Thou readest the heart. Thou viewest actions in their principles and motives. Thou seest more defilement in our duties, than we ever saw in any of our sins, in thy sight the heavens are not clean; and Thou chargest thine angels with folly. And if we hate ourselves, and are ready to flee from ourselves, because of our abominations, how wonderful is it that Thou dost not abhor us, and swear in thy wrath, that we shall not enter into thy rest.

But be astonished, O heavens, and wonder, O earth! instead of such a deserved exclusion, Thou hast even devised means, that they who are banished be not finally expelled from Thee; means the most astonishing and glorious, and which the angels desire to look into. For Thou hast so loved the world, as to give thine only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. In Him mercy and truth meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other; and thy honour is not only secured, but prominently displayed, even in our escape from thine own threatenings. In Him the enslaved can find redemption; the guilty pardon; the unholy renovation. In Him is everlasting strength for the weak, and unsearchable riches for the needy; in Him we find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge for the ignorant-in Him all fulness dwells.

We bless Thee for the provision, which thy infinite goodness has made for our everlasting welfare; and for the gospel of our salvation, which makes it known; and which not only reveals it to our view, but proposes it to our hope, and presses it upon our acceptance.

O Lord, at thy gracious call, we hear; we look; we come; we apply; we receive. We not only submit to the scheme of mercy, but we acquiesce in it: we glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atone

ment. We bless Thee, that in this grace we stand: Thou hast rendered the blessings as secure as they are glorious; and we are persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yea, for ever blessed be thy name, Thou hast not only provided for our safety, but our prosperity. Thou hast not only promised that the righteous shall hold on their way, but wax stronger and stronger. Thou dost not despise the day of small things; but Thou givest more grace; and hast commanded us to ask and receive, that our joy may be full.

And now, O Lord, what shall we render for all thy benefits towards us? We can never discharge the obligations we are under-but we pray that we may be sensible of them; and though we can make no adequate returns, may we make suitable ones and ever ask from the heart, as well as with the lip, Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?

And may we show forth thy praise. May we speak well of thy name. May we be concerned to bring others to love and serve Thee; and to share with us, in all the good which Thou hast spoken concerning Israel.

O, let our children be thy children; our friends thy friends; our servants thy servants.

May our neighbours, and our enemies too, be visited with thy salvation.

Dwell in our families. Let thy goings be seen in our sanctuaries. Let the people praise Thee, O God, yea let all the people praise Thee. Let the whole earth be filled with thy glory.

Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts, ye ministers of His that do His plea

sure. Bless the Lord all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul Amen and Amen.

FRIDAY EVENING.

AGAIN, O Lord of all, we desire to bow in thy presence. May we approach Thee with all the encouragements that can be derived from thy character, as the God of love. We are not left to feel after Thee in the darkness of nature; or to worship Thee as the unknown God. We cannot find Thee out unto perfection; but we know that Thou art good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.

For Thou hast given us thy word, which Thou hast magnified above all thy name: and Thou hast favoured us with the gospel, so that on us who were sitting in darkness, and the shadow of death, has risen a great light, the light of life.

But we acknowledge, how ungratefully we have received the benefit, and how little we have improved our privileges, to the purposes for which they have been given. We have made light of these things, though angels desire to look into them; we have neglected the great salvation: we have turned away from Him that speaketh from heaven. And all that Thou hast kindly employed, to enforce the messages of thy word, we have disregarded for we have contemned the examples of the good, the admonitions of friendship, the reproaches of conscience, the rebukes of thy providence, and the strivings of thy Holy Spirit; and well do we deserve, that the kingdom of God should be taken away from us. O, let us not confess our sins without feeling and lamenting them; but with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, with self-abhorrence, self-condemnation, and self-despair.

And under a deep impression of 'our guilt, may we seek, alone, from Him who is the hope and the consolation of Israel. Viewing Him as dying for the ungodly, may we believe in His name May we know that He bore our sins in His body on the tree, and that by His stripes we are healed. And may we find in Him, not only righteousness but strength. May He impart to us, not only forgiveness of sins, but repentance unto life. May we never separate in our regards what He has joined together in the Scriptures; or suppose that we are justified by His blood, unless we are sanctified by His Spirit.

We believe we can never be happy in sin, and we do not desire it: Lord, deliver us from it, and lead us in the way everlasting. Make us holy like thyself, that we may be made happy in thyself. We are naturally disqualified for all communion with a holy God; work in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure; produce in us those principles and dispositions, which will attach us to thyself as our exceeding joy; and enable us to say, whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

Under all our ignorance, weakness, fears, and depressions, may thy Spirit help our infirmities, with supplies of wisdom, strength, and comfort.

May we faithfully study our character, and be always willing to come to the light, that if evil. our deeds may be reproved. May we peculiarly observe ourselves, under the operation of those events which are designed to try us; that we may judge of the reality and degree of our grace. May we often review life, and see how we have at any time been ensnared, or overcome, that we may, in future, become more wise and circumspect. And while we watch, may we also pray, lest we enter into temptation. May we never trust in our own hearts, or depend upon any past experience, or present resolution; but be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Hitherto our
And though

Thus far Thou hast helped us. enemies have not triumphed over us. we have seen many decline from their profession we hope, if Thou wert to ask, Will ye also go away We should be able to say, with more conviction and affection than ever, Lord, to whom should we go but unto Thee, Thou hast the words of eternal life. Thou hast been with us in trouble; and many a shadow of death hast Thou turned into the morning. We can now discern thy wisdom and kindness, in dispensations, which once perplexed and dismayed us: and what we know not now, we shall know hereafter.

Never leave us nor forsake us; but support and lead us through all these dark and sorrowful regions and enable us with confidence to hail the hour, when our sun shall no more go down, nor our moon withdraw herself; for God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.

We implore it through the intercession of Him who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

SATURDAY MORNING

Let not the Lord be angry, while we, who are but dust and ashes, take upon us to speak unto the living God. Pardon our unworthiness; help our infirmities; and hearken unto the voice of our cry, our King and our God, for unto Thee will we pray.

Thou art good to all; and we have largely shared with thy creatures, the bounties of thy providence but O, remember us with the favour Thou bearest unto thy people. We bless Thee for characterizing them; and we bless Thee that Thou hast placed the distinction in no high and