Eternal God, the great Searcher of hearts, who knowest all
our secret thoughts, and from whose all seeing eye nothing
is hid, dispose me frequently to examine the state of my
mind, and to compare mine actions with the rule of thy laws,
that nothing contrary to thy holy will may ever find a
settled abode in my soul; and let me so consider my ways, as
to turn my feet unto thy testimonies, to repent, and to
live. Grant that I may so impartially judge and condemn
myself, that I may not be condemned at thy dreadful
tribunal. Let not self-love impose upon me in a matter of
such high importance; let not sloth and negligence deter me
from keeping mine accounts clear and spotless; let no
darling passion be so far indulged, as to escape the
scrutiny of serious examination: and whenever, O Lord, I
have discovered mine own vileness, grant that, by the
assistance of thy grace, I may humble myself under a proper
sense of it before thee; that I may from my heart condemn
all those follies, by which I have so justly provoked thy
wrath and indignation against me; that I may earnestly
solicit thy pardon and forgiveness through the merits of my
Redeemer; that I may be careful to stand upon my guard for
the future; and by prayer and watchfulness engage thy
powerful protection, which is so necessary to support me in
the time of temptation, the day of trial, and the awful hour
of death. Grant this, O Lord, for the sake. of Jesus Christ,
mine only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Most gracious God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and
of great pity, who sparest when we deserve punishment, and
in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy; cause me earnestly to
repent, and heartily to be sorry for all my misdoings: make
the remembrance of them so burdensome and painful to me,
that I may flee to thee with a troubled spirit, and a
contrite heart. Forgive me all the sins which I can now call
to remembrance; and forgive me likewise all my
transgressions of thy holy will, which may now be out of tho
reach of my memory, but which have been open to thine
all-seeing eye, and are known to thee with all their
circumstances and aggravations. Pardon me, O Lord, according
to the abundant goodness of thy nature, and the declarations
made by thy Son Jesus Christ; and grant me that forgiveness
which I can neither ask nor expect, but upon those terms and
conditions which thy holiness and mercy have laid down in
the gospel. And as I am truly sensible that no forgiveness
can be expected, according to thy word, without amendment of
life, I seriously renounce all communication with whatever
is displeasing to thee, and sincerely resolve to make it my
great endeavor to correct every thing that is amiss in my
temper and behavior, and to bring myself still nearer to thy
holiness and perfection. Forgive me, therefore, as thou hast
promised by thy dearly beloved Son; visit, comfort, and
relieve me; cast me not away from thy presence, and take not
thy Holy Spirit from me; but excite in me true repentance
and contrition; give me knowledge of thy truth, and
confidence in thy mercy; and in the world to come, life
everlasting, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Lord and
Saviour. Amen,
Most gracious God, who desireth not the death of a sinner,
but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live;
unto thee I present my humble supplications, not only for
mercy to pardon my past offences, but also for grace to
assist me in times of future need. Create in me a clean
heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Make me to
reflect on my ways, to turn my feet unto thy testimonies and
wherein I have done amiss to do so no more. Give me that
godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to
be repented of. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me
from evil; and grant that I may finally come off conqueror,
yea more than conqueror, through him who hath loved us.
Forgetting those things that are behind, may I press forward
to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus. Let not my goodness be as the morning cloud,
or the early dew, which passeth away; but may it be as the
shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect
day. Finally, let no iniquity have dominion over me; but may
I be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as I know that my labor will not then be
in vain. Grant this, O God, for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Gracious God, who hast promised to give thy Holy Spirit to
them that ask; vouchsafe unto me, I beseech thee, its all
powerful influence to cleanse my polluted nature, to comfort
me in all my troubles, to succor me in temptations, and to
assist me in the discharge of my duty, that I may be enabled
to walk in thy faith and fear all the days of my life. To
thy gracious protection I commit my soul, O thou that art
faithful, as well as good; watch over me, therefore, that I
be not beguiled by the deceitfulness of sin, by tho
contagion of mine own corrupt heart, or the malice of my
spiritual enemies; but may I so watch and pray that I enter
not into temptation; and after having lived the life of
grace here, may inherit thy glory hereafter, in another and
a better world, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
FOR PREPARATION FOR
ETERNITY. |
Lord God Almighty, who hast ordained this life as a passage
to the future, by confining our conversion to the time of
our pilgrimage here, and reserving for hereafter the state
of punishment and reward; vouchsafe me the assistance of thy
grace, who still have an opportunity of reconcilement to
thee, that I may so watch over all mine actions, and correct
every deviation in my way to heaven, as neither to be
surprised with my sins uncancelled, nor called away with my
duties unperformed; but that, when my body descendeth to the
grave, my soul may ascend to thee, and dwell for ever in
those mansions of eternal felicity, which are prepared for
all thy faithful servants, through the merits of Jesus
Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
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