loving father. We called upon thee in our sorrows, anxieties, and fears. Thou didst graciously answer our request, which we presented in the day of our fear, our suspense, and our anguish. Most merciful God, accept of my thanksgivings, and praise, for the fulfilment of thy blessed and encouraging promises: "The Lord will not cast off for ever. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies." Lord, I thank thee, that my dearly beloved mother has experienced in the time of her afflictions, the truth of those blessed words: "The Lord is good; he is a stronghold in the time of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him." Blessed Jesus, may my dear mother love thee more. More than ever may she place all her faith and confidence in thee. For many years may her life be preserved, for a blessing to my beloved father, and to all our family. And may all of us at last meet in the heaven of heavens, where pain, and sorrow, and death, are for ever unknown. Lord, hear my feeble but earnest prayers, and graciously accept the sacrifice of my thanksgiving, for the sake of my merciful Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

LOF

IX. AFTER A FATHER'S RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS.

ORD God of hosts, and God of salvation, thou art the hearer of prayer; and thou hast most mercifully answered prayer in behalf of my beloved father. In thy wise and sovereign providence, thou didst lay upon him the heavy burden of bodily affliction; and I thank and praise thy name that thou hast removed the heavy load of his sufferings. Thou didst place him in the furnace of affliction ; praise to thy great and merciful name, thou hast brought him out of the furnace. And now I earnestly and affectionately pray that, by thy good Spirit, thou wouldst mercifully purify my dear parent as silver is purified, and purge him as gold is purged, that he may offer unto thee an offering of righteousness. As a family we were plunged into the depths of sorrow by the sufferings which our beloved father endured, and which threatened his life: praise to thy name that thou hast heard the voice of our supplication: that thou hast brought us

out of the depths; that thou hast dispelled the dark cloud of sorrow and of fear; and that we are now enlightened and cheered by thy gracious, providential smiles.

I thank thee, O Lord, that thou didst support my father in the day of affliction, and that he was enabled to place all his hope and confidence in thee as the God of his salvation. Oh enable him to sing, "My God hath mercifully restored my soul, and preserved my life. He is now leading me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake."

Lord, preserve my father in life for many years to be a comfort to my dear mother, a blessing to his family, and an ornament to the gospel. And when the purposes of thy providence are finished with us on earth, may we join thy redeemed family in heaven, to glorify and enjoy thee, the Lord our God, for ever and ever. Mercifully hear, and answer, and forgive, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

X. AFTER THE RECOVERY OF A SISTER FROM SICKNESS.

HOLY

OLY and Divine Spirit, graciously pour out upon me the spirit of grace and supplication, while I approach thy mercy-seat, to thank the God of my salvation in behalf of my beloved sister. Thou, in thy great goodness, hast raised her up from the bed of affliction. Thou hast turned our tears of sorrow into tears of joy. I thank thee, O my God, that thou hast heard, accepted, and answered my prayers, the prayers of my dear parents, and the prayers of all our family, in sparing the life of our dearly beloved sister. Thou hast graciously fulfilled in her experience the words of inspiration: "For he hath not despised the affliction of the afflicted, neither hath he hid his face from her; but when she cried to him, he heard." Oh enable my dear sister to say with joy and thankfulness of heart, "O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be continually in my mouth. I will render praise unto thee, for thou hast delivered my soul from death."

May the late affliction of my beloved sister be greatly blessed to her own soul. Teach her with unfeigned sincerity of heart to say, “It is

good for me that I have been afflicted." May the words of the Psalmist express the feelings of her heart: "The sorrows of death compassed me. Then called I upon the name of the Lord. I was brought low, and he helped me. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living."

By means of this affliction may Jesus be more precious than ever in. her estimation; may her love to him be more ardent, may her faith in him be more vigorous, and may her zeal for his glory be more animating and powerful. Fulfil, in my dear sister's experience, that promise, "With long life will I satisfy her, and I will show her my salvation." God of my salvation, mercifully accept my thanksgivings, and hear my supplications, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

XI.

AFTER THE RECOVERY OF A BROTHER FROM SICKNESS.

