6. "The ungodly have laid a snare for me: but yet I swerved not from Thy commandments." From the which all the temptations of wicked spirits should not make us to swerve.

7. "Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever and why? they are the very joy of my heart." It is obedience through Christ, that entitles to the inheritance of Heaven, which fills the hearts of the righteous with joy unspeakable and glori

ous.

8. "I have applied my heart to fulfil Thy statutes alway even unto the end." Therefore are the hearts of the godly inclined to persevere in their obedience unto the end of their lives.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

The Prayer.

When I was first enrolled a member of Thy Church, O Lord, I solemnly vowed, and have often since renewed this vow to keep Thy holy will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of my life: but the lustings of the flesh against the Spirit, and the

snares of Satan, do daily trouble such my holy resolutions and promises. Vouchsafe, blessed Lord, to quicken and fortify my spirit against all the crafts and assaults of my ghostly adversaries, that I may have power and strength to get the victory, and to triumph over the devil, the world, and the flesh, and to continue Thy faithful servant and soldier unto my life's end, through Jesus Christ, &c.

THE FIFTEENTH PART. Ver. 1. "I hate them that imagine evil things: but Thy law do I love." He that truly loves God and His truth, will detest, not the persons of any, but the sinful imaginations of all

men.

2. "Thou art my defence and my shield: and my trust is in Thy word." Whilst we sincerely trust in the truth of God's promises in His word, we need not to doubt of His protection and defence.

3. "Away from me, ye wicked: I will keep the commandments of my God." The society of wicked men must be avoided by every one that rightly resolves to keep God's commandments.

4. "O stablish me accord

ing to Thy word, that I may live and let me not be disappointed of my hope." It is by the Divine assistance continually implored, that we are so established in the life of grace, that we be not disappointed of our hopes of the life of glory.

5. "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: yea, my delight shall be ever in Thy statutes." Being supported by the Divine grace, this hope stands firm; and it is strengthened by holy love and delight in the service of God.

6. "Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from Thy statutes: for they imagine but deceit." They are justly deprived of this blessed hope, who transgress the laws of God, their own fond imaginations deceiving them.

7. "Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross; therefore I love Thy testimonies." The judgments of God pursuing the wicked to their ruin, delight the righteous; not for the destruction of their persons, but for the justice of God thereby testified.

8. "My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee; and I am afraid of Thy judgments." The best of men do most

fear the judgments of God, as being most sensible of their sins.

Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was, &c.

The Prayer.

Give me a heart, O Lord, I beseech Thee, detesting all sinfulness and error, and inflamed with the love of holiness and truth; to trust in Thy mercies, and stand in fear of Thy judgments: incline my will and affections to live the life of obedience to Thy word, that I may not be disappointed of my hopes to live with Thee for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SIXTEENTH PART. Ver. 1. "I deal with the thing that is lawful and right: O give me not over to mine oppressors." must deal righteously with all men, who desires not to be oppressed by any.

He

2. Make Thou Thy servant to delight in that which is good, that the proud do me no wrong.' To delight in what is good, is a sure preservative against all the assaults of the spirits of pride and wickedness.

3. "Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for Thy health, and for the word of

We

Thy righteousness." must wait diligently upon all the blessed means of that grace and salvation God hath promised in His word, how troublesome soever this may be to the flesh.

4. "O deal with Thy servant according to Thy loving mercy; and teach me Thy statutes." It will be sad if God deal not with the best of us after His loving mercies, and not after our deserts.

5. "I am Thy servant: O grant me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies." It is impossible to be the true servant of God, without understanding aright the service He requires.

6. "It is time for Thee, Lord, to lay to Thine hand: for they have destroyed Thy law." When the laws of God are trampled under foot, He will not long forbear His punishing judg

ments.

7. "For I love Thy commandments above gold, and precious stone." When wickedness most abounds, the righteous do most value

the laws of God, even above all earthly treasures.

8. "Therefore hold I straight all Thy commandments: and all false ways I utterly abhor." They that are most sincere in the service of God, do most abhor what is false and contrary thereunto.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

The Prayer.

I am Thy devoted servant, O Lord: and that I may serve Thee acceptably, give me a right understanding of all the ways and parts of Thy service, and an upright heart in performing the same, abhorring all falsehood both in opinion and conversation. O deal not with me after my sins, neither reward me after mine iniquities, but according to Thy loving mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord; to Whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour, glory, &c.

Our Father, Which art in Heaven, &c.

It is very seasonable, at this hour, to pay thy devotions to thy blessed Redeemer, as the necessary effects of true faith and repentance; since,

I.

It was at this hour the thief upon the cross believing and repenting, received the joyful promise from the mouth of the Lord, "This day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise"."

And my life, I confess, has been no better than the life of this thief, even my whole life has been a trade of robbery, robbing God of His honour, and of that obedience which I owe to His holy laws; and robbing myself also of peace of conscience here, and of the hopes of Heaven hereafter. Blessed Jesu, Who hadst mercy on the thief, even in the very hour of his death, repenting, have mercy upon me, even upon me also, who now, though too late, repent me of my manifold misdoings. Shut not up the gates

of Paradise against me, when I shall depart hence; since having overcome the sharpness of death, Thou hast opened the kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

II.

It was at this hour the Son of God, made man, commended His spirit of man into the hands of God the Father: and into Thy hands, O Lord, do I now commend my spirit, my soul, my body, my all; "for Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, Thou God of truth." And the very God of peace vouchsafe to sanctify me wholly and I pray God that my whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christy, Amen.

:

III.

It was at this hour, wherein my blessed Redeemer, "after He had cried with a loud voice, gave up the ghost," and died for us miserable sinners.

It was for me, and my sins, my dearest Saviour both suffered and died, He having no sins of His own to suffer or die for; but "He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for mine iniquities"."

And now then remember, Holy Jesus, in great mercy remember that hour wherein with a torn body and broken heart Thou didst shew forth the bowels of Thy mercy in dying to deliver me both from spiritual and eternal death.

Pardon, good Lord, pardon all my sins, the cause of all Thy painful sufferings; and grant, that both I, and all who have Thy Cross and Passion in a devout and thankful remembrance, may, by the virtue and power thereof, crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin; that being "dead unto sin, we may live unto righteousness, and by Thy stripes be healed "."

IV.

Upon the death of my Saviour, the earth quaked, the rocks clave asunder, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top

a Isaiah liii. 5.

to the bottom: and yet upon the meditation hereof my heart is not broken within me; it is harder than the stones of that temple which was a figure of it; harder than those rocks that rent upon the expiration of my Lord; more insensible and stupid than the earth that quaked at the death of her Maker. O blessed Jesus, let Thy precious blood shed for me, soften my stony heart into tears of compassion to bewail Thy passion, into tears of compunction for my sins the cause of Thy sufferings, and wholly melt my soul into a throughout devotion to the love and service of Thy sacred Majesty, Who hast so infinitely loved me, as to die for me.

V.

At this hour the side of our Lord was pierced, whence issued the two Sacraments of His Church; the water of Baptism, and the blood of the Eucharist and, O that that precious blood and water which is the price of my redemption, may be the meritorious cause of my sanctification in this life, and eternal salvation in the life to come. Amen.