laid on me! Is not each separate soul worth a life's work, all the labour I could give. What then must be the value of all this multitude of souls! How can I give sufficient labour?
O take from me, merciful Lord, all sleep and desire of sleep; souls may be lost even through the unwatchfulness of but a few days. Of how great a price is even one opportunity of speaking Thy word, if Thou art with me! Teach me after Thine own most perfect pattern to go about doing good and to be zealous in doing good, that I may be a faithful pastor, and that nothing be lost to this people through my unfaithfulness. Make me not only an evangelist, but a true pastor, going about from house to house. From house to house ought I to carry Thy Word, that the state of individual souls may be the better discerned, and that words in season may be the better spoken.
It is not enough to preach in the church, for that is but a general preaching; but I should teach privately, that particular states of men may be more closely touched. Give me a deeper sense of the value of pastoral visitation, that I may faithfully fulfil all the parts of mine office.
If it should please Thee to bless these my labours, and to give them increase in my time and before mine eyes, then, O Lord, increase in me