where the righteous obtain joy and gladness, and where murmuring and sorrow shall flee away for

ever.

CONTRITION.

O thou that hearest and answerest prayer, grant me, for Christ's sake, that contrite heart, which in thy sight is of great price. Show me my guilt, as committed against thee, my Maker, Governor, and Benefactor. Lead me to abhor myself, and to repent in dust and ashes. May I look on him whom I have pierced, and mourn, and be in bitterness. Give me a deep consciousness that I deserve the curse of that law which I have violated. Lord, I would acknowledge my transgressions: O may my sins be ever before me.

I thank thee for thy promise, that thou wilt dwell with him that is of an humble and contrite heart. Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it. Thou delightest not in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrițe heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Prepare my heart for thine abode. According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out all my transgressions. Create within me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me by thy free Spirit; then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

CONVERSATION.-See Tongue.

CONVERSION.

Lord, I would come to thee, in the name of Christ, that I may learn the necessity, the nature, and the fruits of regeneration. O do thou fasten on my

mind, abiding convictions that the carnal mind is enmity against thee, and that all mankind are by nature the children of wrath, and receive not the things of the Spirit, for they are foolishness to them; neither can they learn them, for they are spiritually discerned. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Show me, O Lord, that if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; all things are become new. He has put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him who created him, in righteousness and true holiness. It is thou, God of Mercy, who workest in such to will and to do, of thine own good pleasure; not by works which they have done; but according to thy mercy; by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. They are born not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God, who only giveth repentance unto life, and the earnest of that Spirit whereby they are sealed until the day of redemption.

Teach me, O Lord, that they who have been born from above bring forth fruits, meet for repentance; that they add to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity; and that these, abounding in them, cause them that they be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Saviour. They are made free from sin, and have become servants unto God; having their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Blessed Saviour, give me evidence in my heart and conduct, that I have passed from death unto life; that having been convinced of my sin and mi sery, I have had my mind enlightened in the know

ledge of thee, my will renewed, and have been persuaded and enabled to embrace thee, as thou art freely offered in the gospel. Let me not be satisfied with the form of godliness, without its life-giving power. Search me, O Lord, and try me; and see if there be any evil way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Make me watchful against temptation; quick to retrace my way when I fall into evil; ready to confess my trespasses; and earnest in purposes of new obedience. Create in me a new heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Grant me forgiveness of sins, and enable me to look forward, with a rejoicing hope, to an inheritance among them that are sanctified. Vouchsafe unto me, I pray thee, the testimony of thy Spirit, that I have been redeemed by thy grace. O, if thou hast begun a good work in me, continue it unto the end; and let thy grace be in me as a well of living water, springing up into everlasting life.

Lord, convince the impenitent of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Thou hast no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, and thou art not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. O lead many to inquire what they must do to be saved. Show them that they who are in the flesh cannot please God. Set before them distinctly, life and good; death and evil. May thy law be a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ, that they may be justified by faith. Persuade them to believe in that only name by which sinners can be saved. May they be born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible; by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

6*

COUNTRY.

Lord, the kingdom is thine, and thou art the Governor among the nations. I thank thee, Great Ruler, that the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; and that I have a goodly heritage. Imbue my heart with a Christian patriotism, which will take pleasure in every token of my country's real welfare. May I love it as the place of my home, my sustenance, my protection, and my civil and religious privileges. I would rejoice in its length and breadth, fitting it for the ample support of a teeming population-in its plenteous products, crowning the year with goodness-in its works of art, binding it in unity, and facilitating its commerce, and increasing its opulence. I would praise thee for its schools of knowledge, scattering instruction through every class of its inhabitants-for its happy form of government which has made it (though deeply dishonoured by one form of tyranny) a beacon light to other countries, and the refuge of the oppressed and the home of the free-and for its banner of peace, sheltering it from from foes without, and preserving it from enemies within. But, above all, I thank thee that it is a land of Bibles, of Sabbaths, of sanctuaries, and of gospel light.

But, O Lord, if guilt be measured by the number and value of abused mercies, then has this nation a most fearful reckoning with thee. Reprove this people, and set their sins in order before them. Lo! thy Sabbaths, which thou hast given to be a sign between thee and us, are polluted. Because of swearing the land mourneth. This people have loved the gain of oppression and treachery; and have spoiled both the stranger and the native. When

thou hast fed them to the full, then they committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. Multitudes have loved the cup of drunkenness; until our name has been a reproach among the nations. Our transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied before thee; and our sins testify against us and thou hast a controversy with this nation.

Yet, Gracious One, take not the weapons of thine indignation, to destroy us. Make us not as Admah: set us not as Zeboim. For the sake of its righteous, let thy repentings be kindled together; for there is a remnant who have not bowed the knee to Baal; and who sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the midst of us. May thy Church be our safety. Thou hast said, that if the wicked repent, and turn themselves from all their transgressions, iniquity shall not be their ruin. O may we loose all our bands of wickedness; and then shall our light break forth as the morning; and our health

ring forth speedily: our righteousness shall go before us; and the glory of the Lord shall be our rere-ward.

Lord, bless this country. Cover it with plenty. Secure to all its inhabitants just and equal laws. Let them that rule over us, rule in the fear of the Lord; justifying the righteous and condemning the wicked. Let peace dwell in all our borders. Put the keys of knowledge into every hand. Sanctify all our prosperity. Let the blessings of religion reach every household and every heart. Honour this people by employing them as chief instruments in giving to every nation the grace that bringeth salvation. Be thou our God, and we will be thy people!