60 Prayers and Meditations.
in the beginning of the week, and to a meal of cakes on the forgoing day. I cannot now fast as formerly.
I devoted this week to the perusal of the Bible, and have done little secular business. I am this night easier than is customary on this anniversary, but am not sensibly enlightened.
95.
EASTER DAY, after 1 2 at night.
The Day is now begun, on which I hope to begin a new course
��My hopes are from this time, To rise early. To waste less time. To appropriate something to charity 2 .
Almighty God, merciful Father, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, look down with pity on my sinfulness and weakness. Strengthen, O Lord, my mind, deliver me from needless terrours. Enable me to correct all inordinate desires, to eject all evil thoughts, to reform all sinful habits, and so to amend my life 3 , that when at the end of my days thou shalt call me hence, I may depart in peace, and be received into everlasting happi ness, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
96.
9 in the morning.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord God, for the deliverance which Thou hast granted me from diseases of mind and body 4 . Grant, O gracious God, that I may employ the powers which thou vouchsafest me to thy Glory, and the Salvation of my soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
1 As if from the starting-place. eject all wicked thoughts, to break off
2 'Johnson's charity to the poor all sinful habits, and so to regulate was uniform and extensive, both from my life that,' &c.
inclination and principle.' Life, iv. 4 On March 15 of this year he
132. 'His liberality in giving his wrote to Boswell:' My health grows
money to persons in distress was better, yet I am not fully recovered.
extraordinary.' ft. p. 191. I believe it is held that men do not
3 In another version of this prayer recover very fast after threescore.' he thus varies these words : ' to Life, ii. 145.
I was
�� �
