and to Thy consummate patience. Keep me under the shadow of Thy long-suffering love; keep me still and quiet, that I offend Thee not by any restlessness, but be content to work on in hope, only desiring to glorify Thee in running the race that is set before me. And this I ask through Thy merits. Amen.

For Sobriety and Chastity. LORD, our heavenly Father, to Whom our inmost thoughts are known, and Who hast warned us that without holiness we shall never behold Thee; defend me, I beseech Thee, both in body and mind, from every taint and stain of fleshly sin. Set a watch before my eyes, and seal my ears, so that neither sight nor sound may enter in to pollute me. Oh, let Thy blessed Spirit descend upon me, and preserve me chaste and temperate, grave and sober, clean and undefiled, that my body may be a holy temple, and my soul a sanctuary fit for Thee to dwell in. Kindle the fire of Thy love in my heart; cleanse me, and sanctify me, and make me wholly Thine, that I may glorify Thee in my body and in my spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Perseverance.

ETERNAL and unchangeable Lord God, Who are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; be pleased to communicate some small ray of that excellency, some degree of that stability, to me, Thy wretched creature, so light and inconstant, and turned about with every blast. Thou well knowest, O Lord, how my understanding is weak and easily deceived. Oh,

establish me in Thy truth; keep me from the snares of seducing spirits, that I may not be led away into error. Thou well knowest, O Lord, how irresolute and wavering my will is. Oh, make me steadfast in following Thine! Keep me from the contagion of worldliness, that I may never be shaken from my duty to Thee. Lord, Thou seest my weakness, and the number and strength of my temptations. Oh, guide me and strengthen me in the struggle, that I be not faint-hearted, or double-minded, or lukewarm. Make me, I beseech Thee, resolute to do Thy will, steadfast, immovable, in the path Thou hast pointed out to me; that I may abound in Thy work, and patiently continue in Thy service; as one with my Saviour and Captain, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Mortification and Self-denial.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, whose

only-begotten Son was pleased to be made perfect through sufferings, and did command us, if we would come after Him, to deny ourselves, and take up the cross daily; mercifully grant unto Thy servant the spirit of mortification and self-denial, that being delivered from the bondage of corruption, I may follow Him with a willing mind. Give me power over the desires of the flesh, and grace to put from me the love of pleasure, ease, profit, and honour. Enable me to exercise a wise abstinence from things lawful, that I may not be brought under the power of creatures, and may have the strength to withstand when tempted. Accustom me to prefer Thy ordering to my own choice, even as I am taught by the holy example of Thy dear Son; that having watched with Him the one

hour of this mortal life, and being crucified with Him to sin, I may be raised to live again with Him in glory everlasting; for His sake. Amen.

For Contentment.

MAKE me contented, I most humbly pray

Thee, O God; contented with my outward circumstances, with my inward gifts; contented with all, save myself and my own unprofitable service. Give me such a sense of my own undeservings, of the merits of others, and above all of Thy most loving and accurate care for me, in guiding the circumstances of my life to train me best for the place and office which Thou dost prepare for me hereafter, that I may cast all my care upon Thee, and cheerfully apply myself to show forth my thankfulness in my life. Keep me from restlessness and covetousness, that in quietness and confidence I may live out my life here, and not be ashamed on my deathbed of vain and foolish hankerings after change. Keep me from envy of others, and from the ingratitude of desiring more of this world's gifts than Thou hast in Thy wisdom intrusted to my responsibility; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O

For Thankfulness.

LORD our Father, Who hast encouraged us to covet Thy spiritual gifts, I come to Thee in all humility for the precious gift of a grateful spirit.

I desire to prepare myself for receiving it, by recalling my innumerable earthly blessings, the

multiplied happinesses with which Thou hast lovingly indulged and cheered me.

I desire still more to recall Thy spiritual bounties; Thy mysterious grace of election and regeneration; Thy long-suffering to my dulness and wickedness; Thy marvellous forgiveness; Thy oft-repeated goodness in restoring me to Thy favour.

I desire to be quick to perceive Thy wonderful providence, in ordering my life for my salvation; to be keen in discerning Thy care in things great and small, public and private. I desire to value all these Thy gifts for Thy sake, to see in them the fruit of my Lord's intercession on my behalf.

And now, O Father, give me, for His sake, Thy crowning gift of a grateful spirit, that I may rejoice always, and in everything give thanks, not quenching the Spirit, but reverently and gladly welcoming Him. And grant, O Lord, that under His blessed influence my heart may not only overflow in thankfulness for the past, but be so settled in reliance on Thy loving care for the future, that it may be wholly given to glorify Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

For Love of Objects of Work.

LORD, I would do my appointed work

through good report and evil report, in prosperity and adversity, in success and failure, in pleasure and in pain. I know that steady labour is distasteful to the natural man, and that it must surely conflict with the desires of the mind, and of the flesh. Nevertheless, not for my satisfaction, but for greater success in Thy service, I entreat, O Lord, that my affec

tions as well as my duty may be engaged therein, that I may love even to do that which is irksome to myself, for the earnest desire of a success which may redound to Thy glory. And therefore I fervently desire such love for Thee (and for those to whom I minister, that their welfare may be very dear to my heart, and thus) that my task may be truly a labour of love; for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

For Cheerfulness and Courtesy.

HELP me, O Lord, to keep the thought of

self so completely under restraint, that in all my intercourse with others I may be quite free, first to do them good, and secondly to give them pleasure. Give me such regard for their feelings that I may not only avoid unnecessary offence, but go as far as possible in conciliating their goodwill, without sacrificing Thy truth, or the consistency of my conduct. Dispose me to be cheerful without loss of self-control, and courteous without flattery, so that in all things I may please my neighbour to his edification; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O

For a Forgiving Spirit.

LORD Jesus Christ, Who hast warned us that an unforgiving heart is a fatal hindrance to Thy forgiveness of us, and to the acceptance of our prayers; Who hast promised that if we forgive, we shall also be forgiven; graft in my heart, I beseech Thee, an ardent desire to follow Thee in Thy wonderful forgiveness of those who cruelly injure Thee.

Help me, O Lord, to arouse myself, and in the power of Thy life, to stifle and overcome