MUKKAY,YOUtftf&CO. 
 
 CHEAP BOOK, 
 
 Stationeiy & P.;r. eal 
 
 Stores, 
 
 Lancaster City. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/prayersforsabbatOOfrie 
 
PRAYERS 
 
 FOR 
 
 SABBATH SCHOOLS, 
 
 AND 
 
 HYMNS AND PRAYERS 
 
 FOB 
 
 WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 A FRIEND OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. 
 
 " Suffer little children, and forbid them not, 
 to come unto me ; for of such is the kingdom 
 of heayen.— Matt. 19, 14. 
 
 READING : 
 
 SAMUEL HECHLER. 
 
 1857. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by . 
 
 SAMUEL HECHLER, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for 
 the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Jt, KNABB, PRINTER, READING, PA, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This small volume was prepared at the re- 
 quest of a kind friend, who, being engaged 
 in the Book trade, has frequently been asked 
 for a work of this kind. It is well known 
 that, in some places where Sabbath Schools 
 are started, no one feels himself competent to 
 open and close the school with prayer. There 
 may be various reasons to account for this 
 fact, yet it should never be a sufficient cause 
 for discontinuing the school, or for conduct- 
 ing the exercises without prayer. When a 
 suitable collection of prayers can be had, it 
 can be used. It is true, many objections to 
 using forms, are raised ; and equally true it 
 is, that they are very often mis-used; nor 
 should they be used where the superintendent 
 is qualified to pray extemporaneously, except 
 at his discretion. But it must always be pref- 
 erable to make proper use of forms, to mis- 
 using or abusing extemporaneous prayer in 
 any one of the many ways it can be, and of- 
 ten is, done, 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 In regard to prayers and hymns for open- 
 ing and closing public or week-day schools, 
 every friend of a sound christian education, 
 it appears to us, must sanction their use. 
 
 Christianity, as the absolute religion, in 
 order to fulfil its mission, must penetrate, 
 leaven-like, every department of humanity, 
 and must work it up into its own nature. By 
 virtue of its relation to Christianity and the 
 church, the school should be thoroughly pen- 
 etrated by the life and power of the gospel, 
 so that here already, our holy religion might 
 exert its powerful influence in moulding the 
 character of the young and in giving tone 
 and direction to their minds. This can, how- 
 ever, not be accomplished, unless positive re- 
 ligious instruction, in some form or other, be 
 introduced. Against this, however, the char- 
 acter and habits of a great portion of the 
 teachers now employed, form a strong barrier. 
 Even in many schools where the Bible is 
 read, according to law, — " without note or 
 comment," — there the voice of prayer and 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 praise is never heard. This should not be 
 the case. We must have something positive, 
 to answer the purpose of a sound christian 
 education. Great efforts are now made, and 
 great activity displayed, to spread the glori- 
 ous light of the gospel throughout the whole 
 world. Missionaries are sent into heathen 
 countries, copies of the Bible by millions are 
 published and distributed, with other good 
 books in proportion. This is all right and 
 good, and will certainly not be without its 
 blessed results. Yet it seems to be, more or 
 less, a mere growing of the mustard seed, 
 without a corresponding penetration of hu- 
 manity, by the life and power of the gospel. 
 "We need more than an external spread of 
 Christianity. It must take hold of our whole 
 life under all its forms and activities, and in 
 all its relations, and transform it into its own 
 nature. Our individual, social and political 
 existence must be raised into the sphere of 
 religion. To do this, it is necessary that the 
 whole training of the young be based upon 
 
yi PREFACE. 
 
 religious principles — it must be a training 
 " in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," 
 — and to this end the family, the week-day, 
 and the sabbath school, must labor together. 
 Therefore, every attempt, however humble, 
 to promote the good cause of religious train- 
 ing, should be regarded with favor by all 
 who feel a proper interest for the welfare of 
 church and state in time to come. This small 
 volume is intended as an humble contribution 
 to this end. May it be looked upon with in- 
 dulgence by those who love the good cause. 
 
 The hymns found in this small volume 
 were taken from the following collections : 
 " Songs for the Little Ones at Home," by 
 the A. T. Society; " Union Hymn Book," 
 by the A. S. S. Union, and a few from the 
 " German Reformed Hymn Book." 
 
 This little book is sent forth with a sense 
 of its many imperfections, but with the 
 prayer that the good Lord may own and bless 
 it to the accomplishment of much good, and 
 all the glory shall be His. 
 
PART FIRST 
 
 PBAYEBS FOE SABBATH SCHOOLS. 
 
PART FIRST. 
 PRAYERS FOR SABBATH SCHOOLS. 
 
 A Prayer for the Superintendent before 
 School. 
 
 Adorable God and Father : I, a poor, 
 sinful worm of the dust, appear before thee, 
 at this time, in the all-prevailing name of Je- 
 sus Christ, thy Son, my blessed Saviour and 
 Redeemer, and would lift up unto thee my 
 heart and voice to thank thee for all thy good- 
 ness, thy loving kindness and tender mercies 
 as they are manifested towards me from day 
 to day. I thank thee for life, for health and 
 strength of body and of mind, and for all the 
 blessings, both temporal and spiritual, which 
 thou, in thy good providence, continually be- 
 stowest upon me. Especially, Lord, would 
 I thank thee, that thou hast "so loved the 
 world as to give thine only begotten Son, 
 that whosoever believeth in him might not 
 
10 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 perish, but have everlasting life," and that he 
 "abolished death and brought life and im- 
 mortality to light through the gospel." I de- 
 sire also to thank thee for the institution of 
 thy holy Sabbath day ; for the blessed truths 
 of thy Word ; for thy Church with all her or- 
 dinances, and for all other spiritual favors 
 and blessings bestowed upon the children of 
 men. 
 
 It is my privilege, Lord, to have been 
 spared to see the light of another Lord's day, 
 and to enjoy, as I humbly trust, its blessed 
 privileges and influences. And as it has 
 pleased thee, most gracious Father, to call 
 me into thy service and to place me at the 
 head of a Sabbath School, I would also thank 
 thee for this favor, and, at the same time be- 
 seech thee, in the name of Christ, thy Son, 
 to grant me grace to the proper discharge of 
 my duties. May I feel, in a proper manner, 
 the responsibility that is thus resting upon 
 «me. Oh, may I not be insensible of the fact, 
 that in the capacity of Superintendent of this 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 11 
 
 school, I have immortal souls placed under 
 niy care. Lord, help me to realize the great 
 importance of the position X occupy, so that 
 I may not rely upon my own strength, but 
 may come unto thee for wisdom and under- 
 standing, in order to enable me faithfully to 
 perform the duties of my office. May I this 
 day seek to honor and glorify thy great and 
 adorable name in all my thoughts, words and 
 deeds. Help me to manifest the spirit of my 
 Master, who went about teaching and doing 
 good on the Sabbath day, so that I also may 
 teach, both by precept and by example. — 
 Grant unto me grace to be kind and affec- 
 tionate towards teachers and scholars. Help 
 me to remember that I should be an humble 
 instrument in thy hand, to poiot them to 
 Christ, the Lamb of God which taketh away 
 the sins of the world. Preserve me, gracious 
 Father, from everything which might give of- 
 fence to the least of the children that may 
 this day appear in our school ; and may I be- 
 come unto all, both teachers and scholars, an 
 
12 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 example of true humility, unaffected piety, 
 pure love, and a cheerful heavenly-minded- 
 ness, that they may be encouraged to go on- 
 ward in the heavenly way and to enter at the 
 straight gate into everlasting life. 
 
 Bless this day, Lord, the preaching of 
 thy word, wherever it may be proclaimed, to 
 the conversion of sinners from the errors of 
 their ways, unto thee, the living and the true 
 God. Prosper the labors of thy faithful ser- 
 vants everywhere ; build up thy people in 
 their most holy faith; establish thy church 
 throughout the length and breadth of the 
 whole earth, in order that Christ may rule 
 king of nations as he now ruleth king of 
 saints above. Send forth laborers into thy 
 harvest field, for truly the harvest is great, 
 but the laborers are few. Prosper to this end 
 all such institutions as have for their object 
 the spread of the gospel, the up-building of 
 the Redeemer's kingdom, and in these the 
 salvation of souls and the honor and glory 
 of thy name. 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 13 
 
 And now, Lord, I beseech thee to look 
 upon me in much mercy ; graciously pardon 
 all my shortcomings and sins, and assist me 
 by thy good and holy Spirit to discharge my 
 duties in a manner acceptable unto thee and 
 profitable unto myself and unto those placed 
 under my care. When we meet as a Sabbath 
 School, be with us and bless us, and finally 
 save us through, and for the sake of, Christ 
 our Redeemer — Amen. 
 
 Prayer for Sabbath School Teachers before 
 School. 
 
 Blessed God, my Heavenly Father : — I 
 thank thee, in the name of Christ, thy Son, 
 for the light of this thine own day, and for 
 all the blessings it brings with itself. I thank 
 thee for thy precious Word as it is revealed 
 unto the children of men and as I have it in 
 mine own hands. In it thou hast declared 
 unto all thy most holy will. It is my great 
 privilege to read and hear thy Word, in order 
 
14 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 that it may make me wise unto salvation. It 
 contains treasures of wisdom, far exceeding 
 in value all that the world can offer, and from 
 it I may continually draw such precious truths 
 as I may from time to time stand in need of? 
 I desire to thank thee, blessed Father, for all 
 these privileges, and pray thee, at the same 
 time, in the name of Christ, to grant me 
 grace at all times to study thy Word atten- 
 tively and prayerfully, always remembering 
 in it thou thyself art speaking unto me, that so 
 that I may derive that instruction, that wis- 
 dom and comfort from it, which, in thy wise 
 providence, it was ordained to impart. And, 
 Lord, grant that I may not read it, prompted 
 by improper motives, but may at all times 
 seek' to promote thereby thy glory and the 
 good of immortal souls. 
 
 And now, Lord, as it has pleased thee 
 to open up unto me a sphere of usefulness, in 
 placing me into the capacity of a Sabbath 
 School teacher, grant, I beseech thee, that I 
 may this day teach those that may be placed 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 15 
 
 tinder my care, in thy fear and with a wise 
 reference to thy most holy will. Assist me 
 in my weakness and enable me to lay the 
 words of sacred truth, as found in thy Holy 
 Word, to the hearts of these children, in or- 
 der that they may make them wise in the wis- 
 dom from on high. Open, Lord, their ten- 
 der hearts, that the heavenly seed may be 
 sown into them, may spring up and produce 
 much fruit. Bless all who may this day as- 
 semble in this place. Be with him who pre- 
 sides over the school, and grant him wisdom 
 from on high to the proper discharge of all 
 his duties. Enable those who teach to do it 
 in thy fear, and may they not teach others 
 and become cast-aways themselves. Bless 
 the parents of the children that meet here to 
 be instructed, and enable them to bring up 
 those whom thou hast given them, in the nur- 
 ture and admonition of the Lord. Prosper 
 this day the labors of our hands ; glorify thy- 
 self in our midst ; send thy good spirit from 
 above, and may He take up his abode in our 
 
16 PRATERS FOR 
 
 hearts and constitute us temples of the living 
 God ; and to thee, the Father, the Son, and 
 the Holy Ghost, be all honor, praise and 
 glory, in a world without end. Amen, 
 
 Prayers for Opening the School, 
 I. 
 Merciful Father in Heaven : As it has 
 pleased thee to spare our unprofitable lives 
 and to preserve our health, we would now, in 
 the name of Christ thy Son, our Saviour, 
 unite in thanking thee for thy infinite good- 
 ness in thus watching over and protecting us. 
 And, as we have been permitted to behold 
 the light of this another Lord's day, and to 
 assemble ourselves together as a Sabbath 
 School, we would also most humbly thank 
 thee for these blessed privileges. Blessed be 
 thy name that thou hast manifested thyself 
 unto us as a God of Love. We have thy 
 Word in our hands ; we can go up into thy 
 house and worship thee without being mo- 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 17 
 
 lested, and even here, as a Sabbath School, 
 we are favored with the blessed privileges of 
 singing thy praises, reading thy Word and 
 calling on thee in prayer. "We would humbly 
 confess our utter unworthiness of the least of 
 these favors and blessings. We deserve much 
 more thy displeasure on account of our many 
 failings and sins. But, our Father, we ven- 
 ture to come unto thee in the name of thy 
 Son, our faithful Saviour, Redeemer, and In- 
 tercessor, and in his name we beseech thee to 
 have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, 
 Lord, according to thy loving kindness ; — 
 according to the multitude of thy tender mer- 
 cies, blot out our transgressions. Wash us 
 thoroughly in the precious blood of Christ 
 and cleanse us from all uncleanness. Send 
 down thy good Spirit into our hearts, that he 
 may create us anew and may make us thy 
 children in truth and in deed. We ask thee, 
 blessed Father, to look down upon us at this 
 time in tender love and compassion. Assist 
 us by thy grace and the power of thy Spirit 
 
 A-2 
 
18 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 to spend this hour profitably in thy service. 
 Help each and every one of us in the proper 
 discharge of our several duties, so that all 
 we do may be done for thy honor and glory 
 and the best interests of immortal souls. — 
 Bless officers, teachers and children, accord- 
 ing to their several wants. Enable those who 
 teach to feel the power of thy truth in their 
 own hearts, that they may teach in a proper 
 and profitable manner. Open the hearts of 
 the children for the reception of thy truth. — 
 May it fall into good soil, spring up and pro- 
 duce fruit a hundred fold to the honor and 
 glory of thy great and excellent name. 
 
 We would also beseech thee in behalf of 
 ail others who may this day meet for the pur- 
 pose of worshiping thee. Be thou with them 
 and bless them — and may this day many be 
 brought unto Christ, the Lamb of God, that 
 their sins may be taken away. Make sinners 
 see and feel their misery and wretchedness, 
 so that they may hasten unto Christ, who is 
 the Way and the Truth and the Life, and may 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 19 
 
 thus come unto thee, the Father. Lord, hear, 
 and answer and bless, and at last, save us one 
 and all into thy kingdom, through riches of 
 grace in Christ our Redeemer, Amen. 
 
 II. 
 
 0, Lord, most merciful and most gracious : 
 We poor sinners appear before thee at this 
 time, to thank thee for the preservation of our 
 lives and health during the past week and tho 
 past night. We are indeed living monuments 
 of thy long suffering and patience, thy loving 
 kindness and tender mercy. Of a truth, thou 
 hast no pleasure in the death of sinners, for 
 such we are, and if thou hadst dealt with us 
 according to our deserts, thou wouldst long 
 ago have cut us off and cast us away from thy 
 presence forever. But blessed be thy name 
 that thou art a God of love and compassion, 
 and that thou didst send thy Son into the 
 world to be our Saviour and Redeemer, that 
 so we may find life in Him who is the resur- 
 rection and the life. 
 
20 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 And now, our Heavenly Father, we would 
 humbly confess our sins before thee and ask 
 thee graciously to pardon us for the sake of 
 Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Thou knowest, 
 Lord, how oft we fail and how manifold 
 and grievous our sins are. Oh ! help us to 
 repent of them ; to humble ourselves before 
 thee into the very dust, so that we may be 
 truly sorrowful on account of them. Wash 
 us in the blood of the Lamb and cleanse us 
 from all uncleanness. 
 
 Send down thy good Spirit from above that 
 he may teach us what we are and what we 
 need, and by his power create us anew that 
 we may be made new creatures in Christ, thy 
 children, having the spirit of adoption in our 
 hearts, whereby we may approach and call 
 thee Father. 
 
 And now, Lord, as we have again met as 
 a Sabbath School on this thine own holy day, 
 we would also thank thee for this blessed priv- 
 ilege. We pray thee, also, to help us prop- 
 erly to realize the blessings it confers upon us, 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 21 
 
 and to feel truly grateful towards thee for the 
 enjoyment of this favor. And oh ! may it 
 not be in vain for us to have met together in 
 this place to-day. May we not fail to derive 
 that benefit from it which it is calculated to 
 impart unto those who are willing to receive 
 it. We beseech thee, our Father, to solem- 
 nize our hearts and to make us feel that we 
 are now in thy presence. Help us to read 
 and study thy Word as the Word of the Most 
 High. Oh ! that it may not become unto 
 us a savor of death unto death, but that it 
 may truly be unto our souls a savor of life 
 unto life, as it is intended to be. To this 
 end, Lord, give us thy good Spirit, that 
 he may make thy Word plain unto us— may 
 apply it unto our hearts, so that it may not 
 return unto thee void, but may accomplish 
 that for which thou hast sent it. 
 
 We also pray for all other Sabbath Schools 
 throughout the length and breadth of the 
 whole earth. Bless, we beseech thee, all of- 
 ficers, teachers and scholars, according to 
 
22 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 their several wants. Bless the pastors and 
 people of all congregations wherever they 
 may meet this day to worship thee. Hasten 
 the coming of the Redeemer's kingdom, that 
 soon all tribes and tongues may acknowledge 
 Him as their true and only King, and may 
 obey, worship and adore Him as such. 
 
 And now, Lord, hear and bless us ; glo- 
 rify thyself in our midst through Jesus Christ, 
 thy Son, our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen 
 
 - III. 
 
 Gracious God and Father: We, the 
 creatures of thy hand, would approach thy 
 mercy seat on this morning of thine own day, 
 in the name of Jesus, thine only begotten and 
 much-beloved Son, our Saviour and Redeemer. 
 Thou hast been round and about us during 
 the night that is past, and hast graciously 
 watched over us and delivered us from all 
 harm and danger. We now stand before thee 
 as monuments of thy goodness, thy loving 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 23 
 
 kindness and tender mercies. All that we 
 have and are is from thee. Our lives, our 
 health, and all the comforts we enjoy, are so 
 many blessings- which come from thee, the 
 "Father of Lights, from whom comes down 
 every good and perfect gift." Accept then, 
 we pray thee, our feeble thanks for all the 
 favors and blessings we receive from thee, and 
 hear our humble prayers at this time. 
 
