Prayers and offices of devotion for families, and for particular persons, upon most occasions. By Ben. Jenks, Rector of Harley, in Shropshire, and chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Bradford.

Author: Jenks, Benjamin, 1646-1724.2016-02

PRAYERS AND Offices of Devotion, FOR FAMILIES, And for Particular PERSONS, Upon most Occasions.

By BEN. JENKS, Rector of Harley, in Shropshire, and Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Bradford.

Men ought always to Pray, and not to Faint. Luke 18. 1.

Continue in Prayer, and Watch in the same with Thanksgiving. Col. 4. 2.

LONDON: Printed for Will. Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church; and Benj. Tooke at the Middle-Temple-Gate, in Fleetstreet. 1697.

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TO THE Right Reverend Father in God, JOHN, Lord Bishop of Chichester.

My Lord,

I Waited with some impatience to see that Design accomplished by your Acurate Pen, which is here attempted now by my weak Hand. Ever since you were pleas'd to Acquaint me with your Intention to Publish something of this Nature, It rais'd my Expectation of your Obliging the World with your Printed Prayers, as you have done with many of your Learned and Seasonable Sermons. But after you had let me know the Reason of Holding your Hand, The same might have stopt mine too, and I should have desisted, Had those Worthy Authors that have thus bestowed their pains, descended to such Particulars, as I thought [Page] fit for the use of those whom I desire to Serve.

But now that I am Engag'd, My Lord, your Favour shew'd to the Well-meant Performance here, has given me the Boldness of this Dedication. And the Advancement of such Persons to high Dignity in our Church, as are known so well to Deserve it, Encourages me also to Hope, That the Gracious God hath yet a greater Blessing for us, than our own Demerits give us reason to Expect.

I beg your Fatherly Benediction upon me and my poor Endeavours, who am,

My Lord,

Your Obliged Kinsman, in all humble Observance, BEN. JENKS.

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The PREFACE, To my Neighbours and Acquaintance, Particularly those in the Parishes committed to my Care.

My Dear Friends,

IT is especially for your Sakes, and primarily for your Service, That I Publish this Manual of Prayers; fitted to the Capacities of your Minds, to the Necessities of your Souls, and to the several Conditions and Occasions of your Lives. There is, I acknowledge, a Multitude of such Books of Devotion already Extant; Many of which are very Useful and Excellent in their kinds; and such as I should Recommend to you, without offering any other; Did those with which I am best satisfied, reach as far as I have designed here to go: And did not I think the Strain of some might be too High for many of you: And the Words and Expressions of others that I have seen in your hands, too Low and Flat, or too Obsolete and Improper, and which will rather Offend, than Edify, such as have their Senses better Exercis'd in these matters: For which and the like Reasons I was induced to add my Contribution to the common Stock. Yet not taking upon me so to Correct or Censure them that have gone before [Page ii] me, as to Discourage any from making use of those Helps, which they find Agreeable to their Case, and Efficacious to Quicken their Devotion: But leaving every one to consult their own Sense, Profit and Comfort, in Chusing and taking what best likes their particular Gust, and what most furthers their pious Designs; And to make what Alterations also they please, even in the ensuing Offices, for their own Service, if they shall think fit to use them at all.

Nor have I such a Conceit of any thing that is my Own, as to suppose it Free from the Weakness and Defects, which I can espy elsewhere: I doubt not but others may find as many Faults here. Nay, I cannot think any thing of this Nature to be so Compleat, but that the Author himself, (in tract of Time) may see reason to Add or Substract, to Alter or Amend many Particulars. Indeed I shall as soon expect to see a Shoo made to fit every Foot, as a particular Form of Prayer exactly to suit the circumstances of every Soul.

I cannot undertake that the following Prayers should answer all the Occasions which any one may ever find for Prayer: But they that have the Spirit of Supplications can tell how to fill up what is Wanting: And such as I Help in most cases, may Help themselves in the rest. I am rather apt to think, that so many as are here set down will be censur'd for more than Needful: But (it being easy to Pare off) the [Page iii] Censors may let alone what they count Superfluous; Leaving it to those that will not Disdain this Assistance. And I had rather be under an Imputation from some of my Neighbours, for Busying my self more than I had Need, in a work that might have been Spar'd; Than bear the Recoilings of my own Mind, for Neglecting to Impart any thing, that I thought might be of Use and Service to the rest.

If any Judge, That I might better have left this Behind me, till I should my self have been no more Seen: I was once of the same Mind, and had so Continued; But that I could not be Sure, that many for whom I design'd it, might not be Taken off before me: Whereby this piece of Friendship which I had for them would have been lost to them. I confess that I do Undertake thing which is liable to Reflections, (whoever be the Manager); Every one thinking he has a Title to Judge of that, wherein every one is Equally concern'd: And that Judgment passing according to the different Principles and Sentiments, and the particular Genius and Humour of each, 'Tis not possible here to Please every one: But however I shall not Fail of my Design, If I can but be so Happy, as to profit some. And if so be I take any Way Peculiar to my self, I shall only alledge, That it is but the same Liberty as most Writers of this Subject have taken. I Pretend not to set my self on a Level with the Noted [Page iv] Guides of others Devotion, that with good Success and general Approbation have laboured herein; but yet when our Lord has only Enjoyn'd the Thing to be done, without Setling the Manner of performance, Even an Ordinary Man that is but Conversant in these Matters, has Room humbly to Propose his own Experience, As long as he Assumes not Magsterially to Impose it upon his Readers; Which, in this present Undertaking, the Judge of all Thoughts knows it to be far from mine.

I name no Morning and Evening Prayers for Particular Persons: Because here are so many Occasional Prayers, whereof every one may take their Choice, from time to time, for Private Use, according to particular Exigents. And besides those for Families may as fitly serve for the Closet, changing but the Plural number into the Singular. I make no Distinction neither of Ordinary days: For I understand not why the Prayer that serves for Monday or Tuesday, should not be as good and proper for any other day of the Week. Yet I have offer'd some Variety; That you may take sometimes one Form, and sometimes another, as you see Occasion, or shall judge most Pertinent.

