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will, which may now be out of the reach of my memory, but have been open to thy allseeing eye, and are known to thee, with all their circumstances and aggravations.

Pardon me, O God! according to the abundant goodness of thy nature, and the declarations made by thy son Jesus Christ; and grant me that forgiveness, which I neither ask, nor expect, but upon those terms and conditions, which thy holiness and mercy have laid down in his gospel. And as I am sensible that no forgiveness can be expected, according to thy gospel, without amendment of life, I seriously renounce all communication with whatsoever is displeasing to thee, and sincerely resolve to make it my great endeavour to correct every thing that is amiss in my temper and behaviour. Forgive me, and accept me, therefore, as thou hast promised; and give success, I earnestly beseech thee, by thy gracious favour and providence, to these purposes and designs of my heart.

And now, O Lord, according to the same goodness to thy creatures, graciously receive my earnest petitions. I acknowledge thee to

be the great author of all being; the original of all happiness; the giver of all. good gifts; and the disposer of all events; and, therefore, profess my dependence upon thee alone for every thing I ought to wish for or desire. I am sensible, O Lord, that to thee entirely I must owe every degree of happiness I can ever enjoy or hope for. I am sensible, that thou art the tenderest father and best friend to thy creatures; disposed to lead them to their greatest good; and ready to promote and assist their sincere endeavours after it. And, therefore, before thee and in thy presence, I willingly lay open the desires and wishes of my soul, which I think agreeable to reason and thy holy will.

Let the sense of my own many failings, and the imperfections of our nature, dispose me to be willing to put a candid and favourable interpretation upon all those actions of others, which can justly and reasonably demand it, or admit of it; as well as to be ever ready to forgive the offences of others towards myself. And let the sense of thy goodness, in allowing me still further time and opportunity for perfecting my soul in all that is praise-worthy,

induce me to study more constantly and uniformly to please and imitate thee.

My outward condition with respect to the good things of this world, it is my happiness, as well as duty, to refer wholly to thy wise will and pleasure. And as, by thy appointment, I have already experienced in this world many evils and afflictions, and have been wit ness to many more around me, suffer me to implore the gracious regards of thy fatherly affection towards me, and to pray to thee, with respect to them, according to the pattern of thy son Jesus Christ, Father, if it be possible—if it be consistent with, and agreeable to, thy wise and gracious purposes, secure me, and all those in whose happiness I am most nearly concerned, from all sad accidents, and calamitous events; from all tormenting pains, and grievous diseases; and from every thing inconsistent with such a happiness as may lawfully be desired in this transitory world. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt; remembering what a happiness it is to be under the government of a Being, who knows what is in all respects best, and who cannot afflict his creatures but for wise and good ends.

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Let the consideration of the certainty of death, the last of all temporal evils, influence me to endeavour to make it happy by such a virtuous life, as may give me a well-grounded hope in thy mercy. Let the review of those uncertainties and troubles that I have met with in this world, render me the more ready and contented, at thy appointed time, to leave it. And let the prospect of glory and happiness hereafter exalt my mind above any fond regards to this state of sin and imperfection, and enable me to act as becomes one, who truly believes life and immortality to be brought to light through the gospel.

Finally, O Lord, my great and chief request is, that, by the dispositions of thy good providence, I may obtain everlasting happiness hereafter; and that the state of this world, with respect to me, may be so ordered, and the trials, to be appointed for me in it, may be so proportioned to my condition and powers, as most effectually to secure my eternal and greatest good, after the days of this life are passed away. Deny to me, therefore, out of thy great goodness, whatsoever is truly unfit for me, though I should be so weak as to de

sire and wish for it: and grant me every thing that is truly good for me, though I should be so blind, and so void of wisdom, as not to see or ask it.

Accept, gracious God, of my grateful acknowledgments for that instance of thy fatherly goodness, which has been manifested to me during the past night, in granting me the refreshment of sleep, and preserving my life from every fatal disaster. To thee do I offer the cheerful tribute of my praise also, for restoring to me the consciousness of my existence, and, with it, the delightful persuasion of thy universal providence; for the renewed use of my reasoning and active powers, and for the prospect of receiving fresh enjoyments. To thee I desire to devote the new portion of time, which thou art pleased in thy great goodness to allot me, by spending it in a diligent and faithful performance of the duties of life. These prayers and praises I offer up to thee, in the name of thy son Jesus Christ, professing myself to be his disciple, and my expectation of being accepted on the merciful terms of his gospel. Unto thee be immortal glory. Amen.

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