his sick- 
 ness, and meditate seriously on them, 
 and apply them to himself. But should 
 his situation be too painful and oppres- 
 sive, to afford him an opportunity to 
 reflect on these matters, the minister or 
 pious friend visiting him, would do 
 well to repeat in his hearing, some of 
 the shortest and most precious of these 
 blessed promises of Jehovah ! viz. 
 
 Reflect often, my dear friend, in your 
 indisposition, on the following and 
 other gracious promises of CS-od : 
 
 " My refuge is in God, which saveth 
 the upright in heart."— Ps. 7. 10. " And 
 they that know thy name, will put their 
 
466 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS, 
 
 trust in Thee 5 for Thou, Lord, hast not 
 forsaken thent that seek Thee."— Ps. 9. 
 IO. " O how great is thy goodness, 
 which Thou hast laid up for them that 
 fear Thee 5 which Thou hast wrought 
 for them that trust in Thee, before the 
 sons of men. 9 '— Ps. 81. 19. "Behold 
 the eye of the Lord is upon them that 
 fear him 1 upon thent that hope in his 
 mercy 5 to deliver their soul from 
 death."— Ps. 33. 18. " The Lord is nigh 
 unto them that are of a broken heart % 
 and saveth such as he of a contrite spi- 
 rit."— Ps. 34. 19. "How excellent is 
 thy loving kindness, © C£od ! therefore, 
 the children of men put their trust un- 
 der the shadow of thy wings. They 
 shall he abundantly satisfied with the 
 fatness of thy house ; and Thou shalt 
 make them drink of the rivers of thy 
 pleasures/ 9 — Ps. 3©. 7 9 8. " Commit thy 
 ways unto the Lord, and he shall bring 
 it to pass. Rut the salvation of the 
 righteous is of the Lord; he is their 
 strength in the time of trouble." — 
 Ps. 37. 5. S9. " For he hath said I will 
 never leave thee nor forsake thee." — 
 Heb. 13. 5. 
 
 And what can prove more soothing 
 to a troubled conscience, than the ad- 
 dress of our blessed Redeemer to Mary 
 Magdalene t " Gro unto my brethren, 
 and say unto them, I ascend unto my 
 Father, and your Father; and to my 
 
PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 467 
 
 God and your God."— John 2©. 17 ; and 
 again, what he uttered in his interces- 
 sory prayer : "Father, I will that they 
 also whom Thou hast given me, be 
 with me where I am, that they may be- 
 hold my glory, which Thou hast given 
 me." — John 17. 24. And O how con- 
 soling is it when he says : " If any may 
 serve me, let him follow me, and where 
 I am, there shall also my servant be." 
 — John 12. 26. Rejoice, therefore, my 
 dear brother (or sister) that you shall 
 be introduced, through death, into the 
 immediate presence of your Saviour, 
 who ascended up into heaven, to ap- 
 pear in the presence of your heavenly 
 Father, to present before him all your 
 supplications and prayers, and to re- 
 ceive your soul in the hour of your 
 dissolution, into the kingdom of his 
 glory. 
 
 Inasmuch as it is often the case, that 
 the most pious children of God, have 
 to contend with distressing thoughts 
 and anxieties, which harrass their 
 minds in sickness, they should be 
 promptly and energetically supported, 
 by reflecting upon the following, and 
 similar passages of the word of God : 
 
 1. Against an abhorrence of sin. 
 
 Are you troubled on account of the 
 greatness of your sins ? So let me ad- 
 monish you, to meditate seriously on 
 the soul-encouraging declaration of 
 
468 PRATER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS* 
 
 the blessed Redeemer : " God so loved 
 tlie world that he gave his only begot- 
 ten Son, that whosoever believeth on 
 him shall not perish, but have ever- 
 lasting life." — John. 31. ©. 
 
 Are yon oppressed with your sins? 
 I>o they bear down as a heavy burden 
 upon your heart, so that you sometimes 
 think it impossible for you to escape 
 being crushed by the weight ? Do you 
 realize, that you have deserved not o^k^ 
 thousand, but many thousand attacks 
 of, not only this, but of all kinds of 
 sickness, in soul and body, nay, both 
 temporal death and the pains of bell 
 forever? O then sigh and cry unto God 
 often, with pious Ezra: "I ant asham- 
 ed and confounded, O my God, to lift 
 up mine eyes unto Thee, for my sins 
 have grown over mine head, and my 
 transgressions are great even unto the 
 heavens! J>o your sins appear as the 
 greatest abomination before you eyes. 
 so as to agonize and distress your soul, 
 to such a degree, that you feel deter- 
 mined by the grace of God, never 
 again, to indulge in the commission of 
 any sins ? This we would inform you, 
 is a godly sorrow, which worketh a 
 repentance not to be repented of, and 
 is an evidence that you belong to the 
 number of those to whom God solemn- 
 ly swears : " As I live, I have no pleas- 
 ure in the death of the sinner, but that 
 
PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 469 
 
 he turn unto me and live."— £z. 33.11. 
 Yon can also exclaim with penitent 
 and holy Paul : " This is a true and 
 faithful saying, and worthy of all ac- 
 ceptation, that Jesus Christ, came into 
 the world to save sinners, of whom I 
 am chief." — 1 Tim. 1.15. And again : 
 m Where sin abounded, there grace 
 much more abounded."— Rom. 5. 2©. 
 
 Only flee for refuge, in the exercise of 
 true faith, to this sin pardoning Re- 
 deemer, and seek through his merits, 
 the remission of all your sins, and you 
 may rest assured, that your sins, great 
 as they are, shall not be able to prevent 
 your salvation ; for " his blood cleanses 
 from all sin." — 1 John 1. 7. Although 
 the burden of your sins be ever so great, 
 only take your flight " to the innocent 
 Lamb of Ood, who taketh away the 
 sins of the world." — 1. 29. Plead be- 
 fore him, his soul-encouraging invita- 
 tion and promise, " Come unto me, all 
 ye that are weary and heavy laden, 
 and I will give you rest." — Matt. 11. 
 28. He will not deny you, but will ful- 
 fil his precious promise t "I will for- 
 give their iniquity, and I will remem- 
 ber their sin no more." — Jer. 31. 24. 
 
 Place ail your trust and confidence 
 in this great Emancipator from sin — 
 for there is no sin great enough to ex- 
 clude the soul from heaven, but the sin 
 of unbelief % remember that all the sins 
 
470 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 
 
 of the world, were not so great, as 
 to prevent God from giving his only 
 begotten Son 5 and liow can your 
 sins, therefore, prevent Mm granting 
 yon a free and full forgiveness of all 
 your transgressions? I>oubt and de- 
 spair not of the mercy and compassion 
 of God, nor of the merits of Jesus 
 Christ, and you will thereby most ef- 
 fectually honour him. Contemplate 
 often the example of penitent sinners 
 of Old and New Testament memory, 
 who received, on repentance, the free 
 remission of all their sins ; as for in- 
 stance, our first parents : Noah, Lot, 
 Moses, David, Mannassa, Mary Mag- 
 dalene and the adulteress, mentioned 
 in the gospel, and especially Peter, 
 Paul and many others, who had com- 
 mitted many great and grievous sins, 
 many of whom continued long in their 
 sinful career, but when they heartily 
 repented, they were graciously for- 
 given. And should one have even fore* 
 sworn his interest in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, like a Peter, or have shed 
 Christians blood like a Paul, yet still 
 by a sincere repentance for his sins, he 
 may find favour with God, and the 
 washing away of all his sins, by the 
 blood of Jesus Christ. 
 
 2. Against the weakness of faith. 
 
 Are you troubled on account of the 
 weakness of your faith, love, hope, &c. 
 
PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 471 
 
 then apply the blessed promises, in 
 which God exhibits his sympathy, and 
 gracious assistance, to the weak of his 
 flock ; as for instance, Is. 4©. 11* "He 
 shall feed his flock like a shepherd ; he 
 shall gather the Lambs with his arms, 
 and carry them in his bosom, and gent- 
 ly lead those that are with young; 99 and 
 also in 42d chapter, and in the 12th 
 chapter of Matthew, 2© : " The bruised 
 reed he will not break, nor quench the 
 smoking flax." 
 
 But are you still distressed because of 
 the weakness of your faith ? Let me 
 remind you that even this very frame 
 of mind, is no unfavourable indica- 
 tion, for from it you can conclude that 
 you are a child of God, for satan 
 never hurls his fiery darts into the 
 minds of careless and impenitent sin- 
 ners ; for you never hear them com- 
 plain of the weakness of their faith, 
 but rejoicing in the vain imagination, 
 that all is well with them % for their 
 conscience is aflected, as it were, with 
 a dreadful leprosy, so that they neither 
 feel the weight of their sins, nor the 
 wrath and displeasure of God. But 
 satan is wont to make the most fiery 
 onsets upon such as are anxious about 
 the word of God, and the salvation of 
 their immortal souls. 
 
 Yes, the very fact of your being so 
 soon concerned about the weakness of 
 
472 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SlfiKNES*. 
 
 your faith, is an unequivocal proof that 
 you possess true faith. As long as a 
 bashful, sickly and weak child sighs 
 and laments, we cannot say that it is 
 dead, hut must conclude, that it is yet 
 alive, for when dead, its sighs and la- 
 mentations cease. 
 
 Rest, therefore, assured that true 
 faith has not expired within you, as 
 you earnestly desire to believe, and cor- 
 dially wish that you could believe ; God 
 works in us his will, hence this is evi- 
 dently a work of God in you, that you 
 would believe; you can, therefore, 
 draw this firm inference, that he who 
 thus works in you to will, will also 
 work in you to do of his own good plea- 
 sure. For the Lord hears the secret 
 breathings and desires of the poor, and 
 his eyes sire continually on them for 
 good ; therefore, even as strong as you 
 wish your faith to be, rest satisfied that 
 God looks upon your heart ; for he does 
 not look to any merit even in faith, but 
 upon the sincerity of the heart, by 
 which true faith lays hold of Jesus 
 Christ, as the Author and Finisher of 
 the work of our soul's salvation. 
 
 Inasmuch as faith is that Christian 
 grace, by which alone the Christian 
 can be supported in sickness, especially 
 in the hour of temptation, and by 
 which he is enabled to bear up under 
 his afflictions* to withstand tempta- 
 
PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 47$ 
 
 tions and at last depart from this world 
 in peace ; it is highly necessary to ad- 
 monish the sick, to ground his faith on 
 the gracious promises of the gospel. 
 Represent to him the duty of medita- 
 ting upon, and realizing the great 
 mystery of our redemption, in which 
 God displays his infinite wisdom, pow- 
 er, righteousness and mercy* 
 
 The perfect satisfaction and interces- 
 sion of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, 
 whereby he conquered and triumphed 
 over all his and our enemies, and in 
 which is represented unto us, the glori- 
 ous covenant of grace, by which we 
 are received into the enjoyment of the 
 unchangeable love of God, and where* 
 by he ratifies and confirms unto us, the 
 fulfilment of all his precious promises. 
 
 For this purpose, I consider it highly 
 useful and consoling to the sick, par- 
 ticularly when the illness continues 
 long, and the individual enjoys the use 
 of his reason, to explain and apply to 
 him, the twelve articles of the Chris- 
 tian faith, especially those articles re- 
 lating to the forgiveness of sins — the re* 
 surrection of the body, and the life 
 everlasting, particularly as it is well 
 known, that by these means, especially 
 by contemplating the subject of eter- 
 nal life, which all believers hope for, 
 many thousand Christians were com- 
 forted and strengthened to bear up 
 
474 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLES 
 
 finder the most cruel and inhuman 
 persecutions, that Jewish or heathen 
 malice could invent and inflict; and 
 my dear friend, how can it he other- 
 wise than comforting* and strengthen- 
 ing to the sick, when he looks up to- 
 wards heaven, and contemplates those 
 bright mansions, by the exercise of 
 faith, prepared for the reception of all 
 the followers of the meek and lowly 
 Jesus. Ah! it is this, which banishes 
 from him the fear of death, scatters all 
 his anxieties, and enables him to over- 
 come all temptations, and outride all 
 the storms, and tribulations, and suf- 
 ferings of life ; so as to land him, at 
 last, triumphantly on the pep««f«»l 
 shores of the heavenly Canaan. 
 
 Prayer in which the sich may apply unto 
 himself the twelve articles of the Chris* 
 tian faith. 
 
 HYMN 67. C. M,— Arlington. 
 
 1 IN God the Father I believe, 
 
 Who heav'n and earth did frame- 
 By his almighty word ; his praise 
 And glory to proclaim. 
 
 2 I do believe in Jesus Christ, 
 
 God's only Son, our I^ord, 
 Begotten from eternity, 
 The everlasting Word. 
 
OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SICKNESS. 475 
 
 3 I in the Holy Ghost believe, 
 
 A person true, and one 5 
 In essence, pow'r, eternity, 
 With Father and with Son. 
 
 4 An holy catholic church I own, 
 
 The heirs of heav'n design'd % 
 By union all to Christ their head, 
 And one another join'd. 
 
 5 Redemption thro 9 the blood of Christ; 
 
 I heartily embrace % 
 A full forgiveness of my sins, 
 The gift of so V- reign grace. 
 
 6 The resurrection of the dead, 
 
 Sincerely I maintain ; 
 My soul and body glorified, 
 With Christ shall live and reign. 
 
 7 The hopes of everlasting life, 
 
 My fainting soul sustain : 
 To this I set my solemn seal, 
 And say with truth, Amen ! 
 
 8 To Father, Son and Holy Ghost 
 
 The God whom we adore, 
 Be glory as it was, is now, 
 And shall be evermore. 
 
 " The just shall live by faiih."—'OLeh. 2. 4. 
 
 O Thon divine and holy Father in 
 heaven, from whom comcth every good 
 and perfect gift ! I beseech Thee in the 
 name of Jesus Christ thine only begot- 
 
476 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLE! 
 
 ten and well beloved Son my Redeemer, 
 to grant unto me the soul-enlivening 
 gift of a true and living faith, so that I 
 may thereby be enabled to apply unto 
 mine own soul all that I have learned 
 in thy holy word, and say with my 
 whole heart, and my tongue, even unto 
 the last moment of my earthly exis- 
 tence : 
 
 I believe in Thee, O God, the Father, 
 Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, 
 and place all my trust and comfort in 
 thine infinite mercy and compassion, 
 and rest satisfied, that as Thou art my 
 God and Father, Thou wilt preserve 
 me in trials and temptations, and never 
 leave nor forsake me ; as Thou art the 
 Almighty lord, Thou canst also grant 
 me assistance and protection, and as 
 Thou hast furnished me with both 
 body and soul, Thou wilt be pleased to 
 preserve both, by faith, unto eternal life. 
 
 I believe in Jesus Christ, thine only 
 begotten Son, my lord, and feel as- 
 sured, that whilst Thou mightest have 
 justly plunged me into hell forever, 
 Thou hast remembered me in mercy, 
 and hast given thine only begotten and 
 well beloved Son, to suffer, and bleed, 
 and die for me. I acknowledge him 
 as mine only Saviour, who heals all the 
 wounds of my soul, and saves me from 
 all my sins. 
 
 I acknowledge him to be my Christ, 
 
OP THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SICKNESS. 477 
 
 who was anointed of Thee, my heaven- 
 ly Father, by the Holy Ghost— that he 
 is my prophet and teacher* to instruct 
 me in all thing's pertaining- to everlast- 
 ing life — that he is my High Priest, to 
 reconcile me unto Thee, and to be my 
 intercessor in thy presence — and, that 
 he is my King to rule over me, to guide 
 and preserve me unto life eternal, and 
 receive me as my JLord, who with his 
 crimson blood, purchased me as his 
 own, and will protect me by his Al- 
 mighty power, against all which 
 might, in any wise, prove detrimental 
 to my salvation. 
 
 I believe that for my sake, he took 
 human nature upon himself, by the 
 operation of the Holy Ghost — that he 
 was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and 
 born of the Virgin Mary, and thereby 
 sanctified my sinful conception, and as 
 he became my brother — flesh of my 
 flesh, and bone of my bone, and was 
 tempted in all things like unto me, sin 
 only excepted, that he will also sympa* 
 thize with me, and have mercy upon 
 me ; and as he is also true God, he will 
 likewise protect and preserve me, in my 
 last and dying hour, against satan, 
 death and hell. I believe that he suf- 
 fered under Pontius Pilate, that he was 
 crucified, dead and buried; and feel 
 assured that he endured all for me, a 
 poor miserable sinner, that he might 
 
478 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLES 
 
 thereby deliver me from sin — the wrath 
 of God — the curse of the law, and eter- 
 nal death and damnation, and recon- 
 cile me with God, my heavenly Father, 
 and bring in an everlasting righteous- 
 ness, and purchased for me an eternal 
 life, and without his merits, there is no 
 salvation or happiness to be hoped for. 
 And as I know, that my Saviour after 
 his death was buried, I also feel fully 
 assured, that he thereby consecrated 
 and set apart the grave, as my resting 
 place. 
 
 I believe also that he descended into 
 hell, that is, that he endured the pains 
 of hell, in his body and soul on the 
 cross, when he exclaimed: "My God! 
 my God ! why hast Thou forsaken 
 me?" That he arose again from the 
 dead on the third day, for my righte- 
 ousness 9 sake, and feel convinced that 
 he thereby took both death and hell 
 captive, so that they cannot finally in- 
 jure me, and that he will also, in due 
 time, raise my body out of the grave, 
 in like manner, as he arose from the 
 dead, having burst asunder the bar- 
 riers of the tomb. 
 
 I believe that he ascended up into 
 heaven, and that he sits at the right 
 hand of God my heavenly Father, not 
 only that he may be at the head of his 
 church, govern all things, but also that 
 he may open up the way for me, to hea- 
 
I 
 
 OF THE CHRISTIAN FAlTH IN SICKNESS. 479 
 
 ren, which was closed up by sin ; that 
 I may have freedom of access to the 
 throne of grace, and in due time be 
 received, as to soul and body, into the 
 kingdom of thy glory ; nay, that he 
 now is in the presence of his heavenly 
 Father, as my Intercessor and Media- 
 tor, so that when I am no longer able 
 to speak, or hear, or understand, he 
 may plead my cause with God, and 
 furnish wings unto my soul to soar 
 aloft, after death, into the mansions of 
 rest and felicity. 
 
 I believe moreover, that he will come 
 again, to judge the quick and the 
 dead ; to condemn all who believe not 
 on him, but despise his word; but to 
 introduce me (although weak in faith,) 
 as to soul and body, into the joys of my 
 liord. 
 
 I believe in the Holy Ghost, who with 
 the Father and the Son, is eternal God, 
 and from eternity proceeds from both, 
 in whose name, I am also baptized to 
 assure me, that he will also be my God, 
 my Teacher and my Comforter, that I 
 am a child, and consequently an heir 
 of God and joint heir with my Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, and I enjoy the pleasing 
 anticipation, that he will continue to 
 impart the testimony to my soul, of my 
 interest in the salvation purchased by 
 the death of Christ, and thus seal me 
 unto the day of my perfect redemption ; 
 
480 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLES 
 
 that lie assists mine infirmities ; inter- 
 cedes for fine, wifli groanings, which 
 cannot be uttered, and will carry on 
 the good work, which he has begun in 
 me, unto mine happy end. 
 
 I believe in a holy catholic or gene- 
 ral Christian church, which consists 
 in the communion of all true saints 
 and believers ; that, as God, from eter- 
 nity devised the plan of redemption, 
 so he also calls by his holy word and 
 Spirit, sinners of the human family in 
 time, to the communion of himself, and 
 purifies them with the blood of Christ, 
 from all their sins ; — that I also am a 
 member of this church, and that Jesus 
 Christ, as my living Head, will pro- 
 tect me against all the power of sin, 
 the world, the flesh and the devil, until 
 he conducts me into the society of the 
 saints, perfect in light and glory ; and 
 comfort myself with the precious bless- 
 ings and benefits, which Jesus Christ 
 has purchased, as the patron of his 
 church, and hence : 
 
 I believe most assuredly, not only in 
 the forgiveness of sins, but in the forgive- 
 ness of my sins; as I acknowledge in 
 my heart, that I am a poor miserable 
 sinner, and that I have deserved, by the 
 sins which I have committed against 
 his holy laws, to be eternally excluded 
 from the kingdom of God ; I have also 
 an tin wavering confidence in God, that 
 
OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SICKNESS. 481 
 
 he will, in fulfilment of bis precious 
 promises, not impute unto me my trans- 
 gressions and sins to my condemnation, 
 but that he will, for the sake of Jesus' 
 sufferings and death, forgive me all my 
 sins, and justify me freely by his blood, 
 to my eternal salvation. Further, 
 
 I believe in the resurrection of the 
 flesh, not only of mankind generally, 
 but of my body. As I know, that on 
 account of my sins, I must §^o the way 
 of all flesh, when my soul and body 
 shall be separated from each other, 
 and my body be committed to the cold 
 grave, as food for corruption ; so do I 
 also believe, that as soon as my soul is 
 separated from my body, it will be con- 
 veyed by angels into Abraham's bosotif , 
 to enjoy in the kingdom of God, a full- 
 ness of joy and pleasures forevermore, 
 at his right hand, and that at the last 
 day, my near kinsman and Redeemer, 
 Jesus Christ, will, by his power, raise 
 up my dead body again, into life, and 
 unite it with its companion, the soul, 
 and make it conformable to his glori- 
 fied body, and introduce me, as to soul 
 and body, into his glory. 
 
 And finally s I believe in the life ever- 
 lasting, as the end of my faith and hope, 
 with which my Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 has furnished me, by his return, to his 
 and my Father, and, I doubt not, that 
 he will introduce my soul and body 
 
 31 
 
482 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK, 
 
 into this life eternal, to enjoy unending 
 felicity, sat tlie last day. 
 
 All tills, I sincerely and unwavering- 
 ly Relieve ; in this belief I will live and 
 die, inasmuch as it lias pleased €*od, to 
 convert nie from my sins ; and £ rest as- 
 sured, tl&at £ sliail of liis sovereign 
 grace, receive at bis bands tbe end of 
 my faitb, tbe salvation of my soul, to 
 which I say witb all my beart, Amen ! 
 Lord Jesus I Amen I 
 
 Instructions for the sick. 
 
 HYMN 68. C. M.— Rock of Salvation. 
 1. 
 
 If life's pleasures cbarmtbee, give them 
 not tby beart, [to part i 
 
 I<est tbe gift ensnare tbee, from tby Ood 
 His favour seek, bis praises speak, 
 Fix bere thy hope's foundation ; 
 Serve him, and he will ever be 
 The Rock of thy salvation. 
 
 2. 
 
 If distress befall thee, painful though 
 
 it be, [viour flee : 
 
 ILet not grief appal thee ; to thy 8a- 
 
 He ever near, thy prayer will hear, 
 
 And calm thy perturbation : 
 The waves of wo shall ne'er overflow 
 The Rock of thy salvation. 
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 483 
 
 3. 
 When earth's prospects fail thee, let it 
 ?*©t distress, [freely Mess % 
 
 Better comforts wait thee; Christ will 
 To J esus flee, thy prop he'll he, 
 
 Thy heavenly consolation : 
 For griefs helow cannot overthrow 
 The Rock of thy salvation. 
 
