ness, or to the edification of others: let me bethink myself, have I told no lie today, or sworn or forsworn myself; hath no immoderate anger, or evil concupiscence overcome me; have I done no good to any; nor groaned in spirit, for fear of the torments of hell. Who will restore unto me this day again, which I have lost in the crowd of vain imaginations, in the mire of sensual lusts, and in the rubbish of worldly vanities ? | The CXLV Psalm is an epitome of all the praises of God diffused through the whole book of Holy Scripture, and it was one part of the daily service of God in His temple: and R. Kimchi saith it was said three times every day by the more devout people of the Jews: it is therefore most meet it should daily, by every good Christian, be devoutly used: say then, with thy most ardent desires to extol the glory of God: PSALM CXLV. I will magnify Thee, O God, my King and I will praise Thy Name for ever and ever. Every day will I give thanks unto Thee and praise Thy Name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and marvellous, worthy to be praised there is no end of His greatness. One generation shall praise Thy works unto another and declare Thy power. As for me, I will be talking of Thy worship: Thy glory, Thy praise, and wondrous works. So that men shall speak of the might of Thy marvellous acts and I will also tell of Thy greatness. The memorial of Thy abundant kindness shall be shewed and men shall sing of Thy righteousness. The Lord is gracious and merciful: long-suffering, and of great goodness. The Lord is loving unto every man and His mercy is over all His works. All Thy works praise Thee, O Lord and Thy Saints give thanks unto Thee. They shew the glory of Thy kingdom and talk of Thy power. That Thy power, Thy glo ry, and the mightiness of Thy kingdom: might be known unto men. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Thy dominion endureth throughout all ages. The Lord upholdeth all such as fall and lifteth up all those that are down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand: and fillest all things living with plenteousness. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works. The Lord is nigh unto all AN EVENING HYMN. Now that the sable mantle of the night Of grace and glory the Eternal King; This day by thought, or word, or deed of sin: Most blessed Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. I. CHAP. VI. OF BED-TIME MEDITATIONS. I AM Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, saith the Lord from the Lord I have my beginning, and He is the end of my being. It is therefore meet and just, and thy bounden duty, as to begin, so to end the day with the service of Thy God to make the out-goings of the morning and of the evening to praise Him, Who hath made the night and the day. "The day is Thine, and the night is Thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun. "Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made the summer and the winterz." II. It was at this hour my dear Redeemer was in a bitter agony, and sweat great drops of blood, under the pressure of the sins of men, and out of a sad apprehension of His ensuing sufferings for the samea. It was at this hour also, * Rev. i. 8. y Isaiah 44. 6. our Lord was laid in the grave, and lamented by the women that followed Him to His death. Now then let tears distil from thine eyes, in the devout remembrance of that precious Blood, which flowed from thy Saviour's veins: thy miscarriages and offences this very day, of omission and commission, of ignorance and knowledge, of negligence and wilfulness, of thought and desire, word and deed if they be not washed away in this blood of thy Lord, they will involve thee in blackness of darkness for ever, and in the horrid sleep of death, from whence there is no waking. O then cast them out of thy heart, by plenary particular confession of all thy this day's enormities; wash away the filth and pollution of them with the tears of godly sorrow, which being intermixed with faith in the blood of Christ, makes a healing salve for thy sinsick soul. O Blessed Jesu, Saviour of the world, save me and a Luke xxii. 44. 53. Psalm lxxiv. 17, 18. deliver me from all mine offences nail them to Thy cross; bury them in Thy grave; let them never rise up in judgment against me, to my condemnation at the last great day. And oh, that now, upon the religious contemplation of my Saviour's burial, I could bid adieu to this wicked world, and to all the pomps and vanities thereof: that being delivered from the iniquities of this sinful life, I may escape the bitter wailing and weeping of the wicked in the life to come. Psalms for the Compline, or Bed-time. THE IVth PSALM PARAPHRASED. Ver. 1. "O God," the Do- | instruction, "that the Lord nor, Preserver, and Rewarder "of my righteousness, Thou hast set me at liberty" from the bondage of sin, and of Satan, "when I was in trouble," through tyranny they exercised over me: "have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer," that I be no more involved in that sad condition, which it highly concerns all men to avoid. 2. "O ye sons of men." of the old Adam, "how long will ye blaspheme Mine honour," advancing the creature above your Creator, "and have such pleasure in vanity," take such delight in what is empty, vain, and satisfies not, "and seek after leasing," pursuing the lying delights of this wicked world? 3. "Know this," for your hath chosen to Himself the man that is godly," hath selected from among the children of men, certain vessels of honour devoted to His service and were I so happy as to be one of these elect people of God, holy and separate from the vanities of the world, I could not doubt but "when I call upon the Lord, He will hear me." hearts, and having cleansed your nance, the Holy Ghost, whose light of grace and truth enbeams our souls to the hopes of the eternal light of glory. 5. "Offer unto God the sacrifice of righteousness," vow unto Him a new obedience to His holy will and commandments, which is the rule of righteousness: and if you perform this vow, you may with some assurance "put your trust in the Lord," especially for spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; not greedily desiring, with most men, the good things of this life. 6. "There be many that say, who will shew us any good?" meaning worldly goods: but the man that is godly, doth say, 7. "Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.' By the Lord, (saith one,) is meant the Father; by His countenance, the Son; and by the light of His counte as 8. "Thou hast put gladness in mine heart:" cordial joy is a beam displayed from the light of God's countenance : "since the time their corn and wine and oil increased:" such increase adds nothing to the true joy of the heart, which consists in being rich towards God, not to the world. 9. "I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest :” being confident of Thy grace and favour, I shall sleep securely, not fearing the worst of evils this night can befall: "for it is Thou, Lord, only That makest me dwell in safety:" to Whom be all Glory, even to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. PSALM XXXI. TO THE 7th VERSE. "deliver me in Thy rection: righteousness;" not for mine, but for Thine own righteousness' sake, Who hast promised deliverance to them that trust in Thee. Ver. 1. "In Thee, O Lord," | rally suffer for my due cora powerful protector, "have I put my trust," that my hopes in Thee may prevent my fears, against which I also pray, "let me never be put to confusion;" not eternally, though I tempo 2. "Bow down Thine ear" |