thee, and disabled and spoiled myself. O help me still more and more to put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and to put on the new, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness. Whatever else I want, Lord, deny me not thy grace, but increase it in me, and discover it still more and more upon me; yea, let the graces of thy spirit, that accompany salvation, so flourish in my soul, that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, may keep my heart and mind, through Jesus Christ.

Blessed Saviour! who camest into the world that we might have life, and have it more abundantly, of thy fulness let me receive grace sufficient for me, to make me strong in the Lord, and ready to every good work. My life, my strength, and my Redeemer! leave me not under the curse of barrenness, to stand at a stay, or to decline in my spiritual estate; but as thou hast wrought all my works in me, establish, O God, that which thou hast wrought for me, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, and cherish all the seeds of grace sown in my heart, that my soul may prosper and increase with the increase of God, as a watered garden, and as a spring whose waters fail not; growing in knowledge and grace, and abounding in all those fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God, that so I may be fully satisfied of the truth of thy grace in me, by its growing upon me. O my Lord! carry on with power the work of faith and sanctification in my soul,

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that my sinful corruption, every day like the house of Saul, may grow weaker and weaker; and thy grace in me, every day, like the house of David, may grow stronger and stronger, till from groaning under sin, and the body of this death, I come to triumph over all that opposes and hinders the progress of my spiritual life: and as thou art pleased to afford me the means of grace, O grant me the increase of thy grace, to answer the end of all those means, that, in the use of them, I may be made still wiser and holier, and better, and fitter for thy blessed acceptance in Jesus Christ, my only Saviour.

Amen.

A Prayer for quickening Grace.

ACKNOWLEDGE and bewail before thee, O Lord, the living and all-seeing God, my sinful dulness and indisposedness for the duties of thy holy service: when I should delight in the law of God, and serve thee with gladness, and make it my meat and drink to do the will of my heavenly Father: O how cold and listless am I to do that which is the best for me, and which does most nearly and eternally concern me. I am alive to the world, and very apt to be transported with sensual objects; but how heavy and dead to those offices of attendance on my Lord, which are the glory and joy of all the worthies of heaven! My soul cleaves to the dust of the earth; quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word, according to the word of thy precept, which does command us to be

spiritually-minded; to abound in the work, and not to be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: and quicken me, O my Lord, according to the word of thy promise, that sin shall not have dominion over thy servants; and that thou wilt perfect what concerns thy people. Dear Lord! be thou pleased to perfect that which concerns my soul, and engage the love of my heart to do thy service! and make me delight to do thy will, O God, with an enlarged heart to run the way of thy commands. O help me to put forth myself with vigour and activity in thy holy ways, and to apply myself to the performance of thy blessed pleasure, not only because I must, but because it is the desire of my soul, and the joy of my heart to be so taken up, that nothing in the world may give me so much cheerfulness and sweet satisfaction, as to approve my heart unto my God, and my ways pleasing in thy sight, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer for Ability to acquit ourselves as we ought in our several Places and Relations.

LORD, our Lord! thy word enjoins us wherein we are called therein to abide with God. And this is the duty which we are especially to take care of, next to the care of our souls, to study to be quiet, and to do our own business, that we may provide for ourselves, and for our dependents, and render to all their dues, and not be burdensome, but

helpful to others. O thou that givest skill and ability for the performance of those offices to which thou callest, teach and enable me, I beseech thee, for the work of my place, and all the duties of my calling. Good Lord! pardon all my past unfaithfulness and negligence herein, and direct, and bless, and accept, and assist me in discharging it for the time to come. O make me so contented with what I get by honest means, that I may never offer to go beyond, or defraud my neighbours in any matter, but be punctually just in all my dealings, and conscientiously perform my duty in all my relations, carrying myself as I ought towards every one with whom I am any ways concerned in the world, whether superior, equal, or inferior, offensive to none; but as I have power and opportunity for it, good and useful to all. O let me not walk disorderly, nor be guilty of the impertinence and mischief to be negligent at home, and to busy myself abroad in other men's matters; but may I keep my own station, and with quietness work and eat my own bread; and provide things honest in the sight of all men, following after that which is lovely and of good report, and herein exercising myself to have always the conscience void of offence towards God and towards men; yea, whatever any may justly expect from me, help me, O my God, to discharge it faithfully and acceptably; and command a blessing, Lord, upon all my honest labours and endeavours, and make them successful to promote my own and others real and eternal good, and to glorify thy blessed name, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer for Grace to serve the Lord with

Gladness.

My God! thou art a Lord that hast pleasure in the prosperity of thy servants; and thy servants have all the greatest reason to be most highly pleased in the performance of thy service. It is good for me to draw nigh to God, in whose presence is fullness of joy: and the hearts of them may rejoice that seek the Lord; for thou dost not employ us but to oblige us; not for any advantage to thyself, but only for our own greatest good every way, that it may go well with us, both here and for ever. O my Lord, I am full of trouble and confusion, that ever I should be so listless as I have been to thy blessed work, and so lifeless in it, and soon weary of it, to the dishonour of thy name, and the reproach of thy service, as if I had a hard master, and a doleful work. O that I should. bear as a burden that which should be the solace my life, and the rejoicing of my heart! Forgive me, I beseech thee, good Lord, all this which I bewail before thee, and heal the indisposedness in me, which makes thy service a weariness to me; and so renew my spirit, and draw and join my heart to thy blessed self, that I may not serve thee as out of compulsion, but inclination; not as forcing myself, but loving thy work. O rid my mind of that tormenting dread which makes me uneasy in the service of my Lord; and give me a heavenly heart set upon the heavenly business, and such a mighty love as may sweeten all my obedience, that I

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