Bless the officers of the church, who manage its temporal affairs. May our deacons be full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost. Enable them to use their office well, and to purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith of Jesus Christ.

Never would we be lifeless and hypocritical in our approaches to thy throne, but on this the last evening of another week, we would especially stir ourselves up to take hold of thee. to take hold of thee. We will not let thee go, unless thou bless us. Thou hast reserved for each of us a blessing. Bestow upon our waiting spirits, the boon of pardon. Wash us from all defilement, and cover us with the garment of a perfect righteousness, so that we may be complete in Christ.

may

Ŏ thou keeper of Israel, lighten our darkness, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils of this night, for the love of thy only Son our Saviour. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

150

Fourth Week.

LORD'S DAY MORNING.

O Thou who hast made and sanctified the Sabbath for our advantage and for thy glory, we joyfully bow at thy footstool on the return of another of the days of the Son of Man, and dedicate its precious hours to thee. We keep holy day in remembrance of the work of creation, by which all things were made out of nothing and pronounced by their Creator to be very good. Long as the heavens and earth continue and days and nights return, thy people will delight to keep thy works in remembrance, for thou hast created all worlds, and by thee all things consist. With the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the glorious company of the apostles, and the noble army of martyrs, we unite in praising thee, as the God of angels and of men.

We sanctify this day to the honour of thine equal and well-beloved Son. Our spirits rejoice in the thought that he is risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept; that the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner; that he has overcome the sharpness of death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. This is thy work, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Awake up our tongues to praise the Lord; awake psaltery and harp; we ourselves will awake early,

for if we should hold our peace the stones might immediately cry out.

And we hallow this day in remembrance of the works of the Eternal Spirit who is one with thee and the Lord our Saviour. Glory to him who at first moved on the face of the waters, and garnished the heavens! We bless thee for his gracious influence in the earth; and rejoice that he has been with thy church in all ages; that he has inspired holy men to write thy Divine will; and that he now glorifies Christ by taking of the things which are his, and revealing them to men.

We praise and magnify thee as our rightful and only Lord, for we are thy workmanship and not our own. We honour thee as our glorious King, for thy laws are just and right, and we would yield to thee our undivided allegiance. We obey thee as the author of salvation, for we are redeemed by the most precious blood of Him whom we call our Master and Lord. O that our hearts were more affected by thy love, our wills more submissive to thy sway, and our lives more fully devoted to thy service. May we yield ourselves unto God with all the completeness of an entire consecration, and enter into a perpetual covenant with thee that shall not be forgotten. Thou art the Lord who hast showed us light, and we would bind the sacrifice with cords unto the horns of the altar.

On this day, which thou art wont to honour, let the Spirit of truth and grace rest upon us. May he come as the light from heaven, making all things manifest, and shining in our hearts. May he fall upon us as the dew, and as the rain

that wait not for men, and that tarry not for the children of men. May he breathe upon us, as the north and as the south wind, that our graces may become a sweet savour of Christ. May he sit upon us as a refining fire, that we may offer to thee an acceptable sacrifice in righteousness. On the wings of devotion let our spirits rise to conscious and happy communion with thee. May our hearts be made as the chariots of Aminidib. Grant that we may sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and be favoured with brighter views of heaven than any we have previously possessed.

We ask that our souls may be graciously prepared for the worship of thy house, and for the reception of thy word. Deeply would we lament our misimprovement of many precious opportunities of listening to the gospel. Our minds have been pre-occupied, and thy word has found no place in our hearts. The cares and pleasures of this world have divided our thoughts and affections, so that we have reaped little or no advantage from the truth when ministered to us. Forgive our sins, and save us from turning again to folly. Prepare our minds to receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save our souls. Assist thy servant who may break to us the bread of life, this day, that he may give to each of us a portion in due season. May all who shall hear the gospel from his lips receive it as the word of God, and by it be sanctified and saved.

Bless the churches of Christ with great prosperity. May they enlarge the place of their borders, and be increased with men as with a

flock. Give the word, and multiply the numbers. of those who preach it. May it sound out into all lands, and be the means of gathering together in one the children of God that are scattered abroad. To Shiloh let the people gather, until every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue confess him Lord.

Let thy presence be felt in the chambers of affliction, by those who love the courts of thy holiness, but are prevented by providential arrangements from going up to the house of prayer. May their Sabbath at home be peaceful and happy, an emblem of the rest of eternity; and may they, as the children of Zion, be joyful in their King.

O God of our salvation hear, and answer our prayers. Through the spotless obedience and precious blood of Jesus, our Priest on his Throne, may we find mercy and acceptance at thy hand. And to God only wise be glory, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

LORD'S DAY EVENING.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most high: to show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. At the conclusion of this most blessed day we unite to worship and to praise thee. Among the countless favours which call for the expression of our gratitude, we number the privilege of meeting with thy people, and of serving thee in thy house