74 Prayers and Meditations.
Composed at Calais in a sleepless night, and used before the morn at Notre Dame T , written at St. Omers.
114.
Jan. i, 1776.
Almighty God, merciful Father, who hast permitted me to see the beginning of another year, grant that the time which thou shalt yet afford me may be spent to thy glory, and the salvation of my own Soul. Strengthen all good resolutions. Take not from me thy Holy Spirit, but have mercy upon me, and shed thy Blessing both on my soul and body, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
115.
1776, Apr. 7, EASTER DAY.
The time is again at which, since the death of my poor dear Tetty, on whom God have mercy, I have annually commemo rated the mystery of Redemption, and annually purposed to nd my life. My reigning sin, to which perhaps many others / are appendant, is waste of time, and general sluggishness, to L which I was always inclined, and in part of my life have been 1 almost compelled by morbid melancholy and disturbance of / mind. Melancholy has had in me its paroxisms and remissions, I but I have not improved the intervals, nor sufficiently resisted \my natural inclination, or sickly habits. I will resolve hence forth to rise at eight in the morning, so far as resolution is proper 2 , and will pray that God will strengthen me. I have begun this morning.
Though for the past week I have had an anxious design of communicating to-day, I performed no particular act of devotion, till on Friday I went to Church. My design was to pass part of the day in exercises of piety, but Mr. Boswel interrupted me ;
1 For his journey to Paris see She describes the start from the inn
Life, ii. 384-404. He wrote to Levett for Paris : ' Postillions with greasy
from Paris : ' We are here in France night-caps and vast jack-boots, driv-
after a very pleasing passage of no ing your carriage harnessed with
more than six hours.' Ib. p. 385. ropes, and adorned with sheep-skins.'
Mrs. Piozzi, when she crossed to Journey through France, i. i, 5.
Calais nineteen years later, took 2 Ante, p. 67. twenty-six hours on the passage.
of
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