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 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

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