But I make a great Difference of the Qualities of Persons, States of the Soul, and Scenes of the Life; According to which, I have distributed and suited the Offices here proposed. [Page v] And though it be not needful (were it possible) to Adapt a Prayer to every Man's particular Imployment in the World; Yet no Man, (whatever be his Place and Calling) but may find many Prayers here fitted to the condition of his Soul, and the great Emergencies of his Life. Only I would Caution any who may need to be so Advertis'd, That I do not intend the particular Prayers here Entituled for such and such Persons of particular Ranks and Stations, As their Excuse to Supersede all Praying else; As if such Persons needed to use no other Prayers: But those, over and above, they may sometimes Add to the rest: And so prudently Chusing Agreeable Offices; And taking this my whole Performance with a little of Christian Candor, and the Allowance for common Weakness; I am willing to hope, it may not be unacceptable to those in my Neighbourhood, (for whom I am chiefly concerned) As coming from one of your own Acquaintance, (My Brethren) and One not so utterly Unacquainted with the Practice and the Benefit of such Exercises of Devotion, but that I am able to say somewhat from my own Experience (and that of many Years) in this way. However small, (I must Confess) is my Proficency, to what it might have been; Yet the several Stages that my Soul has gone through, The Tryals and Temptations that I have had, The Terrors and Perplexities [Page vi] wherewith I have grapled, The Conflicts and Troubles of Mind that I have lain under, The many Sins that I have fallen into, (Grievous to my self, and Heinous in the Sight of God, Though not so Scandalous as some others, to the View of the World:) And the Escapes that I have made, The Preservations and Deliverances, The Mercies and Blessings, The Revivings and Comforts that I have found, are so many Incitements to me, and so many Engagements upon me, to do somewhat, according to the Ability which God hath given me, for the Direction, the Support, and Help of others, that may be in the like Condition. And may the Thing here done, be but well taken by any that fear God, The Generation of them that Seek his Face, and are in Love with Prayer; I shall then little concern my self, What's the Resentment or Censure of any one else, Whether it be the Worldly Drudge, the Sordid Earth-worm, that throws Prayer out of Doors, as his Interruption and Hindrance; or the Dissolute Epicure, that takes pleasure in nothing but his Mire, and shrinks from drawing Nigh to the Holy God as his hated Task and Torment; Or the Profane Droll, that Laughs his Judge Eternal in the Face, and mightily Applauds himself, for daring to make a Scorn of all that is Serious and Sacred; Or the Trifling Impertinent, that is for all manner of [Page vii] Exercises, but only those of Religion; Or lastly, the Formal Hypocrite, that only now and then passes a slight Complement on the Majesty of Heaven, but still mortally Hates the Life and Power of Godliness: The Sense and the Satisfaction of one Pious Experienced Christian that has known the Grace of God in Truth, is more to me, than the Exceptions and the Clamours of a Thousand such as these.

If this Work fly further Abroad, than my first Intention; And if others that know nothing of what concerns me, may pick out any thing here, to further 'em in the way Heavenward; I shall have the more cause then to Bless God, for making me such an Instrument of his Grace. Yea, where I can but do the least Good to any poor Soul, I shall not think my Labour in Vain in the Lord. But my great Care is for the Souls of whom I have the Charge, and for the rest of my Friends and Neighbours within my reach, Whom I have, (you know) so much and often Importun'd and call'd upon, To Give your selves to Prayer, both in your Families, and in your Retirements every day. Nor barely to Read or Say over so many Words of Prayer; (As if it would presently make all Whole and Well, Only to use such or such a Form, that you think Pertinent to your Case; As a Plaister, fit for the Sore:) But to do it with a Praying Heart, with a Mind Intent upon the Work, and your Spirits Engag'd [Page viii] in this Service. The Reasons for which, and the Necessity of it, with the Lawfulness and Expediency of using Forms, (especially where other Abilities are Wanting) I Liberty of Prayer Asserted, &c. shall not insist upon here, because I have done it already Elsewhere. Indeed what some talk so much against all Forms of Prayer, I think is as little to be Regarded, as what others do so bitterly Inveigh against all Prayer that is out of Form. But in this matter, I cannot but much Approve the Temper of an Eminent Church-man, (afterwards made one of our Right Reverend Bishops) who in his Method and Order Bishop Witten-hall [Enter into thy Closet] 3^d Edit. for Private Devotion, thus Freely and Moderately gives his Sense:

P. 62. ‘Whether every particular Expression, or the just Words be Forethought, it haply matters not very much: But that some fit, significant, proper, and Quickening Expressions for the several Parts and Substantials of my Prayer, be Prepared, it is Expedient.—P. 81. I profess my self no whit guilty of Undervaluing the Free Effusions of the Soul before God, (in Private especially) in such Expressions as the Affected moved Mind suggests; or as the Spirit gives Utterance.—P. 284. If I am able to Pray otherwise, I shall not haply always see it fit or convenient to use Set or Composed [Page ix] Forms: For that there may be many particular affecting Circumstances in my Sins, which no Form will express so plainly, as I have need to Express them, for the moving of my Sorrow.—P. 285. If I find my heart ready, and so Composed, That I dare venture upon what we call a Conceived Prayer, it being of my own Invention, by the Assistance of the Spirit, may more perfectly suit my condition in all, than one Framed by another to my hand.—P. 81, 82. Though constantly to use that Way, may make our Devotions more slight and disorderly, through the Coldness, Dulness, or Heedlessness of our Hearts; Or through Distractions, Incumbrances, or like Mischiefs. And it may often occasion the Omission of many Necessary things, through Incogitancy, and unavoidable Forgetfulness.—P. 8. But whether the words in which we utter our selves, be Forethought or Sudden, provided they fitly and reverently express the inward Sense of our Hearts, it matters not, nor is at all Essential to Prayer.—P. 81. Be the Words whose they will, my Praying them, (i. e. Offering them up to God) with a Heart suitable to them, hath made them as much Mine, as if I had Invented, Contrived, Dictated, or Penn'd them at first.’

