were not ashamed. In Thee they boasted all the day long. They stood against an ungodly nation. They obeyed Thee rather than man. They prayed, endured, and bled, for us. They laboured, and we are entered into their labours. The devotion of their hearths was often violated, and the Holy Volume torn from them. But under Thee, we have received at the cost of their labours and sacrifices, every holy privilege and right. And now beneath the shade of our domestic altar we meet as a family, reading Thy word, performing Thy worship, no man forbidding us, no interruption disturbing us, no apprehension scaring us,-serving Thee without fear, and praising Thee without molestation! The marauder rends not down our peaceful vine and figtree, nor hunts for our life! The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, we have a goodly heritage ! Not unmindful of the happy difference between us and our persecuted fathers,-not, we trust, ungrateful for it, we would remember, O God! how they disclaimed all self-righteousness, how they leaned altogether on the infinite merit of Immanuel in his obedience unto the death of the cross, how they sought only to be saved by grace. In like manner may we from our place of peace, as they did from their place of desolation, look to the Atonement with a penitent, believing, steadfast eye; and in its virtue find not only each saving effect, but an antidote to the danger of our calm, as they did a stronghold from their tempest ! Lord! Thou dost allot to the generations of Thy children varied duties, and we would search into our own. May we have understanding of the times to know what we ought to do. Especially keep us from a lifeless formality in religion, from superficial attainment, from careless walking, from frigid indifference. Let us not be at ease in Zion. Let us not wear our profession loosely. In these more auspicious days may we watch and be sober, may we endure hardness, may we keep under and bring into subjection the body, may we deny ourselves, -the more that there is now the contrary temptation and another too common course. We thank Thee if Thou hast showed to us where is our help. We will love Thee, O Lord our strength. Send us effectual succour. Let the exceeding greatness of Thy power actuate us. Then shall our difficulties melt away. They who hate us shall flee before us, A bow of steel shall be broken in our hand! May we cultivate domestic religion, and keep piety at home. May no happy recurrence, no blessed variety, of public ordinances, divert our attention from our own vineyard. May parents consider their responsibility, and their children become their own genuine children in the faith. May servants improve their advantages, and give themselves up to Thee while Thou art near. Let our strife be who shall set the most holy example, and who shall display the most unfailing kindness. May we all move in the element of love. Let us walk in wisdom to them who are without. May a holy leaven effuse from this household among all who are united to us. May they be won without the word. May they say, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you! Inspire us with a more enlarged and public zeal. Let no sectarian and party bonds debar us from the universal fellowship of Thy Church. Let us hate divisions and the causes of them. May our love abound more and more. Wherever Thine image shines, may it attract us, and excite our esteem. Let us be lovers of good men. Nor permit us to limit our regards only as they follow with us. May our sympathy be with the whole Body holding the Head. Let the envy of Ephraim depart, and the adversaries of Judah be cut off: let not Ephraim envy Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim. We would think upon our efforts to spread the Gospel, among the Heathen and other unenlightened nations, with shame. We have not wrought any deliverance in the earth, neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. Let us not be the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. Let us not be the cold-hearted, cursed because they come not to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Save us from blood-guiltiness, O God of our salvation. Let us ponder well the claims of mankind, and how we are debtors to the Greek and to the Barbarian, to the wise and to the unwise. Yet would we thank Thee for success the most unexpected as undeserved. We can declare Thy doings among the people: we can make mention that Thy Name is exalted. Thou, O Lord! hast done excellent things, this is known in all the earth. We record with thankfulness the mercies which have crowned the past day. Our supplications ascend to Thee for protection and tranquillity through this night. Let no harm befall, and no terror disturb, us. With renovated powers of being may we welcome the dawn, take again our place and perform our part in life, spending our every day as though it were our last. Hear us in our thanksgivings and petitions for the sake of Thine Anointed, the Holy One of God! The Great High Priest, who offered up Himself! The Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous! And to the Blessed Trinity we offer ascriptions and songs of everlasting praise! Amen. "The grace of our Lord," &c. FRIDAY MORNING. ALLWISE, Almighty, All merciful Creator! Lord of heaven and earth, The Former of all things! Who hast lavished such kindness upon us the highest creatures of this world, giving breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them who walk therein! What sources of enjoyment hast Thou opened for us! How hast Thou contrived our every sense for delight! How do a thousand, and a thousand, objects rise ministering to us gratification! What sweet sounds does Nature utter! How fair and majestic the scenes which the material universe presents! We look upon the rainbow, and praise Him that made it; very beautiful it is in the brightness thereof: it compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the Most High have bended it. We adore Thee for the happiness Thou dost connect with certain states of the mind; with the performances of individual and social duty with love, benevolence, order, and uni : |