Forms for several Occasions.*

When you first awake, and see the light, say, I bless, O Lord, thy name for watching over me this night, and bringing me to see the comforts of another day; Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me.

While you get up. I laid me down, and slept, and rose up again, for the Lord sustained me; O let me awake unto righteousness, and arise from the dead, that Christ may give me light.

When you dress. I am now covering my body with these garments; O Lord, clothe my soul with all the graces of thy Holy Spirit, that thy image may daily be renewed in me, and thy name honoured by me for evermore.

Then say your Morning Prayers.

Before you read the word of God. Lord, increase my faith, and open thou mine eyes, that I may not only see the wondrous things of thy law, but remember, and practise them, so that I shall be made wise unto salvation.

When you first go abroad. Show me the way, O Lord, that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto thee; give me grace always to walk as a child of the light, that I may dwell in the regions of eternal day.

When thinking on these words, Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? saith the Lord: Do not I fill heaven and earth?

*It is not to be supposed that these precise words are always to be used on the occasions specified. They are designed to excite that spirit of habitual devotion, which will send up its aspirations to heaven in its own language.

saith the Lord. As thine eyes, O Lord, are in every place, beholding the evil, and the good; as thou knowest the secrets of all hearts; give me grace always to carry in my mind these great truths, that I may stand in awe, and keep from all approaches to sin as carefully in my private chamber, as I would do in the most public place. O all-seeing God, grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule my heart, that I may never offend thee in thought, word, or work. Let me remember that we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

When thinking on these words of Christ, Without me ye can do nothing, and no man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him. Lord, I am sensible of my own ignorance, sinfulness, and want of power to do any thing that is good without thee: And as thou, O Father of mercies, hast promised to hear the prayers of all that call upon thee; so I humbly beseech thee to nourish my soul with the faith and love of Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life; the true bread which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. Draw me by thy grace, that every faculty of my soul and body may obey thee, and run after thee with joy in the ways of thy commandments; that after having fought the good fight of faith, I may lay hold on eternal life, through Jesus our Saviour.

When you see the sun rise. O Lord Jesus, thou true Sun of Righteousness, arise upon my soul with healing in thy wings; drive away all the darkness of my understanding, scatter the clouds

of sin and sorrow, and grant me the light of everlasting life.

When you are at work. Prosper thou the work of my hands, O Lord; O prosper thou my handy work. And whilst mine eyes look down to this earth, let my soul look up to thee my God in heaven. Whilst I labour for this meat that perisheth, let me gain that which endureth to eternal life; and whilst I work in the business of my calling, let me work out my own salvation.

When eating or drinking. O God, let it be my meat and drink to do thy will; feed me with the bread which came down from heaven, and give me drink of that water, whereof whoever drinks shall never thirst again.

When you think upon these words of St. Paul, For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. As sin and death entered into the world by the first Adam, who eat the fruit of the forbidden tree; so by Jesus Christ the second Adam, who died upon a tree, and arose from the dead, life and immortality were brought to light. O Lord, let me be thankful for this mighty salvation, and live as becomes the redeemed of the Lord. O Lord, abide with me for ever; for without thy grace, by Christ helping me, I have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to thee.

When you think upon the great dangers you are surrounded with in this wicked world. Grant, O Lord, that though I am in the world, I may not be of the world by conforming to it, and following its wicked customs; and that though I am in the flesh, I may not live after the flesh, by

fulfilling the lusts thereof, and defiling my body with sin, because it is designed for the temple of the Holy Ghost. Othat I may be mighty through thee to pull down the strong holds of sin, to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Consider often that the inheritance, the treasure, the home of a Christian, is not in this world, but in heaven, and say, Give me, O Lord, those eyes which see the world such as it really is, and discover the falseness of its promises, the vanity of its pleasures, and of all its advantages; that I may not be so blind as to pursue any thing with eagerness and concern, but the one thing needful, the salvation of my soul. Let not the clog of unbelief and earthliness hang so heavy upon my soul as to keep it from mounting up to heaven. Let me seek first thy kingdom, and always look upon myself as a stranger, a pilgrim, and sojourner in this world; that as here I have no continuing city, I may seek one to come. O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.

When thinking upon Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. O Lord, give me grace to die to sin, and arise to righteousness, that I may every day, in heart and mind, ascend into the heavens, whither my Saviour Christ is gone before, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

When you consider the great goodness of God in giving you the holy Scripture. I adore thee,

O Father of Lights, who seeing us sit in darkness, and the shadow of death, didst say, Let there be light; and sent thy holy word to us, to lead us to thee. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ."

When thinking upon these words of St. Paul, In us, that is, in our flesh, dwelleth no good thing. Lord, we confess our lost estate; our nature is corrupted with the leprosy of sin. We fly, therefore, to thee, O Jesus, thou great Physician, for a cure. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make us clean. Show the light of thy countenance upon us, and we shall be whole; redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto thyself a peculiar people zealous of good works.

When thinking upon these words of Christ, Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. How comforta

ble! how gracious! how extensive is this invitation! Come unto me, says the Strength of Israel, all who are weary, toiling in a fruitless pursuit of happiness, and spending your labour for that which satisfieth not; all who are heavy laden, oppressed with the slavery of sin, or bowed down under a load of misery. Jesus cries not to this man, or that man, but to every son of Adam, Come all: "I, even I am he that comforteth you. I will give you rest from your sins, and rest with God." O merciful Saviour, behold thy unworthy servant; be it unto me according to thy word.

When thinking upon the wide gate, and broad way, which leadeth to destruction, and upon the