Dispose me, by Thy grace, reverently to peruse them, with an entire submission of my understanding to Thy Divine authority; and with a sincere and stedfast resolution of mind to govern my life by the maxims of Thy holy Gospel, and to do and suffer Thy blessed will in every thing.

Let Thy precious promises quicken my obedience, and make me fruitful and abounding in the work of the Lord: and let Thy dreadful threatenings possess my soul with an awful fear of displeasing Thee, and make me speedily to depart from all iniquity.

O Thou, from Whom is all our sufficiency, and Who workest in us to will and to do of Thy good pleasure, I humbly beseech Thee to purify my heart from all hypocrisy, pride, and self-conceit, from all sensual desires and worldly cares, and every thing that will hinder the growth and increase of the heavenly seed of Thy word. And grant, that I may so seriously attend to the great truths Thy goodness hath revealed to us in the Gospel, that my improvements in holiness may be answerable to the means of grace Thou hast vouchsafed me; and I may so cheerfully run the way of Thy commandments, that I may finally attain Thy heavenly promises, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for grace to be frequent in prayer; and for the holy dispositions necessary to entitle our prayers to the Divine acceptance.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, Who hast been graciously pleased not only to permit, but to encourage and command us, who are but vile dust and ashes, to make our requests known unto Thee; and hast promised by Thy blessed Son, that whatsoever we ask in His Name we shall receive; assist me with Thy grace so attentively to consider the all-sufficient goodness of Thy nature, and the miserable indigency

of mine own, that I may set a due value on this inestimable privilege, and rejoice in every opportunity of worshipping Thy glorious Majesty, and presenting my supplications at the throne of Thy grace.

Grant me grace, I beseech Thee, to give diligent heed to keep my soul always in a fit temper for devotion; and to walk under such a constant sense of Thine all-seeing providence, and my absolute dependence, as may dispose me to be frequently lifting up my heart unto Thee. Especially, O Lord, let me never fail to come before Thee with my morning and evening sacrifice of prayer and praise, or to obey the calls of Thy public worship.

And that I may receive a gracious answer to my petitions, grant, I humbly beseech Thee, that I may always prostrate myself before Thee with becoming apprehensions of Thine infinite excellencies and perfections, and of mine own unworthiness; with such a steady, intense application of mind, as is suitable to the nature and importance of so sacred and advantageous a duty; and with such devout affections and fervent desires, as may manifest an inward sense of my innumerable wants and miseries, and a just value for the inestimable mercies I sue unto Thee for;with an entire submission and resignation to Thy blessed will; and with a firm and lively persuasion that if I ask according to Thy will, Thou assuredly wilt so fulfil my desires and petitions as may be most expedient for me.

And because Thou hast made our forgiveness of others a condition of our obtaining forgiveness at Thy hands; and hast commanded us to lift up holy hands in prayer, without wrath, as well as without doubting; endue me, I humbly pray Thee, with such a meek and even temper as will not easily be provoked; and with such a charitable and beneficent spirit, as may incline me readily to forgive whatever

cheerfully to do all good offices in my power to any of my fellow-creatures.

Finally, I beg that I may always approach Thy throne of grace in a due sense, that I am infinitely less than the least of all Thy mercies, and utterly unworthy to offer up any petition unto Thee, but in the Name, and through the mediation of Thy Son Jesus Christ; by Whom alone we have access unto Thee, our offended Father; and in Whom we are sure to be accepted; for He is our merciful and faithful High Priest, Who hath put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and is able also to save all them to the uttermost, who come unto Thee by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. To Whom, therefore, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed, as is most due, all honour, glory, thanksgiving, and praise, now and evermore. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER,

given by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; both as a form to be used by us when we pray1, and for a pattern to direct us after what manner we ought to pray2.

OUR Father, Which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven: Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Luke xi. 2.

2 Matt. vi. 9.

THE

LORD'S PRAYER

With an Explication of its several Clauses, by way of Paraphrase at large.

1. Our Father, Which art in heaven ;

MOST great and gracious Lord God, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of the world, and our most merciful and loving Father in JESUS CHRIST; Who dwellest in the highest heavens; and Whose throne is encircled with myriads of glorious spirits, that veil their faces before Thee, unable to behold the brightness of Thy majesty, and that delight in attending upon those ministries whereunto thou hast appointed them;

2. Hallowed be Thy name:

WE Thine unworthy servants prostrate ourselves with all humility at Thy footstool, beseeching Thee to possess our minds with becoming thoughts of Thy transcendent excellencies and perfections, and with a just and lively sense of Thine absolute sovereignty, and of our entire dependence upon Thee; and to inspire our souls with sincere and zealous resolutions to make it the constant study of our lives, to promote Thine honour and glory in all our thoughts, words, and actions; and to shew forth our reverence of Thy Divine Majesty by a suitable regard to every thing that relates to Thee, and by striving to grow every day more and more into a likeness and conformity to all Thine imitable perfections.

3. Thy kingdom come:

SEND Thy grace into our hearts to subdue and mortify all our evil inclinations, and to deliver us from

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the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. And pour out Thy Spirit upon all flesh, that all may know Thee from the least to the greatest, and by a diligent obedience to Thy holy laws may approve themselves faithful subjects and servants of Thee, the true and only God, the supreme Lord of heaven and earth. To this end may it please Thee to enlarge the borders of Thy Church, and to bring all nations within its pale: and where it is already established, go on more and more, we pray Thee, by Thy grace to destroy the power of sin, and the dominion of Satan; and to implant the fear and love of Thy name in the hearts of all Thy servants; that so Thine eternal kingdom also may be enlarged, and the fulness of Thy saints accomplished; and that blessed time may come, when we shall all be translated into Thy heavenly kingdom; and, all other powers and dominions being done away, Thou alone, O God, shalt be exalted, and rule over Thy saints for ever and ever.

4. Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in heaven :

GIVE us grace to resign ourselves absolutely and unreservedly to Thy blessed will. Grant that we may always seriously consider the ways of Thy providence, and discern what it is that Thou wouldst have us either to do or to suffer in obedience thereunto: that whatsoever it be that Thou shalt thereby call us to, whether to a prosperous, or to an adverse state, to receive good from Thee, or to suffer evil; we may in the one improve Thy blessings to the glory of Thy Name, and the benefit of those about us; and in the other, patiently submit to whatsoever Thou shalt call us to suffer for Thy sake. We beseech Thee likewise to dispose and enable us faithfully to obey all Thy commandments, how contrary soever they may be to our own corrupt desires and affections, or the prevailing maxims of a wicked world; and as far as the