1 finned against the light of the Gofpel, and thine in- For a right Ufe of the good Things of this THOU, O Lord, art the Father of mercies, never never be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in thee the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy; may be rich in good works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate; and fo may lay up to myself a good foundation againft the time to come, that I may lay hold on eternal life. Make me truly fenfible, how impoffible it is to ferve both God and mammon; and that if I inimoderately love the world, and the things in it, this is a certain fign, that the love of God is not in me. Awaken my fluggifh foul, that it may open its eyes, and look past this prefent ftate, and aspire after those true riches, to which all that this world contains bears no manner of proportion. Be my God, and my Guide in all my concerns; and grant me fo to pafs thro' things temporal, that I finally lofe not the things eternal. This beg for thy mercies fake, in thy Son our Lord Jefus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghoft, ever one God, world without end, Amen. For a truly Chriftian Behaviour in all respects. O I. Eternal and everlasting God, who hateft all iniquity, and canst not look upon the leaft fin with approbation; difpofe me for a due attendance to the ftate thou haft placed me in, and the preparation I am neceffarily to make for another, before I am fummon'd hence. Work in me both to will, and to do of thy good pleasure, that so I may live in all holy converfation and godlinefs, and may pafs the time of my fojourning here in thy fear, exercifing myself continually to have a confcience void of offence towards God, and towards man. Open mine eyes, that I may fee the wondrous things of thy law. Enlighten my mind, that I may know thee; and not with a barren and useless knowledge, but fuch as may produce the happy fruits of good works. Put thy law in my heart, heart, and write it in my inward man, that in no II. God, tho' my Spirit be willing, yet the flesh is weak, and I can do no good thing without thy affiftance. Do thou ftrengthen me by thy good Spirit, to bear up against all the oppofition that shall befal me in the performance of my duty, whether from men or devils. Let no temptation be too powerful for me to withstand it with courage, and an undaunted refolution to proceed in my integrity. Nourish all the feeds of grace that are fown in my heart, and make them fruitful unto every good word and work. Let my light fo fhine before men, that they may fee my good works, and glorify thee, my Ff 2 Father, Father, who art in Heaven. Make me a faithful fteward of all thofe talents, wherewith thou haft entrufted me, for the good either of myself or others; that I may not be afraid to give up my accounts, when the Lord fhall come to reckon with me. Give me the increase of faith, hope, and charity, and all other chriftian graces; and, that I may obtain that which thou doft promife, make me ever to love that which thou doft command, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. III. Thou God of peace, fanctify me wholly ; and I pray thee, that my whole fpirit, and foul, and body, may be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. A general Thanksgiving for Mercies received. I. ALmighty and moft loving Father, the Father of mercies, and God of all confolation, I here proftrate myself at thy feet, humbly acknowledging thy bounty and goodness to me, defiring to blefs and praise thy holy Name, both now and for evermore, for fuch thine abundant loving-kindnefs. It was of thine own good pleasure, that thou at first gavest me a being, when I was not it is of thy moft gracious hand over me, that I am still preferved in it, notwithstanding all the dangers to which I lie continually expofed. Thro' thy immenfe patience and compallion towards me, I am now on this fide the grave, and everlasting mifery; for I have deferved nothing of thee, but thy heavy wrath, and implacable indignation. Yet doft thou not fail to multiply thy bleffings upon me from day to day, bleffings both fpiritual and temporal, for this life, and in order to a better. Praised be thy name, O Lord, for that thou haft dealt thus lovingly with me! While I live, will ལན་ I praise the Lord; yea, as long as I have any being, I will fing praises to my God. My mouth fhall fhew forth thy righteousness and falvation all the day long; for I know no end thereof. Bleffed be the Lord my God, who only doth wondrous things! And blessed be the Name of his Majefty for ever! And all the earth fhall be filled with his Majefty. Amen. Amen. THOU art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou haft created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. May men and angels never cease to worship and adore thee, and laud and magnify thy bleffed Name, for thine infinite goodness to all the fons of men. As for myself, it fhall be my conftant study, to express my unfeigned gratitude for the innumerable benefits I have received from thy bounty: which are as great, as they are every way undeferved, and fo call for the utmost returns of duty and thankfulness to the Author of them. All praise, all glory, be to thee for my creation, preservation, and all the - bleffings of this life; for my health and strength, my reafon and understanding, my peace and quiet of mind, my credit and reputation, the plenty of outward good things wherewith thou haft bleffed me, my friends and relations, and benefactors, or whatever tends to make my being here comfortable. It is all owing to thee alone; and to thee therefore be the praise throughout all ages.. Amen. BUT III. UT, above all, may my foul, and all that is within me, glorify thee, O Lord, for that moft gracious provision thou haft vouchfafed to make for me, in order to a better life, when this fhall have an end; for my redemption by the death and paffion of my bleffed Saviour; for the glad tidings of the Gofpel, which not only hath brought life and immor |