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 that I may  become  bountiful, and filled  with  charity. Amen.

1. Thy  providence,  O Lord, governs all  things,  from  the highest heaven  to  the  lowest parts of  the  earth,  and  from the noblest  of  spirits  to  the most contemptible  worm. From all  eternity  it  has thought of  all  things; conceived, distinguished,  and disposed them  accordingly. Without it,  nothing  lives  or dies;  nothing  works,  moves, or is  still.

Hence all  irrational  things are so  rational  in  operation, and move  with  such  order  to their  end; man  only  excepted, who, endued  with  free-will, and abusing  it,  departs  often very far  from  the  order  of thy  divine  and  particular  providence, by  proposing  to  himself other  ends,  which  are opposed to  those  it  has appointed him.

Yet, for  all  that,  he  cannot escape from  thy  universal providence; since he  thus falls under  the  just  punishments decreed  to  sin  and  sinners. Thus the  order  of  thy divine providence  is  admirably apparent,  even  in  the wicked.

2. Woe  to  me,  that  I have so often  tried  to  escape  from thy fatherly  providence,  and wished to  live  by  my  own  foolish judgment; And  therefore, while I would  steal  away from the  hand  of  thy  divine providence, which  was  conducting me  to  life,  I was met by  a thousand  dangers, errors, and  sins;  and  at  the same time  incurred  the  most just punishments,  appointed to miserable  sinners  by  the counsel of  thy  providence, for the  greater  glory  of  thy infinite justice. And this  I incurred  even  against  my wish,  while  I senselessly  cast myself off  from  thy  bounty and mercy,  and — oh,  wretched creature  that  I was! — treasured up  to  myself  just punishments; and,  while  I wished  to  escape  from  the pleasant yoke  of  thy  divine precepts, submitted  myself  to the  most  cruel  slavery  of  devils; and,  while  I slighted eternal rewards,  earned  for myself eternal  punishments.

Oh, folly,  to  be  deplored with tears  of  blood. I repent, yes, with  my  whole  heart  I repent,  and  most  humbly  I entreat  thy  pardon.

3. By  all  the  wonders  of thy  most  tender  providence, I implore thee,  O Lord,  take from me  this  folly,  and  give me the  grace  always  to  bear thy providence  in  sight; that whatever prosperity  or  adversity befalls  me,  I may  understand whence  it  comes, and may  take  it  for  a great benefit from  thy  hand. Let