obtain forgiveness and acceptance; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour; to whose covenant I now implore admission; of the bene fit of whose death I implore participation. For his sake have mercy upon me, O God; for his sake, O God, pardon and receive me.

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Almighty and most merciful Father, I am now about to commemorate once more, in thy presence, the redemption of the world by our Lord and Saviour thy Son Jesus Christ. Grant, O most merciful God, that the benefit of his sufferings may be extended to me. Grant me faith, grant me repentance, illuminate me with thy holy Spirit, enable me to form good purposes, and to bring these purposes to good effect. Let me so dispose my time, that I may discharge the duties to which thou shalt vouchsafe to call me; and let that degree of health, to which thy mercy has restored me, be employed to thy glory. O God, invigorate my understanding, compose my perturbations, recal my wanderings, and calm my thoughts; that, having lived, while thou shalt grant me life, to praise thee and do good, I may, when thy call shall summon me to another state, receive mercy from thee; for Jesus Christ's take. Amen.

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Almighty and most merciful Father, I am now, as to human eyes it seems, about to commemorate, for the last time, the death of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Grant, O Lord, that my whole hope and confidence be in his merits and thy mercy; enforce and accept my imperfect repentance; make this commemoration available to the confirmation of my faith, the establishment of my hope, and the enlargement of my charity; and make the death of thy Son Jesus Christ effectual to my redemption. Have mercy upon me, and pardon the multitude of my offences. Bless my friends, have mercy upon all men. Support me, by thy holy Spirit, in the days of weakness, and at the hour of death; and receive me, at

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my death, to everlasting happiness; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

For Christmas Day.-MSS.

Almighty and most merciful God, Lord and Father of all things in heaven and on earth, before thy high throne we prostrate ourselves, and raise our hearts in grateful praise and thanksgiv

Two Prayers, written by DR. JOHNSON, on the
New Year.

Almighty God, merciful Father, who hast granted to me the beginning of another year, grant that I may employ thy gifts to thy glory and my own salvation. Excite me to amend my life, give me good resolutions, and enable me to purform them. As I approach the grave, let my faith be invigorated, my hope exalted, and my charity enlarged. Take not from me thy Holy Spirit; but in the course of my life protect me, in the hour of death sustain me, and, finally, receive me to everlasting happiness; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Almighty God, by whose will I was created, and by whose providence I have been sustained; by whose mercy I have been called to the knowledge of my Redeemer, and by whose grace, whatever I have thought or acted acceptable to thee has been inspired and directed: grant, O Lord, that in the reviewing of my past life I may recollect thy mercies to my preservation, in

whatever state thou preparest for me; that in affliction I may remember how often I have been succoured, and in prosperity may know and confess from whose hand the blessing is received. Let me, O Lord, so remember my sins, that I may abolish them by true repentance; and so improve the year to which thou hast graciously extended my life, and all the years which thou shalt yet allow me, that I may hourly become purer in thy sight; so that I may live in thy fear and die in thy favour, and find mercy at the last day; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Five Prayers written by DR. JOHNSON, previous to the commencement of his different studies.

On the study of religion.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without whose help labour is useless, without whose light search is vain, invigorate my study and direct my enquiries, that I may, by due diligence and right discernment, establish myself and others in thy holy faith. Take not, O Lord, thy holy spirit from me; let not evil thoughts have dominion in my mind; let me not linger in ignorance,

but enlighten and support me; for the sake of 'Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, in whose hands are all the powers of man; who givest understanding, aud takest it away; who, as it seemeth good unto thee, enlightenest the thoughts of the simple, and darkenest the meditations of the wise; be present with me in my studies and enquiries. Grant, O Lord, that I may not lavish away the life which thou hast given me on useless trifles, nor waste it in vain searches after things which thou hast hidden from me. Enable me, by thy holy Spirit, so to shun sloth and negligence, that every day may discharge part of the task which thou hast allotted me; and so further with thy help that labour, which, without thy help, must be ineffectual, that I may obtain, in all my undertakings, such success as will most promote thy glory, and the salvation of my own soul; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.