to our heavenly phyfician, and firmly refolving to lead a new life.

5. Do not think then that it is enough to confefs our fins to God, and to be unfeignedly concerned and forrowful for having offended him; this is far short of a true repentance. No, my foul, that would be adding fin to fin, and grieving the Holy Spirit by our mockery of God. But you must remember that as our fins are against God, and againft, our neighbour, fo repentance implies not only our forrow for fin, but an endeavour to undo, as far as we can, whatever we have done amifs. And,

6. Therefore the church directs, if you fhall perceive your offences to be fuch as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours, then you shall reconcile yourself unto them, being ready to make reftitution and fatisfaction, according to the utmost of your power, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewife ready to forgive others that have offended you, as you would have forgiveness of your own offences at God's hands. But what fayeft thou, my foul? if I am able to make no reftitution or fatisfaction at all, for the injury I have done my neighbour, muft I not come to the facrament; provided acknowledge and confefs my fin to God, and promife in my

mind

mind to make amends whenever I am able?

7. Yes, certainly; for as God requires no impoffibilities, fo he expects of us no more than we are able to do; and this be ing all the repentance we can fhow under an inability of making fatisfaction for the prefent, we may be well affured, that where fuch a refolution of being just and boneft is attended with a hearty contrition, that will be fufficient till we are able to put it in execution.

8. So that the fum of what I have faid is this, that confeffion and reftitution are the two external tokens of repentance; and I am perfuaded, that the rule and measure of confeffion (to the parties injured) is the benefit and the good that would come by it: and the rule and measure of refti tution is a man's ability of making it. So that where mifchief and no good would come by confeffion, there I may repent without confeffion, except to God. And where I am able to make no reftitution, there I may repent fincerely without it; and fo may come to the holy facrament, though I have done much wrong and injury. Yet, as the exhortation directs*, in cafes of difficulty we ought to confult our spiritual guide.

See the exhortation to the communion service of the church.

The Hymn on Wednesday Morning.

On confeffion of fins to God.

IF I keep filence, and conceal

My heavy guilt within my heart,
What torments doth my confcience feel!
What agonies of inward Smart!
I Spread my fins before the Lord,
And all my fecret faults confess;
Thy gofpel Speaks a pard'ning word,
Thy Holy Spirit seals the grace.
For this fhall every humble foul
Make fwift addresses to thy feat;
When floods of huge temptations roll,
There fhall they find a blefs'd retreat.
How fafe beneath thy wings I lie,

When days grow dark aud ftorms appear! And when I walk, thy watchful eye

Shall guide me fafe from ev'ry fnare.

Another.

HOW bleft the man, for ever bleft,
Whofe guilt is pardon'd by his God;
Whofe fins with forrow are confefs'd,
And cover'd with his Saviour's blood!
Bleft is the man to whom the Lord.
Imputes not his iniquities;
He pleads no merit of reward,
And not on worth but grace relies.

From

From guilt his lips and heart are free,
His humble joy, his holy fear,
With deep repentance well agree,
And join to prove his faith fincere.
How glorious is that righteoufnefs
That hides and cancels all his fins ;
While a bright evidence of grace
Thro' his whole life appears and shines.
The Prayer on Wednesday Morning.
For refignation and affiftance.

God, the creator and preferver of all mankind, by thee I have beeh holden up ever fince I was born; and by thy goodness it is, that I have been preferved the night paft from all perils and dangers. Grant me a perpetual sense of thy goodness, that fo the remembrance of thy paft favours may beget in me fuch a humble reliance on thy fatherly care and good providence, that I may per fectly refign myfelf to thy difpofal in all things, as moft juft and righteous.

O let me never abuse thy patience, nor defpife thy goodnefs; but let thy fear be always before my eyes, that I may not fin against thee, but that, giving up myself entirely to thy fervice, I may endeavour in all things to obey thy bleffed will, and to keep a confcience void of offence both toward thee, and toward all men.

For

For which end, O Lord, vouchfafe me the affiftance of thy Holy Spirit, for of myself I am not able to please thee, my nature being corrupt, and miferably prone to what is evil. I am every way befet with temptations, and my own experience fadly teaches me, how easily I am drawn away by the deceitful tempter. But, O thou, who art the Saviour of all that put their truft in thee, deliver me, I befeech thee, from that cruel enemy of my foul, who is daily lying in wait to deftroy me; be thou my strong-hold whereunte Imay always refort, and ever more mightily defend me; for thou hast been my fuccour ever fince I was born; O leave me not to myself, neither forfake me, O God of my falvation.

Lead me, 1 befeech thee, in the way wherein I should go, guide me by the right hand, and conduct me fafely through the dangerous fnares and temptations of this dreadful world: and, though thou fhould permit me to fall into fevere trials, yet fuffer me not, I befeech thee, to be tempted above what I am able to bear; let no calamity ever drive me from thee, nor any profperity caufe me to forget thee. But,

Grant that all thy providences toward me may work together for my good, and be a powerful means to bring me to thy

H

felf,