368 PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN. love God and pray to him, and hell for the wicked, who neither pray to him, nor love him. And can you ever hope, that God will save you from hell and the devil, and that he will receive you to dwell with himself, and with his Son Jesus Christ in hea- ven, if you never pray tohim for these blessings ? IV. as Consider what your mercies are." Howkindly has God dealt with you in this world ? Has he not given you such parents and friends, who by his order provide food and raiment, and house and bed, and every thing conve- nient for you ? How many poor children are there that want thesecomforts, and are exposed to hunger and cold ? Have not your parents and friends taken care that you should be taught to read, and to learn many things for your good, both here and hereafter? Do you not know, that it was God who put it into their hearts, and also made them able to do it ? How many thou- sand poor creatures are there in this land, who know nothing of God and cannot read a word ? Is it not God who has made this happy difference between you and them ? and should you not praise him for his goodness ? Have you not seen other children blind, or lame, or crooked, or foolish ? Is it not God who has given you your limbs and your senses ? Is it not the same good God, that gives you health and peace by night and day ; and are you not bound to thank him for these his mercies ? What ! would you live like the brute beasts who eat and drink and sleep and take no notice of thegreat God, from whose hand all your blessingscome ? Has not God, by his good providence, caused you to be born and bred in Great Britain, in a land where you have learned the knowledge of the true God, and are not brought up to worship images of wood or stone among the heathens ? Have you not the bible, the book of God in your hands in English, where you can read of God, and Christ, and heavenly things ; whereas the papists breed up their children without their bibles, and had you been born among them, you must have lived in ignorance too ? And since you are taught to know God and the way to heaven, as well as blessed with so many blessings. here on earth, isnot your heart full of thankfulness to God ? And how can'you refrain from falling down upon your knees, and praising the mercy of God, who has done all this for you ? V. " Consider what relation you stand in to others." Have you not a father and mother that you are bound to honour and love? and would you never pray, that God would bestow his best blessings on them, and make them live long to breed you upin his fear ? Have you not brothers or sisters, or other friends and relations that love you? and have you nomer, cies to ask of God for them? Do not your masters or teachers, ministers or governors desire that you should pray to God to
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