Day of Thanksgiving — Evening

O God, Thou art good, and Thou doest good. Thou art good to all, and thy tender mercies are over all thy works.

We have thought of thy loving-kindness this day, in the midst of thy temple; and are again surrounding this domestic altar to exclaim, O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.

We lament to think that a world so filled with thy bounty, should be so alienated from thy service and glory. We mourn over the vileness of our ingratitude, and abhor ourselves, repenting in dust and ashes.

O Thou God of all grace, make us more thankful. In order that we may be more thankful, may we be more humble ; impress us with a deep sense of our unworthiness, arising from the depravity of our nature, and countless instances of unimproved advantages, omitted duties, and violated commands. May we compare our condition with our desert, and with the far less indulged circumstances of others. May we never be inattentive to any of thy interpositions on our behalf ; but be wise and observe these things, that we may understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.

How many blessings, temporal and spiritual, public and private, hast Thou conferred upon us. Thy mercies have been new every morning and every moment.

Our afflictions have been few and alleviated, often short in their continuance, and always founded in a regard to our profit. Thy secret has been upon our tabernacle and we have known Thee in thy palaces for a refuge, The lines have indeed fallen to us in pleasant places, yea, we have a goodly heritage. Thou hast not dealt so with any people. It is a good land which the Lord our God has given us — a land distinguished by knowledge ; dignified as the abode of civil and religious freedom ; endeared by the patriot's zeal, and the ashes of our forefathers; a land the Lord careth for ; and upon which his eye has been from the beginning even to the end of the year.

Thou hast been a wall of fire round about us, by thy providential protection, and the glory in the midst of us, by the gospel of our salvation, the ordinances of religion, and the presence of thy Holy Spirit.

What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards us ? Because Thou hast been our help, therefore under the shadow of thy wing may we rejoice. Because Thou hast heard our voice and our supplication, therefore may we call upon Thee as long as we live ; and in every future difficulty and distress, make Thee our refuge and our portion.

Enable us to bless Thee at all times ; may thy praise continually be in our mouth ; and may we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives.

Being delivered from the peril and calamity (of ——) with which we have been exercised, may we serve Thee without fear, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our lives.

We dare not trust our own hearts. We have often resembled thy people of old, who, in the hour of deliverance and indulgence, sang thy praise, and said, All that the Lord commandeth us will we do ; but soon forget his works and the wonders which He had showed them. Keep these things for ever in the imagination of our hearts, and not only draw us, but bind us to thyself with the cords of love and the bands of a man.

And with all our calls to gratitude and joy, may we remember that we have also reason for sorrow and humiliation. O give us that repentance which is unto life. Reform as well as indulge us ; and pardon as well as spare. Let not our prosperity destroy us, nor our table become a snare. Let us not, by our perverse returns, provoke Thee to visit us with heavier afflictions, and turn the rod into a scorpion. May our ways please the Lord, that we may hope for a continuance of thy favor, and know that all things shall work together for our good.

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion. Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. And as the churches have rest ; may they walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and be multiplied.

Preside over our national counsels ; impart wisdom to those who conduct our public affairs ; and may all the various classes in the community pursue that righteousness which exalteth a nation, and forsake that sin which is a reproach to any people.

Regard the services in which we have been engaged with the thousands of our Israel ; accept the poor and imperfect thanksgivings we have offered ; and let thy word which has been dispensed in aid of the devotion of the day, accomplish all the good pleasure of thy goodness — through Jesus the Lord, our righteousness and strength ; and in whose words we address Thee as

Our Father who art in heaven ; hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread ; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.