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apprehensions of Thy all-sufficiency. As thou hast given me the means of knowing, in some degree, the relations which I sustain, and hast also given me reason to deduce from thence my various duties; permit me to fly to Thine Almighty Grace and Aid, to enable me to put these duties in practice: For, without this, I know how insufficient I am, by my own natural strength, to do any thing that is truly acceptable to Thee.

THE SPECULATIVE PART OF CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY.

1. In the course of my researches, what first of all appears to me is—that Thou art from everlasting 1. Truths to everlasting, completely happy in Thyself, perfect in Goodness, Power and

with respect

to God. Wisdom.

Thy Goodness spoke creation into birth, with no other view but to communicate to finite natures, from that unbounded ocean that flows forever undiminished round Thy Throne, the greatest possible sum of happiness that such natures can possibly share! Thy power governs Thy universal Family, both in Heaven and Earth, as best suits the ends of their various natures, and Thy gracious designs towards them! And Thy Wisdom so conducts the Eternal Scheme, that, however it may now appear to Thy

The author, however, does not offer this as a complete form. For Intercession, Thanksgiving, and some other parts of Prayer, could no otherwise make a part on this plan, than by petitioning for the regular discharge of them, considered as Duties,

Having explained the first intention of this piece, the author is now. willing to preserve it in a collection of his own; hoping that the same candour, which he will stand in need of for the other parts of the present work, will suffice for this.

short-sighted creatures, it will at last unfold itself in a perfect consistent Whole, whose invariable object has all along been the greatest good of Thy whole Family; and thus will open a new scene to make them forever happy in the contemplation of such boundless Love and Perfection.

Thou hast portioned out Thy gifts and favours in various degrees among Thy creatures. To me* Thou hast given the noble Faculties of Reason and Understanding. "Thou hast made me but a little lower than the Angels, and crowned me with Glory, Honour and Immortality." Thou tookést me from the womb, and hast tenderly preserved and provided for me to this very moment. Thy unwearied' patience has borne with all my failings; and Thy overflowing Love has even loaded me with undeserved favours and advantages.

But what language can speak Thee as Thou art? Thy goodness towards me rises far above all expres sion, far above all thought. When I had strayed from Thee, and was sunk in ignorance, Thou Thyself vouchsafed to speak to me, rising up early and speaking. Thou didst also send Thy Servants the Prophets, rising up early and sending them. Last: of all, Thou sentest the Son of Thy Bosom, with his holy Apostles, to save me from merited destruction; to restore my ruined nature; to instruct me in my duty, and guide me to endless rest. "How precious are Thy thoughts unto me, O my God! How great is the Sum of them! If I could count them, they are more in number than the sand on the Sea-shore!"

*Me, in the first person, is here put for the human species.

with respect

to man.

2. All this, O heavenly Father, I know Thou art; and all this I know Thou hast done for me! 2. Truths But when I inquire, in the next place, what I myself am, and what I have done in return; alas! my conscience tells me, that I have not always considered and acknowledged Thee as being what Thou art. I have often counterworked Thy gracious purposes towards me, and sinned against Thy Holy and Equitable Laws. Forgetting my high preeminence and prerogative of Birth, I have often perversely abused, or ungratefully neglected the proper use, of those noble powers with which Thou hast crowned my nature. "My iniquities have taken hold of me so that I cannot look up. They are more in number than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart faileth me." Yet still, when I reflect on Thy paternal Love, my hope is in Thy mercy, through the Redeemer, "That Thou wilt hide Thy Face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions."

In this sacred hope, I humbly prostrate myself before Thee, sincerely confessing my repeated trespasses, earnestly imploring Thy forgiveness of them, and stedfastly purposing, as far as in me lies, to amend my future conduct and life.

Look down then, O Thou First and Best of Beings! From eternal splendours and glories unutterable, look down with compassion on a sinful, but penitent Creature, humbled in the dust! For Thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, save me from the consequences of mine iniquities. Pardon what is past, and vouchsafe me the aid of Thy Holy Spirit to lead me through all future trials, in the steady exer

cise of those virtues, Moral, Divine and Social, which in the course of my researches, assisted by Thy Spirit and Revealed Will, I have discovered to be my Duties, towards Myself, towards Thee, and towards my Fellow Creatures.

THE PRACTICAL PART OF CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY.

ral Duties, re

1. With regard to Myself, may I, for the future, practise the great virtue of Temperance, and pre1. Petitions serve my body chaste, as the Temple of for the practice of private Mo- the Holy Ghost. May I discipline my Passions and regulate my Affections aright, that so I may never be subjected to inordinate desires and violent commotions of Soul; time in Tranquillity, Sobriety, Frugality, and Industry.

specting one's Self.

but pass my

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And may I always remember, that my care is to reach beyond my body to my better part. Hence, may I strive, above all things, to improve the Divine faculties of Reason and Understanding; employing them, according to Thy design, as the means of searching and knowing the Truth, and conducting myself towards my true Happiness. And whatever acquisitions of knowlege, I may through Thy Aid attain, may I never be puffed up; but refer all to Thee, and in all my researches be self-diffident, from a sense of the extreme scantiness of the highest human attainments.

Yet, O my God! while in the pursuit of true knowledge, I abstain from sinful pride, on the one hand; may I also, on the other, abstain from a narrow despondent undervaluing of those powers which

Thou hast given me, even in their present impaired For though they are not the highest in the Scale of Being, neither are they the lowest; but are, indeed, noble, when considered in their proper place, and with regard to their proper end. There is something grand and august even in the present fallen state of human nature, which speaks its Almighty Author; and those must grovel beneath their native destination, without exerting their strength, or aspiring at any thing that is generous, elevated or greatly good, who have not a just sense of this grandeur-May I have a just sense of it, and reverence my Nature! May I consider myself as Thy Image, and strive to act up to my dignity in the humble imitation of Thy Divine Perfections.

To dispose me to do this, may I look deeply into myself, and frequently employ my thoughts at home. May I attentively listen to the still voice of a wellinformed conscience, which is Thy vicegerent within me. What it warns me not to do, may I ever sedulously fly from, however dear; and what it dictates to be done, may I ever resolutely achieve, however hard!

2. Petitions

of the Divine

2. With regard to Thee, O my God! may I make it the chief aim of my life to discharge the Duties of Piety and grateful Praise. May I always for the practice acknowlege Thee to be, what Thou art, Duties respect the Sovereign Object of all Love; for ing God. surely there is nothing that can satisfy the human Soul but Thee. When I stray from the Love of Thee, I find within myself a frightful Void, and Nothing of solid happiness to fill it up. All my

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