an appointed task, on which I am to bestow mine utmost attention; grant, I pray thee, that I may not murmur at it as an uneasy burden, but may I contentedly perform it, even like the glorious sun, who, having his tabernacle set in the heavens, rejoiceth like a giant to run his course. And seeing, O Lord, that thou hast not placed me in this station for mine own private good, but for the benefit of all, give me such an upright and honest heart, that I may determine with myself never to receive that gain which ariseth from the loss of others. Let me ever remember that golden rule of doing unto others what I would they should do unto me. Let me never forget that the wages of unrighteousness are sin, and that thou wilt draw even out of the belly of the oppressor the substance which he hath devoured; and let me rather choose a little with thy blessing, than great revenues with thy curse. And if it shall be thy good pleasure to increase my portion by honest industry, keep me, I beseech thee, from setting my heart upon it. Let not my riches be my strong hold; but grant that as my lot is enlarged, I may become more and more afraid of myself, lest the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, should choke in me the seeds of grace, and steal away my mind from the contemplation of better things. Make it ever my constant care to follow my calling with that uprightness, that I may not abridge myself of convenient opportunities for heavenly and spiritual purposes. Make me to consider thine all-beholding presence, that all things are naked in thy sight, and that thou wilt surely bring to judgment every secret thing; that so,

knowing thee to be a witness of all mine actions, I may take care to walk as in thy sight, and approve myself to thee by an even and an upright behaviour. Unlock the treasures of thy right mercies, and afford me this and all other convenient and needful graces, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

For Holiness.

LORD God Almighty, heavenly Father, who spakest in times past unto mankind by thy servants the prophets, but hast most fully manifested thy will and goodness to us in these latter days by thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ; look down, I pray thee, with an eye of favour upon me thy servant, and sanctify my desire to fulfil all righteousness, that by true repentance and faith unfeigned being purified from all evil, I may be enabled to walk before thee in virtue and holiness of life. And for this end, assist and bless me in the study of thy holy word, that I may receive thine instructions with meekness and readiness, and may labour also to bring others to the knowledge of thy truth. Give me power and strength to withstand the various temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, in the midst of which I am placed for my trial and improvement, that I may gain the victory over them; and especially let the glorious prospect of life and immortality, opened unto me by thy gospel, make me count all the riches, the pleasures, and the greatness of this world as nothing, when they would shake mine integrity, or divert me from obedience to thy commands; that so by go

ing on to add to my faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity, I may continually improve in the divine image, and in a meekness and fitness for the future glories and felicities of thy heavenly and eternal kingdom, which of thy great goodness, thou hast been graciously pleased to promise to all thy faithful followers, by Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Obedience.

ETERNAL God, who art my hope and strength, and upon whose aid and assistance I depend; look down, I beseech thee, with compassion on a poor, feeble creature, whose work is great, and whose strength is but weakness. What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou so regardest him? And although it is a mighty work to cleanse this polluted nature, to root out evil affections, to plant it with heavenly dispositions, and to make it meet for the inheritance of the saints in light; yet blessed be thy name, since thou hast promised to go along with and to assist me; to strengthen me by thy grace, and to quicken me with thy spirit. To thee, O Lord, I look for a new heart, and a right spirit. Show me to myself under the most specious disguises, and help me to mortify sin in every member. Let me be a partaker of the divine nature of thy gospel; let the work of holiness be carried on in my soul till I am crucified both in body and in spirit. Let me rot be contented with striving against sin; but enable me to grow in grace, till I am rescued

from its bondage; and then, when I am arrived at the state of everlasting triumph, I shall lay all my victories at thy feet; and with psalms in my hand, and hallelujahs on my lips, celebrate thy praise to all eternity. Keep me then, gracious God, steadfast in obedience to thy will, till thou shalt take me finally to enjoy thee, through Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. Against all Impurity.

GRACIOUS God, who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and who in the sacrifice of thy beloved Son hast shown thy hatred of sin, and thy love of holiness, create me anew in Christ Jesus, and enable me to hunger and thirst after righteousness. And since all things are naked and open in thy sight; and since thou cannot be deceived by any specious pretences to piety, when the heart is not right towards thee, grant that my heart may ever be found in thy statutes. Let the knowledge of thy grace teach me to deny all ungodliness and fleshly lusts, and to perfect holiness in thy fear. Mortify and destroy in me every rebellious motion, every vicious inclination, that exalts itself against the holy precepts of thy gospel, that gives Satan advantage over me, and that hinders my blessed Saviour from reigning in my heart. Let not sin any longer have dominion over me, that I should obey it in its lusts; but help me, Lord, to keep under my body, and to bring it into subjection. Let thy heavenly Spirit guide and govern me. Gird me with might for this spiritual conflict, and enable me to go on conquering and to conquer. Make

me ever jealous of my heart, and watchful over my ways. May I put on the Lord Jesus, not in the name and profession only, but in deed and in truth. May I be clothed with his purity, selfdenial, meekness, patience, kindness; his submission to his heavenly Father, and his love to man. Thus may I show forth thy praise, who hath called me out of darkness into thy marvellous light, and translated me out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of thy Son. Thus may I be training up for that state where holiness shall be perfected; where I shall behold thy face in righteousness, and be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness; and at last appear among the redeemed of the Lord, who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, who died to put away sin, to bring in righteousness, and to purify us unto himself as a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Grant this, O God, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

For Modesty and Chastity.

MOST great and glorious God, thou who art a being of infinite holiness and unspotted purity, and who hast declared thy hatred and abhorrence of all immodesty and uncleanness, be pleased to purge and cleanse my soul from all filthiness of the mind and the body, and grant that I may be a holy temple, fit for the abode of thy most gracious Spirit. To this end, do thou enable me to mortify and subdue all fleshly lusts which war against the soul, wound the con