multitude of my offences. Bless my friends; have mercy upon all men. Support me, by thy Holy Spirit, in the days of weakness, and at the hour of death; and receive me, at my death, to everlasting happiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
[The following meditations and prayers have no dates in
the MS.]
I did not, this week, labour my preparation so much as I have sometimes done. My mind was not very quiet; and an anxious preparation makes the duty of the day formidable and burdensome. Different methods suit different states of mind, body, and affairs. I rose this day, and prayed, then went to tea, and afterwards composed the prayer, which I formed with great fluency. I went to church; came in at the Psalms; could not hear the reader in the lessons, but attended the prayers with tranquillity.
To read the New Testament once a year in Greek.
Receiving the Sacrament,
I profess my faith in Jesus.
I declare my resolution to obey him.
I implore, in the highest act of worship, grace to keep these resolutions.
I hope to rise to a new life this day.
On the 17th, Mr. Chamier took me away with him from
Streatham. I left the servants a guinea for my health,
and was content enough to escape into a house where
my birthday, not being known, could not be mentioned.
I sat up till midnight was past, and the day of a new
year, a very awful day, began. I prayed to God, who
had [safely brought me to the beginning of another
year,] but could not perfectly recollect the prayer, and
supplied it. Such desertions of memory I have always
had.
