Page:The pastor in his closet.djvu/34

 preparation for common worship. May I waste not the time, but spend it either in praying, or meditating, or reading Thy Holy Word, that I may enter upon mine office with a prepared and collected mind. While I robe myself with the decent vestments appointed by the Church, may I offer up short ejaculations, praying for inward purity, that, as one of Thy Priests, I may “be clothed with righteousness;” may the white robe be unto me as a sign of the innocency of life required of me. When I pass from the vestry to the appointed place of prayer, or from the place of prayer to the altar, or from the altar to the place of preaching, may I lift up my soul secretly as I walk, and offer up secret prayers for the gift of the Holy Ghost, for power to pray, for grace, for the Divine blessing both upon myself and the congregation assembled in Thine house.

But not only at the time of public prayer and in the house of prayer give me a devout will, but in all other parts of the day and in all other acts help me, most blessed Lord, that whether I walk through the fields, or sit at home, or read, or meditate, or teach in schools, I may preserve a holy and thankful mind, and use the whole day holily, and consecrate all its portions.