sand of them, I could not stand before thee. My iniquities are increased over my head, and my trespasses are grown up to the heavens. Thou mightest justly cause that dark cloud to shut out the light of thy countenance; and gather there the thunders of thy wrath, and break them on my guilty head, with an overwhelming vengeance. Lord, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth, and put my mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope. God be merciful to me

a sinner.

CONFIDENCE

IN GOD.

O Lord, Jehovah, thou art the strength of all that put their trust in thee. Thou art boundless in wisdom, omnipotent in power, and infinite in goodness. Thou dost not withhold any good thing from him that walketh uprightly. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water; that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither. Whatsoever he doth shall prosper; and the end of that man is peace.

Lord, if thou art my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? If thou art my strength, of whom shall I be afraid? Enable me, I pray thee, to trust in thee with all my heart; and keep me from leaning on my own understanding. May I cast all my cares upon thee, in perils, in wants, in losses, in griefs, in sickness, and in death. Cause me to hear thy voice, in every variety of tribulation, saying unto me, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." I would remember that oft when I said, "My foot slippeth," thy mercy,

O Lord, held me up. In the day when I cried, thou didst answer and strengthen me. May the memory of thy past goodness, the possession of present joys, and the testimonies of thy promises persuade me, that though the mountains depart, and the hills be removed, thy kindness doth not depart from thee; neither is the covenant of thy peace removed.

Heavenly Father, give me confidence towards thee in the duty of prayer. May I come to thee as to a forgiving, a bountiful, a compassionate, a wise, and a powerful God-for thou only hast an eye of pardon, a hand of plenty, a heart of pity, a judgment of knowledge, and an arm of might. Assure me that whosoever cometh unto thee, thou wilt in no wise cast out. Help me to ask in faith,

nothing wavering.

God of Israel, inspire thy people with unlimited and unwavering reliance on thy character, dealings, and purposes. May they learn that the word of the Lord endureth for ever. Let them not cast away their confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. As thou didst not withhold thine own Son, but didst deliver him up for them, O cause them to hope that, with him, thou wilt freely give them all things. Lord, let them never forget that thou makest all things work together for good to them that love thee. Although the fig-tree may not blossom, neither fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive fail, and the fields yield no meat; the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-yet may they rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of their salvation. Thou canst make even the bed of death a couch of down; and the gloomy grave the cradle of immortality.

CONSCIENCE.

God of Judgment, I thank thee that thou hast given me an inward monitor, to warn me against iniquity, and to smite me when I transgress. May I regard its testimony as a proof of a future judgment; when the righteous shall receive the recompense of reward, and the wicked the retribution of Wo. Enable me, I pray thee, to nourish and culture this plant of thy hand. Show me that my happiness and welfare, and the enjoyment of thy life-giving countenance, will depend on the activity, strength, and purity of my conscience. If the light that is in me be darkness, how great is that darkness! May thy will, as exhibited in thy word, be the supreme rule of its actings. May thy Spirit cleanse it from error and sin, and animate it with right knowledge and holy power. Lord, give it peace through the justifying merits of Jesus Christ, and purge it from dead works to serve the living God. Make it tender and watchful, and a faithful index of thy sovereign will; that it may be void of offence towards God and man.

Lord, stimulate and give a wholesome vigour to the conscience of all men. May it exercise a controlling and righteous influence over their inmost thoughts and their outward actions. Teach them that though they may turn away from its testimonies, and stifle its chidings, yet there is a day coming when, if they continue impenitent, it will rise up in judgment against them; when he that sitteth upon the throne will confirm its testimony, by pronouncing the verdict "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

CONSISTENCY.

Enable me, O Lord, through the grace of Jesus, to follow thee fully. May I act, in all things, worthy of the vocation wherewith I am called; and strive to be of those, who, by patient continuance in welldoing, seek eternal life. Thou art entitled to my full-hearted and consistent obedience. O may that obedience be without reserve, and without hypocrisy. Let me not call thee "Lord, Lord," and yet do not the things which thou sayest. Make my walk the index of my heart; and make my heart right in thy sight. Give me oil for my lamp, that when the Bridegroom cometh, I may go forth in joy to meet him. May I remember that he who gathereth not with thee, scattereth abroad. Let me never do evil that good may come. When I would do good, let not evil be present with me: let not the law in my members war against the law of my mind, and bring me into captivity to the law of sin. Permit me not to act so that the way of truth may be evil spoken of; nor that the friends of the gospel may be ashamed of me. Suffer not my vows to be as the fitful wind; nor my devotions as the changing cloud; nor my hopes as the early dew. I beseech thee to give me strength to cleave to thy service, steadfastly, in penury and in plenty, in persecution and in peace. May my light shine in evil report, and in good report. And, O Lord, let it be as the path of the just, which shineth more and more, unto the perfect day.

CONTENTMENT.

Great Sovereign of heaven and earth, thou art infinitely wise and good, in all the allotments of

thy providence. I pray thee, teach me in whatever state I am, there with to be content. Keep me, O Lord, from envy, from avarice, from ambition, from anxiety, and from murmuring. May I remember it was discontent that brought death into the world, and all its woes. Make me content with such things as I have; for thou hast said thou wilt never leave nor forsake me, if I put my trust in thee. May mine be the prayer of Agur-"Give me neither poverty nor riches; lest I be full, and deny thee; or be poor, and steal, and take thy name in vain." Let me not forget that the love of money is the root of evil. They who will be rich fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Make my soul satisfied in the midst of losses and afflictions. May I be ever ready to say-" The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away: blessed be the name of the Lord."

Heavenly Father, discipline me so by thy grace, that I shall be careful for nothing, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, make known my requests unto thee. Let me not trust in uncertain riches; but in the living God, who giveth me all things richly to enjoy. Show me that human happiness consists not in the abundance of worldly treasure; but in godliness, which with contentment is great gain. I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies; wherefore then should I complain? I brought nothing into the world, and I can carry nothing out; let me therefore look not at things which are seen and temporal; but at things which are not seen, and that are eternal. May thy great and precious promises give me more comfort than the wicked have, when their corn and wine do most abound. Induce me, O Lord, to seek my portion