For Children in Ordinary Circumstances

—O God, Thou art the lovely Father of all mankind. Thou hast implanted in us the parental instincts; and commanded us to train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We feel our awful responsibility, and often exclaim, who is sufficient for these things? But Thou givest wisdom to the ignorant and power to the faint. Aid, O aid us, in discharging the duties we owe to those whom Thou hast given us and continued to us.

We give them up to Thee, who art able to fulfil all our petitions. Rescue them from the numberless accidents and diseases to which they are exposed. Let their tempers be lovely, and meek, and kind. Let their manners be simple and engaging. May they be respectful towards their superiors, obliging towards their equals, and condescending towards their inferiors.

Let not envy and pride and censoriousness render them disdainful to others, and wretched in themselves. May they speak evil of no one. Upon their tongue may there dwell the law of kindness. May they hate and abhor lying, with all deceit and hypocrisy.

May they be always willing to receive instruction, and be diligent in acquiring all the knowledge and improvement that may render them the blessings and ornaments of society.

Keep them from evil company. If sinners entice them, may they never consent; but early may they take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, I will go with you, for I have heard that God is with you.

We seek not great things for them as to this world—but O, let them live in thy sight; let them be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting; let them be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

Instead of multiplying riches, and leaving them incentives to pride, and vanity, and idleness, and sensuality, and augmenting a thousand fold all the difficulties of their salvation—may we lay up for them treasure in heaven; may we be concerned to leave behind us a large inheritance of prayers and instructions and examples, with the blessing of God, that maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow with it.

If their parents should be taken away from them—when father and mother forsake them, may the Lord take them up. If they should be deprived of their father—be Thou the Father of the fatherless; or should they be deprived of their mother—as one whom his mother comforteth, so do Thou comfort them.

Should they be removed from us in early life, may the heavenly Shepherd gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom; and may we be prepared to resign them. And if, as we submissively implore, their lives should be prolonged—may they grow up, and prove our comfort and honour, serve their generation according to thy will, and walk before Thee in the land of the living.