Thou art the high and lofty One, who inhabitest eternity, and art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. But though thou art high, thou hast respect unto the lowly: thou dwellest with him who is of a humble and contrite spirit; and hast declared that unto this man wilt thou look, even unto him that trembleth at thy word. Enlighten my mind, knowledge of thy will. O Lord, with the tiful and constant attention to all thy commandments. Awaken me faithfully to search my heart and to try my ways. Enable me to understand the errors of my life, that I may be truly humbled under a sense of my past transgressions, and be more watchful in time. to come. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Let every sinful desire and affection be put far from me, and all my thoughts and purposes be brought into subjection to thine authority. In all my ways may I acknowledge thee, as the God whose I am, and whom it is alike my duty and my wisdom to serve. And impress on my soul such a conviction of the righteousness of thy precepts, the unspeakable obligations by which I am bound to obey thy word, and thy great goodness to those who love thee, that I may ever be fervent in following thy pleasure, and run the way of thy commandments with great delight. Incline my heart, O Lord, to love thy statutes, and may I rejoice to keep them even unto the end. May the love of Christ so constrain me, that I may live not to myself, but to him who died for us and rose again from the dead. Enable me so to discern the brightness of his example, the blessings of his gospel, and the inestimable value of that glory to which he came to raise unworthy creatures, that I may thankfully receive that great salvation which he hath set before us. Let the same mind which was in him, dwell in me also; that I may walk worthy of the vocation with which we are called, in all lowliness and long suffering, and in brotherly love. May the hope of that eternal life which he has promised to all his faithful followers, incite me to purify myself as he is pure; and so preserve me from all the corruptions which are in the world, that I may be sincere and without offence till the day of his coming. And oh And oh grant that I may find mercy of the Lord on that day! While I continue in this world, let thine eye be over me for good; and so conduct me through the various changes of life, as thou seest will be most profitable for me. I rejoice that my times are in thy hands; and amidst all the darkness which hides future events from our sight, I would cheerfully commit myself, and all mine, to thine ever righteous and merciful disposal. Guard us, O thou compassionate Father, from every thing which may be truly evil to us; vouchsafe us every real blessing; permit no temptation to come upon us but what we shall be able to bear; preserve us from the snares of prosperity; prepare us for the shocks of adversity; and whatsoever sufferings may be allotted us, impart to us thy powerful support under them, and give us understanding rightly to improve them. Assist us dutifully to acquiesce in the most painful appointments of thy providence, satisfied that thou knowest in every possible case what is best for thy creatures; and though our trials should continue and be multiplied, help us to remain unshaken in our devotedness to thee, and willingly to endure all things, so that we may enjoy thy favour.-Enable us in every thing to give thanks. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, and may all the light afflictions of this world work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.Guide us, O Lord, in all our ways, fit us for all thy will, and let thy mercy be upon us according as we hope in thee. So teach me, O thou Father of spirits, to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. Through all the vicissitudes of this uncertain state, may I habitually look towards that great change to which I am continually hastening, and to that awful day of account which succeeds it.-Let the prospect of that great revelation of thy righteous judgment, excite the lively concern of my soul to be found always ready. Fix the sense of it, O gracious God, I entreat thee, deep in my own heart, and in the hearts of all connected with me. Grant that neither the cares, the pleasures, nor any of the concerns of this present world, may betray us into a forgetfulness of the things which belong to our peace, and cause that day to come upon us unawares: but may we be sober and watch unto prayer; that whenever we are called hence, our end may be full of peace and hope. And when all thy children shall be gathered into one glorious assembly, to inherit the kingdom prepared for them, may we be found in that aids, and privileges of the gospel; for sending Jesus Christ into the world, to redeem us from all iniquity; and for the hopes and prospects of a happy immortality, given us through him. How can I sufficiently admire thy goodness! How can I worthily utter thy praise! Oh may my heart ascend to thee, in a pure and lively flame of devotion, with joyful acknowledgments and thanksgivings! Not with my lips only, not merely in the moments of devout retirement, may I own thy goodness; but by walking before thee, under the eye of men, in holiness and righteousness of life, may I praise and glorify thy name. Forgive, O Lord, most merciful and gracious, every instance of forgetfulness of thee and of thy goodness, with which I am. chargeable. It becometh me to confess with shame, that I have not rendered unto thee according to thy benefits; nor made a due improvement of my temporal or spiritual advantages and blessings. My hope of the forgiveness of whatever has been amiss or sinful through this day, in thought, word, or deed, is in the riches of thy mercy; for with thee there is plenteous redemption. Endue me with wisdom, with serious thought, and with resolution of mind to re |