'FOR THE CLOSET. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, PRAYERS ON PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. FIRST AMERICAN, FROM THE THIRD LONDON EDITION, WITH VARIOUS ALTERATIONS AND CORRECTIONS. BY THE LATE REVEREND SAMUEL MERRIVALE. PUBLISHED AT WORCESTER, 1808. 000000000 GOULDING & STOW, PRINTERS. PREFACE TO THE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. THIS little volume is eminently calculated for our companion in performing those duties of secret prayer and meditation, which the Saviour of the world enjoined upon all his disciples. The ardent spirit of piety and gratitude contained in each prayer, discover the author to have been deeply impressed with a consciousness of God's overruling Providence, guardian protection, and parental benevolence. The goodness, the justice and mercy of the Deity are acknowledged with humble reverence; and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is praised in strains of feeling gratitude. Secret scrutiny into our own hearts, and private meditations are the only means of obtaining that SELF KNOWLEDGE, which ever precede greater attainments in the Christian life. No one can make these "Devotions" a part of his daily religious exercises, without feeling his imperfections, and endeavoring to reform the whole course of his behavior. They contain no "vain repetitions," no inflated expressions of self abase. ment, but are the pious emanations of a mind sincerely desirous of worshipping GoD in spirit. and in truth. It is to be wished that books of this description and merit were more generally multiplied and circulated in our country for the advancement of correct morals and pure religion. Worcester, October, 1808. PREFACE TO THE THIRD LONDON EDITION. THE late worthy Author of the following PRAYERS had prepared them for the press just before his death; and it was his desire that they should be published. Had they met with a general approbation, he intended, if Providence had spared his life, to have added another complete set for every day in the week. The third and fourth Prayers in this Collection, were drawn up by another hand, for the use of a person who no longer needs these imperfect helps to aid her religious services, but, together with the pious Author of this Publication, is removed to that better world, where the exalted worship of the celestial inhabitants |