The Manner then of Expressing your selves, in my Words, or in your own, or others, I leave [Page x] (as here this Author does) at Liberty: And any Helps that I have offered, in the following Specimens, you may Take or Refuse, as you see Good. Only I must with all Earnestness, Beseech you to take Care, and to make Conscience, That the Duty be daily done, and that Heartily, as to the Lord: As ever you hope to reap any real Good from the Labours of your Ministers, or ever to see their Faces, or the Face of God with comfort, in that Great Day, when we must all give up our Last Accounts, and be finally Determined for our Everlasting State. When such as could not be prevailed with to Give themselves to Prayer, and to call upon the Name of God, now in the Day of Grace, this Time of Mercy, shall with Fruitless Desires, Wish themselves out of Being; And no less Vainly, than Desperately, call upon Rocks and Mountains, to Fall upon them, and to Hide them from his Face, and Save them from his Wrath, in the Day of Judgment, that Time of Recompence and Fury. And therefore according to that most Cogent Admonition of the Author of the Whole Duty of Man, Part 5. Sect. 12. ‘Let no man that professes himself a Christian, keep so Heathenish a Family, as not to see that God be Daily Worshipped in it.]’ To which let that be added of the other Author afore-quoted. ‘P. 15. Prayer with the Family, No one who would have God to Bless his Family, can think that he may neglect.’

[Page xi]

Beloved, I am more sensible of my own Frailty, than to reckon upon a much Longer Continuance in the World, (Which we all shall find to be so short a Thoroughfare to the Place of our Eternal Abode) And while I Live, I desire nothing more from you, than the Consolation of Observing your Devotion, and Striving together with me in your Prayers, for your own Salvation. And when I am Dead and gone, I would leave Behind me, not only some Token of my Love to you, but also some Assistance in that way of your Duty, wherein ye are to Follow those who are already enter'd into the Heavenly Glory.

I am apt to think, That some who are Convinc'd of this Duty, (To use Dayly Prayers) and who also feel an Inclination to it, and some Disposedness for it, in their Hearts, may yet be under a Discouragement, for want of suitable Helps in a Readiness, to Discharge the work. For such, Alas, is the Dulness and Indifferency of Sinful men to that which is▪ Best for them, and which most highly Concerns them, That they are not apt to be Solicitous, (so as they use to shew themselves in their Worldly Concernments) to Seek out after the Provisions and Conveniences for the Spiritual Life; Unless these fall directly in their Way, and are set just before them. And therefore this Prayer-Book, I have had in my Thoughts to Provide, and to put it into the [Page xii] Hands of some of the Poorer sort; And (without Imposing upon any) I would also Move such able Friends, as may Favour the Design, to lend a Charitable hand, in Assisting to Furnish more of those Poor Creatures, who by the help of such a Gift, might be put in a way to get the best and greatest Riches. But I shall not offer to disturb any that are in the Possession of better Means already. No, Let them go on with the Use of 'em, and God's Blessing be upon 'em. And if but any thing here shall be found Agreeable and Usefull to others, They are at Liberty to Collect and take what they will, and pass over the rest. For (as the Celebrated Dr. Hammond tells us) [Pract. Cat. Lib. 3. Sect. 2. Answ. 5.] ‘The Church being obeyed in the observation of the prescribed Liturgy in Publick, It is not supposed by our Church, But that every one, in Private, may ask his own Wants, in what Form of words he shall think fit. Yet that he may do it Fitly and Reverently, It will not be amiss for him, to Acquaint himself with the several Addresses to God, which the Book of Psalms, and other parts of Holy Writ, and other Helps of Devotion, will afford him; Either to use, as he finds them fit for the present Purpose, Or by those Patterns, to Direct and Prepare himself to do the like.’

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Now may this poor Attempt of mine be an Invitation to some of my Pious and Learned Brethren in the Ministry, to set out some better Entertainment for their People: And I shall be abundantly Satisfied and Pleas'd, to see the thing Promoted, and still further Improv'd; Though my whole Performance should be Vacate and Excluded, to make room for others deserving the Precedence. In the mean Time, May a Blessing from Above follow these small Endeavours of Mine, and make them Prosperous (in any measure) to Help Your Devotion. And that you may in the use of any Prayers here set before you, find some Advantage to your Souls, and the daily Promotion of your Sanctification, Peace, and Salvation, is the earnest Desire and Prayer of

Your Devoted Servant in the Work of the Lord, B. J.

ERRATA.

PAge 32▪ Line 15. r. infinitely. P. 45. l 13. for or r. and l. 16. for And r. O. l. 18. before to r. and. P. 65. l. ult. del. for. P. 66. l. 1. del. vation. P. 68 l. ult. del. Sin and. P. 86. l. 13, 14. for of our own. r. in our selves. P. 107. l. 13. after Penitence r. and Faith. P. 119. l. penult. after thee. For his sake, P. 133. l. 11. for Perplext r. Intricate P. 135. l. 26 bef. Be. r. And. P. 204. l. penul. r. endured. P. 205. l. 16. r. should. P. 208 for Glory r. Honour. P. 248. l. 18 after also r. my self. P. 259. l. 23. aft those r. offensive. P. 263. l. 2 aft. nor r. to. P. 285. l. 10. bef. Make r. Nor. P. 311. l. 16. aft. to r Move. P. 337. l. 24. r. Support. P. 338. l. 6. de. for. P. 353. l. 5. r. Mete. P. 354. l. 23. r. Advanced. P 369 l. 23. r. so. P. 377. l. 27 for live r. shew. P. 384. l. 6. r. Inheritance. l. 22. del. then. P. 391. l. 14. for 'em. r. my Guilt▪ P. 398. l. 23. aft. a r. more. P. 424. l. 4. aft. to us r. in dying for us. l. 24. aft. Souls r. And. P. 434. l. 5. aft. And r. I. P. 447. l. 18. r. straggle. P. 449. l. 15. r. And (Besides some false Pointings.)

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The CONTENTS.

