"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, clothe him with thy righteousness, sanctify him by thy Spirit, and fit him in every respect for thy kingdom. And O, my divine Redeemer, I renew my petition which thou didst so evidently grant in the case of our dear Isabella: take him in thine arms of mercy; soften and shorten the parting pangs, and carry him gently through the dark valley, and give him an abundant entrance into thy heavenly kingdom, to join the hosannas of thy little children, of whom thy kingdom is partly made up: and O, sanctify the affliction to all concerned; direct our discipline according as thine all-seeing, heart-searching eye sees we need; that it may bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and 'the fruit of affliction be to take away sin,' and the glory of all redound to thee, Father, Son, and blessed Spirit. Amen, and Amen." "SEPTEMBER, 1802. "'What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation?' "'O give thanks unto God, for he is good; his mercy endureth for ever.' "'How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God; how great is the sum of them.' "'If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I awake I am still with thee.' "'The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy.' "'The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.' "'All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee.' "'He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.' "'Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage. He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.' "'He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us, he will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.' "'Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.' "'And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.'