 4. 
 Dangers may approach thee, let them 
 not alarm, [tect from harm, 
 Christ shall ever watch thee, and pro- 
 He near thee stands with mighty 
 hands, 
 To ward off each temptation : 
 To Jesus fly, he's ever nigh, 
 The Rock of thy salvation. 
 
 5. 
 Let not death alarm thee, shrink not 
 from his Mow, [tory bestow, 
 For thy Crod shall arm thee, and vic- 
 
 For death shall hring to thee no sting, 
 
 The grave no desolations 
 -Tis gain to die, with Jesus nigh, 
 
 The Rock of thy salvation. 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
 3. Against the fear of death. 
 
 If yon are agitated with the fear of 
 death; remember: 
 
 1. That the day of death is better 
 than the day of our birth : especially 
 
484 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 
 
 as this life is a valley of affliction and 
 fears ? a life of labour and sorrow? 
 which is at best, a continued, scene of 
 trials and sufferings; ~but when we die 
 happy we are taken in a moment out 
 of misery, and we enjoy the rest pre- 
 pared for the people of €*od in heaven. 
 May. this life, is at best, hut a sinful life, 
 so that it has heeik often remarked, that 
 a long life is connected with many sins $ 
 but when the Christian dies, he is jus- 
 tified from all his sins ; — death, there- 
 fore, is to him, salutary, inasmuch as 
 he only destroys that, which was born 
 of Adam* 
 
 2. But more especially should all fear 
 of death vanish from you, inasmuch 
 as Jesus Christ, hy his death, hath 
 sweetened our death, hy taking* away 
 every thing which made death terrible 
 to us, by overcoming death, so that you 
 can now triumph with the apostle Paul 
 and exclaim s "I>eath where is thy stin g ? 
 Grave I where is thy victory V 9 Death is 
 now a serpent without poison — a bee 
 without a sting I For although death 
 may cast you down, and with his own 
 hand open up your grave, and deposit 
 and cover within its cold and silent pre- 
 cincts, your lifeless tenement of clay $. 
 yet with the other hand, must he, as it 
 were, open up the door of heaven, that 
 your soul may be bound up in the bun- 
 dle of everlasting life, and be forever 
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 485 
 
 with the Lord, where no more anxiety, 
 suffering' or pain shall ever he able to 
 molest you 9 m view of which, you can 
 certainly say in tlte near approach of 
 death, with holy Paul s "For me to live, 
 is Christ, and for me to die, is gain 5 I 
 have a desire rather to depart, and to 
 be with Christ, which is far better. 15 — 
 Philip. 1. 21. 23. 
 
 And when the hour of your departure 
 has actually arrived, your pious friends 
 will be permitted to say, owk good and 
 scriptural grovm&j in relation to your 
 death : " © that I may die the death of 
 the righteous ! and may my latter end 
 be like his !"— Deut. 23. lO'g and ac- 
 company your departing spirit with 
 such holy aspirations as these s 
 
 O redeemed soul I go, with joy, to 
 your Gi-od, who calls you unto himself f 
 speed your way to the arms of your 
 heavenly Father, who extends his 
 hands to your assistance. 
 
 O eternally happy soul! haste to Je- 
 sus, your precious Bridegroom ; who 
 will now, conduct you to the marriage 
 supper, prepared for you in heaven, 
 and will impart unto you the precious 
 fruits of his perfect obedience, precious 
 blood and agonizing death. 
 
 O happy soul ! soar aloft into the 
 bright regions of glory, which the 
 Holy Ohost hath sealed unto you — to 
 the general assembly of the church of 
 
486 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 
 
 the first born— to the spirits of the just 
 made perfect, end tf> the Mediator of 
 
 the new covenant, even Jesus Christ 
 your XiOrd and Saviour. 
 
 © Father in heaven I receive now thy 
 dear child into thy fond embrace, and 
 © Thou divine Saviour! receive his 
 spirit. — Amen and Amen. 
 
 And when the curtain of mortality 
 has actually dropped, and your ran- 
 somed soul has winged its flight to the 
 Crod who gave it, we will, with melo- 
 dious joy, in the exercise of faith, 
 chant your funeral requiem in such 
 strains as the following : 
 
 HYMN 69. 8. 7. P. M.— Bartemeus. 
 
 1 HAPPY soul, thy days are ended, 
 
 All thy mourning days below ; 
 Go, by angel guards attended, 
 To the sight of J" esus go. 
 
 Hallelujah, hallelujah, Amen ? 
 
 2 Waiting to receive thy spirit, 
 
 Xio ! the Saviour stands above ; 
 Shows the purchase of his merit, 
 Reaches out the crown of love. 
 Hallelujah, &c. 
 
 3 Struggle through thy latest passion, 
 
 To the great Redeemer's breast ; 
 To his uttermost salvation, 
 To his everlasting rest. 
 Halleluiah- &c. 
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 487 
 
 4 For the joy § lie sets before tbee, 
 Sear sa momentary pain ; 
 l>ie to li% e a life of glory s 
 
 Suffer, with thy ILorct to reign. 
 Hallelujah, &c. 
 
 And when depositing your lifeless 
 body beneath the elods of the valley, 
 we will sing again, in the language of 
 faith : 
 
 H Y M N 70. L. M.—Kingsbridge. 
 1. 
 
 UNVEIL thy bosons, faitful tomb, 
 
 Take this new treasure to thy trust, 
 And give these sacred relics room, 
 To slumber in their native dust. 
 
 a. 
 
 Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear, 
 Invade thy bounds t, no mortal woes, 
 
 Can reach the peaceful slumberer here, 
 For angels watch his sweet repose. 
 
 3. 
 
 So Jesus slept ; God 9 § dying Son, \_heA 5 
 
 Pass'd through the grave s&mdt blest the 
 
 Rest here, blest saint, till from his throne 
 
 The morning break, and pierce the 
 
 shade. 
 
 4. 
 O Glorious day I illustrious morn I 
 
 Attend, O earth I his sovereign word, 
 Restore thy trust — a glorious form, 
 
 Clothed in the raiment of his God. 
 
 Lord grant it ! — Amen. 
 
488 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 
 
 HYMNS, PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS, 
 
 FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS. 
 
 Morning devotions for Christmas. 
 
 HYMN 71. C. M.—Clarendon. 
 1. 
 
 WHILE shepherds watch their flocks 
 by night, 
 
 All seated on the ground, 
 The angel of the Lord came down, 
 
 And glory shone around. 
 
 2. 
 
 " Fear not," said he, for mighty dread 
 Had seiz'd their troubled mind ; 
 
 " Olad tidings of great joy I bring 
 To you and all mankind. 
 
 3. 
 
 To you, in David's town, this day, 
 
 Is born of David's line, 
 The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord ; 
 
 And this shall be the sign. 
 
 4. 
 
 The Heavenly Babe you there shall find, 
 
 To human view display 'd, 
 All meanly wr app'd in swathing hands. 
 
 And in a manger laid." 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS, 489 
 
 5. 
 
 Thus spake the seraph and forthwith 
 Appeared the shining throng 
 
 Of angels praising God, who thus 
 Addressed their joyful song : 
 
 6. 
 
 " All glory be to God on high, 
 And to the earth be peaee ; [men 
 
 Good will, henceforth, from heaven to 
 Begin, and never cease* 
 
 O God, Thou art worthy of universal 
 and everlasting adoration. Thy na- 
 ture is incomprehensible ; thy perfec- 
 tions are infinite: and thy ways are 
 past finding out. Thou art the Creator 
 and upholder of all things. And all 
 thy works praise Thee, O Lord, and 
 thy saints bless Thee. All our lives 
 have been full of thy undeserved good- 
 ness. 
 
 But we are called this morning, to 
 behold the exceeding riches of thy 
 grace, in thy kindness towards us, by 
 Christ Jesus. Herein is love ; not that 
 we loved God, but that he loved us, and 
 sent his Son to be a propitiation for 
 our sins. 
 
 May we contemplate this matchless 
 event, with all those views and affec- 
 tions which its importance demands. 
 Iflay those who observe the day, observe 
 it unto the Lord. May our festivity, be- 
 
490 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 
 
 coming the occasion, be harmless and 
 holy. L<et us not disgrace the season, by 
 reviving those works of the devil, which 
 the Son of Ood was manifested to de- 
 stroy, nor rest satisfied with the mere 
 remembrance of his advent, as founded 
 in truth, and attended with wonders 5 
 but inquire, for what end he was born, 
 and for what cause he came into the 
 world. And since we are informed, 
 that he came to seek and to save that 
 which was lost, and suffered, the just 
 for the unjust, that he might bring us 
 to €*od; may we deem the report not 
 only a faithful saying, but worthy of 
 all acceptation s and may it be in us as 
 a well of water, springing up into ever- 
 lasting life. 
 
 IVIay none of us disregard him, from 
 ignorance, worldly- mindedness, pre- 
 sumption, self-righteousness, or de- 
 spondency. As our Prophet, may we 
 repair to his feet for instruction. May 
 we look to his sacrifice, and find relief 
 for our burdened consciences. May we 
 acknowledge his authority, and obey 
 his commands. In all our approaches 
 to Thee, may we make mention of his 
 righteousness only, and in his strength, 
 go forth into all the duties and trials 
 of life. 
 
 May we never feel miserable, even in 
 a vale of tears, while we think of the 
 consolation of Israel : but rejoice in 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 491 
 
 him, with joy unspeakable and full of 
 glory. 
 
 Reflecting upon his grace in becom- 
 ing poor, that we through his poverty 
 might be rich ; may all selfishness, and 
 uncharitableness, be extirpated front 
 our hearts ; may we love one another, 
 as he has loved us ; and may we delight 
 to go about doing good. 
 
 May no coldness, no indifference, ever 
 approach our spirits, whenever we are 
 engaged in serving a master who has 
 all the claims of a benefactor; yea, 
 who died for us, and rose again. 
 
 To him may we consecrate our facul- 
 ties and possessions % and, on our time 
 and our substance, our souls and our 
 bodies, may there be inscribed holiness 
 to the Lord. May we grieve to hear his 
 name blasphemed, and weep to see his 
 laws transgressed. 
 
 May his cause lie near our hearts; 
 and may we long for the time, when he 
 shall be known and adored, from the 
 rising of the sun to the going down of 
 the same ; when to him shall every knee 
 bow, and every tongue confess 5 and 
 the glad tidings of great joy shall be 
 to all people — Unto you is born a Sa- 
 viour, which is Christ the l^ord. 
 
 Through his mediation we address 
 Thee 5 and in his words conclude our 
 imperfect supplications. Our Father, 
 
 1 
 
492 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 
 
 Evening devotions for Christmas* 
 
 HYMN 72. 11.1 0.—Star in the East. 
 1. 
 
 HAIL the blest morn ! see the great 
 Mediator, [seend I 
 
 Down from the regions of glory de- 
 Shepherds, go worship the babe in the 
 manger, [attend. 
 
 XiO, for his guard, the bright angels 
 
 Brightest and best of the sons of the 
 morning, [thine aid ; 
 
 Dawn on our darkness, and lend us 
 Star in the east, the horizon adorning, 
 Guide where our infant Redeemer 
 was laid* 
 
 2. 
 
 Cold on his eradle the dew-drops are 
 
 shining ; [stall ; 
 
 low lies his head with the beast of the 
 
 Angels adore him, in slumber redlining, 
 
 Wise men and shepherds before him 
 
 do fall. 
 
 Brightest and best, &c. 
 
 3. 
 Say, shall we yield him, in eostly devo- 
 tion 
 Odours of Eden, and off 'rings divine, 
 Gems from the mountains, and pearls 
 from the oeean, [the mine ! 
 myrrh from the forest, and gold from 
 Brightest and best, &c. 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 493 
 
 4. 
 Vainly we offer each ample oblation, 
 
 Vainly withhold we his favors secure $ 
 Richer by far is the heart's adoration $ 
 Dearer to God are the prayers of the 
 poor. 
 
 Brightest and best, &c. 
 
 Though thou art exalted above all 
 blessing and praise % yet, O God, we 
 love to explore thy ways, to admire thy 
 works, and to adore thy perfections* 
 Thy understanding is infinite, thy pow- 
 er is Almighty, thy mercy endureth 
 forever. Thy goodness transcends all 
 our conceptions, as far as the heavens 
 are higher than the earth. 
 
 We call on our souls, and each other, 
 this evening, to praise and magnify thy 
 holy name. We bless Thee for our crea- 
 tion, and for all the supplies which 
 have rendered life supportable ; and 
 all the indulgences, which have ren- 
 dered it comfortable. Mut above all, 
 we thank Thee for thine unspeakable 
 gift. For Thou hast surpassed all thy 
 works, and crowned all thy benefits, 
 by remembering us in our low estate, 
 and laying help on one that is mighty. 
 
 And we have again heard the intelli- 
 gence, that God so loved the world, that 
 he gave his only begotten Son, that 
 whosoever belie veth on him, should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life. Con- 
 
 i 
 
494 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 
 
 vince us of our need of this dispensa- 
 tion of thy mercy and grace § and may 
 we acquiesce in it, not with coldness of 
 assent, but with gladness of heart. 
 May we exclaim with the angels — 
 Glory to God in the highest, on earth 
 peace and good will towards men § and 
 the multitude of disciples, shout — Ho- 
 sanna, blessed is he that cometh in the 
 name of the Lord. 
 
 Though the world knew him not, 
 and his own received him not, and he 
 is still despised and rejected of men ; 
 may we receive him as all our salva- 
 tion, and all our desire. 
 
 May we rejoice to view him, in a na- 
 ture, which leads him to call us breth- 
 ren ; in which, as our example, he can 
 go before us, in the duties of obedience 
 and submission % in which, he can sym- 
 pathize with us, in all our wo — and in 
 which, he has suffered for sins, the just 
 for the unjust, that he might bring us 
 unto God. 
 
 May we look to him for all we want, 
 and live a life of faith upon his fulness. 
 In him may we know that we have re- 
 demption through his blood ; that we 
 have righteousness and strength ; that 
 we have all the treasures of wisdom 
 and knowledge. 
 
 May we connect with his work for us 
 in the flesh, his work in us by the Spirit. 
 While we are reconciled by his death. 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 495 
 
 may we be saved by his life 5 and re- 
 member that his name is Jesus, because 
 he saves his people from their sins* 
 
 And as he came not only that we 
 might have it more abundantly, may 
 our expectations be large, and our de- 
 sires importunate ; may he 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 height, and depth, and breadth, 
 and length, and know the love of 
 Christ, which passeth knowledge, and 
 to be filled with all the fulness of God. 
 
 Once in the end of the world hath he 
 appeared, to put away sin by the sacri- 
 fice of himself ; and unto them that look 
 for him will he appear a second time, 
 without sin unto salvation. O, pre- 
 pare us for that solemn day. May we 
 believe in him as a Saviour, before we 
 meet him as a Judge s that when the 
 tribes of the earth shall wail because 
 of him, we may lift up our heads with 
 joy, knowing that our redemption 
 dr aweth nigh ; and say with the church 
 — ILo I this is our God, we have waited 
 for him, he will save us : this is our 
 Lord, we waited for him, we will re- 
 joice and be glad in his salvation. 
 
 Make thy ministers wise, and zealous, 
 and successful, in the dispensation of 
 thy word ; and let signs and wonders be 
 done, in the name of thy holy child Jesus. 
 
496 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 
 
 We are a sinful people, but Tliou hast 
 not dealt with us after our desert § and 
 Thou hast not left us without witness t 
 Thou hast, in the midst of us, a people 
 for thy name ; and we pray, that our be- 
 loved country may be a growing* part 
 of the empire of the Prince of Peace. 
 
 May the root of Jesse stand for an en- 
 sign to the people ; to it may the Gen- 
 tiles seek, and let his rest be glorious. 
 May he come down like rain upon the 
 mown grass, as showers that water the 
 earth. In his day may the righteous 
 flourish, and abundance of peace, so 
 long as the moon endureth. Let all 
 nations be blessed in him t all genera- 
 tions call him blessed. 
 
 And blessed be his glorious name for- 
 ever, and let the whole earth be filled 
 with his glory. — Amen. 
 
 Devotions for the last evening of the old 
 
 year. 
 
 HYMN 73. C. ML— Nuffield. 
 
 1 THEE we adore, eternal name ! 
 
 And humbly own to Thee, 
 How feeble is our mortal frame % 
 What dying worms- are we I 
 
 2 Our wasting lives grow shorter still, 
 
 As months and days increase ; 
 And ev'ry beating pulse we tell, 
 Leaves the small number less. 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 497 
 
 3 Tlie year rolls round, and steals air ay 
 
 Tbe breath at first it gave ; 
 Whatever we do, where'er we be, 
 We're travellings to the grave. 
 
 4 Dangers stand thick thro* all the 
 
 ground, 
 To push us to the tomb ? 
 And fierce diseases wait around, 
 To hurry mortals home. 
 
 5 Great God ! on what a slender thread 
 
 Hang everlasting things ! 
 Th' eternal state of all the dead 
 Upon life's feeble strings* 
 
 6 Infinite joys or endless wo 
 
 Attends on ev'ry breath % 
 And yet how unconcerned we go 
 Upon the brink of death ! 
 
 7 Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense, 
 
 To walk this dang'rous road ; 
 And if our souls are hurried hence, 
 May they be found with God. 
 
 God, Thou hast been our refuge and 
 dwelling place in all generations; be- 
 fore the mountains were brought forth, 
 or ever Thou hadst formed the earth 
 and the world, even from everlasting 
 to everlasting, Thou art God. And a 
 thousand years in thy sight, are but 
 as yesterday when it is past, and as a 
 watch in the night. But as for man, 
 his days are as grass ; as a flower of the 
 
 33 
 
49$ DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR* 
 
 field so he flourisheth % for the wind 
 
 passeth over it, and it is- gone, end the 
 place thereof knoweth it no more. 
 
 "We appear before Thee, to close in thy 
 presence, another of the revolutions 
 of otir Meeting existence ; earnestly 
 praying, that the season may not pass 
 away, without suitable and serious re- 
 flections. O, let us not imagine — in 
 spite of scripture, and observation, and 
 reason, and feeling, that we have many 
 of these periods left to notice % but say 
 with Job, when a few years are come, 
 I shall go the way whence I shall not 
 return. It may be only a few months, or 
 weeks, or days, — or hours, — for we know 
 not at what Montr the Son of man Com- 
 eth. But we know that our life is a va- 
 pour, that approacheth for a little time, 
 and then vanisheth away ; we know 
 the frailty of our frame % and the num- 
 berless diseases and disasters to which 
 we are exposed — so teach us to number 
 our days, that we may apply our hearts 
 unto wisdom* 
 
 What numbers of our fellow-crea- 
 tures, and many of them much more 
 likely to have continued than their 
 survivors, have, during the past year, 
 been carried down to their long home 
 — but we have been preserved 5 and are 
 living to praise Thee this day. Blessed 
 be the €*od of salvation, to whom belong 
 the issues from death, that we are yet in 
 
DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 499 
 
 the regions of hope, that we have yet 
 an accepted time, and a day ot salva- 
 tion ; and that ©tar opportunity of doing* 
 good, as well as of gaining good, are 
 still prolonged* Yet are they all dimin- 
 ished by another irreparable loss ; and 
 the reduced remainder, with every 
 trembling uncertainty attached to it, 
 calls upon us to say with growing se- 
 riousness and zeal, I must work the 
 works of him that sent me while it is 
 day, the night comet It wherein no man 
 can work. 
 
 Thou hast commanded us to remem- 
 ber all the way, which Thou hast led 
 us in the wilderness. The scene of our 
 journeyings has indeed heeva a wilder- 
 ness ; but the hand that has conducted 
 us is divine; and a thousand privileges, 
 not derivable from our condition, have 
 been experienced in it. 
 
 Thou hast corrected us, but it is of the 
 lord's mercies we are not consumed. 
 
 We have had our afflictions, but how 
 few have they heem in number ; how 
 short in continuance ; how alleviated 
 in degree; how merciful in design; how 
 instructive and useful in their results. 
 
 With regard to our severest exercises, 
 we are compelled to acknowledge, 
 Thou hast not dealt with us after our 
 sins, neither hast Thou rewarded us 
 according to our iniquities. It is good 
 for me that I have been afflicted. 
 
500 DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 
 
 But O, what a series of bounties and 
 blessings, present themselves to our 
 minds, when we look back upon the 
 year through which we have passed : 
 and to what, but to thine unmerited 
 goodness in the Son of thy love, are 
 we indebted for ail. Health, strength, 
 food, raiment, residence, friends, rela- 
 tions, comfort, pleasure, hope, useful- 
 ness, — all our benefits have dropped 
 from thy gracious hand : and there St as 
 not been a day, or an hour, or a mo- 
 ment, but has published thy kindness 
 and thy care. 
 
 Especially would we acknowledge 
 thy goodness in continuing to us the 
 means of grace. Whatever has been 
 denied us, we have had the provisions 
 of thy house. The toils and trials of 
 the week, have been refreshed and re- 
 lieved by the delights of the Sabbath. 
 Our eyes have seen our teachers. Our 
 ears have heard the joyful sound of the 
 gospel % and our hearts have often said, 
 liord, it is good for us to be here. 
 
 And O, that every moment of the past 
 year could, if called upon — and it will 
 be called upon, bear witness to our 
 gratitude, love and obedience. O, that 
 it was not in its power to convict us, of 
 the most unworthy requitals of thy 
 goodness. To Thee, O Lord, belong 
 glory and honour, but to us shame and 
 confusion of face. O, who can under- 
 

 DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 501 
 
 stand his errors. ©, how many duties 
 have we neglected or improperly per- 
 formed. Mow little have we redeemed 
 our time ; or improved our talents. 
 How little have we been alive to thy 
 glory, or sought, or even seized, when 
 presented, opportunities of serving our 
 generation. How un profited have we 
 been under the riehest means of reli- 
 gious prosperity — and, when for the 
 time we ought to be able to teaeh 
 others, we have need to be again 
 taught ourselves, what are the first 
 principles of the oracles of €*od. 
 
 God be merciful to us sinners. Pardon 
 our iniquity, for it is great. Cleanse us 
 from ail unrighteousness s and work in 
 us to will and to do of thy good plea- 
 sure. Let us not carry one of our old 
 sins with us into the new year — unfor- 
 given — unrepented of — unbe wailed — 
 unabhorred. With a new portion of 
 time, may we have new hearts 5 and 
 become new creatures. 
 
 If this year we should die — and in the 
 midst of life we are in death, may death 
 be our eternal gain s and if our days 
 are prolonged, may we walk before 
 the Lord in the land of the living, and 
 shew forth all thy praise. The number 
 of our months is with Thee. In thy 
 hand our breath is, and thine are all 
 our "ways. Prepare us for all : and be 
 "with us in all: and bring us safely 
 
502 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 through all, into the rest that remains 
 for thy people % for the §ake of our Lord 
 and Saviour ; in whose words we eall 
 Thee, Our Father, &c. — Amen. 
 
 JfKoming devotions for the New Year. 
 
 HYMN 74. L. M.— Brewer. 
 1. 
 
