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That I have been excited to choose thee, O God, as my portion; that my soul has been in any degree inflamed with love and gratitude to thee, with trust in thy power and goodness; that the graces of humility, meekness, purity, and love have in any degree established their reign in my heart; that I have been enabled to adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour, by a virtuous life, and to imitate the blessed example of the holy Jesus, by doing good unto my fellow men,

Blessed be thy name, O God.

That when, from the infirmities of my nature, or the predominance of my sinful passions, I am led to forget thee, my God, to violate my vows of duty, and to put my Saviour to an open shame by my sins, thou dost not "cast me off for ever," but art still willing to be" entreated," and to restore to me "the joy of thy free Spirit,"

Blessed be thy name, O God.

That thou art graciously pleased to promise to reward my imperfect services, with the eternal fruition of the glories of thy presence; that amidst the cares, the occupations, and the ensnaring pleasures of the world, I have been enabled to set my affections on the felicities of that heavenly kingdom, for which, through thy mercy, I am destined,

Blessed be thy name, O God.

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That thou hast provided, for the sustenance and refreshment of my frail nature, while I sojourn in this vale of infirmity and sin, celes

tial food, even the body and blood of thy crucified Son, spiritually conveyed under the emblems of bread and wine; and that thou dost now invite me to the glorious banquet of the Lamb that was slain to redeem me by his blood,

Blessed be thy name, O God.

O, while I extol the wonders of thy mercy, and gratefully celebrate the triumphs of thy grace-may I be excited to aim at the highest degrees of holiness and virtue, as becometh the redeemed of the Lord.

Evermore, O Lord, refresh me by thy mercy.

Evermore guide me by thy grace.

To thee, ever-blessed Jehovah, be ascribed all the glory and praise of my redemption.

For thou, O Almighty Father, didst give for me thine only-begotten Son; thou, O eternal Son, wast for me obedient to the death of the cross; thou, O Holy Ghost, dost apply to my soul the mercies of redemption.

Glory be to the Father, the fountain of mercy. Glory be to the Son, the Redeemer of mankind. Glory be to the Holy Ghost, the guide, the comforter, and sanctifier of the faithful.

Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto our God, for ever and ever.

Alas, O God, the songs of praise must be exchanged for the sighs of contrition.

For to thee, O Lord, belongeth righteousness; but unto me confusion of face-for I have violated thy law.

When I have done all, I am bound to confess that I am but an unprofitable servant; and must expect the rewards of heaven as the free gift of unmerited mercy.

How much more then am I bound earnestly to deprecate the inflictions of thy justice, when the course of my life has been marked by many wilful transgressions of thy laws!

I will confess mine iniquity.
I will be sorry for my sins.

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ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of men; I acknowledge and bewail my manifold sins and wickedness, which I from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against me. I do earn estly repent, and am heartily sorry for these my misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto me; the burden of them is intolerable. mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, most merciful Father; for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake forgive me all that is past. To thee only it appertaineth

Have

to forgive sins: spare me, therefore, good Lord, spare me. My conscience by sin is accused-0 may I be absolved by the merciful pardon. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me! Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant me thy peace! O God, whose nature and property it is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive my humble petitions! and though I am tied and fast bound by the chain of my sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose me, through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

THE SUPPLICATION.

BLESSED LORD! who art ever merciful and gracious, not willing the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent and live; and who hast given thine only Son to be a propitiation for the sins of the world, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; with the deepest reverence I adore thine infinite love. What is man, O Lord, that thou shouldest be thus mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou shouldest thus mercifully visit him? O God, I confess and lament that I have been insensible to the claims of thy love, and, by my aggravated sins, have forfeited all title to thy mercy. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast laid on Jesus Christ the iniquities of mankind. Blessed be thy name, that in him there is mercy and plenteous redemption. O make me deeply sensible of my need of the merits and grace of my Redeemer. Penetrate me with a conviction of my weakness and depravity, of my guilt and unworthiness, that I may be excited to flee for refuge from

the wrath to come, to the hope set before me in the Gospel. Blessed Jesus! cleanse me by thy precious blood, and sanctify my corrupt nature by thy grace. Discerning thy all-sufficiency to save and to redeem, may my trust be reposed on thee alone. O merciful God! inspire in my heart a supreme concern for the things that belong to my eternal peace. May the salvation of my soul engross my most earnest attention. Impress on me the folly and the guilt of sacrificing my immortal interests to the perishing pleasures of the world. O do thou quicken in my heart, Almighty God, the apprehension of my guilt and danger while in rebellion against thee. Strengthen the desires which thy grace has awakened, for that satisfying peace which thou dost confer on the humble suppliants for thy mercy. And since thou hast instituted ordinances to be the channels of conveying thy grace to the soul, may I reverently submit to thy appointments, and gratefully seek thy favour, in the way which thou hast appointed. To that holy sacrament, where Jesus the Saviour dispenses everlasting salvation, may I bring a heart humbled by thy grace, affections supremely desirous of the joys of thy love; that thus may be restored to the reconciled countenance of thee, my God, through Jesus Christ, my blessed Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

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