s are alike in thy hand, and any measure. In holy
sovereignty and consummate wisdom thou afflictest, and in thy hand
afflictions yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness: the hearts of
thy people are melted, and they sing of mercy and of judgment, and
glorify thy name. But, O Lord, a look, such as thou gavest to Peter,
will melt our hearts and restore our backsliding souls. The announcing
of our pardon by the same power, will make them overflow with love. If
thou but call us by name, as thou didst her who sought thee at thy
sepulchre, with the same power we shall recognize our Saviour and
worship him.

"O Lord our God, ever faithful to thy promises, thou hast said,
'Whatsoever ye ask in my name, believing that ye receive, I will do
it.' O Lord, I ask not the life of this child on this ground. I have
through life asked one thing of thee, and that will I seek to obtain
while life and breath remain, and reason and grace; I will seek it,
seek it with importunity, holding fast by thy promise to do it, and
believing that it shall be according to my petition. Make good to me
this thy promise, in a spiritual and eternal sense. Be my God, and the
God of my children, and of my children's children, to the latest
generation. Let my children according to the flesh, be thine by
regeneration of the Holy Ghost: it is a great boon; but hast thou not
said, 'Open thy mouth wide, I will fill it?' Father, do as thou hast
said: this is my one petition, and I cannot be said nay. I ask for
myself, my children, and my children's children, to the latest
generation, the life which Christ died to purchase, and lives to
bestow, that we may be made one with him, and our life hid with him in
God. Amen, and Amen.

"But, O my Father, thou hast said, 'Be careful for nothing; but
in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known unto God.' I ask, with submission to thy
holy will, if consistent with thy glory, his good, and the good of the
parents, the life of this child; that thou mayest spare him for our
comfort, but first for thine own glory; that thou mayest give the
different branches of this family a joyful meeting, a full feast of
grateful thanks to thee for all thy mercies; and our hearts may
rejoice before thee for the abundance of comfort. Shouldst thou, in
thy adorable wisdom, otherwise determine, thy blessed and thy holy
will be done. Wash the soul of this child in the blood of Jesus,