I had doubtless fallen a prey to this common sin. Do thou therefore, who hast kept me from falling, vanquish all the uncleanness of my heart. Fortify me against it, and fill me with a detestation of lewdness as a deadly evil. And as the wickedness of my heart would seduce me into this sin by promising repentance and amendment, cause me to understand that the sin of whoredom, above all others, takes away the understanding, leading on those who are enslaved by it like an ox that goeth to the slaughter, or a fool to the correction of the stocks. Convince

me of thy utter abhorrence of this sin, and the impossibility of escaping thy displeasure, if I take part in the voluptuousness of the unclean. Make me remember thy judgments in old time upon those who committed fornication, and all the express declarations of thy own word, that whoremongers and adulterers shall have their portion in the lake of brimstone and fire. Let not vain words deceive me, nor the practice of the ungodly lessen in my sight the iniquity of this sin; nor the vast multitude of those who live in it make me once doubt thy veracity, and determinate purpose to destroy the unclean, both body and soul, in hell. That I may not myself be overtaken by this lust, let me avoid all society and acquaintance with the debauched, and all their haunts of idleness and places of entertainment. Into their

assembly never let me enter. Give me to apply myself with industry to my business, knowing that idleness is the great encourager of unclean desires and practices. Enable me to turn away my eyes from every inflaming object; to be sober and careful in my discourse, not giving way myself to foolish talking or jesting, nor staying to hear those who do. Give me grace to eat for strength, not for pampering the flesh. Lord, make me to heed and beware of cherishing the feeblest motion of this lust, knowing from the history of God's saints how great a fire such a little

spark has kindled when indulged. As I profess myself a Christian, grant I may with horror reject every temptation of offering such an insult to my Redeemer, as to take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot. And lest my heart should envy sinners in their pleasures, O Lord, grant I may reflect on all those marks of thy vengeance against the sin of lewdness visible in this world, as well as reserved for the unclean in that which is eternal. Let me not forget what loathsome diseases, what bitter pains, what poverty and want is the fruit of lust; what quarrels, what bloodshed, what infamy and death from the hands of justice are brought upon young wretches by means of chambering and wantonness. Let the knowledge of these things make me urgent and instant, day after day, to cry unto thee to preserve me blameless in spirit, soul and body, and that I may never gratify an appetite implanted for the noblest purposes, but in the way which thou hast appointed. Grant this, holy Father, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

A Prayer for a young Person.

WHITHER, O Lord, shall a young man go, or how shall he be able to escape all the snares which beset him, and all the corruptions within his own heart ever ready to betray him? Where, but to thy throne of grace, O God of all power? Here, therefore, do I present my supplication, humbly beseeching thee to give unto me that faith in thy word, which shall make me receive all thy promises with delight and comfort, and stand in awe of doing any thing to incur thy threatenings. Establish in me the fear of thy eternal majesty, and a steadfast purpose of heart to walk before thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life. Subdue my natural pride, which would lead me to be a rebel against thee, O my God, and lightly to regard the plainest and

most positive of thy commands. Quench those lusts which the fire of youth ever kindles in the heart. Instead of being heady, high-minded, rash, and presumptuous, open mine ear to receive instruction: inspire me with meekness to be humble in my whole behaviour, and ever to follow that which is good. Create in me a constant distrust of myself, an aversion to the company of the lewd, the gay, and thoughtless, and a jealousy of those things to which I find myself most vehemently inclined; knowing that by nature I am altogether earthly, sensual, and devilish. Now in my youth, grant I may ascribe unto thee the honour due unto thy name, by preferring always the knowledge of thy truth, the sense of thy love, and observance of thy will, to all the pleasures of sin and vanity. O convince me that the beginning of sin, as well as of strife, is as when one letteth out water. Teach me how soon sin will ensnare, how insensibly entangle, and how difficult it is to escape from those evil tempers and indulgences, when once complied with, which might easily be vanquished by resistance at first. Let thy Spirit be my perpetual monitor, guide, and comforter, through thy word. Root out of my vain heart all good opinion of myself, all haughtiness of spirit, all stubbornness and moroseness of disposition, all affectation of conforming to fashionable sin and folly, and every wanton imagination; these vile propensities, the miserable diseases of my fallen nature, which I find within me. Help me, O my God, to mortify them all, to advance in grace as I grow in years, to gain a complete victory over my corruptions, and make a constant progress in the knowledge, faith, and consolations of Jesus Christ the Lord; in whose early youth I see an example of holiness and rightcousness, which I am commanded to follow, and through whom I hope to be accepted unto life for evermore. Amen.

Clark, D.D Rev. Joseph, 2 Nevius, Garret