entirely depend on thy goodness and providential care. Give thy holy angels charge of me; and defend me, if it be thy blessed will, from all casualties and evil accidents, from the malice of evil spirits, and from the violence of evil men. And, I beseech thee more especially, so to accompany me with the presence of thy Holy Spirit, that my soul may be preserved in safety from all unholy thoughts or passions; and from all snares that may any way betray me, in word or deed, to offend thy divine Majesty. Deliver me from the contamination of any evil company into which I may fall. May I never be ashamed of thee, nor of thy gospel. And give me grace thankfully to embrace the company of those who are thy servants, that I may rejoice in their society, and improve it to my increase in wisdom, and pious affections. Bless and defend this habitation which I am now leaving, and all remaining in it; that at whatever distance we may be from one another, we may all live and walk in the same spirit of faith, and love, and holiness. Grant me a happy meeting again with my friends and relations, if it be thy good will and pleasure. And after all my changes and measures here, O bring me safe at last to thy holy hill, and to thy heavenly rest, to the end of my faith, the everlasting salvation of my soul, through the greatness of thy mercy to me, in thy dear Son, my gracious Lord, and only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER LOSSES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS IN OUR AFFAIRS.

O MY LORD, by whom I live, and upon whom I continually depend for life, and breath, and all things, the world is thine, and the fulness thereof; thou givest and thou takest away: blessed be thy name in all. I thank thee that thy providence has appointed my station, and disposes whatever concerns me in the world; thou hast made me abound in many things of which others are destitute: and if thou also makest me want what others abound with, yet teach me also, my God, how to be abased, and to suffer need; and in whatsoever estate I am therewith to be content. May I always remember that if not so much as a sparrow falls to the ground without thee, and the very hairs of our head are all numbered, thou canst not be unconcerned in the changes and accidents that befall thy servants; and whatever instruments and occasions have been employed, it is thy pleasure that it should be with me as it is. Restrain me therefore, O Lord, from impatience and despair under any of the saving trials which thou dost appoint me. And help me to take up my cross and follow my Saviour, in self-denial and quiet submission to the will of my heavenly Father. Teach me to feel and know that as it will profit a man nothing to gain the whole world and lose his own soul, so all the losses in the world cannot undo him, whose soul is safe in

thy hands. O let me not grieve, therefore, as if I were undone, by my losses, but may I cheerfully commit myself to thee, to choose my inheritance for me; and be least of all concerned for my worldly portion, so that I may but see the joy of thy salvation. And, Lord, repair to me these damages, in an infinitely better way, out of thy own fulness, with the more precious things that accompany salvation; that I may imitate thy holy servants of old, who took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance. O make me now more solicitous and industrious to lay up my treasure in heaven, when I see how little any thing is to be confided in here on earth. Let me look less upon these temporal things that are seen; and be most of all concerned that I lose not the things eternal; being so rich towards God, that when all here shall fail me, thou mayest never fail me, but be the strength of my heart, and my portion for evermore, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER DOUBTS OF THE LAWFULNESS OF ANY ACTION.

O LORD GOD, who art light, and in whom is no darkness at all; who art the instructor of the ignorant, the guide of those that are in error, and the fountain of all knowledge and truth; O give me a wise and understanding spirit, that I may

know my duty, and a heart fully bent and determined to practise it.

More particularly, O Lord, I pray thee, at this time, to enlighten my understanding, and inform my unsettled judgment, how to determine safely the matter in which at present I know not how to act. Show thou me the way that I should walk in, and leave me not to the weakness of my own reasoning, which, without thy enlightening grace, will lead me into the ways of error and confusion. Give me, O Lord, I beseech thee, such an honest and upright heart, that nothing may ever be able to seduce me from my integrity. Let not the example of a multitude persuade me to do evil, nor the most powerful allurements of riches, honor, or any other worldly advantage, turn me aside from thy commands; but convince me more and more, how little it will profit me to gain the whole world, and lose my own soul; that being possessed with an awful fear of thy displeasure, I may never dare to do any thing but what thou approvest, and of which I may be able to give a comfortable account in the great day of the Lord.

Direct me, O my God, to those means which will inform my understanding, and satisfy my doubts. Give me a sound judgment, and a quick and discrimining conscience. But if it should be my misfortune, after all my inquiries, to fall into any involuntary error, O Lord, lay it not to my charge, nor let it ever provoke thy anger against

me. If it be thy wise and good pleasure that I should still remain under doubts, give me grace, I beseech thee, not to be rash in my measures, but to submit to thy will, and to wait with patience, till thou seest fit to instruct me better; and whatever worldly advantages I may lose by it, yet let me still retain my innocence, and have the comfort. and support of a good conscience. Suffer me not to be so regardless of my eternal interest, as for the sake of any temporal advantage to forfeit thy favor, which is better than all the enjoyments of this world. O Lord, I leave myself in thy hands; and I most humbly beseech thee, by the ministry of good angels, and by the guidance of thy holy Spirit, to carry me through this, and all other diffieulties; and bring me to that blessed place of rest and peace, where I shall be out of all temptation and danger of offending thee, and where I shall love and praise thee throughout all ages, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER INJURIES AND REPROACHES.

O MOST holy and righteous Judge of all the earth, who knowest my foolishness, and how far I have been accessary, by my past or present indiscretions, to draw down these troubles and mischiefs upon my own head, how much worse I deserve at thy hands, is also all naked and open to thine eyes. But as herein I apprehend myself to suffer wrong