thy mercy pardon what is past, and give me grace for the time to come, to consecrate my life to thee, and to embrace every occasion of remembering my Redeemer's love, and thereby securing thy favour, and my own salvation. And, if it be thy will, grant that I may always find such comfort and benefit in this ordinance, as may encourage me to observe it with joy unto my life's end.

Give me leave to recommend to thine infinite mercy the miserable condition of all such, as neglect so great means of grace and salvation. Awaken all Christian people into a sense of this duty: open their eyes, and correct their mistakes, that they may be convinced, that this is the only means of making their peace with thee, and of rendering their persons and their prayers acceptable to thy divine majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SECTION X.

EVERY well-disposed Christian, after he has thus far prepared himself for this sacrament, will endeavour to keep the thoughts of his duty, and the blessings he hopes for, warm in his heart, until the time of receiving.

Some of the following scriptures, and meditations upon them, may, through God's grace, answer that end; nor will they take up too much time, because some or more them, as occasion offers, may be devoutly used in the midst of business.

And this method of devotion is here proposed, to lead Christians to make proper reflections upon other parts of scripture which they read or hear.

:

Rev. iii. 17. Thou sayest, I am rich, and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

This is the sad condition, to which as sinners, we are subject; and it is of thy mercy, O God, that any of us are sensible. of it. Preserve me, I beseech thee, from that blindness which would hinder me from seeing my own misery; and from that pride which would keep me from acknowledging it before thee, who alone canst help me. O give me a true sense of the maladies I labour under, and help me, for thy mercies' sake, and for the sake of Jesus my Redeemer.

Psalm li. 17. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, God will not despise.

But most unfit is mine to be to God presented, until I have obtained his pardon for the many sins by which it has been defiled.

Jer. iii. 12, 13. I am merciful, saith the Lord; and I will not keep anger for ever: only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.

I do acknowledge my sin unto thee, O God; and mine iniquities will I not hide: I do therefore implore thy pardon, and plead thy gracious promise, with full purpose of heart, never again to return to folly.

Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I cannot, indeed, answer for my own heart; but there is nothing, O Lord, impossible with thee in thee I do put my trust; let me never be put to confusion:-Keep it ever in my heart, what an evil thing, and bitter, it will be, to forsake the Lord.

1 John iii. 8. He that committeth sin (who abandons himself to live in any known sin) is of the devil-is under his power and government.

Preserve me, gracious God, from so fatal a blindness, to choose satan for my lord and governour, instead of thy blessed Son, who

laid down his life to redeem us from the dreadful tyranny of the devil.

1 John ii. 25. This is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

How infinitely good is God, to give us so great encouragement to save ourselves from ruin! Give me, I beseech thee, a firm faith in this promise, that no fears may terrify me; no pleasures may corrupt my heart; no difficulties may discourage me from serving

thee.

Matt. xvi. 24. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

O my Saviour! who pleasedst not thyself, but tookedst upon thee the form of a servant, let me not profess to follow thee, without endeavouring to follow the blessed steps of thy most holy life-thy patience, meekness, and humility-thy great disregard for the world, its pleasures, profits, and all its idols-thy sensible concern for the miseries of men-thy unweariedness in doing goodthy constancy in prayer, and resignation to the will of thy Father. Let me part with any thing as dear as a right hand, or a right eye, rather than not follow thee.

Matt. vi. 24. No man can serve two masters. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

May I never set up any rival, O God, with thee, in the possession of my heart! May I never attempt to reconcile thy service with that world which is at enmity with thee! Give me, I beseech thee, the eyes of faith, that I may see the world, what in truth it is-the danger of its riches-the folly of its pleasures -the multitude of its snares-the power of its temptations-its deadly poison, and certain danger of drawing my heart from the love of thee.

Matt. xxii. 37, 39. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself.

O that the love of God may be the commanding principle of my soul; and that I may have this comfortable proof of his love abiding in me, that I study to please him, and to keep his commandments; that my love to my neighbour may be such as God has commanded; that I may give and forgive, and love, as becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ!