Pardon us, O most merciful Father, that we have made thee returns so unsuitable to thy great goodness towards us; so disproportioned to the vast and numberless obligations which thou hast laid us under, and the repeated engagements which we have taken upon ourselves. O forgive the coldness of our love to thee: our sloth and inactivity in thy service: the small proficiency we have made in the virtues of the Christian and divine life, notwithstanding the advantage of so excellent a rule, so perfect an example, so free access to the throne of thy grace, such powerful aids from thy blessed Spirit, and so glorious a prospect as that set before us!

O may the consideration of thy readiness to pardon, fill us with an ingenuous hatred and detestation of all sin. And may we discover such a care to avoid it, and to shun all the occasions of it, and the temptations to it for the future, as shall be a satisfying evidence that all our iniquities are actually forgiven, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. And may the God of peace, who brought, again from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the

everlasting covenant, make us perfect to do thy will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in thy sight, fulfilling in us the good pleasure of thy goodness, and the work of faith with power.

Bless to us the external means of thy grace. Help us to bear in mind the design of one duty to dispose for another; and of all the instrumental duties of religion to beget and strengthen in our souls those exalted principles and fixed habits of true goodness, by which we shall be more and more ripened for the life of heaven. By faith may we see him who is invisible, and always walk as in his presence.

May we be more affected and influenced by the contemplation of an absent Saviour, in every view of him. While we meditate on the blessed Jesus, as enduring the contradiction of sinners, and humbling himself unto death, even the death of the cross, may we be instructed what to expect in the present life, and how to behave under all the afflictions and sufferings of it. And may the view of a risen Saviour elevate our hearts above all the vanities of this transitory state, to that happy world whither he our Lord, and

the forerunner of all the faithful, is gone. May we know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, for whose sake may we be willing to suffer the loss of all things, not counting our lives dear to us, so that we may finish our course with joy.

Give us, O Lord, to feel more of the mighty power of thy grace, concurring with the gospel of thy Son, to mortify every inordinate desire, to confirm every good purpose, to purify and regulate our affections, and to change our whole souls more and more into a divine likeness. May our love to thee be supreme, though it can never be adequate to thine excellencies may our devotion towards thee be unaffected and fervent: our resignation entire; our obedience cheerful, uniform and constant. Towards men may we ever be just and charitable, kindly affectioned, ready to do good, as we have ability and opportunity; carrying it towards all with a mild, a peaceable, and Christian spirit.

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With respect to ourselves, may we be sober-minded, poor in spirit and pure in heart. Help us to be continually opposing all mental irregularities, and daily gaining the victory over them. Help us to deny ourselves, to be temperate in all things, to bridle our tongues, and to labour to be examples of patience, meekness, contentment, humbleness of mind, and to come behind in no good thing; looking for the mercy of God unto eternal life. That so when we have done the work which thou hast given us to do, and suffered all that thou sawest meet to appoint, for the trial of our faith, hope, and submission to thy will, we may finally inherit the promises which thou hast made us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the prospect of that happy state would we now say, Blessing and honour, and glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.

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The LORD'S PRAYER, paraphrased in the Words of the Assembly*.

O THOU high and holy One who inhabitest eternity, and art far exalted above all blessing and praise; in whom it is condescension to accept the worship of angels; we adore thee that thou hast revealed thyself as a God who heareth prayer; and that, as such, thou invitest all flesh to come unto thee.

Blessed be thy name that, for the encouragement of such unworthy creatures as we are, thou hast appointed and revealed a glorious mediator between thyself and us, even Jesus Christ the righteous. And we thank thee that, in compassion to our infirmities, thou hast, in thy holy word, both taught us how to pray, and what to pray for. We bless thee also that our Lord Jesus Christ, who came. immediately from the Father, hath shewed us the way to the Father, and given us acceptable words to take with us in our

This (with the Introduction) may be used as a distinct form, when brevity is required, or otherwise be added to another prayer.