Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies I.djvu/30

 I2 Prayers and Meditations.

��15.

May 6, 1752.

O Lord, our heavenly Father, without whom all purposes are frustrate, all efforts are vain, grant me the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, that I may not sorrow as one without hope, but may now return to the duties of my present state with humble confidence in thy protection, and so govern my thoughts and actions, that neither business may withdraw my mind from Thee, nor idleness lay me open to vain imaginations ; that neither praise may fill me with pride, nor censure with dis content ; but that in the changes of this life, I may fix my heart upon the reward which Thou hast promised to them that serve Thee, and that whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever are pure, whatever are lovely, whatever are of good report, wherein there is virtue, wherein there is praise, I may think upon and do 1, and obtain mercy and everlasting happiness. Grant this, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, &c. The grace, &c.

May 6. I used this service, written April 24, 25, May 6, as preparatory to my return to life to-morrow.

Maicapioi oi i'(Kpol ol kv Kupt'u) airoOvrivKOVTts aitdpTi 2.

Apoc. xiv. 13. 16. BEFORE ANY NEW STUDY.

November.

Almighty God, in whose hands are all the powers of man ; who givest understanding, and takest it away ; who, as it seemeth

times made in this manner, and things are true, whatsoever things are

forewarnings communicated, which honest, whatsoever things are just,

cannot be explained by material whatsoever things are pure, what-

philosophy or mere metaphysics.' soever things are lovely, whatsoever

Southey. Life of Wesley, i. 359. things are of good report ; if there

Coleridge, in his copy of this work, be any virtue and if there be any

wrote in the margin opposite the last praise, think on these things.' Philip-

line : ' Would it not have been safer pians, iv. 8.

to have said, " which have not been, 2 < Blessed are the dead which

instead of cannot be" ?' die in the Lord from henceforth.' 'Finally brethren, whatsoever

good

�� �