with us on just and honourable terms; and may we long enjoy the blessings of tranquillity, having none to molest or to make us afraid. O God! wilt thou hasten the time, when the reign of peace shall commence under the Prince of Peace, and when wars shall cease to the ends of the earth.

AFTER THE DEATH OF ANY PERSON IN A FAMILY.

ETERNAL God! without whose direction and providence, nothing happeneth to us in life or death; out of the depths of affliction and sorrow, unto thee do we lift up our souls; for our help and our hopes are in thee. Our lives are in thy hands; and all our enjoyments are at thy disposal. Thou didst at first call us into life, by thy mighty power; and, when thou takest away our breath, we die, and return to the dust.

In the midst of life we are in death; to whom shall we go for succour, but unto thee, O Lord, who changest not, and who hast been the refuge of the children of men, in all generations? The Lord liveth; let our hearts rejoice; and let the God of our salvation be forever exalted. Under all the troubles of this mortal life, thy mercy which endureth forever, is our confidence

and joy. Behold thy servants, O Lord; do with us whatsoever seemeth good in thy sight, not our wills, but thine be done. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to the lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.

Sanctify unto us, O God, the dispensation of thy providence which hath taken from the bosom of this family one of its members. May we, when we see one after another called away, be induced to consider what manner of persons we ought to be. May we submit to thy will, and be able to make a wise improvement of thy dealings. O may we live as those who have here no continuing city, and prepare to follow those who have gone before us.

AFTER THE DEATH OF A NEIGHBOUR.

EVER LIVING God! in whose sight a thousand ages are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night! be thou the support of thy servants who are now mourning the loss

of a relative and friend. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this visitation of thy providence. May they experience the consolations which religion affords. By the frequent instances of mortality around us, may we learn to know our end, and the measure of our days, what it is, that we may know how frail we are. Neighbour after neighbour art thou calling away, and house after house hath witnessed the footsteps of death. Merciful God! O teach us to live in such a manner as we shall wish we had done, when we come to die. Whatsoever our hands find to do, may we do it with all our might, since there is no work or device in the grave, whither we are going. Give us grace to follow the good examples of those who have departed this life in thy faith and fear, that at length we may, with them, be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom. May we glorify thee on earth, and finish the work thou hast given us to do, that when we shall leave this world we may rest in peace; and being found acceptable in thy sight, may we be received to the reward of faithful servants, through the riches of divine grace in Jesus Christ.

FOR A PERSON GOING ON A JOURNEY.

ALMIGHTY God! the Preserver of all thy creatures, and the Confidence of the ends of the earth! We would humbly recommend to thy gracious protection, thy servant, who is going from us. While far distant from us, may thy providence defend him. Preserve him from the peculiar dangers to which he may be exposed, and, above all, from moral evil. Succeed him in all his lawful and honourable designs, and restore him to his friends in innocence and safety, that he may have fresh occasions to celebrate the praises of thy goodness with a thankful heart. And may we long live together, to enjoy the pleasures of domestic life, and to manifest our thankfulness for thy various mercies.

FOR A PERSON GOING ON A VOYAGE.

ETERNAL and merciful Jehovah! thou art our Protector, and thou art our Hope. Thou spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the ocean. At thy command the winds and storms arise; and at thy word they are still. Receive thy servant, we beseech thee, under thine almighty protection. Preserve him from the dangers of the sea, and the attempts of wicked men. Be with him in other lands for

his security and his health; and may his life be very precious in thy sight. In the appointed time, wilt thou restore him to his native country in safety, to enjoy the fruits of his industry and labour, the benefits of society, and the endearments of domestic life, with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies, who art the Giver of all good.

FOR RAIN.

O THOU, who art the Author of nature! thou didst promise to give rain unto thy faithful people, in due season; and hast promised, by thy Son, that all who seek thy kingdom and the righteousness thereof, shall receive all things necessary to their bodily sustenance; send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate showers of rain, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort and relief. No longer, we pray thee, make the heavens over our heads as brass, nor the rain of our land, powder and dust. But wilt thou, who art the Father of the rain, visit and water thy weary heritage, that there may be grass for the cattle, and corn for the service of man. The year, O God, is thine; and wilt thou crown it with thy blessing.