In the morning of this new day, Father of our mercies, we would gratefully acknowledge thy kindness. We laid ourselves down last night and slept, and thou hast made us to dwell in safety. We have arisen in health and comfort, for thy good hand is on us; and now on our family altar we would lay our sacrifices. Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to rejoice. The eye that watches over us, sleeps not, and is not weary. O help us to go through the duties of this day as in thy presence. Help us to confide in thee; and since thou art with us, may we not offend against thee. O Lord, we adore the grace which supplies our spiritual necessities. We hear thy word. We hear of Christ as gracious and merciful. We are permitted to mingle with those who love thee, and we are indulged with returning seasons of prayer. The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, we have a goodly heritage. May we know how to improve these mercies. Let us not be rebellious children, mindless of thy care, and trampling on thy goodness. We have been such children. Oh grant us repentance of our folly and ingratitude; lead us to Christ for forgiveness and reconciliation; and may thy Spirit so enlighten and sanctify us, that henceforward we may render according to thy mercies. May the feeling of our sin, the consciousness that we have depraved hearts, abase our pride, and endear to us the cross of the Redeemer. By that cross may our sin be taken away. Cleanse us in the precious blood of atonement. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew within us a fixed spirit, and henceforth may we live to thee. On thy grace may we ever depend; out of thy fulness in Christ may we obtain all sufficient supplies. Help us to-day, and every day, to fix our supreme desires on heavenly things; strangers and pilgrims in this world, may we ever be guided by thy counsel. Uphold and defend us by thy power. Be thou to us as the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night. May we never choose our own way, but follow cheerfully in the path thou markest out for us. If thy goodness grant us indulgences, may we use them with moderation; if thy providence frown upon us, may we not faint under thy hand, nor despise the chastening of the Lord. Oh give us contentment with the lot thou choosest for us, and bestow upon us always the blessings of thy salvation. In all our ways let thy Spirit guide us, thine arm protect us, and thy love, as our covenant God, abide with us. Thus may we make our boast of thee all the day long; thus may we be preserved from evil blameless till the day of Christ. Oh take care of us in this world, and at last receive us to thine heavenly rest. May this day bring us one day nearer to that happy rest. Oh make us meet for it, and may the hope of it stimulate our diligence, destroy the love of this present evil world, and sustain and comfort us in every trial. While we live may we be thine. When we die may we die unto thee; and for ever may we be the Lord's ; through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. HOLY, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, who wast, who art, and who art to come. To thee pertain the kingdom, and the power, and the glory everlasting. We adore thee as the Lord our God. We would speak well of thy name. Oh raise our spirits to a just feeling while we adore thine infinite perfections. Take away from us all thoughts that are mean and grovelling, and may we not forget, in drawing nigh to thee, that thou art a Spirit, and that they who worship thee must worship in spirit and in truth. In the name of thine adorable Son we offer our homage. Oh be gracious to us and accept us for his sake. Another day has enhanced our ever-increasing obligations to thy mercy, which is new every morning, and renewed every evening. We have leaned on thine arm, and thou hast sustained us. We have lived on thy bounty, and thy goodness has made us great. Our bread has been given to us, and our water has been sure; we have trusted in thee, and have not been ashamed; we have committed ourselves to thy guidance, and thou hast directed our steps. In our going out, and in our coming in; in our business, and our pleasures; in all our way, O Lord, thou hast been with us. Accept our evening song of praise, and permit our supplications to come into thine ear. We need thy mercy still; we believe that thou carest for us. Oh let thy mercy be over us to-night, that our repose may be undisturbed and refreshing, that our bodies may be reinvigorated, and may our souls be preserved blameless unto the day of Christ. We seek, ere we lie down, that the blood of Christ may afresh cleanse our consciences from pollution, and renew our peace with thee. Apply, by the Holy Spirit's grace, the life-giving stream which was poured forth on Calvary. Cancel the follies and sins of this day, and receive us into thy favour, through Christ Jesus our Lord. And as we ask forgiveness from thee, may we forgive if we have aught against any. Let no evil thoughts be harboured in our breast. Forgive us, O Lord, our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. Oh quicken our diligence in serving thee. Our days rapidly hasten to their close. May we be preparing as they glide away, for the last the solemn departure hence. As the night of death approaches, may it be divested of all its terrors; may it find us trusting in Jesus Christ, and rejoicing in the hope of eternal life through him. Show us then the path of life, and may we look forward, in the exercise of a faith and hope thy Spirit gives, to joy and everlasting blessedness. And, O Lord, be gracious to all for whom we should pray. We commend our friends and kindred to thee. Give them a name and a place in thy family. Be merciful to all men, and may the time soon come when all shall know and love thee. Assist thy ministers; refresh thy churches with thy grace; and may all flesh see thy salvation together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Grant these mercies, O Lord, through Jesus Christ, who was dead and is alive again, and who lives for evermore. Amen. JOHN IV. 31-51. MORNING HYMN. "He humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth." GOD, in the high and holy place, To every eye appears. He bows the heavens! the mountains stand A highway for our God; He walks amid the desert land! 'Tis Eden where he trod. In every stream his bounty flows, In every breeze his Spirit blows, His blessings fall in plenteous showers That teems with foliage, fruits, and flowers, If God has made this world so fair, Where sin and death abound, |