 Thou art a good God, full of love and ten- 
 der compassion, but we are poor, sinful crea- 
 tures. We have so often been wicked and 
 have sinned against thee in our thoughts, 
 words and deeds, that we richly deserve thy 
 great displeasure. But thou art a merciful 
 Father, and those who come unto thee thou 
 wilt not cast off. We pray thee, therefore, in 
 the name of thy Son, to enable us to feel 
 truly sorrowful on account of our sins, and to 
 turn unto thee with all our hearts, so that we 
 may forsake our evil ways and may walk in 
 the way in which thou hast directed us to go. 
 Pardon, we pray thee, all our sins and short- 
 
24 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 comings ; blot out our iniquities ; heal our 
 backslidings and restore us unto thy gracious 
 favor for the sake of Christ, our blessed Sa- 
 viour and Redeemer. Help us, Lord, to flee 
 sin and all evil and to seek that which is good 
 and right in thy sight. Help us to feel our 
 own weakness, so that we may no more trust 
 in our own strength, but may seek all our 
 help in thee. Help us continually to repent 
 of our sins, to flee unto Christ, our Saviour, 
 and to embrace him by a living faith. Help 
 us to watch and pray that we may not enter 
 into temptation. May we watch over our 
 thoughts and desires, over our words and ac- 
 tions ; may we walk in the narrow way which 
 leacleth unto life everlasting. 
 
 Be thou also with us this day whilst we are 
 assembled as a Sabbath School. Make us 
 serious and attentive. Help us that we all 
 may seek to know, to love and to serve thee. 
 Thou hast graciously given us thy Word, out 
 of which we learn our duty towards thee and 
 our fellow men. Grant now, Father, that 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 25 
 
 we may read and study it as the Word of 
 truth and of life. May we lend a listening 
 ear when it is read and expounded ; may we 
 open our hearts and receive thy holy truths 
 into them, in order to become wise in spirit- 
 ual things and meet for an everlasting inher- 
 itance in heaven above. 
 
 Do thou also hasten the day in which Christ 
 shall be acknowledged as the Saviour of sin- 
 ners throughout the whole earth, when the 
 Jews and the Gentiles may come and worship 
 at His feet. 
 
 We now commit ourselves into thy care ; 
 be with us, Lord, during this hour ; bless our 
 waiting souls, and may we be able to rejoice 
 in thee, our Lord and our God, here upon 
 earth, and finally in heaven above for ever- 
 more, through Christ our Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Kind and Indulgent Father ! We would 
 humbly draw nigh unto thee this morning, in 
 
26 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 the name of thy beloved Son Jesus, our Sa- 
 viour and Redeemer. And in thus coming 
 before thee, at this time, we desire to thank 
 thee for all the mercies, the favors and the 
 blessings, which thou, in thy good providence, 
 hast bestowed upon us in days that are past 
 and gone. Thou hasfc greatly favored us 
 above many of our fellow creatures and hast 
 blessed us in body and in soul above every- 
 thing we could ask. Oh ! our Father, help 
 us then to be truly grateful towards thee for 
 this thy love towards us, so that we may be 
 brought to love thee in return and may serve 
 thee all the days of our earthly existence. 
 
 May we, as a Sabbath School, be able to 
 feel how highly thou hast favored us in this 
 respect. May we be able to improve these 
 great blessings to the good of our own souls 
 and the honor and glory of thy adorable 
 name. Enable us, Lord, to seek first thy 
 kingdom and thy righteousness, knowing that 
 if we possess these, all other things shall be 
 added unto us. Forbid that we should cling 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 27 
 
 too fondly to the things of time and sense, 
 and so forget those better treasures which we 
 should lay up for ourselves in heaven above. 
 
 And now, Lord, as we have met at this 
 time as a Sabbath School, we would beseech 
 thee to be present with us. We know that 
 without thee we can do nothing. Therefore, 
 Lord, help us in teaching and in learning. 
 Send down thy good Spirit and let him teach 
 us. May he, the Spirit of truth, lead us into 
 all truth. May he open the eyes of our un- 
 derstanding that we may see wondrous things 
 out of thy law. May thy Word be more pre- 
 cious to us than gold, yea, than much fine 
 gold ; sweeter also than honey and the honey- 
 comb. May it make us wise unto salvation, 
 that we may walk in the paths of righteous- 
 ness, in which thou dost lead those who give 
 their hearts to thee. 
 
 Bless, our Heavenly Father, all other Sab- 
 bath Schools throughout the whole world. — 
 May they become nurseries in which the 
 young may be trained for thy church and for 
 
28 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 heaven. Lord, prosper the efforts which 
 are put forth by thy church to bring sinners 
 in repentance and faith unto Christ, the Sa- 
 viour of sinners. Open the gates of cities and 
 empires unto the heralds of the cross, that 
 the glad tidings of great joy may be pro- 
 claimed in all the ends of the earth. Hasten 
 the coming of thy kingdom, when thy will 
 shall be done upon earth even as it is done in 
 heaven. 
 
 Pour out thy Spirit upon those who stand 
 upon the walls of Zion and preach unto us 
 the gospel of peace, so that they may be 
 strengthened and encouraged from on high, 
 to go on in their labor of love. And may 
 those who sit under the sound of their voices, 
 open their hearts and receive the blessed 
 truths which they proclaim, in order that the 
 preaching of the gospel may not be in vain. 
 
 Blessed Saviour, as thou hast promised to 
 be with thy people when they are assembled 
 in thy name, therefore we beseech thee to be 
 with us at this time. " Suffer little children 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 29 
 
 to come unto me," are the words which in- 
 vite us to come. Bless now, Lord, our 
 waiting souls ; fill our hearts with joy and 
 peace and enable us to rejoice in thee always. 
 Take us now into thy care and keeping ; 
 abide with us ; guide and lead us by thy 
 Spirit, and save us at last into thy kingdom, 
 and all glory shall be thine for evermore. — 
 Amen, 
 
 Prayers for Closing the School. 
 
 I. 
 
 Adorable God and Father : At the close 
 of this hour we would unite our hearts and 
 voices in bringing thee thanksgivings and 
 praises for thy goodness towards us. We 
 thank thee for the opportunity which was this 
 day afforded us, to meet together for the pur- 
 pose of reading and studying thy holy Word. 
 Add now, we pray thee, thy richest blessing 
 unto our labors of this day, for without this 
 all our efforts will be fruitless. 
 
30 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 Help us to feel, blessed Father, how highly 
 thou hast favored us in thus giving us time, 
 place and opportunity of singing thy praises, 
 calling upon thy name and studying the Word 
 of truth and of life. Help us duly to lay to 
 heart the great fact of Christ's coming into 
 the world ; of his suffering and dying for us 
 poor, sinful worms of the dust, that thus our 
 hard and stubborn hearts may be melted and 
 subdued. Grant us grace to repent of all 
 our misdoings and sins and to turn unto Je- 
 sus with all our hearts, in order to love and 
 serve him all the days of our life. Help us, 
 blessed Saviour, to feel that we are poor sin- 
 ners and that we have need of thee in order 
 that our souls may be saved. Help us to 
 come unto thee, thou Lamb of God, that our 
 sins may be taken away, that we may be 
 clothed in thy righteousness and may thus 
 stand before the Lord God by thy merits and 
 atonement. 
 
 Send thy good and holy Spirit into our 
 hearts that he may create us anew and make 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 31 
 
 us true and living branches of thee, the true 
 and living vine, that so, by the power of thy 
 life and Spirit dwelling in us and uniting us 
 unto thee, we may bring forth much fruit, for 
 without thee we can do nothing ; and thus 
 may our Heavenly Father be glorified and we 
 be thy disciples. 
 
 Assist us, Lord, to look away from the vain 
 and perishable things of time and sense, and 
 to set our affections on the realities of the 
 world to come. May we live by faith and 
 not by sight, May the powers of the hea- 
 venly world lay hold upon our hearts and 
 draw them away from the earth, so that we 
 may daily commune with the bright and glo- 
 rious realities of a better and happier world. 
 Help us to be wise ; to keep ourselves un- 
 spotted from the world ; to live for higher, 
 for nobler ends than those are which we can 
 see with our eyes and touch with our hands. 
 Create within us clean hearts, and renew us 
 into the image of our adorable Lord, Saviour 
 and Redeemer. And may we thus go onward 
 
32 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 in the journey of life, looking towards hea- 
 ven, our better home, and waiting for the 
 coming of our Lord. And when he does 
 come, may he not find us asleep, but watch- 
 ing ; ready to enter with him into glory. 
 
 And now, Lord, bless with us all others 
 who call on thee ; have mercy upon all sin- 
 ners ; guide and direct us by thy Spirit 
 throughout the whole journey of life, and in 
 death own and save us for our Redeemer's 
 sake, who has taught us to pray : " Our Fa- 
 ther who art in heaven, &c. Amen," 
 
 II. 
 
 Lord, most merciful and most gracious : 
 In thy good providence we have been per- 
 mitted to spend another hour in thy presence 
 as a Sabbath School. And now as we are 
 about to depart from this place, we desire 
 once more to lift up unto thee our hands and 
 our hearts in prayer and praise, and to thank 
 thee for the privileges which we enjoyed at 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 33 
 
 this time. Truly, it is a blessed tiling to wait 
 upon thee and to seek a blessing from thee. 
 Grant now, Lord, that we may feel the 
 greatness of thy blessings as we enjoy them, 
 and may we be brought to love thee and to 
 give ourselves over to thy service. Seal upon 
 our hearts the blessed truths we have been 
 considering at this time, so that they may 
 bring forth within us, the fruits of true re- 
 pentance for all our sins and a living faith in 
 Christ, our Saviour, unto thy honor and glory 
 and the salvation of our souls. Help us to 
 feel our own weakness so that we may not 
 trust in ourselves, but may rely wholly and 
 entirely upon thy grace in all that may come 
 to pass in time to come. We live in a world 
 of sin, with depraved and deceitful hearts in 
 our bosoms and the law of sin in our mem- 
 bers ; we are surrounded by temptations to 
 evil, and have of ourselves no power to over- 
 come them. We ask thee, therefore, gra- 
 ciously to send thy good Spirit into our 
 hearts, that he may teach us how to live, and 
 
 B-l. 
 
84 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 may give us grace to overcome all the ene- 
 mies of our souls, in order that we may come 
 off as conquerors and more than conquerors, 
 through Christ, who loved us and gave him- 
 self for us. Create in us a true and living 
 faith by which we may be enabled to see spir- 
 itual things present- — to feel their reality and 
 enjoy their communion. May we seek to be- 
 come more and more conformed to thy holy 
 will, in order that we may at all times be able 
 to say — " Father, not my, but thy will be 
 done." Help us to live in constant prospect 
 of death ? so that when our last hour will draw 
 nigh we may be found watching like faithful 
 servants ; may have our lamps burning like 
 the wise virgins, and may be prepared to en- 
 ter into the joy of our Lord. To this end 
 may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, abide 
 with us. May he take of the things of Je- 
 sus and show them unto us, and make us thy 
 children in deed and in truth, so as to enable 
 us to call thee " Abba Father." 
 
 And now, Lord, we would also bring 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 35 
 
 before thee the interests of all other Sabbath 
 Schools wherever found. Pour out thy rich 
 blessings and the influences of thy Spirit 
 upon them. Establish them where they are 
 not found, and make them the. instrument for 
 doing much good. Bless each and every one 
 that is engaged in the good work, and raise 
 up many more who may lend a helping hand 
 in bringing the young to a knowledge of thee, 
 the only true and living God. 
 
 Pour out thy Spirit in rich abundance upon 
 thy church. Prosper the preaching of thy 
 gospel everywhere, and raise up many who 
 will say, "Lord, here am I; send me." 
 
 Hear us now, Lord ; forgive all our sins ; 
 dismiss us with thy blessing; go with us 
 through life, and in death save us through 
 riches of grace in Christ, in whose name we 
 yet pray : — " Our Father," &c. — Amen. 
 
 III. 
 
 Merciful Father, who hast reconciled the 
 world to thyself in Christ,— at the close of 
 
36 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 this hour we desire once more to come before 
 thee in our prayers. Enable us to approach 
 thee in a proper and acceptable manner, to 
 worship thee, who art a Spirit, in spirit and 
 in truth, so that our souls may now have sweet 
 communion with thee through Christ, our Sa- 
 viour. Accept our thanks for the gracious 
 favor of meeting together as a Sabbath 
 School, which we have this day enjoyed. — 
 Help us duly to value and appreciate this 
 blessing and to profit greatly by its privi- 
 leges. May we feel deeply thankful towards 
 thee for these and all other favors and bless- 
 ings which we from day to day enjoy ; espe- 
 cially for the gift of thine own dear Son, in 
 whose name and merits we can at all times 
 approach thy mercy-seat and call thee Fa- 
 ther. 
 
 And now, our Heavenly Father, we be- 
 seech thee in much mercy to bestow thy rich 
 blessing upon the labors in which we have 
 this hour been engaged, so far as they may 
 be in conformity with thy holy and righteous 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 37 
 
 will. May the good seed of thy Word have 
 found a good soil in which it may spring up 
 and produce fruit a hundred fold to life ever- 
 lasting. May we all feel the power of thy 
 truth in our hearts, convincing us of sin and 
 pointing us to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. 
 May thy Holy Spirit seal it upon our hearts 
 and apply it to our consciences, that it may 
 " not return unto thee void, but may accom- 
 plish that for which thou hast sent it." 
 
 And now, Lord, we would also remem- 
 ber in our prayers those who enjoy not the 
 privileges which we enjoy ; those children 
 who cannot meet together for the purpose of 
 singing thy praises, calling upon thy name, 
 and studying thy Word ; those who yet dwell 
 in heathen darkness and never hear the sweet 
 name of Jesus. Oh ! have thou mercy upon 
 them and speedily send unto them the light 
 of thy gospel. Raise up many laborers to 
 go forth and labor in thy harvest-field, in or- 
 der that many precious souls may be saved, 
 for, truly, "the harvest is plenteous but the* 
 
38 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 laborers are few." Lord, make us all willing 
 to pray and to labor for the conversion of the 
 world. May we all regard ourselves as thy 
 servants, who should labor in thy cause. If 
 any of us should be fitted for becoming her- 
 alds of the cross, then, Lord, point such out 
 that in early life already they may be dedi- 
 cated to thy most holy service. Prosper all 
 enterprises which have for their object the 
 conversion of sinners. May thy church "arise 
 and shine, her light having come and the 
 glory of the Lord having risen upon her;" 
 may she become the refuge of many souls — 
 the spiritual ark into which sinners may "flee 
 from the wrath to come." Lord, dismiss us 
 now with thy blessing ; accompany us in all 
 our ways and graciously preserve us from all 
 evil ; bless the families to which we respect- 
 ively belong, and may peace and good will 
 dwell upon the face of the whole earth and 
 all sinners receive Christ as their Saviour. — 
 Hear us, Lord ; pardon all our sins ; guide 
 us evermore by thy good Spirit, and save us 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 39 
 
 at last through riches of grace in Christ, our 
 Saviour and Redeemer, who has taught us to 
 pray: — " Our Father," &c. — Amen. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Our Father, whkh art in Heaven : We 
 appear before thee at the close of our exer- 
 cises, in the name of thy Son, our Saviour^ 
 and thank thee that it has pleased thee to 
 permit us to assemble ourselves together as a 
 Sabbath School at this time. We would bless 
 thee for thy precious Word, by which we are 
 made wise unto salvation. Oh ! may it be 
 in truth, " a lamp unto our feet and a light 
 upon our path ; may it be sweet unto our 
 taste, yea, sweeter than honey or the honey- 
 comb and more precious than gold : yea, than 
 much fine gGld<," May we become wiser and 
 better ; less worldly and more heavenly- 
 minded from day to day ; may we love thee 
 more and serve thee better as we go forward 
 in. our journey towards the heavenly Jerusa- 
 
40 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 lem. Lord, turn our feet from the way of 
 error and sin, from the broad way that leads 
 to destruction, and set them into the narrow 
 way that leads unto life everlasting. Grant 
 that the realities of the future world may be 
 continually present to our minds, so that they 
 may solemnly impress us and may create 
 within us a longing desire after their full en- 
 joyment. Help us to feel that we are pil- 
 grims and strangers upon earth — that this is 
 not our home, but that a better, even a hea- 
 venly home, awaits us if we be faithful. — 
 May we lift up our heads and look for the 
 coming of our Redeemer; and may we be 
 watchful and live as those who wait for the 
 coming of their Lord and Master. 
 
 thou good Shepherd of thy sheep, who 
 didst lay down thy life for us, we beseech 
 thee to be with us at all times and to enable 
 us to live in close communion with thee. — 
 Thou art our great High Priest and Inter- 
 cessor at the right hand of the Father ; and 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 41 
 
 now, Saviour, intercede for us and keep us 
 from straying away from thee. 
 
 Send thy good Spirit, the Comforter, into 
 our hearts, that he may abide with us and 
 may cheer and strengthen us in all our temp- 
 tations and trials. thou Holy Spirit of 
 the Eather and of the Son, come and take up 
 thine abode in our hearts and make us tem- 
 ples of the living God. Sanctify us, that we 
 may bo devoted to the service of the only 
 true and living God, in body, soul and spirit, 
 — in life, in death, and in eternity. 
 
 And, Lord, remember also thy church 
 in all countries and climes. Pour out thy 
 Holy Spirit upon thy believing people every- 
 where, that they may become lights shining 
 in dark places, and may thus enlighten those 
 who live in the night of ignorance and sin. 
 May they more and more become the salt of 
 the earth, preserving the mass of humanity 
 from corruption. Bless all thy ministering 
 servants and bestow upon them richly the 
 abundance of thy grace and the fullness of 
 
42 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 thy Spirit. Spread thy gospel to the utter- 
 most parts of the earth, in order that Christ 
 may soon rule king of nations as he now rules 
 king of saints in the church. 
 
 Dismiss us now with thy blessing ; forgive 
 us all our shortcomings and sins ; watch over 
 us for good, and at last save us through thy 
 Son, our Saviour and Redeemer, to whom 
 with thee and the Holy Ghost be everlasting 
 praises. " Our Father," &c. — Amen. 
 