 BLEST be th> Eternal, Infinite ! 
 Whose skill conducts this rolling 
 
 sphere % 
 Who rules our day, who guards our 
 
 night, 
 And guides the swift revolving year ! 
 
 2. 
 Our race are falling ev'ry hour, 
 While we, distinguished, yet appear ; 
 'Tis of thy matchless love and pow'r, 
 That we are spar'd another year. 
 
 3. 
 O ! for a sweet refreshing time ;— 
 Father! thy children wish Thee near: 
 Come, and our joys shall he sublime, 
 While we begin another year. 
 
 4. 
 |J¥ow may thy Spirit's love reveal. 
 And make our heav'nly prospects clear s 
 Our int- rest in them may we feel, 
 While we pass on from year to year. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 503 
 
 5. 
 May that good Spirit be our guide. 
 During- our stay as pilgrims liere ; 
 Nor let us from our God back-slide, 
 As we we have done tiie former year.] 
 
 6. 
 Strengthen our faitb, increase our love, 
 Fill us with godly filial fear ; 
 And to thy waiting children prove 
 Thy grace thro 7 ev'ry fleeting year. 
 
 7. 
 [This truth impress on ev'ry soul, 
 That vast eternity is near ; [roll, 
 
 That time's swifts moments onward 
 To bring the last — the closing year. 
 
 8. 
 When nature in a blase shall die, 
 Or death conclude our being here ; 
 Then to our Jesus may we fly, 
 To spend a never-ending year !] 
 
 Of old hast Thou laid the founda- 
 tion of the earth % and the heavens are 
 the work of thy hands. They shall pe- 
 rish, hv^t Thou shalt endure 5 yea, all 
 of them shall was old like a garment 5 
 as a vesture shalt Thou change them, 
 and they shall be changed % hut Thou 
 art the same, and thy years shall have 
 no en^k. Through all the successions 
 of time, which with us constitute the 
 past, the present, and the future, I AM 
 is thy name, and this is thy memorial 
 
504 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 in all generations* We desire, O God, 
 with tlie profoundest reverence to con- 
 template tiie eternity of thy nature. 
 May our minds be filled with eleva- 
 tion and grandeur, at the thought of a 
 Being, with whom one day is as a thou- 
 sand years, and a thousand years as one 
 day ; a Being, who amidst all the revolu- 
 tions of empire, and the lapse of worlds, 
 feels no variableness or shadow of turn- 
 ing. Mow glorious, with immortality 
 attached to them, are all thy attributes % 
 and how secure are the hopes and hap- 
 piness of all those, who know thy name 
 and put their trust in Thee* 
 
 May we rejoice, that while men die, 
 the Liord liveth; that while all crea- 
 tures are found broken reeds and bro- 
 ken cisterns, he is the Rock of Ages, 
 and the Fountain of living waters* ©, 
 that we may turn away our hearts 
 from vanity ; and among all the dissat- 
 isfactions and uncertainties of the pre- 
 sent state, look after an interest in that 
 everlasting covenant, which is ordered 
 in all things and sure. May we seek 
 after a union with thyself, as the 
 strength of our heart, and our portion 
 forever, and be partakers ourselves of 
 the immutability we adore ; for Thou 
 hast assured us, that while the world 
 passeth away, and the lusts thereof, he 
 that doeth the will of God, abideth 
 forever. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW TEAR. 505 
 
 We thank Thee, that Thon hast re- 
 vealed to us the way in which a fallen, 
 and perishing sinner can he united to 
 thyself t and that Jesus is the way, the 
 truth, and the life. In his name we 
 come ; O, receive us graciously ; justify 
 us freely from all things; renew us in 
 the spirit of our minds ; and Mess us 
 with all spiritual blessings in hea- 
 venly places in Christ. 
 
 By the lapse of our days, and weeks, 
 and years, which we are called upon 
 so often to remark, may we be remind- 
 ed ho w short our life is, and how soon 
 we shall close our eyes on every pros- 
 pect below the sun; and, O, suffer us 
 not to neglect the claim of eternity, in 
 the pursuit of the trifles of time ; but 
 knowing how frail we are, may we be 
 wise enough to choose the good part 
 which shall not be taken away from 
 us ; and before we leave the present 
 evil world, may we secure an inherit 
 tance in another and a better* May 
 thoughts of death and eternity so im- 
 press our minds, as to put seriousness 
 in our prayers, and vigour in our reso- 
 lutions; may they loosen us from an 
 undue attachment to things seen and 
 temporal ; so that we may weep as 
 though we wept not; and rejoice as 
 if we rejoiced not. 
 
 And remembering that the present 
 life, so short, so uncertain— and so 
 
506 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 much of which is already vanished, is 
 the only opportunity we shall ever 
 have for usefulness, may we be con- 
 cerned, with holy avarice, to redeem 
 the time. Maywe be alive and awake, 
 at every call of charity and piety. May 
 we feed the hungry, and clothe the 
 naked ; may we instruct the ignorant ; 
 reclaim the vicious ; forgive the offend- 
 ing? diffuse the gospel; and consider 
 ojate another, to provoke one another 
 unto love and good works, not forsak- 
 ing the assembling ourselves together, 
 as the manner of some is, but exhort- 
 ing one another, and so much the more 
 as we see the day approaching. 
 
 As we have entered on a ikew period 
 of life, may we faithfully examine our- 
 selves, to see what has heen amiss, in 
 our former temper and conduct; and 
 in thy strength, may we resolve to cor- 
 rect it. And may we inquire for the 
 future — with a full determination to 
 reduce our knowledge to practice, 
 liord, what wilt Thou have me to. do? 
 
 Prepare us for all the duties of the 
 ensuing year. All the wisdom and 
 strength, necessary for the perform- 
 ance of them, must come from thyself; 
 may we, therefore, live a life of self- 
 distrust, of divine dependence, and of 
 prayer ; may we ask and receive, that 
 our joy may be full ; may we live in the 
 spirit and walk in the spirit. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 507 
 
 If we are indulged with prosperity, 
 ©, let not our prosperity destroy us, or 
 injure us. If we are exercised with 
 adversity, suffer us not to sink in the 
 hour of trouble, or sin against God. 
 May we know how to he abased, with- 
 out despondence ; and to abound with- 
 out pride. If our relative comforts are 
 continued to us, may we love them 
 without idolatry, and hold them at 
 thy disposal ; and if they are recalled 
 from us, may we be enabled to say, the 
 Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken 
 away ; and blessed be the name of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Fit us for all events. We know not 
 what a day may bring forth ; but we 
 encourage ourselves in the Lord our 
 God, and go forward. Nothing can 
 befall us by chance. Thou hast been 
 thus far our helper % Thou hast pro- 
 mised to be with us in every condition ; 
 Thou hast engaged to make all things 
 work together for good ; all thy ways 
 are mercy and truth. May we, there- 
 fore, be careful for nothing, but in 
 everything by prayer and supplication 
 with thanksgiving, may we make 
 known our requests unto God ; and 
 may the peace of God that passeth all 
 understanding, keep our hearts and 
 minds, through Christ Jesus. 
 
 Bless, O, bless the young ; may each 
 of them, this day, hear Thee, saying, 
 
508 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 my son give me thy heart; and, from 
 this time, may they cry unto Thee, as 
 the guide of their youth. Regard those 
 who have reached the years, wherein 
 they say, we have no pleasure in them. 
 If old in sin, may they be urged to em- 
 brace, before it be forever too late, the 
 things that belong to their peace 5 and 
 if old in grace, uphold them with thy 
 free Spirit, and help them to remember, 
 that now is their salvation nearer than 
 when they believed. 
 
 Bless all the dear connexions attach- 
 ed to us by nature, friendship or reli- 
 gion. Orace be to them ; and peace be 
 multiplied. 
 
 Xiet our country share thy protection 
 and smiles* Bless our rulers and ma- 
 gistrates. 
 
 Bless all our churches and congre- 
 gations. Bless all thy ministers ; may 
 thine ordinances in their hand be en- 
 livening and refreshing, and thy word 
 effectual, to wound and to heal. 
 
 May this be a year remarkable for 
 the conversion of souls, and the exten- 
 sion of the gospel. Bless all missionary 
 societies 5 and let the circling months 
 see the banners of the Redeemer car- 
 ried forward % till all nations are sub- 
 dued to the obedience of faith. Our 
 father, &e*— Amen* 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 609 
 
 Jflorning devotions for good Friday.* 
 
 HYMN 75. 8. 8. 7. 8. 8. 7.— Lena. 
 
 1 §EE the Lord of glory dying*, 
 
 See liiiii gasping, hear him crying, 
 
 See his burthen'd bosom heave ; 
 Look, ye sinners, ye that hung him, 
 Look, how deep your sins have stung 
 him, 
 Dying sinners, look and live. 
 
 2 See the rocks and mountains shaking, 
 Earth unto her centre quaking, 
 
 ]\ature 9 s groans awake the dead ; 
 Look on Phc&bus, struck with won- 
 der, 
 While the peals of legal thunder 
 
 Smite the blest Redeemer's head : 
 
 3 Heaven's bright melodious legions, 
 Chanting to the tuneful regions, 
 
 Cease to trill the quivering string : 
 Songs seraphic all suspended, 
 Till the mighty war is ended 
 
 By the all -victorious King : 
 
 4 Hell, and all the powers infernal, 
 Vanquish'd by the King eternal, 
 
 When he pour'd the vital flood ! 
 By his groans, which shook creation? 
 Lo ! we found the proclamation, 
 
 " Peace and pardon through his 
 blood." 
 
 * A day set apart by the church to commemorate our Sa- 
 viour's sufferings and death. 
 
510 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 
 
 5 Shout, ye saints, with admiration ; 
 Fill with songs the wide creation, 
 
 Since he's risen from the grave : 
 Shout with joy and acclamation, 
 To the Rock of your salvation, 
 
 Who alone hath power to save. 
 
 6 Bear with patience tribulation, 
 Overcoming all temptation, 
 
 'Till the glorious jubilee ; 
 Soon he'll come, with bursts of thun- 
 der, 
 Then shall we adore and wonder, 
 
 Singing on the highest key. 
 
 7 See the blissful scene before us ; 
 Join the universal chorus ; 
 
 Bid the flowing numbers rise ! 
 Songs immortal sweetly sounding, 
 Notes angelic loud rebounding, 
 
 Trembling round the vocal skies* 
 
 O, Thou King eternal, immortal, and 
 invisible. Though Thou art past find- 
 ing out unto perfection, we rejoice that 
 we are not called to worship an un- 
 known God. Thou hast not left thyself 
 without witness. We bless Thee for 
 the revelation Thou hast given us ; and 
 that in thy word we can view Thee, as 
 the Father of mercies, and the €*od of 
 all grace. All thy works and thy ways 
 correspond with the name Thou hast 
 assumed, and demand and justify our 
 confidence in Thee. We praise Thee 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 511 
 
 for tbe displays of thy goodness in the 
 productions of nature, and the boun- 
 ties of thy providence : but above all, 
 for thine inestimable love, in the re- 
 demption of the world, by our ILord 
 Jesus Christ % for the means of grace, 
 and for the hope of glory. 
 
 Herein Thou hast commended thy 
 love to us ; in that while we were yet 
 sinners, Christ died for us. 
 
 We find ourselves this morning at the 
 fool of the cross, where angels are de- 
 siring to look into these things — and if 
 they who need no repentance, study the 
 sufferings of Christ, and the glory that 
 should follow, O, how much more 
 should we, to whom they are not only 
 true, and wonderful, and sublime, but 
 all-important, and infinitely interest- 
 ing. Help us, © l<ord, to turn aside 
 and see this great sight ; and not suffer 
 a dying Saviour to address us in vain 
 — Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass 
 by ? Behold and see, if ever there was. 
 sorrow like unto my sorrow. 
 
 Here may we see the value of our 
 souls, in the price paid for their deliver- 
 ance s and instead of neglecting them, 
 or exposing them, for the vanities of 
 time and sense s may we regard them, 
 according to the estimation in which 
 they where holden by him, who gave 
 his life a ransom for many. Here, may 
 we contemplate the evil of sin, and ab- 
 
512 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 
 
 lior it here, look upon hint whom we 
 have pierced, and mourn for him. Yet 
 remembering that he was not only- 
 slain by us, but for us : may we rejoice 
 in our tears: and by believing enter 
 into rest. 
 
 With humble and holy confidence 
 may we be enabled to say, surely, he 
 hath borne our griefs, and carried our 
 sorrows : the chastisement of our peace 
 was upon him, and by his stripes we 
 are healed. 
 
 May we never degrade his death by 
 fearing that it will not be available for 
 guilt, so great and aggravated as ours, 
 even if we depend upon it, and plead 
 it before God : but be fully persuaded, 
 that his blood clean seth from all sin : 
 and that by the offering up of himself, 
 he hath perfected forever them that 
 are sanctified. 
 
 Yet O God, never suffer us to sin that 
 grace may abound. May we never 
 crucify the Saviour afresh and put him 
 to an open shame. May he never be 
 wounded in the house of his professing 
 friends. Rather may we live only and 
 wholly for him, who died for us ; and 
 adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, 
 in all things. 
 
 May our old man be crucified with 
 him : and the body of sin be destroyed, 
 that henceforth we may not serve sin- 
 May we be planted together in the like- 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 513 
 
 ness of his death. As he suffered for us, 
 leaving us an example, that we should 
 tof low his steps ; may we learn of him, 
 submission and meekness, and forgive- 
 ness of injuries; when reviled, may 
 we revile not again 5 when suffering, 
 may we threaten not, but commit our- 
 selves to him that judgeth righteously. 
 i.ihe him in all the afflictions of life, 
 may we look to the hand that prepares 
 and presents them 5 and say, the cun 
 which my Father hath given ine, shall 
 I not drink it! 
 
 Whatever be the cross we are requir- 
 ed to bear, may we look before us, and 
 see him carrying a much heavier ,• car- 
 rying it for us t and carrying it with- 
 out a murmur — 
 
 Then let our pains be all forgot, 
 
 Our hearts no more repine — 
 Our sufferings are not worth a thought, 
 
 When Lord compared with thine. 
 
 Convert and pardon all those, who 
 by their lives or doctrine, are the ene- 
 mies of the cross of Christ. Have mer- 
 cy upon the descendants of those who 
 shed his blood: and let his dyinsr 
 prayer be answered, Father, forgive 
 
 r "i?* they know Mot what *hey do. 
 
 As Ihou hast made his soul an offer- 
 ing for sin, may he see his seed, and 
 prolong his days, and the pleasure of 
 
514 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 
 
 the Lord prosper in his hand* May he 
 see of the travail of his soul and be sa- 
 tisfied: and hy his knowledge may he 
 justify many, having borne their ini- 
 quities. 
 
 Yea, having been lifted up from the 
 earth, may he draw all men unto him; 
 may all kings fall down before him. 
 and all nations serve him ; and in all 
 the earth whieh he has purchased with 
 his blood, may there be one Lord, and 
 his name one. 
 
 And when he, who made himself of 
 no reputation, took upon him the form 
 of a servant, and became obedient unto 
 death, even the death of the cross, shall 
 come in his glory, with all the holy an- 
 gels, may we be enabled to say, even so, 
 come I<ord Jesus % and unite with those, 
 who will be eternally employed in say- 
 ing — Unto him that loved us, and wash- 
 ed us from our sins in his own blood, 
 and hath made us kings and priests 
 unto God, and to his Father, be glory 
 and dominion forever and ever. — 
 Amen. 
 
 Evening devotions for Good Friday. 
 
 HYMN 76. L. M.—Kingsbridge. 
 
 'TIS finished, the Redeemer cries ; 
 Then lowly bows his fainting headi 
 And soon th' expiring sacrifice 
 Sinks to the regions of the dead. 
 
EYENING DETOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 615 
 
 2 'Tis done — the mighty work is done 1 
 For men or angels much too great 5 
 Which none but God's eternal Son, 
 Or would attempt, or could complete* 
 
 3 'Tis done — old things are past away. 
 And a new state of things begun ; 
 
 A kingdom which shall ne'er decay* 
 But shall outlast the circling sun* 
 
 I A new account of time begins 5 
 Now our dear Lord resumes his 
 breath, [sins ; 
 
 Charg'd with our sorrows and our 
 Our lives to ransom by his death* 
 
 5 Once he was dead, but now he reigns, 
 He lives, he lives, he lives again : 
 Let's tell our joys in pious strains, 
 And spread the glory of thy name* 
 
 O Thou, whose name alone is Jeho- 
 vah, the Most High over all the earth 5 
 we desire to adore thy perfections, and 
 to admire thy works, which are sought 
 out of all them that have pleasure 
 therein* 
 
 Thou art the only wise Ood* Thy 
 power is Almighty. Whither can we 
 go from thy presence, or whither can 
 we flee from thy Spirit ? Thou art holy 
 in all thy ways* And such is thy pu- 
 rity, that even the heavens are not 
 clean in thy sight* 
 
 How shall we come before the Lord* 
 
516 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIiUr. 
 
 or bow before the high God ? We hare 
 mo offering of our own to bring:* Wo 
 man can redeem his brother, or give to 
 €*od a ransom for him* The blood of 
 bulls and of goats could not take away 
 sin. The law itself made nothing per- 
 fect — but the bringing in of a better hope 
 did* by the which we draw nigh to Ood* 
 
 Yes* blessed be thy name* Thon hast 
 shown us what is good ; and we behold 
 the Lamb of Crod, who is the propitia- 
 tion for our sins* and not tor ours only* 
 but also for the sins of the whole world* 
 
 Here a foundation is laid for our 
 hope* in connexion with the highest 
 glory of all thy perfections; and we 
 rejoice to think* that while pleading 
 for salvation by the blood of the cross* 
 we ask Thee not to deny thyself, or to 
 trample on thy holy law ; for here* thy 
 law is magnified and made honour* 
 able ; here* all thy attributes are deve- 
 loped and harmonized i mercy and 
 truth meet together ; righteousness and 
 peace kiss each other* 
 
 Here, weary and heavy laden, may 
 we come for relief, and find rest unto 
 our souls* May we take fresh views of 
 this adorable sacrifice, under a sense of 
 our constant unworthiness and desert; 
 and in all our approaches to Thee* 
 may we have boldness and access with 
 confidence, by the faith of him. 
 
 May we not only rely upon his cross* 
 
EVENING DEVOTION* FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 517 
 
 but glory in it. Yea, may we join in 
 God through our ILord Jesus Christ, 
 by whom we have now received the 
 atonement. And inay we he able, indi- 
 vidually, to say, I ant crucified with 
 Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, 
 but Christ liveth in me; and the life 
 that I now live in the llesh, I live by 
 the faith of the Son of God, who loved 
 me and gave himself for me. 
 
 We are thankful, that as he atoned 
 for our guilt, so he procured for us the 
 grace of life, that the blessing of Abra- 
 ham might come upon the Gentiles, 
 and that he might receive the promise 
 of the Spirit through faith. May we 
 never separate the pardon and sancti- 
 fication which Thou hast joined to- 
 gether. May we prove, that he gave 
 himself— not only for our sins, but that 
 he might deliver us from the present 
 evil world $ yea, that he might redeem 
 us from all iniquity, and purify unto 
 himself a peculiar people, zealous of 
 good works. 
 
 And, O, that in every future moment 
 of our existence, we may be constrain- 
 ed to live, not to ourselves, but to him 
 that died for us, and rose again. As 
 he so loved us, may we also love one 
 another : and never deem any thing 
 too great to do, or to suffer, while en- 
 deavouring to seek and to save that 
 which is lost. 
 
518 EYENINQ DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 
 
 ZVlay the hearts which are too hard 
 to be broken by terror, be melted by 
 love, and gained by confidence. May 
 none of those who are desirous of re- 
 turning to Thee, be discouraged by a 
 fear of rejection : but calling to re- 
 membrance and belief, the infinite 
 proof which Thou hast already exhi- 
 bited of thy benevolence, thus judge — 
 He that spared not his own Son, but 
 delivered him up for us all, how shall 
 he not, with him, freely give us all 
 things. 
 
 Smile upon our country, let all the 
 churches of the faithful, be edified and 
 multiplied* Bless all the ministers of 
 the everlasting gospel % and may they 
 increasingly determine to know no- 
 thing, save Jesus Christ, and him cru- 
 cified. 
 
 Increase the number of those who 
 love his salvation ; and as he gave him- 
 self a ransom for all, may it be testi- 
 fied in due time, that he may have the 
 heathen for his inheritance, and the 
 uttermost parts of the earth for his pos- 
 session % and reign King of kings, and 
 Lord of lords. 
 
 In his words we conclude our devo- 
 tions. Our Father, which art, &c— 
 Amen. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 519 
 
 Jflorning devotions for Easter Sunday J" 
 
 HYMN 77. L. M.— Litchfield. 
 
 1 OUR Lord is risen from the dead, 
 Our Jesus is gone up on high ; 
 The pow'rs of hell are captive led, 
 Dragged to the portals of the sky. 
 
 2 There his triumphal chariots waits. 
 And angels chant ; the solemn lay ; 
 
 " Lift up your heads, ye heav'nly gates, 
 Ye everlasting doors, give way I" 
 
 3 Loose all your bars of massy light, 
 And wide unfold the radiant scene : 
 He claims those mansions as his right, 
 Receive the King of glory in. 
 
 4 " Who is the King of glory, who P* 
 The Lord that all his foes overcame, 
 The world, sin, death, and hell o'er- 
 
 threw, 
 And Jesus is the conq'ror's name. 
 
 5 !.o ! his triumphant chariot waits, 
 And angels chant the solemn lay, 
 
 " L« ift up your heads, ye hea v'nly gates, 
 Ye everlasting doors, give way I" 
 
 6 " Who is the the king of glory, who ?" 
 The Lord of boundless pow'r possest; 
 The King of saints, and angels too, 
 God over all, forever blest. 
 
 * A day set apart by the church to commemorate our 
 Saviour's resurrection. 
 
520 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 
 
 When we consider the heavens the 
 work of thy lingers, the moon and the 
 stars which Thou hast ordained ; Lord 
 what is man, that thou art mindful of 
 him, or the son of man that thou visit- 
 est him. We are not worthy of an au- 
 dience at thy footstool — we are not 
 worthy of the least of all thy mercies — 
 our sins have even called aloud for 
 vengeance. 
 
 But thou hast not executed upon us 
 the fierceness of thy anger — because 
 Thou art good as well as great ; and 
 thy goodness constitutes thy greatness. 
 Thou hast turned our very fall into an 
 occasion of improving our condition, 
 by advancing us to the possession of 
 more and greater blessings than we 
 originally enjoyed ; so that we not only 
 have life, but have it more abundantly. 
 
 For this purpose the Son of thy love 
 was manifested ; and in the fulness of 
 time, we behold him assuming our na- 
 ture, and coming into our world, not 
 to be ministered unto, but to minister 
 and to give his life a ransom for ma- 
 ny. We rejoice to see, in his release 
 from the prison of the grave, the evi- 
 dence of the all-sufficiency and accepta- 
 tion he offered on the cross. O help us 
 to consider him as a risen Saviour ; and 
 may we feel the power of his resurrec- 
 tion, in establishing our faith, enliven- 
 ing our hope, and securing our sancti- 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 52| 
 
 fication. May we not only believe his 
 resurrection, but partake of it, and 
 resemble it, that like as Christ was 
 raised from the dead by the glory of the 
 Father, even so, we also might walk 
 in newness of life %, reckoning* ourselves 
 to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive 
 unto Ood, through Jesus Christ our 
 liord. 
 
