to look up to thee, and to call ourselves thy children. If thou shalt grant us more time and opportunity for improvement, we pray that we may be enabled to make the best use of it, and may be ever growing in knowledge and virtue as we increase in years.

Great Father of mankind, may the same blessings which have made us a happy family be extended to all the families of men. Inspire us with the most earnest desire to be useful in every relation we sustain. May the spirit of Jesus, who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, be in our hearts. In the footsteps of our divine Saviour may we delight to walk. Let our love to him ever prompt us to love all those whom God has placed within the reach of our kind offices. Willingly and joyfully may we render to them any service, counting none too lowly if it may contribute to the comfort of those with whom our lot is cast. Make us more prompt to show courtesy, affection, a yielding of our preferences, and a study of others' wishes, in our daily intercourse; so that our lives, if marked by the stewardship of no great trusts, may be filled full of useful and pleasing service, in the humble occurrences of every hour. Dispose us to pity and commiseration, to forbearance and forgiveness. Open our hearts wide to the claims of all our fellow-creatures upon our aid and care, our good-will and affection, and may our influence and example be a blessing throughout the sphere in which they may be felt. Knowing the duty and the precious

worth of these things, may we inherit the benediction, Happy are ye if ye do them.

us.

And now, O Father, may thy peace descend upon

May thy merciful protection be over us; may we sleep undisturbed by any evil, under thy watchful eye; and when we awake may we rejoice that we are still with thee. Amen.

XXXVIII.

Cheerfulness in our Lot.

Two things have I required of thee; deny them not to me before I die :

Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me;

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

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As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

FATHER of all Mercies, we thy children, sheltering ourselves under thy watchful eye and protecting care, would offer to thee our evening tribute of praise. Accept our thanks for the past day; for all it has brought of thy bounty; for all it has offered of thy grace; for all it has witnessed of kindly offices and sweet affections; for all which will live in our memories of its opportunities well improved, and its duties faithfully done.

Before closing our eyes in sleep, we would seek thy forgiveness of our sins, and implore of thee those spiritual graces which we feel that we need. May we bow before thee in the spirit of a cheerful acquiescence in the lot which thy providence hath assigned to us. Save us, O God, from ever being anxious, distrustful, or repining. Believing that thou art the ruler over the whole earth, and that all things are ordered by thine unerring wisdom, may we learn in whatsoever state we are therewith to be content. Thou knowest

what is truly best for us; we would have no will but thine. If the lines fall to us in pleasant places, to thee be the praise. If sickness and sorrow overtake us, thou art our portion, and in thee will we put our trust. Fully assured, O Lord, of thy watchful providence, we would be cheerfully satisfied with our lot, and look on every untoward event of life with patience

and serenity, assured that thou canst bring good out of seeming evil.

To thee, the Rock of our salvation, we will fly in every extremity of ill; for thou wilt never leave or forsake the children of thy care. As all things come of thee, may our conversation be without covetousness. Put far from us all envious dispositions, and murmuring thoughts. Thankful for past mercies, we would indulge no unseemly anxiety for the morrow, knowing that futurity is in thy hands. With present health and comfort, we would cast all other cares upon thee, who carest for us.

Grant, O God, that thy peace, which passeth all understanding, may continually possess our souls. May no corrupt and selfish desires interrupt the devout cheerfulness of our spirits. Let not sin have dominion over us, to lead us astray from the paths of godliness and contentment. Daily laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven, may we enjoy here that pure satisfaction which follows the diligent practice of righteousness, and be prepared to enter hereafter into life eternal. We implore these blessings of thy mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord, while for this night, and for our future lives, we commit ourselves to thy guardian care. Amen.

XXXIX.

Domestic Unity.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments;

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.

Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord, that made heaven and earth, bless thee out of Zion.

O GOD, the light of every heart that sees thee, the life of every soul that loves thee, we, thy children, pray that thou wouldst lighten our darkness, sustain our faintings, save us from the death of sin, and grant us life eternal. Enter, we beseech thee, into our hearts, speak peace unto this house, abide with us always, and command thy blessing to descend upon us as the dew upon the mountains of Zion.

Keep us continually, O God, in thy fear. May we be followers of that which is good, and disciples of thy Son Jesus Christ, obeying his precepts, and imitating his example. Let our bodies be in constant subjection to our souls, our senses to our reason, and our reason to thy divine and gracious instruction; that