We espe

May

Open thou their mouths, and enable them to testify boldly the gospel of the grace of God. cially pray for him who ministers among us. he this day be enabled to speak a word in season to us, and to all that shall hear him.

And, we beseech thee, grant that this thy sabbath may be distinguished by great and singular mercies to thy church, Be thou with all Christian congregations meeting to worship thee. By the ministry of thy word this day, convert many sinners; heal those that have backslidden, strengthen those that are weak, and confirm those that are strong. Give thy holy word free course, and let it be glorified in every land, and among every people. Hear us, and answer us, for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

FAMILY PRAYER, SUNDAY EVENING.

HOLY, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and art to come! thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; thou chargest thine angels with folly, and in thy sight the heavens are not clean; we approach thee, then, only in the name of Jesus Christ.

We confess, O Lord, how defective and defiled all our services are. We acknowledge that our prayers are full of distractions. Our confessions need to be repented of, our very petitions require thy pardon, the coldness of our intercessions for others increases our own guilt, and our unworthy thanksgivings fall utterly short of thy great goodness. We carelessly and unbe

vingly hear thy word. All we do is polluted and

sinful. O forgive us. Forgive the sins of our solemn duties; and let that great High Priest, who is passed into the heavens, bearing the iniquities of our holy things, plead for us in thy sight.

And grant, most merciful Lord, that it may not be in vain that we enjoy such distinguished privileges as thou hast given us, lest it be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for us. Let not the seed of the word of God which has this day been sown in our hearts, be plucked away by Satan, lost through temptation, or choked with the cares of this life; but having heard it and received it, incline us to keep it, and do thou cause it to bring forth fruit, an hundred-fold.

Grant that our lives may exhibit whose we are and whom we serve: remembering, that if we know our Lord's will and do it not, we shall justly have the severer punishment; we humbly beseech thee, strengthen our resolutions to live more decidedly to thee. We feel that we have now again to enter into the contest with our spiritual enemies; make us more than conquerors through him that loved us. We have again to exert ourselves to run the race set before us; teach us ever to look unto Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. O let us take the more earnest heed never to let slip the things which we have heard.

And we pray for all those who have this day assembled before thee, and heard the word of salvation. Grant unto them the same mercies which we ask for ourselves. Let thy ministers that water others be themselves abundantly watered in their own souls. Strengthen them for thy work, both in body and soul.

Remember in mercy those who by thy providence have been kept from thy house, and let them receive a special supply of thy grace. Grant that those who have wilfully or ignorantly deprived themselves of public worship may have their eyes opened to see, and their hearts awakened to feel, their guilt and their danger, and learn to flee from the wrath to come. O hasten the time when thy house shall be a house of prayer for all nations, and the whole world shall worship in thy courts.

Thanks be unto God for all the privileges of the past Sabbath. Blessed be thy name that we were permitted to hear thy word, to join thy people in prayer and praise, and to enjoy so plentifully the means of grace. Blessed be our God for any degree of communion with him, or desire after him. Blessed be God, if the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, or his holy word, be more understood or valued by us. Our cup runneth over with mercies.

O Lord, if, amid our infirmities, thy Sabbaths here below rejoice the heart; if to rest from earthly labours, and enjoy the privileges of thy house in this world, be delightful; how should we thank thee for the prospect of an eternal Sabbath, where thy servants shall serve thee without one wandering thought, without weariness, and without distraction! O grant, in mercy grant, that none of those who have this day met together in thy house, may be wanting in the number of those who shall dwell in that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

BRIEF PRAYER FOR A SUNDAY

SCHOOL.

GRACIOUS Saviour, who hast said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, regard with thy favour, every effort to bring up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Give, holy Lord, we beseech thee, wisdom and discretion, patience, kindness, and perseverance, to all who conduct schools. Bless those who endeavour to instruct the young. Do thou teach them, that they may teach others.

Heavenly Father, grant that the children of this school may receive with a humble, teachable, and ready mind, all the instructions given to them according to thy word. young, that, early seeking may early find him.

Give them thy grace while

Jesus their Saviour, they Let them remember their Teach them to

and to be kind

Creator in the days of their youth. honour their parents and superiors, and full of love towards each other. God grant that they may all be trained up in the way in which they should go, and when they are old never depart from it. May the knowledge of the Lord be universally diffused, till at length, all shall know thee from the least to the greatest, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BRIEF PRAYER FOR A BENEVOLENT

SOCIETY.

O THOU who art the Father of the fatherless, and the Judge of the widow, who has declared it to be pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, to visit the fatherless and the widow in their afflictions, bless all thy servants in any way engaged in supporting and carrying on this work of mercy and love. May those that have pity on the poor, find by happy experience, that they have lent unto the Lord, and that he pays them again what they have given.

Help us to remember what a responsible duty is committed to our charge, rightly to divide and apportion those alms which have been entrusted to us, among those in real necessity; and give us grace to act wisely and faithfully.

In all our visits to the poor and afflicted, do thou go with us. Enable us to speak with them and act towards them, both in fidelity and in tenderness. With whatever difficulties, disappointments, or reproaches, we may meet, let us never be weary of welldoing. Enable us, in all things, patiently to follow His example who went about doing good.

Bless us and all men, in every endeavour to reclaim the wicked, instruct the ignorant, comfort the mourner, and confirm the believer; and may true religion every where spread. O make us watchful and prayerful, that we may be ready for our Lord, when he comes to ask for an account of our stewardship. Hear us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.