 And if risen with Christ, may we give 
 evidence of it, and act becoming it, in 
 seeking those things that are above. 
 
 May we never leave our spiritual 
 and everlasting condition, undecided 
 and unknown ; may we never be satis- 
 lied, till we are able to say, Blessed be 
 the Ood and Father of our I^ord Jesus 
 Christ, who, according to his abundant 
 mercy, hath begotten us again unto a 
 lively hope, by the resurrection of Je- 
 sus Christ from the dead ; to an inher- 
 itance incorruptible, undeliled and 
 that fadeth not away, reserved in hea- 
 ven for us. 
 
 In all our difficulties and dangers, 
 may we rejoice that he who was dead, 
 is alive again, to plead for us, to defend 
 us, and to supply us, and has the keys 
 of hell and of death. 
 
 In all the afflictions of life, in the de- 
 cay of nature, and when looking into 
 the horrors of the grave, may we with 
 humble and holy confidence be able to 
 say, that I know my Redeemer liveth, 
 
b%% MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 
 
 and shall stand at the latter day npon 
 the earth : and though, after my skin, 
 wor his destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
 shall I see €*od. 
 
 Are we eaiied to mourn over the loss 
 of our dear and pious connexions? 
 JLet us not sorrow as those who have no 
 hope ; but comfort one another with 
 these words— That Jesus died and rose 
 again, and them that sleep in Jesus 
 will God bring with him. 
 
 We glory in the victory which our 
 risen Saviour has obtained, not only 
 over death and the grave, but the pow- 
 ers of darkness ; we rejoice that he has 
 set judgment in the earth, and that the 
 isles are waiting for his law ; that his 
 word is translating into every lan- 
 guage, and his servants entering every 
 clime. We hail what he has done as a 
 pledge of his universal triumph. And 
 though we yet see not all things actual- 
 ly put under him, we see him, for the 
 suffering of death, crowned with glory 
 and honour ; and in possession of all 
 the resources, necessary to accomplish 
 the benevolent designs of his heart; 
 and he must reign till all his enemies 
 are under his foot-stool. 
 
 Through him, as the once suffering, 
 but now exalted Saviour, we address 
 Thee, as our Father, &c— Amen. 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 523 
 
 Evening devotions for Easter Sunday. 
 
 HYMN 78. L. M.— Park Street. 
 
 1 I MOW thai; my Redeemer lives ; 
 Wliat conifort this sweet sentence 
 
 gives ! 
 He lives, lie lives, who once was dead, 
 He lives my everlasting* head I 
 
 2 He lives triumphant from the grave, 
 He lives eternally to save ; 
 
 He lives all glorious in the sky, 
 He lives exalted there on high. 
 
 3 He lives to bless me with his love, 
 He lives to plead for me above ; 
 He lives my hungry soul to feed, 
 He lives to help in time of need* 
 
 4 He lives to grant me fresh supply, 
 He lives to guide me with his eye ; 
 He lives to comfort me when faint, 
 He lives to hear my soul's complaint* 
 
 5 He lives to silence all my fears, 
 
 He lives to stoop and wipe my tears ; 
 He lives to calm my troubled heart, 
 He lives all blessings to impart. 
 
 6 He lives my kind, wise, heav'nly 
 
 friend, 
 He lives and loves me to the end ; 
 He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing, 
 He lives my prophet, priest and king. 
 
524 EYENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 
 
 7 He lives, and grants me daily breath. 
 He lives, and I shall conquer death ; 
 He lives my mansion to prepare, 
 He lives to bring me safely there. 
 
 8 He lives, all glory to his name ! 
 He lives, my Jesus, still the same ; 
 © the sweet joy this sentence gives, 
 I know that my Redeemer lives ! 
 
 O, Thou ever blessed God, we rejoice 
 to think, Thou hast determined to get 
 thyself honour, in this apostate part 
 of thy empire ; not by the merited in- 
 fliction of thy justice, but the displays 
 of thy goodness. For Thou hast said, 
 mercy shall be built up forever, a 
 monument higher than the heavens, 
 more durable than eternity, and in- 
 scribed to the praise of the glory of thy 
 grace, wherein Thou hast made us ac- 
 cepted in the beloved. 
 
 We bless Thee, for the appointment 
 and revelation of the one only Media- 
 tor between Thee and us; hy whose 
 death sinners are reconciled, and by 
 whose life they are saved. Thou hast 
 laid on him the iniquity of us all. 
 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and 
 carried our sorrows ; the chastisement 
 of our peace was upon him, and with 
 his stripes we are healed. 
 
 Establish in our minds a full persua- 
 sion, that he was delivered for our of- 
 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 525 
 
 fences, and raised again for onr justi- 
 fication ; and may we above all things, 
 be concerned to know not only that he 
 is risen again, but that we are quicken- 
 ed together with Christ, and raised up, 
 and made to sit with him in heavenly 
 places. May we hold communion with 
 him, as a living and reigning Saviour $ 
 ably to carry on our cause, and save 
 unto the uttermost, all that come unto 
 God by him. 
 
 Is he not head over all things unto 
 his body the church ? Is he not exalted 
 to be a Prince and a Saviour ? Has he 
 not assured us, that because he lives, 
 we shall live also I May we view him 
 as the first fruits of them that sleep j 
 and believe, that as in Adam all died, 
 even so in Christ shall all be made alive* 
 May we view his resurrection, not only 
 as the pledge, but the model of our own ; 
 knowing that he shall not only change 
 our vile body, but fashion it like his 
 own glorious body, according to the 
 working, whereby he is able to subdue 
 all things unto himself. 
 
 Thou hast appointed a day in which 
 Thou wilt judge the world in righ- 
 teousness, by that man whom Thou 
 hast ordained : and Thou hast given 
 assurance of it unto all men, in that 
 Thou hast raised him from the dead. 
 O, save us from the wrath of the Lamb. 
 May we tremble at the thought of ap- 
 
5%6 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 
 
 pearing before him, if we neglect his 
 salvation, despised his precious blood, 
 and resisted his Holy Spirit. 
 
 Let not the head stone of the corner, 
 be a stone of stumbling and a rock of 
 offence ; but as he is chosen of Crod, and 
 precious, may he be precious to us. And 
 while he is living for us in heaven, may 
 we be living for him on earth. May 
 we esteem it our highest honour to be 
 like him ; and feel it our greatest 
 pleasure to serve him. 
 
 And let all those of the house of Is- 
 rael know assuredly, that Thou hast 
 made the same Jesus whom their fa- 
 thers crucified both Lord and Christ. 
 May the veil be taken from their heart; 
 and may they behold, as in a glass, his 
 glory. 
 
 As a nation be merciful unto us, and 
 bless us. May this Christian country 
 be a country of Christians i and let all 
 who name the name of Christ, depart 
 from iniquity. 
 
 Bless all those who preach Jesus and 
 the resurrection. May they preach 
 with the Holy Ghost sent down from 
 heaven. May their sound go into all 
 the earth; and their words unto the 
 end of the world. 
 
 As yet, after all that we have read, 
 and heard, and experienced, we know 
 but little of the value of the gospel t but 
 ire know enough to induce us to be 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS PO~R WHITSUNDAY. 527 
 
 thankful for our religious advantages 9 
 to sympathize with those who are with- 
 out Christ ; and to pray, that in hint 
 all the families of the earth may be 
 blessed, and all generations call him 
 blessed* 
 
 Now the God of peace, that brought 
 again from the dead our I^ord Jesus, 
 that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
 through the blood of the everlasting 
 covenant, make us perfect in every 
 good work to do his will, working in 
 us that which is well pleasing in his 
 sight, through Jesus Christ ; to whom 
 be glory forever and ever. — Amen. 
 
 Morning devotions for Whitsunday.* 
 
 H Y M N 79. L. M.— German M. 
 1. 
 
 DEARXord, and shall thy Spirit rest 
 In such a wretched heart as mine ? 
 'Unworthy dwelling! glorious Guest! 
 Favour astonishing, divine ! 
 
 2. 
 When sin prevails, and gloomy fear, 
 And hope almost expires in night, 
 liord, can thy Spirit then be here, 
 Great spring of comfort, life and light ? 
 
 * A festival observed in remembrance of the descent 
 of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles. — Acts ii. 3. 
 
538 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAT. 
 
 Sure the blest Comforter is nigh ; 
 'Tis he sustains my fainting heart ; 
 Else would my hopes forever die, 
 And ev'ry cheering ray depart. 
 
 4. 
 When some kind promise glads my souI 9 
 ]>o I not find his healing voice 
 The tempest of my fears controul, 
 And bid my drooping pow'rs rejoice? 
 
 5. 
 Whene'er to call the Saviour mine, 
 With ardent wish my heart aspires ; 
 Can it be less than pow'r divine, 
 Which animates these strong desires ? 
 
 6. 
 What less than thine Almighty word 
 Can raise my heart from earth and dust; 
 And bid me cleave to Thee, myLord, 
 My life, my treasure, and my trust ? 
 
 7. 
 And when my cheerful hope can say, 
 " I love my God, and trust his grace 5" 
 liord, is it not thy blissful ray, [peace? 
 Which brings this dawn of sacred 
 
 8. 
 Let thy kind Spirit in my heart, 
 Forever dwell, O God of love, 
 And light and heav'nly peace impart, 
 Sweet earnest of the joys above* 
 
 O God, Thou hast established thy 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 589 
 
 throne in the heavens, and thy king- 
 dom ruleth over all; and all nations 
 before Thee are as nothing. Yet, bless- 
 ed be thy name, it is only in compari- 
 son with thy infinite greatness, that 
 they are nothing — not in reference to 
 thy condescension, and kindness, and 
 care. Even as individuals we have 
 been the charge of thy providence ; 
 goodness and mercy have always at* 
 tended us; and having obtained help 
 of Thee, we continue to this day. Thou 
 hast been mindful of our souls as well 
 as of our bodies; yea, Thou wast pleas- 
 ed to form a purpose of grace in our 
 favour ; and devise means the most 
 glorious, to deliver us from the degra- 
 dation, and misery, and perdition of 
 sin ; and to make us partakers of the 
 hope of eternal life. 
 
 We bless Thee for the dispensation of 
 religion, under which it is our exalted 
 privilege to live. Mow superior are 
 our advantages, to those enjoyed by 
 many of thy people in earlier ages. 
 The law was given by Moses, but grace 
 and truth came by Jesus Christ. Pro- 
 phets and righteous men desired to see 
 the things which we see, and did not 
 see them ; and to hear the things which 
 we hear, and did not hear them ; but 
 blessed are our eyes for they see, and 
 our ears for they hear. Instead of a 
 a portion of revelation, we have the 
 
 34 
 
530 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY 
 
 sacred scriptures complete* Instead of 
 the blackness* and darkness, and tern* 
 pest of Sinai, we have the milder glo- 
 ries, and the small still voice of Zion. 
 We hare not received the spirit of bond* 
 age again to fear ; but the spirit of 
 adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Fa» 
 ther* 
 
 We praise Thee for the establishment 
 of the glorious gospel, which at the first 
 began to be spoken by the [Lord, and 
 was confirmed unto us hy them that 
 heard him; God also bearing them 
 witness, with signs and wonders, and 
 with divers miracles and gifts of the 
 Holy Ghost, according to his own will*- 
 We rejoice, that though his supernatu- 
 ral agency has ceased, with its neces- 
 sity, the ministry of the Spirit continues, 
 and that his saving influences are con- 
 fined to no period of the church. All 
 that have been enlightened and re- 
 newed since the fall, have been the sub- 
 jects of his operation % and with Thee is 
 the residue of the Spirit, 
 
 We rejoice, that as there is no bless- 
 ing we so much need, so there is no 
 blessing we are so much encouraged 
 to implore: for thy truth has said — if 
 ye, being evil, know how to give good 
 gifts unto your children, how much 
 more shall your Father which is in 
 heaven, give his Holy Spirit unto them 
 that ask him. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAT. 531 
 
 O Thou God of all grace, fulfil the 
 word unto thy servants, upon which 
 Thou hast caused us to hope. Impart 
 unto us thy Holy Spirit, to open the 
 eyes of our understanding*, to sanctify 
 our affections, to comfort our hearts, to 
 glorify Christ, by taking of the things 
 of Christ, and showing them to us. 
 
 May we never commit the sin against 
 the Holy Ghost. Never quench the 
 Spirit. Never resist the Holy Ghost. 
 Never grieve the Holy Spirit. Hut may 
 we pray in the Holy Ghost ; and wor- 
 ship God in the Spirit 5 and be lead by 
 the Spirit 1 and be filled with the Spirit. 
 May we always view the commands 
 in connexion with thy promises 5 our 
 duties and trials in connection with 
 our resources. Great is our work 5 
 great is our warfare 5 and far greater 
 than we ever yet felt it to be, is our 
 weakness. But our sufficiency is of 
 God ; and Thou hast said, I will never 
 leave thee, nor forsake thee — not by 
 might nor by power, hut by my Spirit 
 saith the ILord. 
 
 ILet the goings of our God and our 
 King, be seen in the sanctuary; and 
 when thy truth is dispensed, let it come 
 to those who hear it, not in word only, 
 but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, 
 and with much assurance. 
 
 And bless, not only the gates of Zion, 
 but all the dwelling places of Jacob. 
 
532 MORNrNG DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 
 
 May every family contain a church 
 in the house. Pour thy blessing upon 
 our seed, and thy Spirit upon our off- 
 spring ; and may the rising race grow 
 up, the ornaments, examples and be- 
 nefactors of their day and generation. 
 
 To Thee we commend all wis© have 
 the rule over us; we implore thy fa- 
 vourable regards to the privileged 
 country in which we live. Mumble 
 us before Thee for our sins, especially 
 our neglect and abuse of our religious 
 advantages. Withdraw not from us 
 the blessings we have forfeited ; and 
 inflict not upon us the judgments we 
 have deserved. But spare us according 
 to the greatness of thy mercy. 
 
 And from our land of vision, may 
 the light break forth upon all those 
 who are in darkness, and the region 
 of the shadow of death. 
 
 Bless all missionary exertions. Let 
 the various societies employed in this 
 work of faith, and labour of love view 
 each other with pleasure, and rejoice 
 in each other's success ; and if not in 
 immediate and personal co-operation, 
 yet in accordance, and tei^^Lei^ey^ and 
 design, may they stand fast in one 
 spirit, with one mind, striving together 
 for the faith of the gospel. Let those 
 who remain at home hold forth the 
 word of life in their own circles, and 
 be concerned to evangelize the districts 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 533 
 
 in which they reside. But O, let there 
 not be si deficiency of those, who offer 
 themselves to the help of the Lord, 
 among the heathen, and say, Lord send 
 me* Let it he said, as it was in the be- 
 ginning of the gospel — the ILord gave 
 the word, great was the company of 
 them that published it. 
 
 And be with those that are already 
 engaged. We know that Paul can on- 
 ly plant, and Apollos water ; but Thou 
 canst give the increase. 
 
 Pour thy spirit from on high, and 
 the wilderness shall become a fruitful 
 field. Our Father, &c.-Amen. 
 
 H Y M N 80. P. M.— Ganges. 
 1. 
 
 When the blest day of Pentecost 
 Was fully come ; the Holy Ohost 
 
 Descended from above, 
 Sent by the Father and the Son : 
 The Sender and the Sent are one, 
 
 The Lord of life and love. 
 
 3. 
 But were the first disciples blest 
 With heav'nly gifts ? And shall the rest 
 
 Be pass'd unheeded by ? 
 What ? has the Holy Ohost forgot 
 To quicken souls, that Christ has 
 bought ; 
 And let them lifeless lie? 
 
534 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 
 
 3. • 
 No, Thou Almighty Paraclete I 
 Thou shed'st thy heav'nly influ'nce yet; 
 
 Thou visit' st sinners still s 
 Thy breath of life, thy quick'ning Hame, 
 Thy pow'r, the Godhead, still the same, 
 
 We <s>wm 9 because we feel. 
 
 Evening devotions for Whitsunday. 
 
 HYMN 81. P.M. 6, 7.—Romamt. 
 
 1 FROM Greenland's icy mountains, 
 
 From India's coral strand % 
 Where Afric's sunny fountains 
 
 Roll down their golden sand t 
 From many an ancient river, 
 
 From many a palmy plain, 
 They call us to deliver 
 
 Their land from error's chain. 
 
 2 What though the spicy breezes 
 
 Slow soft o'er Ceylon's isle, 
 Though every prospect pleases, 
 
 And only man is vile ; 
 In vain with lavish kindness 
 
 The gifts of God are strown 5 
 The heathen m his blindness 
 
 Bows down to wood and stone. 
 
 3 Shall we, whose souls are lighted 
 
 With wisdom from on high, 
 Shall we to men benighted 
 The lamp of life deny ? 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 535 
 
 Salvation! O Salvation! 
 
 The joyful sound proclaim, 
 Till earth's remotest nation 
 
 Has learn'd Messiah's name* 
 
 4 Waft, waft, ye winds, his story, 
 
 And you, ye waters, roll 
 Till, like a sea of glory, 
 
 It spreads from pole to pole, 
 Till o'er our ransom'd nature, 
 
 The Lamb for sinners slain, 
 Redeemer, King, Creator, 
 
 In bliss returns to reign. 
 
 O, Thou Author of peace, and lover 
 of concord, in knowledge of whom 
 standeth our eternal life; and whose 
 service is perfect freedom ; cleanse the 
 thoughts of otir hearts, hy the inspira- 
 tion of thy Holy Spirit; and give us 
 grace, whereby we may serve Thee ac- 
 ceptably, with reverence, and with 
 godly fear. 
 
 We adore Thee as the Creator of all 
 things, visible and invisible. Thou art 
 the Maker of our earth ; and Thou art 
 the Maker of man upon it : and Thou 
 madest man upright, in the possession 
 of thy image, and the enjoyment of thy 
 presence. But man being in honour, 
 abode not. Our first father sinned; 
 and we have borne his iniquity. We 
 have gone astray from the womb ; and 
 in numberless instances, have evinced 
 
536 EYENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 
 
 ourselves to be the degenerate offspring 
 of a fallen original — and there is no 
 health in ns. As transgressors of thy 
 law, we are under the curse 5 and did 
 our deliverance depend upon ourselves, 
 we must lie down in endless despair. 
 We admit, in all its extent, the testi- 
 mony of thy word against us ; but ad- 
 mire with gratitude the developement 
 of a plan of mercy and grace, divinely 
 appropriate to all our wants and 
 woes, and uniting the highest display 
 of thy glory, with the salvation of sin- 
 ners. 
 
 Adored be the benevolence that led 
 the Son of thy love, before the founda- 
 tion of the world, to say, ILo ! I come to 
 do thy will, O God 5 thy law is within my 
 heart. Blessed be the day when the 
 angels saw him who was rich, for our 
 sakes becoming poor, that we through 
 his poverty might be rich. Blessed be 
 the hour, when the Prince of I^ife bore 
 our sins in his own body on the tree ; 
 and having obtained eternal redemp- 
 tion for us, ascended up on high, lead- 
 ing captivity captive, and receiving 
 gifts for men, even the rebellious also, 
 that the I^ord God might dwell among 
 them. We rejoice that Christianity 
 was originally preached, with the 
 Holy Ghost sent down from heaven: 
 and in the demonstration of the Spirit, 
 was so firmly established, that the 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAV. 537 
 
 gates of hell can never prevail against 
 it. We praise Thee, that the son of 
 righteousness, in the knowledge of the 
 gospel, has risen with healing under 
 his wings, upon this distinguished 
 land; and said, arise, shine, for thy 
 light is come, and the glory of the ILord 
 is risen upon thee. And, O, what rea- 
 son have we to be thankful, if this gos- 
 pel has come to us, not in word only, 
 but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, 
 and in much assurance. 
 
 For we bless Thee, that though mi- 
 racles have ceased, yet thy Spirit is in- 
 sured to thy people to the end of the 
 world, as the source of light and life, 
 and peace and joy; giving testimony 
 to the word of thy grace ; and working 
 in the souls of men, to will and to do 
 of thy good pleasure. 
 
 O, Thou Author of all good, save us, 
 we beseech Thee, by the washing of re- 
 generation, and the renewing of the 
 Holy Ghost. May we be found in the 
 number of those, who are born of the 
 Spirit ; and give evidence of it, by our 
 walking after the Spirit, and our mind- 
 ing the things of the Spirit. Instead of 
 judging ourselves by dreams, fancies 
 and impressions, may we prove what 
 is acceptable unto the I^ord; and re- 
 member, that the fruit of the Spirit, is 
 in all goodness, and righteousness, and 
 truth. 
 
538 EVENING BEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 
 
 We desire, O God, to acknowledge our 
 entire dependance on Thee. — Whatever 
 time we have engaged in thy service, 
 we are still in the body, and feel our 
 need of the continuance of those coun- 
 sels, supports and consolations, which 
 have ever been afforded us* Cast us 
 not away from thy presence, and take 
 not thy Holy Spirit from us. 
 
 In all the dangers to which we are 
 exposed, uphold us by thy free Spirit ; 
 and may we not think it enough to be 
 preserved from falling ; but may we go 
 forward, and be always abounding in 
 the work of the I^ord. Strengthen us 
 with might by thy Spirit in the inner 
 man, for every purpose of the Chris- 
 tian life ; and may we be satisfied with 
 no attainment, till we are filled with 
 all the fulness of God. 
 
 Awaken the careless; convince of 
 their error and guilt all those who deny 
 or vilify the work of thy grace ; and 
 plant in their consciences the convic- 
 tion, that if any man have not the Spirit 
 of Christ, he is none of his. 
 
 Pour the spirit of grace and of sup- 
 plication upon all our congregations. 
 Bless the ministry of the gospel, and 
 make it the ministration of the Spirit, 
 and the power of God to salvation to 
 every one that believeth. 
 
 But how can they believe in him of 
 whom they have not heard ? And how 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 539 
 
 can they hear without a preacher? 
 How many are there, who, by the 
 "wretchedness of their condition, if not 
 by their actual desire, are saying*, 
 come over and help us* 
 
 Mast thou not commanded us to 
 pray, that thy kingdom may come 1 
 Hast not Thou promised % that the 
 earth shall be full of the knowledge 
 of the Xord, as the waters cover the 
 seas ? 
 
 May we encourage our expectation, 
 by reviewing what Thou hast already 
 accomplished % and remembering, that 
 Thou art a €*od of truth, and — the Al- 
 mighty* May we, therefore, realize in 
 our minds, the delightful period, when 
 the heathen shall cast their idols to the 
 moles and to the bats ; when Mahome- 
 tanism and anti-Christ shall perish; 
 when the Jews shall look upon him 
 whom they have pierced, and mourn % 
 and among protestants, every plant 
 which our heavenly Father hath not 
 planted, shall be rooted up. 
 
