Thou didst forgive and reftore Peter, when he had abjured Thee. Thou didft vouchsafe to fatisfy Thomas, who would not believe but upon his own terms. Thou didft forgive and pray for thy bloody perfecutors. O thou Fountain and Pattern of Love, grant that I may love Thee above all things, and my neighbour as myself!

SATURDAY

SATURDAY MEDITATIONS.

PREPARATION for DEATH.

Deut. xxxii. 29. O that they were wife, that they would confider their latter end.

John ix. 4. The night cometh, when no man can work.

A Very gracious intimation. Lord,

grant that I may never forget

it; and that now, now is the time, in which to provide for eternity. i

What a wife man then when he comes to die, would with he had done, that he ought to do forthwith, for death is at hand, and the confequences of a furprise moft dreadful. He will then with, if he has not done it, with all his foul,

Firft; That he had made a juft and Chriftian fettlement of his worldly concerns; fo as not to be distracted G 6 with

with the cares of this world, when all his thoughts fhould be upon another.

Secondly; That he had made his peace with God by a timely repentance. Thirdly; That he had faithfully dif charged the duties of his calling.

Fourthly; That he had weaned his affections from things temporal, and loofened the ties which faften us to the world.

Fifthly; That he had crucified the flefh with its affections and lufts; fo that being weary of this life, he might be more defirous of a better.

Sixthly; That by acts of justice, mercy, charity and alms, he may be entitled to the mercy of God at the hour of death.

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Seventhly; That he had got fuch habits of patience and refignation to the will of God, during his health, as may render death, with all the train of miferies leading to it, lefs frightful and amazing. Eighthly,

Eighthly, and lastly, That by a conftant practice of devotion preparatory for death, he had learned what to pray for, what to hope for, what to depend on in his last sickness.

And this, gracious Lord, is what I wish for, what I pray for, and what I purpose fhall be the conftant practice of my life. Amen.

2 Kings xx. 1. Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live.

May God, who has every way provided for me, and put it into my power to be just to all men, charitable to the poor, grateful to my friends, kind to my fervants, and a benefactor to the publick: may He add this to all his favours, and grant that in making my laft will, I may faithfully dicharge all these engagements; and that for want of that, no curfe may cleave to myself, or to any thing I fhall leave behind me. Amen.

But, above all things, I beg of Thee, O God, to enable me to fet my

inward houfe, my foul, in order, before I die.

Give me true repentance for all the errors of my life paft, and ftedfaft faith in thy Son Jefus Chrift; that my fins may be done away by thy mercy, and my pardon fealed in heaven.

Prov. xxviii. 13. Whofo confeffeth, and forfaketh his fin, fhall have mercy.

Behold, O God, a creature, liable every moment to death, proftrate before Thee, begging, for Jesus Christ's fake, that faith and repentance to which Thou haft promised mercy and pardon.

Discover to me, O Thou Searcher of Hearts, the charge that is against me; that I may know, and confefs, and bewail, and abhor, and forfake, and repent of, all the evils I have been guilty of.

曲

Have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, moft merciful Father, who defireft not the death of a finner; for thy Son Jefus Chrift's fake, forgive me all that is past.

And,