"Justice

MOST merciful God and Father in Christ, thou art wise, sovereign, and just in all the afflictive events of thy providence. and judgment are the habitation of thy throne." What infinite reason have thy people to shout aloud for joy, "that mercy and truth go before thy face!" Lord, I desire now, by the help of thy Spirit, to adore thy sovereignty, justice, and wisdom, in laying my beloved brother on the bed of affliction. And now, with thankfulness of heart, I desire to praise thy gracious name for sparing my dear brother's life, for raising him from the bed of suffering, and for restoring him to wonted health and strength. When brought low by thine afflicting hand, he was ready to say in the language of King Hezekiah, "I shall go to the gates of the grave; I am deprived of the residue of my years. I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living: I shall see man no more with the inhabitants of the world." Glory to thy great name, that thou hast listened to the voice of earnest supplication, that thou didst lend a gracious ear to my parents' prayers, and to my own feeble but earnest supplications. Praise to thy gracious name that thou hast answered the prayers of my beloved brother, which he presented while stretched upon the bed of languishing. Thou, in thy great goodness, hast given him reason to say, in the language of the sweet singer of Israel, "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O

Lord. I waited for the Lord, and in his word have I hoped. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto my God: many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

May his affliction, and his recovery from affliction, be greatly sanctified and blessed. May his heart be filled with love and thankfulness to Jesus, who heard him when he cried out of the depth of suffering and sorrow. May the language of his soul be, "Blessed Saviour, what wilt thou have me to do? Let my days be employed in thy service, and let my soul, and all that I am and have, be devoted to thy glory."

Graciously hear my prayer, O God of my salvation, accept my thanksgivings, and forgive my sins, for Jesus', my dear Redeemer's sake. Amen.

MY

XII. ON LEAVING HOME AND GOING TO SCHOOL.

Y Lord and my God, I adore thee as the God of providence and of grace. I thank thee for watching over me with more than paternal kindness when a feeble helpless babe in the arms of my beloved mother. I thank thee that thou didst not allow death to remove me from time to eternity in the period of my tender age. Diseases which have cut down, like flowers, myriads of babes and children, thou didst not suffer to take my infant life away and shorten my days. Lord, make me thankful for this mercy. In thy great goodness thou hast spared me until I have been able to understand language, to converse with loving parents, and enjoy the sweet fellowship of those I love. Thanks to my heavenly Father and merciful Redeemer, that thou hast brought me to the years of discretion, and that I am able in some humble degree to read the Word of God, and Testament of Jesus.

As I am about to leave for a season my home and my father's house, to enjoy the care and tuition of an earthly instructor in connection with other children of my own tender age, may I enjoy thy gracious care, thy divine guidance, and thy rich blessing. Give me, in a great degree, the love

of useful knowledge. Especially fill my soul with a strong thirsting after that knowledge which is divine. May my mind be filled and enlightened with that knowledge which, by thy good Spirit, shall fit me to serve and glorify thee on earth, and prepare me for enjoying thee for ever in heaven. While I attend school, make me apt to learn. May my memory be strengthened to receive and retain knowledge; but, above all, may my mind be enlightened with the knowledge of God, the knowledge of salvation through Christ, and the knowledge of those things which belong to my everlasting peace. Lord, give me grace to admire true wisdom; may I resemble Solomon in loving wisdom more than treasures of silver and gold. Teach me to rule my temper, and to present before all around me an example of humility, and gentleness, and love. During my continuance at school, may I not only be the teachable scholar of human teachers, but may I, by thy grace, show myself a loving and faithful scholar of Jesus Christ. When I return home, may my parents enjoy the pleasing satisfaction that, by the blessing of thy Spirit, I have made progress in knowledge and understanding. Gracious Father, during my continuance at school, teach me to show an example of Christian graces and holy actions; and may my teachers be assisted by thy help in leading those young immortals committed to their care in "wisdom's ways, which are ways of pleasantness, and in all her paths, which are peace." O God of my salvation, mercifully hear my prayers, and forgive my sins, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

XIII. ON LEAVING SCHOOL AND ENGAGING IN SOME TEMPORAL EMPLOYMENT.

MOST

OST merciful God and Father, whose presence I approach in Jesus' name, I adore thee as the God of Providence and of grace. I adore thee in thy power, by which thou hast held me up and protected me all my days. Amid the inexperience, and the rashness, and the dangers of youth, thou hast defended me with the wings of thy gracious power: and to the close of life may I be "kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation." Make me strong in the