the blessings of this life and of a better. Lord! thy blessings hang in clusters: they come trooping upon us; they break forth like mighty waters on every side. And now, Lord, Thou hast fed us with the bread of life: So man did eat angels' food.

O Lord, bless it!

O Lord, make it health and strength to us!

still striving and prospering so long within us, until our obedience reach the measure of thy love, who hast done for us as much as may be. Grant this, dear Father, for thy Son's sake, our only Saviour; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost-three persons, but one most glorious, incomprehensible God-be ascribed all honor, and glory, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen."

DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON'S PRAYERS.

During many years of his life, Dr. Johnson observed certain days with religious solemnity, on which it was his custom to compose prayers and meditations. These days were New Year's, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, the day of his wife's death, and his own birthday. He had originally no intention of publishing these

prayers and meditations, but was induced to give them to a friend, for publication, in his last years.

He regarded sloth, idleness, a disinclination to use his powers, and an inclination to seek bodily ease, as the great failings of his life; and against this constitutional tendency to inaction, he was always struggling and praying.

He once declared, looking back upon a partly wasted year: "This is not the life to which heaven is promised."

It is remarkable that a man who accomplished so much, should always be fighting against sloth as his besetting sin. It is doubtless to those struggles that his prayers illustrate, that we owe the fruits of his life.

ON MY BIRTHDAY. [1738.]

"O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Father of all mercies, I, Thine unworthy servant, do give Thee most humble thanks, for all thy goodness and loving kindness to me. I bless Thee for my creation,

reservation, and redemption, for the knowledge

of thy Son Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and the hope of glory. In the days of childhood and youth, in the midst of weakness, blindness and danger, Thou hast protected me; amidst afflictions of mind, body and estate Thou hast supported me; and amidst vanity and wickedness Thou hast spared me. Grant, O merciful Father, that I may have a lively sense of thy mercies. Create within me a contrite heart, that I may worthily lament my sins and acknowledge my wickedness, and obtain remission and forgiveness, through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ. And, O Lord, enable me, by thy grace, to redeem the time which I have spent in sloth, vanity and wickedness; to make use of thy gifts to the honor of thy name; to lead a new life in thy faith, fear and love; and finally, to obtain everlasting life.

“Grant this, Almighty Lord, for the merits, and through the mediation of our most holy and blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, three persons in one God, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen."

NEW YEAR'S. [1748.]

"Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast not yet suffered me to fall into the grave; grant that I may so remember my past life as to repent of the days and years which I have spent in forgetfulness of thy mercy, and neglect of my own salvation; and so use the time which Thou shalt yet allow me, as that I may every day become more diligent in my studies which in thy providence shall be assigned me; and that, when at last I shall be called to judgment, I may be received as a good and faithful servant, into everlasting happiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

1764.

In his private memorandum he thus speaks: "I went to church and prayed to be loosed from the chain of my sins. I have now spent fifty-five years in resolving, having, from the earliest time, almost, I can remember, been forming schemes of a better life.

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"O God, grant me to resolve aright, and to keep my resolutions, for Jesus Christ's sake.

PRAYER.

"O God, heavenly Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, grant that I may turn from my wickedness and live. Enable me to shake off all impediments of lawful action, and so to order my life, that increase of days may produce increase of grace, of tranquillity of thought and vigor in duty. Grant that my resolves may be effectual to a holy life, and a happy death, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."

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BEFORE COMMUNION. [1773.]

of my

Re

[Written at near midnight, April 10, in view of the Easter communion on April 11.] Almighty God, by whose mercy I am пош about to commemorate the death deemer, grant that from this time I may so live as that his death may be efficacious to my eternal happiness; enable me to conquer all evil customs; deliver me from evil and vexatious thoughts; grant me light to discover my duty, and grace to perform it. As my life advances, let me become more pure and more holy. Take not from me thy Holy Spirit, but grant that I may serve Thee with diligence and