may be made unto me, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Lord, suffer me not to be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus. Teach me to regard it as my highest honour, to have communion with the Spirit, and fellowship in the service, of my blessed Saviour. Make him my all in all: my song in the season of rejoicing, and my hope in the hour of trial. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Christ.

God of Mercy, do thou present the character and offices of Jesus to the minds of the unconverted, so that they may be convinced that they are transgressors, and be persuaded to trust in him for salvation. O may thy Spirit apply to them the redemption purchased in him, by convincing them of their sin and misery, enlightening their minds in the knowledge of Christ, renewing their wills, and persuading and enabling them to embrace Jesus, freely offered to them in the gospel.-See CHRISTMAS.]

JOY.

Lord of Blessedness, grant me that joy of faith, that rejoicing of hope, which is a fruit of thy Spirit. Give me a full and rich experience of the sources of this bliss-which indeed are not broken cisterns, that can hold no water, but fountains full to overflowing, with the healing stream of life.-Lord, reveal thyself unto me, as thou dost not unto the world, and fill my heart with pleasure in learning thy character, and in communing with thy love.-Enable me to rejoice in Christ, and in the forgiveness of sin through him, with a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.-Give me that blessed spirit of adoption, by which I may cry " Abba, Father."-May

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the Holy Ghost give life to my hope, and strength to my rejoicing.-Cause me to rejoice in thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.--May I love the habitation of thy house, and find more comfort in thy tabernacles than in the tents of wickedness.--Let all the means of grace be to my spirit as rain upon the new-mown grass, and as showers that water the earth. Make it my privilege to verify thy word, that it is more blessed to give than to receive; for the Lord loveth a cheerful giver, and he that soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully.-Grant me the peace of a conscience that is void of offence towards God and man.-Make the communion of saints an abundant source of refreshment and strength to my Christian graces.-May the triumphs of thy gospel give me more pleasure than the wicked have when their carnal luxuries do most abound. -O Lord, comfort and bless my soul by the contemplation of that exceeding and eternal weight of glory, that remains for the people of God, in heaven.

Lord, grant that my spiritual enjoyments may excite me to gratitude, and lead me to open my lips, that my mouth may show forth thy praise. May others be led by my cheerful happiness, to taste and see that the Lord is good. When thou enlargest my heart, teach me to run in the way of thy commandments. Enable me to say in the hour of trial and suffering-" None of these things move me; neither count I my life dear, so that I may finish my course with joy." And, O when heart and flesh shall faint and fail, in the struggle of death, may thy rod and staff comfort me: and be thou the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

JUDGMENT.

Great God, thou hast appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment, when every one of us shall give account of himself to God; and when thou wilt display to an assembled universe, the righteousness of thy justice, and the glory of thy holiness. Of that day and that hour knoweth no man; but it shall be the end of the world, when all the works therein shall be burnt up, the heavens pass away with a great noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat. Lord, make me mindful of that awful day, and of the solemn truths thou hast revealed concerning it. Then the Lord Jesus will come with his holy angels, and sit on his great white throne, and open the books of remembrance -the testimonies of creation, of providence, of scripture, and of conscience. The quick and dead shall stand before him, to be judged out of those things that are written in the books, according to their works, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil; and also for every thing which thou didst command to be done, but which they left undone. Lord, make me realize that men will then be judged also for the privileges they have enjoyed; for of them unto whom much has been given, much will be required. O, even the best of thy saints will then need the atonement of Christ: they could not stand before thee, if thou shouldst mark their iniquities. But, blessed be thy name, there will be no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus: they shall receive the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. But then the judge will say to them on his left hand -"Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,

prepared for the devil and his angels:" and the wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God. O God of infinite compassion, grant that in that fearful day of trial, my name may be found written in the Lamb's book of life, and that my unworthy, hell-deserving spirit may be received, through the merits of Christ, into the habitations of eternal life.

JUSTICE OF GOD.

O Most High, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: just and true are all thy ways, thou King of Saints. Of a truth thou art no respecter of persons: thy law is holy, and thy government upright. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.—I would adore and praise thee, O Lord, that thou didst maintain and magnify the excellency of thy justice, in giving thy Son, to repair by his own blood, the violated law; and thus to make it more honourable in the redemption of the transgressor, than in his hopeless condemnation.

O Lord, show me, in the light of this attribute, the glory of thy dispensation of the gospel, in which thou canst be just, and the justifier of even the worst of sinners, who believe in Jesus. But, may I learn from it also, that thou wilt be to the finally impenitent, a consuming fire. May the knowledge of it prevent me from neglecting or violating the rights of my fellow-creatures, and lead me to render that which is just and equal, to all men. Let the threatened retributions of thy judgment warn me against transgression, and dispose me to seek conformity to thy will.

Lord, cause a sense of thy justice to alarm the fears of the ungodly. Make them know that they are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, and righteous revelation of the judgment of God. Lead them now to bow to thy sceptre, which is still the symbol of mercy; but which ere long may become the instrument of destruction. I pray thee, redeem them from the curse of the law, and give them the adoption of sons, through the righteousness of Christ.

JUSTIFICATION.

Blessed Lord, give me clear, and scriptural, and saving views of that justification, which is a cardinal doctrine of the gospel, and an essential and lifegiving principle of personal piety. Teach me that it is an act of thy free grace, wherein thou pardonest all our sins, and acceptest us as righteous, in thy sight, only for the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, and received by faith alone. Show me that in it thou hast displayed thy holiness, satisfied thy justice, and magnified thy law-Christ being made the end of the law, to every one that believeth. Instruct me that by the deeds of the law, no flesh living shall be justified; but only by the faith of Jesus; in whom thou art reconciling the world unto thyself, not imputing unto them their trespasses and sins.

Lord, justify me freely by thy grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. In his merits, acquit me from the punishment I deserve for my transgressions, and give me a title to those blessings which I would have received through thy law, if I had fulfilled it in sinless obedience. O may ever be found in him, not having on mine own

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