slothful man saith, there is a lion in the way, a lion is in the streets. There is nothing which stands between you and everlasting salvation, but a proud, obstinate, unholy will. Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life, is the reproachful language of our Saviour. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you, to will and to do of his good pleasure, is the emphatic argument and direction of his Apostle. It is your duty then to venture every thing on the promise of God. You may resolve on taking upon yourselves the vows of religion in his strength. Only rise and be doing, and God will be with you. Nothing harsh, nothing severe is enjoined; the faintest desire, the weakest effort, shall not be despised. The very rite of confirmation will, under the divine blessing, be the means of conveying to you some measure of the grace you need. It shall certify you of God's favour and gracious goodness towards you; the united prayers of the Bishop and the congregation shall not be offered in vain. You shall be endued with the Holy Spirit, to enable you to fulfil your promises; you shall go on, if you are not wanting to yourselves, from strength to strength, relying on the Lord, and the power of his might; for The youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their

strength; they shall mount up on wings, as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

A PRAYER

FOR A PERSON WHO IS ABOUT TO BE CONFIRMED.

O MOST gracious and blessed God, who hast so loved the world as to give thine only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life, I beseech Thee to have mercy upon me, a guilty sinner! Enable me, by thy grace, to enter into a solemn covenant with Thee, in the sacred rite of Confirmation; give me thy Holy Spirit, as my Teacher, Comforter, and Sanctifier. I bless Thy holy name that I was born of Christian parents, and was admitted to Thy holy baptism. O, strengthen me with Thy heavenly grace, that I may indeed take upon myself the vows which were then made in my name. I desire, O God, truly to repent of all my sins; I would abase myself before Thee for my original and actual transgressions, and especially for the wicked affections of my heart. I implore of Thee, O Lord, the free pardon and forgiveness

4 Isai. xl. 30, 31.

of my iniquities, through the alone merits and satisfaction of Thy Son our Lord. I plead no other name under Heaven, but only the name of thy dear Son; I desire to devote and give up myself to Thee, according to the tenour of thy gracious covenant. I would renounce the works of the Devil, the world, and the flesh, and dedicate my body, soul, and spirit to thee, as no longer my own, but bought with the inestimable price of the blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ. I pray, O Lord, for the especial aid of thy Holy Spirit, that I may be truly sincere in my engagements which I make before Thee, and that I may have power to keep the same. Assist me, O Lord, in preparing for the public confirmation of my vows. Be with me during the solemnities of the ordinance itself. May the prayers of Thy servant the Bishop be heard and answered. May Thy Holy Spirit be conferred upon me. May I devoutly expect and depend upon His grace; and may this occasion be ever preserved in my remembrance in future years, to the glory of Thy great name and the benefit of my soul. These mercies I humbly implore, in the name and through the mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Our Father, &c.

A PRAYER

FOR A YOUNG PERSON AFTER CONFIRMATION.

O INFINITE and ever-glorious God, I bless Thy great name, that Thou hast condescended to encourage and command sinners to enter into covenant with Thyself. I adore thee for Thy condescension in permitting me, the most unworthy of Thy creatures, to approach Thee in the presence of Thy church, and join myself publicly to the number of Thy faithful people. O, forgive the infirmities which accompanied my performance of this weighty duty; and accept my praises for every good thought, every holy desire, and every sincere purpose of my mind in it. Help me, O God, ever to keep on my heart a sense of the unspeakable blessings which have been bestowed upon me. May I consider how solemnly I have consecrated myself to Thee as a living sacrifice. Do thou, O Lord, confirm me in these vows. Grant that the prayers of Thy church may be heard in heaven, Thy dwelling-place. I desire most solemnly to renew the engagements I have publicly made. I would take Thee in Jesus Christ as my God, my father, my portion, and my all. O, endue me daily, more and more, with Thy Holy Spirit! Grant me inward strength for doing and suffering Thy whole will. Unite me

continually, more and more, to the mystical body of Thy dear Son. May I walk in newness of life. May I be preserved from the sinful practices of the world, from the corrupt desires of the flesh, and from the malicious works of the Devil. May I practice all such good works as become my holy profession. May I never draw back from Thy ways. May I be advancing in Thy true faith and fear. O, give me to abound in all the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Enable me to abide in Christ my Saviour, as the branch abideth in the vine. Assist me to glorify Thy name, to adorn Thy Gospel, and to fulfil all the various duties to which I may be called. Grant me grace to be spiritual, humble, circumspect, resigned, cheerful, and consistent in my whole conversation and conduct. And, O, vouchsafe to me by Thy mercy, that I may so pass through things temporal, that finally I lose not the things eternal. These mercies I humbly implore, in the name and through the mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Father, &c.