A Prayer for Devotion, and a right Frame of Spirit in the Worship of God. P. 1.
A Family-Prayer, in the order of our Lord's Prayer. 3
Morning Prayer for a Family. 10
Another Morning Prayer for a Family. 13
A Third Morning Prayer. 17
A Fourth Morning Prayer. 20
A Fifth Morning Prayer. 24
A Sixth Morning Prayer. 27
A Seventh Morning Prayer. 31
Evening Prayer for a Family. 34
Another Evening Prayer. 39
A Third Evening Prayer. 44
A Fourth Evening Prayer. 49
A Fifth Evening Prayer. 56
A Sixth Evening Prayer. 61
A Seventh Evening Prayer. 68
Morning Prayer for the Lord's Day. 72
Another Morning Prayer for the Lord's Day. 76
Evening Prayer for the Lord's Day. 80
Another Evening Prayer for the Lord's Day. 85
A Prayer for any Intermediate Time of the Lord's Day. 91
A Confession of the Sins Forbidden, with Petitions for Grace to perform the Duties enjoyn'd, in the Commandments. (Preparatory to the Sacrament: Or at any time of Humiliation. 95
[Page]A Prayer before the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 104
A Prayer for Grace to Resign and Give up our selves to God. 110
Thanksgiving and Prayer, after the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 113
Prayer and Humiliation for a Publick Fast-Day. 116
- An Addition in time of War. 125
- —In time of Infection. 128
- —In time of Famine. 129
- —In time of any Sore and Grievous Calamity. 131
- —Under any puzzling Difficulties and Arduous Affairs. 133
A Prayer for Temporal Blessings. 135
- —For Rain. 136
- —For Fair Weather. 137
Prayer and Praise for a Publick Thanksgiving-Day. 139
Thanksgiving for Temporal Blessings. 143
- —For Rain. 144
- —For Fair Weather. 145
- —For the Cessation of Infection. ibid.
- —For the Restoration of Plenty. 147
- —For Victory over our Enemies. 148
- —For Peace. 150
Thanksgiving for Preservation and Deliverance [Page] from Dangers and Troubles. 152
A Prayer for Blessing, Direction, Help and Good Success in any great Enterprize. 156
A Prayer for Illumination and Knowledge. 159
A Prayer for Repentance. 162
A Prayer for Faith and Trust in God. 166
A Prayer for Power to Live by Faith upon Christ, and the Divine Promises. 168
A Prayer for the Divine Assistance. 174
A Prayer for Sincerity. 177
A Prayer for Humility. 180
A Prayer for Mindfulness of God's Presence. 182
A Prayer for Tenderness of Heart. 184
A Prayer for the Fear of God. 187
A Prayer for the Love of God. 189
A Prayer for Hope. 193
A Prayer for Charity. 195
A Prayer for Unity. 198
A Prayer for Meekness and Peaceableness. 200
A Prayer under Abuses and Provocations. 203
A Prayer under Infamy and Disgrace. 206
A Prayer for our Enemies. 209
A Prayer under Crosses and Disappointments in our Affairs. 211
A Prayer under Losses and Damage in our Goods and Estate. 213
A Prayer under Confinement and loss of [Page] Liberty. 215
A Prayer under sad Accidents and Disasters falling on the Body. 218
A Prayer for a Blind-man. 220
A Prayer under Grievous Pain. 224
A Prayer under Dangerous Sickness. 226
A Prayer under Lingring Sickness. 230
A Prayer for one that is Stupified, or Light-Headed. ibid.
A Prayer for a Sick Child. 235
A Prayer for a Dying man past Hope of Recovery. 237
A Prayer upon the News of others Death. 240
A Prayer upon the Death of our Dear Friends. 242
A Prayer for Patience. 244
A Prayer for Preparation and Readiness to Dye. 247
A Prayer in Publick Commotions and Distractions. 251
A Prayer in time of Threatning Dangers. 253
A Prayer on the Remembrance of former Sins. 255
A Prayer under Fears and Doubts of our Spiritual Condition. 258
A Prayer under the Dread of God's Wrath and Everlasting Damnation. 261
A Prayer under Strong Temptations. 264
A Prayer for Chastity. 267
A Prayer for the Mortification of all Fleshly Lusts. 269
[Page]A Prayer before the Hearing of God's Word. 271
A Prayer for Increase of Grace. 274
A Prayer for Quickning Grace. 277
A Prayer for Ability to Acquit our selves as we ought in our several Places and Relations. 278
A Prayer for Grace to Serve the Lord with Gladness. 280
A Prayer for skill to Carry our selves aright among all with whom we are concern'd in the World. 282
A Prayer for Grace to use our Speech aright. 286
The Convinc'd Sinners Prayer. 289
A Prayer for the Troubled Soul. 294
A Prayer for the Enjoyment of God's gracious Presence, and Divine Communion. 297
A Prayer for Heavenly Comforts. 303
Prayer and Praise for a Converted Sinner. 305
A Prayer after a Relapse into Sin. 309
Another Humbling Office under any foul Fall. 313
Thanksgiving for Recovery after a Fall into Sin. 317
Thanksgiving for Spiritual Victory. 320
A Prayer for g [...]r Concernment and Diligence for [...] Soul, and the things of another World. 322
A Prayer for Faithful [...] and Constancy in [Page] the Profession of our Religion. 326
A Prayer for Zeal and Activity in the Practice of our Religion. 327
A Prayer against Worldliness; and for a Heavenly Mind. 332
A Prayer for Perseverance, and Grace to Endure to the End. 334
A Prayer in Prosperity. 336
A Prayer for the Enlargement and Prosperity of the Church. 340
A Prayer for the Reformed Churches Abroad. 342
A Prayer for Our Church. 345
A Prayer for the King and all our Rulers. 348
The Magistrate's Prayer. 351
A Prayer for all our Bishops, Pastors, and Ministers. 355.
The Author's Prayer for himself, as a Minister. 357
A Prayer for our Benefactors. 361
A Prayer for our Pious Friends. 362
A Prayer for our Friend whose Soul we fear to be in an ill Dangerous Condition. 364
A Prayer for the Unconverted. 367
A Prayer for all that Desire our Prayers. 373
A Prayer for the Blessing of an intended Marriage. 375
The Husband's Prayer. 376
The Wife's Prayer. 378
A Prayer for a Woman in Travail. 380
[Page]Thanksgiving after Safe Delivery. 381
A Prayer for our Children. 382
A Prayer for our Parents. 384
The Widow's Prayer. 385
The Orphan's Prayer. 387
The Aged's Prayer. 388
The Child's Prayer, 392
Prayer to be us'd by the Rich and Great. 394
A Prayer to be us'd by such as are Poor and Low in the World. 397
The Master of a Family his Prayer. 399
The Servant's Prayer. 402
The Soldier's Prayer. 405
A Prayer for the Melancholy and Distracted. 408
A Prayer for Insensible Sinners. 410
The Condemned Malefactor's Prayer. 413
Prayer and Praise upon the Occasion of our Blessed Saviour's Coming into the World. 418
A Prayer on the Occasion of his Death. 421
Prayer and Praise on the Occasion of his Resurrection. 425
Prayer and Praise on the Occasion of his Ascension. 426
A Prayer on the Occasion of the Coming of the Holy Ghost. 428
A Prayer on the Commemoration of any Saints. 430
A Soliloquy, for the Pious Soul's Solace: By way of Paraphrase on the Creed. 433

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PRAYERS And OFFICES of DEVOTION.