 But why are thy chariot wheels so 
 long in coming ? Why does the whole 
 creation groan and travail in pain to- 
 gether until now ? How many would 
 say, Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant 
 depart in peace, according to thy 
 word — could their eyes see thy salva- 
 tion, which Thou hast prepared before 
 the face of all people ; a light to lighten 
 
540 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 
 
 the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people 
 Israel. 
 
 While using* the means may we trust 
 in thy wisdom, as well as thy faithful- 
 ness ; and hear the voice saying, I the 
 Liord will hasten it — in his time. 
 
 And to God, the Father, the Word, 
 and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed the 
 kingdom, power and glory, both now 
 and forever. — Amen. 
 
 Evening devotions after a Funeral. 
 
 HYMN 82. C. P. M.— Reflection. 
 
 1 MY days, my weeks, my months, my 
 years, 
 Fly rapid as the whirling spheres, 
 
 Around the steady pole t 
 Time, like the tide its motion keeps, 
 And I must launch thro 9 boundless 
 deeps, 
 Where endless ages roll. 
 
 3 The grave is near the cradle seen, 
 How swift the moments pass between ! 
 
 And whisper as they fly- 
 Unthinking man, remember this, 
 Thou, midst thy sublunary bliss, 
 
 Itlust groan, and gasp, and die ! 
 
 3 Iffy soul attend the solemn call, 
 
 Thine earthly tent must quickly fall. 
 And thou must take thy flight, 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 541 
 
 Beyond the vast ethereal blue, 
 To love and sing as angels do, 
 Or sink in endless night. 
 
 4 liong ere the sun has run his round, 
 I may be buried under ground. 
 
 And there in silenee rot; 
 Alas ! one hour may elose the scene. 
 And ere twelve months shall intervene 
 
 My name be quite forgot. 
 
 5 But shall my soul be then extinct, 
 And cease to be, or cease to think ? 
 
 It cannot, cannot be : 
 Thou ! my immortal, cannot die, 
 What wilt thou do, or whither fly, 
 
 When death shall set thee free ? 
 
 6 Will mercy then its arms extend ? 
 Will Jesus be thy guardian friend? 
 
 And heaven thy dwelling-place ! 
 Or shall insulting fiends appear, 
 To drag thee down to black despair, 
 
 Beyond the reach of grace ? 
 
 O Thou Father of mercies, and God 
 of all comfort. Thou hast often invited 
 us to thyself, by a profession of kind- 
 ness; and it manifests our depravity, 
 that we think of Thee so little in the 
 hour of ease and prosperity. But we 
 are now before Thee, in afflict ion and 
 distress. Yet we rejoice to know, that 
 Thou art a very present, and an all- 
 sufficient help in trouble 
 
542 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 
 
 Thou takest away and who can hiii* 
 der Thee, or to say unto Thee, What 
 dost Thou ? Thou hast a right to do 
 what Thou wilt with thine own. Thou 
 art a sovereign, and the reasons of thy 
 conduct are often far above, out of our 
 sight § but thy work is perfect, thy 
 ways are judgment. All thy dispensa- 
 tions are wise, and righteous, and kind 
 — kind, even when they seem to be se- 
 vere. 
 
 May we hear thy voice in thy rod, as 
 well as in thy words and gathering 
 from the corrections with which we 
 are exercised, the peaceable fruit of 
 righteousness, be able to acknowledge* 
 with all our suffering brethren before 
 us, It is good for us that we have been 
 afflicted. 
 
 It is not the scripture only, that re- 
 minds us of our living in a dying 
 world, but all observation, and expe- 
 rience. Man is continually going to 
 his long home, and the mourners daily 
 go about the streets. And we are all 
 accomplishing as an hireling, our day, 
 and in a little time our neighbours, 
 friends and relations, will seek us — and 
 we shall not be. Our days are swifter 
 than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent 
 without hope. Thou hast made our 
 days as a hand's breadth, and our age 
 is as nothing before Thee s verily, every 
 man at his best state is altogether van-, 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 54$ 
 
 ity. For our days are not only few, but 
 full of evil. Anxieties perplex us ; dan- 
 gers alarm us ; infirmities oppress us ; 
 disappointments afflict us ; losses im- 
 poverish us — we are eonsumed by thine 
 anger, and by thy wrath are we trou- 
 bled — ©, shut not thy merciful ear from 
 our prayers; but spare us, O JLord, 
 most holy s © €*od, most mighty : O 
 holy and most merciful Saviour z Thou 
 most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us 
 not, at our last hour, for any bitter 
 pains of death, to fall from Thee* 
 
 We acknowledge, O God, with shame 
 and sorrow, that the state of degrada- 
 tion and mortality, in which we groan, 
 was not our original condition. Thou 
 madest man upright? but he sought 
 out many inventions. Our first father 
 sinned, and we have borne his iniqui- 
 ty. My one man, sin entered into the 
 ivor Id, and death by sin ; and so death 
 hath passed upon all men, for that all 
 have sinned. 
 
 We bless Thee, that this is not our 
 final state. By the discoveries of faith, 
 we see new heavens, and a new earth, 
 wherein dwelleth righteousness. We 
 see the spirits of just men made perfect. 
 We see our vile bodies changed, and 
 fashioned like the Saviour's own glori- 
 ous body ; and man, the sinner, raised 
 above the angels wlio never sinned. 
 We bless Thee for this purpose of 
 
544 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 
 
 grace, formed before the world began, 
 and accomplished in the fulness of 
 time, by the Son of thy love, who hath 
 abolished death, and brought life and 
 immortality to light by the gospel : and 
 who among the ravages of the grave, 
 says, I am the resurrection and the 
 life ; he that believeth in me, though 
 he were dead, yet shall he live; and 
 whosoever liveth and believeth in me 
 shall never die. 
 
 May it be our immediate and su- 
 preme concern to win Christ, and be 
 found in him : knowing that there is 
 no condemnation to them that are in 
 Christ Jesus; and that blessed are the 
 dead that die in the ILord. 
 
 So teach us to number our days that 
 we may apply our hearts unto wisdom 
 — that wisdom which will lead ns to 
 prefer the soul to the body, and eterni- 
 ty to time; that wisdom which will 
 lead us to secure an interest in a better 
 world, before we are removed from this. 
 
 O, let not the trifles of time induce us 
 to neglect the one thing needful. While 
 each of us is compelled to say, I know 
 Thou wilt bring me to death, and to 
 the house appointed for all living, 
 may we be enabled also to say, I know 
 whom I have believed, and am per- 
 suaded that he is able to keep that 
 which I have committed to him* 
 against that day. 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 545 
 
 And, O, let not the solemnities we 
 have this day witnessed, be ever forgot- 
 ten : for often, our most serious impres- 
 sions have worn off, and our goodness 
 has been as the morning eloud and 
 early dew, that soon passeth away. 
 
 Thou hast permitted death to invade 
 our eirele, and hast turned our dwell- 
 ing into a house of mourning. May 
 we find that it is better to be in the 
 house of mourning, than in the house 
 of mirth. By the sadness of the coun- 
 tenance, may the heart be made better, 
 more serious to reflect, and more soft- 
 ened to take impression. 
 
 With the feelings of the creature, may 
 we blend the views and the hopes of the 
 Christian. May we remember that 
 Thou hast bereaved us, not as an ag- 
 gressor, but as a proprietor ; resuming 
 what was lent us for a season, but ne- 
 ver ceased to be thine own. May we, 
 therefore, be dumb, and open not our 
 mouth, because Thou hast done it ; or 
 if we speak may it be to acknowledge 
 and pray — I know, © l^ord, that thy 
 judgments are right, and that Thou in 
 faithfulness hast afflicted me ; let thy 
 loving-kindness be for my comfort, ac- 
 cording to thy word unto thy servant. 
 
 We bless Thee for thy goodness to the 
 deceased, and that we are not called to 
 sorrow, as those who have no hope. 
 We ascribe whatever excellency was 
 
 33 
 
540 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 
 
 found in them to thy grace ; and desire 
 to be followers of them, as far as they 
 also were of Christ* 
 
 Forgive as in whatever instances we 
 failed in our duty towards them. I<et 
 the prayers they oHered for us while on 
 earth he answered ; may w& hold com- 
 munion with them in our living Re- 
 deemer ; and look forward to a period 
 ofrenewed and improved intercourse, 
 in which we shall fee forever with each 
 other, and forever with the ILord. 
 
 Now unto him that is able to keep us 
 from falling, and to present us faultless 
 before the presence of his glory, with 
 exceeding joy. The only wise Ood our 
 Saviour, be glory and majesty, domin- 
 ion and power, both now and ever — 
 Amen. 
 
 HYMN 83. L. M.— Woodland. 
 
 1 THERE is an hour of peaceful rest, 
 To mourning wanderers given ; 
 
 There is a joy for souls distressed, 
 A balm for every wounded breast — 
 9 Tis found above — in heaven. 
 
 2 There is a soft, a downy bed, 
 'Tis fair as breath of even ; 
 
 A couch for weary mortals spread, 
 Where they may rest the aching head, 
 And find repose — in heaven. 
 
 3 There is a home for weary souls. 
 By sin and sorrow driven x 
 
MORNING DETOTIONS FOR FAST DAT. 547 
 
 When toss'd on life's tempestuous shoals, 
 Where storms arise, and oeean rolls, 
 And all is drear — but heaven. 
 
 4 There, faith lifts up her cheerful eye, 
 To brighter prospects given ; 
 
 And views the tempest passing by, 
 The evening shadows quickly fly, 
 And all serene — in heaven. 
 
 5 There, fragrant flowers immortal 
 
 bloom, 
 
 And joys supreme are given; 
 There joys divine disperse the gloom s — 
 Beyond the confines of the tomb, 
 
 Appears the dawn of heaven. 
 
 Jtloming devotions for Fast day** 
 
 HYMN 84. C. M.—Coleshill. 
 
 1 SHE, gracious JLord, before thy 
 
 throne, 
 Thy mourning people bend ! 
 9 Tis on thy sovereign grace alone, 
 Our humble hopes depend. 
 
 2 Tremendous judgments from thy 
 
 hand 
 Thy dreadful pow'er display ; 
 Yet mercy spares this guilty land, 
 And still we live to pray. 
 
 * The two following* prayers are particularly adapted to 
 a fast appointed on account some of great calamity, but 
 with slight alterations may be used on ordinary fast days. 
 
54B MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FAST DAY. 
 
 3 How changed, alas! For truths divine 
 
 See error, guilt and shame ! 
 What impious numbers, bold in sin, 
 Disgrace the Christian name. 
 
 4 O! turn us, turn us, mighty Lord, 
 
 By thy resistless grace ; 
 Then shall our hearts obey thy word, 
 And humbly seek thy face. 
 
 5 Then, should insulting foes invade, 
 
 We shall not sink in fear ; 
 Secure of never-failing aid, 
 Since God, our God, is near. 
 
 Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, 
 the whole earth is full of thy glory. O 
 for such an impression of thy holiness 
 as Isaiah had, when, penetrated with 
 a sense of his own sin, and the sin of the 
 nation, he exclaimed, Wo is me, for I 
 am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell 
 among a people of unclean lips. Ban- 
 ish all insensibility and indifference 
 from our minds, and unite our hearts 
 to fear thy name. 
 
 We lament that the world in which 
 we live, formed to show forth thy praise, 
 was so early defiled by sin f that all flesh 
 corrupted its way before God, and 
 every imagination of the thoughts of 
 the heart, was only evil continually. 
 We adore thy awful but righteous dis- 
 pleasure, in bringing the flood upon 
 the world of the ungodly, and taking 
 tfjaem »H awuv. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FAST DAY. 549 
 
 Yet, even this tremendous desolation, 
 did not hinder the renewed human 
 race from rebelling' against Thee ; and 
 a long succession of private and pub- 
 lie calamities, proclaims the desperate 
 depravity of our nature, and the evil 
 of sin. Our world is the empire of 
 death, a vale of tears ; and tempests, 
 and earthquakes, and war, and pesti- 
 lence, and famine, scatter the tokens 
 of thy wrath, for Thou distributes! 
 sorrows in thine anger. 
 
 Thy judgments are now abroad in 
 the earth — may the inhabitants there- 
 of learn righteousness. They have 
 reached and invaded us — may we lay 
 them to heart, and be suitably im- 
 pressed, with the afflicted circum- 
 stances of the country to which we be- 
 long. 
 
 We have been equally distinguished 
 by privileges and guilt, and it is im- 
 possible for us to review the one, with- 
 out being reminded by the other. An 
 innumerable multitude of natural, 
 providential and religious benefits, 
 has distinguished our portion. The 
 lines have fallen to us in pleasant 
 places, yea, we have a goodly heritage. 
 At an early period the gospel visited 
 our shores, and has continued in the 
 midst of us to this hour. We have liv- 
 ed under the administration of laws, 
 just, mild and beneficent. We hav* 
 
550 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FAST DAY. 
 
 enjoyed civil and religions freedom. 
 The scriptures have not been with- 
 hold en froui us, nor have our teachers 
 been removed into a corner — but our 
 eyes have seen our teachers ; and sit- 
 ting under our own vine and fig-tree, 
 none have dared to make us afraid. 
 In our dangers, Thou hast appointed 
 salvation for walls and bulwarks ; the 
 earth has yielded to us her increases 
 and €*od, even our €*od, has blessed us. 
 
 It is impossible for us to express or 
 conceive the obligations we are under 
 to love and serve Thee. 
 
 But we know — and, O help us to feel, 
 how unworthily and ungratefully we 
 have behaved ourselves, towards our 
 adorable benefactor. We are a sinful 
 nation, a seed of evil doers ; children 
 that are corrupters. The whole head 
 is sick, and the whole heart is faint : 
 from the crown of the head even to the 
 sole of the foot, there is no soundness, 
 but wounds, and bruises, and putrify- 
 ing sores. © Iiord, righteousness be- 
 longeth unto Thee, but unto us confu- 
 sion of faces, as at this day, to our ru- 
 lers. 
 
 But Thou art the Almighty. Thou 
 hast all hearts in thy hand, and all 
 events at thy disposal. 
 
 And we have heard, that to the Lord 
 our God, belongeth mercies and for- 
 giveness, though we have rebelled 
 
Morning devotions for fast day. 551 
 
 against him. We are proofs ourselves, 
 that thy compassions fail not — hence 
 though corrected, we are not consum- 
 ed ; and though guilty, we are yet al- 
 lowed and invited to enter thy pre- 
 sence. 
 
 With deep humiliation, not unmin- 
 gled with hope, may we approach the 
 throne of thy grace, at this time of 
 need. O, be merciful unto us, and bless 
 us, and cause thy face to shine upon us, 
 that we may be saved. For the sake of 
 thy dear Son, who died, the just for the 
 unjust, by whose name we are called — 
 behold a country prostrate at thy foot- 
 stool, and hear the voice, which will 
 issue to-day, from so many temples and 
 closets, saying — Spare the people, © 
 IiOrd, and give not thine heritage to 
 reproach. 
 
 Remove, if it please Thee, the Mow 
 of thy heavy hand, in the calamity 
 which we are deploring ; and after 
 giving such a deliverance as this, may 
 w e no more break thy commandments. 
 Or, if Thou hast determined to con- 
 tinue the correction ; O, correct us, but 
 with judgment, not in thine anger, 
 lest Thou bring us to nothing. 
 
 Aid thy people in the private and 
 public devotions of the day. Pour out 
 a spirit of grace and supplication that 
 we may sorrow after a godly sort. May 
 thy ministers be faithful and fearless ; 
 
552 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER FAST DAY. 
 
 may they cry aloud and spare not ; bfe 
 lift up their voice like a trumpet, and 
 show the people their transgression, 
 and the house of Jacob their sin. 
 
 And let the word that is to he spoken, 
 he quick and powerful, sharper than 
 any two edged sword, piercing even to 
 the dividing asunder of soul and spi- 
 rit, and of the joints and marrow, and 
 he a discerner of the thoughts and 
 intents of the heart. Our Father, &c. 
 — Amen. 
 
 Evening devotions after Fast day* 
 
 HYMN 85. L. M.— Surry. 
 
 1 TREMDBLIIVCr before thine awful 
 
 throne, 
 O Lord, in dust, my sins I own : 
 Justice and Mercy for my life [strife. 
 Content! — Oh, smile and heal the 
 
 2 The Saviour smiles ! upon my soul 
 New tides of hope tumultuous roll — 
 His voice proclaims my pardon found, 
 Seraphic transport wings the sound. 
 
 3 Earth has a joy unknown in heaven, 
 The new-born joy of sin forgiven ! 
 Tears of such pure and deep delight, 
 Ye angels ! never dimm'd your sight. 
 
 O God, Thou hast established thy 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER FAST DAY. 55S 
 
 throne in the heavens, and thy king- 
 dom rnleth over all. We prostrate our- 
 selves before Thee, deeply impressed 
 with a sense of the vastness of thy 
 agency and dominion. Thon changest 
 the times and the seasons : Thou re- 
 movest kings, and settest up kings. 
 Empires rise and fall, and fade and 
 flourish, at thy bidding; and all na- 
 tions are in thy hand but as clay in the 
 hand of the potter. 
 
 But none of thy dispensations are ar- 
 bitrary. Whatever Thou doest, is done, 
 because O Father it seemeth good in 
 thy sight : and thy judgment is always 
 according to truth. Thou art holy in 
 all thy ways, and righteous in all thy 
 works — And Thou art good even in 
 wrath. Thou rememberest mercy ; 
 and dost not afflict willingly, nor 
 grieve the children of men. 
 
 Therefore it is that we have been this 
 day humbling ourselves in thy presence. 
 
 For we acknowledge that we have 
 been deeply guilty. Thou hast nourish- 
 ed and brought up children, but we 
 have rebelled against Thee. The ox 
 knoweth his owner, and the ass his 
 master's crib ; but we have not known, 
 we have not considered* Thou hast 
 given us our corn, and wine, and oil, 
 and multiplied our silver and gold; 
 and we have prepared them for Baal. 
 Because of swearing, the land baa 
 
654 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER FAST DAY. 
 
 mourned. Pride has compassed us 
 about as a chain. Discontent has re- 
 belled against thine appointments. 
 How has the love of money, which is 
 the root of all evil, abounded among 
 us, How have thy sabbaths been pro- 
 faned, and thine ordinances disregard- 
 ed. How has the gospel been underva- 
 lued, neglected, despised ! 
 
 And all our transgresssions have been 
 more aggravated than those of any 
 other people, because Thou hast fa- 
 voured us unspeakably more than all 
 the families of the earth. 
 
 Therefore Thou couldst easily and 
 justly have destroyed us : but Thou 
 hast not stirred up all thy wrath. In 
 all that is come upon us for our evil 
 deeds, Thou hast punished us less than 
 our iniquities deserve. Yet Thou hast 
 testified thy displeasure ; and visited us 
 with thy judgments s so that when we 
 looked for light and peace, we have 
 seen darkness and trouble. 
 
 O let us not be inattentive to the de- 
 sign of thy dealings, or insensible under 
 thy rebukes. © let it not be said of us, as 
 it was of the Jews, The harp and the 
 viol, and the tabret and pipe, and wine, 
 are in thy feasts, but they regard not 
 the work of the Lord, neither consider 
 the operation of his hand. Thou hast 
 stricken them, but they have not griev- 
 ed; Thou hast consumed them, but 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER PAST DAY. 555 
 
 they have refused to receive correc- 
 tion : they have made their faces hard- 
 er than the rock ; they have refused to 
 return. 
 
 In the way of thy judgments, © ILord, 
 may we wait for Thee. Thou hast said, 
 Is any afflicted? ILet him pray. Call 
 upon me in the day of trouble, and I 
 will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify 
 me. Fulfill the word unto thy servants, 
 upon which Thou hast caused us to 
 hope. And O let not the calamity be re- 
 moved only, but above all sanctified s let 
 it appear that we have heard the rod, 
 and Him that appointeth it: and be 
 able to say, It is good for us that we 
 have been afflicted. 
 
 For which purpose, bless, we beseech 
 Thee, the word of thy grace which has 
 been spoken ; and grant that the pro- 
 fessed humiliation of the day may be 
 real — for Thou lookest to the heart. 
 And let it also be universal ; may it ex- 
 tend, from the highest to the lowest; 
 may it pervade the court and the coun- 
 try 5 may it enter every church and 
 every family — I<et none of us lose sight of 
 ourselves in the public calamity. May 
 each individual retire and ask, What 
 have I done? — and what wilt Thou 
 have me to do ? And though other 
 lords have had dominion over us, 
 henceforth by Thee only may we make 
 mention of thy name. 
 
556 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER PAST DAY. 
 
 Regard the king- as supreme, and the 
 government under whieh ire live. 
 Bless his majesty's confidential advi- 
 sers; the hereditary and constituted 
 nobility of the realm ; the representa- 
 tives of the people ; and the magistracy 
 of the land — may all be wise in counsel, 
 exemplary in conduct, and faithful to 
 their trusts. 
 
 And thus may we be reformed and not 
 destroyed. Thus may we be a holy, 
 that we may be a happy people, whose 
 God is the I^ord. Return, O Liord, how 
 long ? and let it repent Thee concern- 
 ing thy servants. O satisfy us early with 
 thy mercy ; that ire may rejoice and be 
 glad all our days. Make us glad ac- 
 cording to the days wherein Thou hast 
 afflicted us, and the years wherein we 
 have seen evil. ILet thy work appear 
 unto thy servants, and thy glory unto 
 their children. And let the beauty of 
 the !Lord our God be upon us % and es- 
 tablish Thou the work of our hands 
 upon us ; yea the work of our hands 
 establish Thou it. 
 
 And to the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Spirit, be rendered the kingdom, 
 power? and glory for ever and ever.— 
 Amen. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 557 
 
 •Homing devotions for a day of Thanks- 
 giving* 
 
 HYMN S6. L. M. — Evening Hymn. 
 1. 
 
 ORE AT Ruler of the earth and skies, 
 A word of thine Almighty breath 
 Can sink the world, or bid it rise : 
 Thy smile is life, thy frown is death* 
 
 2. 
 When angry nations rush to arms, 
 And rage, and noise, and tumult reign ; 
 And war resounds its dire alarms, 
 And slaughter spreads the hostile plain, 
 
 3. 
 Thy Sovereign eye looks calmly down, 
 And marks their course, and bounds 
 
 their pow'r : 
 Thy word the angry nations own, 
 And noise and war are heard no more* 
 
 4. 
 
 Then peace returns with balmy wing, 
 Sweet peace ! with her what blessings 
 
 fled! 
 Clad plenty laughs, the valleys sing, 
 Reviving commerce lifts her head. 
 
 5. 
 Thou good, and wise, and Righteous 
 
 Ijord, 
 
 All move subvervient to thy will ; 
 And peace and war await thy word, 
 And thy sublime decrees J uiil* 
 
558 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OF THANKSGIVING; 
 
 6. 
 To Thee we pay our grateful songs, 
 Thy kind protection still implore ; 
 O may our hearts, and lives, and 
 
 tongues, 
 Confess thy goodness and adore I 
 
 God, Thou art very great, Thou ar» 
 clothed with honour and majesty ; 
 Thou coverest thyself with light as 
 with a garment ; Thou walkest upon 
 the wings of the wind. When we re- 
 flect oik the glory of thy majesty, we 
 are filled with wonder at the vastness 
 of thy condescension. For Thou con- 
 descendest even to behold things that 
 are in heaven. What then is man, 
 that Thou art mindful of him, or the 
 son of man, that Thou visitest him. 
 
