The Practice of Piety

Teach me so to number my days, ¹that I may apply my heart unto wisdom: and as thou dost add days unto my life; so, good Lord, I beseech thee, add repentance and amendment to my days: that as I grow in years, so I may increase in grace, and favour with thee, and all thy people. And to this end; give unto me a supply of all those graces, which thou knowest to be wanting in me, and necessary for me, with an increase of all those good gifts, wherewith thou hast already endued ⟨p. 327⟩me: that so I may be the better enabled, to lead such a godly life and honest conversation, as that thy name may thereby be glorified, others may take good example by me, and my soul may more cheerfully feed on the peace of a good conscience, and be more replenished with the joy of the holy Ghost. ²And here, O Lord, according to my bounden duty, I give thee most humble and hearty thanks, for all those blessings, which of thy goodness thou hast bestowed upon me. And namely, for that thou hast of thy free love according to thine eternal purpose, elected me, before the foundation of the world was laid,³ unto salvation in Jesus ⟨p. 328⟩Christ: for that thou hast created me after thine own Image, ⁴and hast begun to restore that in me, which was lost in our first Parents: for that thou hast effectually called me by the working of thy spirit, ⁵in the preaching of the Gospel, and the receiving of thy Sacraments, to the knowledge of thy saving grace,⁶ and obedience of thy blessed will: for that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thine only begotten Son, ⁷from the torments of Hell, and thrall of Satan: for that thou hast by faith in Christ,