To be used on any occasions of Catechising Children.

us, may we live peaceably with all men. In all the business of our several occupations, direct us, O Lord, and give us thy blessing. Preserve us from an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from thee, the living God. May we set the Lord always before us; be thou on our right hand, that we may not be moved from our steadfastness, nor neglect any duty which we owe to ourselves, to our neighbors, or to thee. Vouchsafe, O Lord, we beseech thee, to sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments, that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved, in body and soul, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in whose name and words we offer and conclude our humble supplications:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come: thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

The two following may be used on any occasions of Catechising Children, or in Sunday Schools.

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, the author of all good and the giver of all grace, without whose blessing and aid our designs and labors are fruitless and vain, look down, we beseech thee, with thy favor and heavenly benediction, upon these children and youth who are here before thee, desirous to learn the rudiments of religion-the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. We be

To be used on any occasions of Catechising Children.

seech thee, O God, in thy merciful goodness, to open their tender minds, that they may know thy truth, and understand and receive the doctrines of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Help them to receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save their souls; and to become in heart and life members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. Grant them repentance, whereby they may forsake sin; and faith, whereby they may steadfastly believe the promises of God, made to those who are baptized into Jesus Christ. Direct, sanctify, and govern their hearts and their lives in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection, they may ever be preserved from all danger, and that they may live and grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Direct and bless the care and the instruction of their parents, teachers, and others who have, and may have, the oversight of their morals and their education, to their temporal and eternal good. May they all be under thy holy care and keeping; may they live to thy glory here on the earth, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through the merits of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succor, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead, we humbly call upon thee in behalf of these children and youth now present before thee. Behold them with thy favor and blessing. Open their understandings, that they may receive the instructions of thy word, and be established in the first principles of thy true religion, and that, like young Timothy, they may from childhood know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them

To be used in Meetings of Bible Classes.

wise unto salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Graft in their hearts the love of thy name; implant in their minds true religion; nourish them with the bread of life; help them to renounce all sinful vanities and all the lusts and pride of life, to believe all the articles of the Christian faith, to keep thy holy will and commandments, and to walk in the ways of thy truth all the days of their life. Help them to love thee, their heavenly Parent, with all their heart and soul and mind, and to do unto all men as they would that others should do unto them; to submit themselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Receive, O Lord, and bless them as thy children; as thou hast promised by our Savior Christ, give now unto us who ask; let us who seek, find; open unto us who knock, that these children may enjoy the benediction of thy heavenly grace. Let thy Holy Spirit lead and guide them through this sinful world in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life; may they be instruments of thy glory, by serving thee in their generation; so that finally, by thy mercy, they may attain to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.

In Meetings of Bible Classes may be used the following Prayer, or any other in this book that may be thought convenient.

O ETERNAL God, whose wise and unfailing providence orders all things in heaven and on earth; who hast compassion on the sinful sons of men, and hast graciously promised to hear the prayers of those who ask in the name of Jesus Christ, behold us in mercy and hear our prayers. We desire to

To be used in Meetings of Bible Classes.

come before thee, not in our own name nor trusting in our own righteousness, but in the name of Jesus Christ, and trusting in thy mercy through him. May thy Holy Spirit direct and aid our devotion; open thou our lips, that we may show forth thy praise, and ask for such things as shall please thee. Make us deeply sensible of our fallen, sinful state; and work in us that repentance which is not to be repented of; that broken and contrite heart which thou wilt not despise. Make us thankful for thy goodness in preserving our lives from day to day, and from week to week; and in giving us frequent opportunities of social worship, of reading and hearing thy holy word, and talking of thy mercies revealed in Jesus Christ. Thy law is undefiled, converting the soul; thy testimony giveth wisdom unto the simple. May thy righteous statutes rejoice our heart, and thy pure commandment give light unto our eyes. O teach us thy statutes, and help us to talk of thy commandments, and to walk in thy ways. We thank thee, O God, that thou hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: may we in such wise read and hear and understand and receive them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hopes of immortal life. While we search those Scriptures which are the word of life, may we never forget that they testify of Christ. May we give such heed to the sure word of prophecy and its fulfilment in him, that we may say, in the fulness of our hearts, Lo! this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Accept, O Lord, of our humble and hearty thanks for the unspeakable gift of a divine Savior; that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us: and that he has put away sin, by the sacrifice of himself. We thank thee for all the means of grace

To be used in Meetings of Bible Classes.

and for the hope of glory. We bless thee for the weekly return of thy holy day of rest. We adore thy goodness in giving us frequent opportunities of communing as Christian brethren and friends, of meeting in thy presence, of uniting in prayer, of searching the Scriptures, of talking of thy goodness and declaring the wonders that thou dost for the children of men.

Thou art still calling us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee. Increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore; help us to receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save our souls, and to live in all things according to the precepts of thy holy word. Wilt thou, Ŏ Lord, reveal thyself to us as thou dost not to the world? Give us that lively faith in Jesus Christ which renews the heart and overcomes the world. May thy word be our study and our delight; and may thy Holy Spirit dwell within us, and so sanctify our thoughts and govern our wills, that we may present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, unto thee, which is our reasonable service. As he who hath called us is holy, so may we be holy in all manner of conversation. Give us grace, O Lord, to make a right improvement from these opportunities of meeting in love, uniting in prayer, and searching for the truths of thy holy word. Grant that what has been or shall be now read or heard, may be duly impressed upon our hearts, and fruitful in our lives. And may we show our thankfulness for these favors not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and walking before thee in holiness and righteousness, to thy honor and praise, and to our comfort and salvation in Jesus Christ. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us evermore. Amen.