 We rejoice that we are under the 
 governance of a Being, who is not only 
 Almighty, but perfectly righteous, and 
 wise, and good ; that all things, in our 
 world, are appointed and arranged 
 by thy paternal agency 5 that thy pro- 
 vidence numbers the very hairs of our 
 head, and that a sparrow falleth not 
 to the ground, without our heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 
 We bless Thee for personal mercies. If 
 we are called it is by thy -word. If we 
 are renewed, it is by thy Spirit. If we 
 are justified, it is freely by thy grace, 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 559 
 
 through the redemption that is in 
 Christ Jesus. It is in Thee we live, 
 and move, and have our being. Thy 
 goodness has been always near us, to 
 hear our complaints, to sooth our sor- 
 rows, and to command deliverance for 
 us. And numberless are the instances 
 of loving-kindness, that now, from ig- 
 norance, or inattention, elude our 
 notice 5 the discovery of which Trill 
 awaken our songs, when we mingle 
 with those who dwell in thy house 
 above, and are still praising Thee. 
 
 We thank Thee for relative benefits ; 
 for blessings on our families, blessings 
 on our churches, and blessings on our 
 country. "We confess that we are not 
 worthy of the least of all thy mercies, 
 and of all the truth which Thou hast 
 shown unto thy servants. Sins of every 
 kind and of every degree, have reign- 
 ed among us : have spread through all 
 ranks and orders ; and continued, not- 
 withstanding all warnings and cor- 
 rections $ and if Thou hadst dealt with 
 us, after our sins, or rewarded us ac- 
 cording to our iniquities, we should 
 long ago, have had no name, nor place 
 among the nations of the globe. 
 
 But to the JLord our God, belong 
 mercies and forgivenesses, though we 
 have rebelled against him. All thy 
 dispensations towards us have said, 
 with a tenderness that ought to pene- 
 
560 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 
 
 trate our hearts, how shall I give thee 
 up I Our privileges, never properly im- 
 proved, and forfeited times without 
 number, have been continued. We 
 still behold our Sabbaths, and our ears 
 still hear the joyful sound. Our con- 
 stitution, liberties and laws, have not 
 been subverted or impaired. Thou 
 hast given us rains, and fruitful sea- 
 sons ; Thou hast filled us with the finest 
 of the wheat ; our garners have been 
 affording all manner of store ; our 
 oxen have been strong to labour ; our 
 sheep have brought forth thousands 
 and ten thousands in our streets. Thou 
 hast spread thy wing, and sheltered us 
 front the pestilence that walketh in 
 darkness, and the destruction that 
 wasteth at noon-day. Civil discord 
 has not raged in our land ; our shores 
 have not heeik invaded; we have not 
 heard the confused noise of warriors, 
 nor seen garments rolled in blood — it 
 has not come nigh us. Our enemies 
 have often threatened to swallow us 
 up, but the Lord has been on our side, 
 and they have not prevailed against 
 us. We are this day called upon to 
 
 acknowledge thy goodness in * 
 
 God is the Lord who has showed us 
 light; bind the sacrifice with cords, 
 
 * Here let the particular causes for thanksgiving be ex 
 pressed. 
 
MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANESG17ING* 561 
 
 even to the horns of the altar. May 
 we never eonvert our blessings into in- 
 struments of provocation, by making 
 them the means of nourishing pride 
 and presumption, wantonness and 
 intemperance ; and compel Thee to 
 complain — I>o ye thus requite the ILord, 
 O foolish people, and unwise? Is not 
 he thy Father, that hath bought thee ? 
 Hath he not made thee, and establish- 
 ed thee ? 
 
 For this purpose meet with us in thy 
 house : and may the goings of our God 
 and our King be seen in the sanctuary* 
 Be with the preacher, and with the 
 hearers ; and let the words of his mouth, 
 and the meditation of their hearts, be 
 acceptable in thy sight, O ILord, our 
 strength, and our Redeemer. May 
 public instruction awaken the ardour 
 of our feelings: may our gratitude not 
 only be lively, but practical and per- 
 manent. And by all thy mercies, may 
 we present our bodies as a living sacri- 
 fice, holy and acceptable unto Thee, 
 which is our reasonable service. 
 
 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that ex- 
 cel in strength, that do his command- 
 ments, hearken unto the voice of his 
 word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his 
 hosts : ye ministers of his that do his 
 pleasure. Bless the ILord, all his works, 
 in all places of his dominion $ bless the 
 Lord, O my soul.— Amen. 
 
 36 
 
562 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING 
 
 Evening devotions for a day of Thanks* 
 
 giving. 
 
 HYMN 87. L. M.— Ward 
 1. 
 
 ALMIGHTY Sovereign of the skies. 
 To thee let songs of gladness rise; 
 Each grateful heart its tribute brings 
 And every voice thy goodness sing. 
 
 2. 
 From thee our choicest blessings flow, 
 ILife, health, and strength thy hands 
 
 bestow ; 
 The daily good thy creatures share 
 Springs from thy providential care. 
 
 3. 
 The rich profusion nature yields, 
 The harvest waving o'er the fields, 
 The cheering light, refreshing shower. 
 Are gifts from thy exhaustless store. 
 
 4. 
 At thy command the vernal bloom 
 Re vi ves the world from winter 's gloom ; 
 The summer's heat the fruit matures, 
 And autumn all her treasures pours* 
 
 5. 
 From thee proceed domestic ties, 
 Connubial bliss, parental joys; 
 On thy support the nations stand 
 Obedient to thy high command. 
 
EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 563 
 
 6. 
 ILet every power of heart and tongue 
 Unite to swell the grateful song ; 
 While age and youth in chorus join. 
 And praise the majesty divine. 
 
 O God, Thou art good, and Thou do 
 est good. Thou art good to all, and thj 
 tender mercies are over all thy works. 
 
 We have thought of thy loving kind- 
 ness this day, in the midst of thy tem- 
 ple ; and are again surrounding this 
 domestic altar to exclaim, O that men 
 would praise the ]Lord, for his goodness, 
 and for his wonderful works to the 
 children of men. 
 
 We lament to think that a world so 
 filled with thy bounty, should be so 
 alienated from thy service and glory. 
 We mourn over the vileness of our in- 
 gratitude, and abhor ourselves repent- 
 ing in dust and ashes. 
 
 O Thou God of all grace, make us 
 more thankful. In order that we may 
 be more thankful may we be more 
 humble ; impress us with a deep sense 
 of our un worthiness, arising from the 
 depravity of our nature, and countless 
 instances of unimproved advantages, 
 omitted duties, and violated commands. 
 May we compare our condition with 
 our desert, and with the far less indulg- 
 ed circumstances of others. May we 
 never be inattentive to any of thy inter- 
 
564 EVENING DEV0TI0N3 FOR A DA* OF THANKSGIVING. 
 
 positions on our behalf; but be wise and 
 observe these things, that we may un- 
 derstand the loving kindness of the 
 liOrd. 
 
 Mow many blessings, temporal and 
 spiritual, public and private, hast 
 Thou conferred upon us. Thy mercies 
 have been new every morning, and 
 every moment. 
 
 Our afflictions have been few and al- 
 leviated, often short in their continu- 
 ance, and always founded in a regard 
 to our profit* Thy secret has been upon 
 our tabernacle; and we have known 
 Thee in thy palaces for a refuge. The 
 lines have indeed fallen to us in plea- 
 sant places, yea we have a goodly heri- 
 tage. Thou hast not dealt so with any 
 people. It is a good land which the 
 liord our €*od has given us — a land dis- 
 tinguished by knowledge ; dignified as 
 the abode of civil and religious free- 
 dom: endeared by the patriot's zeal, 
 and the martyr's blood, and the ashes 
 of our forefathers: a land the Lord 
 careth for, and upon which his eye has 
 heen^ from the beginning even to the 
 end of the year. 
 
 Thou hast been a wall of fire round 
 about us by thy providential protec- 
 tion, and the glory in the midst of us 
 by the gospel of our salvation, the ordi- 
 nances of religion, and the presence of 
 thy Holy Spirit. 
 
EYE1UNG DEVOTIONS FOR A DAT OP THANKSGIVING. 565 
 
 What shall we render unto the liord 
 fbr all his benefits towards us ? Because 
 Thou hast been our hel|> 9 therefore un- 
 der the shadow of thy wing may we 
 rejoice. Because Thou hast heard our 
 voice and our supplication, therefore 
 may we call upon Thee as long- as we 
 live ; and in every future difficulty and 
 distress, make Thee our refuge and our 
 portion. 
 
 Unable ns to bless Thee at all times ; 
 may thy praise continually be in our 
 mouth; and may we show forth thy 
 praise, not only with our lips, but in 
 our lives. 
 
 Being delivered from the peril and 
 
 calamity (of ) with which we have 
 
 been exercised, may we serve Thee 
 without fear, in holiness and righteous- 
 ness, all the days of our lives. 
 
 We dare not trust our own hearts. 
 We have often resembled thy people of 
 old, who in the hour of deliverance 
 and indulgence sang thy praise, and 
 said — All that the I^ord commandeth 
 us will we do; but soon forgot his 
 works and the wonders which he had 
 showed them. Keep these things for 
 ever in the imagination of our hearts ; 
 and not only draw us, but bind us to 
 thyself with the cords of love and the 
 bonds of a man. 
 
 And with all our calls to gratitude 
 and joy, may we remember that we 
 
566 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 
 
 have also reason for sorrow and hu- 
 miliation. O give us that repentance 
 which is unto life. Reform as well as 
 indulge us; and pardon as well as 
 spare. Let not our prosperity destroy 
 us, nor our table become a snare. Let 
 us not, hj our perverse returns, pro- 
 voke Thee to visit us with heavier in- 
 flictions ; and turn the rod into a scor- 
 pion. May our ways please the Lord, 
 that we may hope for a continuance of 
 thy favour, and know that all things 
 shall work together for our good. 
 
 Do good in thy good pleasure unto 
 Zion. Build Thou the walls of J eru- 
 salem. And as the churches have rest, 
 may they walk in the fear of the Lord, 
 and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, 
 and be multiplied. 
 
 Let the king live before Thee ; and on 
 his head may the crown flourish. 
 Bless all the branches of the royal 
 house : preside over our national coun- 
 cils ; impart wisdom to those who con- 
 duct our public affairs: and may all 
 the various classes in the community 
 pursue that righteousness which exalt- 
 eth a nation, and forsake that sin 
 which is a reproach to any people. 
 
 Regard the services in which we have 
 been engaged with the thousands of 
 our Israel : accept the poor and imper- 
 fect thanksgivings we have offered; 
 and let thy word which has been die- 
 
PRAYERS AT TABLE. 567 
 
 pensed in aid of the devotion of the day, 
 accomplish all the good pleasure of thy 
 goodness — through Jesus the JLord, our 
 righteousness and strength; and in 
 whose words we address Thee as — Our 
 Father, &c. Amen. 
 
 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 
 
 BEFORE MEAT. 
 
 Almighty God ! the eyes of all wait 
 upon Thee, and Thou givest them 
 their meat in due season. Bless, we 
 beseech Thee, the provisions of thine 
 earthly bounty, which are now before 
 us ; and let them nourish and strength- 
 en our frail bodies, that we may the 
 better serve Thee, through Jesus Christ. 
 — Amen. 
 
 Or thus •• 
 Bountiful giver of every good and 
 perfect gift! Thou art never weary 
 of supplying our returning wants — 
 Grant, we pray Thee, that the food of 
 which we are about to partake, may 
 contribute to the comfort and support 
 of our bodies — and enable us to engage 
 with more zeal in thy service ; which 
 we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. — Amen. 
 
368 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 
 
 Or thuss 
 
 I*et thy blessing, Almighty God, de- 
 scend on this portion of thy bounty, 
 and on us, thy unworthy servants, 
 through Jesus Christ our £<ord. 
 
 Or thuss 
 
 Almighty Crod, we beseech Thee to 
 pardon our sins, to bless the refresh- 
 ment now before us, to our use, and us 
 to thy service, through Jesus Christ. 
 
 Or thuss 
 
 JFather of liights, from whom cometh 
 down every good and perfect gift, ena- 
 ble us to receive these fruits of thy 
 bounty with humility and gratitude, 
 and give us grace, that, whether we 
 eat or drink, or whatever we do, we 
 may do all to thy glory, and be accept- 
 ed to the great Redeemer* 
 Or thus s 
 
 Bounteous God, we acknowledge 
 our dependence on Thee, and our un- 
 worthiness of thy benefits. We pray 
 Thee to forgive our sins ; to bless us in 
 the reception of this food, and enable 
 us to improve the strength we may de- 
 rive from it to thy glory, for Christ's 
 sake* 
 
 Or thuss 
 
 Sanctify, O Lord, we beseech Thee, 
 these thy productions to our use, and 
 us to thy service, through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. — Amen. 
 
PRAYERS AT TABLE 
 
 AFTER MEAT. 
 
 We thank Thee, O God, our heaven- 
 ly Father ! for the innumerable good 
 gifts of thy providence. Especially do 
 we thank Thee for the rich provision 
 Thou hast made for our souls — accept 
 our grateful acknowledgments for the 
 food we have now received, and ena- 
 ble us to prove our sincerity by the 
 holiness and obedience of our lives, for 
 the sake of our JLord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ* — Amen* 
 
 Or thus: 
 What shall we render to Thee, O 
 God, for all thy benefits ? Every day of 
 our lives we are receiving fresh tokens 
 of thy favour* O, let thy goodness lead 
 us to repentance* And if we can do no 
 more than express our gratitude — help 
 us to do that in the sincerity of our 
 souls — and thine shall be the glory, 
 forever, through Jesus Christ* — Amen* 
 
 Or thus* 
 Accept, heavenly Father, our hum- 
 ble thanks for this, and for all thy 
 blessings, through Jesus Christ* 
 
 Or thus: 
 We thank Thee, our heavenly Fa- 
 ther, for the rich provision Thou hast 
 made for our temporal and eternal 
 welfare ; especially for the food we 
 have now received* May thv goodness 
 
570 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 
 
 lead us to repentance, and thy grace 
 prepare us for heavenly entertain- 
 ments, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Or thus •• 
 
 We praise Thee, O Lord, for the pro- 
 visions of thy providence and grace, 
 and in particular for this renewed to- 
 ken of thy favour. May we feel our 
 increased obligations to be thine, and 
 be fitted at length, to eat bread in thy 
 heavenly kingdom, through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Or thus 9 
 
 "We bless Thee, O Lord, for this kind 
 refreshment. Be pleased to continue 
 thy favours and feed us with the bread 
 of life. Supply the wants of the needy, 
 and enable us, while we live on thy 
 bounty, to live to thy glory, for Christ's 
 sake. — Amen. 
 
 Or thus s 
 
 Blessed and praised be thy holy name, 
 O Lord, for this and all thy other 
 blessings bestowed upon us through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord.— Amen. 
 
PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 571 
 
 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS 
 
 FOR 
 
 PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 
 
 •£ morning prayer to be used by a Child 
 at Home. 
 
 Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast; pre- 
 served me from the perils of the night 
 past, who hast refreshed me with sleep, 
 and raised me up again to praise thy 
 holy name. 
 
 Incline my heart to all that is good ; 
 that I may be modest and humble, true 
 and just, temperate and diligent, re- 
 spectful and obedient to my superiors § 
 that I may fear and love Thee above 
 all things ; that I may love my neigh- 
 bour as myself, and do to every one 
 as I would they should do unto me. 
 
 Bless me, I pray Thee, in my learning; 
 and help me daily to increase in know- 
 ledge, and wisdom, and all virtue. 
 
 I humbly beg thy blessing upon all 
 our spiritual pastors and masters, all 
 my relations and friends, [particularly 
 my father and mother, my brothers 
 and sisters, and every one in this house.] 
 Grant them whatsoever may be good 
 for them in this life, and guide them to 
 life everlasting. 
 
S?2 PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 
 
 I humbly commit myself to Thee, O 
 Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ my 
 Saviour, and in the words which he 
 himself hath taught me : — Our Father, 
 &c. 
 
 •In evening prayer to be used by a Child 
 at Home. 
 
 Olory to Thee, O lord, who hast pre- 
 served me the day past, who hast de- 
 fended me from all the evils to which I 
 am constantly exposed in this uncer- 
 tain life, who hast continued my 
 health, who hast bestowed upon sue all 
 things necessary for life and godliness* 
 
 I humbly beseech Thee, O heavenly 
 Father! to pardon whatsoever Thou 
 hast seen amiss in me this day, in my 
 thoughts, words or actions. Bless to 
 me, I pray Thee, whatsoever good in- 
 structions have been given me this 
 day ; help me carefully to remember 
 them, and duly to improve them ; that 
 I may be ever growing in knowledge, 
 and wisdom, and goodness* 
 
 I humbly beg thy blessing also upon 
 all our spiritual pastors and ministers, 
 all my relations and friends, [particu- 
 larly my father and mother, my bro- 
 thers and sisters, and every one in this 
 house*] let it please Thee to guide us 
 all in this life present, and to conduct 
 us to thy heavenly kingdom* 
 
PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 5T3 
 
 I humbly commit my soul and body 
 totliy care this night; begging thy gra- 
 cious protection and blessing, through 
 Jesus Christ our only I< ord and Saviour ; 
 in whose words I conclude my prayer 
 —Our Father, &c. 
 
 •1 prayer for a youth going from home. 
 
 (If with a view to business.) 
 
 O God, Thou appointest the bounds 
 of our habitations, and arrangest all 
 our individual concerns % and it is thy 
 pleasure, not only that we should part 
 at death, but often separate in life* 
 When absent from each other in body, 
 may we be present in spirit ; and may 
 our natural affection be strengthened 
 and sanctified by inquiry and corres- 
 pondence, and divine remembrance at 
 the throne of grace. 
 
 Regard the member of our family 
 who is now leaving the parental roof 
 and the parental wing. In all his 
 ways may he acknowledge Thee, and 
 be Thou the guide and the guard of 
 his youth. Secure him from the paths 
 of the destroyer and the evils of the 
 world. May uprightness preserve him. 
 In the situation he will be called to 
 fill, may he be dutiful and obliging, 
 and diligent and faithful. May he 
 always remember that the eye of God 
 
574 PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 
 
 is upon hi in : and be not only amiable 
 but pious ; and be in favour with God 
 as well as man. 
 
 (If with a view to a school.) 
 
 O thou God of providence and grace, 
 we commend to thy care the dear child 
 about to leave our abode for a season 
 in order to receive needful instruction. 
 JLet his (or her) life be precious in thy 
 sight. May he redeem his time, and 
 acquire the improvement that will fit 
 him for usefulness in his day and gen- 
 eration. And O let him be made wise 
 unto salvation ; and let the beauty of 
 the !Lord our God be upon him ; that 
 he may be a useful and ornamental 
 member in thy church below, and 
 hereafter a pillar in thy temple above, 
 never more to go out. 
 
 •1 prayer for a servant coming into the 
 
 Family* 
 
 And, O Thou, with whom there is no 
 respect of persons, bless the servant 
 that has just entered our household. 
 May she (or he) be diligent in her sta- 
 tion; may she rise early, be attentive 
 to punctuality, and neatness, and 
 cleanliness ; pleasing well in all things, 
 not answering again ; not purloining 
 
PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. £75 
 
 but showing all good fidelity ; that she 
 in ay adorn the doetrine of God our 
 Saviour in all things. May she cheer- 
 fully conform to the religious order of 
 the family, be thankful for its daily 
 worship, and improve every spiritual 
 privilege. 
 
 And while our servants know and 
 observe their duty to us, may we never 
 neglect our duty to them, but remem- 
 ber that we also have a Master in 
 heaven. 
 
 •1 short prayer on going into the seat 
 at Church* 
 
 Lord, I am now in thy house : assist, 
 I pray Thee, and accept of my services. 
 JLet thy Holy Spirit help my infirmities; 
 dispose my heart to seriousness, atten- 
 tion and devotion ; to the honour of thy 
 holy name, and the benefit of my soul, 
 through Jesus Christ our Saviour. — 
 Amen. 
 
 Before leaving the seat* 
 
 Blessed be thy name, O Lord ! for this 
 opportunity of attending Thee in thy 
 house and service. Make me, I pray 
 Thee, a doer of thy word, not a hearer 
 only. Accept both us and our services, 
 through our only Mediator, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. — Amen. 
 
576 ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 THE SEASONS 
 
 H Y M N 88. L. M.— Doddridge. 
 1. 
 
 THE flow'ry spring at God's com- 
 mand, 
 Perfumes the air, and paints the land % 
 The summer rays with vigour shine, 
 To raise the corn, and cheer the vine. 
 
 2. 
 His hand in autumn richly pours, 
 Through all her coasts, redundant 
 
 stores s 
 And winters , soften'd by his care, 
 No more the face of horror wear. 
 
 3. 
 Seasons and months, and weeks, and 
 
 days, 
 Demand successive songs of praise ; 
 And be the cheerful homage paid, 
 With morning light and ev'ning shade. 
 
 4. 
 And O, may each harmonious tongue 
 In world s unknown the praise prolong ; 
 And in those brighter courts adore, 
 Where days and years revolve no more. 
 
ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 577 
 
 Spring. 
 
 Thou art the fountain of life. In 
 Thee we live, move, and have our 
 beings and the prerogative of that 
 being is, that we are able to contem- 
 plate thy perfections, and rise from thy 
 works — to thyself. 
 
 Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, and re- 
 newest the face of the earth ; and from 
 apparent death, all nature starts into 
 re-animated vigour and joy. In what 
 myriads of productions art Thou dis- 
 playing afresh the wonders of thy wis- 
 dom, power, and goodness — the whole 
 earth is full of thy riches. 
 
 While we partake of the general sym- 
 pathy and delight, may we join with 
 all thy works to praise Thee. And O 
 Thou Crod of all grace, Mess us with 
 the renewing of the Holy €*host in 
 all the powers of our souls. May old 
 things pass away, and all things be- 
 come new in Christ. May the beauty of 
 the Lord be upon us % and the joy of 
 the Lord be our strength. 
 
 May the young remember that they 
 are now in the spring of life, and that 
 this spring once gone returns no more. 
 May they therefore eagerly seize and 
 zealously improve the short but all-im- 
 portant season, for the cultivation of 
 their minds, the formation of their 
 habits, the correction of their tempers, 
 
 37 
 
578 ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 
 
 their preparation for future usefulness* 
 and their gaining- that good part 
 
 which shall not he taken away from 
 them. 
 
 Summer. 
 
 We hail Thee in the varying aspects 
 of the year, and bless Thee for all their 
 appropriate influences and advan- 
 tages. O let us not view them and en- 
 joy them as men only, but as Christians 
 also ; and ever connect with them the 
 blessings of thy grace* 
 
 How wise and useful and necessary 
 are these intermingled rains and sun- 
 beams ! May Jesus, as the Sun of Right- 
 eousness, arise upon us with healing 
 under his wings % may he come down 
 as rain upon the mown grass, and as 
 showers that water the earth. 
 
 When we walk by the cooling brook, 
 may we think of that river the streams 
 whereof make glad the city of God. 
 
