TWENTY-FIRST ADDRESS.

O ALMIGHTY, most holy, and glorious God! whose kind providence protects and guides, and whose spirit animates and enlivens me. Of myself I am a frail and imperfect creature, and continually dependent upon Thee; but I feel strength and comfort in the relation in which I stand to Thee, for Thou art the most high God-who art infinitely wise, powerful, and good-who knowest all my wants, and all the means of supplying them. Thou knowest what is most conducive to my happiness, and art both willing and able to provide whatever is requisite to secure it.

Yea, O Lord! Thou art my Father, Thou never ceasest to act with paternal kindness to me. Whether Thou grantest or refusest my requests-whether Thou causest me to rejoice in the good things I possess, or to be afflicted by the loss of them-whether Thou openest thy hand to eurich me with thy gifts, or layest it upon me for correction, still I would

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acknowledge with the liveliest gratitude thy fatherly compassion and care.

I desire, O Lord! to love Thee with all my heart, with all my mind, and with all my strength. I see it to be perfectly fit and right that Thou shouldest be the object of the highest exertions of gratitude which I am capable of making, and that I ought joyfully to submit to all thy dispensations. Accept then, I humbly beseech Thee, the serious and devout dedication of myself to Thee my God, and strengthen and confirm the fixed purpose of my soul to live to Thee, and act agreeably to thy holy and blessed will.

Whether the path in which I may be called to walk shall be smooth or rugged, easy or difficult, light or overclouded,

pray that I may walk with firmness and alacrity, persuaded, that while I love, revere, and obey Thee, I shall be approaching to that happiness for which Thou hast desigued me. O let this persuasion comfort and rejoice my soul during my pilgrimage on earth. Let me ever be looking to Thee as the rock on which I niay securely depend-as the anchor of my hopes-as the sure foundation which will never fail,

nor ever disappoint the expectations which 1 may reasonably indulge.

May the conviction that Thou watchest over me for my good, be at all times present to my mind, and become so intimately united with all my thoughts and sentiments, that I may be growing daily more virtuous, more tranquil and happy. Grant that nothing in future life may ever estrange my heart from Thee, nor ever efface from my mind the indissoluble connection which Thou hast ordained between Virtue and happiness on the one hand, and between disobedience and misery on the other. And may the firm belief of this ever prove to ine, and to all thy children in every part of the earth, an abundant source of consolation and joy.

Most devoutly would I pour out the prayer of intercession to Thee, the supreme Ruler of the universe! for the welfare and comfort of every nation, every family, and every individual that lives. May it please Thee to bestow upon all, those mercies, both temporal and spiritual, which their several cases and circumstances may require; and may thy bounty and goodness

in granting them produce their proper fruits of gratitude and obedience.

Grant that all men everywhere may be speedily blessed with the light of the gospel, and be brought to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. May thy ancient people (the Jews) be converted to the faith of the gospel, and the fulness of the Gentiles be brought in. May all who profess the faith of the gospel live in dutiful obedience to thy holy will, and let their light so shine before them, that men may see their good works, and glorify Thee their Father in heaven.

In behalf of all who suffer under affliction and trouble of any kind, I implore thy merciful regards. Remove or mitigate their sorrow and distress-supply their wants-lay no more upon them than Thou wilt enable them to bear with unrepining patience, and grant them a happy and joyful deliverance. May all their sufferings be sanctified to them, and produce the peaceable fruits of righteousness in the hearts and lives of themselves and all that are connected with them, so that thy

gracious and benevolent intentions in afflicting them may be happity accomplishe !.

Bless all my relations, friends, and benefactors with whatever is necessary for life and godliness; and, by a wise and becoming improvement of thy mercies here, may they be gradually forming to a blessed fitness for the glories of thy presence and kingdom when time shall be no more. Direct all who mourn for the sins and follies of mankind to adopt the most prudent and judicious expedients to correct and amend them. May, a spirit of reformation shew itself amongst all ranks and classes of society, and may the efforts of those who would check and stifle it be feeble and unavailing.

Give wisdom to parents to watch over the education of their offspring with unceasing diligence and care. Enable them to discern, in their earliest stage, those propensities which being overlooked may bring after thein the most afflictive and un

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appy consequences. Implant in the bosoms of the young a temper of ready and cheerful compliance with the reasonable wishes and commands of their superiors in age and knowledge, and dispuse them to