 Prayer for the Superintendent after School. 
 
 Lord God Omnipotent, who rulest and 
 reignest Supreme in the heavens above and 
 upon the earth beneath, and in the waters 
 under the earth ; who hast the destinies of 
 individuals and of nations in thy hands, and 
 doest according to thy good pleasure : unto 
 thee would I now come in the name of Him 
 who is the Way and the Truth and the Life, 
 by whom alone men come to thee, and would 
 humbly thank thee for what I have experi- 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 43 
 
 enced and enjoyed this day. Thou, Lord, 
 hast done great and wondered things for man 
 who is but dust and ashes. Thou hast no 
 pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wilt 
 much more that he turn from his wicked ways 
 and live. To this end thou didst send thy 
 only begotten and well-beloved Son into the 
 world, that whosoever believeth in him might 
 not perish but have everlasting life. Thou 
 hast established thy church in the earth and 
 dost continually call upon" 5 sinners to turn 
 unto thee and live. Thou hast favored us 
 highly in point of privilege, and hast this day 
 given us renewed tokens of thy loving kind- 
 ness and tender mercies to-us-ward. 
 
 It has pleased thee, merciful Father, to 
 call me into thy service and to place me at 
 the head of a Sabbath School, where I may 
 labor for thy glory and the good of immortal 
 souls. Oh ! help me, I beseech thee, to feel 
 the great responsibility which is resting upon 
 me, so that I may not be indifferent in regard 
 to the extent and importance of my duties. 
 
44 PKAYERS FOR 
 
 May I magnify my office in all my thoughts, 
 words and deeds, and may it be my greatest 
 desire and my chief pleasure to promote the 
 best interests of the school with which I 
 stand thus connected, and by this means to 
 advance the general welfare of all that be- 
 long to it. May I seek in all things to has- 
 ten the coming of thy kingdom into the 
 hearts of the children, which come under my 
 care from Sabbath to Sabbath, and also into 
 all the world ; and may thy peace reign upon 
 earth ; may good will towards men dwell in 
 every heart, and may all glory be ascribed to 
 thee, the Lord God in the highest. 
 
 And now, Lord, I would make mention in 
 my prayer of the dear children which are 
 connected with the school over which thou 
 hast placed me. Oh ! do thou seriously im- 
 press their hearts with a sense of their un- 
 worthiness and helplessness, that they may 
 flee to Christ, their Saviour, in order to have 
 their sins taken away. Help them to give 
 their youthful days and years to thee, that in 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 45 
 
 the morning of life already, they may know 
 no higher privileges and feel no higher en- 
 joyments, than such as are enjoyed by those 
 who love and serve thee in sincerity and in 
 truth. May the seed of divine truth which 
 is sown into their young and tender hearts 
 from time to time, produce the blessed fruits 
 of a true and heartfelt repentance and hearty 
 consecration, by faith, to thy most holy ser- 
 vice. Be merciful unto them and pardon 
 their past transgressions and sins, and renew 
 s their hearts by the power of thy Holy Spirit, 
 so that all their affections may be purified 
 and sanctified, to thee. Choose out such as 
 may be suited to become messengers of peace, 
 and set them apart to the sacred office of the 
 ministry of reconciliation. Throw around all 
 the protecting and preserving influences of 
 thy church, that they may be trained to thy 
 service from their youth up. Lord, suffer 
 them not to fall into temptations ; permit 
 them not to be led astray from thy fold, but 
 keep them that they all may become instru- 
 
46 PRAYERS K)R 
 
 ments in thy hands for the up-building of thy 
 cause and kingdom in the earth and the glo- 
 rification of thy most holy name. 
 
 Bless the parents of these children, and 
 may they, together with their offspring, live 
 in thy fear and in thy service. May the fam- 
 ily altar be established in every house, around 
 •which young and old may gather to offer up 
 the incense of their morning and evening sac- 
 rifice ; and may such incense come before and 
 be accepted by thee, for the sake of Christ, 
 the Saviour. % 
 
 Lord, bless all those who teach in our 
 school. May they find the Saviour precious 
 to their souls ; may they walk in the paths of 
 virtue and true holiness ; may pure and un- 
 affected piety adorn their walk and conversa- 
 tion and may they in all their thoughts, words 
 and deeds, evidence that they have been with 
 Jesus and have learned of him. May they 
 bear the interests of the great cause of Sab- 
 bath Schools upon their hearts and bring 
 them before thee in their prayers, morning and 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 47 
 
 evening. Bo thou enable them to teach the 
 children as those who have themselves been 
 taught of the Lord, and do thou bestow thy 
 richest blessings upon the labors of their 
 hands. 
 
 And now, Lord, I would also beseech 
 thee in behalf of thy church. Bless her 
 abundantly. May she " arise and shine, her 
 light having come, and the glory of the Lord 
 having risen upon her." Send forth thy min- 
 isters into all the world, and open thou the 
 hearts of the children of men for the recep- 
 tion of thy glorious truths. May the great 
 and glorious day soon come in which all the 
 nations of the earth shall know and honor 
 the Lord ; when the knowledge of the Lord 
 shall cover the earth as the waters cover 
 the channels of the great deep, and when 
 Christ shall take unto himself the heathen 
 for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts 
 of the earth for his possession. 
 
 And now, heavenly Father, I beseech thee 
 to regard me, a poor sinner, in much mercy. 
 
48 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 Pardon all my sins ; blot out all my trans- 
 gressions ; supply all my deficiencies ; heal 
 all my backslidings, and restore me unto thy 
 blessed favor through riches of grace in Christ, 
 my Redeemer. Use me as an instrument, 
 however humble, to spread thy kingdom ; to 
 point sinners unto Christ, the Lamb of God, 
 and thus to glorify thy name. At last, when 
 I shall have finished my course here below — 
 when flesh and sense fail, and I shall have to 
 pass through the dark valley of the shadow 
 of death — be thou then my staff and my 
 stay ; comfort me and receive me unto thy- 
 self, where I may see thee face to face ; and 
 all honor, praise and glory shall be to thee, 
 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 
 for evermore. Amen. 
 
 Prayer for Teachers after School. 
 
 Lord, my God and Father : I would 
 now come before thee in the name of Christ, 
 my Saviour and Redeemer, to thank thee for 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 49 
 
 life and for health of body and mind, in the 
 enjoyment of which I could this day attend 
 to my duties as a Sabbath School teacher. 
 Enable me, Lord, to realize the greatness 
 of this privilege — the privilege of instructing 
 in the holy truths of the Bible, such as thou 
 hast commanded to be brought unto thee, and 
 of whom is the kingdom of heaven ; to point 
 them unto Christ, the Lamb of God, and to 
 teach them the way of life. But what am I, 
 and what are the instructions I can impart if 
 they are not accompanied by thy blessing ? 
 For a Paul may plant and an Apollos may 
 water, but the increase must come from thee. 
 I beseech thee, therefore, to water with thy 
 heavenly grace the seeds of truth which were 
 sown by me, a feeble instrument, this day. — 
 May they not have fallen upon the hard road, 
 nor among thorns, nor upon stony ground ; 
 but into good soil, and may they spring up 
 and bring forth fruit abundantly to the praise 
 of thy name. Do thou graciously own and 
 bless and establish upon me and my fellow- 
 
 B-2. 
 
60 PKA1ERS POR 
 
 teachers, the feeble efforts which were put 
 forth in our school this day. Bless, I pray 
 thee, alf the children of our school ; fill their 
 minds and hearts with heavenly truth and 
 wisdom, and seriously impress them with a 
 sense of the vanity of all earthly pleasures ; 
 the hideousness of sin and all evil, and ena- 
 ble them by faith to lay hold upon better 
 things, even spiritual treasures, which will 
 not perish, but endure forever. Enable them 
 to seek, first of all, thy kingdom and thy 
 righteousness, and to live for thy honor and 
 glory all the days of their earthly existence. 
 
 Regard, also, my fellow-teachers and the 
 officers of our school, in much mercy. May 
 we all see eye to eye, labor hand in hand, and 
 live as one christian family in pure and holy 
 love, laboring together for each other's, and 
 the salvation of those placed under our care. 
 
 Bless, Lord, the parents of the children 
 who visit our school. May they live in thy 
 fear and love, and train up their children in 
 the nurture and admonition of the Lord.— 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 51 
 
 May their families and each and every mem- 
 ber thereof, be an ornament to thy church 
 and a blessing to the present and to coming 
 generations. 
 
 And now, Lord, look upon me, thy un- 
 worthy servant, with tender compassion. I 
 know that I come far short in all my duties, 
 I know that I love thee not as thou deservest 
 to be loved, and that I have not yet given 
 myself to thy service to such a degree as I 
 ought. I often forget thee and my thoughts 
 and affections are set upon the perishable 
 things of the world. I must confess myself 
 a sinner before thee/ deserving thy hot dis- 
 pleasure. But I beseech thee in the name 
 and for the sake of Christ, thy Son, to have 
 mercy upon me. Oh! cast me not away, 
 and take not thy good Spirit from me. Re- 
 new me more and more in the inner man and 
 make me more conformable to thine own im- 
 age. Mortify all remains of sin and evil 
 that are in me, and fit and qualify me to love 
 and serve thee more and better. May I be- 
 
52 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 come more and more crucified unto tlie world ; 
 may I deny myself, take up my cross and 
 follow Christ through evil as well as through 
 good report, and may I thus live only for thy 
 glory and the best interests of immortal souls. 
 Strengthen my faith and enable me to live in 
 daily communion with the realities of the 
 world to come, and thus become prepared 
 for the enjoyment of thy presence in heaven, 
 where I shall see thee face to face, and 
 praise and glorify thee, the Triune God 
 — Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in a world 
 without end. Amen. 
 
 Prayer for a Sick Teacher or Scholar. 
 
 Our Father: We come before thee at 
 this time in behalf of one of our number, 
 whom thou hast laid upon a bed of sickness 
 and suffering. We would approach thee in 
 the name of thy dear Son, our Saviour and 
 Redeemer, and would ask thee, for his sake, 
 to lend a listening ear unto our petitions. — 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 58 
 
 We know, Lord, that thou, in thy infinite 
 goodness, doest all things well, and that when 
 we are afflicted, it is for our own good. Thou 
 makest us to go through the fiery furnace of 
 affliction and refinest us as by fire, in order to 
 purify us and to make us meet for an inheri- 
 tance of everlasting glory. Thus we know, 
 too, that thou hast a wise purpose in view in 
 the affliction of our friend and teacher, 
 (scholar,) for whom we would now intercede. 
 And may thy gracious design not be hin- 
 dered, but may the afflictions which thou hast 
 sent upon him, (her,) prove productive of 
 great good. May he (she) come forth out of 
 the furnace of affliction as gold seven times 
 purified. 
 
 Yet, Lord, be thou not angry with us 
 for speaking unto thee in behalf of him (her) 
 who is sick, perhaps nigh unto death. Oh ! 
 -do thou remember him (her) in much mercy. 
 Sustain him (her) by thy grace and Spirit, 
 and grant him (her) peace of mind and a 
 sense of the forgiveness of his (her) sins. — 
 
t>4 PRATERS FOR 
 
 Spare him, (her,) Lord, if it be thy will, ■ 
 for much usefulness^ days to come, and re- 
 store him (her) to the enjoyment of good 
 health ; nevertheless, not our but thy will be 
 done. If his (her) end be at hand, oh ! then 
 have mercy on him (her) and enable him, 
 (her,) by a living faith, to lay hold of the 
 merits of the blessed Saviour, so as to ena- 
 ble him (her) to commend his (her) soul into 
 His hands. If it be thy will, however, to re- 
 store him (her) to good health and strength, 
 grant that all the energies of his (her) life 
 may henceforth be consecrated to thy ser- 
 vice. May he (she) be devoted to the work 
 of the Lord so as to give himself (herself) 
 f ally and unreservedly unto thee, to love and 
 serve thee with a full purpose of heart. 
 
 And now, Lord, hear our prayer in the 
 name and for the sake of thine own dearly- 
 beloved Son, our Saviour ; forgive us all our 
 sins ; be ever with us, in good health and in 
 sickness, in prosperity and in adversity, un- 
 til, in thy good providence, our end will have 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 
 
 come, and then own and accept us through 
 riches of grace in Christ, our Redeemer. — - 
 Amen. 
 
 Prayer on the Occasion of the Death of a 
 Teacher. 
 
 Eternal and unchangeable Jehovah : We 
 come with sorrowful hearts, into thy presence 
 at this time. We come in the name of Christ, 
 our Mediator and Intercessor, and we would 
 humbly adore thee as the author of our exist- 
 ence ; the Framer of our bodies and the 
 Father of our spirits ; as the Father of lights, 
 in whom there is no variableness nor shadow 
 of turning. Thou did'st create man in thine 
 own image ; did'st breathe into his nostrils 
 the breath of life, and he became a living 
 soul ; and behold, he was very good. But 
 " by one man's transgression sin came into the 
 world, and death by sin ; and so death pass- 
 ed upon all men, for that all have sinned," 
 "for the wages of sin is death." Of this 
 
56 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 fact we are this day forcibly reminded for a 
 seat in our midst, which was formerly occu- 
 pied by one of our number, is this day vacant. 
 Death has laid his cold hand upon a brother, 
 (sister) and he (she) is with us no more. He, 
 (she) lies low in the grave ; his (her) eyes are 
 closed ; his (her) lips are sealed in death ! 
 No more will his (her) voice be heard in our 
 midst in singing thy praises ; no more will 
 the words of instruction and counsel from his 
 (her) lips, be heard amongst us. Thou, Lord, 
 who holdest the issues of life and death in 
 thy hand, hast called him (her) hence, and we 
 will not grieve over our loss, knowing that 
 whatsoever thou doest is done well. We will 
 not murmur, but will lay our hands upon our 
 mouths and our mouths in the dust and will 
 say : "Thy will, and not our's, be done." 
 
 We pray thee, however, to make this solemn 
 call of great benefit to our souls. May we 
 be reminded by this dispensation, that man's 
 life is but a hand-breadth ; that we have here 
 no abiding place, but must depart. Oh, per- 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 57 
 
 mit us not to put off the great work of pre- 
 paring for the last hour, until it be forever . 
 too late ! Impress all of us, deeply, with a 
 sense of the fact that death conies quickly 
 and as a thief in the night. May we take 
 warning in time ; may this be a call unto us, 
 saying: "Set thy house in order for thou 
 shalt die and not live." 
 
 Lord, help us, to die daily unto the 
 world, unto ourselves and unto sin, that Christ 
 may live in us so that when death comes, to 
 die may be our gain. Enable us to improve 
 every moment of our lives for our own salva- 
 tion and the salvation of our fellow men ; that 
 we may be like unto the wise virgins, having 
 our lamps of faith trimmed and burning, and 
 our vessels well supplied with oil, waiting for 
 the coming of Christ our heavenly bride- 
 groom, so as to be able to enter with Him and 
 sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to 
 the marriage supper of the Lamb. 
 
 Be thou, Lord, with those whom thou 
 hast bereaved in the death of him (her) for 
 
58 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 "whom we, this day, go mourning. Oh ! sus- 
 tain them by thy Word and Spirit, that they 
 may not mourn as those who have no hope. 
 Speak peace unto their souls, blessed 
 Saviour, thou "Prince of Peace;" and thou 
 Holy Comforter, comfort their sorrowing 
 hearts and bear them up in their bereavement. 
 May this dispensation be an admonition to 
 them and a voice, saying : " be ye likewise 
 ready." May they set their house in order 
 and hold themselves in readiness to depart 
 whenever the Lord will call them. 
 
 And now Lord, look in much mercy upon 
 us all ; help us to repent of all our sins, and 
 graciously pardon us — and at last, when the 
 solemn hour of departure will have come for 
 us, do thou receive us home into thy everlast- 
 ing habitations, through riches of grace in 
 Christ our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 Death of a Scholar. 
 Thou, who hast the issues of life and 
 death in thy hand, look in mercy upon us as 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 59 
 
 we attempt to approach, into thy presence at 
 this time. We come with bleeding hearts, 
 for death has entered our school and has 
 claimed one of its members as a victim. 
 Lord, how uncertain is life and how certain 
 is death ! Our lives are short and fleeting — 
 we come forth as the grass of the field and 
 abide but for a short time. We droop, wither, 
 die, and return to dust and ashes. In the 
 midst of life we are surrounded by death, 
 whose shafts fall thick and fast around us ! — 
 Young and old alike must lay by their mor- 
 tal body and sleep the long sleep in the cold 
 embrace of death ! 
 
 May this sad dispensation— the death of 
 our young friend and scholar — remind us of 
 the fact, that no one is too young to die. — 
 Death is in truth no respecter of persons. 
 The reaper-angel goes forth and gathers in 
 the young and smiling infant ; the blooming 
 youth and maiden ; the strong man and fair 
 woman, as well as the old and infirm, who, in 
 point of age, are ripe for his sickle. Grant 
 
60 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 that we all may lay this truth most seriously 
 to heart, and may so live as to be prepared 
 to meet thee at thy coming. 
 
 How soon one or the other of us, who are 
 yet alive, will be called, we can not know ; 
 therefore we should all be diligent in the work 
 of preparation for the solemn hour of death. 
 We pray thee, Lord, to assist us in our 
 weakness. Help us to strive to enter in at 
 the straight gate ; strengthen our faith, and 
 enable us to watch and to pray in order to 
 be ready. 
 
 Although we mourn at the death of our 
 friends, yet we would also bless thy holy 
 name, for the assurance thy Word gives us, 
 that our loved ones, who die in the Lord, are 
 not lost to us, but only gone before. They 
 are gone to be with Jesus, which is far better. 
 They are gone to inhabit blest mansions 
 above, prepared by his love; where "the 
 wicked cease from troubling and the weary 
 are at rest." And oh ! may we feel our- 
 selves drawn after them ; may we not wish 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 61 
 
 them back ; may we not seek them upon 
 earth, but strive to be prepared to go and be 
 with them in heaven. 
 