 When we retire from the scorching 
 warmth of the day into the inviting 
 shade, may we be thankful for a rest 
 at noon, a shelter from the heat, the 
 shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 
 
 May thy servants behold the moral 
 fields, that are already white unto har- 
 vest, and be all anxiety to save the mul- 
 titudes that are perishing for lack of 
 knowledge. 
 
ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS, 579 
 
 The harvest truly is great, but the la- 
 bourers are few ; we therefore pray 
 that Thou wilt send forth labourers 
 into thy harvest. 
 
 He that gather eth in summer is a 
 wise son ; he that sleepeth in harvest is 
 a son that eauseth shame. Now is our 
 accepted time, now is our day of salva- 
 tion. O let us not waste our preeious 
 privileges, and in a dying hour ex- 
 claim, — The harvest is past, the sum- 
 mer is ended, and we are not saved. 
 
 •lutumn* 
 
 How fleeting, as well as varying, are 
 the seasons of tlie year ! How insensi- 
 bly have the months of spring and 
 summer vanished I Nature has no 
 sooner attained its maturities, than we 
 behold its declension and decay. The 
 fields are now shorn of their produce ; 
 the beauties of the garden are wither- 
 ed 5 the woods are changing their ver- 
 dure, and the trees shedding their fo- 
 liage — we also never continue in one 
 stay. Many of our connexions and 
 comforts have already dropped away 
 from us % and the remaining are holden 
 by a slender tenure — while we ourselves 
 do all fade as a leaf— and in a little 
 time our places will know us no more. 
 
 Blessed be the €*od and Father of our 
 ]Lord Jesus Christ, for the announce- 
 
580 ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 
 
 ment of an inheritance that fadeth not 
 
 away. © for a hope full of immortality 
 — for a possession of tliat good part 
 which shall not he taken away from 
 us! 
 
 © Thou €*od of nature and provi- 
 dence ; manifold are thy works, in wis- 
 dom hast Thou made them all ; and all 
 are full of thy goodness. The welfare 
 
 of thy creatures requires the severity of 
 -winter as well as the pleasures of 
 spring. "We adore thy hand in all. 
 Thou givest snow like wool; Thou 
 scatterest the hoar frost like ashes. 
 Thou sendest abroad thine ice-like 
 morsels : who can stand before thy 
 cold? 
 
 liut we bless Thee for a house to shel- 
 ter us ; for raiment to cover us, for fuel 
 to warm us 5 and for all the accommo- 
 dations that render life, even at this 
 inclement season, not only tolerable 
 but full of comfort. 
 
 Not more than others we deserve, 
 Yet God has given us more. 
 
 May we be grateful 5 and may we be 
 
 pitiful. May we reflect on the condi- 
 tion of those who are the victims of 
 every kind of privation and distress — 
 and waste nothing — hoard nothing— 
 
ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 581 
 
 but hasten to be the ministers of mercy, 
 and the disciples of Him who went 
 about doing good. 
 
 O let the rich now deservedly prise 
 their wealth, and use it as the instru- 
 ment of usefulness. May they be will- 
 ing- to communicate, ready to distri- 
 bute; and enjoy the blessing of him 
 that is ready to perish, and make the 
 widow's heart to sing for joy. 
 
 *i time of Thunder and lAgMning. 
 
 With Thee is terrible majesty. Thou 
 lookest on the earth, and it melteth; 
 Thou touchest thte mountains, and they 
 smoke. Thou thunderest in the heav- 
 ens, and all nature shudders at thy 
 voice. How vain now is the help of 
 man I Who can resist thy will I We 
 feel ourselves to be nothing, less than 
 nothing, and vanity. Our very houses 
 are no protection mow! © Thou, to 
 whom belong the issues from death, de- 
 fend our persons and our dwelling. 
 May we always stand in aw© of Thee, 
 and sin not. May iff know that this 
 awful CS-od is ours, our Father and our 
 Friend ; and may we have boldness in 
 that day, when the heavens being on 
 lire shall be dissolved, and the elements 
 melt with fervent heat, and the earth 
 also, and all the works that are there- 
 in, shall be burnt up. 
 
582 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 
 
 PRAYERS AXD THANKSGIVINGS. 
 
 •fl Prayer for Rain. 
 
 Are there any of tlie vanities of the 
 Cientiles that can cause rain ? Or can 
 
 the heavens give showers? Art not 
 Thou he, O Lord, our C*od ? Therefore 
 will we wait upon Thee, for Thou hast 
 made all these thing's 
 
 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest 
 it s Thou greatly enriehest it, with the 
 river of Gfod, which is full of water. 
 Thou makest it soft with showers; 
 Thou blessest the springs thereof. Thy 
 paths drop fatness. They drop upon 
 the pastures of the wilderness ; and 
 the little hills rejoice on every side. 
 
 We have been made to feel the worth 
 of this Messing, by the want of It s and 
 it would he easy for Thee to continue 
 the privation, till the heavens over us 
 were brass, and the earth under us 
 iron ; and the husbandman be asham- 
 ed for the wheat, and for the barley, 
 because the harvest of the field is perish- 
 ed, and because joy is withered away 
 from the £ons of men. 
 
 But O deal not with us after our desert. 
 Turn not a fruitful land into barren- 
 ness. Command thy rain to dscend; 
 cause the grass to grow for the cattle, 
 and herbs for the service of m an ; th at he 
 may bring forth food out of the earth. 
 
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 583 
 
 *1 Thanksgiving for Rain. 
 
 Thou hast never left thyself without 
 witness, hi\t hast been continually 
 doing good, even to the unthankful 
 and unworthy, in giving- them rain 
 front heaven, and fruitful seasons, fill- 
 ing their hearts with joy and gladness. 
 We acknowledge that the heavens over 
 us might have been brass, and the earth 
 under us iron. We have justly deserv- 
 ed the calamity ; and thy power, with- 
 out a miracle, could have inflicted it. 
 But though Thou hast tried our pa- 
 tience, and awakened our fears, Thou 
 hast not forgotten to be gracious. We 
 praise Thee for sending us the season- 
 able and plentiful rain, hy which Thou 
 hast refreshed and revived the drop- 
 ping fields, so that the earth promises 
 to yield her increase. 
 
 m& Prayer for Fair Weather* 
 
 How numberless are our wants and 
 
 dangers ! Our hopes are destroyed, not 
 only by tlie deficiency, but the excess of 
 our supplies. Stop, we pray Thee, the 
 bottles of heaven, which have so long 
 been pouring down water upon us; 
 and cause thy sun not only to rise, but 
 to shine — give us the clear shining after 
 rain, that the earth may yield her in- 
 crease, in maturity; and opportunity 
 
684 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 
 
 be afforded for the w holesome ingather- 
 ing of grass for the cattle, and grain for 
 the rase of man : that there may be no 
 complaining in our streets; but that 
 we may eat in plenty, and be satisfied, 
 and praise the Lord. 
 
 And €> let us not forget our souls in 
 our mindfulness of the body ; nor ex- 
 pend all our concern upon the meat 
 that per isheth — ~ht\t be above all things, 
 anxious to secure that meat which en- 
 dureth unto everlasting life, and which 
 the Son of man Trill give % for him hath 
 God the Father sealed. 
 
 +1 Thanksgiving for a Good Harvest* 
 
 Again Thou hast crowned the year 
 with thy goodness. The grain might 
 have perished in the earth, or have 
 failed of maturity, for want of the 
 showers, and of the sunshine ; but 
 Thou wast pleased to bless the spring- 
 ing thereof; and we saw first the 
 blade, then the ear, and after that the 
 full corn in the ear. We hailed the 
 valleys standing thick with corn, and 
 heard the little hills rejoicing on every 
 side. In due time the mower filled his 
 hands, and the hinder his bosom ; and 
 the appointed weeks of harvest have 
 been offered us to gather in the pre- 
 cious produce. O that men would 
 praise the Lord for his goodness, and 
 
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 685 
 
 for all his wonderful works to the 
 children of men ! For he satisfieth the 
 longing soul, and filleth the hungry 
 soul with goodness. 
 
 In view of Jfourneying* 
 
 © God, Thou hast called thyself the 
 Preserver of men, and the length of 
 our days. We are therefore encour- 
 aged to commit ourselves to thy guar- 
 dian care, in the journey before us. 
 
 Many have parted with their friends, 
 with the hope of soon embracing each 
 other again, l^wt instead of returning 
 again to their own dwelling, have been 
 conveyed to the house appointed for 
 all living. "We pray, with submission 
 to thy pleasure, that this may not be our 
 experience. Give thine angels charge 
 concerning us, to keep us in all our 
 ways. Let no evil befall our persons, 
 and no plague come nigh our dwell- 
 ing. May we know also that all our 
 tabernacle is in peace, and visit our 
 habitation, and not sin. 
 
 Yet uncertain what a day may bring 
 forth, may we be prepared for every 
 event of thy providence ; and where- 
 ever, in dying, we go from, may it be 
 our happiness to know where we are 
 going to — and rejoice in the prospect, 
 that when all our wanderings and 
 
586 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 
 
 partings are ended, we shall unite in 
 our heavenly Father's house, and be 
 forever with the Lord. 
 
 •1 Thanksgiving for a safe return from a 
 Journey, 
 
 As the keeper of Israel Thou hast 
 been with us, not only in the house, but 
 by the way. We might have heeu. in- 
 jured hy wicked and unreasonable 
 men. We might have been left groan- 
 ing under the pain of bruised limbs or 
 fractured bones. Our lives might have 
 been spilt like water on the ground, 
 which cannot be gathered up again ; 
 and the first tidings that reached our 
 friends might have plunged them into 
 anguish. 
 
 But all our bones can say, Who is a 
 God like unto Thee ? Thy secret too in 
 our absence has heen upon our taber- 
 nacle, zm& secured it from all evil. O 
 that it muy be the tabernacle of the 
 righteous % and be ever filled, not on- 
 ly with the voice of rejoicing but of 
 praise. 
 
 And be with us in all the future jour- 
 ney of life. Guide us by thy counsel. 
 Uphold us hy thy power 5 and supply 
 all our wants, till we come to our Fa- 
 ther's house in peace. 
 
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 587 
 
 •& Thanksgiving for the return of a 
 Friend from Sea. 
 
 What shall be dome unto Thee, O 
 thou Preserver of men? We offer to 
 Thee the sacrifice of praise, the fruit 
 of our lips, giving thanks to thy name, 
 for thy goodness towards our friend 
 and thy servant, whom Thou hast de- 
 livered from the dangers of the pitiless 
 deep. Thou wast with him when trou- 
 ble was nigh ; and at thy command 
 were the issues from death. Others 
 have found a watery grave, till the sea 
 shall give up her dead ; but he has re- 
 turned alive and in comfort. Many 
 are weeping over the loss of those for 
 whom they long anxiously waited; 
 but we have embraced the desire of our 
 eyes ; and in the multitude of thy ten- 
 der mercies we pay Thee the vows of 
 renewed intercourse. 
 
 For a new Jftarried party • 
 
 JBless those who have entered into a 
 state honourable in all. May they re- 
 member the vows they have left at the 
 altar ; and in discharge of their per- 
 sonal and relative duty, may they 
 make thy word their rule, that mercy 
 and peace may be upon them. May 
 the husband love his wife even as him* 
 
588 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 
 
 self; and may the wife see that she re- 
 veres her husband ; and both walk to- 
 gether, as heirs of the grace of life, 
 that their prayers be not hindered. 
 
 Preserve them from the evils which 
 destroy or diminish the welfare and 
 comfort of the condition in which 
 Thou hast placed them ; and may they 
 enjoy all the happiness derivable front 
 prudence, temper, accommodation, 
 real godliness, and the divine bless- 
 ing. 
 
 May they expect to discern infirmities 
 in one another ; but may they be al- 
 ways most deeply conscious of their 
 own. And let them not look for unat- 
 tainable, by looking for unmingled 
 bliss on earth ; but remember that this 
 is not our rest 5 and be prepared for 
 difficulties, trials, changes, and final 
 separation. 
 
 <•£ Prayer for a woman approaching the 
 time of travail* 
 
 Regard thine handmaid, who is 
 looking forward to an important 
 hour. Be not Thou far from her 
 when trouble is near. May her mind 
 be kept in perfect peace, being stayed 
 upon the €*od of her salvation. Bring 
 to the birth, and give strength to bring 
 forth, Soften the pains of labour, as 
 
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 589 * 
 
 well as command deliverance $ and in 
 due time 9 in ay she remember no more 
 lier anguish, for joy that a child is 
 born into the world. And may the 
 root and the branch, abide under the 
 shade of the Almighty. 
 
 ♦1 Thanksgiving for Safe Delivery in 
 Child Birth. 
 
 We bless Thee, on behalf of thine 
 handmaid, who is now saying, I love 
 the Lord, because he hath heard my 
 voice, and my supplication. Thou 
 hast been with her in the hour of pain 
 and peril, and made her the joyful 
 another of a living and well formed in- 
 fant. Complete thy goodness by the re- 
 newal of her strength, and her ability 
 to appear again in all the duties of her 
 important station. 
 
 Let the impressions produced by re- 
 cent mercies, be rendered as durable 
 as they are lively : may she remember, 
 and pay Thee the vows, which her soul 
 made when in trouble. 
 
 May the life spared, and the life given, 
 be dear in thy sight, and devoted to thy 
 glory ; and may every addition made 
 to the world of creatures, be found an 
 accession to the church of the living 
 God. 
 
590 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 
 
 For one under Sickness. 
 
 Think, O Lord, for good upon the 
 afflicted; especially him (or her) whom 
 we now commend to thy companion- 
 ate regard. Comfort him upon the 
 bed of languishing, and make all his 
 bed in hi§ sickness. 
 
 If the sickness be unto death, prepare 
 him for the solemn event, and be "with 
 him in it. But we are allowed to im- 
 plore deliverance, with submission; 
 nothing is too hard for the JLord ; Thou 
 canst heal as well as wound — we there- 
 fore pray, if it be thy good pleasure, 
 that Thou wilt put efficacy into the 
 means ; rebuke the disorder ; renew the 
 strength ; and prolong the days of thy 
 servant. 
 
 Above all let the dispensation be sanc- 
 tified to the sufferer and his con- 
 nexions; and may all have reason to 
 acknowledge, in the review, it is good 
 for me that I have been afflicted. 
 
 For recovery from Sickness* 
 
 All our times are in thy hand. All 
 diseases come at thy call, and go at thy 
 bidding. Thou redeemest our life from 
 destruction, and crownest us with lov- 
 ing-kindness and tender mercies. We 
 bless Thee, that Thou hast heard our 
 prayer, and commanded deliverance 
 
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 591 
 
 for our friend and thy servant, who has 
 been under thine afflicting hand. He 
 (or she) was brought low, but Thou hast 
 helped hint : Thou hast chastened him 
 sore, but not delivered him over unto 
 death. May he not only live, but de- 
 clare the works of the ILord. 
 
 As Thou hast delivered his eyes from 
 tears, his feet from falling*, and his soul 
 from death, may he daily inquire. 
 What shall I render unto the ILord for 
 all his benefits towards me ? and re- 
 solve to offer unto Thee the sacrifices 
 of thanksgiving and to call upon the 
 name of the Lord. 
 
 And may we ever remember, that m 
 recovery is only a reprieve; that the 
 sentence which dooms us to the dust is 
 only suspended % and, that at most, 
 when a few years are come, we shall 
 go the way whence we shall not re- 
 turn. May we, therefore, secure the 
 one thing needful ; and live with eter- 
 nity in view. 
 
 •0L Prayer for a Birth Day. 
 
 Blessed be €*od for my creation and 
 birth : for giving me a being from hon- 
 est parents fearing Crod, and in a Chris- 
 tian and IProtestant country ; for giv- 
 ing me perfect members and senses, a 
 sound reason, and an healthful consti- 
 
592 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVING. 
 
 tntion — for the means of grace, the as- 
 sistances of the Holy Spirit, and for the 
 hopes of glory % for ail the known or 
 unobserved favours, providences, and 
 deliverances, hy which my life hath 
 hitherto heeik preserved ; most humbly 
 beseeching Thee, iny Cfod and Father, 
 to pardon my neglect or abuse of any 
 of thy favours, and that I have so very 
 much forgotten Thee, in whom I live 
 and move, and have my being. 
 
 C*©od Lord, forgive me the great waste 
 of my precious time ; the many days 
 and years of health, and the many op- 
 portunities of doing good, which I 
 have lost ; and give me grace, that for 
 the time to come I may be truly wise, 
 that I may consider my latter end, and 
 work out my salvation with fear and 
 trembling, ever remembering that the 
 night cometh when no man can work/ 
 and that the day of my death may be 
 better to me than the day of my birth. 
 
 O gracious Crod, grant that before 
 Thou t akest from me that breath which 
 Thou gavest me, I may truly repent of 
 the errors of my life past % that my sins 
 may be forgiven, and my pardon sealed 
 in heaven ; so that I may have a place 
 of rest in Paradise with thy faithful 
 servants, till the general resurrection ; 
 when the good ILord vouchsafe me a 
 better and an everlasting life, through 
 Jesus Christ. — Amen. 
 
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 593 
 
 •1 Prayer in time of War* 
 
 © Sovereign liord ! who for our sins 
 art justly displeased, I prostrate myself 
 before Thee, confessing- my own sin and 
 the sin of this people ; acknowledging* 
 the justice of any scourge which Thou 
 shall think fit to bring upon us; and 
 trembling to think how much I may 
 have contributed towards it* 
 
 Thou hast already spoken to us, both 
 by thy judgments and mercies, both by 
 the scarcity and plenty of bread, and 
 we have not regarded it. Thou hast 
 taken away the lives of many, very 
 many, in their very sins, by which nu- 
 merous widows and fatherless children 
 have been left miserable. 
 
 The sins of licentiousness and drunk- 
 enness, of swearing, tying, and perjury $ 
 of litigiousness, injustice, and defraud- 
 ing the public f are made light of. 
 
 The sins of impiety, of profaneness / of 
 despising the means of grace and salva- 
 tion, are too common amongst us. 
 
 What shall we say to prevail with 
 God to avert the judgments which these 
 sins deserve ? 
 
 God be merciful unto us, and put a 
 stop to this torrent of wickedness, put 
 thy fear into all our hearts, that we 
 may return to Thee ; that we may re- 
 pent, and bring forth fruit meet for re- 
 
 38 
 
594 PRATEKS AND" THANKSGIVINGS 
 
 pentance; and that iniquity may not 
 be our ruin. 
 
 May the dread of thy now threatened 
 judgments deter us from evil ;— may thy 
 goodness and patience lead us to re- 
 pentance z — weaken the power of Satan ? 
 — take from among us the spirit of slum- 
 ber, of ignorance, and inconsideration. 
 
 ILet every one of us see and feel the 
 plague of his own heart, and say, what 
 hare I done to bring these evits upon us £ 
 So that bringing forth fruits answer- 
 able to amendment of life, we may es- 
 cape the judgment now hanging over 
 us ; and above all, thy judgment 
 against sinners in the world to come* 
 And this I beg for Jesus Christ his sake. 
 —Amen. 
 
 *1 Thanksgiving for Peace* 
 
 © Thou that stillest the noise of the 
 seas, the noise of their waves, and the 
 tumult of the people ; we bless Thee that 
 Thou hast made peace in our borders, 
 and called us to adore Thee, as the re- 
 pairer of the breach, the restorer of 
 paths to dwell in. 
 
 We lament the evils of war, both natu- 
 ral and moral % and confess with shame, 
 that ever since man became an apostate 
 from Thee, he has been an enemy to 
 his brother, and that from the death 
 
THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 595 
 
 of Abel our earth has been a field of 
 blood. O let thy word be speedily ac- 
 complished. ILet the nations learn war 
 no more, but beat their swords into 
 plough-shares, and their spears into 
 pruning-hooks ; and only emulate each 
 other in husbandry, and commerce, 
 and science, and religion. 
 
 © Thou Prince of Peace, preside in 
 every privy council. May all public 
 teachers recommend peace. In private 
 life, may we follow peace with all 
 men; and cherish the principles and the 
 dispositions which will prepare us for 
 that world, where we shall enter into 
 peace, and the sound of war will be 
 heard no more. 
 
 THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 
 
 Our Father, which art in Heaven* 
 
 I beseech Thee, O heavenly Father, 
 not for myself only, but for all thy chil* 
 dren, that we may all live worthy of 
 the relation which we bear to Thee 5 
 that we may not sin, knowing that we are 
 accounted thine: nor wilfully offend so 
 great, so good, so tender a Father : but 
 that we may love thee, and fear thee, 
 not as slaves, but as children .• that we 
 may put our whole trust in Thee, and 
 depend upon thine infinite power, wis* 
 
$96 the lord's prayer explained* 
 
 dom, goodness, and promise to take care 
 of us 5 that we may leave it to Tliee to 
 choose what i§ best for us ; and bear 
 with patience and resignation all thy 
 fatherly corrections : and that we may 
 serve Thee with comfort and pleasure 
 all our days, in hopes of the inheri- 
 tance which Thou hast promised thy 
 obedient children. 
 
 Hallowed he thy name* 
 
 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
 glory, and honour, and power ; for 
 thou hast created all things, and all 
 thy works praise thee. Fill our hearts, 
 © €*od, with a zeal for thy glory, that 
 we may do Thee honour, by leading 
 holy lives, and by paying a great re- 
 gard for every thing that belongs to 
 Thee; thy name, thy day, thy house, 
 thine ordinances, and thy ministers % 
 and that others, seeing our good 
 works, may glorify our Father which is 
 in heaven. 
 
 Thy Kingdom come. 
 
 Enlarge thy Kingdom, O God, and 
 deliver the world from the dominion 
 
 and tjruimy of Satan, that the king- 
 doms of the earth may become the 
 kingdoms of Jesus Christ. Hasten the 
 time which thy Spirit hath foretold? 
 
THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 597 
 
 when all nations whom Thou hast made 
 shall worship Thee and glorify thy name. 
 Bless the good endeavours of those that 
 strive to propagate the gospel of thy 
 
 kingdom % and prepare the hearts of 
 all men to receive it. May all such as 
 own Thee for their King, become thy 
 faithful subjects! — Vouchsafe to reign 
 in our hearts, and subdue our will en- 
 tirely to thine i and prepare us by thy 
 good Spirit for the kingdom of glory. 
 
 Thy W*ill he done in Marth, as it is in 
 
 Heaven. 
 
 Dispose me, and all thy children, O 
 Lord and Father, to submit cheerfully 
 to whatever thy providence shall order 
 for us s hearken not to the corrupt de- 
 sires of our hearts 5 but to the voice of 
 thine own wisdom, goodness and mer- 
 cy. Give us a true knowledge of our 
 duty, with an heart disposed to close 
 with thy will, whenever it shall be 
 made known to us, and to perform it 
 with pleasure. Subdue in us whatever 
 is contrary to thy holy will, that 
 through thy grace we may at last be- 
 come perfect, as our heavenly pat- 
 tern is. 
 
 €Mve us this day our Daily Bread. 
 
