MANUAL OF PRAYER.

ACCOUNTABILITY.

O THOU Judge of the quick and the dead, make me realize that I am responsible to thee for all my thoughts, words, and actions; and in all my duties and privileges. Thou knowest all the thoughts of my mind, with all the works of my life; and thou makest record of them :-and for all these thou wilt bring me into judgment, whether they be good or evil. Then there shall be nothing that now is covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be made known: and it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for my soul, if I fail to serve thee now in reverence and godly fear. For even the earth that drinketh in the rain, that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. O let not my stewardship of thy mercies be one of wilful sin, of abused privileges, and neglected duties; but grant that in all things I may strive, in the grace of Christ, to work out my salvation with fear and trembling.

Lord, excite me to diligent labour on behalf of thy church and of sinners. May I feel that I am bound to do good as I have opportunity; looking diligently to the judgment of that day, when the

unprofitable servant shall be cast into outer darkness, while he that has been faithful shall enter, through the atonement of Christ, into the joy of his Lord. And unto him that is able to keep me from falling, and to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.

ADOPTION.

Lord, wilt thou give me the spirit of adoption, by which I may cry "Abba, Father?" I am indeed thine offspring by creation. May I be thine by adoption and be thou my parent in that nobler relation, of a reconciled God and Father in the Lord Jesus. Make me one of the number, and give me, through the merits of Christ, a title to the privileges, of thy dear children. Behold! what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on them, that they should be called the sons of God!

O grant that in indulging this hope, I may purify myself, even as thou art pure. Make it a spirit of tenderness and reverence, of gratitude and love, of obedience and zeal. May it give me access to thy throne with an humble confidence in the faith of Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; and keep me from that spirit of bondage, that servile fear and slavish formality in duty, which will make me as a hired servant, instead of an heir, in my Father's house. May it enable me in all the vicissitudes of life to look up to thee as infinitely able and willing to bless me with thy paternal gifts: for if earthly parents know how to give good gifts to their children, much more will our heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to

them that ask him. Grant that thy Spirit may bear witness with mine that I am thy child; and if a child, then an heir, and a joint-heir with Christ, in that inheritance which fadeth not away.

Look in mercy, O God, on thy children by nature, who are wandering as prodigals from their home, and are living without God in the world. Touch their hearts with a feeling of their wants and their apostasy; and do thou bring many back, who shall say they have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and are not worthy to be called thy children. Establish them in the fellowship of thy saints, and make them heirs of the grace of life, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

ADORATION.

Adorable Jehovah, I would praise thee for thine excellent greatness. Thou dwellest in light that is inaccessible and full of glory: thou coverest thyself with it as with a garment; and thou art clothed with honour and majesty! Thou dwellest on high, and humblest thyself to behold the things that are done in heaven and earth. Thou art infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in thy being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Thou art not worshipped as though thou needest any thing; for thou givest unto all, life, and breath, and all things. Yet thou art exalted above principalities and powers, that at thy name every knee should bow, and every tongue confess.

O, thou art infinitely worthy of the everlasting adoration of all thy rational creatures. Thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. In thee I live, and move, and have my being. From thee I derive every good and perfect gift. It

was thy power which created me; it is thy wisdom that governs me; thy goodness that provides for me; and thy grace that saves me. O help me, adorable Jehovah, to feel and express the infinite excellencies of thy character, and to bow before thee as over all, God, blessed forever!-[See PRAISE, and the various Attributes.]

AFFLICTION.

In the time of trouble, hide me in thy pavilion, O Lord! Prepare me for meeting and bearing all the adversities of life. Support or deliver me in poverty, in sickness, in pain, in bereavement, in persecution, in sorrow, in reproach. Let the trial of my faith in all these work patience and holiness. May I endure as seeing him who is invisible; and so repose on thy wisdom and goodness, that I may say-Thy will be done-do with me as seemeth good in thy sight-thou givest and takest away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Though thy judgments are unsearchable, and thy ways past finding out, I know that thou art too wise to err; for thine understanding is infinite. Thou art too good to be unkind; for thou dost not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; yea, whom thou lovest thou chastenest, and scourgest every child whom thou receivest. Lord, cause my judgment, and heart, and will to approve of every measure of thy correcting and reclaiming love.

O Shepherd of Israel, cause my every adversity to be sanctified to me. Lead me to see thy hand in it; to feel that my sins have far more than deserved it; and to be willing that thy justice may be exalted at my expense, and that I may be brought