 And now, Lord, be thou with those whom 
 thou hast bereft by this solemn dispensation. 
 Comfort and console their sorrowing hearts ; 
 speak peace, thou " Prince of Peace," unto 
 their troubled souls, and stir them up to look 
 upwards and to go on towards the heavenly 
 city, waiting for the coming of the Lord. — 
 May they seek their treasures in heaven, and 
 thus be drawn away from the earth to hold 
 communion with heavenly things. 
 
 Hear us now, Lord ; forgive us all our 
 short-comings, mis-doings and sins, and save 
 us finally for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. 
 
 Prayer after the Recovery of a SicJc Teacher 
 or Scholar. 
 
 Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that 
 is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the 
 Lord, my soul, and forget not all his bene- 
 
62 JPRAYEttS roil 
 
 fits ; who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who 
 healeth all thy diseases ; who redeemeth thy 
 life from destruction, and crowneth thee with 
 loving kindness and tender mercies. Lord, 
 our God, we desire to come before thee at 
 this time, as before a merciful Father, with 
 thanksgivings and praises; we would adore 
 and magnify thy great and blessed name, for 
 thou hast done great things for us. Thou 
 hast had mercy upon him (her) that was sick, 
 and, perhaps, nigh unto the gates of death. 
 Thou hast restored him (her) to the enjoyment 
 of a reasonable measure of good health, so as 
 to enable him (her), again to appear in our 
 school. 
 
 And now Lord, we pray thee to accept our 
 humble thanks, and to grant us grace to re- 
 joice with him (her) that rejoices over thy 
 great love and compassion to him, (her) and 
 to us as a school. And now, may thy good- 
 ness, thy loving kindness and tender mercies, 
 thy long-suffering and patience, not be in vain, 
 but may they lead us to a heart-felt and un- 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 68 
 
 feigned repentance for all our sins ; to a living 
 faith in Christ, and to an entire yielding up of 
 ourselves to thy most holy service. Enable 
 us, Lord, to see and feel why it is that thou 
 dost still preserve us in life. May we know 
 and lay to heart that it is in order that we 
 may love thee more and serve thee better ? and 
 thus become prepared for an entrance into 
 everlasting glory. To this end, Lord, grant 
 us the aid of thy Holy Spirit. May he take 
 of the things of Jesus and show them unto 
 us ; may he wean us more and more from the 
 world and draw all our affections heavenward* 
 May he fit us to love and serve thee here be- 
 low and to dwell with thee in bliss and glory 
 above. We now commit and commend our- 
 selves into thy parental care and keeping. 
 Be with us, blessed Lord, and keep us from 
 all evil. Guide and direct us ; try us and see 
 whether we are in the wicked way and lead 
 us into the way everlasting. Dismiss us now 
 with thy blessing; be ever with us, and at 
 last own and save us for the sake and through 
 
64 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 the merits of thine own dear Son, our Saviour 
 and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 Praying at Dismissing a Scholar in good 
 Standing. 
 
 Lord, our God, thou art unchangeable. 
 From all eternity thou art the same, for in 
 thee, the Father of lights, there is no vari- 
 ableness nor shadow of turning. We are but 
 of yesterday and pass away quickly. The 
 friends we loved in former years are with us 
 no more. Some sleep in the cold grave, and 
 others have taken their leave and have gone 
 in far distant lands. Our associations in this 
 life are continually changing. We make 
 friends to day and part with them to-morrow. 
 We are on this present occasion forcibly re- 
 minded of this fact, by being obliged to dis- 
 miss one of our number from our school, per- 
 haps never more to see him (her) upon earth. 
 
 And now, Our Heavenly Father, we desire 
 to appear before thee in behalf of him (her) 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 65 
 
 who is about to leave this school. We com- 
 mit arid commend him (her) into thy paren- 
 tal care and keeping, and beseech thee to let 
 thy special protection and guidance accom- 
 pany him (her) in all his (her) ways, — in his 
 (her) journeyings, and in his (her new home. 
 Let they richest blessings rest upon him, (her) 
 at all times and in all places. Guard him, 
 (her) Lord, against sinful and wicked asso- 
 ciates. Throw around him (her) the salutary 
 influences of thy church and the sabbath 
 school, and guide him (her) by thy good 
 spirit under all circumstances, whether favor- 
 able or unfavorable. Draw him (her) continu- 
 ally by thy love and spirit, and help him (her) 
 to walk in the paths of truth, of righteous- 
 ness and of true holiness ; loving thee with 
 a pure heart, and serving thee with a good 
 conscience. 
 
 May he (she) abide in thy fear and become 
 a light shining in dark places ; dispelling the 
 night of sin and iniquity, and leading many 
 
 to Christ the "light of the world, "—the 
 0-1. 
 
66 PftAYEHs FOK 
 
 "Lamb of God," that their sins may he taken 
 away. To this end, blessed Father, seal upon 
 his (her) heart and apply to his (her) con- 
 science, the instructions he (she) received in 
 this school. May they be as good seed, and 
 may they have found good soil, spring up and 
 produce an abundance of good fruit. 
 
 And, Lord, help us who remain here? 
 often to remember him, (her,) whom we now 
 dismiss from our school, in our prayers at thy 
 mercy seat. Enable us to cherish the spirit 
 of pure and holy love in our hearts, even of 
 that love which comes from thee, who art love. 
 Be with us all ; forgive all our sins and short- 
 comings ; quicken us by thy spirit, and at 
 last receive one and all of us into thy hea- 
 venly kingdom and grant us the bliss of be- 
 holding thee, "face to face," and of praising 
 and glorifying thee, the Father, Son and Holy 
 Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 67 
 
 Prayer at the Expulsion of a Scholar for 
 bad Conduct* 
 
 Lord, we appear before thee with sorrow- 
 ful hearts ! Necessity was laid upon us in 
 thus expelling a member from our school. 
 His (her) conduct was such as to disturb the 
 peace and hinder the prosperity of our school, 
 and there was danger that others would be led 
 astray by his (her) example. Words of kind 
 admonition, of mild correction, of affection- 
 ate entreaty and of stern rebuke, were alike 
 fruitless. At last we performed the hard, yet 
 necessary, task of expulsion ! And now, 
 Lord, we would still make use of the only 
 means that is left us and would continue to 
 pray in behalf of him (her) who is now cast 
 out from our midst. Have thou mercy, oh 
 our heavenly Father, and grant that he (she) 
 
 *It is questionable whether it is prudent to expel a 
 scholar from school, unless all hope of reforming him (her) 
 is vain, and he (she) has become so wicked as to disturb 
 the peace and hinder the prosperity of the school, by set- 
 ting a bad example to the children, and leading them astray 
 to walk in his (her) own wicked ways. If a scholar is ex- 
 pele4, ^should only be done after prayerful consideration 
 
68 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 may feel the disgrace that is now brought 
 upon him, (her) and that he (she) may come 
 to himself (herself) like the prodigal, and 
 may return a true penitent, over whom thy 
 holy angels in heaven may rejoice. Forbid 
 Lord, that he (she) should cast away from 
 himself (herself) every restraint and rush on 
 to inevitable destruction, heedless of all warn- 
 ing and advice. Oh, turn him (her) from his 
 (her) evil ways ; arrest him (her) in his (her) 
 career of sin and folly, and bring him (her) 
 back to thee. May the kind admonitions and 
 entreaties ; the faithful warnings and advice, 
 which were made to him (her) in this school, 
 follow him (her) and leave him (her) no rest 
 until he (she) give heed unto them. May 
 thy good spirit strive with him (her) and draw 
 him (her) away from his sinful course. May 
 the truths of thy Holy Word, the hymns of 
 praise and the prayers, as he (she) heard them 
 from time to time in this school, sound and 
 resound in his (her) ears until they reach his 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 69 
 
 (her) heart and bring him (her) to reflect, 
 repent and return. 
 
 Hear now our prayers, Lord, and an- 
 swer them ; grant our humble requests in be- 
 half of the scholar that was expelled from 
 our school ; turn him (her) from the way of 
 sin and error unto thee the living and true 
 God, and all honor, praise and glory shall be 
 thine forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Prayer at the Opening of a Teachers' 
 Meeting, or Bible Class. 
 
 Lokd, thou art a great God and a great 
 King, and art worthy to be praised and to be 
 had in reverence by all thine intelligent crea- 
 tures in Heaven above and upon the earth 
 below. The bright seraphs, which surround 
 thy throne, veil their faces and cry one to 
 another and say : " Holy, Holy, Holy is the 
 Lord God of Hosts, the whole earth is full of 
 his glory." It becomes us, Lord, to take 
 our position in the dust and to worship and 
 
70 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 adore thee in deep humility ; for " what is 
 man that thou art mindful of him and the son 
 of man that thou visitest him ?" We would, 
 therefore, humble our souls before thee at 
 this time, and would bless, adore and magnify 
 thee as a God of boundless love and compas- 
 sion, having "no pleasure in the death of 
 the wicked, but that the wicked turn from 
 his way and live." Oh! how great is thy 
 love ! how abundant thy mercy ! and how 
 long suffering thy patience ! Although we 
 deserve to be forever banished from thy pre- 
 sence, thou art still calling unto us to turn 
 and live. When man had forfeited all claims 
 to thy goodness and love, having transgressed 
 thy righteous command and trampled thy 
 holy will under foot ; when he had made him- 
 self incapable of loving and serving thee on 
 account of his sin, and had thus shut himself 
 out from all communion with thee, thou didst 
 stretch forth thy hand and didst snatch him 
 from the destruction into which he had plung- 
 ed himself. He was dead in trespasses and 
 
3AB0&TH SCHOOLS. 71 
 
 sins ; a heavy load Gf guilt was lying Upon 
 him, but thou didst send thine own dearly 
 beloved Son into the world, in order to re- 
 store man to life and happiness again. He 
 came and took upon himself our nature ; He 
 became oiie of us and-" was in all points tempt- 
 ed like as we are, yet without sin;" he took 
 upon himself our sins and our guilt, and 
 "bore them in his body on the tree, that we, 
 being dead to sin, should live unto righteous- 
 ness." 
 
 Thou didst also, in great mercy, bestow 
 upon us thy good and Holy Spirit, and thus 
 we are made able, by his gracious aid and in- 
 fluence, to lay hold of the salvation, which 
 Christ our Saviour wrought out for us upon 
 the cross, and which is offered unto us in the 
 Gospel. Thou didst establish thy church 
 upon earth, and didst institute sufficient 
 means of grace by which our spiritual life 
 may be quickened and nourished into life 
 everlasting. 
 
 And now Lord, as thou hast done so great 
 
72 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 and wonderful things for the salvation of the 
 human race, and art still making use of 
 human instrumentalities to carry forward thy 
 work, it behooves us, also, to be up and 
 doing; to be laboring in thy harvest field 
 seeking the salvation of immortal souls. We 
 desire, therefore, at this time, to make men- 
 tion, in our prayers, of thy church, Pour 
 out the fullness of thy Spirt upon her. May 
 she "arise and shine, her light being come 
 and the glory of the Lord being risen upon 
 her." Prosper, we pray thee, the preaching 
 of thy Gospel, and bless it to the conversion 
 of many sinners from the error of their ways 
 to thee, the living and true God. Send more 
 laborers into thy harvest field, for truly the 
 harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. 
 Eaise up many who shall feel themselves con- 
 strained by the love of Christ, to go forth in 
 thy name and in the power of thy might, as 
 heralds of the eross, to proclaim the gospel 
 of salvation to a perishing world. Be with 
 those who already stand on the walls of 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 73 
 
 Zion and strengthen them for the faithful dis- 
 charge of all their duties. Crown with thy 
 richest blessing the labors of their hands, so 
 that they may be able to see the fruits of 
 their toil and may rejoice, giving all glory to 
 thee. 
 
 Especially, Lord, be with those who 
 labor in heathen lands. Oh ! remember them 
 and make thy grace sufficient for every trial 
 they have to endure. Dispose those to whom 
 they preach the gospel, to receive it gladly ; 
 and may its light shine into their hearts and 
 dispel all the darkness of sin and evil that 
 by nature reigns within them. Prosper 
 greatly the labors of all who toil for the spread 
 of thy kingdom, the salvation of souls and 
 the honor and glory of thy name. Our 
 Father, who art in heaven, may thy name 
 soon be hallowed by all ; may thy kingdom 
 soon come into every heart, and may soon thy 
 will be done on earth even as it is done in 
 heaven above. Help us, Lord, to glorify 
 thy name in all our thoughts, words and 
 
74 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 deeds, and may we at all times and in all 
 things have a wise reference to thy most holy 
 and most righteous will. 
 
 We also desire to bring before thee the 
 cause of Sabbath Schools at this time. We 
 pray thee to prosper it to the accomplishment 
 of much good. Bestow richly of thy Spirit 
 upon all officers, teachers and children con- 
 nected with the same, and enable all properly 
 and faithfully to discharge their several du- 
 ties. Bless the operations of that institu- 
 tion, which ha3 for its object the establish- 
 ment of schools in destitute places and the 
 circulation of good books for the young. — 
 Guide those who preside over it by thy coun- 
 sel and Spirit, and make all who are connected 
 with it, faithful and active in the discharge of 
 their duties, that much good may be done 
 through its agency. 
 
 And now, Lord, as we have met together 
 at this time for the purpose of mutual con- 
 sultation and the united study of thy Word, 
 we would beseech thee to be present with us 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 75 
 
 at this time. Solemnize our hearts and our 
 minds ; enable us to feel the great privileges, 
 but also the great responsibilities, of our sta- 
 tion, and help us to study thy Word care- 
 fully and prayerfully, to our own edification 
 and for the benefit of those whom it is our 
 lot to instruct. Bless all the children of 
 our school. Fill their young and tender 
 hearts with love and reverence towards thee ; 
 watch over them at all times, and graciously 
 preserve them from straying into the paths of 
 sin and folly ; such as have gone astray, 
 bring back and make them to walk in thine 
 own ways. Bless also the parents of these 
 children. May they watch over their tender 
 offspring and direct them to walk in the 
 straight path of wisdom and godly fear ; and 
 may they at last, together with their children, 
 surround thy throne and ascribe all honor, 
 praise and glory unto thee, the Father, to- 
 gether with the Son and the Holy Ghost, for 
 evermore. And now, Lord, be with us during 
 this hour ; open unto us the eyes of our un- 
 
76 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 derstanding that we may see wondrous things 
 out of thy law ; teach us by thy Spirit ; glo- 
 rify thyself in us and in all our thoughts, 
 words and deeds, and at last assemble us to- 
 gether in thy glorious mansions of light and 
 bliss above, through Jesus Christ, thy Son, 
 our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 Prayer at the Close of a Teachers 1 Meeting 
 or Bible Class. 
 
 Most Gracious God and Father : We de- 
 sire to come before thee once more, before we 
 depart from this place, to seek thy gracious 
 blessing upon the labors in which we have 
 been engaged at this time. We know that 
 all our efforts to do good, will and must prove 
 fruitless if thou bestowest not thy blessing 
 upon them. A Paul may plant and an Apol- 
 los may water, but the increase must come 
 from thee. Therefore, as we have been en- 
 gaged in the study of thy Word, at this time, 
 we would now ask thee to seal upon our 
 hearts the truths which we have been consid- 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 77 
 
 ering. Grant, Lord, that they may be as 
 good seed in good soil ; water them with the 
 dews of thy heavenly grace, to the end that 
 they may produce an abundant harvest of 
 good works, done in love and in the faith of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 We desire to commend to thy special care, 
 the cause in which we are engaged. As it 
 has pleased thee to incline our hearts to be- 
 come laborers in thy harvest-field, and to as- 
 sume the duties of Sabbath School teachers, 
 we feel that it behooves us to make use of 
 every means in our reach, to accomplish the 
 object of our mission. We pray thee, there- 
 fore, to remember in much mercy, us, thy 
 humble servants, and with us, all other offi- 
 cers and teachers of Sabbath Schools. Pour 
 out into our hearts the fulness of thy Spirit, 
 and endow us with wisdom and understand* 
 ing from above, to the faithful and effectual 
 discharge of all our duties. Make plain unto 
 us the blessed truths of thy Word, and may 
 they lay hold of our minds^ hearts and con- 
 
78 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 sciences and prompt us to love and serve thee 
 in sincerity and truth. May a love for souls 
 urge us on to labor in season and out of sea- 
 son ; to be diligent and persevering ; watch- 
 ful and prayerful in all our labors ; not be- 
 coming weary in well-doing, knowing that in 
 due season we shall also reap if we faint not. 
 Remember, Lord, the children of all 
 Sabbath Schools throughout the length and 
 breadth of the whole earth. But not only 
 those who enjoy the privileges of the Sabbath 
 School, but also all others would we com- 
 mend to thy fatherly regard. Lord, be with 
 them and bless them abundantly. Thou 
 knowest to what temptations they are ex- 
 posed. Thou knowest how easily they fall in 
 with the sinful ways of the children of the 
 world and how many are overcome by temp- 
 tation ! We pray thee, therefore, to watch 
 over them. Oh ! be thou with them and en- 
 able them to see and avoid the snares which 
 are laid for them and the temptations which 
 beset their paths. Help them to take heed 
 
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 
 
 79 
 
 to their ways according to thy Word. May 
 they remember their Creator now, in the days 
 of their youth, while the evil days come not, 
 nor the years draw nigh, when they shall say, 
 we have no pleasure in them. Impress their 
 youthful minds with a sense of the vanity of 
 all earthly pleasures, and enable them to feel 
 the exceeding great enjoyments which flow 
 from heartfelt communion with thee. Seal 
 upon their hearts the instructions which those 
 receive who attend the Sabbath School, and 
 grant that they may be productive of great 
 good, bringing forth the rich fruits of repent- 
 ance for sin, faith in Christ and a heartfelt 
 consecration unto thy service. Those who 
 do not enjoy the privileges of Sabbath School 
 instruction, remember in mercy and provide 
 for them the enjoyment of* the same blessings. 
 Bless, Lord, all institutions which have 
 for their object the spread of the knowledge 
 of the truth as it is in Jesus. Raise up many 
 who shall go forth to preach Christ and him 
 crucified to a sinful and perishing world. — 
 
80 PRAYERS FOR 
 
 Prosper the faithful preaching of the gospel 
 to the accomplishment of great good. Revive 
 thy work in the hearts of thy people, and 
 may all who profess thy name and who have 
 taken the vows of the Lord upon themselves, 
 see eye to eye, and labor hand in hand, for 
 the advancement of thy cause upon earth. — 
 Hasten the coming of thy kingdom, — of the 
 time when there will be but one flock even as 
 there is but one Shepherd, and when peace 
 and good-will toward men shall fill the whole 
 earth, and honor, praise and glory shall be 
 ascribed to thee, the Lord God in the highest. 
 Hear us now, 0, our Father, and grant us 
 our requests; dismiss us with thy blessing 
 and fill our hearts with joy and peace ; as- 
 sist us to discharge faithfully all our duties, 
 and at last save us through the merits of 
 Christ, our Saviour, who loved us and gave 
 himself for us, and who taught us to pray : 
 "Our Father," &c» Amen. 
 
