I can do is too little to show a due sense of my own guiltiness; I have need to repent of the many failures and defects in my endeavours after repentance; and should utterly have fainted, but for thy loving-kindness, which cometh out to meet me in so many providences, and so many inward assurances of thy Fatherly compassion. Thou hast bound thyself by an unchangeable promise to receive me again, through the desert and merits of thy dear Son, my Saviour, if I sincerely desire to amend, and will exercise the heavenly graces and dispositions Thou dost put into my heart by thy Holy Spirit. O Lord, create me anew in Christ Jesus, that I may daily more closely follow his divine example, and resemble Him more in the image of his righteousness, meekness, holiness, gentleness,

and for his sake be beloved more and

more.

O Lord, how much of my time have I spent idly and vainly, how little have I devoted entirely to thy service but though in youth I have not heeded Thee, and in maturer age have too often forgotten Thee, I now lament my former strayings, and those steps of my life which I have ignorantly undertaken, and unwisely followed, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against me; and I pray Thee to stay my course in any sinful way or purpose; open mine eyes to behold the sin that is present, and see into its danger and trouble that are to come. Whenever affliction shall be needful, let me not repine, or murmur at thy chastening, but embrace it as a most welcome guest, until the sin that hath caused

it is utterly wasted within me, and utterly destroyed.

It is amendment that Thou lookest for, which is the sweet fruit of a true and unfeigned repentance, and that I should turn to Thee wholly, at all seasons, and not in the time of affliction only. O Lord, let all sin and sinful desires be mortified in me day by day, and my heart thoroughly changed from its natural bent to work iniquity; and possessed with an unchangeable affection to do thy will in all things, however difficult, and against my seeming interests in the world. Guide me to fly daily to Thee by prayer for true faith to take hold of thy mercy in my Saviour Jesus Christ, that I may speedily still tread in that narrow path, which is hardly found, and not easily kept, through the world's fraud and malice,

and my own inward corruption. Do Thou direct and sanctify me effectually by thy Holy Spirit, and evermore keep me by thy blessed Word, and continue to watch over me, that

my footsteps slip not. Cease not to warn me night and day how frail I am, and how soon I fall. Give me wisdom from above to foresee all perils, and a humble and constant trust in the efficacy of my prayers through Christ, that at the last I shall overcome. Sanctify my health, which is so certain to be changed into sickness, and followed by death, that I may improve it to thy glory, and lay up consolation for the days of sorrow, which be many. Let me never want thy grace and support, most merciful Father, and let me most sensibly feel that Thou art not a God far off, but near to succour me in my time of

trouble; let the fading glory of this faithless world light where it will, and rest with whom it will. Teach me that without Thee all worldly honours and riches are but so many things to make this world dear, which I must one day leave, and that unless Thou bless them, they can afford no true and lasting happiness, but will hinder me from seeking thy love and favour, which are far better. Guide me, I beseech Thee; and if I have thy blessing, let me feel how far above price that blessing is, and pass my life, even in the humblest situation, content, and in the light of thy countenance. Above all, bestow upon me that wisdom which teacheth me to know Thee, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent; give me to know that once I was darkness, but now am light in the Lord, that I may cast off