Give me a lively sense of the value of religion, and make it the delight of my heart; that I may speak of it with judgment, seriousness, and affection, and at all seasonable times.

May that good spirit, which appeared in the likeness of tongues of fire, warm my heart, and di rect my thoughts.

Matth. xii. 34. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.-How can ye, being evil, speak good things?-By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be

condemned.

Ps. cxli. 3. Set a guard, O Lord, upon my mouth, and keep the door of my lips.

Ps. xxxvii. 30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Hearts truly touched with the love of God, will communicate light and heat to each other,—will speak honourably of God, of his perfections, his justice, goodness, wisdom, and power, the excellency of his laws,—the pleasantness of his service, the instances of his love,-the rewards he has promised to his friends, and the punishments he has prepared for his enemies.

Matth. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1 Thess. v. 11. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.

Heb. x. 14. Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works.

And let us join a good life to our religious conversation; and never contradict our tongue by our deeds.

We always do good or harm to others by the manner of our conversation; we either confirm them in sin, or awaken them to piety.

It is too true that some evil passion or other, and to gratify our corruption, is the aim of most conversations. We love to speak of past troubles;— hatred and ill-will make us take pleasure in relating the evil actions of our enemies. We compare, with some degree of pride, the advantages we have over others. We recount, with too sensible a pleasure, the worldly happiness we enjoy.-This strengthens our passions, and increases our corruption.-God grant that I may watch against a weakness, which has such evil consequences.

May I never hear, never repeat with pleasure, such things as may dishonour God, hurt my own character, or injure my neighbour.

James iv. 11. Speak not evil one of another. True humility makes us see our own faults, without concerning ourselves with the faults of others.

AGAINST ANGER.

Eccles. vii. 9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

O Lord, who art a God ready to pardon, slow to anger, and of great kindness, remove far from me all occasions and effects of causeless and im. moderate anger; all pride and prejudice, and too much concern for the things of this world: all intemperate speeches and indecent passions.

Give me, O God, a mild, a peaceable, a meek, and an humble spirit, that remembering my own infirmities, I may bear with those of others :-That I may think lowly of myself, and not be angry

when others think lowly of me; that I may be patient towards all men; gentle and easy to be entreated, that God, for Christ's sake, may be so towards me. Amen.

Ephes. iv. 26. Be angry, and sin not: Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

Prov. xix. 11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger.

A soft answer turneth away strife.

Prov. xvi. 32. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

Rom. xii. 20. Be kindly affectioned one towards another.

Suppress the very beginnings of anger.

Do not use to indulge it even where there are real faults; but try the gentle way, which may probably succeed better, and to be sure with more ease by far.

Seldom do people vex us on purpose, and yet prejudice very often makes us think that they do. A sense of one's own integrity will make one pass by injuries more easily.

Be not too much concerned to tell the injuries you have received.

Accustom yourselves to silence, if you would learn to govern your tongue.

Deliver me, O God, from all violent and sinful passions, and give me grace to stand against them. Matth. v. 4. Blessed are the meek.

Instruct me, Lord, in this Christian virtue; Thou who art the master and teacher of it.

FOR FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES.

Luke vi. 37. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

O God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, show mercy to thy servant, in forcing my corrupt nature to be obedient to thy commands.

O God, who hast made it my everlasting interest, as well as my duty, to forgive my neighbour whatever wrong he hath done me; help me to overcome all the difficulties I have to struggle with, all pride, prejudice, and desire of rendering evil for evil, that I may not deprive my soul of that mercy which thine infinite goodness has offered to sinners.

James ii. 13. He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shown no mercy.

O blessed God, help me in this great concern, that I may never fall under thy wrath, for want of showing mercy to others; but grant, O blessed Jesus, that in this I may be thy disciple indeed. Amen. SLANDER.

Matth. xi. 19. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans

and sinners.

Whatever measure a good man takes, he will hardly escape the censures of the world; the best way is, not to be concerned at them.

It is an instance of humility silently to bear the calumnies which are raised against us, when they relate to ourselves only; but it is a duty of prudence and charity modestly to vindicate ourselves, when the honour of God and the church is concerned. Both Jesus Christ and John the Baptist were slandered: who then will complain that they cannot satisfy the world, and stop men's mouths:

Psal. cxx. 2. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

UNCHARITABLENESS.

Envy makes us see what will serve to accuse others, and not perceive what may justify them. A truly good man is always disposed to excuse what is evil in his brethren, as far as truth will suffer him.

FRIDAY MEDITATIONS.

PENITENCE.

Luke xviii. 3. The publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

WHAT would become of me, if Thou, O God, shouldst not have mercy upon me?

When I seriously consider these dreadful truths, -That all they are accursed, who do err, and go astray from thy commandments,-That the unprofitable servant was cast into outer darkness; -When I think of these things, I cannot but fear for myself, and tremble to think of the account I have to give.

Isaiah lxvi. 2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Psal. xxxiv. 11. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and will save such as be of an humble spirit.

Look upon me, gracious Lord, with an eye of

mercy.

G