Imatges de pàgina
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faults, and even vices, which you have not. In the mean while, it is not the
property of virtue, to proclaim herself on the house-top, and though wisdom is juf
tified of her children, fhe will not use any unjust means to obtain a just end. Strictly
speaking, there is no fuch thing in nature, as acting upon any other motive than
with a view to our own interest. The difference is, that ONE man does that which
his confcience dictates to be right; HE thinks it will please God, and hopes to re-
ceive his reward, and be happy in the regions of everlasting felicity: that is His in-
tereft. ANOTHER fixes his eye on the prefent, temporal advantage, and endevors
to obtain it, indifferent, whether it pleases his Maker, or not. He eagerly preffes
forward to grafp his object, though hell opens wide her jaws to receive him.
Which of the two, think you, understands his intereft beft? It is God alone.
who knows our hearts, and it is HE who rewards or punishes. Confider the difference
of time and eternity; the uncertainty of life; the calm delights of virtue; the
deluding, unfatisfactory pleasures of fin, and then purfue that which you think
is most for your interest.

26. CHERISH in your breaft the love of your country, as including every focial virtue. It is a noble affection of the mind, common to us all, as Britons, whether rich or poor: it comprehends the love of God, the love of our parents and kindred, relations and friends; and alfo the love of the parents, kindred, and children of others. In a word, it takes in all our fellow-fubjects, whose profperity we ought to delight in, and to mourn at their misfortunes, as if they were our own; confequently we must resolve to die, rather than give up our religion and laws. We have the utmoft reafon to think that ours are the trueft and the best in the world; and we know that our common happiness depends on our liberty, and this must stand, or fall, with our religion and laws.

27. For the fame reason, that you love your country, you will be a good subject to our LORD THE KING. Love and honor him, and be earneft in your prayers, for the length of his days, and the happiness of his reign. He is not only a very gracious fovereign, and a good man, but also the firft magiftrate, and fupreme over

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burch and ftate; he is alfo a guardian and protector, without which we could not be fafe, much lefs happy.

28. You must alfo pray for the health and profperity of the ROYAL FAMILY, that God may be pleafed to give us a fucceffion of kings, juft, and equitable in their conduct towards us; zealous to protect our laws; true worshipers of God; and religious DEFENDERS OF OUR FAITH, AS CHRISTIANS. For the fame reason, you

are called on, to implore the mercies of heaven, to preferve the life and happinefs of the HEIR OF THE CROWN OF THESE REALMS, the most worthy, and the moft amiable Prince, the PRINCE OF WALES.

29. THE SOCIETY, which has honored me with this commiffion, would gladly make their advice ferviceable to you, under all circumstances. I muft, therefore, take this occafion to mention to you, as a matter of very great importance, that, if your father and mother should be alive, when you are out of your time, and need affiftance: or, if any of your kindred or relations should be in diftrefs, or very poor, as it may foon be in your power, that it be always your inclination to give them relief. Rejoice greatly, and thank God, if you have it in your power, to discharge a duty fo highly acceptable to HIM, who is the great parent of mankind, He is merciful to all his creatures, and commands us to fhew mercy. You are preferved by HIS mercy: not your welfare only, but your life depends on it every moment: and you know that it is declared by the word of God himself, that "be that loveth not kis brother whom he bath feen, cannot love God whom he hath "not feen."

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30. My fon, let not mercy and truth forfake thee; bind them about thy neck; "write them upon the table of thine heart." Let these beads of inftruction fink into your boom; read them frequently, at least every fix months; confider them well; print them deep on your memory; think thofe your very good friends, who gave them, and let them infpire you with a fincere defire, to feek after fuch kind. of knowledge, as will reduce your belief in Chrift, into real practice, and render

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you amiable in the fight of God and men. You will be every day more and more sensible of the advantage, till you arrive at the enjoyment of a more folid comfort, a calmer and more fteady joy, than all the riches of the world, without virtue, can poffibly afford to any man.

