"That we may be transformed by the renewing of our “minds—that we may be able to have a spiritual_dis"cerning of the things of God; being wise to that which "is good, but simple and harmless to that which is evil. "That he would purge our consciences from DEAD "WORKS, to serve the living God.

"That they may be tender of his glory, and, our "own good; truly performing the offices which belong "unto them, both in accusing and excusing us, accord"ing to the several occasions.

"That he would circumcise our hearts, that we may "set our affections on things above, and not on earthly "matters-that we may not be deceived with false appearances, but may approve the things that are "most excellent.

"That he would reform and sanctify our wills, that "we may in every thing submit them unto his; delight❝ing to do his will; not seeking our own will, but the will "of him that sent us.

"That he would rectify our memories, making them 66 more faithful in retaining all such holy lessons as we "shall learn, in recalling them to mind, according to "opportunities; that we may be always ready to stir "up our minds by way of remembrance, that we may never forget God.

66

"And so (for our parts, or outward man,) that we 66 may become the temple of God where his Spirit may "dwell: that we may present our bodies a living sacri"fice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable "service: that all our parts and members may be instru"ments of righteousness unto holiness.

"In which desires we may strengthen our faith with such arguments as these:

"God only is able for this great work: in us dwelleth “nothing that is good. It is he that must work in us "both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is not in "our power to regenerate ourselves; for we are not born "of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of “man; (that is, of natural created strength,) but of God. “And he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all "that we can ask or think. It is as easy for him to "make us good, as to bid us be so.

“He is willing, and hath promised to give unto us a "new Spirit: to put his law into our inward parts, to "write it in our hearts. And if men that are evil know "how to give good gifts to their children, how much more “shall our Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them "that ask him? He hath professed it to be his own will, ❝even our sanctification; and he cannot deny us the per"formance of his own will. He hath promised, that "those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, shall "be filled. And therefore, if he has in any measure “given us this hunger, we need not doubt that he will "give us this fulness likewise. He hath said that he "delights to dwell with the sons of men. And what rea❝son have we to doubt the success of our desires, when "we beg of him to do that which he delights in?

"The next thing to be prayed for, is the obedience ❝of our lives, answerable to that in the Lord's Prayer— "thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. And "here, likewise, we are to petition for spiritual grace, " and abilities, both to perform, and to continue, and to "increase in all holy duties.

“Phil. ii. 13.

"Jer. xxxi. 33.

John. i, 13. Eph. iii. 20. Ezek. xxxvi. 26.
Thes. iv. 3. Mat. v. 6.

Luke, xi. 13,

"For the performance of them, That he would lead "us into the paths of righteousness-that with simplicity "and Godly sincerity we may have our conversation in "this world-that denying all ungodliness and worldly 66 lusts, we may live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world-that God would give us grace, whereby "we may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly " "fear-that we may not any more be conformed unto this "world that being dead unto sin, we may live unto righte❝ousness: not any longer spending the rest of our time in "the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God-that "the time past of our lives may suffice to have served divers "lusts that for the future we may walk as obedient chil"dren, not fashioning ourselves according to the former "lusts of our ignorance; but as he who has called us is holy, "so we may be holy in all manner of conversation.

"To this purpose is that desire of David, O that my "ways were directed to keep thy statutes! And in another (6 place, Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: let "thy good Spirit lead me into the land of uprightness. "Elsewhere-Shew me thy ways, O Lord, and teach me "thy paths: lead me into thy truth, and teach me; for thou

"art the God of my Salvation. Teach me thy ways, O

"Lord, and I will walk in thy truth; unite my heart to "fear thy name.

"For our continuance in them-That we may serve "him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before "him, all the days of our lives: being stedfast and un"moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord"Holding faith and a good conscience-Patiently continu"ing in well doing, without weariness, as knowing that in “ due time we shall reap, if we faint not-Holding fast

"2 Cor. i. 12. "1 Pet. ii. 21. "Ib. cxliii. 10. " 1 Cor. xv. 18.

Tit, ii. 12.
Ib. iv. 2, 3.
Ib. xxv. 4, 5.

Rom. xii. 2.

Heb. xii. 28.
Ib. i. 14.
Ib. lxxxvi. 11.

Psal. cxix. 5. Luke, i. 74, 75.

"the profession of our faith, without wavering—that our "hearts may be established with grace; that amidst all "our outward changes and losses, we may still hold fast ❝ our integrity.

"Thus the Apostle prays for the Thessalonians, that "God would establish them in every good word and work.

"For our increase in them-That God would make "all grace to abound towards us—that we always having "all-sufficiency to all things, may abound to every good "work-that we may be strong in the Lord, and in the "power of his might: being filled with the fruits of righte

ousness, unto the glory and praise of God-that forget"ting those things which are behind, and reaching unto "those things which are before, we may continually presa "towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God.

"Thus doth the Apostle pray for the Hebrews—The "God of peace make you perfect in every good work, to "do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing "in his sight.-And Epaphras, for the Colossians"That they might stand perfect and complete in all "the will of God.

"Next to the precepts of the law, we are to consider "the duties which the Gospel requires of us, namely that "we should repent and believe-that we should be careful "to perform, to continue, and increase in all those par"ticular duties and graces which are comprehended "under those two general heads.

"So that from hence we are directed to pray,

"For repentance-That since God hath, in love to our "souls, vouchsafed unto us, in his Gospel, this privilege "of repentance, which the covenant of works did not

Rom. ii. 7.

" 1 Tim. i. 19. Gal. vi. 9. Heb. x. 23. "Ib. xiii. 9. Job, ir. 3. 1 Thes. ii. 17. 2 Cor. ix. 8. 1 Thes. "iv. 1. Eph. vi. 10. Phil. i. 11. Ib. iii. 14. Heb. xiii 20, 21. "Col. iv. 12. Acts, xi. 18. Psal. li. 17. 2 Cor. vii. 10.

"admit of, that he would also give us hearts for it, granting us repentance unto life-that he would con"vince us of the danger, and folly, and pollution of "our sins, enabling us to mourn over them; bestowing

upon us broken and contrite spirits-dissolving our " stony hearts into that goly sorrow, which worketh re(6 pentance to salvation not to be repented of-That we (6 may search and try our ways, and turn unto the Lord"Bringing forth fruits meet for repentance-Labouring "to draw nigh unto God, by cleansing our hands, and puri"fying our hearts.

"For faith-That God would discover to us the great "need of a Saviour; and since he hath set forth his Son "to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, and hath "made him the author of eternal salvation to all that obey "him, that he would win over our souls to an earnest "endeavour of acquaintance with him, and high esteem "of him.

"That God, who commandeth the light to shine out "of darkness, would shine into our hearts, to give "us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, "in the face of Jesus Christ-that he would make us << more especially inquisitive after the saving experi "mental knowledge of him, in whom are laid up the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge; whom to know is wisdom, and eternal life.

"That he would count us worthy of his holy calling, "and fulfil in us all. the good pleasure of his goodness, and "the work of faith with power-that the name of the Lord "Jesus Christ may be glorified in us, and we in him.

"That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, that we may be rooted and grounded in love; may be able to com"prehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, " and depth, and height, and know the love of Christ, which

"Lam. iii. 40. Mat. iii. 8. James, iv. 8. Rom. iii. 25, "Heb. v. 9. 2 Cor. iv. 6. Col. ii. 3. 2 Thes. i. 11, 12.