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prosper and be in health, and especially may their souls prosper; and may the design of their kindness be fully answered in our grateful and happy enjoyment of thy goodness to us.

CLXXXIX.

FOR THE AGED.

O Lord, we commend to thee our aged friends whom thou hast so long graciously spared to us. Support, strengthen and comfort them in all their infirmities and the weaknesses of old age. May they be partakers of thy special favour, and may it be true of them, that a hoary head, found in the way of righteousness, is a crown of glory. When they descend to the grave, may it be in full age like as a shock of Hear us, for our Redee

corn cometh in his season.

mer's sake.

CXC.

FOR CHILDREN.

O Lord, who hast committed to our trust the charge of children to help to bring them up for thee, give us grace to train them up in the way they should go. May we use all parental and godly care and discipline over them. May we wisely, constantly, and in the spirit of love, as they are able to bear it, set before them the truths of thy word. May we bear them on our hearts in secret prayer, and do thou prosper all our efforts for their good. May we consider how responsible and weighty our charge is, and

may we glorify thy name by faithful diligence in the use of all the means of thy appointment, for their present and eternal welfare, through Jesus our Redeemer.

CXCI.

FOR PERSONS DEPENDENT ON US.

O God, from whom cometh all power and authority over others, and who hast intrusted to those at the head of this family many dependants, looking up to them for direction and government, graciously assist them in using so solemn and responsible a trust for the best good of those committed to their charge, O Lord, grant, we entreat thee, that thy gifts of influence and power may be used for thee, and for the spiritual as well as temporal welfare of those under us. Give them thy grace while under our care, and may they fulfil their duties to us under the blessed principles of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus may our relation together be blessed not only for our present, but for our eternal good.

СХСІІ.

FOR FRIENDS IN TRIAL.

We de

O Lord, we commit unto thee those dear friends of whose trials and sorrows we have heard. sire to sympathize with those in sorrow, and earnestly to call upon thee in their behalf. O Lord, be unto them a very present help in time of trouble. Enable them to cast all their burden on thee, and do thou

sustain them. May this affliction work mightily for their highest and best good. Give them light in darkness, comfort in affliction, joy in sorrow, and may the peaceable fruits of righteousness be abundantly yielded from the present trials, so that they may have to say, now and for ever, that it was good⚫ for them that they have been afflicted. If it be thy will, speedily deliver them. O give them seasonable help and relief. Be thou thyself their full portion; and however dark the trial, may they be able to say with thy servant of old, The Lord God is my strength; I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

CXCIII.

THANKSGIVING FOR BLESSING TO FRIENDS. O Lord, who hast told us to rejoice with them that do rejoice, we give thee praise and thanks for thy great goodness to our beloved friends, in delivering them from their fears, and in bestowing mercies upon them. O let these thy mercies constrain us to trust thee with our whole heart for the time to come, to rejoice in thy salvation, and to sing praises unto thee because thou hast dealt bountifully with us, thus helping and blessing those dear to us, through Jesus our Redeemer.

CXCIV.

AFTER A MEETING TO PROMOTE CHRISTIANITY AMONGST THE JEWS.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who came as the minister of the circumcision to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and art now exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance unto Israel and remission of sins, we thank thee that we too are permitted to seek their salvation. We bless thee for the mercies of this day, and for the gathering together of thy people to forward this object. We thank thee for the assistance given to those who speak in behalf of Israel. May a permanent impression of the magnitude of this work be left on many hearts. May thy holy word be more opened to us, and more precious to us. May our attention be more directed to the many prophecies respecting Israel, and a love for Jerusalem be excited in all our hearts. Prepare us, prepare thine elect every where, for all the wonders of deep wisdom, judgment and love, in thy dealings with both Jews and Gentiles, and the grafting in again of Israel, and the making their receiving again to be as life from the dead to the world. May Jesus, the deliverer, quickly come out of the heavenly Sion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Speedily accomplish thy promised grace and goodness, and have mercy upon all through Jesus our Redeemer.

CXCV.

BEFORE GOSPEL PROPAGATION, OR MISSIONARY SOCIETY MEETINGS OR SERMONS.

O God the Father, who hast declared that thou wilt have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth; O God the Son, who gavest the command to thy church, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; O God the Holy Ghost, promised to all flesh in the last days; the one living and true God, we bring before thee a world lying in wickedness; we plead with thee for vast-nations yet unblessed with the light of thy truth, and abandoning themselves to the abominations of idolatry, and we beseech thee to have mercy upon all men.

We thank thee that thou hast awakened thy church in our day to a greater concern for the heathen, and to enlarged missionary exertions. But yet, O Lord, how feeble our zeal, how scanty our gifts, how cold our love! O set before us and all thy people the unspeakable value of immortal souls; the costly price of redemption, the travail of the Redeemer, the joy set before him, and the blessedness of saving souls from death. May we discern the dishonour now put upon thy name by idolatry, and the holy happiness of the universal kingdom of Christ; that we may thus make efforts and sacrifices more corresponding to the magnitude of this great work.

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