A Prayer for the grace and assistance of God’s Holy Spirit, to enable me to resolve and to do better for the future.

AND now, O Lord, in confidence of thy great mercy and goodness to all that are truly penitent, and sincerely resolve to do better, I most humbly implore the grace and assistance of thy Holy Spirit, to enable me to become every day better, and to reform whatever has been amiss in the temper and disposition of my mind, or in any of the actions of my life. Grant me the wisdom and understanding to know my duty, and the heart and will to do it. Vouchsafe to me the continual presence and direction, the assistance 216and comforts, of thy Holy Spirit; whereby I may be disposed and enabled to do thy will with delight and cheerfulness, and with patience and contentedness to submit to it in all things. Endue me, O Lord, with the true fear and love of thee, and with a prudent zeal for thy glory. Increase in me more and more the graces of charity and meekness, of truth, and justice, and fidelity; give me humility and patience, and a firmness of spirit to bear every condition with constancy and equality of mind.

Enable me, O Lord, by thy grace, to govern all my appetites, and every inordinate lust and passion, by temperance and purity, and meekness of wisdom; setting thee always before me, that I may not sin against thee. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me; purify my soul from all evil thoughts and inclinations, from all bad intentions and designs. Deliver me, O Lord, from pride and vanity, from immoderate self-love, and obstinate self-will, and from all malice, and envy, and ill-will, towards any.

Make me to love thee as I ought, above all things; and let the interest of thy honour and glory be ever dearer to me than my own will or reputation, or any temporal advantage whatsoever.

Subdue in me the evil spirit of wrath and revenge, and dispose my heart patiently to bear reproaches and wrongs, and to be ready not only to forgive, but to return good for evil.

Assist me, O Lord, more especially in the faithful and conscientious discharge of the duties of that high station in which thou hast placed me: and grant that I may employ all that power and authority which thou hast invested me with, for thy glory and the public good; that I may rule over men in thy 217fear, with justice and equity, ever studying and endeavouring the good of the people committed to my charge, and as much as in me lies, the peace and prosperity, the welfare and happiness, of mankind. Confirm me, O my God, in all these holy resolutions; and do thou keep it forever in the purpose of my heart, to perform them to the utmost of my power: all which I humbly beg for thy mercies’ sake in Jesus Christ. Amen.