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A MEDITATION UPON MAN'S VILENESS.

2. Yet, O Lord, what is man, that he should be compared unto Thee? By the very condition of his nature he stands at an infinite distance from Thee his Lord and great Creator. And even if he had continued perfect, as Thou

madest him, yet he must never have approached Thy awful Presence without the most dutiful submission and profoundest dread and reverence of soul, and must have trembled at the appearance of Thy Majesty with a dutiful and holy fear. He must ever have acknowledged Thy honour and excellency, and have praised Thee for it, which would have been his happiness and his glory. For the utmost of his own perfections, in comparison with Thee, are less than the small dust of the balance, compared with the whole heavens, and the earth, infinitely less than a drop of a bucket to the ocean.

3. And if, O Lord, this be the true state and condition of man's nature at the best, and when he came most pure and perfect from Thy hands, how far more art Thou, O holy and undefiled Lord, separate from him, now that he is a sinner, and hath forfeited the integrity of his nature and innocence, and Thy favour and heavenly blessing!

4. Fill my soul, O Lord, with so deep a sense

and conviction of my true and real state, both as Thy creature and as a transgressor before Thee, that I may never lift up my head on high, either in a vain conceit or esteem of myself, or in contempt of my brethren. If I were thoroughly innocent, yet would I not dwell, or repose my soul on the thought and imagination of my own perfection, nor take honour and dignity to myself before Thy face, or above others; for still I should be a weak and indigent creature, and must live and be happy upon Thy bounty and goodness, and I could deserve nothing at Thy hands. But sinful and polluted as I am, with innumerable and abominable iniquities, how shall I come before Thee! I am ashamed and blush to lift up my eyes to heaven, the throne of Thy holiness. O Lord, pity me, and do not despise the work of Thine own hands. I am Thy creature, and Thy son, though Thy most unworthy, undutiful son; accept of me, and receive me graciously, and with Thy mercy, for the worthiness and merits of Thine only beloved Son Jesus Christ the righteous. Amen.

DR. TILLY.

IV.

AGAINST SPIRITUAL ENEMIES.

I KNOW, O Lord, that He, that is within us, Thy blessed Spirit, is stronger than he that is in the world, the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience; why then go I thus heavily oppressed by mine enemy, being continually molested and disturbed by the fiery assaults of his temptations! Give me, O Lord, the whole armour of God, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil; for I wrestle not only against flesh and blood, the lusts and inbred corruptions of my own nature only, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world; and therefore I have need of the whole armour of God, that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Grant that I may always so stand, having my loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Above all give me, O Lord, the shield of faith, wherewith I shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And let me

take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the

Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, lest I fall into temptation; from being overcome by which evermore defend me, O God, by Thy grace and mercy in our Lord Jesus Thy Son, our blessed Saviour, who Himself was more than conqueror, and overcame the world for our sakes: to whom, with Thee, O holy Father, be ascribed all dominion, and power, by angels and men, for evermore. Amen.

O Lord my God, in Thee have I put my trust; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. (Ps. vii. 1.)

Lest he devour my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces, while there is none to help. (vii. 2.)

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death. (Ps. ix. 13.)

That I may shew forth all Thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion: I will rejoice in Thy salvation. (ix. 14.)

O keep my soul, and deliver me let me not be confounded, for I put my trust in Thee. (Ps. xxv. 19.)

Bow down Thine ear to me: make haste to deliver me. (Ps. xxxi. 2.)

And be Thou my strong rock, and house of defence, that Thou mayest save me. (Ps. xxxi. 9.) Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me, for Thou art my strength. (xxxi. 5.)

Into Thy hands I commend my spirit: for Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, Thou God of truth. (xxxi. 6.)

My enemies are daily in hand to swallow me up, for they be many that fight against me, O Thou most Highest. (Ps. lvi. 2.)

Nevertheless, though I am some time afraid, yet put I my trust in Thee. (lvi. 3.)

Be not Thou far from me, O Lord; Thou art my succour, haste Thee to help me. (Ps. xxii. 19.)

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me: give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and help the son of Thine handmaid. (Ps. lxxxvi. 16.)

O Lord most merciful, behold, how I am beset with spiritual dangers, and enemies on every side, that war against my soul; hence mine own evil nature, and my lusts within, are ever ready to betray me; and the temptations of the world without powerfully assault me; and the enemy that goeth about seeking whom he may devour, is never wanting to urge and encourage all oppor

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