ed, and its interests be more resolutely pursued, bŷ the professed subjects of it.

May thy will, which is always wise and always gracious, be done, as in heaven so likewise upon earth; and may we mortals be taught to regard it with a resignation, acquiescence, and obedience, resembling that of the heavenly spirits.

As for ourselves, O Lord, we would not seek the great things of this life; we would not be anxious about its distant futurities; but humbly intreat thou wouldst open that bountiful hand on which we continually depend, and wouldst give us this day our daily bread: providing a competent supply for our present necessities, and teaching us to refer the rest to thy continual paternal care.

And though we have in many respects been disobedient children, yet we beseech thee, O most compassionate Father, to forgive us our offences, whereby we stand chargeable, as it were, in thy book, with debts which we can never clear: Yet do thou freely forgive them all, as we also desire to forgive our debtors: yea such pardon may we receive from thee our God as we are willing to impart to them.

And do not bring us into circumstances of pressing temptation, lest our virtue should be vanquished, and our souls endangered by them: but if we must be thus tried, do thou graciously deliver us from the power of the evil one, that he may not triumph in our sin and ruin. These things we know that thou canst do for thy children, and we are humbly bold to hope thou wilt do them for us.

For thine is the kingdom of universal nature, and the fulness of almighty power, and the glory of infinite perfection; and to thee be the praise of all ascribed for ever. Amen.

And now may the peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all now and for ever. Amen.

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OCCASIONAL PRAYERS.

To be introduced in any of the preceding forms, upon the occur. rences to which they are adapted.-N. B. It may be proper for the person who reads the prayers previously to mark the places where any of these occasional petitions may most conveniently be introduced.

On the Birth of a Child.

WE bless thee, Father of mercies, for the late instance of thy goodness vouchsafed to this family. Adored be thy name, that in the time of danger and difficulty thou wast pleased to display thy saving power and mercy. We thank thee that thine handmaid is the living mother of a living and perfect child. Write a law of love and gratitude on our hearts for this fresh instance of thy providential care, and grant that the life which thou hast given, and the life which thou hast preserved, may be devoted unto thee, and be precious in thy sight.

Be pleased to perfect the mercy which thou hast begun, and speedily restore thine handmaid to health and strength; and grant that every additional mercy may be considered and improved by us as an ad

ditional obligation to love and serve thee. May we and ours be the Lord's.

Here may properly be added any of the following petitions (which may also be used on other occasions.)

For the Children of the Family.

O LORD our God, the God of the spirits of all flesh; all souls are thine: the souls of the parents, and the souls of the children are thine.

It is thy good providence which hath built us up into a family. We thank thee for the children which thou hast graciously given thy servants. We pray that thou who hast blessed us with them, wilt make them blessings to us.

We lament the corrupt nature which they derive from us. But we bless thee that there is a fountain opened for their cleansing, and that they were betimes dedicated to thee. Lord take them as members of thy family. They are thine; save them, and let them be owned as thine in that day when thou makest up thy Jewels.

Give them good capacities, and good dispositions of mind. Make them tractable, and willing to receive instruction. Incline them betimes to religion and virtue. Lord give them wisdom and under

standing, and drive out the foolishness that is bound in their hearts.

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Save them from the vanity to which childhood and youth are subject. Fit them to live comfortably and usefully in the world. We ask not great things for them on earth. Give them, if it please thee, an healthful constitution of body; preserve them from evil accidents; and feed them with food convenient for them. But above all, we pray, that thou wilt pour out thy Spirit upon our seed, and thy blessing upon our offspring; that they may be a seed to serve thee, which shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. O give them that good part

which shall never be taken from them.

Give us wisdom and grace to bring up our children in thy fear, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; with meekness and tenderness ; and having them in subjection with gravity. Teach us, that we may teach them the things of God, as they are able to bear them. Dispose us to reprove, and admonish, and when there is need, to correct them, in a proper manner. Help us to set them good examples of every thing that is virtuous and praiseworthy. Enable us so to train them up in the way they should go, that if they live to be old they may never depart from it.

Keep them from the snare of evil company and all the temptations of youth. Make them sensible how much it is their interest as well as duty to be religious betimes. And Lord grant, that none of them may be found at the left hand of Christ at the last day.