PART SECOND, 
 
 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR WEEK-DAY 
 SCHOOLS, 
 
 G-& 
 
PART SECOND, 
 
 PRAYERS AND HYxMNS FOR WEEK-DAY 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Morning Prayer for ike Teacher. 
 
 Lord, most merciful and most gracious^ 
 watched over by thy parental eye ; protected 
 by tkine almighty arm, and spared by thy 
 goodness, long-suffering and patience, I have 
 been permitted to behold, with my mortal 
 eyes, the light of this morning. I would now 
 approach thy mercy-seat in the name of thy 
 dear Son, my Saviour and Redeemer, and 
 render thee thanksgivings and praises for ail 
 the manifestations of thy love towards me, as 
 I from day to day experience them. Accept, 
 
 Lord, who art worthy to receive all honor, 
 glory and adoration, the sacrifice of my heart, 
 and grant me thy protecting care and guar- 
 dianship during the trials of this day. Yfhen 
 
 1 look back on the days that are past and 
 gone, I behold nothing but manifestations of 
 
81 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 thy goodness and love towards me. When 
 dangers surrounded me, thou didst protect 
 me ; when foes lay in wait for me, thou wast 
 my buckler and shield ; when snares were 
 laid for my feet, thou didst lead me around 
 them ; and when temptations beset me on 
 every side, thou wast always nigh to help if 
 I but turned to thee in prayer. When dead 
 in trespasses and sin, thou didst send thine 
 own dear Son to suffer and die that I might 
 live, and when I, nevertheless, continued to 
 follow after iniquity, and sported on the barren 
 mountains of sin and folly, thou didst send 
 thy good Spirit to seek me and bring me back. 
 And oh I when I returned, a penitent sinner, 
 thou didst receive me with open arms, and 
 there was joy before thy holy angels in heaven 
 over me, a repenting sinner. Accept then, 
 Lord, my feeble thanks for all thou hast 
 been and art still doing for me ; and as I am 
 still a poor sinner, often forgetting thy love 
 towards me ; often going astray and trans- 
 gressing thy most holy commandments in 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 85 
 
 thoughts, words and deeds : therefore I desire 
 to beseech thee, in the name and for the sake 
 of thy dear Son, to have mercy upon me and 
 to forgive all that thy pure eyes see amiss in 
 mj conduct. And, my Father, I pray 
 thee for the gift of thy good Spirit. May 
 He take up His abode in my heart and make 
 me thy child and thy servant in deed and in 
 truth. 
 
 And now, Lord, I desire also to thank 
 thee for the sphere of usefulness into which 
 thou hast seen fit to call me. Truly, I have 
 a great work to do. But, Lord, who is suf- 
 ficient ! Help me, I beseech thee, to feel my 
 own weakness and blindness, that I may the 
 more earnestly and perseveringiy apply my- 
 self to the proper preparation for my duties. 
 Grant that I may not rely on the wisdom and 
 strength of man, but may, by prayer, seek 
 true wisdom and strength from thee. Endow 
 me also, with that wisdom which maketh 
 wise unto salvation. Be thou with me this 
 day. Give me proper love and zeal for the 
 
86 PRATERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 faithful discharge of all my duties. Make 
 me mild but firm, and enable me to govern 
 more by love than fear. Grant me grace 
 that I may teach, not only by word and pre- 
 cept, but especially by example. May my 
 looks and my actions; my words and my 
 deeds, continually testify to my scholars that 
 I walk before thee and serve thee. 
 
 Make my scholars obedient and diligent, 
 Help them duly to appreciate the value of 
 time ; the preciousness of their youthful days 
 and years, and enable them to lay up a rich 
 fund of useful knowledge for days and years 
 to come. 
 
 And, Lord, most of all, dwell thou in their 
 hearts by thy Holy Spirit and teach them to 
 seek better things than this world can afford ; 
 to lay up treasures in heaven, and to choose 
 that good thing which shall not be taken from 
 them. Prepare them by thy grace to become 
 useful members of society and of the State ? 
 but above all of thy church. 
 
 And now Lord, be with me this day. May 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 87 
 
 my strength be sufficient for its trials and 
 temptations. Forsake me never. Be with 
 all others who shall engage in the same duties 
 with me. Bless abundantly the labors of our 
 hands to thy honor and glory. Hear me and 
 be with me ; bless and at last save me for 
 my Redeemer's sake. Amen. 
 
 Evening Prayer for the Teacher. 
 
 Gracious Father, as I live to see the end 
 of this day and have enjoyed thy favor and 
 blessings whilst it lasted, I desire now, in this 
 evening hour, to appear before thee for the 
 purpose of rendering thee my thanksgivings 
 and praises, for all thou hast done for me, 
 both in body and in soul. Thou hast been 
 with me and hast given me strength and en- 
 ergy of body and of mind to carry me through 
 the duties which my office imposes upon me, 
 and hast brought me to this moment in the 
 enjoyment of good health and many other 
 
88 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 favors and blessings. Accept my humble 
 thanks, Lord, for all the favors bestowed 
 upon me thine unworthy servant. And as 
 this day passed not by without manifold short- 
 comings and failings on my part, I would 
 humbly beseech thee, in the name of Christ, 
 to grant me true and heartfelt repentance for 
 all that I have done amiss, and for all omis- 
 sions of duty towards thee and towards my 
 fellow-men. Pardon me, I beseech thee, and 
 bestow upon me the gift of thy Holy Spirit, 
 to renew me more and more in the inner man 
 into the image of my blessed Saviour and Re- 
 deemer. Strengthen my faith, and enable 
 me, more and more, to look away from all 
 earthly things and to set my affections upon 
 things spiritual and eternal in heaven. 
 
 And now, Lord, I beseech thee to bestow 
 thy rich blessing upon the labors in which I 
 have this day been engaged. So far as they 
 are in accordance with thy holy will, do thou 
 own and prosper them to the good of those 
 upon whom they have been bestowed. What- 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 89 
 
 ever has been done amiss do thou blot out 
 that it may not produce any pernicious fruit. 
 
 Bless, I pray thee all the children that 
 visit my school, from day to day. Graciously 
 watch over them for good, and enable them, 
 in the morning of life already, to yield their 
 young and tender hearts to thee. By the 
 power and influence J 7 of thy Holy Spirit 
 change their hearts and make them thine own 
 children, " born, not of blood, nor of the will 
 of the flesh, nor of the will of man ; but of 
 God." Make them bright and shining lights 
 in thy church ; giving light unto those that 
 are without and dispelling the night of igno- 
 rance and sin around them. Make them the 
 salt of the earth, preserving the mass from 
 corruption, and cities set upon hills, that may 
 be seen from afar off. May they let their 
 light so shine before men, that they, seeing 
 their good works, may glorify thee, the Fa- 
 ther of lights in heaven. 
 
 Bless the parents of these children and en- 
 able them faithfully to discharge all their 
 
90 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 duties towards them, bringing them up in the 
 nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
 
 And now, Lord, be with me, my scholars 
 and all others during the silent watches of this 
 night. When darkness hangs over the face 
 of the earth, let thine all-seeing eye watch 
 over us, and thine all-powerful arm be stretch- 
 ed out for our safety and protection. I com- 
 mit and commend myself and all others into 
 thy guardian care and keeping. Be ever near 
 us ; especially be with the sick and afflicted ; 
 the poor and needy ; widows and orphans and 
 all others who are in distress. Feed the 
 hungry ; clothe the naked ; shelter the house- 
 less and homeless ; comfort the afflicted, and 
 console the sorrowful. Have mercy upon all 
 unrepenting sinners and draw them by thy 
 spirt unto Christ the a Lamb of God," that 
 their sins may be taken away. Hear me now, 
 Lord, for the sake of Christ my Saviour 
 and Redeemer, unto whom with thee, the 
 Father and the Holy Ghost be present and 
 everlasting praises. Amen. 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS, 91 
 
 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR OPENING AND CLOS- 
 ING SCHOOLS. 
 
 Monday Morning. 
 Merciful God and Father, in thy good 
 providence we are again permitted to meet as 
 a school, on this, the first day of labor in the 
 week. Thou hast graciously watched over us 
 since we parted with each other last, and hast 
 kept us from harm and from danger in many 
 shapes and forms. Lord, help us to feel 
 the greatness of thy loving kindness and ten- 
 der mercies to-us-ward ; help us to feel how 
 tenderly thou dost love us, and how greatly 
 thou dost bless us from day to day. Enable 
 us to feel truly grateful towards thee for all 
 these favors ; and may a sense of thy good- 
 ness lead us to heartfelt and unfeigned re- 
 pentance for all our short-comings and sins. 
 Above all, heavenly Father, help us to feel 
 truly grateful for the gift of thine own, dearly 
 beloved Son to be our Saviour and our Re- 
 deemer ; for all that he did and suffered for us 
 while on earth, and for all he is now doing for 
 
92 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 us in heaven. And may our gratitude be ex- 
 pressed by a free and full giving up of our 
 hearts to be his, in order to love and serve 
 him all the days of our life. Help us to feel 
 our own weakness and misery more and more ; 
 draw us away from the earth and earthly 
 things, and enable us to hold communion with 
 spiritual things and become thus fitted for the 
 enjoymment of thy presence in heaven. 
 
 Thou, Lord, hast bestowed upon us im- 
 mortal minds, by which we may know the 
 works of thy hand, and thee the Giver of every 
 good and perfect gift. We are now assembled 
 for the purpose of training and improving our 
 minds; for the purpose of preparation for 
 activity and usefulness in days to come. But 
 Lord, we feel that we are poor and needy, 
 weak and blind, and that, of ourselves, we 
 can do nothing. We come to thee, who art 
 always able and willing to help those who call 
 upon thee in sincerity and truth, and humbly 
 beseech thee to be with us throughout the 
 hours of this day. Influence our hearts by 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 93 
 
 the presence of thy Holy Spirit, and enable 
 us to spend this day together in peace and 
 harmony and with profit to ourselves and 
 others. Teach us by thy wisdom and counsel, 
 that we may become wise unto salvation. En- 
 able us to look forward, to future days and 
 years, with strong desires and resolutions, by 
 thy grace, to do good to our fellow men and 
 to live and labor for thy honor and glory. 
 
 Prosper now, Lord, the labors of our 
 hands. Preserve us from sin. Be with us 
 in all our ways and lead us into the way ever- 
 lasting. Make us all useful members of 
 society, but especially of thy church. May 
 we all become shining lights in the world, dis- 
 pelling the darkness of ignorance and sin 
 around us. Prosper the cause of christian 
 education and bless each and every one that 
 labors in and for it. Build up thy kingdom 
 in the world and reign supreme in the hearts 
 of all. 
 
 Hear us now, Lord ; forgive all our sins 
 and save us, finally, for our Redeemer's sake. 
 Amen, 
 
04 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Children's Prayer. T's. 
 
 1. Gracious Lord we look to thee, 
 Meek and humble may we be ; 
 Pride and anger put away, 
 Make us better every day, 
 
 2. Teach us for our friends to pray, 
 And our parents to obey ; 
 Richest blessings from above, 
 Give them for their tender love. 
 
 8. May we find the sweets of prayer 
 Sweeter than our pastimes are; 
 Love the Sabbath and the place 
 Where we learn to seek thy face. 
 
 Monday Evening. 
 
 Lord our God, at the close of our labors 
 for this day, we would humbly -draw nigh 
 unto thee to thank thee for the favors and 
 blessings we enjoyed since the dawn of this 
 morning's light. Thou hast been with us, 
 Lord, and hast blest us with many and great 
 privileges. Thou hast watched over us and 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 95 
 
 hast shielded us from harm and danger, and 
 now, as we are about to depart from this place, 
 it is meet for us to acknowledge thy goodness 
 as we experienced it during the hours of this 
 day. Help us, we pray thee, rightly to un- 
 derstand how great our favors are, and may a 
 sense of thy love towards us lead us to give 
 our hearts to thee, to love and serve thee all 
 the days of our life. May we truly feel that 
 we are not our own, but belong to our blessed 
 Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who loved us 
 and gave himself for us. May we never for- 
 get that we were purchased with a great 
 price, even the life of our dear Saviour. 
 Now Lord, we beseech thee to crown with thy 
 blessing the labors of our hands for this day, 
 so far as they may be according to thine own 
 holy will. May it not have been in vain that 
 we spent the hours of this day together as a 
 school, but may much good be produced by it. 
 Whatever has been done that may conflict 
 with thy righteous will, do thou graciously 
 blot out and prevent it from bearing fruit. 
 
96 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 And now, as we are about to part with each 
 other, we beseech thee to go with us to our 
 homes. Abide with us where me may abide, 
 and lead us continually in thine own ways 
 that we may not go astray. During the night 
 that is before us, do thou mercifully watch 
 over us ; keep us from all harm and danger ; 
 grant us sweet and refreshing sleep, and in 
 the morning raise us up again to behold the 
 light of to-morrow's sun and to praise and 
 glorify thy name. Bless, also, all our fellow 
 creatures upon the face of the whole earth. 
 Regard in much mercy the poor and the 
 needy; provide for all their wants; feed and 
 clothe them that they may not suffer. Be 
 with the sick and those who walk in the 
 valley of the shadow of death. Prepare us all 
 for our last moments, and when death comes 
 enable us to depart in peace and be with Jesus. 
 To this end grant us, and by thy Spirit work 
 in us, true and heartfelt repentance for all our 
 short-comings and sins, and pardon us graci- 
 ously, for the sake of thine own dear Son our 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 97 
 
 Saviour, through whom we hope to enter hea 
 ven and be with thee for ever. Hear us now, 
 O Lord, for the sake of Christ, who taught 
 us to pray: " Our Father," &c. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 The Sappy Land. 6's, 4's. 
 
 There is a happy land, 
 
 Far, far away, 
 Where saints in glory stand, 
 
 Bright, bright as day. 
 how they sweetly sing, 
 "Worthy is our Saviour-King; 
 Loud let his praises ring ; 
 
 Praise, praise for aye." 
 
 Come to that happy land, 
 Come, come come away; 
 
 Why will ye doubting stand, 
 Why still delay? 
 
 0, we shall happy be, 
 
 When from sin and sorrow free, 
 
 Lord, we shall live with thee ; 
 Blest, blest for aye. 
 
 D-l. 
 
98 PHAYEKS AND HYMNS JOM 
 
 3. Bright, in that happy land, 
 
 Beams every eye; 
 Kept by a Father's hand, 
 
 Love cannot die. 
 0, then to glory rim, 
 Be a crown and kingdom won 
 And bright, above the sun, 
 
 We reign for aye. 
 
 Tuesday Morning, 
 
 Our Father, who art in heaven, we come be- 
 fore thee this morning and desire to thank thee 
 for thy protection during the past night and 
 the light of this morning. Surely thou wast 
 with us and hast kept us. When darkness 
 surrounded and unseen dangers beset us, thine 
 almighty arm was outstretched for our safety. 
 Thou art love, and thy love has been mani- 
 fested towards us, ever since we have our 
 being. This morning, again, we see and feel 
 that thou art still a God of love. But we 
 are truly, most unworthy creatures. We make 
 not the proper use of all the blessings we re- 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 99 
 
 Ceive at thy hands. Often whilst we partake 
 of thy gifts, we forget thee, the bountiful Giv- 
 er ! Often we do what thou hatest and leave 
 undone what thou lovest, and willst that we 
 should do ! But We pray thee, Lord, to 
 forgive us, for the sake of thine own dear Son, 
 our Saviour. Pardon all our sins and restore 
 us unto thy favor. Pour out thy Spirit into 
 our hearts that he may teach us to love thee 
 and to give our hearts to thee. 
 
 blessed Saviour, we look to thee for help. 
 Thou wast so meek and lowly upon earth, and 
 didst invite the poor and needy to come unto 
 thee. We are poor and needy. We desire 
 to seek thy face. Thou art the light of the 
 world, but we are full of darkness. Oh, let 
 thy light fill our souls that we may know thee 
 aright ; that we may also become lights in the 
 world, giving light to those who sit in the 
 shadow and darkness of ignorance and sin. 
 
 And thou, Holy Spirit, the Comforter, 
 come, fill our hearts and make us good and 
 faithful children of our heavenly Father. 
 
100 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 Dwell in our hearts and make us temples of 
 the living God. 
 
 Help us, Lord, to spend this day in a 
 proper and, to thee, acceptable manner. May 
 we store our minds with knowledge for future 
 usefulness that we may do good unto our fel- 
 low-men, and faithfully fulfill our mission in 
 this world. Be with us while we are together. 
 Prevent us from sinning against thee. Keep 
 us from harm and danger. Prosper the labors 
 of our hands and establish them upon us for 
 good. Continue with us to the end and then 
 take us unto thyself in heaven through riches 
 of grace in Christ, to whom, with thee, the 
 Pather and the Holy Ghost, be present and 
 unceasing praises in a world without end, 
 Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 "I Must Die." V%. 
 1. I am young, but I must die : 
 In my grave I soon shall lie : 
 Am I ready now to go, 
 If the will of God be so ? 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 101 
 
 2. Lord, prepare me for my end, 
 To my heart thy spirit send ; 
 Help me, Jesus, thee to love, 
 Take my soul to heaven above. 
 
