Let thy word quicken my obedience. dreadful threatnings and judgments upon sinners, fright me from sin, and oblige me to a speedy repentance. Give me a full persuasion of those great truths, which thou hast revealed to us in thy holy word. From hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word, and commandments; good Lord, deliver us. Give us all grace to hear meekly thy word, to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the spirit, and to amend our lives according to thy holy word. Luke xxiv. 43. "Then opened he their understandings, that they might understand the scriptures.' Unless thou, O Jesus, openest our understandings also, all our pains, all our learning, will signify little. Matthew II. 36. "Declare unto us this parable." This should instruct us that the right know. ledge of God's word and of the doctrines of the gospel, are favours which we must always beg of God. Let one or more of the following be said af ter reading. O God the fountain of all wisdom, I humbly beseech thee, to enlighten my mind, that I may come to the knowledge of thee, and of thy goodness. Give me a serious, an understanding, and a religious heart, that as I grow in years may grow in grace. Bless all the means of salvation which thou hast afforded me, and especially this instruction, that it may sink into my heart, and bring forth in me the fruit of good-living, to the honor and praise of thy holy name.......Amen. Blessed Lord, who hast caused all sacred scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that I may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that they bring forth the fruits of truth and righteousness. "Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief," Lord remove far from me all doubt, destroy the evil heart of unbelief that is within, increase my faith, confirm my hopes, give me grace that with a holy life, I may adorn the religion I possess. Keep me stedfast in the faith, that no errors may seperate me from thee but may thy love O merciful God; thy grace O blessed Jesus, thy sacred influence O Holy Spirit, preserve and defend me in all doubt, temptations and adversities, until I attain the end of my faith, even the salvation of my soul. Open mine eyes O Lord, that I may see that thy law is holy, just and good, and that I may keep it with my whole heart, and in all Lord have mercy upon me, and write all thy laws on my heart, I humbly beseech thee. Prayer of Samuel Johnson. Almighty God, in whose hand are all the powers of men; who givest understanding and 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 time which thou hast given me, in useless trifles, nor waste it in searching after things which thou hast hidden from 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 Jesus Christ sake. The following prayers may be used at discretion, on any morning or evening: INTERCESSORY PRAYER. Pray for them that dispitefully use you, " and persecute you.' Pray one for another." Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." Such are the commands of Christ and his Apostles. This is a most useful and beautiful part of devotion; useful in warming our own hearts with love to our fellow creatures, even to our enemies, and in disposing us to do good to them; but in some mysterious way, it is also, according to the plain promise of scripture, useful to others. Surely God never would have commanded an useless prayer to be made:surely he never made a promise which will not be fulfilled. "That be far from him." 59 It may appear marvellous in our eyes, that a prayer offered up by one person, should descend with a blessing, upon the head of another but it is the Lord's doing. God hath so arranged matters, that our prayers should mu |