protect us, we beseech thee, in this our voyage, and preserve us from all its dangers. But especially grant unto us a sure and steadfast trust in thee. Whatever changes may come over the deep, and whatever foes or perils we may encounter, let us know and feel that thou art near us, and that no real evil can befal us while we are with thee. Bring us to our desired haven, if it be thy will, and to our friends, in safety and peace. When the sea of life is past, and its storms are spent, O then, merciful God, land us on the calm and happy shore of thy heavenly kingdom. AFTER RETURNING FROM A JOURNEY OR VOYAGE.

WE thank thee, O God, merciful Father, that through thy great goodness we are permitted to meet again around our

own domestic altar. For For thy protecting care of us, while we were away, and for this our safe return, we praise and bless thee. For all the comforts, pleasures,

SO

and duties of this our earthly home, we devoutly thank thee. But we know that we are strangers with thee, and journers, as all our fathers were; that our days on the earth are as a shadow, and here there is no abiding. O be thou with us, to lead and uphold us through the remainder of our pilgrimage, and at last receive us to our home in thine eternal heavens.

FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

O GOD, our Father, through whose mercy the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to those who sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace; we bless thee that unto us was born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; and we pray that he may be also born in us spiritually, in faith, love, and obedience, and live and dwell in us continually, that we may in all things do thy will as he did, and at last become heirs with

everlasting glory.

FOR A NEW YEAR.

BLESSED be God, who has brought us safe to the beginning of another year. Make us sensible, O thou eternal and holy One, how short and uncertain is our mortal life. Pardon our misspent time, and make us henceforth careful to redeem it. Grant that we may begin this new year with new resolutions of serving thee more faithfully. Make us wise unto salvation; that we may consider in this our day the things that belong to our peace; and that we may pass the time of our sojourning here in thy fear and love; and be ready to depart hence, whenever shalt say unto us, Return, ye children of men.

thou

FOR A SICK CHILD. HEAVENLY Father, we beseech thee to pity the troubles of the child whom thou hast visited with illness, and pity our sorrows, who are afflicted

and strengthen it in its weakness. Raise it up again, if it shall please thee, to grow in years and stature, in wisdom and virtue; and thereby to comfort us, and glorify thee. We believe that thou knowest best what is fit both for it, and for us, and wilt do what is fit for both; and therefore we leave it to thy wise disposal. But let it be thine, O Lord, in life or death; and either preserve it to be thy true and faithful servant on earth, or take it to the blessedness of thy children in the kingdom of heaven.

FOR A SICK PERSON.

LOOK graciously, O God, on thy servant, whom thou hast brought low with illness. Grant unto him a strong sense of his entire dependence upon thee; that whether the means used for his relief succeed, he may ascribe the glory to thee alone, or whether thou thinkest fit to deny them their intended effects, he

may humble himself under thy mighty hand, and lear the rod, knowing who hath appointed it. We pray thee to preserve thy servant to us, for he is dear to us. Nevertheless, not our will, but thine be done. If it be thy will that he should live, may his whole life praise thee. If his sickness is unto death, may his soul be prepared to meet thee, and our souls lie resigned at thy feet.

IN BEREAVEMENT.

SANCTIFY to thy servants, O God, the loss of one of our number by death. Look with pity upon our sorrows; and grant that the affliction which it has pleased thee to bring upon us, may awaken our consciences, and soften our hearts, and impress upon us such convictions of thy holiness and power, that we may place in thee our only fe

licity, and strive to please thee in all our ways. And give us grace constantly to look forward to that life which is beyond death, and over which death has no power, revealed to us by thy dear Son Jesus Christ.

IN ANY AFFLICTION.

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MERCIFULLY gard us, O Lord, in our present trouble, and make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us. Strengthen us to bear the cross which is laid upon us. Give us grace to look to the example of our blessed Master, who, for the joy which was set before him, endured a heavier cross than ours. By the sadness of our countenances may our hearts be made better; and may we so improve thine afflictive dispensations, that they may all tend to our final happiness and glory.

withered.

Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last, and be gracious unto thy ser

vants.

Comfort us again, now after the time that thou hast afflicted us, and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.

Show thy servants thy work, and their children thy glory.

Then shall the Minister

say;

MY brethren, what is our life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away. It is as the early dew of morning, that glittereth for a short time, and then is exhaled to heaven. Where is the beauty of childhood? Where is the light of those eyes, and the bloom of that countenance? The light is quenched, the eyes are closed, the bloom is faded, the countenance is changed. Who is young, and who is old? Whither are we going,

come? The gray head is laid low; and the blossom of youth perisheth. All are in the hands of God.

The voice said, Cry! And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the wind of the Lord bloweth upon it. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever. And the word of God is his promise to you and to your children, through Christ Je

sus.

And this is the

promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. This corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality.

Forasmuch then, as it hath pleased Almighty God to take unto himself the soul of this deceased child, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to