 Then I shall with Jesus be, 
 Then I shall my Saviour see ; 
 Never more have any pain, 
 Never more shall sin again. 
 
 Tuesday Evening. 
 
 Lord our God, the time for departing from 
 this place has come, but before we go hence 
 we would come to thee in prayer. Oh, cast 
 us not away from thy presence and take not 
 thy good and Holy Spirit from us. Lend a 
 listening ear unto our prayers and graciously 
 hear us when we cry unto thee. 
 
 In thy good providence we have been spared 
 until this moment, and have received renewed 
 tokens of thy love during the hours of this 
 day. Accept now, Lord, we pray thee, 
 our feeble thanks for thy love and kindness 
 towards us. Help us to love thee in return 
 
102 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 and to seek to do thy rightous and holy will 
 in all things. Pardon, graciously, everything 
 thine all-seeing eye may have seen amiss in 
 our conduct and bestow thy rich blessing upon 
 the labors of our hands. Prepare us for 
 much usefulness in our day, that much good 
 may be done by us as thine instruments. 
 Help us to regard ourselves as belonging unto 
 thee, with all that we have and are. May 
 we employ the talents- thou dost give us, 
 faithfully in thy service, in order that, when 
 Christ will come to hold reckoning with us, 
 we may be able, like good stewards, to give a 
 good account of our stewardship. 
 
 And now, Lord, we beseech thee to dismiss 
 us with thy blessing. Go with us to our 
 homes and watch over us during the silent 
 hours of the night. When darkness hangs 
 over the face of the earth, let the light of 
 thy truth fill and enlighten our minds and our 
 souls. Be atj peace with us, our Father, for 
 the sake of our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus 
 Christ. Enable us to trust in thee, all the 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 108 
 
 days of our earthly existence. Strengthen 
 our faith and enable us to walk by faith and 
 not by sight. Help us to keep continually 
 before our minds the great fact that we must 
 die and that we are never too young for the 
 grave. Oh, may we not put off the work of 
 preparation for death and eternity, but may 
 we seek, by thy grace, so to live as we will 
 wish we had lived, when death comes. May 
 we live in thy fear and thy service until our 
 end come, and then die in peace with our Grod 
 through Christ our Saviour, who has taught 
 us to pray: " Our Father," &c. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 Grod Hears Children's Prayers. L. M. 
 
 1, God is so good that he will hear, 
 
 Whenever children humbly pray ; 
 He always lends a gracious ear 
 
 To what the youngest child can say« 
 
 2. His own most holy book declares, 
 
 He loves good little children still, 
 And that he listens to their prayers * 
 
 Just as a tender Father will. 
 
104 PRATERS AND HTMNS FOR 
 
 3. He loves to hear an infant tongue 
 
 Thank him for all his mercies given ; 
 And when by babes his praise is sung, 
 Their cheerful songs are heard in 
 heaven. 
 
 4. Come then, dear children, trust his word, 
 
 And seek him for your friend and guide ; 
 Your little voices shall be heard, 
 And you will never be denied. 
 
 Wednesday Morning. 
 
 Give ear to our words, Lord ; consider 
 our meditations. _ Hearken unto the voice of 
 our cry, our King and our God ; for unto thee 
 will we pray. Our voice shalt thou hear in 
 the morning, Lord, in the morning will we 
 direct our prayers unto thee and will look up. 
 
 thou faithful God and Father, we desire 
 to make known thy loving kindness and ten- 
 der mercies in this morning hour, and to praise 
 thee for thy protection and care during the 
 night that is now past and gone. Thou wast 
 with us and didst graciously watch over us 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 105 
 
 whilst we lay helpless in the embrace of sleep. 
 Thou hast refreshed us by the sleep of the 
 night and hast raised us up to behold the light 
 of this morning in the enjoyment of good 
 health and strength. We are also surround- 
 ed by many other comforts, for which, and 
 for all other favors, we would humbly thank 
 thee at this time. We would, above all, 
 thank thee that we can this morning approach 
 thee in the name of Christ our Advocate and 
 Intercessor at thy right hand, to make known 
 unto thee the desires of our hearts. 
 • And now, Lord, as we have met for the 
 purpose of preparing ourselves for usefulness 
 in after life, we pray thee to be with us dur- 
 ing this day. Help us to spend all its mo- 
 ments profitably to ourselves and to others. 
 Keep us, graciously, from sinning against 
 thee. Banish from our minds all evil and 
 sinful thoughts, and from our hearts all sinful 
 wishes and desires. Help us to dwell to- 
 gether in love, and to seek each other's happi- 
 ness in all our intercourse wich each other, 
 
106 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 Make us industrious and diligent in all our 
 duties, that we may not spend any of the 
 precious moments of this day in idleness, 
 much less in doing evil. Prosper the labors 
 of our hands, and bless them to our good and 
 thy glory. Raise up many who shall become 
 faithful witnesses to and defenders of thy 
 truth. Bless all institutions of learning and 
 those who preside over them. Destroy all 
 ignorance and sin, and let the lamp of thy 
 truth enlighten the minds and hearts of all 
 sinners. 
 
 And now, Lord, we wait for thy presence 
 and blessing. Forsake us not but abide with 
 us, even in our hearts, by thy good and Holy 
 Spirit, that we may be thy true and faithful 
 children, loving and serving thee with all our 
 hearts. Hear us, Lord, and answer and 
 bless, for Christ's sake, and all honor, glory 
 and praise shall be unto thee, the Father, 
 Son and Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. 
 Amen. 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 107 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 The G-ood Shepherd. &s, TV, 
 
 1. Jesus says that we raust love Him, 
 
 Helpless -as the lambs are we ; 
 But he very kindly tells us 
 That our shepherd He will be. 
 
 2. Heavenly Shepherd, please to watch us, 
 
 Guard us both by night and day ; 
 Pity show to little children, 
 
 Who, like lambs, too often stray. 
 
 3. We are always prone to wander, 
 
 Please to keep us from each snare ; 
 Teach our infant hearts to praise thee, 
 For thy kindness and thy care. 
 
 Wednesday Evening. 
 
 Our Father, the day is drawing towards its 
 close ; the shadows of evening are coming on 
 and we must leave this place. But before 
 we depart hence we would render unto thee 
 our thanks for the blessings this day brought 
 with itself. We thank thee that we have 
 been able to meet here for the purpose of 
 
108 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 cultivating our minds for future usefulness, 
 and we pray thee to bestow thy rich blessing 
 upon the labors of our hands for this day. 
 Help us, Lord, to devote all our talents and 
 our knowledge to thy good and holy service. 
 As our minds grow in knowledge so let our 
 hearts grow in grace and holiness, in order 
 that we may be able to turn all we learn to a 
 good and proper use. Send thy good and 
 Holy Spirit into our hearts that he may teach 
 us heavenly wisdom ; that he may take of 
 the things of Jesus and may show them unto 
 us to the end that we may learn to see and 
 know how good it is to love and serve the 
 Lord. 
 
 Forgive Lord, all that we have done amiss 
 during the past day and our past lives. 0, 
 for the sake of thine own dear Son, have 
 mercy upon us and pardon all our sins. Re- 
 new us by thy Spirit, more and more from 
 day to day. Create in us clean hearts, 
 God, and renew right spirits within us. Help 
 us first to seek thy kingdom and thy right- 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 109 
 
 eousness, and all other things shall be added 
 unto us. 
 
 Bless with us all others, Lord. Remem- 
 ber in much mercy all who suffer from want 
 and neglect. Raise up friends to the poor 
 who may supply their wants. Open the 
 hearts and hands of those whom thou hast 
 blest with an abundance of this world's goods, 
 that they may assist those who are poor and 
 needy. May we also remember that " bless- 
 ed is the man who considereth the poor." 
 Be with the sick and afflicted ; comfort them 
 in their distresses,, and enable them to stay 
 their hearts on thee. 
 
 And now, Lord, dismiss us with thy 
 blessing ; go with us to our places of abode, 
 and ever lead us in the way thou wilt have us 
 to go. Preserve us graciously from all sin. 
 Watch over us during the coming night ; pro- 
 tect us against harm and danger ; grant us 
 refreshing sleep, and in the morning raise us 
 up in the enjoyment of good health and 
 strength. Should the hour of death, to any 
 
110 PRAYERS AND HYMNS £OE 
 
 of us, come during the night, 0, then help 
 us to yield our souls into thy hands, and re- 
 ceive us through Christ our Redeemer, who 
 has taught us to pray, " Our Father," &c. 
 Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Worth of the Scriptures. Ts. 
 
 1. Holy Bible, book divine ; 
 
 Precious treasure, thou art mine ; 
 Mine to tell me whence I came, 
 Mine, to teach me what I am. 
 
 2. Mine, to chide me when I rove ; 
 
 Mine, to show a Saviour's love ; 
 Mine art thou, to guide my youth 
 In the paths of love and truth. 
 
 3. Mine, to comfort in distress, 
 
 If the Holy Spirit bless ; 
 Mine, to show by living faith 
 Man can triumph over death. 
 
 4. Mine, to tell of joys to come, 
 
 And the sinner's dreadful doom ; 
 0, thou precious book divine ; 
 Precious treasure, thou art mine, 
 
WEEK-BAt SCHOOLS. Ill 
 
 Thursday Morning. 
 
 Lord, our God and Father, we desire to 
 give thee thanks in this morning hour for thy 
 protection during the last night, and for the 
 light of this day. We laid ourselves clown, 
 and closed our eyes in sleep, but thy never- 
 sleeping eye watched over us, and thine al- 
 mighty arm protected us. No evil came nigh 
 our dwelling, because thy holy angels guard- 
 ed it. And now, Lord, we stand before thee 
 as living witnesses to thy goodness, loving- 
 kindness and tender mercies. How many of 
 our fellow-men, who likewise retired to rest 
 in the enjoyment of good health, have not 
 lived to see the sweet light of this morning's 
 sun ! How many passed the night in pains 
 of body and anguish of soul, whilst we slept 
 peaceably, and arose to see all our wants sup- 
 plied. Lord, make us truly thankful for 
 these favors, and may we be led to give our- 
 selves up to be thine, and to love thee, the 
 Lord our God, with all our heart, with all 
 our soul, with all our mind and with all our 
 
112 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 strength ; to praise and magnify thee in all 
 our thoughts, words and deeds. 
 
 Accept also our humble thanks for the 
 privilege of meeting again as scholars and 
 teacher, and help us to spend this day in such 
 a manner as may be most profitable to us, and 
 may best promote thy honor and glory and 
 the welfare of our fellow-men. Fill our 
 hearts with love, thou fountain of all love, 
 and enable us truly to love thee and each 
 other. By nature we are full of evil ; do 
 thou then renew us by the power of thy Spir- 
 it, and make us thy children in deed and in 
 truth, having the Spirit of adoption in our 
 hearts whereby we may cry " Abba Father." 
 
 Be with us this day, Lord. Prepare us 
 for the proper discharge of all our duties. 
 May we dwell together in peace and harmo- 
 ny, and seek to do good unto all. And as 
 all our efforts to store our minds with useful 
 knowledge without thy blessing must be fruit- 
 less, we would beseech thee to crown with 
 success the feeble efforts to this end which 
 we may this day put forth. Prosper greatly 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 113 
 
 the labors of our hands, and may all that is 
 here taught and learned be employed in thy 
 holy service. May we all become instru- 
 ments for doing thy holy will, and bringing 
 about the coming of the Redeemer's kingdom, 
 —when thy will shall be done on earth as it 
 is done in heaven. 
 
 Bless all, Lord, who stand connected 
 with us, whether by ties of kindred or other- 
 wise. Bless the cause of education through- 
 out the world, and make it such as it should 
 be. May we not forget thy name whilst we 
 prepare for the duties of life. Oh, be thou 
 the source of all our wisdom, and grant that 
 we may ascribe unto thee, one God in three 
 persons, all honor, praise and glory, for ever 
 and ever. Amen, 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Children Come. 7's. 
 1. Hark ! a tender Saviour speaks, 
 And the lonely silence breaks ; 
 "Little children, come to me, 
 I will your Redeemer be," 
 
 D-2. 
 
114 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOE 
 
 2. You I'll save from ev'ry ill, 
 
 And will be your guardian still ; 
 I will raise you to the skies, 
 Where the spirit never dies* 
 
 3. I will lift you to my throne, 
 
 And confess you as my own ; 
 Come then, children, come and see, 
 What a Saviour I will be." 
 
 Thursday Evening. 
 
 Our Father, who art in heaven, in the 
 name of Christ do we desire to come before 
 thee, at the close of our labors for to-day. 
 We would thank thee for the kind watch thou 
 hast kept over us whilst we were assembled 
 under this roof. We bless thee for all the 
 innocent joys of which we partook since the 
 morning sun rose upon us. Thou hast given 
 us our daily bread, and hast clothed us with 
 warm raiment, and hast permitted us to spend 
 the hours of this day in the pursuit of such 
 knowledge as will fit 'and qualify us for use- 
 fulness in days to come. We feel that thou 
 
Week-day schools. 115 
 
 hast highly favored us in providing for us 
 such means of education as we enjoy. But 
 above all, heavenly Father, do we owe thee 
 love and gratitude for what thou hast done 
 for our immortal souls. For the gift of thine 
 own dear Son, who loved us and saved us 
 from our sins. Help us, we pray thee, to 
 feel the true value of this gift. May we feel 
 the awful misery into which sin has plunged 
 us, in order that we may flee unto Christ to 
 be saved from it. Help us to feel the power 
 of his blood in our hearts, and grant that 
 each of us may become personally acquainted 
 with Him, and be able to say: "Lord, unto 
 whom shall I go? Thou hast the words of 
 eternal life. And I believe and am sure that 
 thou art the Christ, the son of the living 
 God." Renew us by thy good Spirit ; help 
 us to die unto sin and to live unto Christ, and 
 be thus prepared to dwell with thee forever. 
 
 And now, as the evening is coming on and 
 the night is making haste to overtake us, we 
 ask thee, Lord, to be with us. Dismiss us 
 
116 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 with tli j blessing. Go with us, and during 
 the approaching night, watch over us. Bless 
 all our dear friends, especially, parents, bro- 
 thers and sisters. Be with the sick and the 
 dying ; visit the poor and the needy ; com- 
 fort the widows and orphans. Extend thy 
 gracious help to all such as are in perils and 
 dangers by sea and by land. Turn sinners 
 from the error of their ways unto thee, the 
 living and true God. Bless thy church eve- 
 rywhere. Bless those who preach the gospel 
 of Christ. Hasten the coming of the Re- 
 deemer's kingdom, when peace and good will 
 shall dwell in the whole earth. Bless all 
 schools and institutions of learning. Prosper 
 the cause of sound christian education. Bless 
 our country and the rulers thereof. May all 
 rule in thy fear, and by wisdom from on 
 high. Forgive us all our sins, and at last 
 save us, all of which we ask in the name and 
 for the sake of Christ our Saviour and Re- 
 deemer. Amen. 
 
WEEK-BAY SCHOOLS. 117 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 The Love of Christ. S. M, 
 
 1. Dear children, come to me, 
 
 And listen while I tell 
 Of him who died upon the tree, 
 To save our souls from lielL 
 
 2. He saw our wretched state, 
 
 And felt his pity move ; 
 Poor he became, though once so great j; 
 To show his matchless love. 
 
 $. In Bethlehem he was born, 
 A feeble infant child ; 
 Then lived a life, exposed to scorn,, 
 Though gentle, meek and mild. 
 
 4. On Calvary he died, 
 
 A sacrifice for sin; 
 There Jesus Christ was crucified. 
 That we might glory gain. 
 
 5. Then love this gracious Friend, 
 
 And seek his saving grace ; 
 He'll guide you safely to the end^ 
 And you shall see his face.. 
 
118 PRATERS AND HYMNS FOB 
 
 Friday Morning. 
 Unto thee, Lord, would we lift up our 
 hearts and voices in this morning hour, for 
 unto thee do we owe the preservation of our 
 ves and health ; unto thee are we indebted 
 or all the comforts and blessings that sur- 
 round us at this time. During the night that 
 is past thou hast been with us, and hast kept 
 us to behold the light of this morning in safe- 
 ty, and now we have again been permitted to 
 meet for the purpose of engaging in our ac- 
 customed labors. 
 
 Lord, thou art good, but we are evil. 
 Thou art light, but we are full of darkness. 
 Thou art holy, but we are polluted by sin. 
 Thou art love, but we are, by nature, prone 
 to hate thee and everything that is good. 
 Help us, our father, to feel the misery which 
 sin brings upon us, and to turn unto thee with 
 a full purpose of heart, in order to have our 
 sins pardoned and our misery removed. For 
 the sake of thy son, forgive us our sins, re- 
 «iove our guilt and restore us unto thy favor, 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 119 
 
 Renew us by thy spirit, and make us new 
 creatures in Christ. Enlighten our minds by 
 thy heavenly truth, and fill our hearts with 
 joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. Prepare 
 us for thy service in this life, and to whatever 
 station or sphere of labor it may please thee 
 to call us, may we always seek, first of all, 
 thy honor and glory, and the promotion of 
 true and vital godliness among the children of 
 men. 
 
 And now, Lord, be with us. Help us to 
 apply ourselves diligently to our tasks, that, 
 by thy blessing, we may be able to make such 
 progress in our studies as may seem good to 
 thee. Direct us by thy good Spirit, and en- 
 able us to submit ourselves at all times, and 
 in all things, to his guidance. Pill our hearts 
 with love towards thee, and enable us so to 
 resign ourselves into thy hands, as to seek 
 only what is well-pleasing in thy sight. 
 
 Prosper, Lord, the cause of sound chris- 
 tian education everywhere. May those who 
 teach do so in thy fear, as those who have to 
 
120 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 give an account of their stewardship. May 
 all who stand connected with the great and 
 noble cause of popular education, labor to- 
 gether to make it such as it should be — a 
 training up in the knowledge and fear of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Be now with us during the hours of this 
 day ; preserve us from all sin and evil ; help 
 us to seek each other's good and happiness, 
 and thy glory, and at last receive us unto 
 thyself, for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Teach us to Pray. S. M. 
 
