to tarry for a night? Be always at the head of us. O Most High be ever our refuge and our habitation. Thy presence gladdens, and only can gladden, all. Only are we right when Thou art our guide, only safe when Thou art our defender, only rich when Thou art our portion, only happy when Thou art our good!

We would think upon the many families which at this moment suffer adversity. Their joy is turned into mourning. They are covered with sackcloth. Their hope is removed and their number broken. May the Comforter visit them. May the God who comforteth those that are cast down be a very present help in their time of trouble.

We beseech Thy blessing upon all pastors and evangelists: them who feed Thy church as its overseers, and them who preach the everlasting Gospel to the unenlightened of this and other nations. Have respect unto Thy covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. Bless and secure the men who have hazarded their lives for the sake of the Lord Jesus. Let none set on them to hurt them. Under Thy shadow may they dwell among the heathen.

And now be the Eyes on us which never slumber nor sleep! Now be wound about us the Everlasting Arms! Our wearied frames and

minds ask of Thee repose.

Give to us, as to

Thy beloved, sleep. May we be safe beneath the care of Him who is not ashamed to call us brethren, who when on earth was often wearied, and who sunk into slumber which the storm could not disturb. May our earliest thoughts, if we be spared until to-morrow, arise to Thy footstool when we awake, may we be still with Thee!

Soon shall a deeper sleep fall upon us than that we now await: a deeper shade shall wrap than that now gathered around us. We must sleep in death, and be laid down in the night of the grave. May that sleep be balmy to us as that we now entreat, and that night be as welcome. May we sleep in Jesus! May we His servants earnestly desire that shadow!

The Lord Jesus is our only hope, and His sacrifice our only plea, that we can be heard of Thee in these things: but we know that He will ask the Father for us. And now and for evermore be ascribed to the Triune Jehovah, the God of the Christians, praise on earth, and glory in the highest!

"The grace of our Lord," &c.

FRIDAY MORNING.

GOD of the morning! hear our voice, for early will we seek Thee! Renewed by our sleep, once more, after the mysterious suspension of our powers, we would fix our hearts upon Thee! When most defenceless, while we have for a little season died to all around us, Thou hast exercised towards us Thy sleepless care. Thou hast given Thine angels charge over us. Thou hast made us dwell in safety. We laid us down and slept : we awaked, for the Lord sustained us. O how worthy art Thou to be praised! Thy servants who stand by our earthly night in Thy heavenly house, and lift up their hands for ever in that sanctuary, have not paused in their worship during our infirmity: we desire now to wake up our glory, and to blend our notes with the anthems of the skies. "Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word! Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts, ye ministers of His which do His pleasure! Bless the Lord, O our souls!"

These our sacrifices will not, cannot, be those of righteousness save that they be offered on the altar of atonement, the altar at which we bend to obtain purification and peace, the altar which

sanctifieth the giver and the gift.

We come

before Thee, O Holy and Jealous God, with the strong importunity and pleadings of the Blood which speaketh for us! Let its cry of entreaty and power enter Thine ear! May its meek stress, its tender expostulation, prevail!

Thou ordainest our lot. Thou performest all things for us. How different might have been our present circumstances. The earth might have swallowed us and our household. Out of heaven Thou mightest have thundered upon us. Fire might have consumed our dwelling, and we might have been the unrescued victims of the flames. Wicked and unreasonable men might have despoiled our goods. Disease might have fastened on our bodies, or still more dismally on our minds. Death might have come up into our windows. This might have been the house of mourning. How hast Thou compassed us with Thy favour as with a shield! How hast Thou warded off all

impending harm!

our right hand!

Thou hast been our shade on Thy wings have been outspread over us! There has no evil befallen us, neither has any plague come nigh our dwelling!

Impress us constantly with a sense of our accountability to Thee. To Thee we owe our time, our property, our influence, our all. Thou hast only put us in trust with them. Thou wilt soon come and reckon with us. May we occupy

until Thou shalt come. May we feel that at best we are unprofitable servants, but let us not be slothful ones. Let us carry the principle of duty into every scene of life and relation of society. Let us study to show ourselves approved unto God. May we never say, "Our Lord delayeth

his coming."

Be very mindful of us during the day. O Lord we know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. We are frail and unstable, as the leaf driven to and fro. We are crushed ere the moth. Guide us with Thine eye. Strengthen us with strength in our souls. Hold Thou us up, and we shall be safe!

May we be a holy and devout household. May every member and every inmate of it be a subject of Thy rich and saving grace. May it be as the home for which the disciples of Jesus sought when they said, Master where dwellest Thou? Blessed Saviour, stand not without nor knock in vain, may each heart hear Thy voice, and open unto Thee, and do Thou come in to us, as to Thy chosen banquet and Thy fixed abode ! Forgive the murmur of them who will truly say, That Thou art gone to be guest with those who are sinners!

We ask of Thee to help us in our duties and support us in all our trials. Sufficient unto the