ment of afflictive circumstances. When they remember these things, they pour out their soul in them; for they have often gone with the multitude to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holiday. Soothe their agitation and their pain. Soon may they be restored to their beloved sanctuary, with all its ordinances; come unto the altar of God, unto God their exceeding joy; and pay the vows which their lips have uttered and their mouth hath spoken, when they were in trouble. O continue Thy loving-kindness unto them that know Thee, and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

We love them for His

While we beseech Thee on behalf of all Christian pastors and evangelists at home, we would earnestly commend to Thee with peculiar sympathy all Christian missionaries. We would bid them, God speed! Name's sake on account of which they have gone forth! We honour them because he that doeth good is of God! Think upon their afflictions. Keep their motives pure. May they know that their labour is not in vain in the Lord. Let no perils daunt them, nor disappointments chill them. Having put their hand to the plough, forbid any to look back: having begun to sow, may each come again, not weeping but rejoicing, bearing his sheaves with him!

In Him who is our Life, our Peace, our Hope, our All, would we be found! For His sake may our worship be accepted! And to the Deity, in Three Persons, be glory everlasting!

"Our Father," &c.

"The Lord bless us," &c.

name.

LORD'S DAY EVENING.

THE Night, O Lord, is Thine! Thou makest the darkness: Thou callest us to repose: Thou causest us to dwell in safety. And now at the close of this holy day, we bless and magnify Thy Thou didst impress its sanctity, inspire its peace, and awaken its joy. Thou didst afford the strength which bore us to Thy house, and each holy disposition was from Thee if we have improved its ordinances. It is Thy glorious Gospel which we have heard, they were Thy servants who have showed unto us the way of salvation. We might have lived in ignorance of Thee. We might have been natives of a land where Christ is not named. We might not have heard that there is a Holy Ghost. We might have surrounded an altar with this inscription, "To the Unknown God." We might have been without Christ, having no hope, and even without

God in the world.

How blessed are our eyes

in what they see, how blessed are our ears with what they hear !

Through the Lord Jesus we come unto Thee; for no man can come unto Thee but by Him. We are assured that we cannot be heard for our own sake. Presumptuous as vile should we appear having on our own righteousness. We have not a pretext of merit and title. To the altar of atonement on earth, to the altar of incense in heaven, we bring our prayers and thanksgivings! May the High Priest plead their acceptance by His blood, and put them in His

censer !

And now that the high solemnities and public engagements of Thy house and of Thy day have ceased, we return to our habitation, praying that our communion may still be with Thee! Never let us forget, nor suffer us to misimprove, what we have seen and heard. May the word profit us, being mixed with faith. May it be engrafted in us, and save our souls. May we lay hold on eternal life.

We would deeply lament before Thee our coldness and apathy in Thy service. What stupendous truths are constantly brought before us, and how deep should be our concern in them! When we mused on them, how should the fire burn! When the blessings which accompany

them are pressed on our acceptance, how should our hearts open to receive them! If angels desire to look into these things, how fixed should be our attention; and if they praise the Lamb, who was not slain for them but us, how warm should be our love! We upbraid and abhor ourselves in Thy sight. Quicken and restore us. Satisfy us with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple. Let it not be always thus. Too much of hypocrisy do we discover in these complaints. Too much do we dissemble with Thee. Why do we not shun what we hope we do not altogether affect to lament? Why, knowing how slow are our hearts to believe, do we move them so seldom by the appeals of Thy word, and by communion with Thee? Pardon us in this thing. Be very merciful unto us. What hope could we cherish but that Christ has died, and that His blood cleanseth from all sin ! His blood be on us and on our children!

We bless Thee for these domestic offices. Sweet is the privilege of coming as a family to God. And may He who went from the Templefeast to the family of Bethany not disdain this humble worship, this little band! Jesus, who callest Thy followers Thy friends, pity our weakness, and accept our praise! As on the evening of the first Christian Sabbath Thou didst suddenly

stand in the midst of Thy disciples, show to us Thy hands and feet, open our understandings, unfold to us the Scriptures, constitute us Thy witnesses, breathe over us Thy peace!

We pray that wherever the Gospel has this day been preached, it may take effect. Let none of the seed be lost which has been sown. Let no impression which has been made be effaced. Gather them who are not gathered. To the Shiloh may there be the gathering of the people!

We adore Thee for the attestation which Thou dost still bear to Thy Gospel. It is still the present truth. It still comes in much assurance. It is still the rod of Thy strength. It is still Thy power unto salvation. The tree of life still bears its fruits, and yields its leaves for the healing of the nations. The Fountain of the Water of Life still freshens and overflows. And we meekly trust, O blessed God, that we have proved this for ourselves. We have found that Jesus Christ has been the same to-day as He has ever been known to His people.

Let our family religion be much quickened by the influence of public ordinances. Let us carry homeward a savour of Thy holy and beautiful house, and of all its pleasant things. May our principles be reinforced, and our sensibilities revived. May we be stronger in our profession.