Lord, sanctify unto me all thy fatherly dispensations, and let every thing, thou shalt think fit to send me, prove a blessing and advantage to my soul. Give me grace to be entirely submissive and contented under all the afflictions, trials, and disappointments, which thy wisdom shall judge proper in order to bring me to thyself; and grant that by every adversity that shall befall me, I may be weaned from this world, and more closely united unto thee.

f

Make me always mindful of my own frailty of the shortness and uncertainty of this life; and of the eternity of the next. Give me grace so to live, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. Let not sickness or death ever surprize me unawares, or find me in a state unprepared; but grant that I may finish the great work, which thou hast given me to do, before the night cometh, when no man can work. O let me live in such a constant preparation for my latter end, that how suddenly soever thou shalt be pleased to take me out of this world, I may be found ready

for my great account, through the merits of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

used instead thereof.

Let thy

Be with me, O Lord, This is to he this day in all places, and omitted on a upon all occasions. Direct Sunday Morning, and what and guide, sanctify and follows may be preserve me. Keep me both outwardly in my body, and inwardly in my soul. blessing accompany all my honest designs and actions; and grant that I may undertake nothing but what is agreeable to thy blessed will. Give unto me, and all that belong to me, such a measure of health, and other temporal blessings, as thou seest best and most fitting for us; but, above all things, give us thy grace and favour; that our lives may be holy, our deaths comfortable, and Our eternal state happy and glorious with thee, through the merits of thy Sou and our alone Saviour, Jesus Christ the righteous; in whose most holy words I sum up my own and the wants of all mankind, saying, Our Father, &c.

instead of the

Upon Sun- Accept, I beseech thee, day Morning, O most gracious God, my preceding pa- hearty desires to glorify ragraph, this thee in an especial manner on this day, which thou hast peculiarly sanctified for thy worship and service.

may be used.

I bless thy holy name, O Lord, who by thy Almighty power madest the heavens and the earth and all that therein is, and preservest and governest all that thou hast made.

I bless thee, O Lord, who hath formed man after thine own image, enduing him with understanding, reason, and liberty; and made him capable of knowing, of loving, and of enjoying thee his Creator.

Above all, I bless and magnify thy holy name, O Lord, heavenly Father, that thou hast given thine only Son, Jesus Christ, for the redemption of mankind; that he took our nature upon him; that he died for our sakes; that he is risen again from the dead; that he ascended into heaven; and that he there sitteth at thy right hand, to make intercession for us; that he hath

made known to us the way to eternal life, enlightening us by his word for our direction, and his Holy Spirit for our assistance.

Blessed be thy holy name, that thou hast appointed this day, not only for a rest from our ordinary labours and employments, but chiefly for a perpetual commemoration of these thy favours, and for giving us stated opportunities for thy worship and service, and for the care of our immortal souls.

My soul desires to bless thee, that thou hast made me a partaker of all these inestimable advantages.

O Lord, prepare my heart for attending upon thee in thy house, and afford me thy gracious assistance in all the parts of thy service.

Let thy word make deep and lasting impressions upon me. Help me diligently to improve all opportunities that shall be afforded me this day, whether public or private, to the glory of thy great name, and the benefit and consolation of my soul, through Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen.

An Evening Prayer for a Person in Private.

MOST great and mighty God! thou

art the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, the Creator, the Preserver, and Governor of all things: thou dwellest in that light, which no mortal eye can approach; and yet disdainest not to behold the children of men. Look down, I beseech thee, upon me thy unworthy creature, who am come into thy presence, adoring thy majesty, and acknowledging that my dependence is wholly upon thee, who art the author of my being, and the foundation of all my hopes, both here and hereafter.

O Lord, I confess, that I am a weak and frail creature; my nature is corrupt, and miserably prone to offend thee. I find a law in my members warring against the law in my mind; which I confess with sorrow, hath too often prevailed against me. The pleasures and profits of this world are too apt to engage my affections, and to