hope for such a great and provoking sinner? Lord of love, thou hast helped many miserable souls in a fallen, perishing state; and many, I believe, are now triumphing and praising thee in glory, who much and long rebelled against thee here below. Such are the wonders of thy grace, to get thee glory in seeking and saving that which was lost. And thy hand is not shortened, nor thy mercy abated; but still thou art able and ready to help and save, as ever thou wast. O let all thy goodness pass before me, and may it lead me to repent; and help me to exercise such humiliation that thou mayest exercise thy pardoning and saving mercy upon my soul. Lay not my sins to my charge, but blot them out through him, who was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Have mercy, for Jesus Christ's sake have mercy, O Lord God.

Nor do I only beg for pardon of sin, but also for power against it; that thy preventing grace may break temptations in the first approach; and thy assisting grace enable me to resist in the assault, and to overcome in the issue. And turn my feet, O Lord, to thy testimonies; and help me, with an enlarged heart, to run the way of thy commands. O give me grace to take and choose thee for my portion; and to know, and trust, and fear, and love, and serve, and worship thee as my God. Give me a true reverence for thy name, and zeal for thy glory, serious devotion and constancy, in

all the duties of thy holy religion; conscientious care of the sanctification of thy day; and due veneration and affection for all thy holy things.

Help me also, my God, henceforth faithfully to discharge all relative duties, to superiors, equals, and inferiors-that I may give no just offence to any, but so order my conduct towards every one, as to adorn my holy profession, and win others to the love of it. O make me careful of my own, and of others' souls; peaceable and patient, merciful and kind; endeavoring to promote the good of all; loving my neighbor as myself. O make me pure and chaste; modest in speech and carriage; temperate in the use of thy good creatures; given to prayer, and all the godly exercises that tend to mortify the sinful lusts of the flesh. Make me also faithful in the unrighteous mammon, contented with my portion, industrious in my calling, upright in my dealing, honoring thee with my substance. Help me, O righteous God, ever to love and maintain the truth; candidly to interpret the sayings and doings of others; not delighting in their shame, but being as tender of their reputation, as I would desire they should be of mine. And help me, O my Lord, to resist the beginnings and first risings of evil motions in my mind; and to keep my heart with all diligence, from giving any harbor there to covetous and unclean desires. And incline my heart, O good God, to study, and love, and keep thy holy laws.

O make me firmly resolved upon a life of holiness, conformed to the spirit and precepts of thy blessed will and word. And let me not only think and purpose to live godly in Christ Jesus, but may I bring my purposes into actions, my actions into habits, and my habits into a holy, lasting perseverance; so enduring to the end, that I may be saved. And through the ways of thy holy commands, O Lord, lead me to the joys of thy heavenly kingdom; that having my fruit unto holiness, I may find the end everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER BEFORE THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S

SUPPER.

O what am I, poor, unworthy, sinful creature, that I should go to the table of the Lord, and claim the portion, and the privileges of the saints! Great God, my guilt, and shame, and fear, would draw me back, representing it as presumptuous in me to expect so distinguished an honor, after having so often transgressed against thee. I should not dare to think of making so near an approach to thy holy Majesty, but that thou art pleased to invite and command us to do so. Nor should I ever hope for these inestimable blessings at thy hands, O Lord, but because thou art gracious, even to such as deserve nothing, but to be forsaken and abhorred by thee. Instead of stretching forth a sceptre of mercy, to invite me to thy table, thou mightest

with the rod of thy wrath, dash me in pieces as a potter's vessel and instead of entertaining me with the bread of life, and the cup of blessing, mightest give me the bread and water of affliction; or cast me down, where I should in vain cry out for a drop to cool my tongue.

But since thou art pleased to call even sinners that have undone themselves to come unto thee for help: and hast appointed this sacrament as a means of conveying to them pardon and grace, I dare not neglect to come, knowing that I shall be undone, keeping away from thee. I come not, Lord, because I am worthy, but because thou art rich in mercy. I come as the poor starved wretch to the fire; I come as the hungry to be fed; and as the sick and maimed, to be recovered and healed: that I may wash in the blood of thy Son, and be cleansed that I may receive of thy infinite fulness, all that is wanting in my wretched self: that I may so touch my Saviour, as to receive virtue from him, for the healings of my spiritual maladies, and to enable me for thy faithful service.

And O that I may approach thy altar with all humility, and reverence, and godly fear; and with the most earnest longings after Christ Jesus, and the firmest resolutions to live unto him, that was pleased to die for me. Before I compass thy altar, wilt thou purify my soul by deep repentance, and establish in me a lively faith in the blood of our great Redeemer. O let me receive a broken and

bleeding Saviour, with a broken and contrite heart. And make me so willing and obedient, that I may eat the good of the ordinance; so conformable to thee, that I may find communion with thee; and may have not only representation, but a participation of Christ crucified. O turn in, my Lord, and be not as a stranger to the soul that is the purchase of thy own blood. Enrich thy ordinance with thy presence, that I may find him whom my soul desires to love, and whose love is better than wine. May Christ appear and be known to my soul, in this breaking of bread; may I receive such life from thee, as shall enable me to live unto thee; and make me know that thou abidest in me, by the Spirit which thou hast given me.

Blessed Saviour, weigh not mine, but thy own merits; for I have not deserved thee, but thou hast redeemed me. I can never be worthy of thee; but give me, I beseech thee, suitable principles, apprehensions, affections, and resolutions; that I may participate of thy sacred body crucified, and thy precious blood shed for us, with such discerning and reverence, such love and gratitude, as thou requirest.

O thou that hast prepared a table in this wilderness, with heavenly provisions for our souls, prepare my soul, O Lord, for this food; and give me spiritual desire, as well as spiritual sustenance; that as the hart pants after the water brooks, my soul may pant after thee, my God: and do thou fill