A Prayer for Devotion, and a right Frame of Spirit in the Worship of GOD.

O Most High and Holy, Blessed and Glorious Lord my God! Thou wilt be Sanctified in them that come Nigh thee: And thou art greatly to be Feared, and to be had in continual Reverence of all that are about thee. O be thou pleased so to Sanctify my Heart with thy Grace, That I may Sanctify the Lord God in my Heart; and so Draw nigh unto Thee, that thou maist Draw nigh unto me: And so Pour out my Heart before thee, that thou maist Pour [Page 2] down thy Heavenly Blessings and Favours upon me.

I desire, O my God, to Meet thee in thy Ways; And (in Compliance with thy gracious Appointment) I fall down and Worship here at thy Footstool, in the Name and Mediation of thy Dear Son. For how Unworthy am I to come into thy holy Presence! And how Unable of my self to perform any duties of Service meet to be tend'red unto thy Heavenly Majesty! O let thy great Mercy overlook my Unworthiness, and save me from all the Offensive things, that would make my Prayers Sin and Abomination to the Lord. And as thou hast made me Sensible of my Duty, and of my own Insufficiency to discharge it as I ought: So may thy good Spirit Help my Infirmities, and Increase my Abilities for thy Service: That without sinful Dulness or Distractions, I may Worship thee in Spirit and in Truth; and Serve thee with Reverence and godly Fear; Yea, with all Readiness and Love, and Delight in Approaching unto God.

Instruct me, Gracious Lord, in the Knowledge of thy Will; and Assist me in the way of my Duty: That I may both Understand what is thy Pleasure concerning me; and also may find Grace [Page 3] sufficient to Perform it. O make me such a Spiritual Worshipper, as thou dost Seek; and my Service such a Spiritual Sacrifice, as thou wilt Accept.

Help me, My Strength and my Redeemer, to offer up my Heart and my Self, together with my Prayers and Addresses unto thee: That I may not be Rash with my Mouth, nor Hasty in my Heart, to utter any thing Rudely before thee; Nor draw nigh to thee with Lips and Body, when my Heart is far from thee: But that Heart and Soul, and all which is Within me, may be taken up in a Devout, Faithful, and Affectionate Attendance upon thee.

And thou that Hearest Prayers, O Quicken me, that I may Call upon thy Name. And let me receive such Grace from thee, as may enable me to perform Acceptable Service unto thee, through the Beloved of thy Soul, my only Saviour and Advocate, Jesus Christ.

A Family Prayer, in the Order of our Lord's Prayer.

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by Eternal Generation; The Father of all things, by Temporal Creation; And the Father of thy People, [Page 4] by Adoption and Spiritual Regeneration! What manner of Love is this, That we, (of Rebels against Heaven, Slaves of Satan, and Children of Wrath) should be made the Children of the most High, and Heirs of everlasting Glory! We are Thine, O Lord, for thou hast Made us out of Nothing; and lookt upon us in our Blood, to revive again, after we had Destroyed our selves. Thou art in Heaven: O that we may in Heart and Mind thither Ascend; and with all Lowliness, worship at the Footstool of thy Glorious Majesty. Thou art Our Father: O that we may with Trust and Delight, as Children, draw nigh unto thee, Who hast all Fulness both of Power and Mercy, to do for us. And may we also Love as Brethren, and still hold together as Children of the same Heavenly Father.

And O that all the World may give thee, our God, the Glory due to thy great Name▪ That thou may'st be more Known, and Fear'd, and Lov'd, and Honour'd, by us, and by all men, as our Supreme Lord, and as our Chiefest Good: That we may Glorify thee as we ought, in our Thoughts and Desires, and in our Words and Ways.

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O that the Kingdom of Sin and Satan may be still more and more Weakened, till they be utterly Destroyed! That all the Powers on Earth may use For thee, the Authority which they have received From thee! That all the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and Jerusalem be made the Joy and Praise of the whole Earth! O that Christ may Dwell and Rule in our Hearts by his Spirit and Grace; and make us a Willing People, the faithful Subjects of his holy Kingdom; And still Reign over us here, till we are made fit to Live and Reign with him, and all his Redeemed, in the Heavenly Glory. O thou Blessed and only Potentate! Let thy Kingdom come so Powerfully into us, that thy Will may be done still Faithfully and Cheerfully by us.

And may thy Will and Word, O Lord, and the Way of Salvation, be every where Known upon Earth. Let the Light of thy Gospel Shine and Prevail, and win more Proselytes daily throughout the World. O send the Means of Grace where they are not: And make them Prosperous and Successful where they are. Let not the Will of the Flesh, nor the Way of the World, but the Word and Will of our God be the Rule of our [Page 6] Lives, to Guide and Sway us, in all our ways. Make us more Conformable to thy Will, in all that thou Requirest of us; And more Submissive to thy Will, in all that thou layest upon us. Yea, make us Pleas'd with whatever is thy Pleasure; and greatly to Love thy Word, and Delight to do thy Will, and Joyfully and Cheerfully to serve thee; As thy Glorious Angels and Saints above, whose Heaven it is to Please and Enjoy the Lord.

And till we are Fitted for the better Glorious Life to come, Give us, O Father, of thy gracious Bounty, all things Needful and Convenient for our present Being here. Preserve us from all the Snares and Dangers that attend both the Prosperous, and the Afflicted Case. When we have this World's Good, O that we may use it Wisely and Piously, to thy Glory: And whenever thou takest it from us, Make us Contented, and Patient, and Thankful; and the more Intent upon that Good, which shall never be Taken away. O Good God! we beg, That still we may be in that state of Body, which thou knowest to be best for our Souls: And that all which we have in this Life, may tend and help to Speed us on to the Blessed Life Immortal.

