bours, and pleasing to thee; that, when my body shall lie down in its bed of darkness, my soul may pass into the regions of light, and live with thee for ever; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Three Prayers, written by DR. JOHNSON, on his Birth-Day.

Almighty and most merciful Father, who yet. sparest and yet supportest me, who supportest me in my weakness, and sparest me in my sins, and hast now granted me to begin another year; enable me to improve the time which is yet before me to thy glory and my own salvation. Impress upon my soul such repentance of the days misspent in idleness and folly, that I may henceforward diligently attend to the business of my station in this world, and to all the duties which thou hast commanded. Let thy holy Spirit comfort and guide me, that in my passage through the pains or pleasures of the present state I may never be tempted to forgetfulness of thee. Let my life be useful, and my death be happy; let me live according to thy laws, and die with just confidence in thy mercy; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

By the same.

O eternal God, merciful and gracious, vouchsafe thy favour and thy blessing to thy servant : let the love of thy mercies, and the dread and fear of thy majesty, make me careful and inquisitive to search thy will, and diligently to perform it; and to persevere in the practices of a holy life, even till the last of my days. Amen.

By the same.

Bless me, gracious God, in my calling to such purposes as thou shalt choose for me, or employ me in relieve me in all sadness and sickness, give me patience in my sorrows, confidence in thee, and grace to call upon thee in all temptations. O be thou my guide in all my actions, my protector in all dangers: give me a healthful body and a clear understanding, a sanctified and just, a charitable and humble, a religious and a contented spirit: let not my life be miserable. and wretched, nor my name stained with sin and shame, nor my condition lifted up to a tempting and dangerous fortune; but let my state be. blessed, my conversation useful to my neigh

bours, and pleasing to thee; that, when my body shall lie down in its bed of darkness, my soul may pass into the regions of light, and live with thee for ever; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Three Prayers, written by DR. JOHNSON, on his Birth-Day.

Almighty and most merciful Father, who yet sparest and yet supportest me, who supportest me in my weakness, and sparest me in my sins, and hast now granted me to begin another year; enable me to improve the time which is yet before me to thy glory and my own salvation. Impress upon my soul such repentance of the days misspent in idleness and folly, that I may henceforward diligently attend to the business of my station in this world, and to all the duties which thou hast commanded. Let thy holy Spirit comfort and guide me, that in my passage through the pains or pleasures of the present state I may never be tempted to forgetfulness of thee. Let my life be useful, and my death be happy; let me live according to thy laws, and die with just confidence in thy mercy; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast granted me to prolong my life to another year, look down upon me with pity. Let not my manifold sins and negligences avert from me thy fatherly regard. Enlighten my mind, that I may know my duty; that I may perform it, strengthen my resolution. Let not another year be lost in vain deliberations; let me remember, that of the short life of man, a great part is already past in sinfulness and sloth. Deliver me, gracious Lord, from the bondage of evil customs, and take not from me thy holy spirit; but enable me so to spend my remaining days, that, by performing thy will, I may promote thy glory; and grant, that after the troubles and disappointments of this mortal state, I may obtain everlasting happiness; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Father of all mercies, I thine unworthy servant do give thee most humble thanks for all thy goodness and lovingkindness to me. I bless. thee for my creation, preservation, and redemption, for the knowledge of thy Son Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and the hope of glory.

In the days of childhood and youth, in the midst of weakness, blindness, and danger, thou hast protected me; amidst afflictions of mind, body, and estate, thou hast supported me; and amidst vanity and wickedness thou hast spared me. Grant, O merciful Father, that I may have a lively sense of thy mercies. Create in me a contrite heart, that I may worthily lament my sins and acknowledge my wickedness, and obtain remission and forgiveness through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ. And, O Lord, enable me, by thy grace, to redeem the time which I have spent in sloth, vanity, and wickedness; to make use of thy gifts to the honour of thy name; to lead a new life, in thy faith, fear, and love; and finally, to obtain everlasting life. Grant this, Almighty Lord, for the merits and through the mediation of our most holy and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, Three Persons, and One God, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.