O

For divine Affiftance.

GOD, the Author of all good, grant us, we beseech thee, thy gracious affiftance in the future courfe of our lives; and teach us to act agreeably to the profession we make, and the defires we have now expreffed before thee. Give us fuch a deep perfuafion of the evil of fin, and of the importance and excellency of a holy and virtuous life, that we may carefully abftain from all iniquity, and be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are to thy honour and glory. Amen.

For the Knowledge and Improvement of religious Truth.

O

MERCIFUL GOD, who art the Father of lights, and fountain of all wisdom; enlighten our minds with the knowledge of all useful truths; may they fink deep into our hearts, and influence our whole conduct. Having a steadfast faith in thy perfections, may we

act

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act with integrity, and order our whole converfation as in thy fight; may we preferve a conftant regard to thy perfect administration; and receive with fubmiffion and chearfulness whatever thou appointeft: by the knowledge of thee, who alone art good, may we improve in the love of goodness; and may the hope we are encouraged to entertain, of thy continual fupport and affiftance, animate us in the practice of all good works. May the manifestation of thy mercy to mankind by JESUS CHRIST, awaken our averfion to fin; engage us to excel in every virtue; and conftantly to pursue, what thou, the righteous Judge, approvest, and wilt finally reward and honour. By a diligent attention to the truths of our most holy religion, may our minds be purified from all corrupt and fenfual paffions; may we acquire a more perfect command over ourselves; proceed after the example of JESUS, in the practice of all goodness, and never be weary of well doing and above all, by the expectation of an happy immortality, may our virtue

be supported, and our peace fecured, until we are removed from the present, to a higher state of being; and become partakers of that everlasting happiness, which thou haft promised to thy faithful fervants. Amen.

For the Practice of particular Duties.

O

GRACIOUS GOD, from whom all holy and good defires do proceed, produce in our minds those sentiments which may dispose us to all the duties of life; that in humility and meekness we may walk before thee; and being content with fuch things as we have, may leave all future events to thy gracious appointment. Incline us to thy worship and fervice, and all the offices of piety to thee, our Father in heaven. Teach us to enjoy the gifts of thy bounty with thankfulness; and and to pass thro' the afflictions, thou appointeft for us, with patience and fubmiffion to thy holy will.

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Affift us in the discharge of all focial, and relative duties: may we be honest in all our dealings; and delight in doing good may we be ready to relieve the poor, and to fhew compaffion to all who are in diftrefs: may we be grateful to our friends; forgive our enemies; and always do to others, as we would they should do to us.

Establish in our fouls a prevailing defire to bear a nearer resemblance to thee, the original of all perfection; and to be in a state of continual improvement, and preparation for the felicities which thou haft provided for all good men, from the foundation of the world.

And grant, O merciful Father, that by thus expreffing before thee, the defires of our hearts, we may be more determined to live after thy commandments; and fo attain that peace of mind, which is thy peculiar gift; and after a comfortable and happy life, be advanced to thine everlasting kingdom. Amen.

A

A Prayer refpecting external Things.

GOD, our heavenly Father, to

the direction of thy wife and unerring providence we do entirely commit ourselves: fafe under thy protection, and happy in thy favour, we would chearfully follow, where thou pleaseft to conduct us: we defire only that portion of the good things of this life, which thou feeft to be fit for us; and would decline no fufferings, which thou fhalt appoint, for the trial and improvement of our virtue: fave us, we beseech thee, from the fnares of profperity and adverfity: fuffer us not to forget thee in our abundance; or to queftion thy goodness in our distress : in health, and in ficknefs, in life and in death, may we lift up our fouls unto thee; and make thy goodness alone our

confidence and joy and may we fo pafs through the changing fcenes of the prefent world, that we may be prepared for the pure and unmixed happiness of thy glorious prefence for ever-· more. Amen. For