me off from the land of the living....that thou art lengthening out the space given me for repentance, though I have so long delayed this great and necessary work.... that thou art still waiting to be gracious to me, though I have thus far rejected the offers of thy grace; and art renewing thy calls and invitations, though I have hitherto refused harkening to them. O that I may no longer turn a deaf ear to thy calls, reject thy counsels against myself, abuse thy patience, and weary out thy forbearance; but let thy goodness lead me to repentance, and suffer me not to trifle with Thee to my ruin.

"I am convinced, O Lord, that sooner or later, religion must be my serious care, or I am undone. Nor do I dare, thou knowest to give up all thoughts of repentance and reformation. But, alas! How easily have I been persuaded to put off this great and necessary business, from time to time, to some fancied more convenient season! With what reluctance do I think of parting

with my sins....and how does my foolish heart draw back from the yoke of duty, and plead for its own indulgence, against the dictates of my better judgment!"

O convince me effectually of the folly and danger of this dilatory, wavering, and irresolute conduct. Save me, good Lord, from myself, from my own weakness and perverseness, from the impositions of my own senses and passions, and the obstinate force of all inveterate evil habits. Suffer not my heart to be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Convince me that, by every wicked indulgence and pursuit, I am not only of fending Thee, but wounding, injuring, and endangering my own soul, and mak ing work, at best, for a bitter repentance.

Give me, I beseech Thee, such a view of the shortness and uncertainty of life, as may prevent me from confiding in it, and putting off my great concern any longer. Suffer me not to deceive myself with the false and dangerous im. agination, that the difficulty of turning

from sin to holiness will be less at any time hereafter than at present, since I have found, by sad experience, how much evil habits are strengthened by long indulgence, and the remonstrances of conscience are enfeebled by being often stifled and controled. Nor let me presume to expect more powerful assistances of thy holy spirit, in consequence of having grieved and affronted him, by resisting those which he has already afforded. But, O that I may now yield to his gracious influences; carefully cherish every serious impression that may be made on my heart, and diligently improve all the helps and advantages of a religious nature with which I am favored.

Leave me not to myself, good Lord, I entreat Thee; seal me not up under a judicial blindness of mind and hardness of heart, but follow me with thy word and thy spirit, with thy mercies, or with thy judgments, if they are needful; and by any means which thou mayest know

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to be most proper and effectual, rouse me from my stupid lethargy, and recov er me to thyself. Help me to lift up my eyes and my soul unto Thee; and to devote myself unfeignedly to thy honor and service; and let me now begin to cultivate a friendship with Thee which shall last forever, and be the glory and delight of my immortal nature.

Cut me not off from the land of the living before I am fit for death and judgment, but O spare me, good Lord, for thy mercy's sake; spare me a little longer, till I shall amend, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance; until my evil inclinations, propensities, and habits shall be subdued; until I shall have acquired a relish for the acts and exercises of piety and virtue, and so be formed to a meetness for the sight and enjoyment of Thee, the great Fountain of all good; for the happy society of holy angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect; and for all the business and blessedness of the heavenly state. And O that, from

this day, this hour, and this moment, such deep and serious impressions of religion may be made on my heart, as shall never be worn out and obliterated, but shall issue in a thorough conversion, and terminate in everlasting glory and felicity....AMEN, and AMEN.

IV-The convinced Sinner praying to be more deeply affected with a View of his aggravated Guilt, and to be freed from the Power and Punishment of Sin.

O MOST great and glorious, most holy, righteous, and merciful God! With what awe and reverence, with what fear and contrition of soul, and yet with what hope in thy mercy does it become me to draw near unto Thee, and to pour out my heart before Thee!

Thou hast been pleased to awaken me to some sense of my sins, and of my danger, and to convince me of the ne