was an observation of one of the ancients, that, praying will make a man leave off sinning; or sinning will make a man leave off praying. Men first forget God in their thoughts, and then in their actions. The remedy therefore against sin, must be to consider well these three words, GOD IS PRESENT, and then upon all occasions to pray unto him for that grace and assistance, which every one is sure of receiving, who asks with faith; and thanks be to God, we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us.

The advantage of this serious consideration of God's presence in every place, and praying every where is inexpressibly great. It is this which makes a man master of all Christian duties; it is the greatest support under all afflictions, and prepares a man for an angelical life on earth. It is the way to fit you for the discharge of every duty, and to make you always prepared for your latter end.

May God, the great Giver of every good gift, pour out his Holy Spirit upon every one of you, that you may abound in these devout breathings of the heart in the various providences and actions of your life. And believe me, my beloved in Christ, the more you pray, the stronger you will grow; out of weakness you shall be made strong to get power over sin; for the God of Israel will give strength and power unto his people; blessed be God. If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things; and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God, your whole spirit, and soul, and

body, may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me then intreat you, my beloved Brethren, with all the tenderness and affection of a minister of Christ, to attend to this greatly neglected duty of ejaculatory prayer, the practice of which will lead you on from strength to strength, till you come to appear before God in heavenly Sion, and receive the prize of that high calling, which he hath set before you. That you may not plead for an excuse, that you know not what to say upon such occasions, I have put together some examples of my own, and collected others, taken in a great measure from the Holy Scriptures, to assist your minds, and furnish them with some improving reflections on the most common subjects. And that God may give success to these my humble endeavours, let me not here forget to practise in my own behalf, the duty I have recommended to you. "To thee, therefore, O most Holy Spirit, I address my prayer; that thou wouldst kindle and keep alive the flame of true devotion in my soul by thy heavenly breathings. Warm my heart with the fervour of true charity, and touch my tongue with a coal from thine altar, that the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, may be acceptable in thy sight, and profitable to the souls of my brethren in Jesus Christ; that like as the hart desireth the water brooks, so our souls may long after thee, O God, the Fountain of Living Water: that we may pour out our hearts by ourselves; and by these ejaculations and devout breathings, be better prepared to go with the multitude into the house of God." Amen

Forms for several Occasions.*

When you first awake, and see the light, say, I bless, O Lord, thy name for watching over me this night, and bringing me to see the comforts of another day; Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me.

While you get up. I laid me down, and slept, and rose up again, for the Lord sustained me; O let me awake unto righteousness, and arise from the dead, that Christ may give me light.

When you dress. I am now covering my body with these garments; O Lord, clothe my soul with all the graces of thy Holy Spirit, that thy image may daily be renewed in me, and thy name honoured by me for evermore.

Then say your Morning Prayers.

Before you read the word of God. Lord, increase my faith, and open thou mine eyes, that I may not only see the wondrous things of thy law, but remember, and practise them, so that I shall be made wise unto salvation.

When you first go abroad. Show me the way, O Lord, that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto thee; give me grace always to walk as a child of the light, that I may dwell in the regions of eternal day.

When thinking on these words, Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? saith the Lord: Do not I fill heaven and earth?

*It is not to be supposed that these precise words are always to be used on the occasions specified. They are designed to excite that spirit of habitual devotion, which will send up its aspirations to heaven in its own language.

saith the Lord. As thine eyes, O Lord, are in every place, beholding the evil, and the good; as thou knowest the secrets of all hearts; give me grace always to carry in my mind these great truths, that I may stand in awe, and keep from all approaches to sin as carefully in my private chamber, as I would do in the most public place. O all-seeing God, grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule my heart, that I may never offend thee in thought, word, or work. Let me remember that we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

When thinking on these words of Christ, Without me ye can do nothing, and no man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him. Lord, I am sensible of my own ignorance, sinfulness, and want of power to do any thing that is good without thee: And as thou, O Father of mercies, hast promised to hear the prayers of all that call upon thee; so I humbly beseech thee to nourish my soul with the faith and love of Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life; the true bread which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. Draw me by thy grace, that every faculty of my soul and body may obey thee, and run after thee with joy in the ways of thy commandments; that after having fought the good fight of faith, I may lay hold on eternal life, through Jesus our Saviour.

When you see the sun rise. O Lord Jesus, thou true Sun of Righteousness, arise upon my soul with healing in thy wings; drive away all the darkness of my understanding, scatter the clouds

of sin and sorrow, and grant me the light of everlasting life.

When you are at work. Prosper thou the work of my hands, O Lord; O prosper thou my handy work. And whilst mine eyes look down to this earth, let my soul look up to thee my God in heaven. Whilst I labour for this meat that perisheth, let me gain that which endureth to eternal life; and whilst I work in the business of my calling, let me work out my own salvation.

When eating or drinking. O God, let it be my meat and drink to do thy will; feed me with the bread which came down from heaven, and give me drink of that water, whereof whoever drinks shall never thirst again.

When you think upon these words of St. Paul, For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. As sin and death entered into the world by the first Adam, who eat the fruit of the forbidden tree; so by Jesus Christ the second Adam, who died upon a tree, and arose from the dead, life and immortality were brought to light. O Lord, let me be thankful for this mighty salvation, and live as becomes the redeemed of the Lord. O Lord, abide with me for ever; for without thy grace, by Christ helping me, I have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to thee.

When you think upon the great dangers you are surrounded with in this wicked world. Grant, O Lord, that though I am in the world, I may not be of the world by conforming to it, and following its wicked customs; and that though I am in the flesh, I may not live after the flesh, by