fully, being slanderously reported, falsely accused, injuriously entreated, or hated without a cause, I desire to pour out my complaint before thee, O God, and to shelter myself under the shadow of thy wings. Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: and save me from those that rise up against me. Enable me to give myself to prayer, not avenging myself, but giving place unto wrath, and committing my cause to thee that judgeth righteously. O convince my adversaries of the error they are in, and turn them from the evil course they have adopted; and the remainder of their wrath, O do thou restrain.

O Lord, who mighest justly use them as thy scourge to chastise me, for my many offences against thee; help me patiently to bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have so greatly sinned against thee. However I am pursued, and oppressed, O let me not render evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing; considering him that endured so great contradiction of sinners against himself, that I be not wearied and faint in my mind. If the man after thy own heart had so many implacable enemies, that sought his life; if thy holy apostle was called a troubler of the world, and a pestilent fellow, not fit to live; if the Son of thy eternal love, was reproached yea, as a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners, a deceiver of the people, and a dealer with the devil; O why should so great an offender as I am,

to whom belongs confusion of face, so heinously resent being set at nought, and enduring the correction of my own wickedness! Though I deserve it not from them, yet, how much worse do I deserve from thy heavenly Majesty, who mayest justly chastise me by their hands. Let unjust men then. say, or do what they may against me, O Lord keep back thy servant from giving any just provocation; and let me not suffer as an evil-doer. Though I pass through evil report as well as good, how small a thing is it to be judged of man's judgment! And if thou, my God, wilt have me to be low in the world, even a hissing and proverb of reproach, let me bear thy indignation, and submit to thy correction; looking unto Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, that once lay under clouds-the Lord of glory, who bore such reproach and infamy-may I take up my cross, and follow him, in meekness and patience having my eyes and dependence upon the great Author and Finisher of our faith, who first despising, and then surmounting the shame, is now set down at the right hand-of the Majesty on high, and from thence shall come in great glory to judge the world; even Jesus Christ, whose name be ever blessed, world without end. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR A MEEK AND QUIET SPIRIT.

O BLESSED Lord God, thou most compassionate lover of souls, look with thy tenderest pity upon me,

a weak and frail creature, who am encompassed about with many and great infirmities. My nature is corrupt, my temper is irritable, strong and violent, and so prone am I to peevishness and anger, that slight provocations disorder my mind, and hurry me away into foolish and unreasonable passions.

O Lord, I lament and bewail this frailty of my nature; humbly beseeching thee, for the sake and merits of my blessed Saviour, to pardon all that sin and folly into which it has betrayed me; and I beg of thee, merciful Father, to give me a meek and quiet spirit, a patient and forgiving temper, an humble, charitable, and Christian disposition; that the whole conduct and deportment of my life may be such as becomes the servant of the meek and blessed Jesus.

Convince me truly, O Lord, of the great folly of passion and anger; how contrary it is to the spirit of thy holy religion; what an enemy it is to our present happiness; and how much it unfits us for the duties which we owe to thee, our neighbor, and ourselves.

O my God, it is my sincere desire, and it shall be the hearty endeavor of my life, to be free from the bondage and dominion of this sin. But, alas! I find a law in my members warring against the law of my mind, which, without the assistance of thy holy Spirit, will bring me into captivity to the law of sin. O let the mighty power of thy grace strengthen my feeble wishes and endeavors, and

enable me to conquer my most inveterate habits. Let the gentle influences of thy blessed Spirit calm the passions, and compose the storms and disorders of my soul: and, O do thou save me from the dangers of this troublesome and tempestuous life.

Root out of my heart, O merciful God, all pride and vanity, all malice, hatred, and ill-will, and give me a low and humble opinion of myself, that the sense of my own unworthiness, and of the many offences which I have been guilty of towards thee, may move me to pity the weaknesses and infirmities of others, and to forgive the greatest injuries and provocations which I shall meet with; remembering how much more I stand in need of pity and forgiveness at thy hand.

Take away from me, O Lord, the spirit of this world, and fill me with that spirit of charity, that suffereth long, and is kind; that beareth all things, and is not easily provoked; that being full of that peace of God, which passes all understanding, I may live with comfort, and die with joy, and may hereafter dwell in those peaceful regions of everlasting bliss, where thou, O blessed Jesus, who art the prince of peace, livest and reignest with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR A PERSON IN A STATE OF POVERTY.

O MY GOD, infinite in goodness, power, and wisdom, on whom all things depend; and whose providence overruleth all events; riches and plenty come from thee; and poverty and want are by thy dispensation. I believe that, for just and wise reasons, thou hast allotted to mankind different states and circumstances of life; and that thy good providence hath designed my benefit and advantage in all the temporal evils which have at any time happened unto me. I confess, O Lord, my sins have deserved much more severe afflictions; and that thou art wise and merciful in all thy dealings with me. Though thou hast thought fit to place me in a mean condition, to deprive me of many conveniences of life, and to exercise my faith in a state of poverty, yet I thank thee that thou hast hitherto preserved and supported me by thy good providence, and blessed me with advantages* above so many others, who labor under greater trials and afflictions. Above all, I enjoy the light of thy glorious Gospel, and the means of grace, when many of my fellow Christians are debarred of these precious comforts, and lie groaning under persecutions, misery, and death. I consider with humble acknowledgment and thankfulness, that I am still alive, and have the opportunity of working out my salvation; whereas

*Here let the person recollect the blessings he enjoys, as the invaluable mercy of health, the assistance of friends, liberty, &c.