wilt make the righteous to flourish like the palm tree. "They shall be planted in the house of the Lord; in the courts of our God they shall flourish." They shall produce sweet flowers in their youth and rich fruits in their maturity and old age. For thou, O God! art our rock, and our living redeemer; thou wilt preserve the remnant of thy people; thou wilt bless this congregation for we put our trust in thee, and will bless thy holy name for ever and ever. Amen.

A PRAYER APPROPRIATED TO ANY DAY OF HOLY CONVOCATION.

Three times in the year, hath the God of Israel required his people to assemble in holy convocation before him; to proclaim and celebrate the feasts of their ancestors, instituted for his providential acts and mercies: the holy convocation for the feast of unleavened bread; the holy convocation for the feast of weeks, and the holy convocation for the feast of tabernacles. God hath also required his people to assemble in holy convocation for the feast of the new year, and in holy convocation for the purposes of repentance and purifying the spirit on the great day of atonement.

When our ancestors celebrated these great occasions of the three festivals, none of them appeared empty before the Lord. The richest offering, as well as the humblest mite, given with a willing spirit, was equally acceptable. Then an independent government, a splendid ceremonial and a consecrated priesthood, gave dignity and honor to the occasion. The ardour of prayer was expressed in numbers of harmony. Poetry and music gave life and beauty to the conceptions of the heart, and piety and charity were rendered more attractive by the forms of religion, even as precious stones are more lovely and dazzling when contained "in vessels of gold and silver richly wrought."

But to the children of Israel, are now allotted another age and another destiny. Forms are less appropriate where the mind is more enlightened. Customs and ceremonies are changed, and only the word of Jehovah remains immutable. We render to God, not the fat of lambs, but the offerings of our lips. For God will receive that which we offer in sincerity of heart. Instead of sacrifices, we present our temperance, our fortitude and our continence. Instead of rich gifts, we offer our humble merits, our good deeds, our charitable acts to the throne of grace.

May it then please thine infinite mercy, O Lord God of creation! to receive our thanksgiving. Instead of the harp of David, accept the voices of thy children raised in sacred song: instead of an anointed priest, accept the ministry of the humblest of thy servants: instead of the united cry of all the people of Israel, let the prayers and supplications even of this remnant be acceptable to thee, O Lord our God and the God of our fathers! for the many favours bestowed upon our ancestors in their generation and in their day. But especially do we render unto thee, O Father of thy people! the devotion of our hearts, in the fulness of gratitude for thy manifold mercies and prophecies fulfilled in us and in our day. For behold! the days are come, saith the Lord, by his prophet Jeremiah, "Behold! the days are come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the Lord. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,

Know the Lord. For they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more."

A PRAYER ON GOING ON A VOYAGE AND

DURING A STORM AT SEA.

May our prayer be acceptable in thy presence, O Lord our God and the God of our fathers! and for the sake of thine attribute of mercy, cause the waters to cease from their raging, and still the waves of thy great deep. Conduct us speedily to our destined port, for the issues of life and death are in thy hands. Hearken unto our supplications, even at this present hour when we are praying unto thee. Calm the storm, and conduct us with kind and gentle breezes. Guard us from the tumultuous billows, and from all the perils of the sea. Guard us from the lightning and the tempest, and the confusion of darkness. Guard us from noxious creatures in the sea and on the shore. Guard us from dangers by water and by fire, from the robber and the pirate, from the enemies of our country, and from every adversary, obstruction, injury or fear.

From thy treasury of the elements, O God of all! send forth a favourable wind. May all who have charge of the vessel be faithful and vigilant, active and skilful in directing or obeying, that so we may speedily and safely be brought to our destined port. Thou who madest the sea, canst still the waves thereof; thou who didst create the winds, canst allay their rage. O Lord God! guard our souls which depend upon thee, and deliver us from all evil. As we put our trust in thee, let us never be confounded. And as for us all, we will bless thy name, O Lord! from henceforth and for evermore. AMEN.

PRIVATE THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE.

Lord of the universe! permit my humble voice to ascend even unto thee. Let me approach thy gracious presence, and pour forth my soul before thy mercy seat. O my God! thou hast been bountiful unto thy servant, thou hast blessed me beyond my deserts. Thou hast led me by thine Almighty hand, through all the various dangers, that attend this transitory life, and hast brought me, by thy signal mercies, to a happy issue of all my troubles. May this thy goodness teach me more and more to love thy will and venerate thy holy name. And grant, O God! that some good end of usefulness may bless my remaining days, so that all my future actions may be pleasing in thy sight, and that I may hereafter be accounted worthy of thine everlasting love. AMEN.

PUBLIC THANKSGIVING FOR A SIGNAL

DELIVERANCE.

(Among other occasions upon which we should return thanks to the Almighty, the following are particularly enumerated. 1. Returning in safety from a voyage; 2. Returning in safety from a long or dangerous journey; 3. Returning in safety from war; 4. Release from prison or bondage; 5. Recovery from sickness; 6. Extraordinary deliverance from any danger. For any one of these blessings thanks are to be given to God on the Sabbath, if the party desire it, publicly in the congregation, and the minister after the Discourse, shall return thanks thus:)

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God! King of the universe! who bestowest blessings on all thy creatures, however undeserving, and dost especially guard and protect thy servants, who put their trust in thee. We thank thy providence for thy mercy manifested unto A. B. who is now restored in safety to his family and friends, and whom thy goodness hath saved from many dangers and disasters. Blessed and exalted be the name of the Lord of mercy! May his infinite

32 Private and Public Prayers for the Sick.

goodness continue to guard A. B. who desires thus publicly to express his gratitude for favours received. May his infinite goodness protect and guard this congregation; bless all his creatures, and bountifully bestow on them all good, here and hereafter. So shall their hearts be filled with joy and gratitude, and thy children exalt their voices in thy praise, as it is written: "They shall give thanks to the Lord for his goodness; let them exalt him in the congregation of the people. AMEN.

PRIVATE PRAYER FOR THE SICK.

O Lord! answer and compassionate me, for I am full of distress, and humbled in mine afflictions. I am bowed down with weakness as a child, and without thy aid, how shall I bear my troubles. O, that my deeds had been worthy thy approbation, then had my soul been satisfied and my heart rejoiced. Yet, do thou, O Lord; regard my contrition, hear my prayer, and lend thy mercy even as a staff for my support. O Lord! pains and evils are inherited with the nature of man, yet my soul shall not be shaken by their approach. For, on whom shall I call for help but on thee? And where shall I rest my hope but in thy mercies? Were my days of sorrow lengthened to the number of mine offences, yet, O Lord! I would still bless thy name and thy dispensations, for thou art my consolation, the resting place of my soul. Then, wherefore should I complain? I will resign myself to thy will, for thou, O Lord! art the author of my being, and wilt not destroy the work, which thou hast made. Then shall I profit from my woes, and at all times rest in thy hands; for thou, O Lord God! art my saviour and my living redeemer. AMEN.

PUBLIC PRAYER FOR THE SICK.

God of mercy and of power! who hast created the world and all that therein is by thy word; who governest thy creatures by thine attribute of mercy; who