The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

Lord, I have viewed the World over in which thou hast set me; I have tried how this and that thing will fit my spirit, and the design of my Creation; and can find nothing in which to rest, for nothing here doth it self rest, but such things as please me for a while, in some degree, vanish and flee, as shadows, from before me. Lo, I come to Thee, the Eternal Being! the Spring of Life! the Centre of rest! the Stay of the Creation! the Fullness of all things! I join my self to thee; with thee I will lead my life, and spend my days, with whom I aim to dwell for ever; expecting when my little time is over, to be taken up, ere long, into thy Eternity.

Lord, I have viewed the World over in which thou hast set me; I have tried how this and that thing will fit my spirit, and the design of my Creation; and can find nothing in which to rest, for nothing here doth it self rest, but such things as please me for a while, in some degree, vanish and flee, as shadows, from before me. Lo, I come to Thee, the Eternal Being! the Spring of Life! the Center of rest! the Stay of the Creation! the Fulness of all things! I joyn my self to thee; with thee I will lead my life, and sp•nd my days, with whom I aim to dwell for ever; expecting when my little time is over, to be taken up, ere long, into thy Eternity.

And since we who live under the Gospel, have heard of the Redeemer, of the dignity of his Person, of his high Office and Power, of his ⟨p. 138⟩merciful design, and great Achievements for the restoring of lapsed and lost souls:

And since we who live under the Gospel, have heard of the Redeemer, of the dignity of his Person, of his high Office and Power, of his ⟨p. 138⟩merciful design, and great Atchievements for the restoring of lapsed and lost souls: