may religion prepare us for the changing scenes of life, for the solemn hour of death, and for the day of judgment. * Grant thy presence and blessing, O God, to thy faithful ministers of all denominations. While they dispense the word of truth with sincerity, may they be successful in reforming the wicked, instructing the ignorant, and in having christianity acknowledged in all its worth, and felt in all its power. Help the good in every land to diffuse light and true religion. Bless all our churches; and hasten, we pray thee, the time when thy name shall be honoured and adored throughout the earth; when all nations shall acknowledge thee alone, their common Father, and Jesus Christ their common Saviour. In his name we offer our prayers; and at the close of this day, consecrated to the memory of his resurrection, we humbly ask thy favour, protection, and blessing; while we ascribe to thee, the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. MONDAY MORNING. O GOD, the Creator of the world and of all things therein! Our souls would bow with reverence before thee in prayer, feeling as feeble as we ought in the presence of our Maker. Because thou, O Lord, art good, and gracious, and powerful, we come to thee, and we would have thee on every side to strengthen, animate, guide, and console. May we be in thee, and wilt thou be in us. We would see the displays of thee in nature. The heavens declare thy glory, and the firmament sheweth forth thy handy work ; day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge of thee. Thou art the God of our lives; and we lift up our souls unto thee, with the voice of thanksgiving, for thy merciful care of us the past night; and humbly implore the continuance of thy protection and blessing through the following day. With renewed vigour we would praise thee, who hast caused us to sleep in peace, and awake in safety. To thy service, O our heavenly Preserver and Benefactor, we devote our invigorated powers, both of body and mind. May we go forth to the various labours and employments of our stations, under a deep sense of our obligations to thee; and may we be in thy fear all the day long. O may a sense of thy presence, a regard to thine authority, and the hope of thy gracious acceptance, direct all our views, and govern all our actions. If we should, this day, be tempted by the prospect of unrighteous gain, or the allurements of sinful pleasure; grant us the understanding and resolution to turn from them; and let integrity and uprightness preserve us. While our thoughts are amidst the concerns of earth, may we be careful to reserve our affections for what is pure, and holy, and celestial. May we be sober, temperate, and industrious; so that a review of life may afford us comfort, when nothing but our characters shall remain to us. As sojourners on earth, we humbly entreat of thee, O Father of mercies, those supplies of temporal good, which will most conduce to our future welfare. If it be thy heavenly will, defend us from the many dangers to which we are exposed. Prosper us in all our just undertakings; and may we advance thy glory, by being eminently serviceable to our fellow men. Fit us, O Lord, for what is before us in life; and whatever shall be our condition, may the purposes of thy providence be answered in us. As our day is, so may our strength be. Ena ble us to meet the adversities we must meet, with prepared minds; with patience, fortitude, and resignation. May we take sober views of life and its duties; estimate well the great objects of probation, and see ourselves as thou seest us. Knowing that our stay on earth must be short, may we often think of the world to which we are hastening. O! may a firm trust in thee and a lively faith in Jesus Christ, carry us through every trial, and prepare us for thy presence. Father of lights! what we ask for ourselves, we ask for our brethren; beseeching thee, the universal Parent, to do for them and for us, as thine unerring wisdom sees best. * In the spirit of faith and charity, we present these our requests; humbly relying on that everlasting, unchangeable mercy, which thou didst manifest and declare by Jesus Christ; in whose name we offer to thy sacred majesty, glory and praise forever. Amen. MONDAY EVENING. EVER living and ever blessed Lord our God! At the close of another day, in which we have experienced thy care and goodness, we are assembled together to adore and praise thee, as our heavenly Father; in whom we live, and move, and have our being. Thou art the Source of good, the Author of our mercies. Accept, we beseech thee, our unfeigned thanks for our being, our reason, and all other endowments of soul and body; for our health, friends, food and raiment, and all the various comforts of life: above all, for that rich mercy which gave us a Saviour to redeem us from sin and death, and to lead us to a knowledge of thee and a sense of our duty. We bless thee for thy patience with us notwithstanding our many and great provocations; for all the directions, assistances, and comforts of thy holy Spirit; for thy continual care and watchful providence over us, through the whole course of our lives; and particularly for the mercies and benefits of the past day : and we beseech thee to continue these thy blessings to us, and give us grace to show our thankfulness in a sincere obedience. Reform whatever is amiss in the temper and dispositions of our souls; that no impure thoughts, unlawful designs, or inordinate desires, may rest there. Free our hearts from envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness; that we may never suffer the sun to go down upon our wrath; but may always go to our rest in peace, charity, and good will, with |