Cleanfe

that I may not perish for ever. my foul, O God, with the blood of thy Son, and the graces of thy Spirit. Accept, I pray thee, of my defires to ferve thee, as if I had lived ages to magnify thy holy Name. For me to live, may it be to Chrift; or, if I die, may it be to my everlasting gain.

With my pain, be pleased to increase my patience; fo that I may neither murmur at the chaftifements, nor faint under the rebukes of thee, the most High. Complete, I pray thee, all that is wanting in my ipiritual concerns; promote and perfect whatever belongs to my eternal falvation, thro' the exceeding riches of thy Grace, and the inconceivable multitude of thy mercies, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A

ETERNAL

TERNAL JUDGE of Angels and of Men, with what arguments fhall I plead my caufe in thy presence, and how fhall I bow myfelf before the most High, whose laws I have offended, and whofe displeasure I have incurred. I beseech thee, O Father, in pity and compaffion, to look upon thy fervant. My iniquities are gone over my head, they opprefs my heart with forrow; as a fore burden, they are too heavy for me: I bend with them to earth, and must perish, unless the abundance of thy mercies enlarge my goings, and command me to live. Comfort my weak, my dejected fpirit, and difpel thofe fcruples and terrors of confcience, with which I am overwhelmed. In the giddy pursuits of folly, I have defolated my foul of the confolations of God. With earthly affections, and difordered paffions, my callous heart efteemed thofe fins but fmall, which now appear too great to be forgiven. Shouldft thou enter into judgment with me, no plea of mine can bar thy dreaded sentence of condemnation, nor abate the fury of thy juft indignation. Yet be merciful to the miferable, O my God; fave a trembling offender, who ftill dares to hope,

while

while he lies proftrate at the feet of his offended Lord. Guilty, I condemn myfelf; let a Father's complacent tenderness, look upon my tears, and graciously pardon my offences. Commanded to come to the throne of thy Grace with boldness, that I may find mercy in the time of need, and having nothing of my own as a ground of confidence, give thy fervant leave to fix my hopes on thee, through. Jefus Chrift. Because of his merits, cleanfe me from all my iniquities, that henceforth. I may have no will but what is confiftent with thine, and that I may ferve thee with a quiet fpirit all the days of my life. Direct me by thy Holy Spirit into the way of Righteoufnefs; give me that Faith which worketh by love; that Repentance which is excellent, and not to be repented of; bestow upon me an humble fear of thee, and a religious hope of eternal Life. Work in me to will and to do of thy good pleafure, that I may ever exercife a true piety to thee, and a charitable benevolent principle towards all men. Then will I praife thy Name, and adore thy Excellencies. Then fhall the bones which thou hadst broken rejoice, and my fpirit, which remorte had wounded, be healed. Thus, O God of Mercy, lift upon me the light of thy countenance, and give me peace, that, where Sin hath abounded, there thy Grace may much more abound, that I may be faved by the merits and interceffion of Jefus Chrift, my Redeemer. Amen.

ST.

FOR A

HOLY LIFE,

PARAPHRASED.

PRAYER I.

EPHESIANS iii. 14. to the end.

WITH reverence, I bend my knees to

thee, the Eternal Father of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, of whom the innumerable Family of Heaven and Earth derive existence, protection and Grace; upon whom they have their dependance; from whom the fons of the morning received their crowns of glory, and from whom the children of the duft have also the title of fons, and are heirs of immortality: Grant, to thy fervant, according to the riches of thy Grace, that he may be trengthened with might, by thy Holy Spirit, in all his intellectual powers. Let Christ Jefus dwell in my heart by Faith, that his abundant Grace and Mercy, may influence me to ferve God cheerfully; to perfevere in piety ftedfastly; and to fubmit to hardships patiently. Let the love of God be rooted and grounded in my

heart;

heart; and may its efficacy produce benevolence and charity to all mankind; that I may in fome degree be able to comprehend with the Saints of God, the Love of Christ Jefus, which embraces all past and future generations; which extends from everlasting to everlasting ages; which humbled him, to the depths of abasement, in compaffion to the miferable; and which, in its ftupendous height, raises the children of the duft, to an immortal felicity above the stars. O God, grant that thy servant, may not only contemplate, but experience the fruits of this Love, which furpaffes all knowledge; that I may be replete with all thofe graces which make the man of God perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Now unto him, who is able to do infinitely above all that our fouls can folicit, and far beyond what our imaginations can fuggeft, according to that excellent power that worketh in his Saints: To him, let all praise and glory be ascribed in the Church, by Chrift Jefus; and let Jews and Gentiles, magnify the excellency of his perfections, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

PRAY