portion forever. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.

Lord, fix the thoughts of the impenitent on that great event in their history, when the last fibres of life are breaking; and the soul, fluttering on the verge of eternity, looks back on the familiar scenes of earth with keen remorse, and forward on the unknown future with acute despair. May they now inquire, "How shall my heart endure, or my hands be strong, in the day when thou wilt deal with me?" Persuade them to make their peace with thee now; and then amid the strife of dissolution, thou wilt soothe their tender consciences with the assurance of pardoned sin, and cheer their fainting hearts with the hope of glory.

Look in mercy, I pray thee, on those who are encompassed by the sorrows of death. Prepare them for their solemn and awful change. If they have made their peace with thee, through the blood of Christ, comfort them, and give them blessed foretastes of thy heavenly kingdom. But if they have not, O bring them by thy saving power into thy covenant of grace.

O thou who didst weep at the tomb of Lazarus, comfort those who mourn for the loss of cherished friends. May they kiss thy rod; and if it be consistent with the life or death of the departed, let them not sorrow as those who have no hope; but look forward to that hour, when the hand that now has riven, will restore their fellowship, and make it pure as the light and lasting as the days of heaven!

DECISION.

Almighty God, help me to resolve to be thine, wholly thine, in the bonds of an everlasting covenant. Let me not halt between two opinions, but choose now to serve the living and true God, with all my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. O let me not harden my heart, nor provoke thy wrath, by putting off to a more convenient season, the things which belong to my everlasting peace. May I learn that now is thine accepted time for the discharge of duty, and this the day of that salvation which makes thy saints willing subjects of thy power. Teach me that there are no neutrals in thy dominion and that he who is not with thee is against thee. Lord, make me not only almost, but altogether a Christian. May thy word, and providence, and Spirit inspire me with energy of purpose to do thy pleasure. Whatsoever I do, may I do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men. O make me steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.

DEPENDENCE.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Teach me, Giver of Mercies, my absolute and continual dependence on thee for life, and breath, and all things. Thou didst make me by the word of thy power, and I live every moment at the expense of thy bounty. I am full of wants, without any ability in myself to supply them. I am a creature of yesterday; my breath is in my nostrils; and I am crushed before the moth. I know not what a day may bring forth: I cannot add one cubit to my stature; nor make one hair of my head white or black. Grant me, I pray thee, such an abiding conviction of my subjection to thee as shall keep me from resting on an arm of flesh, and lead me to trust in the living God. In the hour of prosperity, let me not forget that thou art the giver of every good and perfect gift: and in the season of affliction, show me that thou canst comfort me on every side-canst make my wilderness as Eden, and my desert as the garden of the Lord. Make me realize that in all my efforts to do good, either to myself or others, I must depend on thee. Thou only givest the increase. But blessed be thy name, thy Spirit helpeth my infirmities; and thy strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Assist me by thy grace, in all the vicissitudes of life, to feel that thou art a present help in every hour of need. When toil and care, fears and trials encompass me, lead me to thee, with whom alone dwelleth that peace which passeth understanding: and do thou guide me into green pastures and beside still waters; and let thy banner over me be love. And grant, O Lord, through the merits of Jesus Christ, that when I am called to struggle with the king of terrors, thy grace may be sufficient for me, and that I may be made glad in the hope of eternal

life.

DEPRAVITY. See Human Depravity.

DILIGENCE.

Lord, quicken thou me in thy way. Make me diligent in thy work, continuing instant in prayer, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Grant, that in every duty I may be active, watchful and persevering; for no man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Let not mine be the doom of that servant who hid his master's talent in the earth. Let me not be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Suffer me not to rely on the memory of past experience, nor on the hope of future obedience; but whatsoever my hand findeth to do, give me zeal to do it with my might. O give me the spirit of diligence in every work of faith and labour of love; remembering my accountability to thee, the importance of the trusts thou hast reposed in me, the shortness of human life, and the abundant rewards thou hast promised to them who are faithful in thy service. Lord, enable me to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset me, and run with patience the race that is set before me; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, and pressing toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God, which is in Christ Jesus.

Lord, rebuke the sloth of thy covenant-people. Give them a spirit of active energy in all that relates to the sanctification of their own hearts, the saving health of thy church, and the conversion of sinners. Yet do thou make them feel that while they strive with all their vigour in the obedience of faith, it is thou that workest all in all,

DOUBTS.

Merciful Father, preserve me from a doubtful mind. Let not disease of body, nor affliction of mind, disquiet my soul within me. Let not ignorance nor error intrude on my comfort in the hope of the gospel. Let not Satan unsettle my trust in thy covenant of mercy. And O, suffer not sin, in any form, to bring a cloud over the light of thy countenance, and the joys of thy salvation. O thou that givest rest to the weary and heavy-laden, show me that thy mercy endureth forever. Teach me that thou art merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness. Lead me, I pray thee, in every feeling of despondency, to that throne from which thou givest grace to help in every season of trial. Say unto me, when accused by a guilty conscience" Come, let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red, like crimson, they shall be as wool." Dissipate my fears, and give me an assurance of an interest in thy favour, and of acceptance in thy sight, through the righteousness of Christ. Grant me thy blessed Comforter, that I may have joy in the Holy Ghost. Cheer me by thy gracious promises, which are Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. Give me, O Lord, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Let my light rise in my obscurity, and my darkness be as the noonday. Cause thy righteousness to go before me, and thy glory to be my rere-ward!

DUELING.

Lord, I would mourn before thee that man still imbrues, in single combat, his hand in the blood of his fellow-man. O, thou seest that many hearts, which were cherished in the social and family circle; many lives, which were valuable in the public service; and many souls, whose redemption was precious-have been periled and cast away in these barbarous rencounters. Lord, wilt thou not utterly subvert that merciless code of honour, which combines folly and cowardice, madness and malice, suicide and murder? Do thou bring against this presumptuous and heaven-daring sin, a flood-tide