comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the Christian mystery; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that I may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto thee, who art able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto thee be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

For Assistance in the Study of the Scriptures.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose gracious providence the gospel was first preached to thy people Israel, and from them widely spread through the different nations of the world, that it might be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to give the knowledge of salvation to all the kingdoms of the earth; assist me continually with thy wisdom in the study of these holy Scriptures. Direct me with thy grace in following the precepts of my blessed Master Jesus Christ, and his holy disciples, and of all those who have been, at any time, and in any manner, thy great and holy instruments in teaching virtue to mankind; that from these instructions I may learn the highest degrees of piety, of charity, and of love. Grant by the assistance of thy grace that I may pass my life from childhood to old age in such a constant study of them, as may not be unfruitful in good works; and that I may at last, like the pious Simeon of old, depart in peace, and welcome death with his serenity and joy, in sure and certain hope of the

resurrection to eternal life, and of the enjoyment of all those blessings which are promised to thy faithful followers in the blessed gospel of thy Son. Grant this, I beseech thee, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Against inquisitive and perplexing Thoughts. ALMIGHTY God, my Maker and Protector, who hast graciously sent me into this world to work out my salvation; enable me, by the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, to root out all such unquiet and perplexing thoughts as may mislead or hinder me in the practice of those duties which thou hast required. When I behold the works of thy hands, and consider the course of thy providence, give me grace always to remember that thy thoughts are not my thoughts, nor thy ways my ways. And while it shall please thee to continue me in this world, where much is to be done, and so little to be known, teach me by the holy Spirit to withdraw my mind from all unprofitable and dangerous inquiries, from difficulties vainly curious, and from doubts impossible to be solved. Let me rejoice in that light which thou hast imparted; let me serve thee with active zeal, and humble confidence; and wait with patient expectation for the time, in which the soul that thou receivest shall be satisfied with all knowledge, and welcomed to those mansions of eternal glory, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it even entered into the heart of man to conceive. Grant this, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

For Grace to Suffer as a good Christian.

O Lord, Jesus Christ, who, in thy wise providence, hast thought fit to call thy faithful servants to bear their cross, and to suffer for thy sake, who didst endure for them the agonies of a most ignominious death; bring me not, 1 be seech thee, to this trial, till thou hast fitted and prepared me for it; and lay no more upon me than thou wilt enable me manfully to endure. Let me not rashly expose myself to danger without thy call, nor suffer for mine own folly, or for any wilful or affected error. Give me grace to live according to the rules of thy most holy faith, that I may have courage and comfort in all my sufferings. Preserve me steadfast in the belief of thy heavenly truths, and undaunted in their profession. Give me patience to bear my cross, and meekness to endure with my persecutors; mercy to forgive their wrongs, and charity to pray to thee for their forgiveness. Enable me to trust in thy goodness for support and deliverance, and to fix my faith upon those heavenly joys, with which the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared; that so, being made partaker of thy sufferings here, I may rejoice with exceeding joy when thy glory shall be revealed hereafter. To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end. Amen.

For Zeal.

GRACIOUS God, who art the first and chiefest good, engage all the powers and faculties of my

soul to love and delight in thy name, and to place all my trust, affiance and confidence in thee. Teach me so to proportion my zeal to the value of things, that I may love thee, the Lord iny God, with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength; and, above all, to seek the kingdom of heaven, and the glories thereof. Grant that I may apply my most serious thoughts to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. Enlighten mine understanding, that I may see the wonderous things of thy law; rectify my will, that I may follow the plain rules of good, and eschew the ways of evil; and in all mine actions fix my heart entirely upon thy glory. Let my devout prayers be offered in that retirement where thine all-seeing eye can only enter. Make me to consider that the praise of men is but as smoke which vanisheth away, and that thy gracious favour is better than life, and endureth for ever. Teach me heartily to strive that I may enter in at the straight gate, to fight the good fight of faith, and to destroy the whole body of sin. Let my zeal have a respect unto all thy commandments, that it may never degenerate into hypocrisy and faction; but that I may always pursue it by just and proper means, and may never think to promote thy honour, and the safety of thy church by ways offensive to thee, and which thou hast strictly forbidden. Let not the specious pretence of zeal for thy service betray me into any unreasonable heats, much less to such actions as thou hast prohibited; let not any difference in religion destroy in me that charity, which is the peculiar mark of thy disciples; but teach me to compassionate those that

are in error, and to pity those prejudices which have so unhappily misled them. Grant that the uncertainty of all things here below may call off my mind from the objects of secular happiness; that so, by applying myself entirely to devotion and charity, justice and sobriety, I may be prepared in the temper and disposition of my mind for that happiness which thou hast promised to all thy faithful servants, through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Performance of God's Will on Earth, as it is in Heaven.

BLESSED Lord, whose throne is encircled with myriads of glorious spirits that veil their faces as unable to behold the brightness of thy majesty, and who delight in their attendance upon those ministries whereunto thou hast appointed them; I, thine unworthy creature, prostrate myself with all humility before thy footstool, humbly beseeching thee to give me grace to do thy will on earth with the same diligence and industry, with the same zeal and cheerfulness, as thy blessed angels perform it in heaven; that so, by imitating their exemplary obedience, constant devotion, profound humility, unspotted purity, and extensive charity, I may engage thy protection in all my necessities; and may particularly enjoy the advantage of thine assistance in my last hour, that dismal conflict with death and the powers of darkness; and being by them conducted to the mansions of glory, I may be advanced to a more intimate and happy society