A MORNING PRAYER. 525 circumstances and trials; and enable them to adorn thy gospel, and rejoice in thy salvation: and bless their children also, that they may serve thee in their days, and transmit thy truth to future generations. O vouchsafe thy special grace to all our dear relatives and friends, whatever else thou mayest see good to withhold from them. Bestow thy blessing on all those, whom thou hast placed in authority over us; and honour them as thy instruments, in promoting the best interests of these nations. O thou God of peace, be pleased to terminate the ravages of war, and extend thy compassionate regard to all, who in this or any other way, are exposed to those complicated miseries, from which we are mercifully exempted. Enable us now, we beseech thee, to enter on our several employments, in submission and obedience to thy will, and dependence on thy grace. May we be preserved from the snares of the world, and defended against the assaults of Satan: may we watch over our hearts, govern our passions, and bridle our tongues, as under the inspection of thine all-seeing eye; and be helped in all things to glorify thy name; through Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, and our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. Another Evening Prayer for a Family. THOU most glorious God, with whom a thousand years are as one day, and who dwellest in light inaccessible to mortal men: the return of night reminds us how short our time is; and how soon we must finally close our eyes on all things here below, to open them in the eternal world. Our days glide away almost unperceived: O leave us not to neglect the important work of life, through attention to the trifles with which we are surrounded! We feel all things here on earth to be vanity and vexation: our pains are many and increasing; our pleasures few and wasting. Surely "man walketh in a vain shew! he disquieteth himself in vain! He heapeth up riches, and cannot tell "who shall gather them!" "For we are consumed "by thine anger, and by thy wrath we are troubled: "thou hast set our iniquities before thee, and our se"cret sins in the light of thy countenance." Teach us therefore, O merciful God, so to meditate on the shortness, uncertainty, and vanity of things temporal : and on the reality, nearness, and importance of things eternal; that we may indeed be strangers and pilgrims on earth, and seek an heavenly inheritance, with our warmest affections and most persevering diligence. Make thou the thoughts of death and judgment so familiar to us, and yet so impressive on our hearts; that they may put vigour into our prayers; excite us AN EVENING PRAYER. 527 to earnestness in all the means of grace; make us decided in renouncing every idol and iniquity; and influence us so to act in all things, as may afford us comfort upon the bed of death. Enable us, O Lord, to mark thy hand, and submit to thy righteousness, in all the troubles of life, and in all the painful consequences of our sins. Give us such a knowledge of thy holy law, and of its spiritual and reasonable demands; that we may become fully sensible of our exceeding sinfulness, and deeply humbled before thee in unfeigned repentance. May we never attempt to cover our transgressions, or to justify our conduct in thy sight; but so judge ourselves, that we may not be condemned at thy awful tribunal. Help us, O gracious Lord, to believe thy gospel with living faith; and continually to come unto thee, as the fountain of life and felicity, through the righteousness and redemption of our great High Priest, who ever liveth to make intercession for us. And give us, we intreat thee, that confidence in thy pardoning mercy, and that love, gratitude, and zeal, which may prompt us to unreserved obedience, and make us stedfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in thy work. But, O thou heart-searching God, the imperfections and defilements of our best days and services are all open to thy view! Were the rest of our past lives buried in eternal oblivion, and an account of this day alone required from us : our vain thoughts, idle words, wrong tempers, selfish desires and motives, and mani fold omissions, would leave us speechless and self-condemned. Help us then, we earnestly intreat thee, to apply to our consciences that atoning blood, which cleans 528 AN EVENING PRAYER. eth from all sin: and neither leave us to discouragement through unbelief, nor to abuse thy grace by any allowed disobedience. Whatever we have this day attempted, which had a beneficial tendency, do thou, O merciful Father, be pleased to prosper by thy blessing: and prevent the consequences of our mistakes and offences. Sanctify to us thy dispensations, and our own experience: and help us to thank thee with unfeigned hearts, for the unmerited mercies and comforts, with which we have been favoured. Bless, O Lord, all endeavours to spread thy gospel, and to promote the peace and happiness of mankind: and remember with peculiar regard, such as are labouring in remote inhospitable regions, to make known thy salvation among benighted Pagans. We commend ourselves, and all belonging to us, unto thy gracious protection. Thou art ever present, and knowest all things; thy majesty and condescension, thy justice and compassion, are alike infinite and adorable. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as Head over all. But we are exposed to countless dangers, from which we are wholly unable to defend ourselves. Be thou therefore our strong tower, and help us to take refuge under the shadow of thy wings. Preserve us from outward calamities, and from the assaults of our spiritual enemies. May we seriously enquire of ourselves, whether we be indeed prepared to meet our God, should we be called hence during this present night? That we may at all times be helped to close our eyes, in well grounded assurance, that death is our's; because we are Christ's, and possess the meetness for the incorruptible inheritance. A MORNING PRAYER. 529 Should we be spared, to awake in peace, and arise in health with the returning day: enable us, we beseech. thee, to attend on thy worship and service with alacrity and gratitude; and thus may we wait all the days of our appointed time, till our change come, with calm submission, vigilant circumspection, and patient continuance in well doing. Vouchsafe us, O gracious Father, these and all other mercies, for the sake of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ; whom, with thee, and the eternal Spirit, we would adore as the God of our salvation, both now, and for evermore. Amen. Another Morning Prayer for a Family. O ALMIGHTY and eternal God, we would humbly attempt to begin this day with worshipping thy great and glorious name. Thou art worthy of universal and everlasting adoration and thankful praise. Thy nature is incomprehensible, thy perfections infinite, thy goodness inexhaustible! Thou hast created all things; thou upholdest them by the word of thy power; and every one of thy works proclaims thy glory! Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things living with plenteousness and so abundant is thy goodness, that even the sinful children of men are invited to take refuge under the covert of thy wings! Thou art in Christ reconciling the world unto thyself: upon thy mercy seat thou waitest to be gracious; and thy glorious wisdom, holiness, justice, and truth are adored by the hosts of M m |