to acknowledge, "I know, O Lord, that thy judg ments are right, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. Show me that my cup has been mingled with mercies; for the days of my comforts have far outnumbered the hours of my sorrowsthat my griefs are not peculiar to me; for they are the lot of humanity-that they are not the accidents of life; for thou dost all things-and that I am not called to suffer them alone; for thou hast said, "I will never leave nor forsake thee:" and thy rod and staff they shall comfort and support me, even in the valley and shadow of death.

Lord, grant that thy grace may be peculiarly dear to me in the hour of trial; and bring me out from it as gold that is tried in a furnace. Assure me, that every branch that beareth fruit, thou purgest, that it may bring forth more fruit! Enable me to say with thy servant, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I have kept thy word." May that grace strengthen me, that I may glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience a hope that maketh not ashamed. 'Lead me closer to thy throne, as the only place where I may find abiding help in every hour of need. Grant, merciful Father, that my troubles may lead me to sympathise with all who suffer in mind, body, or estate; remembering them that are in bonds, as being bound with them; and them that suffer adversity, as being myself also in the body. Lord, cause my sorrows, which indeed are but for a moment, to wean me from the vanities and wickedness of earth, to prepare me for eternity, and to work out for me an eternal weight of glory: and vouchsafe to me, in all of them, the consoling thought, that though the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, I have

a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Grant, O Lord, that the impenitent, when they suffer affliction, may be so influenced by it as afterwards to reap the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Let them not despise thy chastenings, nor faint when they are rebuked of thee. Show them that unless they repent, these are but the beginnings of sorrows, that shall know no relief and no end. Convince them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Lead them to repent and forsake the error of their ways, and to turn unto him who maketh all things work together for good to them that love him.

These prayers I offer through the prevailing name of Jesus; to whom, with the Father and Spirit, be all honour and rule forever.

ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF GOD.

Sovereign of the Universe, the heaven of heavens cannot contain thy fulness. Thou art the infinite source of blessedness. Giving doth not impoverish thee, neither doth withholding make thee rich. It is in thee that my weakness is made strength, and the iniquities of my heart removed. O Lord, let a full persuasion of thy boundless sufficiency fill my heart, that I may forsake the broken cisterns of human happiness, and go to the fountain of living All that is in the heaven and in the earth

waters.

is thine. Be thou more precious to me than music to the ear, or light to the eye, or fragrance to the smell, or sweetness to the taste, or friendship to the heart. Make thy love my continual feast. May I commit all my wants and trials to thee; may I be encouraged in the midst of danger and distress; be persuaded that infinite wisdom and goodness govern

all thy dealings; and be led to persevere in faith and prayer, until the vision of hope be exchanged for thine open presence, where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore !"

ANGEL S.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments; hearkening unto the voice of his word! Great God, do thou exalt my intellect and purify my heart by meditations on the nature, character, and employments of the angels in heaven. Lo! they are an innumerable company of pure spirits; to whom thou hast given an endless life; endowing them richly with knowledge, power, holiness, and love. They dwell forever in thy presence; where their eyes are never dim with tears, nor their minds clouded by ignorance; where their affections are never wounded by grief, nor their hopes broken by disappointment, nor their hearts stained with guilt. And there they do thy holy pleasure with all the heart, and without delay, and continually.

I thank thee that thou hast revealed to us that these exalted beings sympathize deeply in the welfare of the children of men. The incarnate Son of God was proclaimed to the shepherds of Bethlehem by the angel of the Lord, with the message of glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: and a multitude of the heavenly host, that sang together over man's creation, and mourned over his fall, praised God in an anthem of good-will to man. And now, though it is their privilege to scan widely the wonders of creation, and search deeply into the mysteries of providence; though they find ample employment and delight in the reciprocal joys of

their own blessed fraternity of wisdom, holiness, and love-though they dwell in the absorbing and vivifying transports of the open vision of the Most High-yet there is joy in their presence over one sinner that repenteth!

Lord, teach me the value of that scheme of redemption which the angels desire to look into. There they learn the dignity of thy law, the rigour of thy justice, the immutability of thy truth, the depravity of man, the peril of his guilt, and the glory of thy mercy. O God, suffuse my heart with shame, that the plan of repentance and salvation, in which thou hast condensed the perfections of thy character, for the adoring wonder and excited love of perfect spirits, should be so often to my soul only as a dream when one awaketh!

Gracious Lord, I praise thy mercy which sends forth these messengers of thy power and grace, to

minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Grant, I beseech thee, in the name of Jesus, that I may belong to those children of adoption, whose beds they watch, whose hearts they comfort, and whose ways they protect.

Heavenly Father, prepare me for fellowship with that blessed throng, when the season of my earthly probation shall close. Enable me now, according to the feebleness of human nature, to do thy will as it is done in heaven. And when, at the end of the world, the reapers shall come forth to gather the tares in bundles, to burn them, but the wheat into the barn, grant that I may be garnered with thy saints; and that I may have my spirit made perfect in the everlasting communion of the sons of God!

God of Justice, admonish my fear of the guilt and punishment of sin by the awful example of those

rebel angels, who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, and are reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, until the judgment of the great day. Preserve me, I pray thee, from the power of that spirit that now worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience. Help me to wrestle against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and to bruise Satan under my feet, in the strength of the God of peace.

ANGER.

Lord, strengthen me by thy grace, that I may restrain and conquer my propensities to unholy anger. Let it not cloud my brow, nor envenom my tongue, nor vex my heart. Let gentleness, courtesy, and kindness spread themselves, like the green covering of earth, over my character and conduct. Teach me that he who ruleth his own spirit is greater than he who taketh a city; and that he who is hasty of spirit exalteth folly, and shall suffer punishment. Show me that a soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up strife. He that soweth to the wind shall reap the whirlwind; but the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. May I consider him who endured the contradiction of sinners, and seek not to avenge myself, but rather give place to wrath. Let me do nothing in rashness and strife. Enable me, in the exercise of candour, forbearance, meekness, and forgiveness, to disarm every temptation to sinful passion, and to cause the wrath of my adversaries to praise thee.

Source of Wisdom, instruct me how I may be angry and sin not. Let me not be indignant without cause and above cause. Give me a holy dis