pray are most of us always, and all of us sometimes. How do our little offices seem long and tedious, and half-an-hour quite tire our patience! How are we slow to begin and swift to make an end! How heavy while they are saying, and glad when they are said! Yet surely, no easier work than to ask what we want; no cheaper purchase than to have for asking. Sure no sweeter pleasure than to converse with God; no greater profit than to gain His favour. Still we have new transgressions to confess; and shall never, alas! want infirmities to lament. Often, O dreadful Lord, when we speak to Thee, we do not so much as hear ourselves. Often we pursue impertinent objects; and our careless thoughts contradict our words. But, O Thou blessed end of all our labours, and only centre of all our wishes, Do Thou reclaim our wandering fancies, and guide and fix them to attend Thy service. Night and day let us call on Thee, and never cease knocking at the doors of Thy palace. Let no delay discourage our hope; nor even refusal destroy our confidence. But let this firm foundation still sustain us; and on this let our peace be established for ever. What is truly necessary Thy goodness will not deny; the rest our obedience submits to Thy pleasure. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN. PRAYER. LORD, we beseech Thee, forsake us not in the vanishing of our days, but still con upon us. tinue Thy gracious and fatherly protection Be Thou our light and defence, our guide and guard, through the valley of misery and tears, and the shadow of death, to that holy hill where Thine honour and our rest dwelleth; and give us the peace, and comfort, and communion of Thy Holy Spirit, that our eyes may see Thy salvation, and we Thy servants may depart in Thy peace; for the merits and satisfaction of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN. |