Second Week. Monday Evening.

tend the knowledge of Christ and the means of grace, and to promote the practice of pure and undefiled religion. And chiefly may we do it by our own good example, and by living a life of faith in the Son of God. May the truth, and power, and excellency of the gospel be in our life and conduct so displayed, that they who see it may glorify thee, and the ignorance of foolish men be put to silence. Enlighten our minds, increase our faith, elevate our hopes, and so awaken our zeal, that we may run and not be weary. May we never dishonor the religion of Christ, nor put a stumbling-block in the way of others, but be holy in all manner of conversation, and show forth thy truth and thy goodness, both with our lips and in our lives.

Make us continually sensible that we are stewards of the good things committed to our care, and are accountable to thee for the use we make of them. O may we never be unjust stewards, nor bury thy talent in the earth. Preserve us, we beseech thee, from idleness; may we be profitably employed in what is useful to ourselves or others; not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord and redeeming the time.

And we now, O Lord, would commit ourselves and all that concerns us into thy hands. Defend us, while we sleep, from every evil to which we may be exposed. Shouldst thou call us hence this night, may it be to thyself in a better world. If thou shalt mercifully preserve us till the morning light, may we rise with thankful hearts, and devote to thee the life thou givest. We ask these favors in the name and through the merits of our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Second Week. Tuesday Morning.

Second Week. Tuesday Morning.

O HOLY, just, and merciful God, who art always more ready to hear than men to pray, look down, we beseech thee, with thy favor and blessing upon us, thy dependent creatures, and accept the renewal of our morning sacrifice of praise and prayer. Wonderful art thou, O Lord, in goodness, and patience, and long-suffering. Impress upon our minds a just and lively sense of thy mercies to us and to all the children of men.

We thank thee, O heavenly Father, that our lives are still preserved; that we were kept in safety through the silent watches of the night past; and that we are brought, encompassed with many blessings, to see the light of another day, and are permitted again to lift our hearts and voice to thee, in humble adoration. We thank thee for all thy favors of providence and grace, sensible that all our enjoyments are the fruits of thy bounty. And chiefly, O Lord, do we desire, with thankful adoration, to bless thy name, that thou hast so loved the world, as to send into it thy only Son to be our Savior, and hast graciously promised that they who come unto thee, through faith in him, shall not perish in their sins, but have eternal life. We thank thee that our lot is fallen in a Christian land; that the Holy Scriptures, containing the revelation of thy mercy in Jesus Christ, are in our hands; that the gospel is preached in our ears, and that means, and ordinances, and opportunities are still given, to instruct us in righteousness, and to build us up in thy holy faith.

Give us grace, we beseech thee, to be duly thankful for these and for all thy mercies, and to show forth our thankfulness by making a right use of

Second Week. Tuesday Morning.

them. Open our minds that we may understand the doctrines of Christ, and the duty of Christians. Do thou, who alone canst change the hearts and govern the affections of sinful men, create and make in us new and contrite hearts; sanctify our affections and our desires, and direct all our ways towards the attainment of everlasting salvation. Preserve us from self-righteousness, and pride, and from envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness. Purify our hearts by the indwelling of thy Spirit, and work in us to will and to do whatever will promote thy glory, and our own and others' salvation. Give us that repentance which is not to be repented of, and that faith which renews the heart, worketh by love, and overcometh the world; and grant that we may so pass through the changes and perils of this world that we may finally attain to everlasting life.

And we beseech thee to extend thy mercy to all mankind. May they who are now living in sin be awakened to righteousness, and in a time accepted turn to thee, with penitence and prayer. O may they not perish in unbelief, but seek thee while thou mayest be found, and call upon thee while thou art near. Make with them, O blessed Lord, an everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David. Hasten the time when the light of the gospel shall shine in the darkest places of the earth; when all nations shall bow down before thee, and the heathen become thine inheritance.

Be merciful, O Lord, to those humble, penitent souls, whom thy Spirit has convinced of sin, and of judgment, and who are inquiring what they must do to be saved. Wilt thou convince them of righteousness, and reveal to their souls the comforts of thy mercy in Jesus Christ, that they may go forward, rejoicing to bear his cross. Direct them by the counsels of thy heavenly wisdom, and encou

Second Week. Tuesday Morning.

rage them with a just view of thy promises of spiritual aid. Give unto those who ask; let them who seek find; open the door of thy heavenly kingdom to those who knock, giving them pardon and peace.

May it please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and help the weak-hearted. Continue thy mercy to those whose hearts have been renewed by a living faith. Do thou, who hast begun a good work in them, perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Stablish, strengthen, and settle them in the faith which was once delivered to the saints, and fix their affections on things above. And while the door of thy mercy is yet open, may every sinner flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold on eternal life.

And wilt thou, O gracious Lord, be merciful to this family and household. Our hearts are in thy hand, and our wants and our sins are all before thee. Cause us to be penitent and submissive to thy will, and give us such knowledge and sense of thy goodness, and our duty, that while we live we may live to thee. Give us also, we pray thee, such temporal comforts and good things of this world as to thy unerring wisdom may seem fitting, and give us grace rightly to use them. Direct and bless us in all we do, by the aid and guidance of thy Holy Spirit. May we go on from strength to strength till we are crowned with victory. Help us to fight the good fight of faith, and to finish our course with joy. O may we at last receive the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give unto all them who love his appearing. Grant that our whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved pure and blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we offer these our humble supplications. Amen.

Second Week. Tuesday Evening.

Second Week. Tuesday Evening.

RIGHTEOUS, adorable, and eternal God, in whom we live and have our being, and to whose merciful forbearance we owe it that our lives are yet prolonged, we thank thee for thy great goodness. Praised be thy name, that we are permitted once more to assemble around our family altar, and offer thee the incense of thankful hearts. The day is thine and the night is thine. Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. The heavens declare thy glory, and the earth is filled with the riches of thy goodness. It is of thy mercy, and because thy compassions fail not, that we are permitted still to call upon thy holy name.

But wherewith shall we, thy unworthy creatures, come before thee? We beseech thee, O heavenly Father, in the name and through the merits of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, to forgive our sins, and favorably with mercy to hear our prayers. Thou knowest, O Lord, our necessities before we ask in prayer, and our ignorance of what we ought to pray for. May thy Spirit help our infirmities and teach us how to pray. Let the words of our mouth and the desire of our heart be acceptable in thy sight, through the worthiness of Jesus Christ, who is our strength and our Redeemer. Grant that we, who are the creatures of thy power, may become the subjects of thy grace.

The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. Who can tell how often he offendeth? Cleanse us, we beseech thee, from our secret faults. Search us, O God, and know our hearts; prove us and examine our thoughts. Look if there be any way of wickedness in us, and lead us in the way