First Morning of the New Year
Op old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish but thou shalt endure; yea, all of them ‘hall wrx old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. Through all the successions of time, which with us constitute the past, the present, and the future, 1 AM is thy name, and this is thy memorial in all generations. We desire, O God, with the profoundest reverence to contemplate the eternity of thy nature. May our minds be filled with elevation and grandeur, at the thought of a Being, o
with whom one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day; a Being’, who amidst all the revolutions of empire, and the lapse of worlds, feels ao variableness nor shadow of turning How glorious, with immortality attached to them, are ail thy attributesand how secure are the hopes and happiness of all those, who know thy name and put their trust in Thee
May we rejoice, that while men die, the Lord liveth; that while all creatures are found broken reeds and broken cisterns. He is the Rock of ages, and the Fountain of living waters O, that we m:iy turn away our hearts from vanity; and among all the dissatisfactions and uncertainties of the present state, look afier an interest in that everlasting covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure. May we seek after a union with thyself, as the strength of our heart, and our portion for ever, and be partakers ourselves of the immutability we adore; for Thou hast assured us, that while the world passeth away, and the lusts thereof, he that doeth the will of God, abideth for ever.
We thank Thee, that Thou hast revealed to us the way in which a fallen, and perishing sinner can be eternally united to thyself; and that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. In His name we come; O, receive us graciously? justify us freely from all things; renew us in the spirit of our minds; and bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
By the lapse of our days, and weeks, and years, which we are called upon so often to remark, may we be reminded hov, short our life is, and how soon we shall close our eyes on every prospect below the sun; and, O, suffer us not to neglect the claims of eternity, in the pursuit of the trifles of time; but knowing how frail we are, may we be wise enough to choose that good part which shall not be taken away from us; and before we leave the piesent evil world, may we secure an inheritance in another and a better. May thoughts of death and eternity so impress our minds, as to put seriousness into our prayers, and vigour into our resolutions; may they loosen us from an undue attachment to things seen and temporal; so that we may weep as though we wept not; and rejoice as if we rejoiced not.
And remembering that the present life, so short, so uncertain — and so much of which is already vanished, is the only opportunity we shall ever have for usefulness, may we be concerned, with holy avarice to redeem the time. May we be alive and awake, at every call of charity and piety May we feed the luing-iy, and clothe the naked; may we in. struct the ig-norant; reclaim the vicious; forijive the otlending-; diffuse the gospel; and consider one another, to provoke one another unto love and good works, not forsaking ‘.he assembling ourselves tog-ether, as the manner of some IS, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching-.
As we have entered on a new period of life, may we faithfully examine ourselves, to see what has beer, amiss, in our former temper or conduct; and in thy strength, may we resolve to correct it. And may we inquire for the future — with a full determination to reduce our knowledge to practice. Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do’’
Prepare us for all the duties of the ensuing year. All the wisdom and streng-th, necessary for the performance of them, must come from thyself; may we, therefore, live a life of self-distrust, of divine dependence, and of prayer; may we ask and receive, that our joy may be full; may we live in the spirit, and walk in the spirit.
If we are indulged with prosperity, O, let not our prosperity destroy us, or injure us If we are exercised with adversity, suffer us not to sink in the Iiour of trouble, or sin against God. May we know how to be abased, without despondence; and to abound without pride. If oui relative comforis are continued to us, may we love them without idolatry, and hold them at thy disposal; and if they are recalled from us, may we be enabled to say, the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; and blessed be the name of the Lord.
Fit us for all events We know not what a day may bring forth; but we encourage ourselves in the Lord our God, and go forward. Nothing can befall us by chance. Thou hast been thus far our helper; Thou hast promised to be with as in every condition; Thou hast engaged to make all things work together for good; all thy ways are mercy and truth. May we, therefore, be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, may we make known our requests unto God; and may the peace of God that passcth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus.
Bless, O, IJless the young; may each of them, this day, hear Thee, saying, my son give me thy heart; and, from this time, may they cry unto Thee, as the guide of their youth
Regard those who have reached the years, wherein thy say, we have no pleasure in them If old in sin, may they be urg-ed to embrace, befjre it be for ever too late, the things that belong to their peace; and if old in grace, uphold them with thy free Spirit, and help them to remember, that now is their salva’ion nearer than when they believed.
Bless all the dear connexions attached to us by nature, friendship or religion. Grace be to them; and peace be multiphed.
Let our country share thy protection and smiles. Bless all our rulers and magistrates.
niess all our churches and congregations. Bless all thy muiisters; may thine ordinances in their hand be enUvening and refreshing, and thy word effectual, to wound and to heal.
May this be a year remarkable for the conversion of souls, and ifie extension of the gospel. Bless all missionary societies; and let the circling months see the banners of the Redeemer carried forward; till all nations are subbued to the obedience of faith. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as ‘ve forgive those that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.