ture, to the attainment of that Perfection to which Thou haft called him. I offer Thee alfo the defires of Thy faithful fervants; the neceffities of my friends and relations; and the diftreffes of all, that, for the love of Thy Name, seek to promote the good of others: that they may feel the Succours of Thy Grace, the Confolations of Thy Spirit, the Protection of Thy Power, the Pardon of Thy Mercy; and that, delivered from all evil, they may joyfully yield Thee the tribute of everlafting thankfgiving and praise ! Laftly, I prefent Thee my prayers and peace-offerings for all men: particularly for those, that have flandered or oppreffed me; and for those, whom, either with or without defign, I have offended, grieved, or injured: befeeching Thee to pardon all our violations of Truth, Justice, and Mercy; and to take from our hearts fufpicion, animofity, refent H resentment, and revenge, and whatever is contrary to Charity, and tends to leffen Brotherly Love. Have Mercy, O LORD, upon all that implore Thy Mercy! Impart Thy Grace to all that want it! And dispose the hearts of mankind for The Operations of Thy Spirit, and the attainment of Everlasting Life! Amen. From KEMPIS. O MOST benign and moft loving LORD, Whom my foul ever longeth to receive! Thou knoweft my want and weakness, and the numerous evils in which I am involved; Thou knowest how often, and how exceedingly, I am oppreffed, tempted, troubled, and defiled. To Thee I come as my Sovereign Remedy, and humbly beg to be delivered, ftrengthened, comforted, and purified. I fpeak to Him Who "know"eth all things;" Who fearcheth the lowest depths of my evil; and Who alone alone can restore me to Life, Light, Purity, and Peace! Thou knowest, O LORD, the good that I ftand most in need of; and how deftitute I am of that "Holiness, without which none can fee" and enjoy Thee! Behold, I stand before Thee, hungry and naked, begging The Bread of Life, and the Robe of Righteousness! O feed Thy famished Prodigal, clothe him with Thy precious garment! Inflame his coldnefs, with The Fire of Thy Love; enlighten his darknefs, with The Splendour of Thy Prefence! O turn into bitterness, all carnal confolation; turn into patience, all adverfity and distress; and turn all regard for worldly objects and interefts, and for all finite good, into contempt and forgetfulness! Raise my defires to Thee in Heaven, and suffer them no more to defcend and wander after the unfatisfying enjoyments of earth! Be Thou, alone, delightful and defirable to my foul for ever; for Thou, alone, alone, art my meat and drink, my treafure, my love, my joy, and my fole and everlasting good! Let me not, then, depart from Thee, hungry and thirsty; but let me feel The Operation and Power of That Mercy, which Thou hast often manifested to Thy Saints ! Thou, O LORD, art a Fire incapable of languor or decay; a love enlightening the understanding, and purifying the heart! O that, by Thy Prefence, Thou wouldst fet me all in flames, confume me intirely, tranform me into Thyself, and make me One Life, Spirit, and Love, with Thee! From KEMPIS. LORD! what is my confidence in this life, and what my comfort in the poffeffion and enjoyment of all things under Heaven? Is it not Thee alone, O LORD, my GOD, Whose mercies are without number, and without measure? Where Where hath it been well with me, when Thou wert abfent? or where could it be ill, when Thou wert prefent? I had rather be naked, hungry, and defpifed, with Thee; than abound in honour, wealth, and pleasure, without Thee : would rather chufe, with Thee, to wander upon the earth, and have no place "where to lay my head;" than, without Thee, to poffefs a throne in Heaven. But, where Thou art, there is Heaven; and death and hell are only there where Thou art not. Thou art the defire of my foul; and to Thee, my fighs and groans, my cries and prayers, fhall continually afcend! There is none that is able to deliver me from my neceffities, none in whose power and goodness I can truft, but Thee, O my God! Thou art my refuge and my hope in every distress, my moft Powerful Comforter, and most Faithful Friend! Men feek themselves, and their own intereft; Thou feekeft only my redemption from |