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and repentance for my sins; and to apply myself more diligently to the serious consideration of those things that concern my everlasting salvation.

O most gracious Lord God! from Whom alone are the preparations of the heart, and the good dispositions of our mind for Thy worship and service; vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, to make Thyself present to my soul: and so to fix my thoughts, to purify my affections, and to regulate and govern my whole spirit, that the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart may be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and mý Redeemer.

Ο O may all worldly thoughts and imaginations be entirely shut out of my mind; and I so intimately united to Thee, and filled with such a delightful sense of thy adorable perfections, as may leave a lasting impression upon my soul, and make it henceforward the joy and rejoicing of my heart to praise and worship Thee; and my meat and drink to do Thy will.

Help me, O Lord, to be sincere, and hearty in the dedication of myself, and of all the powers and faculties of my soul and body to Thine obedience and service: and grant that I may always carry about with me such a lively sense of the infinite obligations I lie under to be Thine for ever, that as long as I live I may

daily offer up myself to Thy divine Majesty more pure, and holy, more humble and meek, more devout and thankful, more cheerfully disposed to every good work, and better prepared to bear a part in the hymns and service of the glorious company above, who are evermore praising Thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Glory be to Thee, O Lord most High! Amen.

SECTION II.

The HUMBLE PENITENT'S Examination of

HIMSELF.

Preparatory sentences of Scripture.

Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways".

Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden °.

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord P.

" Hag. i. 7.

• Gal. vi. 4,5.

Lam. iii. 40.

Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies '.

I have considered the days of old, and the years that are past".

I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits.

If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God ".

But the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it *?

Who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults".

Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart: prove me, and examine my thoughts" : Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me; and lead me in the way everlasting".

Prayer before Examination.

Most great and holy Lord God, Who searchest the heart, and triest the reins, and requirest truth in the inward parts; help me now, I beseech Thee, so diligently and impartially to ex

4 Psal. iv. 4.
t Ibid. 6.
y Psal. xix. 12.

r Psal. cxix. 59.
" Joh. iii. 20, 21.
Psal. cxxxix. 23.

S Psal. lxxvii. 5.

* Jer. xvii. 9.
a Ibid. 24.

amine my life, and to seek the ground of my heart, that I may discover all my most hidden corruptions, and suffer not any accursed thing to lurk within me. I have sinned, O Lord, and have done perversely; I have committed wickedness: I have sinned against Thee from my youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord my God. Lord, make me to know my transgression and my sin, and to lothe myself in mine own sight for all the evils that I have committed. Open mine eyes, 0 Lord, that I may see the excellency of Thy law; and being inwardly convinced that all Thy commandments are holy, and just, and good, I may be ashamed and confounded at mine own perverseness and ingratitude in having so often, and so grievously offended against them; and may so bethink myself, and repent, and mourn, and cry mightily unto Thee for pardon and grace, that Thou mayest hear my prayer and my supplication from heaven Thy dwellingplace, and forgive me all my transgressions, wherein I have transgressed against Thee, and hearken unto me in all that I shall call upon Thee for; through the mediation of Jesus Christ Thine only Son our Saviour. Amen.

A brief Exposition of the Decalogue, enumerating the duties enjoined, and sins forbidden under each Commandment: chiefly col lected out of Archbishop Wake's commentary upon the Church catechism.

The first Commandment, [Thou shalt have none other Gods but Me &c.]

fixes the object of religious worship: and requires all those internal acts of adoration and devotion that are suitable to the transcendent excellencies of the Divine nature; such as faith, hope, love, joy, fear, humility, resignation, and trust. In order to excite and settle these pious dispositions in our souls, we must labour to know, and acquaint ourselves with God, and be often meditating upon His adorable perfections; the immense greatness of His Majesty; His all-sufficiency, omniscience, and omnipresence; His absolute power and dominion over all His creatures; His holiness, wisdom, and goodness; His mercy, truth, and faithfulness. God must be the supreme delight, the most ardent desire of our souls: we must esteem Him our chief and only good; fix upon Him as our end; choose Him for our portion; prefer His favour before all worldly comforts and satisfactions; seek to Him in all our dangers, distress

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