thy mercies which I sue for. And there fore I am sensible the first thing I ought to do is, to repent from the bottom of my heart for all my offences, humbly confessing them, and continually to cry to thee for mercy. I detest then all my sins with my whole heart, and desire to lay them down here at thy feet, to be effaced and destroyed for ever. I renounce and abhor them with my whole soul, because they are infinitely odious to thee, and wish I could expiate them with tears of blood: I humbly beg thy pardon for them all, and wish with all my heart I had never committed them: I here offer myself to make what satisfaction for them I am able; and most willingly accept of whatever I may have to suffer in child-bearing, and offer it up now beforehand to thee for my sins, firmly resolving by thy grace never wilfully to offend thee more. Behold here my poor heart, O Lord, and if it is not, at least I desire it should be, that contrite and humble heart which thou never despisest. In this disposition of soul, and with a lively confidence in thy mercies, and in the merits of the death and passion of Jesus Christ thy Son, I renew the petition I made before, and once more beg, for myself, thy grace, protection, and a happy delivery; and for

my child, that thou wouldst be pleased to preserve it for baptism, sanctify it for thyself, and make it thine for ever. Amen. vill bo For Widows.⠀

O GOD, the disposer of all things, who hast been pleased to bring me into 'this' state, grant me the grace' to bear all its troubles with patience, and make use of all its advantages with Christian prudence; to be a widow indeed; to despise all earthly comforts; to place my whole trust in thee, and to improve the oppor tunity offered for securing to myself a happy eternity.

Teach me, O Lord, to make the best use of the liberty thou hast given me, and as long as I shall abide here in this pilgrimage, give me grace to employ my time in such exercises of piety, charity, and solid devotion, as may secure thy mercy to me, and effectually conduct me to the possession of that happiness which I desire.

May I ever despise the vanities of the world, and make some recompense for my past sins, follies, and extravagances. May I now spend as many hours in prayer and good works as I have mispent in vanity, idleness, or dangerous entertain- " ments. May I endeavour by charity to make amends for all that I have sinfully, idly, or prodigally mispent, and thus re-i cover whatever prejudice my soul has

suffered through my fault. May I ever study to improve my present circumstances in order to eternal life. May my loss turn to my advantage, and under thy protection, O God, may I find greater comforts than what the world can afford. Assist me, O my God, and let thy grace support me under all my weaknesses.

For those who lead a single life.

O BLESSED Redeemer, who both by thyself and thy apostle hast recommended a single life as the most proper state to serve thee in, without distraction, assist me by thy holy grace, that I may duly consider the advantages of it, and make a right use of them, so as to find the good effects in my soul, for which the apostle gives it the preference to all other states.

May I always rejoice under thy blesssings, and being at liberty from those engagements which are attended with endless solicitudes, and enslave the minds of men to the earth, may I avail myself of this my privilege in seeking and serving thee with greater freedom of spirit, having thee now for my spouse. May I. not be like one of the foolish virgins, but with the wise wait in readiness for thy coming. May I leave all for thee. May: I love thee with my whole heart, desire thee with all my soul, adore thee with

all my mind, and serve thee with all my strength that I may thus become holy both in body and spirit. Support me under all my weaknesses; and defend me against all the snares, both of the devil, of the world, and of my own corruption. Take from me all affection for whatever flatters the senses, and let me admire nothing that is vain and empty. Inspire me with a dread of all that is dangerous, and let the great and prevailing object of my love, affections, and desires, centre in thee alone: that, having finished my life here, in imitation of thee, I may wait on thee for ever, in the joys of thy kingdom. Amen.

For the Rich.

Most bountiful Lord, I return thee thanks for whatever I possess, and beg thy grace to make good use of whatever plenty, thro' thy mercy, I enjoy. May I always so govern myself, as to spend nothing in favour of any vicious or sinful inclination. May I be deaf to all expensive demands of vanity, gaming, appetite, and idleness, and put a stop to all those ways by which I have hitherto mispent what thou hast intrusted me with, and thereby often most ungratefully offended thy divine goodness.

I confess my past ingratitude, injustice, and impiety, in the abuse of thy favours

and gifts, and earnestly beg pardon of thee, O Lord, for the same, and grace henceforward to manage all thou requirest. To feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, &c., with the overplus of the decent support of myself and of those under me; to lay up for myself a treasure in heaven, lest, like the rich man in the gospel, I suffer eternally in hell, for having so much indulged my passions, and applied thy favours to the service of idleness, vanity, and sin.

It is through thy great mercy, O my God, that I yet live, when thou mightest have cast me into endless flames. Thou sparest me, that I may make some amends for all the abuses of the goods thou hast so liberally bestowed on me. May I neither hereafter hoard up riches unnecessarily, nor spend them unprofitably. May I only make use of them for promoting thy honour and glory here, the relief of the poor, and providing such necessaries as thou allowest. May I pay no regard to what the world applauds or censures, but only endeavour to please thee in a just disposal of what thou hast committed to my care, as being not the master, but the steward thereof, and accountable to thee, O my God, the giver of whatever I possess. Assist me herein, O God, and let not riches, nor the evils