his being delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. Make us more and more in love with that lowliness of mind, that tender and compassionate charity, that meekness, patience, and forgiveness, which shone in his sufferings; and subdue our will into such a quiet and ready submission to thy holy will in every thing, that our hope in thee may increase; and not only so, but that we may also joy in thee our offended Father, thro' our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we receive the atonement. Now unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Evening Meditation.

"Our Father which art in heaven.”—Matt. vi. 9. The blessed Redeemer, who knew his Father's thoughts of love towards man, presents him to us at the very brink of our prayers, under the expression of a Father; that that tender name might secure our love before we felt the awe of his majesty and glory!

And is he thy Father? why shouldst thou not, upon all occasions, resort to him? Whither should a child go with boldness, if not to his father? and to sucha Father as heispleased

to render himself to us, with more tenderness and gentleness than lies within the bowels of a natural parent? Can a woman, whose affections are most ardent, forget her child,her sucking child? yea, she may forget, yet will I not forget thee, saith the Lord. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? I taught Ephraim to go, leading him by the hand: Ephraim, like a weak child, was ready to stumble and fall upon every occasion, and, like a froward child, apt to snatch away his hand from him that led him; yet the affection of a father is not lost by the weakness or frowardness of a child. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, and fluttereth over her young; spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them and beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him. All these, and a world of the like expressions in the Book of God, are meant to unveil the love of God to his creatures, and thereby draw out an awful love to him, and humble boldness to make an approach unto him. Heb. iv. 16. Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, and bless our Redeemer, who, by the price of his blood, hath purchased this free liberty of access unto God as our Father. Eph. iii. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence. Who, as he hath purchased access for us, so when, notwith

standing that we are fearful, and backward, and ashamed to come, is pleased, in the virtue of his own mediation, to stand between the glory and brightness of the Father, and us poor creatures, and to shew us more of his goodness and mercy than of his glory; and to receive our desires, and to bring both them and us into the presence of his Father and our Father.

"Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." John xvi. 23. Matt. vii. 7. "Ask and it shall be given you.' But here is the ground of thy application, it is to thy Father. Matt. vii. 11. "If ye being evil know how to give good things to your children, how much more mayest thou expect from thy heavenly Father?"-Mercy to pardon and forgive thy rebellious will:patience to bear with thy infirmities and failings:-compassion to pity thy sufferings :— goodness to supply thy wants:-protection to defend thee from danger;-and care to support thee against temptation:-mercy to pardon thy backsliding;-tenderness to accept thy weak and stammering petitions ;-and grace to help in every time of need.

"Fear not little flock, it is my Father's good will to give you a kingdom." Luke xii. 32; that where I am there ye may be also.

HYMN.

And art thou with us, gracious Lord,
To dissipate our fear?

Dost thou proclaim thyself our God,
Our God for ever near?

Doth thy right-hand, which form'd the earth,

And bears up all the skies,

Stretch from on high its friendly aid,
When dangers round us rise?

Dost thou a Father's bowels feel
For all thy humble saints?
And in such tender accents speaks,
To soothe their sad complaints?

On this support my soul shall lean,
And banish ev'ry care;

The gloomy vale of death must smile,
If God be with me there.

While I his gracious succour prove, 'Midst all my various ways,

The darkest shades through which I pass, Shall echo with his praise.

C

PRAYER

For the Lord's Day Evening.

"Our Father which art in Heaven."

We would love thee as the Author of our being, as the Father of our spirits; but thou art still dearer to us as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom thou art redeeming sinners unto thyself, calling them out of darkness into marvellous light, and creating anew thine image in their souls. Thou art adopting them into thy family, and making them heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ! "Behold, what manner of love is this, that we should be called the sons of God," and provided for as thy children! O let this name of Father, and our relation to thee, be our glory, our refuge, our support, and the principle of our love and obedience to thee. Give us that faith and humble confidence in prayer, by the Spirit of grace and supplication, that we may approach thee in all our necessities, as children to a father, more ready to give than we are to ask; and may we come with boldness to a throne of grace, to obtain mercy and grace to help in every time of need. O! let the Spirit of thy Son breathe continually in our hearts, teaching us to cry, Abba, Father. We would seek this Holy Spirit with more earnestness than