In seventy forms of the same kind, it was not easy to maintain so much diversity as some would wish. Family devotion in itself, admits of less variety, than either private or public worship But though similarity will be sometimes found, sameness, he believes, with a few very trifling exceptions, has been avoided. This does not extend however to the repetition of the same Scripture

sentences.

The author has felt what a difference there is between offering, and writing a prayer: but he endeavoured, as much as possible, when he retired to compose, to place himself by thought, in the situation of performance; and followed the same mode in writing, which he has always found the best, in praying, to exclude formality, and to gain variety, viz. to yield to the present feeling of the mind, whether it leads to indulge principally in confession, or in thanksgiving, petition, or intercession.

Some things must be always expressed; others can be admitted only occasionally. Yet these should not be forgotten. Cases of affliction; the state of public affairs; the nation; the cause of God in the world; these and other things, though not particularized in every exercise, must be noticed so frequently, as to keep the mind alive to them.

With regard to the prayers for particular occasions such as pertain to days of mourning, fasting or thanksgiving; and those which respect the beginning and end of the year, will draw forth no objection. But as to those which regard religious festivals, some will probably condemn the author on the ground of consistency. On that ground he is willing to be tried. Consistency refers to professed principles; and he avows principles, which raise him above any particular body of christians, while yet he deems it his honour to belong to one of them in preference to all others.

But his attachment to his regiment, does not make him an enemy to the army of which it is a

part. Let every one of us, says the Apostle, please his neighbour, for his good to edification. Why should not the author wish to be serviceable to members of other communions, as well as to those of his own?

Dr. Watts, though a firm Pedobaptist, has yet composed and inserted in his excellent book, several hymns, adapted to the convictions of those, who practise adult baptism, by immersion only.

And the late Mr. Newton, though an Episcopalian, made no scruple, when desired, to draw up a plan for a dissenting academy.

Let us stand in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth, for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day to the Lord, he doth not regard it. Here every thing non-essential is left, where it ought to be left, to individual conviction and candour.

Upon these principles, the author thinks, a dissenter, without superstition, may use these forms, on these very days: especially as he is under no compulsion, and he has nothing to do with the day, but as a season of leisure, and as reminding him of some important truth.

A christian, although he disregards the seasons, must love the subjects connected with them : and at some time or other, he may wish more expressly to notice them; and this he can do, by means of these forms, with the omission of a few words.

It is comparatively easy to be long and diffuse, but to be select, and yet full, brief, and yet comprehensive-this is the trial.

The author could have composed a single prayer, far superior to any of these; but the difficulty lay in the number; and the work must be judged of as a whole.

It is hardly necessary to observe, that with a slight alteration, and the substitution of the singular number for the plural, most of these prayers will serve for the closet, as well as the family.

FAMILY PRAYERS

First Week.

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SUNDAY MORNING.

O COME let us worship and fall down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

all

Yes, O Lord, we are thine; and Thee we are bound to serve. We grieve to think, how many of our fellow creatures live without Thee in the world; and confess with shame, that other lords have had dominion over us: but henceforth, by Thee only, will we make mention of thy name. We hope Thou hast subdued the insensibility and indifference towards Thyself, so awfully natural to us; and awakened in us the inquiry, "Where is God my Maker that giveth songs in the night?" We hope we are disposed to acknowledge Thee our ways; but we feel our need of the exercises of devotion. We trust we hold communion with Thee every day; but we find week days, to be worldly days; and our allowed intercourse with ecular concerns, tends to reduce our heavenly impressions, and to make us forgetful of our work, and our rest. We therefore bless Thee for the return of a day, sacred to our souls and eternity; a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; in which, by waiting upon Thee, our hearts are enlarged, and our strength is renewed; so that we can mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.

This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. O let our minds be withdrawn from the world, as well as our bodies. Let our retirement be devout. Let our meditation be sweet. Let our conversation be edifying. Let our reading be pious. Let our hearing be profitable; and on Thee may we wait all the day.

Afford us the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ. None can need thy succours more than we. Thou knowest our infirmities: let thy strength be made perfect in our weakness. Our duties are far above our own power: let thy grace be sufficient for us. Our dangers are numberless, and we are utterly unable to keep ourselves from falling; hold Thou us up, and we shall be safe. The burdens we feel would press our lives down to the ground; lay underneath us thine everlasting arms. Fears alarm us; cares corrode us; losses impoverish us; our very affections are the sources of our afflictions-surely man walketh in a vain show-surely we are disquieted in vain; all, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. While in the world we have tribulation; in Thee may we have peace and in the multitude of our thoughts within us, may thy comforts delight our souls.

Yet, O Lord, we would remember, that gratitude becomes us much more than complaint. Our afflictions have been light, compared with our guilt; and few, compared with the sufferings of others. They have all been attended with numberless alleviations: they have all been needful: all founded in a regard to our welfare: all designed to work together for our good. We bless Thee for what is past, and trust Thee for what is to come: and cast all our care upon Thee, knowing that Thou carest for us.

Thou hast commanded us to pray for all men, that we may be bound by our very devotions, as we have opportunity to do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of