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MONDAY MORNING.

O THOU eternal Majesty of heaven and earth! who hast given us life, and on whom we continually depend! We appear before thee, this morning, in the multitude of thy mercies. All things around us reveal thy glory, and through whatever channels our happiness is derived, we acknowledge that thou art the original and neverfailing fountain of perfection and of bliss. Thou raisest up for us friends to rejoice in our joys, and sympathize in our sorrows; thou showest to us the path of truth and righteousness,

and givest us hopes and consolations which the world can neither give nor take away. We bless thee, in particular, for that glorious gospel which directs our views to a state, where ignorance and pain and death will be known no more. We render thee the homage of thankful hearts for Jesus Christ, whom we desire to welcome as our pattern and instructor; as our great deliverer from the bondage of sin, and the everlasting dominion of the grave; as the forerunner of his servants; and the captain of our salvation, who has passed into the heavens for us. Teach us, we beseech thee, to embrace his gospel, with the most perfect confidence, and to follow him in the way that leadeth unto life.

We acknowledge and lament in thy

presence, O thou Father of mercies! our manifold errors and transgressions. We would not attempt to cloak or dissemble our offences, before thee; but would cast ourselves down, at the footstool of thy throne, and earnestly implore forgiveness. Subdue, we pray thee, every affection within us, which is inconsistent with thy holy and righteous law; confirm our wavering resolutions; and lift up the light of thy countenance upon us. Establish us, gracious God! in that fervent habitual piety, and in that disinterested regard to the welfare of mankind, without which, we can have no hope of thy favour. Make us pure in our inward thoughts, and dispose us to avoid even the appearance of evil. Grant that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing; that all the

Christian virtues, preserving a due proportion to each other, may have a place in our hearts, and that, in every respect, by the steady government of our tempers, and by our blameless and useful lives, we may adorn our Christian profession, and approve ourselves in thy sight.

Thy counsels, O God! are unsearchable We cannot penetrate into thy designs: but we are thankful for the comfort which arises from a firm persuasion, that thou art good and doest good, and that all thy perfections are continually exercised for the benefit of thy creatures. Thou choosest for us our inheritance; thou orderest our lot. In thine almighty love we feel ourselves secure: thy wisdom is our guide; thy power the rock of our defence. Assist us in the discharge

of every duty which new and unexpected circumstances may require. Fit us especially for the solemn hour when our dissolution will be drawing nigh; and enable us, without reluctance, to obey the voice that calls us from the present scene, assured that thou hast made with us an everlasting covenant, and that, through thy mercy in Christ Jesus, we shall awake from our slumbers in the grave to a life of blessedness, over which death will have no power.

We commend ourselves and all our friends, in humble resignation, to the care of thy providence. Repress our too forward hopes and purposes; teach us to be industrious, just and faithful, while we dwell in these tabernacles of clay, and, at length,