view to thy glory, and may both promote the welfare of my own spirit, and the good of those with whom I am connected.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Redeemer. Amen.

EVENING PRAYER FOR SATURDAY.

PSALM CXIX. 59. I thought on my ways.

I THANK thee, O heavenly Father, that thou hast permitted me to see the conclusion of another week; and I desire this evening, to review, with a truly grateful heart, the many instances of thy lovingkindness which have followed me during the days that are about to close. Thy mercies have been new to me every morning, and thy faithfulness every night. Thou hast graciously delivered me from many dangers which have surrounded me on the right hand and on the left. Thou hast preserved my body in health, and my spirit in peace,and thou hast blessed me with a full measure of those social comforts which spring from a heart that is attached to its kindred, and from the endearing charities of domestic life.

How many, O Lord, who saw along with me the opening days of this week, have already resigned

their place upon this living scene,-how many have met with calamities which have sorely bowed down their spirits, how many have been led into the far greater misery of having committed crimes which may darken all their prospects during the days that

are to come!

What am I, O Lord, that thy tender mercy should have so graciously exempted me from these great sorrows? Enable me to see thy good and gracious hand in all the blessings of my lot; and may my evening service this day be a sacrifice of heartfelt thankfulness to thee, who art the giver of every good and perfect gift.

But, alas! O Lord, I am laden with iniquity; and it becomes me to confess, with a truly contrite heart, my great unworthiness in thy sight. I have every day been adding to the amount of my transgressions, and when I look back on the opportunities with which thou hast blessed me, and on the means of doing good which I have enjoyed, I feel that if thou wert strict to enter into judgment, I could not answer for one of a thousand of my faults.

Alas, O Lord, my character still retains the imperfections which have marked it ever since I began

to act.-I have done little to overcome my feebleness in duty,—my coldness in devotion,—my want of charity,—my complete absorption in the things of this life to the utter neglect of those better and more enduring things that are set before me.

For Christ's sake, O Lord, forgive my offences, and may thy good spirit, which alone can take away my weakness, and increase my strength, inspire me with all holy, ardent, and elevated feelings, and enable me, during the days that may yet be granted to me, to run my Christian race, not only with patience, but with energy,-looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of God.

And grant, O Lord, for his sake, that when my day of life is about to be concluded, I may be enabled to look back on my course with joy; and to feel that having, during the discipline of time, improved, in some measure, my talents and

my time, I may look forward with a humble hope, that in a better world thou wilt perfect that which concerneth me.

For these purposes, O Lord, prepare me for the duties of that Sabbath-day which is soon to arise. May my mind be filled, before I fall asleep, with all holy, dutiful, and resigned feelings,—with gratitude for thy great goodness to the children of men, -with sincere faith in the merits of thy beloved Son, and with ardent desires that thy good spirit may sanctify all my affections.

And when the Sabbath sun shall come forth, may I be found in the spirit on thy holy day. May it be to me a day of rest from all vain cares and sinful thoughts,—a day of devout meditation on thy wondrous works,—a day of blessed anticipation of those endless years, which will be as a ceaseless Sabbath to all those who shall be faithful unto death.

Forgive, I humbly entreat thee, the many misapplications of thy Sabbaths, of which I have been guilty; and enable me henceforth to regard thy blessed day, not as a weariness, but as a delight, and to derive from its meditations and its duties, the strength that may enable me to run my Christian course with joy.

I commit to thy gracious keeping this night, all my friends, wherever they are. Be thou the friend

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