That those who for Chrift's fake were killed all the day long, and accounted as fheep for the flaughter; yet, in all these things were more than conquerors, through him that loved us,

That they overcame the accufer of the brethren, by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their teftimony, and by not loving their lives unto the

death.

We blefs thee for the cloud of witneffes with which we are compaffed about, for the footsteps of the flock, for the elders that have obtained a good report, and are now, through faith and patience, inheriting the promifes. Lord, give us to follow them, as they followed Chrift.

23 For the communion of faints, that fpiritual communion which we have in faith and hope, and holy love, and in prayers and praises with all good chriftians.

We bless thee, that if we walk in the light, we have fellowship one with another, even with all that in every place call on the name of Jefus Chrift our Lord, both theirs and ours.

That we, being many, are one bread and one body, and that, though there are diverfities of gifts, adminiftrations, and operations, yet there is the fame fpirit, the fame Lord, and the fame God, which worketh all in all.

We thank thee that all the children of God which were fcattered abroad are united in him, who is the head of the body, the church; fo that they are all our brethren and companions in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jefus Chrift.

24. For the profpect and hope of eternal life, when time and days fhall be no more.

We thank thee for the crown of life which the Lord hath promifed to them that love him; the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referved in heaven for us.

That having here no continuing city, we are encouraged to feek the better country, that is, the heavenly, the city that hath foundations, whofe builder and maker is God.

That we are in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, hath promised; and that all true believers, through grace, have eternal life abiding in them.

2dly, We must give God thanks for the fpiritual mercies bestowed upon us in particular, efpecially if we are called with an effectual call, and have a good, work of grace begun in us.

1. We muft blefs God for the ftrivings of his fpirit with us, and the admonitions and checks of our own confciences.

We blefs thee that thou haft not given us over to a reprobate mind, that our confciences are not feared, that thou haft not faid, concerning us, They are joined to idols, let them alone, but that thy fpirit is yet ftriving with us.

We thank thee for the work of the law written in our hearts, our own confciences also bearing witness, and our own thoughts between themfelves accufing or excufing one another.

2. We must blefs God if there be a faving change wrought in us by his bleffed fpirit.

And hath God by his grace tranflated us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son? Hath he called us into the fellowship of Jefus Christ, and made us nigh by his blood, who by nature were afar off? Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.

We give thanks to God always for thofe to whom the gospel is come, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghoft, and in much affurance.

Thou haft loved us with an everlasting love, and therefore with loving kindness thou haft drawn us, drawn us with the cords of a man, and the bands of love.

When the ftrong man armed kept his palace in our hearts, and his goods were in peace, it was a strong=er than he that came upon him, and took from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divided the fpoil.

3. We must give thanks for the remiflion of our fins, and the peace of our confciences.

We bless thee for the redemption we have through Chrift's blood, even the forgiveness of fins, according to the riches of thy grace, wherein thou haft abounded towards us.

That thou haft forgiven all our iniquities, and healed all our diseases; and haft in love to our fouls delivered them from the pit of corruption; for thou haft caft all our fins behind thy back.

When thou broughteft us into the wildernefs, yet there thou spakelt comfortably to us, and gavest us our vineyards from thence; and the valey of anchor for a door of hope.

4. For the powerful influences of the divine grace, to fanctify and preferve us, to prevent our falling into fin, and to strengthen us in doing our duty.

Thou haft not quenched the fmoaking flax, nor broke the bruifed reed, nor defpifed the day of fmall things, but having obtained help of God, we continue hitherto.

In the day when we cried, thou haft answered us, and haft ftrengthened us with ftrength in our fouls. We have been continually with thee, thou hast holden us by thy right hand, when our feet were almoft gone, and our steps had well nigh flipt.

We have reafon never to forget thy precepts, for by them thou haft quickened us; and unless thy law. had been our delight, we should, many a time have perished in our affliction; for thy ftatutes have been our fongs in the house of our pilgrimage.

Unless the Lord had been our help, our fouls had almost dwelt in filence: But when we faid, our foot flippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held us up: And in

the multitude of our thoughts within us, thy comforts have been the delight of our fouls.

5. For fweet communion with God in holy ordinances, and the communications of his favour.

We have been abundantly fatisfied with the fatneís of thy house, and thou haft made us drink of the river of thy pleafures: For with thee is the fountain of life, in thy light fhall we fee light.

Thou haft brought us to thy holy mountain, and made us joyful in thy houfe of prayer, and we have found it good for us to draw near to God.

We have had reafon to fay, that a day in thy courts is better than a thousand, and that it is better to be doorkeepers in the houfe of our God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness; for the Lord God is a fun and a shield, he will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly: O Lord of Hofts, bleffed is the man that trufteth in thee.

We have fitten down under thy fhadow with delight, and thy fruit hath been sweet unto our taste: Thou hast brought us into the banqueting house, and thy banner over us has been love.

6. For gracious anfwers to our prayers.

We have reafon to love thee, O Lord, because thou haft heard the voice of our fupplications, and because thou haft inclined thine ear unto us, we will therefore call upon thee as long as we live.

Out of the depths have we cried unto thee, O Lord, and thou hast heard our vows, and given us the heritage of thofe that fear thy name.

Nay, before we have called, thou haft answered, and, while we have been yet fpeaking, thou haft heard, and haft faid, Here I am, and haft been nigh unto us in all that which we call upon thee for.

Lord, thou haft heard the defire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, and caufe thine ear to hear.

Bieffed be God, who hath not turned away our

prayer, or his mercy from us; for we have prayed, and have gone away, and our countenances have been no more fad.

7. For fupport under our afflictions, and spiritual benefit and advantage by them.

Thou haft comforted us in all our tribulation, haft confidered our trouble, and known our fouls in adverfity, and thewed us thy marvellous kindness, as in a strong city.

When afflictions have abounded, confolations have much more abounded.

Though no affliction for the present hath been joy. ous, but grievous, neverthelefs afterward it hath yielded the peaceable fruit of righteoufnefs, and have proved to be for our profit, that we might be partakers of thy holiness.

We have had reafon to fay, that it was good for us we were afflicted, that we might learn thy commandments; for before we were afflicted we went aftray, but afterwards have kept thy word.

It has been but for a feason, and when there was need that we were in heavinefs, through manifold temptations: And we beg that all the trials of our faith may be found unto praife, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jelus Chrift, whom having not feen we love, in whom, though now we fee him not, yet believing, we rejoice, with joy unfpeakable, and full of glory; are longing to receive the end of our faith, even the falvation of our fouls.

8. For the performance of God's promifes.

Thou haft dealt well with thy fervants, O Lord, according to thy word, and thou haft been ever mindful of thy covenant, the word which thou hast commanded, to a thoufand generations.

There hath not failed one word of all the good promifes which thou haft promifed to David thy fervant, and Ifrael thy people.

And now, what fhall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards us? Let our fouls return to