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We are asham'd and sorry, That we have so much and so long Dishonour'd thy Blessed Name, Disobeyed thy Holy Word, and Abused thy Rich Mercy. We desire to Return, and to be Reconciled to our God, to be Humbled and Penitent for our Sins, and to Intreat thy gracious Favour in Jesus Christ, for the Pardon of 'em. Forgive us, we beseech thee, O Father of Mercies, for his Sake, all the Sins that ever we have committed against thee; Especially we beg to be Discharged from those Wasting and Presumptuous Sins, committed against the Strivings of thy Spirit, and the Checks of our own Enlightned Minds; that have made the saddest Breaches upon our Peace, and fill'd our Souls with the Dread of thy Wrath. O give us Tokens for Good, to persuade and Assure our Hearts, that thou hast such Mercy in store for us. And Incline our hearts, O Lord, to Forgive, and to be Merciful; as we need to be Forgiven, and as we desire to obtain Mercy.

And that Iniquities may not Prevail against us, to spoil us for the future, Subdue them, O God of all Grace, by the power of thy Holy Spirit; And never suffer us to be Tempted above the strength which thy Grace shall supply us with. Make us Wary to Avoid all the Temptations [Page 8] we can; and strong in the Lord to Overcome what we must Encounter. We are poor frail Creatures: But thou O Lord Almighty, art Stronger than the Strong One; O do thou Protect us, we beseech thee, by thy powerful Aids: And so keep us from Falling, that we may never be made a Prey to the cruel Murderer of Souls, nor be deliver'd into those bitter Pains of Eternal Death, which are the sad Wages of our Sins: But may find a Way to Escape every Snare, and be Preserved safe to thy Heavenly Kingdom.

Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord most High, thou art the King of all the World: And Happy are they who are under the Conduct of thy Good Spirit, as the Willing Subjects of thy Spiritual Kingdom. We desire and beg, That we may all be found of that Number. Save, Lord, and let the King of Heaven Hear us when we Call.

We ask great things at thy hands, but not too Great for the Almighty God to Grant: For thine is the Power; And thou art Able to do for us Exceeding Abundantly, even above all that we Ask or Think: O reveal thy Glorious Arm, to do the things worthy of God, which none but thy Blessed Self can do, In Forgiving, [Page 9] and Healing, and Helping us, who have Undone our selves, and are Hopeless and Helpless in our selves.

Thine is the Glory, O God; and such are the Wonders of thy Grace, to get thee Glory, in the Salvation of those that were Lost.

Therefore tho' we are exceeding Guilty, and utterly Unworthy, Yet we pray and Hope, That thou wilt Glorify thy Mercy, to Remember us in our Low estate, and to Relieve us in all our Wants and Streights, Who forsake every Refuge else to come to thee, O Blessed God, alone; and have all our Expectation from thee, and our whole Dependance upon thee; Trusting only in thy Gracious Goodness, through the all-sufficient Merits and Mediation of our Blessed Redeemer: and Looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to Eternal Life.

And to thee, O great and Glorious Lord our God, whose Kingdom ruleth over All; To thee who dost whatever thou pleasest, in Heaven and in Earth; To thee who shewest forth all thy Glory to the Blessed that are in thy Presence, Be Glory in the Highest, and all Thanks and Praise ascribed of us, and of all the World for ever and ever.

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Morning-Prayer for a Family.

O Lord the Blessed God of our Salvation! Thou art the Hope of all the Ends of the Earth, upon whom the Eyes of all do Wait: For thou givest unto all Life, and Breath, and All things. In Thee we ever Live, and Move, and Are; And upon Thee we continually do Depend for all the Good that ever we Have, or Hope for. Still thou takest Care of us, and Watchest for Good over us, even in our Rest and Sleep, when we have not so much as any Thoughts of Careing for our selves: And daily thou Renewest to us our Lives, and thy Mercies: Every Morning giving us New Occasions still for thy Praise, and our Thankfulness. And thou hast given us the Assurance of thy Word, That if we Commit our Affairs to Thee, and Acknowledge thee in all our Ways, thou wilr Establish our Thoughts, and Direct our Path. And therefore we desire, O Lord, to put our selves under thy gracious Conduct, and thy Fatherly Protection; and to beg the Heavenly Guidance, and Blessing, and Assistance of thy Good Spirit, to Chuse our Inheritance for us, and to Dispose of us and of all [Page 11] that Concerns us, to the Glory of thy Name.

O Lord, withdraw not thy tender Mercies from us, Nor the Comforts of thy Presence; nor the Assistance of thy Spirit, for our great Contempt, and manifold Abuses thereof. Never punish our Past Sins, by giving us over to the Love and Power of our Sins: But give us true Penitent Hearts for, and thy Merciful Discharge from, all the Guilt that lies upon us. And Grant us, O Good God, the comfortable Sense and apprehension of thy gracious Acceptance of us, and thy merciful Intentions towards us, in the Son of thy Love, the Lover of our Souls; That our Souls may Bless thee, and all that is within us may Praise thy holy Name.

And O that we may find the Joy of the Lord to be our Strength; to enable us against our Sins; Especially the Sins to which we are most Addicted, and whereof we are in greatest Danger: And to make us also more Ready to every Good Work, and better Disposed for all the duties of Piety, Justice, Charity, and Sobriety; which we owe to thee our God, to our Neighbour, and our selves: That herein we may Exercise our selves, to have always the Conscience void of [Page 12] Offence towards God, and towards Men. O help us to walk Circumspectly, Not as Fools, but as Wise: Carefully Redeeming the Time that we have Lost, and Conscientiously Improving all those Seasons and Means of Grace, which thou art pleas'd to put into our hands, for the best profit and Advantage of our Souls. And while we are upon Earth, O give us all things Needful and Convenient for our present Pilgrimage: And Sanctify to us all our Enjoyments, and all our Imployments here in the World: Our Crosses also, and our Comforts; and all Estates we go through, and all Events that now befall us: Till through the Merits of thy Son, and the Multitude of thy Mercies, we are Conducted safe to be Ever with the Lord. Amidst all our other Affairs in this World, O let us never Forget, or Neglect, the One thing Needful; But be in greatest Care so to demean our selves every day, as may forward our comfortable Accounts in the day of thy Appearing and Glory.

