O my God! let the consideration of the emptiness of pleasure, the troubles and miseries of riches, and the shortness and vanity of all things in the world, inspire me with due contempt of all enjoyments here below; and make me ever shun these hindrances to a life of holiness and virtue, that I may with the greater freedom enjoy thee, O my God! in meditating on thy perfections and thy glories. Let me, dearest Jesus, have those influences of thy blessed Spirit in my retirements, that I may at last grow wholly weary of the world, and then fix my thoughts upon that heavenly kingdom, where true pleasures, fulness of riches, and lasting honours, are only to be met withal; whither let thy mercy speedily bring me, that I may be satisfied with the fulness of thy presence, and meditate for ever on thy great perfections, joining with all the glorious attendants on thy throne in endless songs of thy eternal praises. Amen. Our Father, &c. PRAYER XVI For Holiness. (1.) O MY GOD, thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, neither shall sinners dwell in thy sight. Only the pure in heart are blessed; for only they shall see God. Mortify the love, and overcome the power, of iniquity within me. Make my body the temple of the Holy Ghost, a habitation of God through the Spirit. O let me come out from the ways and practice of sin; let me not touch the unclean thing, that thou mayest be a Father unto me, and that I may be the child of thy love, and the heir of thy bliss, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father, &c. PRAYER XVII. For Holiness. (2.) O HEAVENLY Father, help me to cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. I would walk in the light, as thou art in the light: but my desires are faint, my wishes feeble, my resolutions transient as the morning cloud, or as the early dew; temptation overtakes me, and sin subdues me. Have compassion upon thy servant, O Lord, and deal with me according to the greatness of thy mercy. Withdraw not thy Holy Spirit from me, although I have so little improved its blessed influences, or followed its heavenly guidance, in time past. Thou alone canst restore my soul. Into thy hands I commit it. Wash it from all guilt, in the fountain open for sin and for uncleanness; sanctify it wholly to thyself; let not sin have dominion over me; beat down Satan under my feet; strengthen me to run the way of thy commandments, and so shall I rejoice in thy great salvation, through Jesus Christ. Amen Our Father, &c. PRAYER XVIII. Against Wandering thoughts in Prayer [Bp. Wilson. O Holy Spirit of grace, help iny infirmities, that I may fix my thoughts upon my duty; and that I may serve Thee with all my heart and mind:-that I may never give way to wandering thoughts, but watch against them continually. Look upon me, O Lord, and pity me; make me and let me be thine, by the choice of my will; make me serious and thoughtful at all times, that I may not fail being so when I attend upon God. Let not my heart, O God, be inclined to any evil thing. Keep me, O God, from every thing that may displease Thee; and make me wise unto salvation, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Our Father, &c. PRAYER XIX. For a Right Use of Time. ALMIGHTY God, I adore thy infinite patience, which hath not cut me off in the midst of my follies; I magnify thy wonderful goodness, which hath spared me thus long, and indulged me with a larger time of repentance. Let me no longer abuse that precious treasure, which thou hast allotted me as a proper season to work out my own salvation, and secure that happiness which is great in itself, and infinite in its duration. Let me bid adieu to all those vain amusements, those trifling entertainments and sinful diversions, which have robbed me of many valuable hours, and endangered the loss of my immortal soul. Let me no longer waste my time in ease and pleasure, in unprofitable studies, and more unprofitable conversation; but grat, that by diligence and honesty in my calling, by constancy and fervour in my devotions, by moderation and temperance in my enjoyments, by ustice and charity in all |