my gratitude for the time already granted lead me to improve that which is to come; and the longer I live, may I become the more earnest to rise to the attainment of true virtue, and to answer all the ends and purposes of my earthly existence.

TWELFTH ADDRESS.

On a birth-day.

As Thou hast been pleased, gracious God! to add another year to my life, I desire to enter upon the one before me with the most cordial gratitude for thy continued goodness, and for the numerous proofs Thou hast afforded me of thy loving-kindness and favour. Open my, eyes to see wherein I have come short of the excellence to which Thou requirest me to advance, and aid my resolutions to act in a wiser manner for the time to come.

Give me wisdom to reflect how short the term of human life is, and upon what an uncertain tenure I hold my present existence, and all the comforts which conduce to render that existence a blessing. Dispose me to make it my first object to live to Thee and in dutiful obedience to thy

holy laws, to be useful to my fellow-creatures, and to prepare for that time when the most impartial judgment will be passed upon me at the bar of eternal justice, and I shall receive according to what I have done in the body.

R 2

HYMNS

TO BE RECITED OR SUNG (ONE OR MORE) BEFORE OR AFTER THE USE OF THE PRAYERS.

HYMN I.

The goodness and providence of God.
I I BLESS the Lord! the good! the just!
The object of my faith and trust,

Who pours his blessings from the skies,
And crowns my days with rich supplies.

2 'Tis to his care I owe my breath,
And all my near escapes from death;
Safety and health to God belong,
He heals the sick and guards the strong,

3 He makes the just and unjust prove
The common blessing of his love:
But a wide diff'rence still remains
In inward joy and outward pains.

4 Yet small will this wide diff'rence be
To that which future worlds shall see,
When the great Judge ascends his throne,
And each shall reap as each has sown.

5 Then will the stubborn sinner find
That God is just as well as kind,
And, taught by dire experience, know
That guilt must surely lead to woe.

6 But after God has rais'd the dead,
And earthly joys and hopes are fled,
The good alone in realms above
Shall taste the blessings of his love.

HYMN II.

Humble confidence in God.

1 THE God that made me is my hope,

My help for ever near:
His mercy keeps my spirits up,

In all I doubt or fear.

2 His counsels shall conduct my feet
Through this dark wilderness;
And lead me to the blissful seat
Of peace and holiness.

3. No blessings equal to his love

I through creation see:

On earth beneath, in heaven above,
There's none so good as he.

N4 The man who far from God removes

Will find his comforts die :

Not all the vanities he loves

Can peace or hope supply.

5 But to draw near to Heav'n's King
Will prove my best employ ;.

In life, the sweetest joy will bring,-
In death, my only joy..

HYMN III.

The greatness of God.

1 GREAT is the Lord, his pow'r unknown,

And let his praise be great;
I'll sing the honours of his throne,
His works of grace repeat.

2 His praise shall dwell upon my tongue,
And, while my lips rejoice,
Let those who hear my sacred song
Unite their cheerful voice.

3 Fathers to sons should teach his name,
And children learn his ways;

Ages to come his truth proclaim,
And loudly sound his praise.

4 His kingdom shall for ever stand,
Though earth itself remove;
All things are govern'd by his hand,
And all his acts are love.

HYMN IV.

A thanksgiving hymn.

10 COME, let us sing to the Lord a new song,

And praise Him to whom all praises belong :
While we think of his works with gladness and joy,
Let a psalm of thanksgiving our praises employ.
O come, to his name let us joyfully sing,
For the Lord is a great and omnipotent King;
All things that we see by his fiat were made,
And of this mighty world the foundations he laid.