to all such as through any unavoidable impediments are kept from them. And continue to us, O gracious Lord, the light of thy gospel, and all the happy opportunities, which we enjoy, for our souls' advantage. Preserve us also, by thy grace, from the curse of barrenness; and that thine ordinances may not rise up in judgment against us. O make them now effectual for our good: cause them to accomplish in us all the purposes of thy grace; and let their sanctifying efficacy shine forth with a convincing splendor of our lives.

[And now we give thanks (as we are infinitely bound) to thee, O Lord God, our heavenly Father for the mercies of this day; and for thy great mercy and goodness that has followed us, all the days of our lives. O how wonderful is thy patience and long-suffering, that thou shouldst all day long stretch forth thy hands to a rebellious and gainsaying people! And how unwearied thy kindness and love, that thou still loadest us with benefits, notwithstanding our past abuse of them, and impartest even the greatest mercies to us, who have deserved nothing but judgments at thy hands! Blessed be thy name, O most merciful Father, that thou hast defended us from so many dangers in our lives, which threatened to destroy us; and delivered us out of so many troubles, under which we should have sunk and perished, if thou hadst not been nigh to us and done great things for us. We bless thee for our health and plenty, peace and liberty; for the use of our reason,

limbs, and senses; and for the comforts of all thy good creatures; for the kindness of friends, and safety from our enemies; for the benefits and refreshments of society, and the success and prosperity of our affairs in the world. But above all, we bless thee for thy mercies and blessings relating to the world to come; for Jesus Christ, and all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in him; for remembering us in our low estate, and sending eternal redemption to us by the hands of thy dear Son; for the light and direction of thy word; for the teachings and strivings, the aids and consolations of thy Spirit; for all the means and helps which we have to do us good; for all thy grace wrought in us, and bestowed upon us; and for all the discoveries and hopes of eternal glory, which thou hast given to us, O how infinitely indebted are we to the kindness and love of God our Saviour! O that we may ever be sensible and thankful as we ought! And with all that thou hast given us, blessed Lord, give us hearts filled with thy love, and lifted up in thy praise, and devoted to thy service.

We can only acknowledge the debt, which we can never pay. We cannot praise thee according to the riches of thy grace, and the multitude of thy mercies; but we desire to bless and praise, with all the capacities and abilities wherewith thou hast blessed us. And help us, O Lord our God, to glorify thy name, not only in speaking to thy praise, but in so entirely devoting ourselves to thy service, that we may

be thine in faithfulness and in the sincerity of our hearts, even all the days of our lives.]

O make us truly penitent and humbled for all which this day we have done amiss; and make us unfeignedly thankful for all the good that we have received; and for all which thou hast, in any manner or measure, enabled us to do aright. The evil is from ourselves alone, and to us belong shame and confusion of face for it; but all the good is of thy free grace, and thy mere mercy; and to thy blessed name, O Lord our God, be all the praise and glory rendered, with the most sensible and grateful hearts, now and for evermore. Amen.

A Confession of the Sins forbidden, with Prayer for Grace to perform the Duties enjoined in the Commandments: (preparatory to the Sacrament, or at any time of humiliation.)

O LORD, the great and Glorious God! against whom I have grievously offended; and who for my sins art justly displeased; I know not where to begin or end the rehearsal of all my transgressions; which are more than I can remember, and greater than I can express.

Thou art God alone, and there is none beside thee. Thou hast an absolute right over me;

and thou alone art worthy to be worshipped and served by me. But, O Lord, my God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over me. I have idolized things in myself, and in this present world; and have set them in the stead of God; either disbelieving thy being, or forgetting thy presence, or disliking to retain thee in my thoughts, or living without thee in the world, I have not improved in thy knowledge, answerably to the means of instruction wherewith thou hast blessed me. And that I have not better knowledge of God, it is my shame; it is altogether owing to my sinful dulness and negligence in that which most of all concerns me. I have not had all my expectations from thee, nor my whole dependence upon thee, nor my chief hope and delight in thee: but have sought my happiness in creature comforts and worldly enjoyments. O how have I hardened my heart against the fear of thee, who couldst in one moment destroy me, both body and soul in hell! How have I sinned against the clear light which thou hast caused to shine upon me! And how have I shut my heart against the love of thee, my chief good; notwithstanding thou hast been doing me good, and laying fresh obligations upon me, with thy renewed favour every day.

I have conceived injurious, unbecoming thoughts of thine infinite greatness and goodness, till I have become vain and wicked in my imaginations; thinking the most high and glorious God to be even such a one as myself.

And instead of worshipping thee in spirit and in truth, it has been after my own fancy and humour; in a formal, customary manner.

O what light account have I made of thy great name; and what little zeal have I showed for thine honour and glory: how have I disregarded thy word and works, thy mercies and judgments, thy calls and warnings, and all thine offers and invitations: and either neglected the offices of thy worship, or profaned thy holy things, and abused religious duties, to cover my own offences; drawing nigh to thee with my mouth, when my heart has been far from thee.

Thy day I have not remembered as I ought, to keep it holy; but have used as common, what thou hast set apart for sacred; and borne the holy season as a burthen, and made bold with thy hallowed time, to spend it upon my sloth and lusts, and worldly trifles, and carnal indulgences.

O how have I failed and sinned in all my relations. As a superior, in pride and vanity; as an inferior, in stubbornness and envy; as a parent and child, master and servant, friend and neighbour; not discharging my duty in any capacity as I ought.

How careless have I been of my own and other souls! How passionate and unmerciful, contentious and revengeful! Bitter in my words, malicious in my heart; tempting some to commit sin; neglecting to keep others from the commission of it; and not exerting my utmost endeavours to do good unto all.