hope of those good things which Christ has promised in the other life, that it may make us active and zealous, steadfast and unmoreable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Thou knowest the secrets of all hearts; let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us according as we cleave to thee with purpose of heart. "O cast us not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from us. Create in us clean hearts, and renew right spirits within us. Make our hearts sound in thy statutes, that we may never be ashamed. Keep back thy servants also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over us; let the words of our mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer." Amen.

HYMN.

Dear Father, let our evening song
Like holy incense rise;
Assist the offerings of our tongue
To reach the lofty skies.

Through all the dangers of the day,
Thy hand was still our guard;
And still to drive our wants away,
Thy mercy stood prepar'd.

Perpetual blessings from above,
Encompass us around;

But, O! how few returns of love,
Hath our Creator found.

What have we done for him that died
To save our wretched soul;
How are our follies multiply'd
Fast as our minutes roll.

Lord, 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.

Thus with our thoughts compos'd to peace,
We give our eyes to sleep;
Thy hand in safety keeps our days,
And will our slumbers keep.

PRAYER

For Tuesday Evening.

Blessing, glory, honour, and praise ba again returned to thee, O Father of mercies, the fountain of all the good things we enjoy at present, and the hope of our souls for ever and ever. Blessed be thy renewed kindness to us, on the day past, in our spiritual and temporal concerns, and in the liberty thou art granting us of drawing near unto thee. Pardon, good Lord, whatsoever has escaped

us in thought, word, or deed, contrary to thy holy law; and accept of our sincere desires to approve ourselves to thee in all well-doing. It is but just and reasonable that we should follow thy will, and not our own; and, in a grateful sense of what we have received from thee, we ought to employ all our powers of soul and body to thy glory. Such is the goodness of thy will, that it is our ease and pleasure, and greatest happiness, to be absolutely led and governed by it. We are sensible, O Lord, how much we are indebted to thee for teaching us by Christ Jesus, and strongly obliging us to exercise ourselves to all godliness, purity, righteousness, humility, goodness, and truth. We thank thee for his holy example, for the hope thou hast given us by his blood; and for the gracious aids of thy Spirit to help us to follow him, and obey his commands; and for the exceeding great and precious promises which he has given us of immortal life, to encourage us to follow him willingly and cheerfully even unto death. O that we may have a lively and steadfast faith in his word, continually working in our hearts, exciting us to unwearied diligence, zeal, and love, and patient continuance in our duty towards thee, and towards all men; that so our hope in thee may grow and increase; that we may joyfully expect that

hour which may translate us to the eternal happiness of the other world.

To thy mercy, O most merciful Father, we commit ourselves, and all that we are and have, this night; beseeching thee to defend and keep us, both in soul and body, from all the evils and dangers to which the weakness of our frame, and the greatness of our sins, expose us. May our frail nature be refreshed by comfortable rest, that we may rise again to serve thee better, according to thy will, in all the duties of the following day; and if thou shalt be pleased to give us another day of trial, may we be enabled to add repentance and amendment to our lives; that every day may bring us nearer to those everlasting joys and glories which thou hast prepared for those that love thee. All we ask is in the name of our dear Redeemer, to whom with thyself and Holy Spirit, be ascribed everlasting praises. Amen.

Meditation for Wednesday Morning.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."-Isaiah xl. 11.

It is said, he will gather the lambs in his bosom; that is, the young and the weak

shall be welcome to him; and did not our Lord sufficiently show that they were so, when the little children were brought unto him? The disciples forbad them, as thinking it was beneath the dignity of so great a prophet as their master was, to trouble himself about them; but observe it, children, for it seems, in part, recorded for you; Jesus was greatly displeased with his disciples, that they should think he had no tenderness for such little children as you: and he said, "Suffer litle children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God: and he took them up in his arms, and laid his hands on them, and blessed them :" do we not here see the text most beautifully illustrated and fulfilled? Do we not here see the great Shepherd, gathering the lambs in his arms, and laying them in his bosom? And does he not invite others also to that soft and and pleasant repose, in those compassionate words, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest; and he that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out :" did he not also express a very gracious regard to such, when he so peculiarly recommends the care of them to Peter, just when he was leaving the world, taking that peculiarly affecting opportunity of assuring him, not only