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النشر الإلكتروني

pardon and justification, and admission into

eternal glory.

THE PRAYER.

Almighty and most merciful Father! the Author of Pardon, of Life, and of Salvation, who hast compassion upon all men, and hatest nothing that Thou hast made; Thou wouldest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his evil ways, and be saved; look down mercifully upon me, who am not worthy to look up to Heaven; let me not perish in my sins, nor be consumed in thy heavy displeasure; for when I consider my offences, I am sensible that they are great and numerous; that the temptations of the world draw me away from the duties I would practise, and the christian state of mind I wish to maintain. Many things I have done which I ought not to have done, and have

omitted many which it would have been right to do; desirous of leading a life of holiness, I am yet careless in the means of attaining it; and unobservant of those failings. towards my fellow creatures, which we are most apt to fall into, and which should therefore be more strictly guarded against. When thou smitest me, then I confess my sins; but when thy visitation is past, I forget that I have wept. In the disposal of my time, in the improvement of my temper, in humility, and in charity, I continually offend against thy laws; I turn to Thee, acknowledging my sins, with full purpose of correcting whatever is contrary to thy will; but beset as I am by evil practices and new temptations, my own strength is not sufficient; I am not able of myself to overcome them; to whom then can I go but to Him who loved us and died for us; who is the Saviour of the penitent, the life of the dead, and the advocate for sinners? I beseech Thee, therefore, who didst

redeem me from the utmost penalty of sin, to strengthen me with thy Holy Spirit, to work in me true repentance, and to turn me from darkness to light. Give me grace to discover and amend all sins of ignorance which I have committed for want of due care and circumspection, and grant me thy aid to overcome the greater sins which are contrary to my christian profession. Give me time and space to repent; and grant, that as by thy holy inspiration, I do sincerely resolve on an entire reformation, so by thy merciful guidance, I may faithfully perform the same. Increase in me the spirit of piety, charity and humility; assist me, that I may spend the days allotted to me upon earth religiously and usefully, subduing every evil inclination, and practising every duty of the station in which Thou hast placed me; that when Thou shalt see fit to take me from this state of trial and temptation, I may look forward with humble confidence, that Thou wilt pardon the sins committed here, and receive

me into the place Thou hast prepared for me by the blood of the everlasting covenant, where all tears shall be wiped from our faces, and sin and death shall be no more. Grant this, most gracious God, by the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ our Saviour! Amen.

THURSDAY.

On Faith.

BEFORE We can worthily partake of the blessed Sacrament, it is especially necessary to consider whether our faith be perfect and sincere, for it is only through faith we can look for any benefits from these holy mysteries; and faith, in its full extent, is that guiding star which would lead us safely through the trials and temptations of this life, and would not only fit us for a worthy

reception of the body and blood of Christ, but gain us admission amongst the purified spirits in heaven, encouraging us in the hour of death to hope that we may join the angels and archangels in praising and magnifying the Lord. For faith comprehends every duty, in thought and practice, which our holy religion enforces: and the absolute necessity of having it is urged by our Saviour in the most impressive manner; he rewarded those who declared their belief in him, by healing their infirmities; he wrought miracles for the establishment of faith; he exhorted his followers to maintain it in themselves, adding promises to his exhortations, and sent them forth to publish it in the world. At one period, no persons were admitted to partake of the Sacrament but those who were peculiarly styled the faithful; that is, not merely those who professed a belief in Christ, but such whose faith was ardent, who had overcome the world, and were become real servants of

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