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in; or on the Rewards promifed to good Men, and on the Punishments denounced against the Wicked, as thofe Things are laid down in the Holy Scriptures, which are our only infallible Guide; on which Occafion, the Book intitled, The Chrif tian Inflitutes, or the fincere Word of God, will be very useful, in containing the whole Faith and Duty of a Christian digefted under proper Heads, and delivered in the Words of Scripture, fo that the 'Reader may find there together those Scriptures, which may concern any Article of Faith, or particular Duty toge 'ther with the Scripture-Motives for the 6 Practice thereof. After the devout Chriftian has spent fome little Time in Reading and Meditation, as aforefaid, he may ufe the following Prayers.'

A Prayer confifting of Petitions for the Virtues of a Chriftian Life.

I. MOST merciful and gracious God, who of thy great Goodnefs didft give thy Son Jefus Chrift to take upon him our Nature, and to humble himfelf to Death, even the Death of the Crofs;

I beseech thee, by his infinite Condefcenfion, by his perfect Obedience, and by his meritorious Sufferings; not only to pardon my paft Sins, but to endue me with Power and Strength to resist them for the Time to come.

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Replenish me with fuch fupernatural Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit, as may enable me not only to act conformably to the Light of my own Mind, but make me readily obey thy Heavenly Motions, and conftantly follow the Precepts of the Holy Scriptures.

Give me a zealous Senfe of Piety towards thee, my great Lord and Sovereign, and a due Regard to all thy facred and Divine Truths.

Let me reverence thy Word and Worship, and all Things and Perfons dedicated, and devoted to thy peculiar Service.

Let me fubmit to all the Afflictions thou fhalt think fit to lay upon me, with Patience and with Meeknefs.

Let me trust to thy Providence, to fupply me under all Dangers and Neceffities.

And let me thankfully acknowledge thy Bounty, for all thofe good Things which thou fo freely haft beftowed upon me.

II. Give me, O Lord, that Divine Wif dom, which propofes the pleafing thee, as

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the End and Aim of all my Actions; and which directs to all thofe Means which thou haft graciously established for the working out my Salvation.

That my precious Time may not be employed in hunting after Trifles; that my natural Talents may not be buried and drowned in brutish Senfuality; that my Study may not be Vanity, nor my Labour Folly; but that framing a right Judgment in all Things, I may fix my Mind upon thofe Pleafures which are at thy Right Hand, which are permanent and durable.

And that the great Care and Bufinefs of my Life may be to obtain thy Favour, who art the Sovereign Good of my Soul, and who only canft fatisfy all my Defires.

To this End, inure me to fpiritual Objects by conftant and fervent Prayer, by entertaining my Thoughts with pious Meditations, by reading and hearing thy holy Word with Reverence and Attention, and by frequently approaching thy Altar with Humility and Devotion.

And above all, let a conftant Fear of offending thee, my God, put me upon my Guard, and make me watchful amidst thofe imminent Dangers and Temptations that furround me in this my Pilgrimage on Earth.

Thou, O Lord, who refifteth the Proud, and giveft Grace to the Lowly, endue me with true Humility, the Model of which thy only Son traced out for the Practice of the Faithful.

That I may have a juft Senfe of all my Weakneffes and Follies and may readily fubmit to the meanest Offices for the Welfare and Benefit of my Fellow-Christians.

That I may restrain all immoderate Defires of Honour, by doing nothing through Strife or Vain-Glory; and that I may never exalt myself upon the Account of any Advantage I enjoy of Body or Mind above others, by remembering that it is not the Effect of my Merit, but of thy infinite Goodness and diftinguishing Mercy.

Oh! deliver me from the Slavery and Dominion of Pride, which threw Angels from Heaven, and drove Man out of Paradife, which produces fo much Evil and Torment wherever it refides, and which, above all, is fo hateful in thy Sight.

III. Grant, O Lord, that I may love thee above all Things, who art infinitely perfect in thy Nature.

That I may defire thee above all Things, who art full of Mercy and Compaffion towards the Children of Men.

Who is there in Heaven but thee? And who upon Earth that I can defire in Comparifon of thee? As the Hart thirsteth after the Water-Brooks, fo let my Soul long after thee, O God.

Let the Allurements of the World, and the Enjoyments of Senfe, appear as trifling Entertainments, in Comparifon of the Pleasure and Happinefs of ferving thee, and doing Good.

Let the Difficulties and Dangers which I meet with in the Way of my Duty, be fo far from difcouraging me, that they may excite my Zeal, increafe my Refolution, and ferve only to make the Pleasure of loving. thee more intenfe and perfect.

Let the Divine Flame of thy Love burn fo bright in my Soul, that it may free my Mind from all vile Affections, and may influence all my Actions; fo that I may carefully obferve all thy holy Laws, and farther Evidence its Certainty, by diligently confulting the temporal and spiritual Happinefs of my Neighbour.

O! let it fuppref's all the bitter Effects of Envy, that I may compaffionate the Mif fortunes of others, and rejoice in all good Things thou art pleafed to bestow upon them.