PRAYERS

REFERRED TO IN THE MEMOIR.

No. II.

The following Prayer appears to have been composed in 1773, soon after Mr. Daubeny's Ordination.

O blessed Lord God! who of thy goodness hast been pleased to call me, unworthy as I am, into thy holy ministry; impress on my mind, I most earnestly beseech Thee, an awful sense of the dignity and responsibility of that high office, with the discharge of which Thou hast been pleased to honour me; and that I may at no time disgrace it, make and keep me a devoted servant unto Thee. Grant unto me a hearty love for that sacred profession to which I purpose to dedicate my time and talents; and such a portion of Thy holy spirit, as may be sufficient for the supply of all natural deficiencies. My heart hath a desire and longing to serve Thee, O Lord! and that Thou knowest: O! withdraw not the light of thy countenance from thy servant, but for the sake of thy dear Son, let thy holy spirit accompany all my labours, and direct all my studies; that the eyes of my understanding being enlightened, I may see and perceive

VOL. II.

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the wondrous truths of thy law, and have grace and power to show them with effect unto others. Look down O Lord! with an eye of favour and grace upon the people that may at any time be committed to my charge-take from them all blindness, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word thy sacraments-thy ministers-and so dispose their minds to the reception of my labours among them, that I may become an humble instrument in Thy hands of spreading the light of Gospel truth. To this end I beseech Thee, correct whatever Thou seest amiss in my temper or conduct, that may in any degree tend to destroy the fruits of my ministry; and grant unto me that heavenly disposition of mind, which may enable me to bear with the infirmities of my flock; imparting to me a portion of that spirit of meekness which prevailed with my blessed Master, to preach to a people who regarded Him not, who despised, who crucified Him. Give me, Lord! a discerning mind, an upright heart, and a sanctified spirit; that in all my thoughts, words, and actions; my first aim may be to show forth thy glory, by setting forward the salvation of my fellow creatures-that both ministers and people being preserved faithful members of thy Church, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life, may be saved together as one fold under one shepherd, in the day of the Lord Jesus. This imperfect prayer, offered up at the throne of grace, in the deepest sense of my own unworthiness, and manifold infirmities, I most humbly beseech Thee to accept, O merciful Lord! for thy dear son Jesus's sake. Amen.

No. IV.

Prayer on the Sickness of their first Child-1779.

O BLESSED Lord God! supreme director of all things both in heaven and on earth; Thou knowest what is best for us at all times and under all circumstances; unto the dispositions of thy allwise providence, we therefore resign both ourselves and our concerns. O Lord, infinitely merciful, thy very corrections are the effects of thy love; therefore do thy faithful servants rejoice in the midst of their sorrrows steadfastly believing, that all things shall work together for good to those that fear God and trust in his mercy. But, O gracious God, should not this our humble petition prove contrary to the direction of thy Divine will, we most earnestly entreat Thee, in the name and for the love of thy dear Son, to regard the supplication of afflicted parents, who cry unto Thee in their distress, because they know that without thy blessing, vain is the help of man. Look down, O Lord, with an eye of pity upon us, and upon our childIf it be thy good pleasure, restore her to us in health; and although, for our unthankfulness for thy past mercies to us, for our lukewarmness in thy service, for our manifold transgressions, and for our repeated negligencies, we are deeply sensible how much we deserve to be visited with thine afflicting hand; yet, O Lord, we beseech Thee in thy wrath to think upon mercy. Spare us, O Lord,

spare us; and grant that we, being comforted by the returning light of thy countenance upon us, and upon our child, may become more mindful of thy continued goodness towards us than we hitherto have been; and more expressive of our thankfulness for the same, by a steady and uniform discharge of every obligation, which it has pleased thy Divine wisdom to lay upon us; that we, loving Thee above all things, may in all our thoughts, words, and actions, become the blessed instruments in thy hands of promoting thy honour and glory; to the praise of thy name, and the salvation of our souls. Grant this, O blessed Father, for the sake of thy Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

No. V.

Prayer on going abroad-1788.

O LORD God omnipotent, the creator, and preserver of all mankind, in whose hands are the issues of life and death, and from whose goodness all blessings are derived. Thou, Lord, whose kingdom ruleth over all, whose dominion reacheth from the sea unto the ends of the world, who orderest all things according to thy will, and permittest nothing but what seems fitting to thy wisdom; look down, we beseech Thee, and hear the prayer that we now put up unto Thee, for ourselves and our connections. Thou knowest, Lord, the circumstances