FATHER of mercy, and God of grace, we acknowledge thy kindness, and thank thee for the favours we are constantly receiving at thine hands. We thank thee for the place assigned to us among the creatures of thy power, that we belong to the intelligent and rational of thine offspring. We thank thee for minds that can know thee, and think on thy works and render praise to thy name. We would be grateful for personal, and domestic, and social blessings: our residence in a Christian land, our enjoyment of Christian privileges, the opportunities we have of serving thee, the light of truth which shines around us and pervades our dwelling, and all the benefits of intercourse with those who love thee, we would trace to thy goodness. Help us to feel our obligations, and when the time shall come that we must give account, oh that we may be found to have been faithful stewards, and may thy mercy through Jesus Christ welcome us to the joy of our Lord, to dwell with him for ever.

We thank thee for family mercies. Our bread has been given, and our water has not failed. We have not suffered from plague or pestilence, from famine or pining sickness. Thou hast not permitted us to fall into sins that have destroyed our reputation or embittered our remembrances. Our feet have been kept from falling, our eyes from tears, and our life from destruction. Grant us, O Lord, grace from the fulness which there is in Christ Jesus, so that we may be kept

nigh unto thee, and duly sensible of all the goodness and mercy thou bestowest. We would walk with thee every day. Oh pardon our short-comings in this respect to-day. Let not our vain and foolish hearts, nor the cares of this life, nor the influence of associations into which our daily business may throw us, make any of us unmindful of thee. Superintend all our interests, guide us in all our steps, and mercifully provide for the supply of all our wants. In our hearts, and lips, and lives help us ever to show forth thy praise.

Now, as the shades of night gather around us, may we be serious and thoughtful. Let our affections be weaned from earthly things and set on things above. Grant us at the close of this day, and of every day, that we may anticipate as we ought the closing hour of our present life; and whenever that hour shall come, may we be found with our loins girded, our lamps burning, ready to meet our glorious Master, and to enter with him to the blessedness he has prepared for them that love his appearing.

Bestow upon us as a family the richest gifts of the covenant of grace. May every name of this household, every name among our beloved relatives and friends, be written in the Lamb's book of life. Endear us each to the other yet more, and conform us to thine own likeness, that we may be prepared to spend together an eternity at thy right hand.

Mercifully forgive the sins of this day. Grant us the righteousness of Christ for our justification. Have us in thy keeping to-night, and when we awake may we still be with thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ACTS V.

MORNING HYMN.

"O come, let us worship and bow down : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

OH worship the King, all-glorious above!
Oh gratefully sing his unchangeable love!
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of days,
Pavilion'd in splendour, and girded with praise.

Oh tell of his might! oh sing of his grace
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form,
And dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

The earth, with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty! thy power hath founded of old,
Hath establish'd it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a girdle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite ;
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light,
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

O Lord of all might, how boundless thy love!
While angels delight to hymn thee above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall lisp to thy praise.

ACTS VI., VII. 1—14.

EVENING HYMN.

"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee."

ONE there is, above all others,

Well deserves the name of friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end:
They who once his kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love.

Which of all our friends could save us,
Could or would have shed his blood?

But our Jesus died to have us

Reconciled, in him, to God:
This was boundless love indeed;
Jesus is a friend in need.

When he lived on earth abased,

"Friend of sinners," was his name;

Now, above all glory raised,

He rejoices in the same;

Still he calls them brethren, friends,
And to all their wants attends.

Oh! for grace our hearts to soften ;

Teach us, Lord, at length to love;

We, alas! forget too often

What a friend we have above:

But when home our souls are brought,
We will love thee as we ought.

From

O THOU in whom the families of thy people dwell in safety, the night is thine, the day is also thine; thou hast watched over us through the hours of darkness, and by thy good providence we are permitted to see this morning's light. Holy Father, we lift up our hearts to thee in grateful acknowledgment of thy goodness. From how many evils dost thou preserve us! fire might have consumed our dwelling, sickness might have fallen upon us, or one or other of our number might have been removed by sudden death; but through thy kind and faithful care we appear before thee free from these and all similar calamities. day to day thy mercies are renewed: how numerous the blessings which we continue to receive from thy hand! Thou hast endowed us with reasoning faculties; and through thy mercy we have still the use of them. To thee we owe our life, and health, and strength; and these thou hast not withdrawn from us. Thou art the author of our domestic peace, and joy, and love; and through thee these precious blessings remain undisturbed. By thee all our daily wants are supplied, and thou hast again this morning spread our table with thy bounties. These, O Lord, are thy mercies, and for these and all thy favours we give thee thanks, through Jesus Christ thy Son, through whose mediation alone they are dispensed.

O thou Most Holy, we are unworthy of the least of all the good things thou dost bestow upon us: we ac