HAVING now endeavoured to point out the necessity and utility of Secret, Family, and Public Prayer, it only remains, that all persons be earnesty entreated, and exhorted, to a diligent and affiduous performance of this duty, which is so advantageous to ourselves; so beneficial to others; and fo acceptable to God. By Prayer, we are made wiser, better, and happier; because, in the unwearied practice of it, we may expect to obtain every good thing from God, the bountiful giver of every perfect gift; and we are morally certain, that, by serioufly exercising ourselves therein, we are the more effectually strengthened to refift the temptations to sin, the fafcinating smiles, or the chilling frowns of the world, and the ensnaring wiles of the Devil. By our Secret Clofetdevotions, we fortify ourselves against every calamity of human life, and secure a confidence in the divine Providence, that he will make all things, whether profperous or adverse, work together for our good. By our Private Prayers in our Families, either composed by ourselves or others, we lay the foundation of piety in our offspring, or edify others in those things that are absolutely effential to the salvation of their immortal spirits. By frequenting the more public exercises of piety, we not on ly .. ly promote our own benefit, but we give a good example to our brethren, who in all ages bypast, have needed, and will in future times, be made better by such open declarations in favour of Religion. I am well convinced, that, from many pretences, and false excuses, Public Worship is either neglected altogether, or performed in a fluggish, lifeless, and languid manner, because the Preachers of Chriftianity are often supposed to be negligent in the performance of their public duties: But I would rather ask, does not the indolence of audiences; the petulencies of halfwits, who set up, at their own hands, to be Critics; with the natural hatred and aversion to divine things, which more people possess than they are aware of; are not these the things that starve devotion, which neither God permits now, nor their own confciences will either allow or juftify, in that day when every secret thought and action, will undergo their proper scrutiny. Meantime, I am well convinced, that, did we employ ourselves more ferioufly and religioufly, to the great duty of Private and Public Prayer, we would foon be much better people than we are; we would live more pioufly, charitably, peaceably, and comfortably, to ourselves and others; the blessings of God would multiply upon us here; and we should be more prepared for Heaven, and its felicities hereafter. Which may God grant, through Jesus Christ. Amen. ESSAY ESSAY II. ON SELF-EXAMINATION, ADDRESSED TO YOUNG PERSONS, WHO INTEND TO ........... You have a fincere wish to partake of our Lord's Supper, and to make a public 6 that a great deal has been printed upon the fubject 1 subject of this Sacrament in general; but upon that of Self-Examination in particular, fo much extraneous matter has either been obtruded along with it, or men of the best parts, following the bent of their own powers, have expanded their thoughts upon the fubject, so far often, as to forget, that instead of instructing, they were rather bewildering young minds, by laboured systems, and a chain of intricacies. My purpose in this Essay, therefore, is, with all imaginable plainness and fimplicity, to endeavour to instruct you how to proceed in the Examination of yourselves, hoping, that with the blessing of God, these directions may be useful to some readers, and offenfive to none. 1. When you retire seriously to hold converse with your own heart, first of all, you will, by prayer and fupplication, address yourselves to God for his assistance and direction. This will compose you into a proper temper and disposition for the folemn and impartial enquiry in which you are to be engaged; using such petitions as these that follow, or such as the impressions upon your own minds, assisted by the Spirit of all Grace may be pleased to suggest. A A PRAYER, FOR A YOUNG INTENDING COMMUNICANT, ABOUT ΤΟ ΕΝΤER ON THE DUTY OF SELFEXAMINATION. 0 THOU Great and Glorious Being, who inhabitest eternity, whose Name is Holy, and who dwelleft in the High and Holy Place; thou alone art the refuge of thy people in all times of distress. Permit, I pray thee, thy servant to draw near to thee in pious reverence, to implore the affiftance of thy Grace. Let not the unworthinefs of thy creature, keep me from thy favour; but, while I pour out my foul in thy prefence, let my cry up to thee with acceptance. Thou hast commanded thy worshippers to present themselves before thee, in the most solemn manner, I would therefore obey thee, and dedicate myself to thy fervice. I fincerely defire to commemorate the death of thy Son Chrift Jesus. I acknowledge him the great Benefactor of mankind; because he yielded up himself for the most unworthy, that our fins might be pardoned, and our fouls be saved. Thou, O God, knowest the purity of my intentions, and the sincerity of my heart; but alas! U |