Lead me, I beseech thee, in the way wherein I should go, guide me by the right hand, and conduct me safely through the dangerous snares and temptations of this dreadful world: and, though thou should permit me to fall into severe trials, yet suffer me not, I beseech thee, to be tempted above what I am able to bear; let no calamity ever drive me from thee, nor any prosperity cause me to forget thee. But,

Grant that all thy providences toward me may work together for my good, and be a powerful means to bring me to thyself, and to an entire dependance upon thee: let not the world get possession of my heart, which has been so often dedicated to thy service: let not those pomps and vanities, which I have so solemnly renounced, become the objects of my foolish desires; but be thou, O God, my only joy and my delight, my stay and my support, my hope and my trust, my rest and comfort in this world, and my eternal bliss and happiness in that which is to

come.

In confidence whereof, O Lord, I humbly beg thy blessing this day upon all my honest designs and undertakings; direct me in all my ways, that I may take nothing in hand but what is agreeable to thy blessed will; let no worldly interest or advantage, ever prevail upon me to depart from my integrity; but amid the various affairs of this life, give me

grace to set thee always before my eyes, that I may not sin against thee; and grant that I may be daily preparing for those things that are eternal, through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and only Saviour, in whose name and words I commend to thy mercy and protection myself and all mankind, saying, as he himself hath taught us, Our Father, &c.

THE MEDITATION: WEDNESDAY EVENING.

Upon a firm purpose of amendment and a new life.

In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature; therefore we should walk in newness of life. Gal. vi. 15. Rom. vi. 4.

1. SEEING now, O my soul, that we have taken all the steps for a reconciliation with a provoked God, and by his sacrament and repentance, hope to make him a loving father; let us then, in the next place, steadfastly purpose to lead a new life for the time to come; I mean, that we resolve in good earnest to amend in all particulars wherein we have found ourselves, upon examination, faulty. This is the most essential

part of a sincere repentance, and the chief condition of finding mercy with God. For,

2. The preceding parts of repentance, on which we have meditated in this course of our devotions, must be esteemed only as preparative to this; that which must complete and finish the work of a true convert, is to become a new creature, to turn from our evil ways, and to break off our sins by righteousness. This certainly must be our desire and intention, if ever we hope or expect any benefit or advantage from this solemn rite or covenant, instituted by Christ himself; for he that comes with a design or intention of continuing in his former sins, may most properly be compared to Judas, who came and received, and at the same time continued his resolution of betraying his master.

3. If then, my soul, we resolve to live in the constant and habitual practice of any known sin, without the least desire or intention of amendment, we shall be unfit to receive the Holy Sacrament; and our approach to the holy table, no doubt, will be to eat and drink our own damnation, since it is a plain mocking of God, and a great contempt and abuse of his divine authority. We must, therefore, (by the help and assistance of God's grace) resolve to lead a new life, following the commandments of God: for thus we read in the word of God, he that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso

confesseth, and forsaketh them, shall have mercy. Let the wicked man forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon.

4. If any man, says the apostle, be in Christ, he is a new creature; and, on the contrary, if we still continue in our sinful ways, if we still join with wicked company, and are as yet delighted with immodest objects, and irreligious books or discourse, we may be sure that our former examinations were but slight and superficial, our sight and sense of sin trivial and indifferent, our sorrow and contrition of spirit forced and hypocritical, and our confessions formal and odious in the sight of God.

5. Remember then the direction of the holy apostle, and let me resolve as he advises, saying, Let them that stole, steal no more: if I have been guilty of lying, slandering, swearing, blasphemy, drunkenness, intemperance, or impurity, I will henceforward study to speak the truth, and to avoid those sins, and all occasions of falling into them, and be continually upon my guard against all the prevailing and usual temptations to

them.

The Hymn for Wednesday Evening.

The character of a worthy communicant.

HE shall ascend thy heav'nly place,
Great God! and dwell before thy face,
Who here minds thy religion now,
And humbly walks with God below;

Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean,
Whose lips still speak the thing they mean;
No slanders dwell upon his tongue;
He hates to do his neighbour wrong.

Scarce will he trust an ill report,
Nor vent it to his neighbour's hurt:
Sinners of state he can despise,
But saints have honour in his eyes.

Firm to his word he ever stood,
And always makes his promise good;
Nor dares to change the thing he swears,
Whatever pain or loss he bears.

He never deals in bribing gold,

And mourns that Justice should be sold:
While others gripe and grind the poor,
Sweet Charity attends his door.