60. The devout Christian prays at the Beginning of the Year

EXHORTATION.

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it."—Psalm xc. 17. Though froward minds, at the beginning of the year, often desire to know, whether the year will be a fortunate one to them, yet it is not in the power of a human being to answer such a question; for the Lord alone sees into the future. 1. Children of God should enter upon a new year with thanksgiving; they should praise the goodness of the Highest, who has carried them in safety through so many tempests of suffering, and so many floods of tribulation. And if a ship is fortunate that baffles the winds and waves, surely we ought to thank God upon our knees whenever he has safely conveyed us through the dangers of a year. 2. After having given thanks, devout souls should turn to prayer, that the goodness of the Highest may further protect, govern and keep them. They commend unto God their bodies and their souls, and all they have, to receive the protection of his grace. 3. They also take great pains in the new year

THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN PRAYS AT to become more devout and pious. With God they resolve that this year shall be counted in their regeneration. When old people boast of their years, and yet are earthly-minded and addicted to the world, it is assuredly not to their honor; for piety, the fruit of faith and indwelling grace, is decorous to young and old. 4. Devout hearts also resolve, with God, to listen diligently to God's word throughout the year, to carry it in their hearts, and to adapt their lives to its teachings. Lord! Lord! merciful, patient, and of great truth, who art from everlasting to everlasting, and with whom there is no change nor alternation of light and darkness; behold, under thy protection I once more enter upon a new year. Lord! how great is thy goodness, that the children of men repose under the shadow of thy wings; thou dost intoxicate them with the profusions of thy house; the fountains of God have waters in plenty. All this, my God and Father, I have experienced in the year that is past; therefore I will begin the new year also in thy name with prayer, sighs and supplications. Lord, early wilt thou hear my voice, early wilt thou heed it. O Lord, I know not what this year may bring forth; the year is long, the THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

days are many, human misery is manifold, and the accidents liable to befall us innumerable.—

Therefore I come to thee, strong and loving God, commending myself, even from the first, to thy grace and truth. All things are renovated, the land gives prospect of fresh verdure, the sun rises higher in the heavens, all things manifest new vitality; so let thy goodness and mercy be renewed over me also. I commend my soul to thy fatherly protection, guard it, and let me not stain it with wanton sins. Lord Jesus, sanctify, wash, and purify me with thy precious blood;

God, the Holy Ghost, dwell in me and let me be thy temple. O what a blessed year will this year be, O heavenly Father, if I remain in thy grace and live as thy child. How happy shall I be, if I stand in thy communion, O Jesus! how beautifully shall I be arrayed, if thou, O Holy

Ghost, wilt dwell in me and rule me. But if it should please thy holy wisdom to impose sickness or suffering upon me, do not depart from me, and if I suffer pain, assuage it, and let the hour of thy refreshment arrive, when thou wilt relieve me of it all. Lord, my God, hold thy hand over mine and all that is mine; be a fiery wall around us as around Elijah; guard us round about, as the house of Job. Give me the power of thy

Holy Ghost, so that during this year I may become pious and a true child of God, devout in

THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN PRAYS AT prayer, and a diligent hearer and doer of the word. Grant that it may be said of my soul in the year to come, that all old things have passed away and that everything has become new; that I may perceive within myself a new desire for thee, new love to my neighbour, a new impulse to unite and abide in union with thee. Sanctify me wholly, that my spirit, soul and body may be preserved immaculate to the day of Jesus Christ. Give me new zeal in the faith. Bless my occupation and labor, bless my going out and my coming in, give me what thy hand hath prepared for me. Let me also reflect, at the beginning of this year, that the last year of my life must come, so that I may be constantly prepared, may stand in penitence and faith, may keep my lamp burning, and my loins girt, to receive thee joyfully, my Bridegroom and gracious God, and to enter into the kingdom prepared for me from the foundation of the world. Give me, according to thy will, a new mind and spirit, teaching me to fulfil implicitly what thy commandment prescribes, so that my spirit, soul and body may be and remain the dwelling of thy Spirit. Jesus, let me gladly end the year that is now begun, carry me in thy hands, and stand by me in the time of danger. Help me in distress, and in death do not forsake me; I will clasp thee joyfully, when I leave this nether world. Amen. THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

1. Thank God, another year has come,

Another year of mercies;

O help my lisping, stammering tongue,

When it thy grace rehearses;

To thee I give myself, O give

Thyself to me, with thee to live,

And evermore defend me.

2. Thy Holy Spirit let me have

To comfort and to warn me;

In faith and in the fear of thee

To clothe and to adorn me;

To fill my heart unceasingly

With hope, and love, and piety,

And be my guide and leader.

3. Of the assurances of faith

Give me renewed impression,

And by the hard, victorious strife

Subdue each fleshly passion;

That henceforth I may stand in grace

At every time, in every place;

Still govern and direct me.

4. Almighty God, forsake me not,

When I appear before thee;

Turn not thy loving eyes away,

I beg and I implore thee.

O hear, O hear, my humble prayer,

Thy kind assistance let me share,

Give me to taste thy mercy.

AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT THE DEVOUT

5. E'en more than this I ask of thee:

The blessing, gracious Saviour,

Thy love and goodness must impart

Unto my whole behaviour;

Thy blessing, Father! give it me,

My eye regards no one but thee!

O ever be my Father!