thankfulness, make us daily more and more thankful for all Thy mercies and benefits daily poured down upon us. Let thefe our humble prayers afcend to the throne of grace, and be granted not only for thefe mercies, but for whatsoever elfe Thy wifdom knows needful for us; and for all those that are in need, mifery, and diftrefs, whom, Lord, Thou haft afflicted either in foul or body; grant them patience and perfeverance in the end, and to the end: and that, O Lord, not for any merits of ours, but only for the merits of Thy Son, and our alone Saviour Chrift Jefus; to whom with Thee and the Holy Spirit be afcribed all glory, etc. Amen.

3. The Student's Prayer.

To God the Father, God the Word, God the Spirit, we pour forth most humble and hearty fupplications; that He, remembering the calamities of mankind, and the pilgrimage of this our life, in which we wear out days few and evil, would please to open to us new

refreshments out of the fountains of His goodness, for the alleviating of our miferies. This alfo we humbly and earneftly beg, that human things may not prejudice fuch as are divine; neither that from the unlocking of the gates of fenfe, and the kindling of a greater natural light, anything of incredulity, or intellectual night, may arise in our minds towards divine myfteries. But rather, that by our mind thoroughly cleansed and purged from fancy and vanities, and yet fubject and perfectly given up to the divine oracles, there may be given unto faith the things that are faith's. Amen.

4. The Writer's Prayer.

Thou, O Father, who gaveft the vifible light as the first-born of Thy creatures, and didft pour into man the intellectual light as the top and confummation of Thy workmanship, be pleased to protect and govern this work, which, coming from Thy goodness, returneth to Thy glory. Thou, after

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Thou hadft reviewed the works which Thy hands had made, beheldest that everything was very good, and Thou didft reft with complacency in them. But man, reflecting on the works which He had made, faw that all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and could by no means acquiefce in them. Wherefore, if we labour in Thy works with the fweat of our brows, Thou wilt make us partakers of Thy vifion and Thy fabbath. We humbly beg that this mind may be steadfastly in us; and that Thou, by our hands, and also by the hands of others, on whom Thou haft bestowed the fame fpirit, wilt please to convey a largess of new alms to Thy family of mankind. These things we commend to Thy everlasting love, by our Jefus, Thy Chrift, God with us. Amen. (Theological Works.)

PROPER DOUBTING.

The truth is we intend and propose the art of doubting properly; for we do not detract from, but administer to

the fame; and do not despise, but regulate the understanding. And it is better to know fo much as is necessary, and yet not think ourselves to know all, than to think that we know all and yet remain ignorant of that which is neceffary. (Novum Organum.)

PSALM CXXXVII.

Whereas we fate, all fad and defolate, By Babylon upon the river's fide, Eafed from the tasks which in our captive state

We were enforced daily to abide, Our harps we had brought with us to the field,

Some folace to our heavy fouls to yield.

But foon we found we fail'd of our account,

For when our minds fome freedom did obtain,

Straightways the memory of Sion Mount Did cause afresh our wounds to bleed again;

So that with prefent griefs and future fears,

Our eyes burft forth into a ftream of

tears.

As for our harps, fince forrow ftruck them dumb,

We hang'd them on the willow trees were near ;

Yet did our cruel mafters to us come, Afking of us fome Hebrew fongs to hear ;

Taunting us rather in our misery, Than much delighting in our melody. (St. 1-3, Certain Pfalms, 1625.)

PSALM XC.

Thou carrieft man away as with a tide ; Then down swim all his thoughts that mounted high :

Much like a mocking dream, that will not 'bide,

But flies before the fight of waking eye;

Or as the grafs, that cannot term obtain,

To fee the Summer come about