PREFACE. MY DEAR FRIENDS, I HAVE written this little Book for you from a bed of sickness, from which I shall never rise; and probably ere it falls into your hands my spirit will have entered that eternity of rest, and peace and happiness, which I would so strongly urge you to seek after. Oh! let my words come to to you with the force of words from another world, despise them not. "So run that you may obtain; think of what is offered you: A crown of glory; a mansion in the heavens ; a home with the saints; eternity of God's immediate presence; everlasting bliss. an Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. vi. 2. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with me. Rev. iii. 20. You hear Christ's gracious offers. Oh, then, open to Him your doors-receive Him into your hearts. He will shew you the path of life; in His presence is fulness of joy; and at His right hand there are pleasures for Ps. xvi. 11. Oh for that bright and happy land, The wicked cease from troubling, evermore. The object in view in presenting this little Book to the Public, is to form a help to prayer to those classes whom it has pleased God to place in a more humble position than their more favoured neighbours, and within whose reach the same opportunities of education and improvement have not been placed. Each prayer is preceded by a few verses of praise in the language of Scripture, which would help to compose the mind, and collect the thoughts, for the solemn act which is to follow. A small portion of Scripture should be read by the Head of the family, either before or after the prayer, and if the hymn would occupy more time than can always be conveniently spared from the morning duties, it may be omitted; should there be children in the family, singing the hymn would close the evening pleasantly. The separate texts which are put at the end of each, morning and evening, are intended to be chosen one for each day to commit to memory, that it may serve as a motto during the day to preserve a healthful state of mind. As all the prayers are written for family use, a morning and evening prayer for an individual has been placed at the end, together with some prayers for little children, who are old enough to begin to pray to their Father which is in heaven, as soon as they are capable of making all their wants clearly known to their earthly father. Repeating a simple hymn before they begin, will, in a measure, prepare and compose their infant minds for the solemn duty, of those which are too long a part or even a verse might be repeated at a time. The Scriptures should never be read without the Divine teaching and blessing having been previously asked, otherwise no blessing can be expected— therefore short and suitable prayers have been affixed. January, 1847. |
