affliction, I look up to thee, as to that being who formest the light and createst darkness, who makest peace and createst evil. To thee, O Lord," who at thy pleasure canst exchange the one for the other, canst turn the brightest noon into midnight, and the darkest midnight into noon, I would now look up and address myself."

I am thy creature; I am at the disposal of thy providence; every thing that I have is dependent upon thy will; all my blessings have flowed from thy free goodness, and the continuance of them is under the direction of thy wisdom and benevolence. Thy mercies are. ever ready to be bestowed upon me. In the time of need thou art a very present help; in the hour of affliction thou art a refuge. To thee are known the anxious thoughts of my heart. I still maintain a hope of thy neverfailing mercy. I adore and praise thy goodness, which hath invited me to fly to thee in all my distresses; and in every thing, by prayer and i supplication, to make known my requests.

In this time of my affliction I address myself to thee, my Father in heaven, my almighty and merciful Father, who art possessed of perfection to engage love and encourage con-

every

fidence. May I find in thee all seasonable and effectual support; and now experience all the consolations, which faith in thy divine perfections, and trust in thy promises, can afford. Teach me to acquiesce in the appointments of thy providence. Teach me to bow with filial resignation to thy will, as always directed by unerring wisdom and paternal goodness. Help me with sincerity, to adopt the language of submission, saying, "It is the Lord, good is his word; righteous are his judgments; and merciful is his discipline." Instruct me to regard the affliction with which I am now visited, as the chastening of a tender father, intended for my benefit; and may it be so improved as to answer the end for which the children of men are brought into heaviness. May it draw me nearer to thee, and strengthen a devotional temper. May it leave on my heart a serious conviction of the uncertainty of all earthly blessings, moderate my attachments to this world and its best objects, and raise my views above it. May faith, patience, and divine trust be in perfect exercise. May my "ardent desires and hopes extend forward to the eternal happiness, to the perfect joys of a better world, even a heavenly one. May I be en-abled, while my mind is oppressed with grief,

or care, to preserve a spirit of love, gentleness, and meekness to all around me, and even of candour and forgiveness to those, by whom I may, at any time, suffer loss or pain. May my affliction soften and meliorate my heart, and incline me to feel the sorrows of others, and sympathize with them in their distress. Sanctify my affliction, that it may advance my holiness, and virtue, and best happiness; sup port me under it by those consolations which are not few or small; and when it shall seem fit to thy wisdom, deliver me out of it. Suffer not, under any length of affliction, my fortitude, patience, and hope to fail. Though my sorrows may be heavy upon me, though my grief may endure still, still may I trust in thee, as my Father and my God.

May no weight of sorrow, no burthen of cares, no loss or grief, cause me to forget that goodness which hath followed me to this moment, or the blessings with which I am surrounded, or the consolations which cheer my heart. Many are the blessings of my present lot, and of the present moment. Above all, may I be sensible of the support and consolation of that hope of eternal life by Christ Jesus, of which I am a partaker. Help me under all

my.

afflictions still to maintain my faith, hope, and joy in thy goodness. Help me to look beyond the days of sorrow, the afflictions of time; help me to look forward to that state, where all tears shall be wiped away from the eyes, and all anxieties shall be banished from the heart. May I look forward with confi dence to that blessed hour, when, purified by the afflictions of time, I shall be raised to the world of perfection and bliss, where all will be well, and where I shall triumph in the ful ness of joy for evermore. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR A PERSON IN PROSPERITY, OR

ON OCCASION OF ANY GREAT SUCCESS.

་

GRACIOUS Sovereign of the world, the benevolent disposer of all events, the most. high God, who art the possessor of heaven and All that is in heaven and in earth The world is thine, and the fulness

earth! is thine. thereof.

With thee is the fountain of life. I: adore and worship thee, as the author of every good and perfect gift. All creatures receive from thee their meat in due season: that which thou givest them they gather. Thou openest thy hands, they are filled with good. Thou adornest the flowers of the field. Thou feed

est the birds of the air. All my ways are directed by thy wisdom. Thou choosest for me my inheritance; and from thy inexhaustible fulness, from thy benevolent provisions of suitable and daily blessings, are my wants supplied.

On the review of that happiness which surrounds me, of the success and prosperity which is my portion, may my heart overflow with every sentiment of adoration and gratitude. My table is spread with thy gifts; my cup runneth over; and I have a goodly heritage. Not unto me, O Lord, but unto thy name be the praise. I reflect on my various enjoy. ments, and my heart riseth up unto thee, as the source of all my happiness. I would acknowledge, with a serious conviction of the insufficiency of man for his own happiness, that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill. I would make my humble, my thankful boasts in thy supreme providence in thy government and benevolence would I glory. Thou, O Lord, makest rich. Thou liftest up. Riches and honour come from thee. In thy hand it is to make great and to give strength and success.