this pure intention till the end of the day, and of my life; and beseeching Him to accept my works, in union with those which His only-begotten Son offered to Him for me in this life.
3. This done, I will make a courageous and determined resolution that day, by God's holy grace, to separate myself from all kind of sin, after the manner that David did, when he said that "in the morning" he "put to death all the wicked of the land [1] not with a sword of steel, but with a very steeled and courageous resolution to destroy them all, in so far as they were adversaries to Almighty God, desiring that in the city of my soul there may live nothing to offend Him. But, particularly, I must most resolutely determine to depart from that vice which I desire to eradicate from my heart, conceiving against it a holy hatred for the injury that it does me.
4. That this purpose may be effectual, it will help me much not to take things in the gross, being ignorant of their difficulties, but to provide against them with the eyes of prudence, and in the morning to imagine all the difficulties, vexations, contempts, and occasions of stumbling that probably may be offered to me that day, considering the quality of my person, state, and office, and the affairs and persons with whom I am to converse. Having considered this, I will endeavour willingly to accept, for the love of our Lord God, whatsoever shall happen against my liking, determining, by God's grace, for no such occasions to fail in humility and patience; nor to admit anything that may be a sin, founding this purpose not upon my own strength, but upon the strength that Almighty God shall give me, and upon some strong reasons that may convince me and make me prompt in heart to execute it; as Christ our Redeemer, in the garden of Gethsemane, set before His eyes all the tor-
- ↑ Ps. c. 8.
