OUR Father, who art in heaven, we desire to acknowledge thy Being and agency; to adore thy perfections, and to admire the works of thy hands. Thou hast made summer and winter. Thou hast appointed the moon for seasons, and the sun knoweth his going down.

The day is thine; the night also is thine: and thou makest the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. To that throne, from which none were ever sent empty away, we again approach for mercy and grace to help in time of need. Let our prayer come before thee as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Preserve us from formality in these exercises in which we so daily engage; and alarm our fears, lest we should provoke thee to say, in vain do they worship me.

For this purpose, enable us to realize thine all seeing eye, to remember with whom we have to do, and what we have to do with him: may we deeply feel the guilt of the sins we confess, and hunger and thirst after the blessings we implore. And while we review the numberless blessings we have received from thy hands, may we be more than ever sensible of our unworthiness, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may be disposed to show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days.

He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. We bless thee this evening as the preserver of men. Another day has been added, by thy good providence, to the season of thy long suffering, and the time of our preparation for eternity We lament that the design of our being placed and continued here, has been so imperfectly subserved; that in so many things we have offended, and in all, come short of the glory of God. If, where much is given, much will be required, and the servant who knew his Lord's will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes-if thou, Lord, should mark our iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? We cannot answer thee for one of a thousand of our transgressions: the review of a single day is enough to plunge us into despair-our only relief is, that there is forgiveness with thee; and that with thee there is plenteous redemption.

But while we hope in thy mercy, we would not abuse it. We would not sin that grace may abound; or be

D

that thou hast sent thy own Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, might be saved. We rejoice, that neither the number nor heinousness of our transgressions, is a bar to that forgiveness, which is founded on the sufferings and sacrifice of the cross. The blood of Jesus Christ, thy Son, cleanseth from all sin. Graciously absolve us from our guilt; and pronounce our discharge from all condemnation, that being justified by faith, we may have peace with God, and enjoy the glorious liberty of thy children.

But, O, save us from the hope of the hypocrite, which shall perish. Never suffer us to impose upon ourselves, in any thing that relates to our eternal state. May we never suppose that we are in Christ, unless we are new creatures; or that we are born of the Spirit, unless we mind the things of the Spirit. May we never rest satisfied with any professions of belief, or any outward forms or services, while the heart is not right with God. May we judge of our sincerity in religion, by our fear to offend thee; by our concern to know what thou wilt have us to do; and by our willingness to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow the Lamb, whithersoever he goeth.

May nothing render us forgetful of thy glory; may nothing turn us aside from thy commands; may nothing shake our confidence in thy promises. Take from us the evil heart of unbelief; the cause of all our waverings and wanderings; may we believe that we may be established in our goings, and be always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Prepare us for whatever we have to meet with, between this morning and the grave. We know not what lies before us; but thou knowest, and thy grace can make us sufficient for every service and every suffering.

Let not our temporal occupations ever injure our spiritual concerns; or the cares of this life make us forget, or neglect, the one thing needful; may we learn the holy art of abiding with God in our callings; of being in the world without being of it; and of making every