things which are pleasing unto thee. Order all my state for the glory and honour of thy Name alone; and grant me to know what thou dost require me to do, and give me to do it as is fitting, and profitable to my salvation. Grant that I may not fail or swerve either in prosperity or in adversity; that I be not lifted up by the one, nor cast down by the other. Let me joy in nothing but what leads to thee, nor grieve for any thing but what leads away from thee; let me neither seek to please, nor fear to displease, any but thee alone. May all transitory things grow vile in my eyes, O Lord, and may all that is thine be dear to me for thy sake, and thou, O my God, dear above them all. May all joy be irksome to me that is without thee, nor may I desire any thing that is apart from thee. May all labour and toil delight me which is for thee, and all rest be weariness which is not in thee. Grant me, O Lord, continually to lift up my heart towards thee, and to bring sorrowfully to my mind my many shortcomings, with full purpose of amendment. Make me, O Lord, obedient without demur, poor without repining, chaste without stain, patient without murmur, humble without pretence, joyous without frivolity, fearful without abjectness, truthful without disguise, given to good works without presumption, faithful to rebuke my neighbour without arrogance, and ever careful to edify him both by word and example without pretension.
Give me, O Lord God, an ever-watchful heart, which no subtle speculation may lure from thee; a noble heart, which no unworthy affection can draw downwards to the earth; an upright heart, which no insincere intention can warp aside; an unconquerable heart, which no tribulation can crush or quell; a free heart, which no perverted or impetuous affection can claim for its own. Bestow on me, O Lord, my God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee, a life and conversation which may please thee, perseverance in waiting patiently for thee, and a hope which may embrace thee at the last. Grant me to be pierced with compunction by thy sorrows through true repentance, to improve all thy gifts and benefits during this my pilgrimage through thy grace, and so at length to enter into thy full and consummate joy in thy glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth, &c.
An Universal Prayer for all things necessary to salvation.
O my God, I believe in thee; do thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in thee; do thou secure them. I love thee;