 1. Lord, teach us how to pray, 
 
 And give us hearts to ask, 
 
 Or all we seek, or think, or say, 
 
 Will prove a tiresome task. 
 
 2. Teach us for what to pray, 
 
 For thou alone art wise ; 
 And often what we blindly urge, 
 Thy mercy, Lord, denies. 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 121 
 
 8. Lord, teach us so to pray, 
 
 That murmuring be unknown ; 
 That whatsoe'er thy grace decrees, 
 Thy will may be our own. 
 
 4. Thy Holy Spirit send, 
 Our bosoms to inspire ; 
 Then shall our praise to thee ascend 
 With pure and Yfarm desire. 
 
 Friday Evening. 
 
 Almighty God, our Heavenly Father : — 
 We desire to come before thee at the close of 
 our labors for this day. We would come in 
 the name of thy Son, our Saviour and Re- 
 deemer, our Advocate and Intercessor at thy 
 right hand, and would thank thee for the fa- 
 vors and blessings which the day which is 
 now drawing towards its close, brought with 
 itself. Thou hast been with and round and 
 about us, and hast watched over us, whilst we 
 tarried under this roof. We have been ena- 
 bled to engage in our various studies, in or- 
 der to be prepared for future usefulness in 
 
122 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 the State and in thy church. Thou hast gra- 
 ciously spared our lives and preserved our 
 health, and now we would acknowledge thy 
 goodness and praise and magnify thy great 
 and glorious name, for all thou hast done for 
 us. 
 
 We would also confess before thee our ut- 
 ter unworthiness and great sinfulness, and 
 would beseech thee, in the name of thy Son, 
 to pardon all the sins of omission and com- 
 mission, of which we have this day been 
 guilty. Help us to see and feel in what we 
 have neglected our duty, and to repent of our 
 sins, in order that thou may est, for Christ's 
 sake, pardon us. May a sense of thy good- 
 ness towards us constrain us to love thee, who 
 hast first loved us. 0, may we be more 
 faithful towards thee in time to come, than 
 we have been in days that are past ! To this 
 end, Lord, send thy good Spirit into our 
 hearts that he may turn us unto thee, for of 
 ourselves we are poor and needy ; sinful and 
 depraved, and go astray continually. Help 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 123 
 
 us to give our hearts to thee, and 0, do thou 
 receive them and make them pure and holy. 
 And now, Lord, as the night is coming on 
 and we are about to depart from this place, 
 we pray thee to acid thy rich blessing unto 
 the labors of our hands, so that it may not 
 have been in vain for us to have met together 
 in this place. Dismiss us now with thy bless- 
 ing ; go with us to our homes ; watch over us 
 during the silent hours of the night ; refresh 
 us whilst we repose in sleep, and raise us up 
 again to behold to-morrow's sun. Should 
 death come, 0, then receive us into glory, 
 through Christ, our Saviour, who has taught 
 us to pray: " Our Father," &c. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Children Praising the Saviour. C. M. 
 
 1. Hosannas were by children sung 
 When Jesus was on earth ; 
 Then surely we are not too young 
 To sound his praises forth. 
 
124 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 2. The Lord is great, the Lord is good ; 
 
 He feeds us from his store 
 With earthly and with heavenly food ; 
 We'll praise him evermore. 
 
 3. We thank him for his gracious Word, 
 
 We thank him for his love ; 
 We'll sing the praises of our Lord, 
 Who reigns in heaven above. 
 
 Saturday Morning. 
 
 Lord, our God and Father, we desire to 
 come before thee in this morning hour, in or- 
 der to render thee our thanks and praises for 
 what thou hast done for us during the night 
 that is now past and gone. ! cast us not 
 away from thy presence and take not thy 
 good and Holy Spirit from us, but enable us 
 to draw nigh unto thee with all our hearts, in 
 order that our oiferings maybe acceptable unto 
 thee, in the name and for the sake of Christ, 
 our Saviour and Redeemer. 0, may our 
 hearts be filled with gratitude and our mouths 
 overflow with praises, for thou hast so highly 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 125 
 
 favored us in all respects as to make it meet 
 for us continually to praise and glorify thy 
 great and adorable name. Thou didst send 
 thy Son into the world to save us, and didst 
 give us thy Word, which teaches us our duty 
 towards thee and our fellow-men. But oh ! 
 we are weak, and poor, and needy. 
 
 We cannot, of ourselves, love thee as we 
 should. Our evil hearts continually deceive 
 us, and the evil desires which rise up within, 
 lead us astray. Lord, help us to feel what 
 we need. Help us to long after redemption 
 from sin and misery. Help us to strive after 
 holiness and perfection. Help us to love 
 thee, the Lord, our God, with all our heart, 
 with all our soul, with all our mind, and with 
 all our strength, and to love our fellow-men 
 as ourselves. Help us to watch and to pray 
 that we may not enter into temptation, and 
 when tempted, 0, help us to overcome and 
 conquer all the enemies of our souls. Ena- 
 ble us, Lord, to feel that our home is not 
 in this world, that we need a better country, 
 
126 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOE 
 
 even a heavenly. May we not seek to lay 
 up treasures on earth which last but a short 
 time and then perish, and have no value be- 
 fore thee ; but may we lay up treasures in 
 heaven, which shall endure forever, so that 
 our hearts may be there likewise, for, where 
 our treasures are, there will our hearts be 
 also. 
 
 We would confess our sins and transgres- 
 sions unto thee, and pray thee, in the name 
 of thy Son, our Saviour, graciously to pardon 
 us and to restore us unto thy favor. Send 
 thy good Spirit into our hearts that he may 
 renew and sanctify us. May we die unto 
 ourselves, unto sin and unto the world, in or- 
 der that Christ may live in us. 
 
 Bless with us, Lord, all others, espe- 
 cially the poor and needy ; sick and afflicted ; 
 widows and orphans, and all who are in dis- 
 tress of body or soul. Convert sinners from 
 the error of their ways and lead them into 
 all truth by thy Word and Spirit. 
 
 And now, as we have assembled ourselves 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 127 
 
 together this morning, for the purpose of en- 
 gaging in our regular studies, we pray thee 
 to be with us during the hours of this day. 
 May thy Spirit abide with us and teach us. 
 Preserve us from all sinful thoughts, words 
 and actions. Prosper the labors of our hands ; 
 guide us this day and evermore by thy wis- 
 dom, counsel and Spirit, and save us at last 
 for Christ, our Kedeemer's sake. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Praise for Mercies. C. M. 
 
 1. Lord, I would own thy tender care, 
 
 And all thy love to me ; 
 The food I eat, the clothes I wear, 
 Are all bestowed by thee. 
 
 2. And thou preservest me from death 
 
 And clangers every hour ; 
 I cannot draw another breath 
 Unless thou give me power. 
 
 8. My health, my friends, and parents dear, 
 To me by God are given ; 
 I have not any blessings here, 
 But what are sent from heaven, 
 
128 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOR 
 
 4. Such goodness, Lord, and constant care, 
 A child can ne'er repay ; 
 But may it be my daily prayer 
 To love thee and obey. 
 
 Saturday Evening. 
 
 Lord, God, our heavenly Father, we 
 now stand at the close of another day and 
 another week, and our six days' labor is done. 
 We are so many hours and days older ; so 
 much nearer the grave and eternity. The 
 rest of thy Sabbath day is before us, and we 
 are reminded to lay aside that which has en- 
 gaged us during the week, and to spend the 
 Sabbath in resting from our bodily labors, 
 and in laboring only for the salvation of our 
 souls. 0, may we be reminded that soon 
 our labors on earth shall cease altogether, 
 and that the rest of God, the everlasting Sab- 
 bath, will soon come, into which we shall en- 
 ter, if we are prepared. Lord, seriously 
 impress our minds and hearts with a sense of 
 this fact ; and may we long for and greatly 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 129 
 
 desire the coming of that great and never- 
 ending day of rest, when we shall praise and 
 glorify thee without ceasing in heaven above. 
 Create in us a strong desire to dwell in the 
 New Jerusalem above, the city of our God, — ■ 
 our happy, our glorious home, where congre- 
 gations never break up and Sabbaths never 
 end. 
 
 And now, Lord, as we stand at the end 
 of this week, and look back, we see how won- 
 derfully thou hast led us, and how many bles- 
 sings and favors we enjoyed. For all this 
 we would humbly thank thee, our Father. 
 But we also see how often we forgot thee; 
 how often we strayed away from thee, and 
 transgressed thy most righteous commands. 
 For all our short-comings and sins, known and 
 unknown, we would, in the name of Christ, 
 beseech thee to grant us true and heartfelt 
 repentance. Oh, that we may turn from our 
 evil ways unto thee, that thou mayest forgive 
 our sins ! Help us, our Father, by thy Holy 
 Spirit, to seek thy pardoning mercy, through 
 
 E-l. 
 
130 PRAYERS AND HYMNS FOB 
 
 Christ our Lord and Saviour. Renew us in* 
 to the image of thy son. Help us to crucify 
 all our evil desires and sinful lusts, and to lay 
 hold upon eternal life hj a true and living 
 faith, in order to die unto sin and live unto 
 Christ. 
 
 And now, as we are about to depart from 
 this place, we pray thee to dismiss us with 
 thy blessing. Go with us to our homes ; 
 Watch over us during the night ; protect and 
 refresh us in sleep, and raise us up again to 
 behold the light of the coming Sabbath day, 
 in the enjoyment of good health and strength. 
 And may we spend its sacred hours in thy 
 service, by singing psalms and hymns ; by 
 reading and hearing thy "Word, and engaging 
 in prayer unto thee. 
 
 Add now thy blessing unto the labors of 
 this week, and may they not be fruitless, but 
 be productive of much good fruit to our good 
 and thy glory. We commit and commend 
 ourselves into thy care and keeping. Be mer- 
 ciful unto us and save us from all evil, and 
 
WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. 181 
 
 finally admit us into thy presence for the sake 
 of him who loved us and gave himself for us, 
 and all the glory shall be to thee, the Father, 
 the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen, 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Saturday Night. C. M. 
 
 1. The week is passing fast away, 
 
 The hours are almost done ; 
 Before I rise, the Sabbath day 
 Will surely be begun. 
 
 2. Through all this week what have I done 
 
 Have I been kind to all ? 
 Have I sought anything but fun, 
 And run at every call ? 
 
 8. Have I been still when I was bid, 
 And ceased to make a noise ? 
 Have I been good in all I did, 
 At lessons or at toys ? 
 
 4. I'm naughty every day I live, 
 Say many a foolish word, 
 But God can pardon all my sins, 
 Through Jesus Christ my Lord. 
 
132 FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 5. An infant's prayer he will not scorn ; 
 I'll pray before I sleep ; 
 And ask his love, then rest till morn, 
 For he my soul will keep. 
 
 FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 Morning. 
 
 Ever blessed God and Father, into thy 
 presence would we come, as a family, in order 
 to offer up unto thee our morning sacrifices. 
 Look graciously upon us, for the sake of thy 
 Son ; cast us not away from thy presence, 
 and take not thy good and Holy Spirit from 
 us. Help us, we pray thee, to worship thee, 
 who art a Spirit, in spirit and in truth, and 
 graciously accept our humble offerings. Help 
 us to come before thee in true humility and 
 contrition of heart, on account of our sins, 
 and yet with a child-like confidence and strong 
 faith in thy promises, which are yea and 
 amen in Christ, our Saviour. 
 
FAMILY PRAYERS. 133 
 
 We would humbly thank thee, Lord, for 
 the kind care and protection which thou didst 
 extend over us whilst we reposed in sleep. — 
 Our lives have been spared, our health has 
 been preserved, and now we are surrounded 
 by innumerable blessings through which thy 
 love to us is manifested. Blessed, also, be 
 thy name for the privilege of coming before 
 thee, as a family, in this morning hour. — 
 Thou hast indeed favored us very highly, in 
 that thou hast manifested thyself unto us as 
 our Father, in Christ Jesus, our Saviour and 
 Redeemer. Now we can come unto thee in 
 the name of Him wbo loved us and gave him- 
 self for us, for he has opened unto us the way 
 into the Most Holy place, into which he en- 
 tered by his own blood, having obtained eter- 
 nal redemption, and is ever living to make in- 
 tercession for us. 
 
 And now, Lord, as we are in the presence 
 of a heart-searching and reins-trying God, it 
 is meet for us to humble ourselves before thee 
 and to make confession of our sins. We 
 
134 FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 acknowledge our unworthiness and confess 
 that we have frequently and grievously sinned 
 against thee. We beseech thee, gracious Fa- 
 ther, for the sake of thine own dear Son, to 
 have mercy upon us, and to blot out all our 
 transgressions. Wash us thoroughly in the 
 precious blood of the Lamb and cleanse us 
 from all uncleanness. Create in us new hearts 
 and renew right spirits within us. Help us 
 to die unto sin and to live unto Christ. Sanc- 
 tify, we pray thee, all the powers of our bo- 
 dies, souls and spirits, to thee and thy ser- 
 vice, that all our thoughts, words and deeds, 
 may redound to thy hont)r and glory. 
 
 Be with us, as a family, during the day on 
 which we have now entered. help us, 
 Lord, to continue walking in the path of vir- 
 tue, righteousness and true holiness. Suffer 
 us not to fall into temptation, and when 
 tempted, help us to overcome. Keep us from 
 sin and all evil. Let the light of thy coun- 
 tenance, reconciled in Christ, be lifted up 
 upon us. Give us thy peace into our hearts, 
 
FAMILY PRAYERS. 135 
 
 thy praise into our mouths, and enable us to 
 Let our lights so shine before men that they 
 may see our good works and praise thy great 
 and adorable name. 
 
 Bless with us all our dear relations, friends 
 and acquaintances. Bless the poor and 
 needy ; the sick and afflicted, and all widows 
 and orphans. Prepare the dying for death 
 and the living for much usefulness in the 
 world. Build up thy kingdom in all the ends 
 of the earth, and make righteousness and 
 peace to dwell in every heart and home, and 
 all the glory shall be to thee, the Lord God 
 in the highest, together with the Son and 
 Holy Ghost, forever and ever. 
 
 "Our Father," &c. Amen. 
 
 Evening, 
 
 Unber thy guardian care, G most gracious 
 Father, have we reached the end of this day 
 in the enjoyment of health and strength. To 
 thee would we ascribe all honor, praise and 
 
136 FAMILY PRATERS. 
 
 glory, for all the "blessings we enjoyed ; and 
 unto ourselves would we take all the shame 
 for the errors and sins we have committed. — 
 But, Lord, we are not able to know all our 
 sins, for who can know how often he faileth ; 
 therefore cleanse us also from all secret sins. 
 Grant us true and heartfelt repentance for 
 all our known sins ; help us to confess them 
 unto thee and to implore thy pardoning mer- 
 cy. Have mercy upon us, Lord, according 
 to thy loving kindness ; according to the mul- 
 titude of thy tender mercies, blot out our 
 transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from 
 our iniquities and cleanse us from our sins ; 
 purify us and sanctify us by thy Spirit that 
 we may be wholly devoted to thee. 
 
 Add thy blessing unto the labors of our 
 hands for the past day so far as they may be 
 in conformity to thy holy will, and grant that 
 everything may redound to thy honor and 
 glory and the salvation of our souls. 
 
 And now, Lord, as the night is upon us, 
 and darkness hangs over the face of the 
 
FAMILY PRAYERS. 137 
 
 earth, we beseech thee to abide with us.- — 
 Preserve us graciously from the powers of 
 darkness ; may the light of thy truth illumine 
 our minds ; may thy love cheer our hearts, 
 and thy peace fill our souls. And should 
 this night be the last ; should it please 
 thee to call us hence ; should the angel of 
 death knock at our door, may we then be 
 prepared for his coming ; may we be able to 
 bid a cheerful adieu to the earth and our 
 friends, and may we depart in peace to be 
 with Christ. 
 
 Be also with all others, Lord. Comfort 
 the sick and afflicted ; provide for the poor 
 and needy ; console all widows and orphans ; 
 rescue those who are in danger and distress, 
 and mercifully prepare all for their latter end, 
 for an inhabitation of thy glorious mansions 
 of light, of bliss, and of glory, in heaven 
 above — to behold thee from face to face, and 
 to worship and adore thee, the Father, to- 
 gether with the Son and the Holy Ghost, for 
 evermore. Amen. 
 
PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 Morning. 
 
 L 
 
 Lord God, thou art my Father, and as 
 a kind parent hast thou watched over me 
 during the night that is now past. Now, as 
 I behold the light of this day, do thou shine 
 into my heart by the light of thy truth. I 
 am a poor sinner, but have thou mercy upon 
 me, Lord, for the sake of thy son. For- 
 give me all my sins, and bestow upon me the 
 rich gifts of thy heavenly grace. Help me 
 to see and feel all the evil ot my heart ; to 
 be sorry for my sins ; to trust in Christ, and 
 to give my heart to thee. Be with me this 
 day. Watch over me for good. Keep me 
 from all harm and bless my poor soul. Bless 
 my dear friends, wherever they may be — my 
 parents, brothers and sisters. Guide us by 
 thy Spirit and make us thine own dear chil- 
 dren, that we may love and serve thee at all 
 
PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN. 139 
 
 times and in all places. Hear me now, my 
 Father, for the sake of thy Son, in whose 
 name I pray unto thee, and thy name shall 
 be praised for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 II. 
 
