thy word that all things shall work together for our good, and then come what may, we will delight in thy will and rejoice in thy salvation.

But, O Lord, let us rise out of the contracted sphere of personal feeling, or even the delightful circle of family and social interests, into the fulness of thine own love, who wilt have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. O pour out of the Spirit in these last days upon all flesh. Make this a year of large blessings to the whole earth. May Zion arise and shine, finding her light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon her. May thy ministers be wise to discern the signs of the times, and to instruct thy people in them. May thy church every where be prepared for the coming of the Lord, and brought to a waiting and longing for his appearance. Let the groans of creation, and its earnest expectation, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, at length cease in thy promised kingdom; and the kingdoms of this world at length become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he reign for ever and ever. Amen.

CXXII.

EVENING PRAYER.

Thy goodness, O our God, endureth yet daily; and thou, Lord, art nigh unto all them that call upon thee, to all that call upon thee in truth. Thou wilt fulfil the desire of them that fear thee, thou also wilt

hear their cry, and wilt save them. In the confidence of thy faithful promises we now call upon thee for help and grace in all the duties of that year on which we have entered, and for a full blessing upon all its various events.

Pardon, through the blood of Jesus, all our past sinfulness and unfaithfulness. Enable us all to believe in him, and receive thankfully his atonement; and being justified by faith, may we all of us have peace with thee through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And being thus reconciled ourselves unto thee, we would come before thee according to thine own direction, that first of all supplications, prayers and intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all

men.

O God, look in tender mercy upon all our relatives and friends; where they know and love thee, increase, confirm and strengthen their faith and love. Where they are yet unconverted, O that this may be an acceptable year for their true conversion.

Regard with thy favour our President, and all those invested with authority. Preserve them from their peculiar spiritual temptations and dangers, and make them large and increasing blessings to our church and our country. Guide all in the administration of the affairs of state to such measures as will promote thy glory and the true good of this nation.

O Lord, behold us in tender pity, and spare us as a nation, though we deserve thy wrath. Let not

the rich trust in riches, but in thee. Let not the poor injure others, or take thy name in vain. May all remember the solemn account hereafter to be given, and all now seek each other's real good. O remove far away all murmuring and complaining, all hard-heartedness and selfishness, all covetousness and infidelity, and make us a righteous nation, keeping

the truth.

Bless increasingly every year the many Religious Societies thou hast raised up amongst us for diffusing thy truth both at home and abroad. O Lord, strengthen the hands of all thy servants engaged in these works of love. May churches be built, may the ignorant be educated, may the Scriptures and pious books be circulated, may the wicked be reclaimed, may the gospel be preached through our country, till every corner of the land be replenished with Christian light and truth.

We ask for the same blessings on our wide and extended country. May faithful pastors of thy flock be multiplied, congregations be gathered, the means of grace be established, the blessings of the Sabbath be made known, and thy kingdom mightily grow and increase.

Prosper all efforts for the good of Zion, and especially bless the means used to revive thy church and worship among the Jews. May it be the happy beginning of the promised bright and glorious day of Zion's glory, and the blessedness of Gentile nations.

We pray for full success to all missionary labours among the heathen. Wherever thy missionaries have gone forth preaching Christ to those that know him not, O Lord, bless their labours. Gather in speedily thine elect; take out of the Gentiles a people to thy name, and then return and build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen, that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and the whole earth be filled with thy glory.

O Lord, we entreat thee, pour out thy Spirit from on high, and let the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. May thy purposes of mercy be in this year largely ripened and accomplished, and may we have the joy of seeing the kingdom of darkness diminishing and falling, and the kingdom of light and truth, of love and joy, of holiness and peace, making rapid advances in every part of the world.

Hear us, for our Redeemer's sake.

CXXIII.

FIRST LORD'S DAY IN THE YEAR.

MORNING PRAYER.

O Lord God, who hast made heaven and earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm; who didst rest from all thy works on the seventh day, and bless it, and sanctify it; the great, the mighty God, the Lord of hosts is thy name. Great in counsel, and mighty in work, thine eyes are open upon all the sons of men to give every one according to his ways, and ac

cording to the fruit of his doings: we worship, on this thy holy Sabbath, thee our God, our own God, because thou art the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

O Lord, it is thy day, the first Sabbath of another month, the first Sabbath of another year: we raise then to thee our grateful thanksgiving, for the blessings without number which we as a family enjoy, and for all thy goodness which encompasses us about on every side. Not, O Lord, that we are better than others; O help us deeply to feel and bewail our great sinfulness in thy sight, both as a family together and each in his own soul. The light of thy mercies may indeed fully manifest to us our great inconsistencies, our deep ingratitude, and the vileness of all our offences. But to sovereign grace and free love we owe every thing. Thou wilt have compassion on whom thou wilt have compassion, and mercy on whom thou wilt have mercy; and, therefore, we are spared and blessed. Thou hast made us to differ, and we will glory in thee alone.

O Lord of all mercy and goodness, grant that this Sabbath may be to us a commencement of Sabbaths more holy, more profitable, and more happy in communion with thee, than any which we have hitherto passed upon earth. May the talents which thou hast intrusted to us, whether time, or property, or influence, or strength, or abilities, be far more than ever heretofore traded with, or laid out, for thy honour,