Lord, pardon my prayers, and let not my coldness, and. wanderings, and infinite unworthiness turn them into sin. Lord, hear my prayers, and let my cry come unto thee. Amen, amen. The following lamentation over sin is taken from the celebrated work of the good Thomas-a-Kempis, entitled, “The Imitation of Christ." It will be found to suit but too well the case of many Christians mourning over their short comings and backslidings. O Lord God, what shall ever be done with me since I fail every day? How shall I amend my life? When will it be better with me? When shal! I recover strength? And when shall I overcome all? I am fallen down into a deep pit. Thinkest thou, O Lord, that there may be yet any hopes of my rising again, of my amending, and of my safe arising? I have no hope at all for myself. O that it may be strong in thee! for mighty despair is thrown upon me, because of my infirmity, which through long vexation grows upon me very much. Neither can I see any end of my grief, of my iniquity. And though I should say, now I will begin, I will endeavor to my very utmost, sin presently stands at the door, and my enemy is lifted up against me, and the habit of evil holds me captive against my will. Behold, O Lord, the dejectedness of my state, and how I am trod down, and what calamity I ens dure. Let thy right band be lifted up, and deliver thou me from them that have shut me up, for fear of them has fallen upon me. Counsel hath perished from me, and strength hath failed me. My art also is broken, aud my sword will not be able to save me. I see not unto whom I can turn myself; neither doth any one appear that may relieve and take care of me. Thou a'one remainest a refuge for me; but because I have offended thee, therefore this deterrest ine. I have sinned; O pardon me. All that is within me doth repent yea very bitterly. Do un'o me Lord what seemeth right in thy sight, and be thou reconc led unto me. Just'y hast thou indeed forsaken me, and delivered me over to the adversary. Yet remember, I beseech thee, the work of thy hand; and raise up again what is fallen, since of itself it was not able to stand. Give ear unto my groaning, and attend to my necessity. Let not my distress at d the grief of my heart be had in forgetfulness before the. Have regard, merciful Father, to my captivity and imprisonment, and to the oppression which I suffer from sin; lead me forth cut of the house of miserable bondage wherein I am bound fast and kept prisoner. The compiler of this little volume of prayers knows not how he can better conclude it, than with the following exquisite piece of devotion from the works of the amiable and pious Fenelon. It most happily describes the meek and lowly state of mind to which some Christians attain, and which we scek after. "I ord, teach us to pray." "Luke ii. 1. O Lord, I know not what I should ask of thee. Thou only knowest what I want; and thou lovest me better than I can love myself. O Lord, give to me, thy child, what is proper, whatsoever it may be. I dare not ask either crosses or comforts. I only present myself before thee. I open my heart to thee. Behold my wants which I am ignorant of; but do thou behold, and do according to thy mercy. Smite or heal; depress or raise me up. I adore all thy purposes without knowing them. I am silent. I offer myself in sacrifice. I abandon myself to thee. I have no more any desire but to accomplish thy will. Teach me to pray. Pray thou thyself in me. CONTENTS, ..... .22 II. From the Scriptures-Morning or Evening..11 III. From the Scriptures-Morning or Evening..14 IV. From the Scriptures-Morning or Evening..16 V. From the Scriptures-Morning or Evening..19 VI. From Bishop Wilson-Morning... VII. From Bishop Wilson-Evening.. VIII. From Bishop Wilson-Morning- IX. From Bishop Wilson-Evening X. From Bishop Wilson-Morning... XI. From Bishop Wilson-Evening... XII. From Bishop Wilson-Morning- XIII. From Bishop Wilson-Evening ....... PRAYER XXIX. From the Book of Common Prayer Morning XXX Morning--A combination of three Pray 89 ers of the celebrated Sir Wm. Jones 91 XXXI. A daily Private Prayer, suited to one who sustains the relations of father, mother, and husband, but which may be modified so as to be adapted to mothers, wives, and mistresses, and by the omission of certain parts, to any christians 94 90 · XXXII. A Prayer for young persons XXXIII. A Prayer to be used by parents, taken from the baptismal and confirmation offices 101 XXXIV. A Prayer to be used by ministers for themselves, taken from the office of institution and the ordination services - 102 A GUIDE FOR THE PENITENT-Abridged from Bishop Taylor. A Litany of Confession, to be made use of by Penitents who find themselves burthened by a sense of sin - 105 A LAMENTATION OVER SIN-From Thomas-a-Kempis 119 A PRAYER FROM FENELON-" Lord, teach us to pray" 120 ERRATA. Page 1, instead of "Mead," read-Meade. Page 7, line 17, instead of " prayer,' ," read prayers. Page 10, lines 6 and 7, instead of "love," read law; and line 12, instead of "livest," read-liveth. Page 11, lines 4 and 5, from the bottom, the note of interrogation ought to be after wonder, and not after "thee." Page 12, line 2, instead of "compassion," read-compas sions. Page 17, line 22, instead of "love,” read-law. Page 18, line 5 from bottom, instead of "peace," read pure. Page 21, line 13, instead of "even," read-ever; Temples, instead of "Temple." Page 81, line 9, instead of "goodly," read-godly. Page 103, line 9, instead of "thy name," read-the same. Page 119, line 9, instead of " arising," read arriving. Page 120, line 17, after "we" insert-all should. |