many souls are given up to the just punishment of sin, groaning out a sad eternity under inexpressible pains, and inconceivable sorrows. These, O Lord, are great mercies towards me, and would forbid repining if thou shouldest see fit to try me with greater difficulties than those which thou hast hitherto laid upon me.

But, O merciful Father, who hast invited and commanded us to lay our wants and necessities before thee, help and relieve me, I beseech thee, under my present perplexities; and if thou seest fit, bless me with such a portion of the comforts and conveniences of life, that thereby I may be enabled to go on more cheerfully in my station, to serve thee better, to love thee more and more, to admire thy wonderful bounty and loving-kindness towards all the creatures of thy hand. Give me health and strength, and abilities suited to my circumstances; direct me in the use of honest means, whereby I may obtain, for myself and family, a comfortable subsistence; and do thou succeed and prosper my honest labors and endeavors.

But, O Lord, if in this I know not what I ask; if greater plenty, and comforts that attend it, would prove snares and temptations to me-thy blessed will be done; support me, that I fall not into extreme want, and lay not more upon me than thou wilt enable me to bear. Supply the want of worldly blessings, by the comfort and support of thy good Spirit, whereby I may be made perfect in every

good work to do thy will; that I may become rich in faith, and an heir of that kingdom which thou hast promised to those that love thee: make me devout, holy, and heavenly-minded; and so purify and cleanse my heart, that it may be the constant habitation of thy Holy Spirit.

Enable me, likewise, O Lord, cheerfully to exercise all those Christian graces and duties which my present circumstances call for let the sharpness of temporal wants, put me upon considering what misery must attend the loss of my soul: let a sense of my poverty stir up eager desires after the true riches; and the less I have of this world, the more careful let me be to provide for the next; that I may seek an inheritance incorruptible, and that fadeth not away. Give me diligence and industry in my calling; and when I have done my endeavor, make me to cast all my care upon thee, and trust to thy fatherly goodness to provide for me. Let not the contempt wrongfully cast upon poverty, or any evils which I may endure, tempt me to any dishonest ways of advancing my condition; but let me choose rather to be poor than wicked, and to want any thing rather than thy favor. Clothe me with a meek, and quiet, and humble spirit, which in thy sight is of great price; that through faith and patience, having finished the race which thou hast set before me, I may be received into the joy of my Lord.

Grant this, O

merciful Father, for the sake of my Redeemer, the ever blessed Jesus. Amen.

PRAYERS

IN REFERENCE TO SOME OF THE PARTICULAR
RELATIONS IN LIFE.

THE HUSBAND'S PRAYER.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast called me to the state of marriage, which is honorable, and which thou hast ordained for the comfort and happiness of thy creatures, sanctify it to me, I humbly beseech thee, and grant that I may never abuse it to any unworthy purposes; but so behave myself under this, and all other conditions, as becomes the servant of the ever blessed Jesus.

To this end, O Lord, give me a meek and gentle spirit, that is not easily provoked, a spirit of love, forbearance, and charity, not apt to entertain angry and unjust resentments; that I may love my wife with a hearty and sincere affection. Let me never exercise that authority thou hast given me, in a peevish, arbitrary, and tyrannical manner; but with kindness and condescension, prudence and discretion, endeavoring, as much as in me lies, to make my wife happy all her days. Make me faithful and conscientious, O Lord, in the discharge of that solemn vow and promise which I made upon my

entering into this holy state, and of all those duties to which it engages me. O let me never wander after forbidden pleasures; but grant that all my actions may be governed by the rules of purity and holiness, of justice and sobriety; having always before my eyes that strict account which I must one day give. Let me never waste my time, and consume my substance, in riot and disorder; but grant that by diligence and industry, and by thy blessing accompanying all my endeavors, I may be enabled to provide for my wife and children in such a manner as may conduce to their happiness both here and hereafter.

O let thy blessing rest upon the head of her whom thou hast given to be my wife; give her length of days, and increase in her ever more and more the virtues of charity and piety. Let all strife and contention, all repinings and discontent, be far from us; and let true Christian love and peace dwell in our hearts. Make us eminent examples of a holy and blameless conversation; and grant that we may mutually aid and excite each other in serving thee, bearing with one another's infirmities, and studying to promote the welfare and happiness of each other. Make us so faithfully to discharge all our duties in this life, that when thou shalt be pleased to take us hence, we may dwell with thee in life everlasting, through the merits of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

THE WIFE'S PRAYER.

O MY GOD, who hast called me to this state of life, and by the permission of whose providence it is, that I should be joined in wedlock with thy servant; I bless thee, Lord, that thou hast provided so graciously for me. O continue this thy goodness, in giving me knowledge and grace to demean myself aright in this relation, that I may honor and obey the Lord in reverencing and obeying my husband. Make me humble and discreet, diligent and faithful, mild and patient; remembering not only the duties and comforts, but also the temptations and crosses of the married condition; and taking the worse with the better, as a part of my portion; still showing myself a follower of wise and pious matrons in all things that are of good report, however I am tried with prosperity or adversity. Bless my husband, O Lord, with the best of thy blessings; and guard, and keep him in thy continual care, with thy watchful providence and Holy Spirit, till thou bring him to thy heavenly kingdom. O bind us both in faithfulness unto thee, as well as to one another; and as we are one flesh, so make us of one heart, and of one mind, that nothing but death may ever make a separation between us. And make us so faithfully to discharge all our duties in this life, that we may together dwell with thee in life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.