Page:The pastor in his closet.djvu/48

 the spirit of devotion to be fit for so much praying, so much discoursing upon heavenly things!

I am in great fear, good Lord, lest I should sometimes kneel down without fervour of soul, lest my prayers should be but cold forms, offered as a part of mine office, but not heartily, lest also I should speak without feeling what I speak, without being real in my words.

I know, O Lord, that Thou art “not extreme to mark what is done amiss.” O have mercy on me when I do thus offend through coldness or distractedness of mind! Let not these mine infirmities be any loss to those unto whom I minister, but make up to them through Thy grace what is lacking in my service towards them. What I should obtain for them through my prayers, do Thou bestow when I fail to possess the spirit of prayer.

But, most blessed Jesus, with so great a work laid on me, with so holy a frame of mind continually to sustain that I may fulfil my work, 1 feel the need of other prayers beside mine own, of a broader stream of prayer than can flow from my single soul. I need, I very greatly need, the prayers of my brethren in Christ, that I may myself incline to prayer and keep this ready