works; I beseech thee to write thy law in my heart, that most excellent divine law of thine, that I may see it and do it; that I may know thee, and the power of thy resurrection, and express it in turning from all mine iniquities; that I may no longer flatter myself with a formal external serving of thee, with being a hearer of thy word, a partaker of thy sacraments, and a professor of thy truth, or a knower of thy will, but may labour to join to these a uniform, faithful obedience to thy holy Gospel; a ready, cheerful subjection to thy kingdom; that thou mayest rule and reign in my heart by faith, and that I, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, may grow in grace, and in the practical knowledge of thee, our Lord and Saviour; and, persevering unto the last, may attain the reward of my faith, and the fruit of my labours, the perfection of my charity, and the crown of my hope; an everlasting blessed life of love and holiness with thee, O Father of mercies, O God of all consolations, O holy and sanctifying Spirit, O blessed Trinity co-eternal; to which one infinite Majesty be most humbly ascribed the honour, glory, power, praise, might, majesty, and dominion, which through all ages of the world have been given to Him who sitteth on the throne, to the Holy Spirit, and to the Lamb, for evermore. Amen.

HAMMOND.

141

FOR TEMPERANCE.

O BOUNTIFUL and gracious Lord, who givest us all things richly to enjoy, be thou gracious to thy servant yet more, and suffer me not, by my folly, to turn thy bounty into sin, thy grace into wantonness; but give me the spirit of temperance and sobriety, that I may use thy creatures in the same measure, and to the same purposes, which thou hast designed, so as may best enable me to serve thee, and not to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Pardon, O God, in whatsoever I have offended thee, by meat, and drink, and pleasure; and never let my body any more be oppressed with surfeiting and drunkenness, or the enervating luxuries of this sensual life; but subdue my appetite to reason and thy grace, that my table may be no more a snare unto me, nor my food become a temptation, a sin, or a disease; but that my affections being changed from earthly to heavenly, I may hunger and thirst after righteousness, and account it my meat and drink and pleasure to do thy will, O God. Grant this, O Lord, for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

HAMMOND.

ON ENGAGING IN A NEW PURSUIT.

O GOD, who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired should be sought by labour, and who by thy blessing bringest honest labour to good effect, look with mercy upon my studies and endeavours. Grant me, O Lord, by thy Holy Spirit, to design only what is lawful and right; enable me to shun sloth and negligence, that every day may discharge part of the task which thou hast allotted me; and so further with thy help that labour, which without thy help must be ineffectual, that I may obtain in my undertaking such success as will most promote thy glory, and the salvation of my own soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ thine only Son, our Lord. Amen.

JOHNSON.

BEFORE PUBLIC WORSHIP.

O THOU that hearest prayer, let thy quiet dwell among us, and thy peace in our minds; that, laying aside all worldly thoughts and cares, we, thine unworthy servants, may so use the appointed means of sanctification, that with all those that have pleased thee from the beginning of the world, we may become partakers of those good things which

thou hast prepared for them that love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AFTER PUBLIC WORSHIP.

O GOD, great and wonderful, look upon me thy servant, who have here presented myself before thee; stretch forth thine hand, thy powerful and merciful hand, and bless me; preserve me, that at all times and in all places I may glorify thee, the only living and true God, the holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now, henceforth, and for evermore. Amen.

BEFORE THE STUDY OF SCRIPTURE.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give me, I beseech thee, a body undefiled, a pure heart, and a watchful mind; give me an unerring knowledge, and the powerful influences of thy Holy Spirit, that I may obtain, and assuredly enjoy, the truth, through the same, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR MERCHANTS AND TRADESMEN.

O ETERNAL God, guide me, by thy grace, in all my affairs, that I may be diligent, just, and faithful in the calling in which thy providence hath placed me; bless and prosper my labours, as thou, in thy wisdom seest most convenient for me; preserve me, by thy Holy Spirit, from covetousness, lying, and all base, and indirect, and sordid arts; and give me prudence, honesty, and Christian sincerity; that my trade being sanctified by my religion, my labour may be attended with thy blessing; and when I have finished the portion of my work which thou hast allotted me here, I may be received into the inheritance of thy children, there to rest from my labours, through the merits of my ever-blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

BISHOP TAYLOR.

BEFORE A JOURNEY.

ALMIGHTY God, in whom all things live, move, and have their being, who dost govern all things by thy wise providence, and whose protection is my only security and defence; I humbly beseech thy divine Majesty to give thy holy angels charge over me in the journey I am now about to undertake. Let thy