PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING. 235 



Prayer and Thanksgiving. Thus, O Almighty God, hast 

 Thou led me on in mercy almost to the close of a long life. 

 A volume would not contain an account of the mercies of 

 which I have been the subject through thy blessing on my 

 labors. It was of thy mercy that I was trained by pious 

 parents, and, although deprived of my father when I was 

 hardly eleven years of age, my blessed mother was sus 

 tained by Thee, and endued with courage to educate liber 

 ally my brother and myself. Thou hast blessed me abun 

 dantly, and enabled me to perform the duties of my station 

 successfully, I hope usefully to my fellow-men, and in 

 some humble measure to thine honor, which, in all my 

 public labors, I have endeavored to sustain, for I have not 

 been ashamed to acknowledge Thee before men. Wilt 

 Thou, Thou great and glorious God, sustain that dear old 

 Institution in which I have spent my years ; give it means 

 adequate to its wants, and to the extension of its usefulness. 

 May its officers and instructors be wise, faithful, and pious 

 men ; its pupils virtuous and diligent, and subjects of God's 

 grace ; and may it continue to the latest generations a foun 

 tain of blessings to this land. For myself, in this evening 

 of my life, may I be every day ready to die, trusting in thy 

 mercy through the Redeemer of men ; and if power and 

 opportunity to be useful are still continued to me, may I 

 have a disposition, as well as ability, to honor Thee, and to 

 benefit my fellow-men. For my salvation I depend entirely 

 upon the Redeemer. In the sight of God I have no merits 

 of my own, and feel deeply that if I am saved, it will be 

 of grace and not of works. I have none to offer that are 

 worthy of thine acceptance. And now, my heavenly 

 Father, I implore thy blessing upon my dear children and 

 their children, and upon the faithful and devoted compan 

 ion whom Thou hast in mercy given me. I implore it, also, 

 for the precious youth who are now about to go into the 

 world. Bless them all in time and eternity, through Christ 

 our Lord and Redeemer. 



