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And, O heavenly Father, in whose hands are the hearts of all the children of men, let me not again return to those vices of which I have this day made confession at the footstool of thy throne of grace. Alas! O Lord, I have often forgotten my most solemn confessions and vows, and have returned, with the returning cares, and business, and temptations of life, to all my former derelictions of duty;—and these seasons of solemn confession have often returned to me with but a more oppressive consciousness, that I have not been making progress" in the way that leadeth unto life."

Yet, O Lord, though in myself I am weak, in thee I may find strength,-for thou givest not only "mercy to pardon, but grace to help us in our time of need,"—" and thou workest in us both to will and to do of thy good pleasure."

O send down thy good Spirit to confirm me in all holy purposes,-to strengthen in me whatever is weak,―to enlighten whatever is dark,—to elevate whatever is low,-to purify whatever is base or unworthy, to soften and subdue whatever is

hard, or rebellious, or malignant,—and "to sanctify me wholly for every good word and work.”

Lord, order aright all my ways,-direct me by thy grace," lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil," and so make "all things work together to me for good," that I may be enabled to walk without failing in the way of thy commandments.

Grant this, O Lord, that I may be enabled to meet all future seasons of humiliation,-if indeed it be thy purpose that I am still to see many days, with the blessed thought, that thou hast indeed been working with my spirit for good,—and that thou hast commanded a blessing on me, even that blessing which giveth joy, and addeth no sorrow therewith.

Help me, O God, through the days that are yet to elapse before I again approach the table of my Redeemer, to keep in remembrance his dying love. Prepare my heart for those private duties of self-examination, of devout reading of thy word, and of secret prayer, to the performance of which this season is consecrated,-and having this

day made confession of my sins, may they not have dominion over me, but may I receive an earnest of my final deliverance from their power, in the freedom which I am permitted to enjoy from their dominion during the solemn season which I am now devoting to thy service.

Now, O God, be with me through the silent watches of this night,—let angels of mercy watch around my bed, and preserve me from all ill,—and may I awaken to the duties of the ensuing day with a firmer purpose of obedience to thy service, and a more settled hope of finally being permitted to join that great multitude of all countries and all times, whose names are written in the book of life.

Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive all my offences, and let it be unto me as thou hast promised to them who seek thy face in truth.

"Thou, O God, hearest the desire of the humble, thou wilt grant their requests."

Heavenly Father, into thy hands, for time and for eternity, I commend my spirit. Amen.

EXERCISES

OF

SELF-EXAMINATION,

TO BE USED OCCASIONALLY ON DAYS PREPARATORY TO COMMUNION.

I.

KNOWLEDGE, OR A JUST AND STEADY CONCEP

TION OF THE MEANING OF THE SACRAMENTAL SERVICE.

1 Cor. xiv. 20. Be not children in understanding, but in understanding be ye men.

REFLECTION.

t

THOUGH this service is perhaps the most simple and easy to be comprehended of all the ceremonies that have ever been instituted among men, yet

there has been no ceremony respecting the meaning of which more portentous errors have been entertained, or in regard to which mankind in general have less satisfactory conceptions.

Yet, surely, nothing ought to be more readily comprehended, than that "this last supper" is but a repetition of that solemn act of fellowship which the common Lord and Master of all Christians held with his personal friends on the evening of the day before he suffered death,—for the sins of

men.

Nor is there any difficulty in understanding, that to render this ceremony still more expressive as a memorial of his death, our blessed Lord gave, even to the elements of bread and wine which were used by him in it, a symbolical meaning, suited to the great purpose which the whole ceremony was intended to accomplish,-calling the bread his body, which was " to be broken" for men, and the wine his blood, which was to be shed for "remission of the sins of many."

It is plain, then, that the whole service is a beautiful, natural, and affecting memorial of the death of the best and greatest of all the Friends of the human race,-of One whose character and

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