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When you are asked an Alms, being able to relieve.

I.

How much am I bound to the good Providence of my heavenly Father, Who hath raised my condition in this world to be of the number of those that abound, and not of them that want, since "it is more blessed to give than to receive","

Blessed Lord, vouchsafe to give me a heart full of compassion, an eye full of pity, and a hand open and bountiful, according to my ability, towards my poor needy brethren: "He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 9."

II.

I have not deserved to enjoy more worldly wealth than this poor person, who now begs to be supplied out of my store but such is the great goodness of my God towards me, that He hath not only given me food

P Acts xx. 35.

withal to express my gratiand raiment, but also wheretude and love to God, by my ready relief of my Christian brethren. Blessed be

God, Who hath not only given me ability, but this Opportunity also, to "lay up in store for myself a good foundation against the time to come, that I may lay hold on eternal life."

When you hear others evil spoken of.

Lord, if I be not as bad or worse than these persons I now hear traduced, I have Thee, Who by Thy grace the more reason to praise and goodness hast preserved me from such miscarriages.

But did I truly reflect upon mine own misdemeanors, I should have little reason to intend the reproaches of others.

"Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall rest upon Thy holy hill?

"He that hath used no deceit in his tongue : nor done evil to his neighbour, and hath not slandered his neighbour "."

4 2 Cor. ix. 6.-Tunc mirabiliter in altum charitas surgit, cùm ad ima proximorum se miserecorditer inclinet: et quo benignius descendit ad ima, eo potentius recurrit ad summa.—Greg.

Psalm xv. 1. 3.

When you hear yourself reproached.

"As for me, I was even as a deaf man, and heard not: and as one that is dumb, that doth not open his mouth.

"I became as one that heareth not: and in whose mouth are no reproofs."

I will patiently bear my reproach, because I have sinned against the Lord.

"The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord.

"It is enough for the disciple to be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord: if they have called the master of the house, Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household'."

"For what glory is it, if when you be buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently?

"But if when you do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps, "Who did no sin, neither

• Psalm xxxviii. 13, 14.

was any guile found in His mouth:

"Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously "."

When you are crossed in any your worldly Desires or Interests. "Whatsoever is brought upon thee, take cheerfully; and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.

"For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity."

Blessed Jesus, since Thy kingdom is not of this world, let not me, Thy devoted servaut and subject, either desire or hope to be happy upon earth: but grant me so to love what Thou commandest, and desire what Thou dost promise, that among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, my heart may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found.

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* Mat. x. 24, 25. Ecclus. ii. 4, 5.

1 Pet. ii. 20-23.

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one.

"Thrice was I beaten with rods: once was I stoned: thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and day I have been in the deep.

"In journeyings often; in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils amongst false brethren.

"In weariness and painfulness, in watching often; in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." Such a heap of troubles betiding an innocent, active, blessed man, may surely move me to bear patiently my smaller proportion of affliction, remembering" that all things work

Psalm cxix. 75.

together for good to them that love God a "

When you suffer any
bodily Pain.

Both this, and the greatest of the pains my corruptible flesh can possibly suffer, are but as a flea-biting to the least of the pains of the nether hell, which my sins have justly deserved: but, blessed Lord, let me have my punishment in this life, and spare, O spare me in the life to come.

I am not master of myself, except in patience I possess my soul, in spite of what flesh can do unto me.

"A furious man cannot be justified," or, escape punishment: "for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.

"A patient man will bear for a time and afterwards joy shall spring up unto him.

"He will hide his words for a time: and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom ."

I know, O Lord, that Thou dost not willingly afflict the sons of men. St. Paul had his " thorn in the flesh," but it was to prevent the swelling of his heart

2 Cor. xi. 23-27.

b Ecclus. i. 22-24.

a Rom. viii. 28. • 2 Cor. xii. 7.

with spiritual pride and vain-glory: And I humbly beg, O Lord, that my present pain in body, may, through my patient sufferance, conduce to the better health of my soul.

And oh, that I were as feelingly sensible of the many sores and diseases of my soul, as I am now of my bodily pains: I should then more affectionately and with greater devotion apply myself to the great Physician both of soul and body.

Being sensible of your want of Knowledge and

Wisdom.

That it may please Thee, O Lord, to forgive me all my negligences and ignorances, and to endue me with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, to amend my life according to Thy word.

"O God of my fathers, and Lord of all mercy, give me wisdom that sitteth by Thy throne and reject me not from among Thy children.

"O send her out of Thy holy heavens, and from the throne of Thy glory: that being present, she may labour with me; that I may know what is pleasing unto Theed."

Wisdom ix. 1. 4. 10.

:

"Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge and though I have all faith, that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing e.”

Being dull and averse from holy Duties.

"How long wilt Thou forget me, O Lord, for ever? how long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?

66

How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart? how long shall mine enemies triumph over me?

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death," or, in sin unto death.

"Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it.

"But my trust is in Thy mercy and my heart is joyful in Thy salvation.

"I will sing of the Lord, because He hath dealt so lovingly with me: yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord the most high."

Glory be to the Father,
&c.
As it was in the begin-
ning, &c.

1 Cor. xiii. 2.

f Psalm xiii.

Upon the sense of your Sins, and the misspending of your Time.

When I call to mind the days of my vanity, and the sins of my younger and wanton years: when I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits. When I remember how little a portion of my time hath been employed in the service of my God: and how much hath been spent in the service of sin and Satan, and the fulfilling of mine own unruly lusts.

When I consider how small, or no treasure of good works I have laid up in Heaven, and what a mass of sinful works I have treasured up against the day of wrath: "My spirit is wounded within me, and my heart within me is desolates:" "my flesh trembleth for fear of Thee: and I am afraid of Thy judgments"." "Call to remembrance, O Lord, Thy tender mercies: and Thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.

"Oh, remember not the sins and offences of my youth," nor of my riper years: Oh, deal not with

8 Psalm cxliii. 4.

j Psalm lvi. 8.

reward me after mine inime after my sins, neither quities: "but according to Thy mercy think Thou upon me, O Lord, for Thy goodnessi."

And as Thou tellest my flittings: so put my tears into Thy bottle: that as my sins, so my sorrows for sin may be noted in Thy book.

Assist me to redeem that precious time, which I have too much misspent in vanity and iniquity.

"Oh, spare me a little, that I may recover my strength: before I go hence, and be no more seenk."

Resolves of future Holiness.

"Unto Thee, O God, will I pay my vows: unto Thee will I give thanks.

"For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living':" that enlightened with Divine grace, I may enjoy the light of immortal glory.

"Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in Thy truth: O knit my heart unto Thee, that may fear Thy name.

"I will thank Thee, O

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