the End and Aim of all my Actions; and which directs to all thofe Means which thon haft graciously established for the working out my Salvation.

That my precious Time may not be employed in hunting after Trifles; that my natural Talents may not be buried and drowned in brutish Senfuality; that my Study may not be Vanity, nor my Labour Folly; but that framing a right Judgment in all Things, I may fix my Mind upon thofe Pleasures which are at thy Right Hand, which are permanent and durable.

And that the great Care and Bufinefs of my Life may be to obtain thy Favour, who art the Sovereign Good of my Soul, and who only canft fatisfy all my Defires.

To this End, inure me to fpiritual Objects by conftant and fervent Prayer, by entertaining my Thoughts with pious Meditations, by reading and hearing thy holy Word with Reverence and Attention, and by frequently approaching thy Altar with Humility and Devotion.

And above all, let a conftant Fear of offending thee, my God, put me upon my Guard, and make me watchful amidst thofe imminent Dangers and Temptations that furround me in this my Pilgrimage on Earth.

Thou, O Lord, who refifteth the Proud, and giveft Grace to the Lowly, endue me with true Humility, the Model of which thy only Son traced out for the Practice of the Faithful.

That I may have a juft Sense of all my Weakneffes and Follies, and may readily fubmit to the meanest Offices for the Welfare and Benefit of my Fellow-Christians.

That I may reftrain all immoderate Defires of Honour, by doing nothing through Strife or Vain-Glory; and that I may never exalt myself upon the Account of any Advantage I enjoy of Body or Mind above others, by remembring that it is not the Effect of my Merit, but of thy infinite Goodness and distinguishing Mercy.

Oh! deliver me from the Slavery and Dominion of Pride, which threw Angels from Heaven, and drove Man out of Paradife, which produces fo much Evil and Torment wherever it refides, and which, above all, is fo hateful in thy Sight.

III. Grant, O Lord, that I may love thee above all Things, who art infinitely perfect in thy Nature.

That I may defire thee above all Things, who art full of Mercy and Compaffion towards the Children of Men.

Who is there in Heaven but thee? And who upon Earth that I can defire in Com-. parison of thee? As the Hart thirfteth after the Water-Brooks, fo let my Soul long after thee, O God.

Let the Allurements of the World, and the Enjoyments of Senfe, appear as trifling Entertainments, in Comparison of the Pleasure and Happiness of ferving thee, and doing Good.

Let the Difficulties and Dangers which I meet with in the Way of my Duty, be fo far from discouraging me, that they may excite my Zeal, increafe my Refolution, and ferve only to make the Pleasure of loving thee more intenfe and perfect.

Let the Divine Flame of thy Love burn fo bright in my Soul, that it may free my Mind from all vile Affections, and may influence all my Actions; fo that I may carefully obferve all thy holy Laws, and farther evidence its Certainty, by diligently confulting the temporal and fpiritual Happiness of my Neighbour.

O! let it fupprefs all the bitter Effects of Envy, that I may compaffionate the Miffortunes of others, and rejoice in all good Things thou art pleased to bestow upon them.

That I may be tender of my Neighbour's Reputation, and never expofe it to rash Cenfures, nor diminish it by the Relation of his real Infirmities.

That I may guard my Heart from fecretly repining at his Profperity, or triumphing in his Calamity.

That I may fet a Watch upon the Door of my Lips; that I may speak no Evil concerning him, nor utter any Words of Detraction.

That it may quiet and appeafe the furious Boiling of Anger in my Mind, by making me patient and meek under all Provocations, by difpofing me to forgive Offences, and never to return any injurious Treatment.

That it may conquer worldly Sorrow, which worketh Death, by a comfortable Expectation of future Happinefs.

That it may expel Malice, by doing Good; that it may ftrengthen my Weaknefs, by Fortitude; cure my Defpair, by Hope; my Liftleffness, by fpiritual Exercifes; and reftrain the Wanderings of my Mind towards unlawful Things, by making me steadfast and unmoveable in the Work of the Lord.

IV. Give me, O Lord, a fober Abfti

nence,

nence, that I may know how to abound,

and how to want.

That my Appetites may be kept under ftrict Government, fince the indulging of them by our firft Parents brought Death into the World.

That they may always obferve their due Bounds, by adminiftering to the Neceffities of Life, and never fupport and encourage Luxury, which is boundlefs and infinite, which brings forth Scurrility, and Immodefty, which depreffes the Soul, and renders it unapt for fpiritual Enjoy

ments.

Make me fo mindful of that ftrict Account I must give of all my Actions, at the dreadful Tribunal Seat, that it may mortify all Inclinations and Temptations to finful Pleafures.

And ftir me up to Zeal and Diligence in performing all thofe Things which are acceptable in thy Sight, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

This

may be added, with regard to the Recerving the Holy Sacrament.

In order to attain these bleffed Ends, O Lord, I approach thy holy Table, that