Seven Short Prayers

Incline us Oh God! To think humbly of ourselves, 
to consider our fellow creatures with kindness, 
and to judge all they say and do with charity. 
Give us a thankful sense of the blessings in which we live, 
of the many comforts of our lot; 
that we may not lose them by discontent or indifference.
Amen.

Purposes, Apr. 4.
1. To rise at eight, or as soon as I can.
2. To read the Scriptures.
3. To study religion.
Almighty God, by thy merciful continuance of my life, I come
once more to commemorate the sufferings and death of thy Son
Jesus Christ, and to implore that mercy which for his sake thou
shewest to sinners. Forgive me my sins, O Lord, and enable
me to forsake them. Ease, if it shall please thee, the anxieties
of my mind, and relieve the infirmities of my Body. Let me not
be disturbed by unnecessary terrours, and let not the weakness
of age make me unable to amend my life. O Lord, take not from
me thy Holy Spirit, but receive my petitions, succour and
comfort me, and let me so pass the remainder of my days,
that when thou shalt call me hence I may enter into eternal
happiness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

September 6.
I had just heard of Williams's Death. 

Almighty and most merciful Father, who art the Lord of
life and death, who givest and who takest away, teach me
to adore thy providence, whatever Thou shalt allot me ; make
me to remember, with due thankfulness, the comforts which
I have received from my friendship with Anna Williams. Look
upon her, O Lord, with mercy, and prepare me, by thy grace, 
to die with hope, and to pass by death to eternal happiness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sept. 1 8, 1768, at night.
Townmalling, in Kent.

I have now begun the sixtieth year of my life. How the last
year has past I am unwilling to terrify myself with thinking.
This day has been past in great perturbation, I was distracted at
church in an uncommon degree, and my distress has had very
little intermission. I have found myself somewhat relieved by
reading, which I therefore intend to practise when I am able.
This day it came into my mind to write the history of my
melancholy. On this I purpose to deliberate. I know not
whether it may not too much disturb me.
I this day read a great part of Pascal's Life . 
0 Lord, who hast safely brought me,
Almighty and most merciful Father, Creator and Preserver of
mankind, look down with pity upon my troubles and maladies.
Heal my body, strengthen my mind, compose my distraction,
calm my inquietude, and relieve my terrours, that if it please
thee, I may run the race that is set before me with peace
patience constancy and confidence. Grant this O Lord, and
take not from me thy Holy Spirit, but pardon and bless me for
the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.