Let thy presence, most blessed God, accompany them all through life. Though new situations should produce new and greater temptations, yet all will be well, if Thou art with them. O guide them in all the steps which they take in matters relating to this life; and suffer them to enter into no connections which may be injurious to them, either in temporal or spiritual things. In all their ways may they acknowledge thee; and thou wilt direct their paths.

We do not ask great things for them. We only pray, that in that way which seemeth good unto thee, they may have the honour of being useful to others. Should any of them prosper in temporal things, let them rejoice in their success, principally, on account of its putting more power into their hands to do good.

And whether they be high or low in the world, let the interests of thy church be ever dear to them; and, may they count it an honour to do any thing, by which those interests may be promoted. O Lord, suffer hem not to leave the place which thou hast

allotted to them, but in that place and station may they live to thy glory, and seek the good of their fellow-creatures. And if they have it not in their power to do any thing more toward those ends, than to hand down the knowledge of thy gospel to posterity, by instructing their own children; may they see that this is a great and good work, and attend to it with diligence and delight. And be pleased, O Lord, to give success to their endeavours; that they may have the honour of contributing to preserve a godly seed in the earth.

We do not ask, that our children may be exempted from all trial; for we know not but it may be good for them to taste the cup of affliction but we request, that if they are tried, they may be led to that Saviour for relief, who sympathizes with us in all our distresses; and by whose grace, their afflictions shall bring forth in them the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

O Lord, whatever be their situation in the world, grant that they may walk as strangers and pilgrims on earth. Never may they be

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ashamed of Christ or his words. May love to God, faith in Jesus Christ, and thankful remembrance of what he did for men, increase in them every day. As they approach the end of their course, may they feel in their hearts an increasing longing to be with their Saviour, that they may behold his glory. And when the hour of separation cometh, do thou be with them; that they may make an honourable and comfortable end *.

O let there be a generation to serve thee; and may all of this house be of that number, and walk this day as those who are of thy family. All which we ask in the name of thy dear Son our Lord; who taught us thus to pray,

Our Father, &c.

*The following addition, for children who are going from home to be educated, may be introduced here.

We commend our dear children, who are going to school to-day, to thy gracious care, O Lord. We intreat thee to preserve both their bodies and their minds from evil.

And

may they be fitted, under the instructors to whose care they

are committed, to live a life that shall be useful to others, and comfortable to themselves.

SATURDAY EVENING.

Thanksgiving for Health.

BLESSED be the Lord God, who forgiveth our iniquities, who healeth all our diseases, and crowneth us with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Hitherto, O thou gracious preserver of men, thou hast helped us. We would look back on the past week with thankfulness; and end it with speaking good of thy name.

We are not only wonderfully made, but wonderfully preserved. The health of our bodies calls for great thankfulness; and to whom shall we offer it, but to Him, in whom we live, and move, and have our being? And O that we may make a good use of our health. Let all our capacities be employed as instruments of righteousness; that while we live, we may live unto the Lord.

Grant, O GOD, that such of this family as have passed the week in good health, may make this their earnest prayer. And to those whose health hath been interrupted, and those who feel themselves liable to sickness, give thy heavenly grace; that what they feel or fear, may have a good effect on their souls.

Teach us, when we feel our infirmities, to receive instruction from them. May we be reminded by them, that there is an appointed time to man upon earth, and that his days are the days of an hireling. O may they lead us to enquire, whether we are about the business to which the master hath appointed us; and may they stir us up to do whatsoever our hand findeth to do, with all our might.

O Lord, man dieth and wasteth away; yea man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? Thy Word, O God, hath revealed to us where the godly man will be found: Them that sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him, and they shall ever be with the Lord. Doth there remain then a rest for thy people? O let every thing which maketh us feel how frail.

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