Prayers and Meditations.
��to spend this in such a manner that I may receive comfort from it at the hour of death and in the day of judgement. Amen.
I intend to-morrow to review the rules I have at any time laid down, in order to practise them x .
7. A PRAYER ON MY BIRTHDAY.
Sept. 7, 1738 2 .
O God, the Creatour and Preserver of all Mankind, Father of all mercies, I thine unworthy servant do give Thee most humble thanks, for all thy goodness and lovingkindness to me. I bless Thee for my Creation, Preservation, and Redemption, for the knowledge of thy Son Jesus Christ, for the means of Grace and the Hope of Glory. In the days of Childhood and Youth, in the midst of weakness, blindness, and danger, Thou hast protected me ; amidst Afflictions of Mind, Body, and Estate, Thou hast supported me ; and amidst vanity and Wickedness Thou hast spared me. Grant, O merciful Father, that I may have a lively sense of thy mercies. Create in me a contrite Heart, that I may worthily lament my sins and acknowlege my wickedness, and obtain Remission and forgiveness, through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ. And, O Lord, enable me, by thy Grace, to redeem the time which I have spent in Sloth, Vanity, and wickedness ; to make use of thy Gifts to the honour of thy Name ; to lead a new life in thy Faith, Fear, and Love ; and finally to obtain everlasting Life. Grant this, Almighty Lord, for the merits and through the mediation of our most holy and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ ; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, Three Persons and one God, be all honour and Glory, World without end. Amen.
Transcribed] June 26, I768 3 .
This is the first solemn 4 prayer, of which I have a copy. Whether I composed any before this, I question.
1 Hawkins's Johnson, p. 163, and somewhat in the sense of the first Life, i. 70. of his definitions of that word in his
2 This was the first birthday after Dictionary anniversary ; observed his settlement in London. ' once a year with religious ceremonies.
3 Post, under 1768. This paragraph is not in the manu-
4 He uses solemn, I conjecture, script.
PRAYER
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