Page images
PDF
EPUB

Lay not to my charge, O Lord, the fins that I have this day been guilty of, but let thofe and all the other follies of my life past be for ever blotted out of thy remembrance; and receive me I beseech thee into thy favour, which I value above all the happiness of this world; for, what would it profit me to gain the whole world and lofe my own foul? Oh! grant me a lively fenfe of the folly and danger of fin, that I may truly and fincerely abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good; and with an unwearied diligence follow after the things which make for my everlasting peace and happiness. And whereas, O Lord, I am a weak and frail creature, and encompassed with many temptations, vouchsafe to strengthen and affift me with thy grace, that through thy moft mighty power I may be enabled to withstand all the allurements of the world, the flesh, and the devil: [particularly*] Let the Holy Spirit direct * Here name and rule my heart, that I may are most guilthink and do always fuch things ty of. as are rightful and pleasing in thy fight. And,

the fins you

Give me fuch a fortitude and refolution as will fupport me under all difcouragements, difficulties and dangers in my chriftian warfare; that will carry me through all trials, and enable me to triumph over the great enemy of my falvation; that having, by the divine af

fiftance

**

fiftance, fought the good fight, and. finished my course, I may at laft receive that crown of glory, which thou haft promised to thy faithful foldiers and fervants,+ through the merits, and for the fake of the great Captain of our falvation, Jefus Chrift the righteous, who is the propitiation for our fins.

And now, O Father of all mercies! in an humble fenfe of thy great goodness, I adore and praife thy glorious majesty for all thy manifold bleffings and mercies, particularly for thofe of the day paft; I blefs thee, O Lord, for whatever good I have done, and whatever evil I have escaped; for preferving me in health and fafety, for providing fo plentifully for me; but, above all, I praife and magnify thy holy name, for the redemption of the world, by the death and paffion of thy dear Son.

O give me grace to make a right use and improvement of these and all thy mercies: be pleafed, O Lord, ftill to continue, thy favour and protection to me; preferve me this night from all evil, but efpecially from that of fin, give thy holy angels charge over me, that no evil accident may come near to hurt me; and raife me up again in health and fafety, with a heart full of love to thee, and zeal to thy fervice, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, in whose

* 1 Tim. vi. 12. 2 Tim. iv. 7. + Matt. xxv. 21, 23. || 1 John ii. 2. I John iv. 10.

whose most holy name and words. I prefume to call upon thee, faying, Our Father, &c.

The Meditation on Wednesday Morning.
On Self-examination..

Let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 1 Cor. xi. 28.

I.

[ocr errors]

cluded our laft meditation, and that, promise and refolution we have made, truly to repent of all our former fins, which muft, be a sense, a forrow, and confeffion of them. all, and a stedfast purpose or refolution to lead a new life; according to that good direction and admonition of the Church which exhorteth us, to examine our life and converfation. by the rules of God's commandments; and whereinfoever we fhall perceive ourselves to have offended either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail our own finfulness, and confefs ourselves to Almighty God, with full purpofe of amendment. Such an examination. of our confciences, if it be frequent, is one of the best inftruments of a chriftian life, and therefore it ought not to be neglected, when, we have time and leifure for fo great a work. Because, when we make a folemn profeffion of repentance we ought to be particular in confeffing our fins to God, and in bewailing the

*

* See the exhortation to the Communion Service.

the feveral aggravations of them. Now it is impoffible to do this effectually, unlefs we fearch into our minds, and compare our actions with the rule of God's word.

II. This method, no doubt, is an admirable means to improve us in virtue, and the most effectual way to keep our confcience awake, and to make us ftand in awe of ourselves, and afraid of fin, when we know before hand that we must give fo fevere an account to ourselves of all our ungodly, unjuft, and uncharitable actions; of all our vain and filthy fpeeches; of all our wanton, proud, and covetous thoughts; by which our nature is defiled, God made our enemy, and we are excluded the kingdom of Heaven without repentance.

- III. Is not this then our du? nothing can poffibly be plainer. We must bethink ourfelves, how we have spent our life paft? what commands of God we have tranfgreffed? what we have neglected? what we have done which was forbidden by God? and what we have not done which was commanded? and moreover,

IV. After we have thus laboured to gain a true fenfe of our fins, we must endeavour for contrition, or a forrowful bewailing of our own finfulness, in thought, word, and deed, which must always bear fome proportion to the degrees of our fins; according to that holy refolution of the royal Pfalmist, « I will

"declare.

"declare my iniquity, and be forry for my fin." And this will neceffarily teach us, that we muft confefs ourselves to God, not in general terms, that we are finners with the rest of mankind; but by a special declaration to God of all our most heinous fins, with all their feveral aggravations, laying open our fores to our heavenly phyfician, and firmly refolving to lead a new life.

V. Do not think then that it is enough to confefs our fins to God, and to be unfeignedly concerned and forrowful for having offended him; this is far fhort of a true repentance. No, my foul, that would be adding fin to fin, and grieving the Holy Spirit by the mockery of God. But you must remember, that as our fins, are against God, and against our neighbour; fo repentance implies not only our forrow for fin, but an endeavour to undo, as far as we can, whatever we have done amifs. And,

VI. Therefore the Church directs, "If you hall perceive your offences to be fuch, as are not only against God, but also against your neighbour, then you fhall reconcile yourself unto them, being ready to make reftitution and fatisfaction according to the utmost of your power, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewife ready to forgive others that have offended you, as you would have forgiveness of your own offences

E 3

« PreviousContinue »