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AN UNFINISHED PRAYER FOR HER

CHILDREN.

To Thee, indulgent parent and omnipotent ruler of the universe, I commit my children. As thou hast hitherto preserved them amidst all the dangers to which they have been exposed, continue, I beseech thee, thy care whilst they are separated from me. May their lives be precious in their sight, and their health be improved. O may my beloved children be the peculiar care of thy watchful Providence; guide them into all truth; direct them by thy wisdom; strengthen them in the hour of temptation, and keep them from every transgression, of thy wise and holy laws. Keep them ever in mind of their dependence upon and their responsibility to THEE. Provide all things necessary for their souls and their bodies. Make them useful to their fellow *

A PRAYER,

Written on a day of Thanksgiving appointed by the Governor.

EVER blessed and glorious God-the Creator and Preserver of every creature. Unworthy by nature, and still more unworthy by their actual transgressions—thou dost yet allow thy creatures to praise and to pray, and thou hast graciously promised to listen to the contrite in heart. Enable me, I beseech thee, to approach thee with such dispositions as thou wilt own and bless, and accept of my prayers and my praises in the name of Jesus Christ, my redeemer. All the days of my life I have been the care of thy watchful providence, and every year has been crowned with blessings. Accept of my thanks, that my lot was cast in a land invigorated by liberty, illuminated by science, and blest yet more with the glorious light of the Christian religion. I bless thee for this great mercy that I was early taught to know thee, and that thou hast not permitted me altogether to forsake thee, the God of my fathers! I desire to be thankful that my life has been spared to this day-that I have been provided with food and raiment, that I have enjoyed a great measure of health and many valuable friends. I thank thee that thou hast given me moral and intellectual faculties, and hast been pleased to make the improvement of these one of the greatest pleasures of my life.

But how shall I be sufficiently grateful for that mercy which has spared so many of the dear children whom thou hast given-which has watched over their childhood and youth, and hast hitherto most graciously prevented them from falling into gross immorality! O let not all this goodness be lost upon me, or upon them. Impress us solemnly with a sense of the responsibility of our condition! let no talent which thou hast intrusted to us perish in our hands, but give us grace to improve them to thy glory, and our own eternal advantage. Keep, I beseech thee, those dear objects of my fondest solicitude from falling into the snares that surround them. Be thou their counsellor, their guide, and their Almighty protector. May their lives be precious in thy sight. Grant them health of body and ability of mind to perform their duties. Bless the labours of their hands, and grant them such a competency of the things of this life, as shall be best adapted to their preparation for another and a better world!

A PRAYER.

SUPREMELY great, and glorious Lord God Almighty! Thou art the Creator of the universe-the Governor and Benefactor of all thy rational creatures. In thee I live and move and have my being-grant that I may, therefore, be sensible of my obligations to thee-and feel my continual dependence upon thee. Thou art the all-wise disposer of every event, may I therefore acquiesce in every dispensation of thy Providence—and humbly and sincerely desire that thy will, not mine, may be done. Thou art present every where, and knowest even the hearts of all menmay I therefore be enabled to think, and speak, and act, with an abiding sense of thy presence continually upon me. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight-O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Give me wisdom to direct my stepsand strengthen me for the performance of every duty to which thou shalt call me. Father of mercies-I have hitherto been supported by thy bounty-continue thy goodness to me, and grant me such temporal comforts as thou in thine infinite wisdom shall deem best fitted for If thou hast determined to try me by adversity-0 may affliction work out for me the peaceable piety of salvation! But make me rich in grace through Him-who, though he was rich, became poor for my sake. Make me deeply sensible of the value of this thy best gift to man--

me.

redemption through thy son Jesus Christ! For his sake forgive my innumerable sins, and enable me truly to forgive all who injure or offend me-" And unto him who is able to do exceeding more abundantly above all that we can ask or think—who is the blessed and only Potentate—the King of kings, and Lord of lords-who only hath immor. tality, dwelling in light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen or can see," to him be the glory for ever-Amen.

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