O Gracious Father! Keep us, we beseech thee, this day, in thy Fear and Favour, and help us to Live to thy Honour and Glory. If thou Guide us not, we shall run into Errors; If thou Preserve us not, we shall fall into Dangers: [Page 13] O let thy good Providence be our Defence and Security; And let thy Holy Spirit be our Guide and Councellor, in all our ways. And grant that we may take the ways and courses Agreeable to thy Will, and Acceptable in thy sight, through Jesus Christ. In whose Sacred Name and Words, we close up these our imperfect Requests to thee, Our Father, &c.

Let thy Grace, O Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Love, O Heavenly Father, Thy comfortable Fellowship, O Holy Blessed Spirit, be with us, and with all whom we ought to beg thy Mercy for in our Prayers, this day and for evermore.

Another Morning-Prayer for the Family.

O Lord, thou art the God whose we are, and whom we ought to Serve, with all Endowments and Abilities for thy Service, wherewith thou hast blessed us. For thou hast laid upon us all the Obligations of thy Laws, and all the Endearments of thy Love, to be Faithful in the Covenant of our God, and to Abound in the Work of the Lord. But we desire to Humble our Sinful selves [Page 14] here before thee, That our Lives have been so Unserviceable to thee, and so full of Provocation against thee: That the Dishonour which we have done thee, O Lord, has, by many degrees, exceeded all the Service: That we have Lived to Our selves, more than to the Lord and Giver of our Lives; and have served our own Lusts and Pleasures, more than thy holy blessed Will, which is the Rule of all Righteousness, and in the performance whereof there is the greatest Reward. O how have we Disbelieved thy Truths, Disobeyed thy Commands, Disregarded thy Promises and Threats, and Resisted and Defeated all thy gracious Methods to Reclaim us from the Evil of our ways, and to bring us over entirely to Thy self!

We have Sinned against thee our God, to the Infinite Wrong and Damage of our own Souls: And by our Sins we have spoil'd and Destroy'd our selves: But it is not in us to Recover and Save our selves. In thee, O Lord our Heavenly Father, and in thee alone, is all our Help. Thou hast laid Help upon One that is Mighty, and Able to Save to the uttermost all that come to God through him: Through whom thou hast encouraged us to come Boldly to the Throne of Grace, [Page 15] that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of our Need. In him therefore, we beg, Lord, That thou wilt be Reconciled to us, and at Peace with us, as a Father of Mercies, and a God of Consolation.

And for his Sake, Enable us also, we beseech thee, to Demean our selves as becomes the Children of God, the Redeemed of the Lord, and the Members and Followers of Jesus Christ. O put such Principles of Grace and Holiness into our Hearts, as may make us to Hate all Iniquity, and every False way. And put thy Spirit within us, Causing us to walk in thy Statutes, and to keep thy Judgments, and to do them. Not only Lay thy Commands upon us, but be pleas'd, O Lord, to Enable us for the Performance of every Duty required of us. And so Engage our Hearts to Thy self, that we may make it our Meat and Drink to do thy Will, and with Enlarged hearts, run the way of thy Commands. O make our Services Acceptable to thee, while we Live, and our Souls Ready for thee when we Die. And as long as we are in this World, Keep us, O Lord our God, from the Evil of it, and from the Snares and Dangers which thou knowest we are continually [Page 16] expos'd to in it. O make our Passage Safe and Sure, through all the Changes, Troubles, Temptations, and various conditions of this Mortal Life, to the Unchangeable Glories and Felicities of Life Everlasting.

Be Merciful to us, Good Lord, and Bless us, and Keep us this day, in all our Ways, and in all our lawful Designs and Undertakings: And may we take nothing in hand, but what is Warranted by thy Word. O let us be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long. Let thy Fear be ever before our eyes, to Restrain us from the things Provoking to our God, and Destructive to our Souls. And let thy Love Abound in our hearts, and sweetly and powerfully Constrain us to all Faithful and Cheerful Obedience, acceptable in thy Sight, through him that hath Loved us, even the Lord our Righteousness: In whose Blessed Name, and the Words of Prayer which himself has taught us, we continue Praying, Our Father, &c.

The Blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us, and with all that belong to us, this day, and for evermore.

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A Third Morning-Prayer.

O Lord God, Merciful and Gracious, Long-Suffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth! Thou keepest Mercy for Thousands, Pardonest Iniquity, Transgression and Sin; and dost not Retain thy Anger for ever, because thou delightest in Mercy. How excellent is thy Loving-Kindness, O God! therefore do the Sons of Men put their Trust under the Shadow of thy Wings. And therefore do we desire still to Look up to that Bountiful Hand of thine, from whence we evermore have received all our Good things. O Lord our God! Be thou pleas'd to Look down mercifully upon us, and be Gracious and Favourable to us, as thou usest to be unto those that Love thy Name? O look not upon the Sin of our Nature, nor the Sins of our Hearts and Lives, which are more than we can Remember, and Greater than we can Express; and such as make us seem Vile even in our own Eyes, and so highly Guilty before thy Holy Majesty, that it is of the Lord's Mercies we are not Consumed, because thy Compassions fail not. But behold us in Mercy, through the Merits and [Page 18] Mediation of thy Son our Saviour, who did no Sin; and was Manifested, that he might take away our Sins; By whom it is, that we have this Access to the Majesty on High, and Encouragement to come into thy Presence, To beg what we Need, and what thou art so Full of, and Inclinable to make thy poor Creatures Happy in the Enjoyment of.

And seeing there is in Christ Jesus an Infinite Fulness of all that ever we can Want or Wish, to make us Holy, and to make us most Blessed Eternally: O that we may all Receive of his Fulness, Grace Sufficient for us, To Pardon our Sins, and Subdue our Iniquities: To Justifie our Persons, and to Sanctify our Souls: And to Compleat upon our Hearts and Lives that holy Renovating Change, which may still more and more Transform us into the Blessed Image after which thou didst Create us; And make us still more Meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of thy Saints in Light.

