A.. To fantify and renew our corrupt Nature, and to restore it to its primitive Perfection and Dignity. For fince without Holiness it is impoffible to please God, or attain that Happinefs which confifts in the Enjoyment of him, and that the Frailty and Weakness, as well as the Corruption of our Nature is fo great, that we are not able of ourfelves to accomplish this mighty Work, God hath been graciously pleafed to grant us his Holy Spirit, to be the Author of all internal Holiness, and the Principle of our fpiritual Life; and confequently it is this bleffed Spirit gives Clearness to our Faith, Zeal to our Charity, and Strength and Power to all our Graces.

Q. When may the Holy Spirit be faid to give Clearness to our Faith?

A. Not only when he reveals to us the Will of God, which he hath externally propofed in the boly Scriptures; but when he internally illuminates our Minds, and inclines them to the Obedience of Faith, whereby we firmly affent to those Truths which unto a natural or carnal Man are Foolishness. When the Belief of the Principles of Religion is vigorous enough to govern our Practice and influence our Lives; when the Torments of the Dammed make us afraid to follow them in their Sins, which have brought upon them all those Miseries; when they put us upon ftriving against every Temptation to avoid the Danger; when the Glories of the Saints perfuade us to imitate their Lives which have raifed them to that Happiness; when the Hope of feeing God purifieth us as he is pure, by feeking all Occafions of our Improvement, and by making it our Bufinefs to work out our Salvation.

Q. When may the Holy Spirit be faid to add Zeal to our Charity?

A. Not only when the Love of God fecures our own Duty, but when it makes us earnestly concerned that all the World fhould be influenced by the fame divine Flame, and that our Neighbour fhould become a fit Object of infinite Mercy. When we are fenfibly touched with the Blindness and Obftinacy of wicked Chriftians; and endeavour, by the propereft Methods, to cure their Ignorance, and to remove their great Indifference as to the Business of Religion. When we are careful to infinuate and establish the Maxims of Piety in our Families, and among our Friends and Relations. When our Difcourfe and Converfation is edifying, and tinctured with a Relish of Religion. When we recommend it by our own Example, and by our Prayers for the Converfion of Sinners, and for the Perfeverance of the Righteous. When we conceal all Things that may offend the Weak, and publish whatever may tend to encrease the Love of Virtue. When we take all Occafions to praise those that live well, to honour them before the World, and to give them the Preference in thofe Favours we are able to confer. When the Civilities and Liberalities we exercife, and the Friendships we contract, aim at the Converfion and Sanctification of Souls. When the Comfort and Relief we give to the Poor, the Sick, and the Afflicted, tends to make the Design of God's Providence towards them effectual, for their Amendment if they are bad, or for their Improvement if they are good; that they may learn to adore the Author of their Afflictions

and

and wifely fix their Minds upon a Good that is ftable and permanent.

Q. When may the Holy Spirit be faid to give Power and Strength to our Graces ?

A. Not only when the Empire of Reafon is fecured against the Attacks of the Inferior Appetites, but when our evil Inclinations are in fome Measure ftifled, and all carnal Affections die in us. When the Allurements of the World, and the Enjoyments of Senfe appear as trifling Entertainments, in Comparison of the Pleafure and Happiness of ferving God and doing Good. When the Difficulties and Dangers we meet with in the Road of our Duty are fo far from difcouraging us, that they raise our Spirits, and increase our Refolution, and ferve only to make the Pleasures of Virtue more perfect. When the bearing and forgiving Injuries, the mortifying our fenfual Appetites, and the fuffering for Righteoufnefs, which, to worldly Minds, carry fo terrible an Appearance, are embraced with Joy and Satisfaction, as the happy Opportunities of manifefting a fincere and ardent Affection to the bleffed Jefus. When we receive the Afflictions of Life not onlywith Patience and Submiffion, but with Thankfulness, from a Sense of that Profit and Advantage they may bring to us. Thefe Effects were vifible in the Conduct of the boly Apoftles; never did fo much Refolution get the better of fo much Weakness, fo great a Contempt of Danger and Death triumph over fo fhameful a Cowardice, and fo fincere and ardent a Defire of fuffering mafter a very careful Endeavour to avoid the Appearance of it.

For the
Gift of

Spirit.

G

The PRAYER S.

I.

NOD, who as at this Time didft teach the Hearts of thy faithful People by the fend the Holy ing to them the Light of thy Holy Spirit; grant me by the fame Spirit to have a right Under-standing in all Things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy Comfort, through the Merits of Chrift Jefus my Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the Unity of the fame Spirit, one God, World without End. Amen.

For the faithful Service

AL

II.

Lmighty and merciful God, of whofe only Gift it cometh, that thy faithful People do of God. unto thee true and laudable Service; grant, I beseech thee, that I may so faithfully serve thee in this Life, that I fail not finally to attain thy heavenly Promises; through the Merits of Jefus Chrift. Amen.

For a Pra-
Etice fuita-

Profeffion.

A

III.

Lmighty God, who fheweft to them that be in Error the Light of thy Truth, to ble to the the Intent they may return into the Way of RighChriftian teoufnefs; grant unto all them that are admitted into the Fellowship of Chrift's Religion, that they may efchew thofe Things that are contrary to their Profeffion, and follow all fuch Things as are agreeable to the fame; through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen,

Dr.Hickes.
For the

Gifts of

God's Holy Spirit.

Lord

IV.

my God, who, by thy Son our Savi our Jefus Chrift, haft promifed thy Holy

Spirit to them who afk him of thee, I befeech thee to give him to me in all the Graces and Affiftances of which I ftand in need. I ask him in all Humility and Earneftnefs, as the greatest Bleffing I can receive, I ask him in the Senfe of my own Weakness and Infirmities, as knowing without his continual Inspirations I can defire nothing that is good, or do any thing that is ac ceptable to thee: O therefore let him be with me, and remain with me, and most powerfully aflift and fupport me in all Trials and Tempta tions when I moft need his Help.

Let him be unto me a Spirit of Sanctification to purify my corrupt Nature, a Spirit of Counfel in all Difficulties, of Directions in all Doubts, of Courage in all Dangers, of Conftancy in all Perfecutions, of Comfort in all Troubles, efpecially in Times of Sickness and at the Hour of Death, and of Submiffion and Refignation to thy Holy Will and Pleafure in all Afflictions that are moft grievous to flesh and Blood.

Leave me not a Moment to my own human Frailty without his Affiftance; but let him conftantly infpire me with Fear, Love, and Devotion towards thee; with Truth, Juftice, and Charity towards my Neighbour; and with Abftinence and Sobriety towards myself. And because I live in evil Times, and am in Danger of being deceived by the Wiles and falfe Pretenfions of Men, let him be alfo unto me a Spirit of Wisdom and Conduct, and Difcretion, that in all my Converfations, I may be able to difcern Truth from Hypocrify, and fincere, undefigning, and faithful, from false; defigning and flattering Friends.

Furthermore I befeech thee, let him be unto

me