O thou that hearest prayer,
Teach me to pray, I confess that in religious exercises the language of my lips and the feelings of my heart have not always agreed, that i have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue a name never pronounced above without reverence and humility, that i have often desired things which would have injured me, that i have depreciated some of my chief mercies, that i have erred both on the side of my hopes and also of my fears, That i am unfit to choose for myself, for it is not in me to direct my steps.
Let thy Spirit help my infirmities, for i know not what to pray for as i ought. Let him produce in me wise desires by which i may ask right things, then i shall know thou hearest me. May i never be importunate for temporal blessings, but always refer them to thy fatherly goodness, for thou knowest what i need before i ask; May i never think i prosper unless my soul prospers, or that i am rich unless rich toward thee, or that i am wise unless wise unto salvation.
May I seek first thy kingdom and its righteousness. May i value things in relation to eternity. May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude. May i be poor, afflicted, despised and have thy blessing, rather than be successful in enterprise, or have more than my heart can wish, or be admired by my fellow-men, if thereby these things make me forget thee. May i regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit, and desire to depart from it. And may i seek my happiness in thy favour, image, presence, service.
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