 My heavenly Father, this morning I would 
 thank thee that I still live and enjoy so many 
 other blessings. During the darkness of the 
 night, whilst I was asleep, thou hast kindly 
 kept me from harm and danger, and hast en- 
 abled me to rise up again from my bed, to be- 
 hold the light of this day. I would bless thee 
 for all these favors, and would praise thy 
 great and glorious name for all thou hast done 
 for me since I have my being. Be thou also 
 with me during this day. When dangers 
 come, protect me ; when trials come, uphold 
 me ; when temptations come, help me to over- 
 come them ; and when sorrows come, help 
 me to bear them. Oh, help me to watch and 
 to pray. Keep my heart from all evil 
 
140 PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 thoughts and desires. Guard me against all 
 evil. Lead me by the hand that I may not 
 walk in the ways of sinners. Help me to 
 love thee and give my heart to thee. Oh, 
 take it, Lord, and make it pure and holy. 
 Be with my dear parents, brothers, sisters 
 and friends, and bless them all, and at last 
 save them and me through Christ our Saviour 
 and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 Ill, 
 
 Now I awake and see the light, 
 'Tis God has kept me through the night ; 
 To him I lift my hands and pray 
 That he would keep me through the day ; 
 And if I die before 'tis done, 
 Great God, accept me through thy Son. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 Evening. 
 
 I. 
 
 At the close of this day, Lord, I come 
 unto thee in my prayer. In the name of thy 
 
PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN. 141 
 
 dear Son, my Saviour, do I come to render 
 thee my humble thanks for all thou hast done 
 for me during the past day. Oh, thou art 
 good,, and thy goodness is renewed from day 
 to day. When seen and unseen dangers sur- 
 rounded me, thou didst deliver me and didst 
 keep me from all harm and danger. Oh, ac- 
 cept now my humble thanks, and fill my heart 
 with sincere love and gratitude towards thee. 
 Help me to feel how much thou hast done for 
 my poor soul. That thou didst give thine 
 only begotten and dearly beloved Son to be 
 my Saviour, to save me from never-ending 
 misery. Help me, Lord, to give myself to 
 thee, to love and serve thee all the days of my 
 life. Prepare me for thy service upon earth, 
 and the enjoyment of thy presence in heaven, 
 and grant that I may, in all things, seek thy 
 glory and the salvation of souls. 
 
 Be now with me, Lord, during the coming 
 night. Be with my dear parents, brothers 
 and sisters. Bless me and them, and all 
 others. Bless the poor and needy ; the sick 
 
142 PRAYERS EOR children 
 
 and afflicted ; widows and orphans, and all 
 that are in distress, by sea or land. Lord 
 hear my prayer, and answer and bless, and 
 all the glory shall be thine for-ever-more. 
 Amen* 
 
 II. 
 
 At the close of this day I would come be- 
 fore thee, my heavenly Father, to thank 
 thee for its joys and its sorrows. Pardon me, 
 merciful Father, for all my failings and sins, 
 and the good I may have learned seal upon 
 my heart by the Holy Ghost, that it may 
 abide there forever. Help me, dearest Fa- 
 ther, to give my heart unto thee, and do 
 thou receive it, sinful and wicked as it is, and 
 for the sake of thy Son, make it good and 
 holy. Saviour, thou good Shepherd, who 
 takest thy lambs into thy bosom to bear them 
 home, do thou also take me under thy tender 
 care as long as I live in this dark and sinful 
 world. Feed me on heavenly truth, and re- 
 fresh my soul with the dews of heavenly grace. 
 
Mayers for children. 14S 
 
 And thouj Holy Spirit, come into my heart 
 and abide with me for ever. Instruct me in 
 heavenly things, so that I may become wise 
 unto salvation. 
 
 And now, Lord, as the night draws near^ 
 and darkness hangs over the face of the earth, 
 I pray thee to abide with me. Fill my soul 
 with heavenly light, and joy and peace. Be 
 with my parents, brothers and sisters, and 
 With all who are near and dear unto my heart. 
 Bless the poor and needy, the sick and af- 
 flicted, widows and orphans^ Watch over us 
 all, and protect us from all danger and harm. 
 Thus keep us as the apple of thine own eye, 
 and at last take us home to see thy face in 
 glory, all of which I ask for the sake of Christ 
 our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Ere on my bed my limbs I lay, 
 
 hear, great God, the words I say ; 
 
 Preserve, I pray, my parents dear, 
 
 In health and strength for many a year ; 
 
144 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 
 
 And still, Lord, to me impart 
 A gentle and a grateful heart, 
 . That after my last sleep, I may 
 Awake to thy eternal day. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Now I lay me down to sleep, 
 I pray the Lord my soul to keep ; 
 If I should die before I wake, 
 I pray the Lord my soul to take : 
 And this I beg for Jesus' sake. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 
 
 Before Meals. 
 
 I. 
 
 Lord, thou Giver of every good and 
 perfect gift, we desire to thank thee for the 
 bounties of thy hand now spread before us. 
 Enable us to partake of them with grateful 
 hearts, and to devote the strength we may de- 
 
PRAYERS AT TABLE. 145 
 
 rive from them to thy service. Feed our 
 souls on spiritual food, even on the bread of 
 life which came down from heaven. Guide 
 and direct us by thy Spirit. Lead us in the 
 paths of peace, and save us through riches of 
 grace in Christ. Amen. 
 
 II. 
 
 In surrounding this board, laden with the 
 gifts of thy bounty, we desire to thank thee, 
 Lord, for being thus mindful of us in pro- 
 viding for all our temporal wants. Help us 
 to feel the love thou dost manifest towards 
 us. May thy goodness lead us to love thee 
 with all our hearts. Continue to provide for 
 our wants, and help us to look unto thee for 
 all we need. Bless now, unto our use, the 
 provisions before us. Sanctify us to thy 
 service. Be with us throughout the journey 
 of life. Forgive our sins, and at last save 
 us into thy kingdom, through Christ. Amen. 
 
 E-2. 
 
146 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 
 
 III. 
 
 Lord, accept our thanks for these gifts of 
 thy love ; sanctify them to our use and us to 
 thy service. Forgive us all our sins. Feed 
 our souls on the bread of life, and water 
 them with the living water. Guide us by 
 thy Spirit, in the way of truth, of righteous- 
 ness and true holiness, and save us at last, 
 into thy kingdom, we ask it in the name and 
 for the sake of Christ our Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Lord, the eyes of all wait upon thee, and 
 thou givest them their meat in due season ; 
 thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the 
 desire of every living thing. We too, 
 Lord, are partakers of thy bounty at this 
 time. Accept our thanks for these tokens 
 of thy love. Help us to partake of them 
 with true gratitude. Continue to provide 
 for us. Sanctify all thy blessings to our 
 good and us to thy service, and finally save 
 
Prayers at table. 14? 
 
 \xs, for the sake of thy dear Son, our Saviour 
 and Redeemer, in whose name we ask it. 
 Amen. 
 
 After Meals, 
 
 We have partaken of thy bounties, 
 Lord, and our bodies have been fed on spirit- 
 ual food which shall nourish our souls unto 
 eternal life, through Christ our Saviour. 
 Amen. 
 
 II. 
 
 We desire to thank thee, Lord, for the 
 provisions of which we have now partaken. 
 Help us to go and love and serve thee, in the 
 strength derived therefrom. Forgive us all 
 our sins and short-comings, and save us 
 at last, through riches of grace in Christ. 
 Amen. 
 
148 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 
 
 III. 
 
 Unto thee, Lord, would we give thanks 
 for our daily bread, and for all other blessings 
 we enjoy. Help us to love and serve thee 
 in all we may do. Provide for all our wants 
 in time to come, and finally save us, and 
 receive our souls unto thyself in heaven, 
 through Christ our Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Now, Lord, our bodies have been fed. 
 Accept our thanks for the food of which we 
 have now partaken. Feed our souls on thy 
 Word, and on the bread which came down 
 from heaven, and at last save us for the sake 
 of Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 MORNING HYMNS. 
 
 I. C. M. 
 
 I thank thee, Lord, for quiet rest, 
 And for thy care of me ; 
 
 let me through this day be blest, 
 And kept from harm by thee. 
 
MORNING HYMNS. 149 
 
 2* take my naughty heart away, 
 And make me clean and good ; 
 Lord Jesus, save my soul, I pray ? 
 And wash me in thy blood. 
 
 3. let me love thee ; kind thou art 
 
 To children such as I : 
 Give me a gentle, holy heart ; 
 Be thou my Friend on high. 
 
 4. Help me to please my parents dear, 
 
 And do whate'er they tell ; 
 Bless all my friends, both far and near^ 
 And keep them safe and well. 
 
 II. L. M. 
 
 1. Awake my soul, and with the sum 
 Thy daily stage of duty run ; 
 Shake off dull sloth, and early riset^ 
 To pay thy morning sacrifice. 
 
 % Glory to Thee, who safe hast kept, 
 
 And hast refreshed me, while I slept ; 
 Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake ? 
 I may of endless life partake. 
 
150 MORNING HYMNS- 
 
 8. Lord, I my tows to thee renew, 
 
 Scatter my sins as morning dew ; 
 Guard my first springs of thought and will, 
 And with thyself my spirit fill. 
 
 4. Direct, control, suggest, this day, 
 All I design, or do, or say ; 
 That all my powers, with all their mighty 
 In thy sole glory may unite. 
 
 III. S.M. 
 
 1. Awake ! my heart, awake I 
 
 Thy gracious God to praise ; 
 Who condescends such care to take,. 
 And lengthen out my days. 
 
 2. While some have pass'd the night 
 
 In restlessness and pain ; 
 I rise in health, to see the light, 
 And seek the Lord again. 
 
 3." This day will many die ! 
 
 This hour what numbers go I 
 What, if my soul be called to fly, 
 And I that change should know f 
 
 4. Lord, come, and be my guide 
 
 Through this uncertain space ; 
 Keep me for ever near thy side^ . 
 And grant a child thy grace. 
 
MORNING HYMNS. 151 
 
 IV. C. M. 
 
 1. Through all the dangers of the night, 
 
 Preserved, Lord ! by thee ; 
 Again we hail the cheerful light, 
 Again we bow the knee. 
 
 2. Preserve us, Lord ! throughout the day, 
 
 And guide us by thy arm ; 
 For they are safe and only they, 
 Whom thou dost keep from harm. 
 
 3. Let all our words and all our ways, 
 
 Declare that we are thine ; 
 That so the light of truth and grace, 
 Before the world may shine. 
 
 4. Let us ne'er turn away from thee ; 
 
 Dear Saviour, hold us fast, 
 Till, with immortal eyes, we see 
 Thy glorious face at last. 
 
 V. C. M. 
 
 1. The morning breaks, my voice I raise 
 To thee, great God above ; 
 Accept my prayer, my feeble praise, 
 In kindness and in love. 
 
152 MORNING HYMNS. 
 
 2 . Forgive the crimes that I have done ; 
 
 My follies I deplore ; 
 And since another day's begun, 
 0, may I love thee more. 
 
 3. Preserve me from all ill, I pray, 
 
 And guide me with thine eye, 
 And grant through every hour I may 
 On grace divine rely. 
 
 4. Keep me from sinful thoughts, Lord, 
 
 And make my heart sincere ; 
 Make me to read thy holy word 
 With reverence and fear. 
 
 5. Then shall I be prepared below, 
 
 For thy eternal home ; 
 Where pleasures like a river flow, 
 And sorrows never come. 
 
 VI. CM. 
 
 To thee let my first off 'rings rise, 
 Whose sun creates the day, 
 
 Swift as his glad'ning influence flies, 
 And spotless as his ray. 
 
 This day thy fav'ring hand be nigh, 
 So oft vouchsafed before ; 
 
 Still may it lead, protect, supply, 
 And I that hand adore. 
 
EVENING HYMNS. 153 
 
 3. If bliss thy providence impart, 
 
 For which, resigned, I pray ; 
 Give me to feel the grateful heart, 
 And without guilt, be gay. 
 
 4. Affliction should thy love intend 
 
 As vice or folly's cure ; 
 Patient to gain that gracious end, 
 May I the means endure. 
 
 5. Be this and ev'ry future day, 
 
 Still wiser than the past ; 
 
 And when I all my life survey, 
 
 May grace sustain at last. 
 
 EVENING HYMNS. 
 
 9. 
 
 I. 7's. 
 
 1. Softly now the light of day 
 Fades upon my sight away ; 
 Free from care, from labor free, 
 Lord, I would commune with thee. 
 
 Thou, whose all-pervading eye 
 Nought escapes without, within, 
 Pardon each infirmity, 
 Open fault and secret sin. 
 
154 EVENING HYMNS. 
 
 3. Soon, for me, the light of day- 
 Shall forever pass away ; 
 Then, from sin and sorrow free, 
 Take me, Lord, to dwell with thee. 
 
 4. Thou who, sinless, yet hast known 
 All of man's infirmity; 
 
 Then from thine eternal throne, 
 Jesus, look with pitying eye. 
 
 II. 8's, Vs. 
 
 1. Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me ; 
 
 Bless thy little lambs to-night ; 
 Through the darkness be thou near me, 
 Watch my sleep till morning light. 
 
 2. All this day thy hand has led me, 
 
 And I thank thee for thy care ; 
 Thou hast clothed me warmed and fed me, 
 Listen to my evening prayer. 
 
 3. Let my sins be all forgiven, 
 
 Bless the friends I love so well ; 
 Take me, when I die, to heaven, 
 Happy there with thee to dwell. 
 
 III. S. M. 
 
 1. The day is past and gone ; 
 
 The evening shades appear ; 
 0, may I ever keep in mind, 
 The night of death draws near. 
 
EVENING HYMNS. 155 
 
 2. I lay my garments by, 
 
 Upon my bed to rest ; 
 So death will soon remove me hence, 
 And leave my soul undrest. 
 
 3. Lord, keep me safe this night, 
 
 Secure from all my fears ; 
 May angels guard me while I sleep. 
 Till morning light appears. 
 
 4. And when I early rise, 
 
 To view th' unwearied sun, 
 May I set out to win the prize, 
 And after glory run.. 
 
 5. That when my days are past, 
 
 And I from time remove, 
 Lord, may I in thy bosom rest,, 
 The bosom of thy love. 
 
 IV. 7's. 
 
 1. Thou from whom we never part, 
 
 Thou whose love is everywhere, 
 Thou who seest every heart, 
 Listen to our evening prayer. 
 
 2. Father, fill our hearts with love, 
 
 Love unfailing, full and free ; 
 Love no injuries can move, 
 Love that ever rests on thee. 
 
156 EVENING HYMNS. 
 
 3. Heavenly Father ! through the night, 
 Keep us safe from every ill ; 
 Cheerful as the morning light, 
 May we wake to do thy will. 
 
 V. C. M. 
 
 1. Now from the altar of our hearts, 
 
 Let flames of love arise ; 
 Assist us, Lord, to offer up 
 Our ev'ning sacrifice. 
 
 2. Minutes and mercies multiplied, 
 
 Have made up all this day ; 
 Minutes come quick, but mercies were 
 More swift and free than they. 
 
 3. New time, new favor, and new joys, 
 
 Do a new song require ; 
 Till we shall praise thee as we would, 
 Accept our hearts' desire. 
 
 4. Lord of our days, whose hand hath set 
 
 New time upon the score ; 
 Thee may we praise for all our time, 
 When time shall be no more. 
 
 VI. C. M. 
 
 And now another day is gone, 
 I'll sing my Maker's praise ; 
 
 My comforts every hour make known 
 His providence and grace. 
 
EVENING HYMNS. 157 
 
 2. But how my childhood runs to waste ! 
 
 My sins, how great their sum ; 
 Lord, give me pardon for the past, 
 And strength for days to come. 
 
 3. I lay my body down to sleep, 
 
 Let angels guard my head ; 
 And through the hours of darkness keep 
 Their watch around my bed. 
 
 4. With cheerful heart I close my eyes. 
 
 Since thou wilt not remove ; 
 And in the morning let me rise. 
 Rejoicing in thy love. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PART FIRST 
 
 SABBATH SCHOOLS. 
 
 PAG£. 
 
 Prayers for Superintendent, 9 and 42 
 
 " " Teachers, 13 and 48 
 
 " " Opening the School, 16 
 
 " " Closing " " 29 
 
 Prayer for Sick Teacher or Scholar, 52 
 
 " " Death of a Teacher, 55 
 
 " " " « Scholar, 58 
 " after the Recovery of a Sick 
 
 Teacher or Scholar, 61 
 
 " at Dismissing a Scholar, 64 
 
 " " the Expulsion of a Scholar, 67 
 " " " Opening of a Teachers' 
 
 Meeting, 69 
 
 " " " -Closing " " 76 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 PRATERS AND HYMNS FOR WEEK-BAY SCHOOLS., 
 
 Morning Prayer for Teacher, 83 
 
 Evening " " « 87 
 
INDEX. 159 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Prayers and Hymns for Opening and 
 Closing School for each day in the 
 week, 91-132 
 
 FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 Morning Prayer, 132 
 
 Evening " ' 135 
 
 Prayers for Children, 138-144 
 
 Prayers at Table, 144-148 
 
 INDEX OF HYMNS, 
 
 And now another day is gone, 156 
 
 Awake, my soul, and with the sun, 149 
 
 Awake ! my heart, awake ! 150 
 
 Dear children, come to me, - 117 
 
 God is so good that he will hear, 103 
 
 Gracious God, we look to thee, 94 
 
 Hark ! a tender Saviour speaks, 113 
 
 Holy Bible, book divine, 110 
 
 Hosannas were by children sung, 123 
 
 I am young, but I must die, 100 
 
 I thank thee, Lord, for quiet rest, 148 
 
 Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me, 154 
 
 Jesus says that we must love him, 107 
 
 Lord, I would own thy tender care, 127 
 
 Lord, teach us how to pray, 120 
 
160 INDEX 
 
 Now from the altar of our hearts, 156 
 
 Softly now the light of day, 153 
 
 The week is passing fast away, 131 
 
 The day is past and gone, 154 
 
 The morning breaks, my voice I raise, 151 
 
 There is a happy land, 97 
 
 Thou from whom we never part, 155 
 
 Through all the dangers of the night, 151 
 
 To thee let my first off 'rings rise, 152 
 
 •^^S*^%***^*^ **^ **^>i * 
 
 EEEATA. 
 
 Page 14, line 11 from above, read that, 
 
 before "in it," and line 12 omit the that, 
 
 before "I may." Page 65, line 7 from 
 above, read thy for they.