And do Thy will, and know Thy word,
That I may be Thy child in heaven!

-W. MARTIN.

Merciful Father! Thou protectest me in all conditions, and in grateful appreciation of that favour I beg to offer Thee this morning tribute of praise and prayer. At night Thou hast protected me in my defenceless condition and I am thankful to Thee that I feel fresh energy and strength to enter upon the duties of another day. Thy infinite kindness, glorious providence and protecting power are visible in all things. Before engaging myself in the pursuits of this day, I throw myself at Thy feet, and resolve to devote all my strength, bodily and mentalto the carrying out of Thy commands. Confer on me the necessary strength to successfully encounter the allurements that are awaiting me during the day. Thy well, meant counsel and Thy good precepts alone can regulate my mind. May Thy love warm my heart, may thy holy form be manifested to me and may it dwell constantly in my memory.

Oh Source of infinite mercy! Dismiss all impure desires and vicious tendencies from my heart, and sanctify my emotions and aspirations by leading them towards Thyself. In discharging my various duties, and in all my dealings with the world let my heart be pure and unsullied. Kindly help me Divine Father! that sensual desires and worldly temptations may not shake my confidence in Thee and in all the vicissitudes of life I may cleave firmly to Thee. Teach me to remember that the object of my existence is to obtain Thy love and Thy favour, and help me that I may spend this day and the following days with the above object constantly in view. Everlasting Father! Enable me to

grow continually in purity and faith that each day may find me nearer to Thee. Thy mercy is infinite; I seek refuge with Thee; so give me right understanding and absolve me from sin.

-MORNING PRAYER. *

mercy Thou hast showUnder Thy auspicious happiness, and the time

Lord of the universe! I bow to Thee repeatedly out of gratitude for the infinite ered upon me during the day. care I have passed this day in of rest has arrived again. But before I make use of that occasion I surrender myself to Thee with a devout heart. Thou alone, oh Merciful Father! art my protector and Thou alone givest me joy and peace. I who am helpless have no support except Thine. All the blessings I have enjoyed during the day bring to light Thy benign motive and give rise to a feeling of gratitude in my heart. Thy fatherly care has been with me all day and has protected my body as well as my mind. I thank Thee for all the means and opportunities of doing good and religious deeds which Thou hast given me to-day. I congratulate myself on every holy thought and aspiration that has sprung up in my heart and dedicate to Thee every good deed Thou hast enabled me to perform.

Omniscient God! All the sins and all the transgressions I have committed to-day in carrying out Thy orders, are known to Thee, and so with a heart full of penitence I pray to Thee for Thy sweet grace, Thy mercy, and Thy favour. Purify my soul and arm me with resolution not to fall into such sins again. Without Thy help and support I cannot subdue low desires and tempta

*From Ishwaropasand by the Ahmedâbâd Prårthanâ Samâj.

tions or obtain a mastery over the passions that assail my heart. I, therefore, beseech Thee with the utmost humility, Oh Fountain-head of all mercy! that be Thou pleased to grant me confidence and strength of faith that I may keep myself aloof from all that is evil and impure. Wash off the impurities of my mind, bless me with good sense that I may spend every day of my life according to Thy wishes, and preserve me.

-EVENING PRAYER.*

Ere on my bed my limbs I lay,
God grant me grace my prayers to say!
O God, preserve my mother dear

In health and strength for many a year;
And oh! preserve my father too,
And may I pay him reverence due;
And may I my best thoughts employ
To be my parents' hope and joy!
My sisters and my brothers both
From evil guard, and save from sloth;
And may we always love each other,
Our friends, our father, and our mother!
And still, O Lord, to me impart
A contrite, pure, and grateful heart,
That after my last sleep I may

Awake to thy eternal day! Amen.

--COLERIDGE.

(CHILD'S EVENING PRAYER).

suf

Oh Father of the Universe! What words can fice to express the gratitude I owe Thee. Thy loving kindness has enabled me to live till to-day and to reach

• From Ishwar opûsinâ by the Ahmedabad Prârthanâ Samáj.

this stage of life. Thou hast given me food to eat and cloth to cover my body at night. Thou protectest me when I am asleep at night and at day also Thou art my preserver. Thou art my sole support. Without Thy assistance I cannot live even for a moment in this world. I owe to Thee whatever blessings I have either enjoyed in the past or I may enjoy in the future. Thou alone art my friend and helper. Just as Thou protectest me, lead me to the path of rectitude, and grant me good sense that I may live a life of virtue and piety. This world abounds with temptations which try to delude my mind and lead me astray; I implore Thee, therefore, to give me knowledge and strength of mind that I may overcome those temptations and thus become fit for Thy service. Teach me to find what actions are sinful and what righteous, and help me that I may remain aloof from sins and perform good actions. Benevolent and Supreme Being! That I may secure Thy approval by my conduct and actions, is the sole desire of my heart-the principal aim of my existence. Good gracious Father! Hear this humble request, accept my profound obeisance and grant my prayer.

Oh Lord! Let there be peace everywhere!

A

"ISHWARA PRARTHANA MALA, I.”*

God of boundless mercy! There are various obstacles preventing me from discharging the duties incumbent on me in the journey of life. By these my mind. becomes deluded and I am often tempted to do evil. At such a time I cannot do without Thy help. I, therefore, beseech Thee to listen to this humble prayer, and to purify my heart.

* By the Ahmedabad Prárthanâ Samáj.

Thou art never imposed upon by external show (of piety) or mere words. Thou art present in every heart and knowest all the evil thoughts arising there. These evil thoughts are in Thy estimation as culpable as evil deeds. With words of entreaty, therefore, I beg Thy pardon, and offer this prayer, promising ever to walk along the path of morality and virtue. But if, while praying to Thee I am thinking of fraud, deceit, treachery, homicide, dishonest misappropriation of property, and such other sinful actions, I know most positively that all prayers are in vain, and I become liable to a double chastisement from Thee. Just and impartial as Thou art, Thou wouldst never forgive my sins, crediting my insincere words, unless the heart has first been purged of all its impurity. I pray to Thee, therefore, most sincerely and devoutly, oh Lord of infinite goodness! to throw the light of truth on my heart and to point out the right path to me. Salvation is possible only if sincere and earnest (fervent) prayers are offered, and if unrighteous deeds are not at all thought of. After repenting for past misdeeds, and after asking Thy forgiveness for them, were I to continue repeating the same misdeeds, it would be foolish for me to hope for Thy pardon. Inspire me, therefore, Omnipotent God! to recede from committing repeated sins, and help me to keep myself aloof from the very thought of sin.

When my mind becomes quite engrossed in thoughts about Thee, Thy infinite power and wisdom are at once visible in every phenomenon of the Universe. At that time Thy brilliant form and Thy kindnesses become spontaneously manifested to me, and Thy laws and wishes are impressed so vividly and ineffaceably on my heart, that I cannot but feel hatred for transgressing them. But as soon as I enter upon the affairs of this world, on account