May neither the love of praise, nor the love of filthy lucre, nor any other selfish principle, prevent them from acknowledging themselves, or from inculcating upon others, the genuine doctrines of the Gospel; and, above all things, incline them to recommend the truth by a good example.

To the mercies of another day I beseech. thee, O heavenly Father, to add a night of undisturbed repose and refreshing sleep, that with the returning light I may enter upon the business of life with renewed strength and spirits. May that, and every other day of this mortal existence, be employed in a faithful discharge of my duty, and thereby consecrated to thy service, and to my own future and eternal advantage. To thee, the only living and true God, be ascribed everlasting praises. Amen.

MONDAY MORNING.

INFINITE and eternal God! Thou art wory to receive praise and glory from all thy

creatures; and with a humble and thankful mind may I now present the homage which thine excellencies claim.

I reverence thee as a being, whose knowledge comprehends all events, whose power is irresistible, whose mercy never fails, and whose dominion endures throughout all ages. Independent and everlasting, thou derivest thine existence, O Lord, from none, and nothing controls the exercise of thy perfections. All creatures are indebted unto thee for life and happiness they are all the charge of thy providence and the objects of thy bounty. The indulgent benefactor of the universe, thou art every where present to protect and bless the beings whom thou hast formed. Thou hast given me a variety of comforts, and hast added to thy other favours the privileges of religion, and the animating hope and assurance of immortality. I am thankful, Almighty and most merciful Father, for the distinguished blessings, in which I share, as a man and a Christian. And in reviewing the goodness, that has followed me all my days, I am furnished with the strongest motives for praising thy name, and for placing a cheerful, unbounded trust in thy

faithfulness and love. Before I could raise my thoughts or express my gratitude unto thee, thou wast my friend and benefactor. I render thanks to that gracious providence, which has also brought me safely to riper years; has assigned to me my lot in life; has conferred upon me innumerable personal and social mercies; and has caused my afflictions to prove blessings to me. I am truly thankful for the light, which the Gospel casts on the measures of thy government; and, confessing my obligations to this divine religion for the great accession of valuable knowledge I possess, upon the most interesting subjects of human duty and inquiry, it is the language of my heart-What shall I offer unto thee, my God, for so great an instance of thy love?

O thou, who knowest all my actions, who art acquainted with even my most hidden motives, and who art of purer eyes than to look upon iniquity, I acknowledge before thee my errors and transgressions, and humbly and earnestly implore thy pardon. Forgive, I pray, O God of mercy! my secret faults and my presumptuous sins. Remember not against me my disregard to thy presence, inspection,

and authority. I lament in that presence, that my piety is not more habitual and efficacious, that my benevolence is not purer and more extensive, and that I am defective in the regu lation of my thoughts, my passions, and my words. I lament my ingratitude for thy fa vours, my deviations from thy laws, and my abuse and misapplication of thy gifts. I desire to be sensible of my imperfect attainments in the Christian temper and life. Father of lights, give to me, I entreat thee, sincere repentance. Create within me a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me, and enable me to walk with steady feet in the way of thy commandments.

Suffer me not, O God, to be a stranger to myself. During these solemn moments of devout retirement, may I hold communion not only with thee, but likewise with my own heart, so that I may be acquainted with my real character. Shew me my weakness and my danger; nor permit me to think that I am already perfect, or have in any instance attained perfection. Convince me, I pray, that no fancied purity of religious faith, no fervours of religious zeal, will atone for the want of

4

substantial virtue, of genuine love to thee, and love to my fellow-men; and that, as a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I am under peculiar and the strongest obligations to live soberly, righteously, and with godliness in the world.

O Fountain of Wisdom, guide me by thy counsel, in my pilgrimage through life. Give to me innocence and discretion in my inter-course with mankind. Endue me with fortitude in the cause of truth and virtue; but grant that I may always behold with candour the errors and infirmities of men, and bear with a meek, forgiving temper, their reproaches and their unkindness. Make me fervent in spirit, and industrious in the discharge of duty. Form me to a disposition, which delights in doing good, which seeks occasions to instruct the ignorant, to relieve the wretched, and to advance the interests of peace, truth, and righteousness. In the exercise of such a disposition, teach me to meet with patience and submission, scenes of suffering and adversity, persuaded that they are the dispensations of thine unerring wisdom and infinite benevolence; and so conduct me through the present