courageous in dangers, patient in afflictions, and humble in prosperity.
Grant, that I may ever be attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my resolutions.
Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my comportment regular.
Assist me, that I may continually labor to overcome nature, to correspond with thy grace, to keep thy commandments, and to work out my salvation.
Discover to me, O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity.
Grant, that I may prepare for death; that I may fear thy judgments; that I may escape hell; and, in the end; obtain heaven, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS.
There are few payers so capable of disarming the justice of God, as the Penitential Psalms. We should endeavor to enter into the sentiments of compunction, love, devotedness, admiration and confidence, with which the Royal Prophet was penetrated when he composed them.
He often speaks of the enemies who persecuted him, and these expressions may readily be applied to the devil and to sin.
ANTHEM.
REMEMBER not, O Lord! our offences, nor those of our parents, and take not revenge on our sins.
Psalm vi. Domine ne in furore.
1. David, in deep affliction, prays for a mitigation of the divine anger, 4. in consideration of God's mercy; 5. his glory; 6. his own repentance; 8. by faith triumphs over his enemies.
O LORD, rebuke me not in thy indignation, nor chastise me in thy wrath.
