116 Private Devotions PART 1. Bless t l those orrent of a Hear t ment-seat of Christ; that when the hour O Lord! let me never be separated from thee; but grant that I may be of the number of thy faithful and obedient servants, who are united to thee by grace and good works in this life, and will hereafter live with thee in endless bliss and happiness, through the merits. and for the sake of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Saviour. fvirtue ase to t O Lord, to thy merciful Providence I commend the wants and necessities of all mankind; cause the light of thy glorious gospel to shine in all the dark corners of the earth. In a more especial manner, I pray for the good and welfare of this church and nation to which I belong, beseeching thee to pardon all our sins, to turn away thy displeasure from us, and to make us a peculiar people zealous of good works. ind and an thou Protect and defend our Sovereign Lord the King, and grant that under him we may lead 11 1 I pray gracio nd more rt thoro Touch and mos Acce igned Dess: praise thee mercy Tal night good Bless the work of faith and labour of love of all those who zealously endeavour to stop the torrent of vice, and to promote the interests of virtue and true religion among us. Hear the of the poor cry and needy, give ease to those who are under any affliction of mind and body, and lay not more upon them than thou wilt enable them to bear. I pray thee, in a more especial manner, to be gracious unto all my friends and relations, and more particularly to O Lord! thou art thoroughly acquainted with all our wants; O vouchsafe to give us what thou seest best and most fitting both for our souls and bodies. Accept, O merciful Father! of my unfeigned praises for all thy blessings, spiritual and temporal. My health and safety, and all the comforts of my life, proceed from thy bounty and goodness to thee, therefore, I ascribe all possible praise and thanksgiving, humbly beseeching thee to grant me the continuance of thy mercy and goodness. Take me, and all that belong to me, this night, under the care and protection of thy good providence. Preserve us from all perils and dangers, and all apprehensions or dread of any. Give us such refreshing rest and sleep, as may fit us for the duties of the day following; and if thou art pleased to add another Imp day to our lives, grant that we make a right use and improvement of it, to thy glory, and the benefit of our immortal souls, though Jesus Christ our Lord, who in compassion to our infirmities hath taught us thus to pray, Our Father, &c. A Prayer for Saturday Morning. O MOST blessed and most glorious Lord God! who art of infinite goodness and mercy, I thy creature whom thou hast made, and to this moment hast preserved, do now present myself before thee, to offer up the morning sacrifice of my unfeigned praises and thanksgivings; thy mercies are renewed to me every morning, and thy goodness follows me all the day long; thou visitest me in the night season, and every moment of my life is a new instance of thy mercy. thy me withdr lessing ove w or am her a It is by thy goodness, O Lord, that I have this night slept secure, and am now raised up in health and safety. Praised therefore be thy name, O God, for of thee only cometh my salvation; thou art the God of my health, my Saviour, and mighty Deliverer; as long as I live I will magnify thee, O Lord: for a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful. O myse Towards Me and ned per and sinne Forthin ng the esires own e be fill mised Fit dition and time wher ciful and mig mos 120 especial weakness of mind, to let go my dependence upon thee. O let not the cruel enemy of my soul affrighten me with his terrors; but give thy holy angels charge over me; and let the consolations of thy Holy Spirit fortify my mind, and dissipate my fears, and be a reviving cordial to my soul at that last and momentous period of my life. O Lord, leave me not to myself in that time of distress, when I shall stand in so much need of thee. Give me an unfeigned repentance of all my sins, great love to thee, and charity to my neighbour, an entire submission to thy blessed will, and (if thou seest fitting) some foretaste and assurance of my salvation. But if thou, in thy great wisdom, shall not see fitting to vouchsafe me so great a mercy, yet, O gracious Father, let me not fail in the great day of judgment, to hear that blessed sentence pronounced unto me,-Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into thy Muster's joy. Grant this, O most gracious God, for thy mercy's sake, in Jesus Christ our Lord. betray a Let t labours Be with me, O Lord, this day, in my going out and coming in; preserve me from the dangers of evil company; from the deceitfulmy own heart; and defend me more such a mercies for me. I des affairs i take m care a and so life, th all ble mortal ake o Jesus of who and a Ои AP IAD good eart glor thin |