And may the God of mercy and comfort, who watches over all mankind, under all their various circumstances, protect and preferve you in life and death!

PRIVATE

PRIVATE

OCCASIONAL

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PRAYER S.

1. For Attention, Faith, Pardon of Sins and Chastity.

1. For Attention of Mind in Prayer.

LORD omnipotent! Father of fpirits! who art ever present with thy faith

ful fervants; affist me, I beseech thee, to collect my scattered thoughts, and to exercise every faculty of my mind, that I may prefent myself before thee, with the profoundest awe, and the deepest humiliation of foul. This, O Lord, I beg for Jefus Chrift his fake! Amen.

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11. For the fame.

Lmighty and everlasting God, I humbly approach the majesty of thy throne, with earnest desires to worship thee, in spirit and in truth!-Suffer not my beart to ftray, nor my tongue to offer the facrifice of fools: "But let the "words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be always acceptable in thy fight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer!" Amen.

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111. For Faith in the Scriptures.

Lord almighty, who of thy infinite love hafst sent thine only Son to make thy will known unto men, thy faving health unto all the nations of the world! whilft thy gospel fhineth on the earth, as the fun in his meridian glory, I befeech thee let me not foolishly ftray, nor blindly wander in darkness! Suffer me not, O Lord, to follow the example of the world, whilft the footsteps of him who overcame the world, are before mine eyes; even the example of my bleffed Redeemer. Let not the customs or opinions of men over-rule my reason; but be it my daily task, to read and confider thy holy fcriptures, which have brought fuch joyful tidings to mankind. Chaften me, O Lord, that I may collect my diffipated thoughts, and fubdue my evil habits, and with a steady mind look forward to eternity, trufting in the merits of my Savior Jefus Chrift! Amen.

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IV. For the fame.

Lord God Almighty, in whose favor is life, and everlasting felicity! Thou hast

graciously delivered me from the paths of ignorance, and from the ways of perdition: enlighten my understanding, that I may fearch with diligence, hear and digeft with faith, and meditate with joy, and with patience and comfort hold faft thy facred word, even with my latest breath. And as I learn thy will, O God, let all my anxious struggles, and longing wifhes, to ferve thee with a pure and willing mind, render my heart, an offering acceptable in thy fight! This I beg, O father of mercies, for the fake of that great priest and prophet who brought life and im mortality to light, even thy Son Jefus Chrift, my only Savior and Redeemer! Amen.

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v. For Repentance.

Lord of heaven, who in thy infinite goodness, haft given me to behold the dangers that furround me; with fhame and confufion of face, I acknowledge my faults, and confefs my fins unto thee! I have wandered from thy paths, O Lord; caft me not for ever from thy prefence! Forgive my presumptuous fins; pardon my offences, and foften my relenting heart! Give me a true fenfe of my condition, that floods of penitential tears, may flow from mine eyes, and cleanse my heart from guilt. Give me grace, O Lord, to make acquaintance with my own foul, that I may seek the healing chastisements of thy merciful hand; and let the bitter fufferings of my blessed Redeemer, plead my caufe at thy throne, O God! Amen.

VI. For Pardon of Sin.

A Lmighty God! Maker of all things! - Judge of all men! - Thou Sovereign Α

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Lord of heaven and earth, on whom all Beings depend; who art ready to receive thy creatures who fly to thee for refuge! Thus humbly proftrate before thy throne, I implore thy mercy-"Be not extreme, to mark my of fences!"- Thou, O blessed Lord, who didft fuffer a painful and ignominious death that I might obtain pardon for my fins! - Thou, that madeft an allfufficient facrifice for the fins of the whole world, let not thy blood be spilt in vain for me! This I beg, with up-lifted hands, O Lord, for the merits of the fame Jefus Chrift my Savior and my God! God! Amen.

VII. For

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