78.
Jan. i, 1769.
Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast continued my life from year to year, grant that by longer life I may become less desirous of sinful pleasures, and more careful of eternal happiness x . As age comes upon me let my mind be more with drawn from vanity and folly, more enlightened with the know ledge of thy will, and more invigorated with resolution to obey it. O Lord, calm my thoughts, direct my desires, and fortify my purposes. If it shall please thee give quiet to my latter days, and so support me with thy grace that I may dye in thy favour for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Safely brought us to the beginning of this year 2 .
79.
Sept. 1 8, 1769.
This day completes the sixtieth year of my age. What I have done and what I have left undone the unsettled state of my mind makes all endeavours to think improper. I hope to survey my life with more tranquillity, in some part of the time which God shall grant me.
The last year has been wholly spent in a slow progress of recovery. My days are easier, but the perturbation of my nights is very distressful. I think to try a lower diet. I have grown fat too fast. My lungs seems incumbered, and my breath fails me, if my strength is in any unusual degree exerted, or my motion accelerated. I seem to myself to bear exercise with more difficulty than in the last winter. But though I feel all those decays of body, I have made no preparation for the grave. What shall I do to be saved ?
Almighty and most merciful Father, I now appear in thy presence, laden with the sins, and accountable for the mercies of another year. Glory be to thee, O God, for the mitigation of my troubles, and for the hope of health both of mind and body
Oxford : ' Don't suppose that I live x This passage is quoted in the here as we live at Streatham. I went Life, iv. 397. this morning to the chapel at six.' 2 Ante, p. 42, n. I. Letters, i. 323. VOL. I. E which
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