and to teach, or maintain, no doctrine but what may be PREPARAproved from thence. [Sunday.] To exercise himself in those Holy Scriptures; to call upon God for the true understanding of the same. Monday. To use all faithful diligence in driving away all doctrines contrary to God's Word, and to encourage others to do so. Tuesday. To deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live a sober, righteous, and godly life, so as to be an example unto others. Wednesday. To maintain and set forward, as much as may be, quietness, love, and peace, among all men; and to correct and punish the unruly, criminous, and disobedient, as far as God's Word, and the laws of the land, do require and will warrant. Thursday. To be faithful in ordaining, sending, or laying hands upon others. Friday. TORY. To be gentle and merciful, for Christ's sake, to poor and needy people, and to all strangers destitute of help. Saturday. The Prayer.-Almighty God, give me grace and power [i. 5.] faithfully to perform these duties of my high calling; that I may be found perfect and irreprehensible at the last day, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Prevent, O Lord, the wants of an heart which knows not even how to lay them open before Thee; which does not so much as think of doing it; and which does too often shut out the light and consolation in [of] which it stands in need. It is a rudeness amongst men to ask a favour, and not f [i. 5; ii. init.] stay for an answer. And do we count it no fault to pray for blessings, and never to think of them afterwards,―never to wait for them,-never to givef God thanks for them? Let us not run over our prayers with an insensible and [i. 5.] distracted mind. Let your prayers be as particular as may be,-against the sins of your particular state, and for the graces which you in particular do most stand in need of. This is the best preser ii. reads "folly and rudeness;" "to stay;" "Him thanks who bestows them." TORY. PREPARA- vative against sin; makes us best acquainted with our condition; puts us continually in mind of mending what is amiss; lets you see what particular graces you most want, what are most needful for the cure of your own particular corruption and disorder;-and is the best trial of our hearts. For if I pray for charity, for instance, and for every instance which is necessary to render me truly charitable, I pray for grace to avoid evil-speaking,-to pray for my enemies,-to do them good, &c., and so of all other sins and graces. God grant that I may never seek His face in vain! James v. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. This ought to make me aspire after every possible degree of holiness, that God may hear my prayers for my flock, and for such as have desired my prayers. Tobit xii. 12. When thou didst pray, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One; and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee. May the good Spirit of God assist me in the performance of my duty. Fix my attention, excite my affections, and inflame my devotions, that I may attend upon the Lord with pleasure and without distraction. Let us make prayer familiar to us; for without the help of God, we are every hour in danger. h Exodus xxviii. 29. And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breast-plate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. Let Thy merciful ears, O God, be open unto the prayers of Thy servant for himself, and for the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him overseer', for the Lord Jesus' sake. Amen. O Lord, say Amen to our prayers", and grant that my whole flock may be partakers of the blessings we have now prayed for. And may k Thy blessing be upon them for everk. Amen. [i. 6. "grace;" "in danger every hour."] siam. [iii. 1. prefixes, Intrante in Eccle iii. adds, "And so lead us in the knowledge and obedience of Thy word, that in the end we may obtain everlasting life, through Christ our Lord." kiji. om. "and;"" partake of;" "let:" add, "For Jesus Christ's sake." TORY. The devil knows, that when we have a relish for prayer, PREPARAand apply ourselves in good earnest to it, that we are in the way of life; he therefore strives by all ways possible to [i. 6.] divert us. Luke xi. 1. Lord, teach us to pray. Pour upon us the spirit of supplication and prayer. God will deny us nothing that we ask in the name of His Son. Prayers through Jesus Christ.-When we offer our prayers through His mediation, it is then He that prays, His love that intercedes, His blood that pleads, it is He who obtains all from His Father. [As] "zealous professions of friendship are but the more abominable hypocrisy, for being often repeated, unless there be an [equal] zeal in the heart, so solemn prayers... are but repeated hypocrisies, unless the heart and mind be conformable to them1." Before Prayer. O Holy Spirit of Grace, help my infirmities. Pour upon me the spirit of grace and supplicationTM. Preparatory Prayer".