that the Lord commandeth us, will we do; but soon forgot his works and the wonders which he had showed them. Keep these things for ever in the imagination of our hearts; and not only draw us, but bind us to thyself, with the cords of love, and the bonds of a man.

And with all our calls to gratitude and joy, may we remember that we have also reason for sorrow and humiliation. O give us that repentance which is unto life. Reform, as well as indulge us; and pardon, as well as spare. Let not our prosperity destroy us, nor our table become a snare. Let us not, by our perverse returns, provoke thee to visit us with heavier afflictions; and turn the rod into a scorpion. May our ways please the Lord, that we may hope for continuance of thy favour, and know that all things shall work together for our good.

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion. Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. And as the churches have rest, may they walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and be multiplied.

Preside over our national councils; impart wisdom to those who conduct our public affairs; and may all the various classes in the community pursue that righteousness which exalteth a nation, and forsake that sin which is a reproach to any people.

Regard the services in which we have been engaged with the thousands of our Israel; accept of the poor and imperfect thanksgivings we have offered; and let thy word which has been dispensed, in aid of the devotion of the day, accomplish all the good pleasure of thy goodness-through Jesus the Lord, our righteousness and strength; and in whose words we address thee, as

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

FOR RAIN AFTER A DROUGHT.

Jay.

THOU hast never left thyself without witness, but hast been continually doing good, even for the unthankful and unworthy, in giving them rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, and filling their hearts with joy and gladness. We acknowledge that the heavens over us might have been brass, and the earth under us iron. We have justly deserved the calamity; and thy power, without a miracle, could have inflicted it; but though thou hast tried our patience and awakened our fears, thou hast not forgotten to be gracious. We praise thee for sending us the seasonable and plentiful rain, by which thou hast refreshed and revived the drooping fields, so that the earth promises to yield her increase.

FOR FAIR WEATHER AFTER RAIN.

Jay.

O GOD, thou art good and doest good. Thou hast again surpassed our deserts, and been better to us than our fears. Thou hast caused the clear shining after rain; so that in the meadows the hay appeareth; and in the fields, thou art preparing of thy goodness for the poor. Thou preservest man and beast. May we feel our entire dependence upon thee; and by prayer and praise, give thee the glory that is due unto thy holy name.

FOR A GOOD HARVEST.

Jay.

AGAIN thou hast crowned the year with thy goodness. The grain might have perished in the earth, or have failed of maturity, for want of the showers, and of the sunshine; but thou hast pleased to bless the springing thereof; and we saw first the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear. We hailed the valleys standing thick with corn, and heard the little hills

rejoicing on every side. In due time the mower filled his hands, and the binder of sheaves his bosom; and the appointed weeks of harvest have been afforded us to gather in the precious produce. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

We have again witnessed thy faithfulness and truth in the promise-while the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease-may we learn to trust thee in all thy engagements.

And make us thankful, that, as we have no famine of bread, so we have no famine of hearing the word of the Lord. With regard to the soul, as well as to the body, Thou fillest us with the finest of the wheat.

FOR THE RESTORATION OF PLENTY.

Jenks.

O GOD, the Fountain of all goodness! thou didst threaten with famine to destroy the blessings of the earth, which we have so wickedly abused; but remembering thy own tender mercies, and not our ill deserts, hast raised a new and plentiful supply for us. And now thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy paths drop fatness. Thou hast loaded the earth with the fruits of thy bounty, and sent abundance of all good things for the service and comfort of man. O make us more sensible of the obligation which thy love has laid upon us. And as thou fillest us with thy good things, so fill our hearts with thy love and grace, to use every gift aright to thy glory; that in the use and strength of what we are continually receiving from thee, we may devote ourselves to live unto thee, and to serve thee with gladness and rejoicing for all thy rich mercy to us in Jesus Christ.

FOR A SAFE RETURN FROM A JOURNEY.

Jay.

As the Keeper of Israel, Thou hast been with us, not only in the house, but by the way. We might have been injured by wicked and unreasonable men. We might have been left groaning under the pain of bruised or fractured limbs. Our lives might have been spilt, like water on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; and the first tidings that reached our friends, might have plunged them into anguish.

Thy mercy, too, in our absence, has been upon our tabernacle, and secured it from all evil-O that it may be a tabernacle of the righteous; and be ever filled, not only with the voice of rejoicing, but of praise.

And be with us in all the future journey of life; guide us by thy counsel, uphold us by thy power; and supply all our wants, till we come to our Father's house in peace.

FOR RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS.

Jay.

ALL our times are in thy hand. All diseases come at thy call, and go at thy bidding. Thou redeemest our life from destruction, and crownest us with loving-kindness and tender mercies. We bless thee, that thou hast heard our prayer, and commanded deliverance for our friend and thy servant, who has been under thine afflicting hand. He (or she) was brought low, but thou hast helped him thou hast chastened him sore, but not delivered him over unto death. May he not only live, but declare the works of the Lord.

As thou hast delivered his eyes from tears, his feet from falling, and his soul from death, may he daily inquire, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? and resolve to offer unto thee, the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and to call upon the name of the Lord.

And may we ever remember, that a recovery is only

a reprieve; that the sentence which dooms us to the dust is only suspended; and, that at most, when a few years are come, we shall go the way whence we shall not return. May we therefore secure the one thing needful, and live with eternity in view.

PRAYERS AT TABLE.

BEFORE MEAT.

Jay.

ALMIGHTY GOD! the eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Bless, we beseech thee, the provisions of thine earthly bounty, which are now before us; and let them nourish and strengthen our frail bodies, that we may the better serve thee, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

OR THUS:

Bountiful Giver of every good and perfect gift! thou art never weary of supplying our returning wantsgrant, we pray thee, that the food of which we are about to partake, may contribute to the comfort and support of our bodies, and enable us to engage with more zeal in thy service; which we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

OR THUS:

Let thy blessing, Almighty God, descend on this portion of thy bounty, and on us, thy unworthy servants, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

OR THUS:

Almighty God, we beseech thee to pardon our sins: to bless the refreshment now before us, to our use, and us to thy service, through Jesus Christ.