 We look up unto, and depend upon 
 thee, O heavenly Father, for all the ne* 
 
598 
 
 cessaries and conveniences of this present 
 life* And may our bodily wants engage 
 us to go daily to the throne of grace, 
 for the wants of our souls! Let thy 
 blessing go along with our honest en- 
 deavours, and keep us front all unjust 
 ways of bettering our condition. CSive 
 us grace to impart to such as are in 
 want, of what thou shalt give us more 
 than our daily bread ; and with all thy 
 other favours, give us, we beseech thee, 
 the blessing of a thankful and contented 
 mind. 
 
 •And forgive us our Trespasses as we for' 
 give them that trespass against us. 
 
 Forgive us those sins, © heavenly Fa- 
 ther, which separate us from Thee: 
 forgive us every day of our lives ; for 
 every day we stand in need of pardon : 
 give me, and all Christians, a forgiving 
 temper, that we may fulfil this condi- 
 tion of our pardon. Thou art good 
 and merciful in forgiving us : grant we 
 may be so to others ; remembering our 
 own infirmities. And may we all live 
 ill the same charitable temper, in which 
 we hope and desire to die* 
 
 •hid lead us not into Temptation, but de* 
 liver us from Evil. 
 
 © God and Father, who hatest ini- 
 quity, and knowest our infirmities, 
 
THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 599 
 
 leave us not to the malice and power of 
 the evil one, the devil, to deal with us 
 as he pleaseth ; — nor t<^ ourselves, and 
 to our own corrupt hearts and lusts, 
 lest we rashly run into temptation* 
 Keep us out of the way of temptations, 
 and under the protection of thy good 
 Spirit : suffer us not to be surprised by 
 them, nor tempted above what we are 
 able to bear. Oive us grace to resist 
 them, and to watch and pray daily, 
 that we enter not into temptation. 
 
 For thine is the Kingdom, and the JPow* 
 er, and the Glory, for ewer and ever. — 
 Amen. 
 
 The whole creation is thine, and un- 
 der thy government. Thine is the 
 power: thou canst do whatsoever we 
 pray for. Thou canst cause thy name 
 to be sanctified in all the earth, and set 
 up thy kingdom in all the world, and 
 in our hearts 5 — thou canst cause thy 
 will to he done on earth as it is in heaven •• 
 and incline us all to submit to it. Thou 
 canst give all things needful both for 
 our souls and for our bodies. Thou, and 
 thou alone, canst forgive us our sins, 
 and dispose us to forgive one another : 
 Thou canst secure us in the day of 
 temptation, and deliver us from the 
 power of the devil. To Thee, to Thee 
 alone, be glory to all eternity. 
 
600 A PRATER FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 •1 Prayer for children in ordinary cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 (All the petitions need not be used at the same time.) 
 
 O God, TIion art the lovely Father 
 of all mankind. Thou hast implant- 
 ed in us the parental instincts ; and 
 commanded us to train up our chil- 
 dren in the nurture and admonition 
 of the Lord. We feel our awful re- 
 sponsibility, and often exclaim, Who 
 is sufficient for these things? But Thou 
 givest wisdom to the ignorant and 
 power to the faint. Aid 9 O aid us, in 
 discharging the duties we owe to those 
 whom Thou hast given us and contin- 
 ued to us. 
 
 We give them up to Thee, who art 
 able to fulfil all our petitions. Rescue 
 them from the numberless accidents 
 and diseases to which they are exposed, 
 tet their tempers be lovely, and meek, 
 and kind. I^et their manners be simple 
 and engaging. May they be respectful 
 towards their superiors, obliging to- 
 wards their equals, and condescending 
 towards their inferiors. 
 
 I<et not envy and pride and censori- 
 riousness render them disdainful to 
 others and wretched to themselves. 
 May they speak evil of mo one. Upon 
 their tongue may there dwell the law 
 of kindness. May they hate and ab- 
 
A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN. 601 
 
 lior lying— with all deceit and hypo- 
 crisy. 
 
 Ulay they foe always willing to receive 
 instruction ; and be diligent in acqui- 
 ring all the knowledge and improve- 
 ment that may render them the bless- 
 ings and ornaments of society. 
 
 Keep them from evil company. If 
 sinners entice them, may they never 
 consent ; but early may they take hold 
 of the skirt of him that is a Jew, say- 
 ing, I will go with you, for I have heard 
 that God is with you. 
 
 Let our sons be as plants grown up in 
 their youth, and our daughters as cor- 
 ner-stones, polished after the simili- 
 tude of a palace. 
 
 Pour thy blessing upon our seed, and 
 thy Spirit upon our offspring; that 
 one may say, I am the Lord's, and 
 another call himself by the name of 
 •I acob, and another subscribe with his 
 own hand, and surname himself by 
 the name of Israel. 
 
 We seek not great things for them as 
 to this world — but © let them live in 
 thy sight 5 let them be numbered with 
 thy saints in glory everlasting 5 let 
 them be blessed with all spiritual bless- 
 ings in heavenly places in Christ. 
 
 Instead of multiplying riches, and 
 leaving them incentives to pride, and 
 vanity, and idleness, and sensuality, 
 and augmenting a thousand fold all 
 
602 A PRAYER FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 the difficulties of their salvation — may 
 we lay up for theni treasure in heaven; 
 may we he concerned to leave behind 
 us a large inheritance of prayers and 
 instructions and examples — with the 
 blessing of €*od, that inaketh rich, and 
 addeth no sorrow with it. 
 
 If their parents should be taken 
 away from them — when father and 
 mother forsake them, may the ILord 
 take them up. If they should be de- 
 prived of their father — be Thou the 
 father of the fatherless. If they should 
 be deprived of their mother — as one 
 whom his mother comforteth, so do 
 Thou comfort them. 
 
 Should they be removed from us in 
 early life, may the heavenly Shepherd 
 gather the lambs with his arm, and 
 carry them in his bosom ; and may we 
 be prepared to resign them. And if, 
 as we submissively implore, their lives 
 should be prolonged — may they grow 
 up, and prove our comfort and hon- 
 our, serve their generation according 
 to thy will, and walk before Thee in 
 the land of the living. 
 
 •1 Prayer for the spread of the gospel— 
 and for Ministers. 
 
 Remember those who are denied our 
 advantages of instruction and the pri- 
 
A PRAYER FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL. 603 
 
 vilege of worshipping thee; be a little 
 sanctuary to them in the midst of their 
 privations, and let them know that 
 Thou art not confined to temples made 
 with hands. And O forget not those 
 who never enjoyed our privileges ; 
 who dwell in habitations of horrid 
 cruelty, and perish in ignorance of the 
 salvation which is in Christ Jesus with 
 eternal glory 5 and let thy way be 
 known on earth, thy saving health 
 among all nations. Give, we beseech 
 Thee, the blessings of the Sabbath ; the 
 written word ; the institutions of thy 
 house. Bless all the institutions which 
 are established to diffuse the scriptures, 
 and to send forth missionaries. Re- 
 member those who have gone forth to 
 preach among the Gentiles the un- 
 searchable riches of Christ. Preserve 
 their health, their morals, their spirit- 
 uality, their zeal: let them be exam- 
 ples of all they teach : and be Thou 
 their stay and consolation among the 
 heathen. May all the events that take 
 place in the nations of the earth sub- 
 serve the spread of the Redeemer's em- 
 pire 5 and may we exult in the period, 
 and readily aid every enterprise which 
 designs to introduce the period when 
 the earth shall be filled with the know- 
 ledge of the Lord, as the waters cover 
 the sea. So may thy name be hallow- 
 ed ; thy kingdom come 5 and thy will 
 
604 A PRAYER FOR THE SPREAD OP THE GOSPEL. 
 
 be done on earth as it is done in hea- 
 ven. 
 
 Send out thy light and thy truth % let 
 them lead n§, let them guide us to thy 
 holy hill and to thy tabernacles. Bless 
 the dispensation of thy gospel by means 
 of preaching-. While Paul plants, and 
 Apoilos waters, — it is all that they can 
 do — give Thou the increase. Clothe 
 thy priests with salvation 5 may thy 
 ministers be wise to win souls 5 let thy 
 people shout for joy % and keep Thou 
 those who have believed through grace. 
 
 Bless the congregation in whose devo« 
 tions we ordinarily mingle. May we 
 hide thy Word in our hearts, that we 
 may not sin against Thee. 
 
 Especially Mess thy dear servant on 
 whose labours we statedly attend. ILet 
 him come forth even unto us in the ful- 
 ness of the blessing of the gospel of 
 peace ; entering the sanctuary as Aa- 
 ron entered the tabernacle when the 
 holy oil was poured upon his head and 
 the fragrance filled thie place. — Aikd. © 
 let him not prove the savour of death 
 unto death unto us or unto any that 
 hear hiin. And while he labours to 
 impart unto us spiritual gifts to the 
 em& we may be established, may he be 
 comforted together with us by the mu- 
 tual faith both of him and us, and re- 
 joice in all the consolations of the gos- 
 pel of Christ. 
 
taking up the cross. 605 
 
 Open our ears to discipline ; may we 
 obey thy t rut li 5 and always so employ 
 the ordinances of the gospel that our 
 souls may live. 
 
 Taking up the Cross. 
 
 H Y M N 89. 8. 7.— Disciple. 
 1. 
 
 JESUS, I my cross have taken, 
 
 All to leave, and follow Thee 5 
 Naked, poor, despis'd, forsaken, 
 
 Thou, from hence, my all shalt be % 
 Perish every fond ambition, 
 
 All I've sought, or hop'd, or known, 
 Yet how rich is my condition, 
 
 Crod and heav'n are still my own ! 
 
 2. 
 JLet the world despise and leave me ; 
 
 They have left my Saviour too ; 
 Human hearts and looks deceive me— 
 
 Thou art not, like them, untrue ; 
 And whilst Thou shalt smile upon me, 
 
 God of wisdom, love and might, 
 Foes may hate, and friends disown me $ 
 
 Show thy face, and all is bright. 
 
 3. 
 Go, then, earthly fame and treasure* 
 
 Come, disaster, scorn, and pain, 
 In thy service pain is pleasure, 
 
 With thy favour loss is 3 aiii* 
 
606 TAKING UP THE €ROSS. 
 
 I have call'd Thee Abba, Father, 
 I have set my heart on Thee 5 
 
 Storms may howl, and clouds may 
 gather, 
 All must work for good to me. 
 
 4. 
 
 Man may trouble and distress me, 
 
 'Twill but drive me to thy breast ; 
 ILife with trials hard may press me, 
 
 Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. 
 Oh ! 'tis not in grief to harm me, 
 
 While thy love is left to me 5 
 Oh ! 'twere not in joy to charm me, 
 
 Were that joy unmix'd with Thee. 
 
 5. 
 Soul, then know thy full salvation ; 
 
 Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care ; 
 Joy to find, in every station, 
 
 Something still to do or bear. 
 Think what Spirit dwells within Thee ; 
 
 Think what Father's smiles are thine s 
 Think that Jesus died to win thee ; 
 
 Child of heaven, canst Thou repine ? 
 
 6. 
 Haste thee on from grace to glory, 
 
 Arm'd by faith, and wing'd by prayer, 
 Heaven's eternal days before thee, 
 
 God's own hand shall guide thee 
 there. 
 Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 
 
 Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days, 
 Hope shall change to glad fruition, 
 
 Faith to sight, and prayer to praise. 
 
INDEX TO DEVOTIONS. 
 
 Page 
 Preface, ....*.... 5 
 
 Sermon by John Mason, D. D. . . . . . 9 
 
 Sermon by Alexander McClelland, 0. D. . .- , 41 
 Sermon by do. do. * * i 87 
 
 Devotional exercises for all occasions, . . . * 135 
 
 Prayer for a spirit of grace and supplication, . . 136 
 
 Instructions how to begin the day with God, . . .141 
 
 A morning prayer for a family, 143 
 
 Morning devotions for an individual, . . . .148 
 
 Evening devotions for a family, 153 
 
 Evening devotions for an individual, . . . . 159 
 Instructions about going to bed, . . . . 164 
 
 Pious reflections and aspirations when awaking in the night 
 
 and unable to sleep, . . . * . .166 
 A night thought, , 171 
 
 Morning devotions for the Lord's day, . . * ..173* 
 Evening devotions for the Lord's day, . . ■ „ 180 
 
 Devotions for the Lord's day morning, . . . .187 
 Evening devotions for the Lord's day, . . . 195 
 
 Devotions for Monday morning, ..... 205 
 Devotions for Monday evening, . . . . 210 
 
 Devotions for Tuesday morning, 217 
 
 Devotions for Tuesday evening, .... £21 
 
 Devotions for Wednesday morning, .- . . „ 226 
 
 Devotions for Wednesday evening, .... 230 
 
 Devotions for Thursday morning, , 235 
 
 Devotions for Thursday evening, .... 240 
 
 Devotions for Friday morning, . 24$ 
 
 Devotions for Friday evening, . 250 
 
 Devotions for Saturday morning, 256 
 
 Devotions for Saturday evening, .... 260 
 
608 
 
 INDEX TO DEVOTIONS. 
 
 Morning devotions for 
 Evening devotions for 
 Devotions for Monday 
 Evening devotions for 
 Morning devotions for 
 Evening devotions for 
 Morning devotions for 
 Evening devotions for 
 Morning devotions for 
 Evening devotions for 
 Morning devotions for 
 Evening devotions for 
 Morning devotions for 
 Evening devotions for 
 
 the Lord's day, 
 
 the Lo/d's day, 
 
 morning, 
 
 Monday, 
 
 Tuesday, 
 
 Tuesday, 
 
 Wednesday, 
 
 Wednesday, 
 
 Thursday, . 
 
 Thursday, 
 
 Friday, 
 
 Friday, . 
 
 Saturday, . 
 
 Saturday, 
 
 Page 
 267 
 272 
 277 
 283 
 289 
 294 
 299 
 306 
 312 
 317 
 323 
 329 
 334 
 340 
 
 PART II. 
 
 Supplication for grace rightly to hear the word of God, . 347 
 
 Instructions how to hear God's holy word with profit, . 350 
 Supplications for grace rightly to hear and improve the 
 
 word of God, . . . . . . .357 
 
 A prayer of an humble believer, under dejection of spirit, 
 in consequence of not being able to hear the word of 
 
 God with that attention and interest which he desires, 361 
 
 A prayer after hearing a gospel sermon, . . . 365 
 
 Sacraments of the Church of God, .... 370 
 
 Instructions, . . . . . . . .371 
 
 Sacrament of Baptism, . . . . . 372 
 
 Infant Baptism, ........ 376 
 
 Adult Baptism, ....... 382 
 
 Communicant's Companion, ..... 386 
 
 Instructions in relation to a worthy reception of the Lord's 
 
 Supper, 403 
 
 Self-examination and confession of sins, before approach- 
 ing the Lord's Supper, 415 
 
 Encouragement on the day of the Lord's Supper, . 428 
 Devotions when receiving the Lord's Supper, . . 431 
 Holy ejaculations when the believing communicant ap- 
 proaches to the Lord's Supper, . . 439 
 
INDEX TO DEVOTIONS, 
 
 Devotional exeicises after the Lord's Supper, 
 Prayer of one who has just been at the Lord's table, but 
 who has enjoyed little or no refreshing from the pre- 
 sence of the Lord, in participating of this sacred or 
 dinailce, . . . . . 
 
 609 
 
 Page 
 
 441 
 
 445 
 
 PART III. 
 
 Containing Instructions, Hymns and Prayers for various 
 occasions, ....... 
 
 Instructions and advice how to address sick persons, 
 
 Prayer of a sick person for the forgiveness of sins, 
 
 Prayer for entire submission to the will of God in sickness, 
 
 Prayer in which the sick may apply unto himself the twelve 
 articles of the Christian .faith, 
 
 Instructions for the sick, ..... 
 
 Hymns, prayers and meditations for various occasions, 
 
 Morning devotions for Christmas, 
 
 Evening devotions for Christmas, . 
 
 Devotions for the last evening of the Old Year, 
 
 .Morning devotions for the New Year, 
 
 Morning devotions for Good Friday, 
 
 Evening devctions for Good Friday, 
 
 Morning devotions for Easter Sunday, 
 
 Evening devotions for Easter Sunday, . 
 
 Morning devotions for Whitsunday, . 
 
 Evening devotions for Whitsunday, 
 
 Evening devotions after a Funeral, . 
 
 Morning devotions for a Fast Day, 
 
 Evening devotions for a Fast Day, . 
 
 Morning devotions for a day of Thanksgiving, 
 
 Evening devotions for a day of Thanksgiving, 
 
 Prayers at Table, . . . 
 
 Prayers and thanksgivings for particular occasions,. 
 
 A morning prayer to be used by a child at home, 
 
 An evening prayer to be used by a child at home, 
 
 A prayer for a youth going from home, . 
 
 A prayer for a servant coming into the family, 
 
 A short prayer on going into the seat at Church, 
 
 39 
 
 451 
 451 
 459 
 463 
 
 474 
 482 
 488 
 488 
 492 
 496 
 502 
 509 
 514 
 519 
 523 
 527 
 534 
 540 
 547 
 552 
 557 
 562 
 567 
 571 
 571 
 572 
 573 
 574 
 575 
 
610 
 
 INDEX TO HYMNS. 
 
 A prayer before leaving the seat at Church, 
 
 Addresses for the seasons, 
 
 Spring, .... 
 
 Summer, . 
 
 Autumn, .... 
 
 Winter, .... 
 
 A time of thunder and lightning, 
 
 A prayer for rain, 
 
 A thanksgiving for rain, 
 
 A prayer for fair weather, 
 
 A thanksgiving for a good harvest, 
 
 A prayer in view of journeying, 
 
 A thanksgiving for a safe return from a journey, 
 
 A thanksgiving for the return of a friend from sea, 
 
 A prayer for a new married party, 
 
 A prayer for a woman approaching the time of travail, 
 
 Thanksgiving for safe delivery in child birth, 
 
 A prayer for one under sickness, 
 
 Thanksgiving for recovery from sickness, . 
 
 A prayer for a birth day, 
 
 A prayer in time of war, .... 
 
 A thanksgiving for peace, 
 
 The Lord's Prayer explained, 
 
 A prayer for children in ordinary circumstances, 
 
 A prayer for the spread of the gospel — and for ministers, 
 
 Page 
 575 
 576 
 
 577 
 
 578 
 
 579 
 
 580 
 
 581 
 
 582 
 
 583 
 
 583 
 
 584 
 
 585 
 
 586 
 
 587 
 
 587 
 
 588 
 
 58 . 
 
 59 
 
 59( 
 
 59 
 
 59 
 
 58 
 
 596 
 
 600 
 
 602S 
 
 INDEX TO THE HYMNS. 
 
 A charge to keep I have, 
 Almighty Sovereign of the skies, 
 Arise, my soul ! with rapture rise ! 
 Awake my soul, and with the sun, 
 Behold, the sun adorns the sky, 
 Begone, my worldly cares away, 
 Blest be th' Eternal ! Infinite ! 
 Come Holy Spirit heavenly Dove, 
 Come dearest Lord and feed thy sheep, 
 
 
 
 293 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 562 
 217 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 205 
 
 282 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 345 
 
 502 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 141 
 18" 
 
INDEX TO HYMNS 
 
 611 
 
 Come thou fount of every blessing, 
 
 Dear Lord, and shall thy Spirit rest, . 
 
 Dread Sovereign, let my evening song, . 
 
 Ere I sleep, for every favour, 
 
 Father of mercies, in thy word, 
 
 Father of our dying Lord, 
 
 Frequent the day of God returns, . 
 
 From ev'ry stormy wind that blows, . 
 
 From Greenland's icy mountains, 
 
 Glory to Thee, my God, this night, . 
 
 God of my life my morning song, . 
 
 Great God, to Thee my evening song, 
 
 Great God, indulge my humble claim, . 
 
 Great Ruler of the earth and skies, . 
 
 Hail the blest morn ! see the great Mediator, 
 
 Hail, thou happy morn, so glorious, . 
 
 Happy soul, thy days are ended, . 
 
 Hosanna, with a cheerful sound, 
 
 Hark ! the voice of love and mercy, 
 
 How can I sleep whilst angels sing, . 
 
 I know that my Redeemer lives, . 
 
 I love to steal awhile away, 
 
 If life's pleasures charm thee, 
 
 In God the Father I believe, 
 
 In sleep's serene oblivion laid, , 
 
 Jesus, Thou hast bid us pray, 
 
 Jesus I my cross have taken, 
 
 Lord I am thine, entirely thine, 
 
 Lord in the morning Thou shalt hear, . 
 
 Lord, Thou wilt hear me when I pray, 
 
 Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise Thee, 
 
 My days, my weeks, my months, my years 
 
 My God (he spring of all my joys, 
 
 My Saviour God, my Sov'reign Prince, 
 
 My soul lies cleaving to the dust, . 
 
 No farther go to night but stay, 
 
 Not from the dust afflictions grow, 
 
 Now from the altar of our hearts, 
 
 bless the Lord, my soul ! . 
 
 340 
 
 527 
 
 240 
 
 230 
 
 347 
 
 357 
 
 180 
 
 299 
 
 534 
 
 210 
 
 140 
 
 195 
 
 334 
 
 557 
 
 492 
 
 173 
 
 486 
 
 256 
 
 431 
 
 171 
 
 523 
 
 345 
 
 482 
 
 474 
 
 226 
 
 365 
 
 605 
 
 403 
 
 267 
 
 159 
 
 288 
 
 540 
 
 294 
 
 370 
 
 361 
 
 283 
 
 463 
 
 153 
 
 441 
 
613 
 
 INDEX TO HYMNS, 
 
 O for a closer walk with God, . 
 
 Once more my eyes behold the day, 
 
 O God, thy gifts of tender love, . 
 
 Once more my soul the rising day, 
 
 Our Lord is risen from the dead, . 
 
 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, . 
 
 Precious Bible ] what a treasure, . 
 
 Safely through another week, 
 
 See how the rising sun, 
 
 Show pity Lord, O Lof d forgive, 
 
 Sing, my soul, his wondrous love, 
 
 Softly now the light of day, . 
 
 Sweet is the work my God my King, 
 
 See, gracious Lord, before thy throne, 
 
 See the Lord of glory dying, 
 
 Thee we adore, eternal name, 
 
 The day is past and gone, . 
 
 The sacraments are Holy signs, 
 
 The flow'ry spring at God's command, 
 
 There is an hour of peaceful rest, . 
 
 There's a friend above ail others, 
 
 Thussaith the mercy of the Lord, . 
 
 'Tis finish'd, the Redeemer cried, 
 
 To God the universal King, . 
 
 To Thee in each bright morning, 
 
 To Thee let my first ofPrings rise, . 
 
 To Zion's hill I lift mine eyes, 
 
 Trembling before thine awful throne, 
 
 'Twas the commission of the Lord, 
 
 5 Twas on that dark, that doleful night, 
 
 Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb, . 
 
 Upwards I lift mine eyes, 
 
 Vain delusive world adieu, 
 
 When, O dear Jesus, when shall I, 
 
 What strange perplexities arise, 
 
 When restless on my bed I lie, . 
 
 While shepherds watch their flocks by night, 
 
 When the blest day of Pentecost, 
 
 Ye that obey the immortal King, . 
 
 Ye wretched, hungry, starving poor. . 
 
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