of our present condition; prosper, we most earnestly beseech Thee, the undertaking we have in hand: grant that it may be productive of the desired effect, that we may return with renewed health and spirits to the prosecution of our respective duties. Thou, that leddest Abraham from his kindred and his country, and broughtest him safely to the promised land-Thou, that wentest down with Joseph into Egypt, and prospered him in all his ways-lead us, we beseech Thee, through every stage of our intended journey: let thy good providence accompany us wherever we go; direct our going out, and our coming in; and preserve us from all those accidents and dangers which might otherwise prevail against us; for thou, Lord, art our hope and our confidence, and into thy hands do we commend both ourselves and our concerns. More particularly, O Lord, we beseech Thee to take our spiritual welfare into thine especial care and guidance; that whilst we are wandering from country to country in search of bodily health, our souls may not be left destitute of that spiritual nourishment, necessary to keep them alive unto Thee. That whilst we are deprived, in consequence of our present situation, of many of those means of grace, ordained for the purpose of enabling Christians to persevere in the great work of salvation, we may not be left wholly comfortless. To this end we pray Thee, let the Holy Ghost, the comforter, take up his abode in our hearts, and there work that spiritual work necessary to qualify us for spiritual employment; that amid all the corruptions of a vain and ensnaring world, amid all the temptations that assault us both from within and without, we, through his gracious assistance, may remain steadfast in our profession, and unshaken in our practice; carrying about with us, wherever we go, the marks of the Lord Jesus: that we may be a holy family, sincerely dedicated to thy service in this world, and continually advancing towards the enjoyment of thy presence in the world to come. And whilst we pray unto Thee, O Lord, for ourselves, we beg a blessing likewise upon those friends and relations that we have left behind. Let the light of thy countenance shine upon them, and the comfort of thy salvation be ever with them; and if it be thy good will, O Lord, grant that we may again meet together in health and peace, to celebrate, unworthy as we are, these fresh instances of thy goodness towards us; and to acknowledge, with hearts full of gratitude, that Thou art a God of mercies and of comforts; that Thou art the Lord who never failest them that seek Thee. Hear, O Lord, we beseech Thee, this the imperfect prayer of Thine unworthy servants, for Jesus' sake, to whom with Thee and Holy Ghost, be glory for ever. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving on returning from abroad-1790. PRAISE the Lord, O my soul, while I live will I praise the Lord-yea, as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. For He hath not dealt with me according to my sins, nor rewarded me according to my deservings. But the Lord hath been gracious unto me, although I have too often forgotten Him-He hath not turned away His face from me. The Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer; He hath prospered me in all my ways; He hath preserved my life from destruction; He hath crowned me with mercy and loving kindness; He hath brought me out of the land of strange children, and hath made me to hear the voice of joy and gladness among mine own kindred. What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that He hath done unto me? I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will enter the courts of His house with joy; and in the congregation, shall my mouth speak forth the praises of my God. The remembrance of His mercies shall be ever before me, and I will be talking of His loving kindness from day to day. For the Lord is the God of my salvation, the rock in whom I trust; my castle, my deliverer, and my merciful God. Praise thou the Lord, therefore, O my soul; and again I say, praise the Lord. Glory be, &c. &c. O Lord God, and merciful Father, of whom cometh our salvation, and in whom alone we put our trust; we yield Thee our most humble and unfeigned thanks, for all thy mercies vouchsafed to us from time to time; particularly for the late instance of thy 'goodness in watching over and protecting us, during the course of our journeyings, from all those innumerable accidents and dangers to which we were exposed, and at length bringing us back in health and safety to our native land. Grant, O Lord, that the remembrance of this Thy goodness, may ever remain fresh upon our minds; to the end that we may show forth our gratitude for the same, by serving Thee truly all the days of our life. And as it has been thy good will, O Lord, to bring us again to a land where the light of Thy Gospel shines in its brightest lustre, grant that we may show ourselves not altogether unworthy of so inestimable a benefit, by making such use of the means of grace as may most tend to advance Thy honour and our own salvation. Hear, O Lord, this the imperfect prayer of thine unworthy but grateful servants, for Jesus' sake, to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever. Amen. Our Father, &c. The grace, &c. No. VI. Prayer on laying the first Stone of Christ Church, Bath-1795. O! Thou Almighty! all gracious Sovereign of the Universe! who, of Thy goodness hast disposed the hearts of Thy faithful servants to erect a building-more immediately dedicated to Thy service.-Deign, we most humbly beseech Thee, to accompany with Thy blessing the undertaking we have in hand. And that the great object of it No. XV. Prayer for the use of the Asylum Pensioners-1810. O Almighty Lord God, who didst put into the heart of thy servant to erect this building, to Thy honour and for our comfort; grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who by Thy good providence now inhabit it, may at all times have before us, the pious end which he had in view. That being freed from |