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 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.

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.

EMEMBER not,  O  Lord! our offences,  nor  those of our  parents,  and  take  not  revenge  on  our  sins.

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.

LORD, rebuke  me  not  in  thy  indignation, nor chastise me  in  thy  wrath.