466 MAN OF SCIENCE. 



is Thy wisdom adjoined to Thy mercies, dear Father, 

 that Thou seekest all means possible to bring Thy 

 children to the sure sense and lively feeling of Thy 

 fatherly favour. And, therefore, when prosperity will 

 not serve, then sendest Thou adversity, graciously cor- 

 recting all Thy children whom Thou receivest into Thy 

 household. Wherefore we, wretched and miserable 

 sinners, render unto Thee most humble and hearty 

 thanks that it hath pleased Thee to call us home to Thy 

 fold by fatherly correction at this present, whereas in 

 our prosperity and liberty we did neglect Thy graces 

 offered unto us. For the which negligence, and many 

 other grievous sins whereof we now accuse ourselves 

 before Thee, Thou mightest most justly have given us up 

 to reprobate minds and induration of our hearts, as 

 Thou hast done others. But such is Thy goodness, O 

 Lord, that Thou seemest to forget all our offences, and 

 hast called us of Thy good pleasure from all idolatries 

 into this city most Christianly reformed, to profess Thy 

 name, and to suffer some cross amongst Thy people for 

 Thy truth and Gospel's sake ; and so to be Thy wit- 

 nesses with Thy prophets and apostles, yea, with Thy 

 dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Head, to whom 

 Thou dost begin here to fashion us like, that in His 

 glory we may also be like Him when He shall appear. 

 O Lord God, what are we upon whom Thou shouldst 

 show this great mercy ? O most loving Lord, forgive 

 us our unthankfulness and all our sins, for Jesus Christ's 

 sake. O heavenly Father, increase Thy Holy Spirit in 

 us, to teach our hearts to cry Abba, dear Father ; to 

 assure us of our eternal election in Christ; to reveal 

 Thy will more and more towards us ; to confirm us so 

 in Thy truth that we may live and die therein ; and 

 that, by the power of the same Spirit, we may boldly 



