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 void me 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. 



