A Prayer for fair Weather. I ACKNOWLEDGE, O Lord, the justice of thy providence, in the immoderate rain thou hast been pleased to send upon the earth. We have been unmindful of thee, who hast so bountifully provided for us. We have abused thy blessing, so that thou mayst justly turn our plenty into rass, and the bly prayte idst of ju cause ther at the gr and fruit t poor marer ord for his h hatever bla ve us grace ir own com 1 repinings thy dispers nd thankf ¡ heavenly ur Mediatr season. Preserve our cattle from being destroyed by excessive floods. Grant that the ground may yield its increase, to the joy and comfort of thy humble servants. Keep us from abusing thy, blessings by riot and intemperance, and grant that we may use them with sobriety and thankfulness, being bountiful and charitable to those that are in want. Awaken in us, O God, a diligent concern, not only for the meat which perisheth, but for thy grace, which may nourish our souls to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. A Prayer for a Prisoner for Debt. ALMIGHTY God, just and holy in all the dispensations of thy providence to the children of men; the difficulties and sorrows I labour under in this close confinement are perfectly known to thee, who dost succour the miserable, and help the friendless. O Lord, I most sorrowfully confess, that I deserve to suffer much greater punishments, and to feel the severities of thy wrath and displeasure, for I have abused my liberty, and neglected my duty. I have gone contrary to thy holy will, and refused to obey thy wise and righteous laws. I do therefore most humbly desire to submit to thy all-wise disposal and natianali. Let me, in these disconsolate circumstances, have the comfort and direction of thy Holy Spirit. Assist me, O God, in calling my ways to remembrance; in examining into the state of my soul; in repenting and humbling myself before thee, and in reconciling myself to thee, my offended God. Let me highly prize the holy Scriptures, and follow the divine instructions to be learnt from thence. Grant that the promises and threatenings therein contained, may powerfully work in my soul a firm and vigorous resolution of obeying thee. Wean my mind from all carnal and vain delights; and be thou pleased to suit my desires to the straitness and difficulty of my circumstances, and give me a perfect resignation to thy holy will. Thou, O God, lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity; and thy holy word makes it a part of the character of the wicked to borrow and not to pay again; let it be therefore my study ou shalt tr me receire: punishmen may be m circumsta n of thr alling mys into thes ambling myself to Scripturs! es and thre werfully s resoluti rnal and to suit: fficulty of erfect resp ness and akes it a to borrows fore my st F creditst p me from cel my dels and thereby defraud my creditors of their just due; for I know that by so doing, I shall entail a curse on myself and family; for how can I hope for a blessing from thee, when I make use of sinful methods to provide for myself and them? Touch the hearts of my creditors with a sense of my misery and trouble, and dispose them to accept of such satisfaction as I am able to make, that I may be discharged out of this miserable confinement, if it be thy good pleasure. And after my discharge, let thy good providence direct me to such honest ways of getting, and so bless me in my lawful endeavours and undertakings, that I may be in a condition to pay them what shall be behind, and fully satisfy their just demands; knowing, that notwithstanding my discharge, and though I am out of the reach of human laws in this respect, yet my duty and obligation in equity are still the same. But if thou shalt think fit to deny me this request, do thou, O God, make up their loss in such way and manner as thou pleasest. Hear me, O Lord, for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. Some of the considerations proposed to prisoners for crimes, may be of use to prisoners for debt, and, indeed, to all Christians, in order |