which we now enjoy of holding communion with thee, and praising thee for thy goodness and thy wonderful works to the children of men.

O God, if this day we have fallen into any sin; if we have weakly yielded to any temptation; if we have been angry without cause or beyond bounds; if we have been uncharitable, unjust, undutiful, or in any way unmindful of thee and thy laws, we beseech thee to forgive us in thy great mercy, and give us true repentance, that we may lie down this night in peace with the world, with ourselves, and with thee. And we pray thee, O Father, to watch over us this night, and protect us from all evil, and give to our eyes refreshing slumbers, so that we may rise in the morning with renewed power to serve thee. If we are to rise no more in this world, grant that we may wake in the next to life immortal, and the light of thy countenance forevermore.

We pray thee, also, to protect the whole sleeping world through the hours of darkness and helplessness. Be graciously with those, also, who by land or by sea must wake and watch. Soothe the pains of the sick; speak pardon and peace to sleepless consciences; guide the traveller on his way; preserve the mariner from the fury of the tempest, and direct him through the paths of the deep. Be a father to the fatherless; a deliverer to the oppressed; a friend to all who are under neglect or contempt, or in want, and especially to those who are persecuted for con

science and righteousness' sake. Be kind to all our friends and to all our enemies; to all who have prayed for us, and to all who have desired that we should pray for them. Mercifully, O God, Father Almighty, hear their prayers, and ours, which we offer in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

XLIV.

Saturday Evening.

Return to thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.

Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me under standing, that I may learn thy commandments.

Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

ALMIGHTY GOD and most. merciful Father, in whose hands our times are, and whose are all our

:

ways; on whom we are dependent for all the privi leges, blessings and comforts, of this life, and for all the means and instrumentalities of preparing us for a better.

We thank thee for thy kind and protecting care of us another day and another week; that thou hast kept us ever beneath thy watchful eye and protecting hand, and in great mercy hast brought us to the close of the day and of the week still surrounded with thy goodness, and still among the living to praise thee. Wilt thou forgive the sins of the day, of the week, and of our whole lives. May all thy mercies lead us to repentance, even to that repentance whose fruit is unto holiness, and whose end is everlasting life.

We commend ourselves to thy holy protection and keeping this night. May we lie down in the fear and love of God. May our sleep be quiet and refreshing to us. Spread over us the wing of an ever-guardian providence, and preserve us from every danger and from every alarm; and bring us to behold the light of another morning, even another of the days of the Son of man, in health and in peace. Prepare us, O God of the Sabbath, for the return of holy time. May we be in the spirit on the Lord's day. With the beams of the natural sun may the Sun of righteousness arise upon our souls with healing in his wings, and fill us with all joy and peace in believing. Give us such admiring views of thy creating power and wisdom, thy providential care and kindness, and thy

redeeming love and grace, as shall fill our souls with the deepest reverence for thy character, the purest love of thy perfections, the liveliest hope in thy mercy, and the sublimest joy in thy more immediate worship and service. And at the close of the Sabbath day may we have the satisfaction of reflecting that we have devoted one day more to the service of our God and Redeemer; that we have made some advance in the Christian life, some better preparation for the joys and services of the kingdom and temple above.

We pray for those who are appointed to minister at thine altar, and to dispense the bread of life and the water of life to them who are ready to perish. May they be baptized anew with the spirit and power of the truth as it is in Jesus. And clad in the Christian armor may they go forth to their work with the fearlessness of men engaged in the service of God, and seeking the salvation of them that are lost. And wilt thou give them that best reward in this life, that purest of satisfactions, that greatest of joys to the teacher's heart, the satisfaction and the joy of seeing the people of their charge, under their ministration, crowding the gates of Zion, flocking to her solemn feasts, listening to divine instruction, and walking in thy truth.

We pray for our country and its rulers. May those who are appointed to rule over us prove themselves to be able men, such as fear God; men of truth, hating covetousness, seeking the good of their country and

their race, and the glory of thy holy name. Under the protection of just and equal laws, and a wise and righteous administration, may the people lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.

May the blessings which we ask for ourselves and our country be extended to the whole human family, until every nation, tongue and people, shall unite with the heavenly hosts in ascribing glory to God in the highest, because there is peace on earth, and goodwill to men.

This our prayer we offer unto thee the Infinite Father, in the name and as the disciples of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

XLV.

Sunday Evening.

The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness to children's children;

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.