At giving Alms. Lord, who didft not defpife the Widow's Mite, accept of this Little I now give to relieve one of thy poor Members. Mark xii. 42. After having done any Good. NOT OT unto me, O Lord, notTM unto me, but unto thy Name be the Praife, Pfal, cxv. I; L% In Temptation. ORD, fuccour me with thy this Temptation. Directions for the Evening. Onfider,good Philotheus,how many that have gone to Bed well over Night, have been found dead the next Morning; and therefore it highly concerns you to take care to make your Peace with God before you go B 4 to fleep. I I advise you therefore towards Night, or when you go Circum, to call your felf to an Account, how have spent the Day. you Examine your Thoughts, and Difcourses, and Actions, and Recreations, and Devotions, and fee what has been amifs in any of them. Confider what Idleness or Unchaftity, what Lying and Stubbornnefs, you have been guilty of; or whether of you have had a Quarrel with any your Fellows; and if you have, be fure to be Friends with him before you fay your Prayers. Again, confider what particular Bleffing, or Deliverance, God has vouchfafed you the Day paft, that you may give Thanks for it, and then fay as follows: L Evening Prayer. ET my Prayer, O Lord, be fet forth in thy Sight as Incense, and the Lifting-up of my Hands be as an Evening Sacrifice, Pf. cxli, 2.. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, I miferable Sinner muft acknow ledge ledge that I have offended Thee this Day, in Thought, Word, and Deed; particularly by--[Here mention any Sin you have been guilty of:] But I fly into the Arms of Thy Fatherly Compaffion-Lord, forthy Mercies fake, forgive me: Cleanfe me from my Wickedness, and ftrengthen my Weakness, that I may overcome all the Temptations which daily furround me, and continue conftant in my Obedience. Accept of my humblest Praise and Thanksgiving, O Lord, for all the Goodness thou haft this Day fhewed me; for all the Helps of preventing or reftraining Grace thou haft vouch fafed me; for whatever I have done this Day,which is in any measure acceptable to The for whatever Progrefs I have mig in my Study; for thy Prefervation of me from all the Miferies and Dangers which frail Mortality is e'ery Moment expos'd to; particularly.[ Here name any particular Bleffing or Deliverance God hath fent you Praise the Lord, O my Soul, who faveth thy Life from Deftruction, B.5 and and crowneth thee with Mercy and Loving Kindness. O Heavenly Father, to thy Almighty Protection I recommend my felf, and all my Relations, and alf that belong to this College: O Thou that never flumbers,nor fleeps, watch over us, to preferve us from Sin and Danger. Lord, let it be thy good pleasure to refresh me this Night with fuch feasonable Reft, that I may rife the next Morning more fit for thy Service. O pardon my Failings, and hear my Prayers, for the fake of my Bleffed Saviour, in whofe holy Words I fum up all my Wants, Our Father, &c. L Ejaculations at going to Bed. ORD, as I now go to my Bed, I muft one Day go to my Grave; O make me wife to confider latter End. my I will lay me down in Peace, and take my Reft, for it is Thou, Lord, only makeft me dwell in Safety, Pfal. iv, 8; Directions ****** Directions for Midnight. Fyou chance to wake in the Night, or can't sleep, be ware, Philotheus, of idle and unclean Thoughts, which will then be apt to crowd into your Mind; and therefore to arm your felf against them, I advife you to learn Pfalm cxxx, & cxxxix. by heart; or treasure up fome Ejaculations in your Mind, which will be excellent Matter for your Thoughts. to feed on. For Inftance, TH Ejaculations for the Night.. HOU, Lord haft granted thy loving Kindness in the Daytime; and in the Night-feafon will I fing of thee, and make my Prayer to the God of my Life, Pfal. xlii. 8. 7 O Lord, the Holy Angels are now before thy Throne in Heaven: They never reft Day or Night from thy Praifes; and with them do I now fing Hallelujah, Salvation, and Ho-nour, and Glory, and Power, be unto our God, for ever and ever. Amen, Lord, Amen. Rev. vii, 15, |