viceable to members of other communions, as well as to those of his own? Dr. Watts, though a firm Pedobaptist, has yet composed and inserted in his excellent book, several hymns, adapted to the convictions of those, who practise adult baptism, by immersion only. And the late Mr. Newton, though an Episcopalian, made no scruple, when desired, to draw up a plan for a dissenting academy. Let us stand in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth, for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day to the Lord, he doth not regard it. Here every thing non-essential is left, where it ought to be left, to individual conviction and can dour. Upon these principles, the author thinks, a dissenter, without superstition, may use these forms, on these very days: especially as he is under no compulsion, and he has nothing to do with the day, but as a season of leisure, and as reminding him of some important truth. A christian, although he disregards the seasons, must love the subjects connected with them: and at some time or other, he may wish more expressly to notice them; and this he can do, by means of these forms, with the omission of a few words. It is comparatively easy to be long and diffuse, but to be select and yet full, brief, and yet comprehensive-this is the trial. The author could have composed a single prayer, far superior to any of these; but the difficulty lay in the number; and the work must be judged of as a whole. It is hardly necessary to observe, that with a slight alter ation, and the substitution of the singular number for the plural, most of these prayers will serve for the closet, as well as the family. FAMILY PRAYERS. FIRST WEEK. SUNDAY MORNING. O COME let us worship and fall down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Yes, O Lord, we are thine; and Thee we are bound to serve. We grieve to think, how many of our fellow-creatures live without Thee in the world; and confess with shame, that other lords have had dominion over us: but henceforth, by Thee only, will we make mention of thy name. We hope Thou hast subdued the insensibility and indifference towards Thyself, so awfully natural to us; and awakened in us the inquiry, "Where is God my Maker that giveth songs in the night?" We hope we are disposed to acknowledge Thee in all our ways; but we feel our need of the exercises of devotion. We trust we hold communion with Thee every day; but we find week days, to be worldly days; and our allowed intercourse with secular concerns, tends to reduce our heavenly impressions, and to make us forgetful of our work, and our rest. We therefore bless Thee for the return of a day, sacred to our souls and eternity; a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; in which, by waiting upon Thee, our hearts are enlarged, and our strength is renewed; so that we can mount up with wings as angels, run and not be weary, and walk and not faint. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we 15 will rejoice and be glad in it. O let our minds be withdrawn from the world, as well as our bodies. Let our retirement be devout. Let our meditation be sweet. Let our conversation be edifying. Let our reading be pious. Let our hearing be profitable; and on Thee may we wait all the day. Thou Afford us the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ. None can need thy succours more than we. knowest our infirmities: let thy strength be made perfect in our weakness. Our duties are far above our own power: let thy grace be sufficient for us. Our dangers are numberless, and we are utterly unable to keep ourselves from falling; hold Thou us up, and we shall be safe. The burdens we feel would press our lives down to the ground; lay underneath us thine everlasting arms. Fears alarm us; cares corrode us; losses impoverish us; our very affections are the sources of our afflictionssurely man walketh in a vain show-surely we are disquieted in vain; all, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. While in the world we have tribulation; in Thee may we have peace: and in the multitude of our thoughts within us, may thy comforts delight our souls. Yet, O Lord, we would remember, that gratitude becomes us much more than complaint. Our afflictions have been light, compared with our guilt; and few, compared with the sufferings of others. They have all been attended with numberless alleviations: they have all been needful: all founded in a regard to our welfare: all designed to work together for our good. We bless Thee for what is past, and trust Thee for what is to come: and cast all our care upon Thee, knowing that Thou carest for us. Thou hast commanded us to pray for all men, that we may be bound by our very devotions, as we have opportunity to do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith. May we always cherish and display benevolent dispositions towards our dependents, forgiving dispositions towards our enemies, peaceable dispositions towards our neighbours, and candid dispositions towards our fellow christians. May we be able to say with our Lord and Saviour whosoever shall do the will of my Father that is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. And pray with Paul, grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. May the goings of our God and King be seen, this day, in every Christian sanctuary. Go with us to thy house, and give testimony to the word of thy grace. May it have free course and be glorified in the hearts and lives of those who shall hear it. May it enlighten the ignorant, awaken the careless, reclaim the wandering, establish the weak, comfort the feeble minded, and make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Remember those who are, this day denied our advantages. Be a little sanctuary to them in the midst of their privations, and let them know that Thou art not confined to temples made with hands. And O forget not those who never enjoyed our privileges; never smiled when a Sabbath appeared; never heard of the name of a Saviour-and let thy way be known on earth, thy saving health among all nations. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. SUNDAY EVENING. WHO is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? May we approach Thee with the humility which is due to thy greatness, and the hope that becomes thy goodness. For though Thou art high, yet hast Thou respect unto the lowly; and though continually adored by thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, yet Thou despisest not the prayer of the destitute, but wilt hear their prayer. Our fathers cried unto Thee and were delivered. They trusted in Thee and were not confounded. And Thou never saidst to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain. Behold a company of sinners at thy footstool, earnestly praying to be remembered with the favour thou bearest unto thy people, and to be visited with thy salvation. We would not overlook the blessings of the life that now is. If we have food and raiment, and agreeable connexions, and ease, and health, and safe abode, we would bless Thee; for we have no claim to these bounties, and our present condition renders them valuable. But they are not our God. "Give what Thou canst, without Thee we are poor Thou art the strength of our hearts, and our portion for ever. Whom have we in heaven but Thee; and there is none upon earth that we desire beside Thee? And praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion. We long to be able, with unshaken confidence, to apply the promises of thy grace to ourselves; and to say, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. O say to our souls, in language our consciences can understand, I am |