assemble for the same blessed object; may he enlighten our understandings, and shed abroad thy love in our hearts. Heavenly Father, for thy dear Son's sake, hear these our prayers; O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; so may thy word have free course and be glorified, till from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, thy name may be great among the Gentiles, and the whole earth be filled with thy glory. Amen, and Amen. O LORD, our heavenly Father, who wouldest have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of thy truth, look down with compassion upon our sinful world; we are all by nature the children of wrath, and enemies to thee in our minds by wicked works; but blessed be thy name, O Father, for sending thy Son into the world, that by dying he might reconcile us unto thee. We praise thee for this, and all thy other mercies which are daily given to us; while many of our fellow-creatures are living in darkness and ignorance, worshipping the work of their own hands, we are favoured with the light of thy gospel, and have our feet directed Sabbath after Sabbath to thy house of prayer, where we are taught to worship thee, the only living and true God. We would pray to thee on behalf of the benighted heathen, put it into the minds of holy men to go into distant lands to spread the knowledge of thy salvation, and may we at home use our utmost efforts to assist them in carrying on this great work. May we, out of love to Christ, deny ourselves, and thus be able to cast our mites into the Lord's treasury, and as our Saviour once condescended to notice a similar offering, may he deign to bless our humble efforts to promote his glory. Above all we would pray that thy Holy Spirit may be more abundantly poured out on this and other lands, that the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Hear us, O Lord, we humbly beseech Thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we give thee humble thanks for the light of thy Gospel. Make us more grateful for this thy mercy, and more zealous for the salvation of all mankind. Visit in mercy the church of Christ; enrich it more abundantly with the grace of the Holy Ghost, and bless its endeavours to make known thy truth. Unite as one man all who are truly labouring for thee. Disappoint the designs of Satan. Let all christian societies live in harmony and love; give them wisdom in all their plans; perfect thy strength in their weakness; and direct their labours to thy glory. The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few! O thou Lord of the harvest, send forth labourers into thy harvest! Fill with thy Spirit those whom thou hast sent forth, and enable them faithfully and boldly to preach among Jews and Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; keep them from the snares of the world, the flesh, and the devil; deliver them from all evil, and make them wise to win souls. Take away blindness from the Jews. Let them receive thee, O Jesus, as their Messiah, and proclaim thy saving name among the Gentiles. Deliver all Mahomedans from the delusions of the false prophet! O thou true prophet of thy church, enlighten them by thy Holy Spirit, and bow them down at the foot of thy cross. Pity blind idolaters, who are kept in cruel bondage by the god of this world. Turn them from idols, that they may serve the living and true God. O thou Almighty Saviour, who by the right hand of God art exalted, and hast received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, shed forth his light and grace on this dark world! Cause all Christians, we beseech thee, to sow bountifully, that they may reap also bountifully. O thou that lovest a cheerful giver, let all grace abound toward them, that they may minister liberally of their substance to the making known of thy name. With these our humble prayers we join our praises and thanksgivings for what thou hast done in making known thy salvation; perfect thy work, O Lord; shortly accomplish the number of thine elect, and hasten the coming of thy kingdom! Be present with us, O Lord, at this time. Give us all a single eye to thy glory. May thy blessing rest upon our meeting, and may all our hearts be this day quickened and encouraged to fresh and persevering efforts in thy service. We ask these mercies for the glory of thy name, through the merits and mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and would ascribe to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons in one God, everlasting praise. Amen. INDEX. Aid us, God of love and mercy (Isaiah xlv. 22) Page. Beneath the wide-spread oaken shade (Jeremiah xvii. 6, 8) 56 Can I, a little child (2 Cor. viii. 12) Children of this favoured nation (Matt. x. 8) Come, and let us sweetly join (Psalm xcvi. 2) 41 45 57 Come, let us join our cheerful songs (Rev. v. 11-13) Dear are the friends whom God (Proverbs xi. 18). Father of mercies condescend (Eph. vi. 18, 19) From all that dwell below the skies (Psalm cxviii.) God made the world, in every land (Psalm exiii. 7) 11 1 72 12 27 40 63 11 68 Glory to the Father give (Is. xlii. 12; Psalm cxlviii. 13) |