—O Holy Spirit of grace, give us a true sight of our miseries, and a sincere shame and sorrow when we make confession of our sins; a feeling sense of our need of mercy, and a hope of obtaining pardon when we beg it for Thy Son's sake. May we resign our wills to Thee and to Thy goodness, when we pray for temporal things; and when we pray for spiritual graces, may we hunger and thirst after righteousness. Give us a real love for Thy Holy Word, and grace to hear it with attention. May we thankfully close with all the means of grace and salvation. When we praise Thee for Thy works of nature and of grace, and give Thee thanks for Thy mercies, let us do it with high esteem and gratitude. Cause us to hear Thy Holy Word with faith and attention, and to profit by what we hear,-that we may return from Thy Church with a blessing. [i. 7; ii. Joshua xxiv. 15. serve. MORNINGo. Choose you this day whom you will Whom have I in heaven but Thee, O Lord? and there is none on earth that I desire besides Thee. Thou art my God, and I will thank Thee: Thou art my God, and I will serve [praise] Thee. Be Thou my only Ruler and Governor. They that have a convenient place to sleep in, and they 1; iii. 6.] that have the comfort of sleep, have both great reason to be thankful'. And even they that want these mercies ought to bless God, if in the midst of their afflictions He is pleased to refresh them with the comforts of grace. [i. 7.] [i. 7.] Gracious God, continue to me these favours so long, and in such a measure, as shall most contribute to Thy honour, and my salvation. And in great mercy support and relieve all that want these blessings. Ps. cxvi. 12. What shall I offer unto the Lord for His mercies renewed unto me every morning?-Ps. li. 17. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise. But most unfit is mine to be to Godt presented until I have obtained His pardon, through the merits of the Lord Jesus, for the many sins by which it hath been defiled". Jeremiah iii. 12. I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. Ps. xxxii. [5.] I acknowledge my sin unto Thee, O God, and mine iniquities will I not hide. ii. adds "Devotions;" iii. has ii. adds, "They that want no con- ii. and iii. add, "O Lord;" "Thee;" "Thy :" om. "through.. Jesus." u ii. and iii. add, "Lord, pity, and cleanse, and forgive, and accept, and save me, for Thy mercies' sake in Jesus Christ. "O blessed Physician, [iii.] heal all the naughty inclinations of my soul, and perfect in me a sincere love unto holiness, that I may never again return to folly; which is the desire and the purpose of my heart." I do therefore implore Thy pardon, and plead Thy gra- MATUTINA. cious promises, with full purpose of heart, by the assistance of Thy grace, never again to return to folly. Jeremiah xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, [i. 7; ii. and desperately wicked: who can know it? I cannot answer for my own heart. But there is no word, O Lord, impossible with Thee; in Thee I do put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. Jeremiah ii. 19. Keep it ever in the heart of Thy servant, that it is indeed an evil thing and bitter to offend the Lord. Keep me from presumptuous sins'; that I may never grieve Thy Holy Spirit, nor provoke Thee to leave me to myself. Matthew xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Lord, make me ever mindful of my infirmities and backslidings, that I may be more watchful, and more importunate for grace for the time to come. 2; iii. 7.] [i. 8.] 1 Peter v. 8. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, [i. 8; ii. 2; iii. 8.] the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour O Lord, grant that this adversary of our souls may never [i. 8.] find me off my guard, or from under Thy protection. Matthew xvi. 24. If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. O my Saviour! how long have I professed to follow Thee, without following the blessed steps of Thy most holy life,— Thy patience and humility,-Thy great disregard for the world, its pleasures, profits, honours, and all its idols. O Lord, obtain for me the spirit of mortification and self-denial, that I may follow Thee, as I hope to live with Thee for ever. Amen. Matthew vi. 24. No man can serve two masters. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. "I cannot... But," om. i. ii. iii., "forsake." ii. iii. add, "Preserve me always in a serious temper, that being ever mindful of my infirmities and backslidings, I may be more watchful, more diligent, and more importunate for grace, for the time to come ;" and om. the rest. iii. adds "may be permitted to." a ii. and iii. read, "O grant [iii. grant, O Lord,] that no temptations of the world, the flesh, or the devil, may ever be able to draw me from Thy service; but that I may continue Thine for ever, continually mortifying my corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in virtue and true holiness." |