foul; disappoint their machinations, and, by perfecting thy strength, make my weakness become victorious over their power.

8. Direct me through the dangerous voyage of life; and, when the winter of age arrives, conduct me through the dark valley of death. Let my body in peace descend into the grave, its bed of rest, till the glowing morning of immortality; and let my never-dying spirit ascend unto thee, to enjoy the never-ending felicities of thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

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PRAYER,

FROM POPE'S UNIVERSAL PRAYER.

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GREAT Father of all! To thee, the incenfe of a pure homage afcends, in every age, and throughout all generations: From the frozen regions of the North, to the utmost confines of the Southern world; the innumerable tribes of thy children confefs their dependency upon thee. To thy Saints thou art known by thy great name Jehovah. The untutored nations of the world, by the law of nature impressed on their minds, acknowledge thee as the best of Beings, and a great King above all gods. The fage and venerable fons of contemplation, whose minds are enriched with the spirit of wifdom, beholding thy magnificent works, worthip thee as Lord over all, and tremble at thy holy and reverend Name.

Thou great first Cause! Thou glorious and incomprehenfible Being! What a small part of thy perfections do I behold; yet, even to my limitted faculties, the benignity of thy nature is so evidently demonitrated, that all my senses difcern thy goodness to be universally diffused.

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Thou

Thou has given me ability, in this dark and imperfect state, to diftinguish what is good and praise-worthy, from what is evil and pernicious. Thou hast set life and death before me; and, while nature is bound up and regulated by general laws, thy indulgence has bestowed a freedom of choice upon the human will.

What, therefore, my confcience dictates to be done, incline me to pursue with pious energy, as I value everlasting felicity; but whatever is evil, teach me to avoid with abhorrence, that I may not incur thy indignation, nor subject my self to future punish

ment.

Let me enjoy the blessings of thy providence, with prudent æœconomy, in the spirit of gratitude. And, as I neither can give, nor dost thou require any return for thy liberality, I bless thee, that, in receiving the fruits of thy bounty with thankfulness, and without abusing thy gifts, thou art pleased to accept, as a dutiful obedience.

But, let me never in thought, presume to limit to the contracted span of this earth, thy inexhaustible goodness; for thou art sovereign of the furrounding visible and invisible worlds, whose inhabitants are upon thee alone dependant, and, as well as man, are constantly partaking of thy diftinguished favours.

Against those who differ from me in religious sentiments, let me never dare, with a weak

a weak unknowing hand, to launch the bolts of vengeance, encroaching on thy prerogative; nor uncharitably condemn those, whom ignorance or prejudice may have induced me to deem the enemies of the Almighty.

If, in thy fight, I am a righteous worshipper, I implore thy grace to cherith and to enliven my devotions; but if, by error, I deviate from the principles of true piety, I anxiously folicit thy pardon; I entreat enlargement to my mind, and instruction to my heart, that I may serve thee hereafter with acceptance.

When thy indulgent goodness pleases to bestow upon me the bleffings of profperity, and to load me with benefits, save me from foolish pride and arrogant presumption; and when thy wisdom refuses to give what is unfit for me to receive, affift me to acquiesce in thy will, prevent me from all peevith murmurings, and impious discontentment.

Teach me, with tender sympathy, to feel the woes, and share the forrows of others, and may I ever be disposed to draw the veil of charity over the failings of my brethren; that mercy and forgiveness I exercise towards other men, that mercy let thy humble worshipper find, and that forgiveness, may he experience from thee.

Mean though I am, O God, yet am I not despicable; for thou regardeft, with paternal complacency, thy children, who

are

are quickened with the breath of the Almighty; permit me, O though great preferver of men, to ask thy guardianship thro' this tranfient life, and to implore thy confolations at the hour of death.

From thy treasures of plenty, give me of that bread which is convenient for me, and let me enjoy the boon in peace with contentment: All other confiderations under the fun, thou knowest whether they are best bestowed, or withheld; and to thy will I yield myself, with a pious resignation.

To thee, whose temple is all space, whose altar is the whole earth, whose footsteps are seen in the great waters, and whose glory is far above the heavens; to thee, let all existences, and every being unite in one exalted theme of praise, and let the pure incense of universal nature ascend to the God and Father of all, Amen.

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