from all evil; who hath delivered our souls from death, and our feet from falling. We thank thee for continued life and health during another year. How many have passed into eternity while we are yet spared, to glorify thee in the land of the living. For the possession of reason, for the balm of friendship, and for the multiplied comforts which garnish the house of our pilgrimage, we praise thee, as the author of every good and perfect gift. We remember all the way by which thou hast led us, in the wilderness, these many years, and gratefully acknowledge that, hitherto the Lord hath helped us. Thy blessed word is still our heritage, thy throne of grace is still our sanctuary, thy holy Spirit is still our promised boon, and our hope is yet fixed on thee as the God of our salvation. For thy favour to our country and to thy churches, during this year, we praise thy name. For the souls that have been converted to Christ, and for the spirits that have been conducted to glory, this year, we glorify thee, and still we pray, Thy kingdom come.

At this solemn period of our earthly history we would acknowledge our transgressions, and supplicate thy forgiving love. Truly with us, as in those sacrifices which were offered under the law, there should be a remembrance again made of sins every year. We have misimproved our privileges, undervalued our Sabbaths, and slighted thy mercies. The purposes of amendment and consecration with which we entered the year have been broken. We have done little to extend thy cause or to promote thy glory, during all its weeks. We tremble at the thought, that many

careless ones whom we might have warned to flee from the wrath to come are now placed beyond our reach. Our personal and family sins are great, and have risen up to heaven. As individuals we would mourn apart, and as a household we would penitentially confess our guilt. Pardon the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of thy O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Henceforth may we serve the Lord in newness of life.

servants.

We would be mindful of thy dealings with us, and pray that they may be greatly sanctified. Through darkness and light, through sorrow and joy, and by a way that we knew not thou hast led us, and we gratefully acknowledge that thou hast done all things well. May the various dispensations of thy Providence wean us from the world, make the thought of heaven more dear, and lead us to set our affection on things which are above. To us to live may it be Christ, and to die may be gain.

it

A most important section of our time has rolled away, and has brought us much nearer than we ever were to the boundaries of the invisible world. We spend our years as a tale that is told. Our days are as a handbreadth, and our age is as nothing before thee. Prepare us for the world of spirits. May we be found in Christ, not having on our own righteousness. Grant that we may have the title to heaven in his finished work, and the meetness for glory in the perfected work of thy Spirit on our hearts. Make us ready for the coming of the Lord, and when we close the days of our years on earth, may we begin an eternity

216 FOR PERSONS RECENTLY MARRIED.

of bliss before thy throne. We would not boast ourselves of to morrow, for we know not what a day may bring forth. Many who began this year in health are now numbered with the dead, and thou wilt bring us to the house appointed for all living. Be with us in the future as in the past, and may we tread with confidence the path of duty and of trial, remembering that thou hast given commandment to save us.

And now to the unchanging Father of the universe, to Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, and to the Eternal Spirit, as to the one God of salvation be glory, throughout all ages. Amen.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY
ENTERED INTO MARRIED LIFE.

We desire to acknowledge thy goodness, O Lord, in fixing the boundaries of our habitation, and in setting the solitary in families. On entering our new abode we would rear our domestic altar, and worship thee in our associate capacity. Never would we be numbered with the families who call not on thy name. Help us with constancy to pay our morning and nightly homage at thy feet, and in all our ways to acknowledge thee. Enable us to show piety at home, so that our dwelling may be the abode of peace and love. Thy blessing alone can enrich, and make us truly happy may we always seek it with earnestness proportioned to its infinite importance, and do

FOR PERSONS RECENTLY MARRIED.

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thou graciously smile upon our persons and circumstances, make our way prosperous before us, and give us great success.

As we bow around thy throne we humbly invoke thy presence in our midst. We are not worthy that thou shouldest come under our roof, but the condescensions of thy love, and the promises of thy word encourage us to hope that thou wilt, for the sake of Jesus, make our hearts thy dwelling place. O come and abide with us, that we may be prepared to dwell with thee for ever. Let our fellowship be with thee, and with thy Son Jesus Christ. By love may we serve one another, bear each other's burdens, and promote our mutual consecration to thy service and glory. Prepare us for all thy will, and grant that whether in sickness or in health, in life or in death, Christ may be magnified in us, and by us. We would remember, even in our most favoured hours of joy, that the night of death cometh, and that the tenderest earthly ties will be severed, by the stroke of the last enemy. May we live for heaven, and die in the hope of re-union in that land of life. Grant that our friendship may not merely adorn and bless our domestic circle, but be perpetuated in the eternal world, where they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God. We ask these favours for the Lord, the Saviour's sake. Amen.

U

FOR SAFETY IN CHILD-BIRTH.

O Thou who art a present help in trouble, pity us in this our season of deep anxiety, and appear on behalf of thy handmaiden, now approaching the hour of peril and pain. Comfort her spirit, in her circumstances of sorrow, with the assurance of thy love. Give strength to bring forth, and let the mother's life be precious in thy sight. O save her by the child-bearing of Immanuel ! Let the root and the branch be spared; and may our beloved one soon forget her anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE SAME.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, who hath inclined his ear unto our cry, and interposed his delivering power in the time of danger and sorrow! We adore thee that in love to our souls thou hast dealt graciously with thy handmaid.

The sorrows of death were at hand, and a mournful change might have passed over us, but thou hast dispelled our fears, and proved thyself mighty to save. We praise thee for this great mercy, and will call upon thee as long thee as long as we live. Continue thy kindness to the mother and to the babe. May the life so mercifully spared be crowned with renewed health and recovering strength, be lengthened out for many years, and be unreservedly con