And teach us, O Lord our God to Use this World, without Abusing it; And to Enjoy the things here, without Losing our Part in thy Love, which is better than Life. Whatever we have of the World, O may we have [Page 19] the same with thy Leave and Love, Sanctified to us by the Word of God, and Prayer, and by the right Employment and Improvement thereof to thy Glory, who art the Gracious Giver of all our Good things. And whatsoever we Want of the things of this Life, O Lord our Heavenly Father, Leave us not destitute of any of those things that Accompany Salvation: But adorn our Souls with all such Graces of thy Holy Spirit, as may enable us to Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, by such a Conversation, as does become it.

Help us, O Gracious Lord, in the whole of our Duty to thee our God, and in the discharge of all Relative-Duties which we owe to Men, whether Superiors, Equals, or Inferiors; all with whom we have our Conversation in the World: That we may walk Wisely toward them that are Without, and Kindly toward them that are Within: and not be justly Offensive unto any, but what in us lies, Useful and Beneficial to all. And thus let us pass the time of our Sojourning here, in thy Fear and Favour, and to thy Honour and Glory; That at our last Review thereof, thy Name may have the Praise, and our Souls the Comfort, in the hour of Death, [Page 20] and in the great Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And now that thou hast Renewed our Lives, and thy Mercies to us this Morning, Help us, Good God, to Renew our Desires, and Resolutions, and Endeavours to live in the Obedience of thy holy Will, and to the Honour of thy blessed Name. O Restrain us from the Evils and Follies into which we are Prone to fall: And Quicken us to the Offices and Duties which we are Averse to perform. And grant that we may Think and Speak, and Will and Do, the things becoming the Children of our Heavenly Father, and so find the strong Consolation of thy Gracious Acceptance in Jesus Christ our Saviour; Who when we Pray, has taught us to say, Our Father, &c.

A Fourth Morning-Prayer.

O Lord God that Hearest Prayers, and art Nigh to all that call upon thee in Truth; having thy Ears open to a World of Creatures, that continually depend upon thee. As we are moved by our own Necessities, so are we encouraged by the daily Experience of thy Mercies, still to shelter our selves under the [Page 21] Shadow of thy Wings, and to continue our Suits and Supplications at the Throne of Grace. And we beg of thee, who Fashionest all the Hearts of the Sons of Men, That thou wilt Prepare our Hearts to come into thy holy Presence, and to Call upon thy Blessed Name, in a due and Acceptable manner. O! Pour upon us the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications: And let thy good Spirit Help our Infirmities, and Teach us to Pray; and to ask such Things, and in such a Way as shall be most agreeable to thy Will, and most advantageous to our Souls.

We have taken upon us to Speak unto thee, the Sovereign Majesty of Heaven and Earth, who are but poor Worms, and sinful Dust and Ashes, That have too just cause to be Afraid, lest our great and manifold Sins had Provoked thee to Hide thy Face from us, and to shut up thy Loving-kindness in Displeasure. For we have done Foolishly and Wickedly, in not Hearkening to the Calls of thy Word; nor yielding to the Motions of thy Spirit, to walk in the Ways which thou hast set before us. Our Iniquities are increased over our Heads, our Trespass is grown even up to Heaven, and our Sins are a sore Burden, too Greivous and Heavy for us to bear. They are infinite [Page 22] Debts, and sad Accounts, for which if thou, O Lord, shouldst enter into Judgment with us, we could not Answer thee One of a Thousand: But must lay our hands upon our Mouths, and plead nothing but Guilty; having our whole dependance upon thy Mercy.

O God be Merciful to us miserable Sinners; For his Sake, whom thou hast Exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance to thy People, and Forgiveness of their Sins; Be Merciful to us, we pray thee, and Heal our Souls, that have greatly sinned against thee. O Heal our Backslidings: Renew us to Repentance: Establish our Hearts in thy true Fear and Love: And Establish our Goings in thy holy Ways: That we may not be so Wavering, and bent to Backsliding; Nor Revolt from thee, to Return to Folly, after thou in Mercy hast spoken Peace to our Souls: But may go on Conquering and to Conquer, all the Enemies of our Souls, and all the Hindrances of our Salvation, till Satan be Bruised under our feet.

O thou God of all Grace! Bring such Thoughts to our Minds, and lay such Considerations home powerfully upon our Hearts, as thou knowest most effectual to Prevail with us; to Work us to [Page 23] thy Will, and to keep us from Iniquity, within the bounds of our Duty; till thou Receive us into the Blessed Kingdom of thy Glory. And in the mean time, Sanctify to us all thy Dealings with us: And Bless us in all our Undertakings, and in all our Conditions, Fruitions, and Relations. Make us Humble in an High Estate, Contented in a Low, and still duly Careful of our Souls in all: Following after the things now, which will bring us the true Peace and Comfort at the last.

Dispose of us, we beseech thee our God, and of all that concerns us this day, to the Glory of thy Name. O keep us at all Times, and in all Places and Companies, from the Evil of Sin, and from all other Evils, to which the Greatness of our Sins does make us liable. And take thou, O Heavenly Father! the gracious Charge and Guidance and Government of us; And so Lead us here in all our ways, with thy Counsel, that hereafter thou may'st Receive us into thy Glory; Through thy tender Mercies, and our Saviour's abundant Merits; In whose own Words, we beg all things Needful for our selves and others at thy Hands, Our Father, &c.

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A Fifth Morning-Prayer.

O Lord our God! Thy Name is most Excellent in all the Earth: Thou hast set up thy Glory above the Heavens: and thou art worthy to be Celebrated with everlasting Praises of Men and Angels. For thou hast Created all things, And for thy Pleasure it is, that they are and were Created. Thy Hands, O Lord, have Made us, and Fashioned us; And thou hast Breathed into our Nostrils the breath of Life: Yea, still thou holdest our Souls in Life, and givest us every Good thing that makes our Lives a Blessing and Comfort to us. Thou hast Formed us for Thy Self, that we should shew forth thy Praise, and Live to thy Glory; as we do continually Live upon thy Bounty.

But, O Lord our Lord! we have not brought thee the Glory, which thou hast made us Capable of, and so many ways Obliged us to. Instead of that, O how greatly have we Dishonoured thee our god, in the whole course and Conduct of our Lives! Time after time, Forgetting the Gracious Giver of all our Good things, who art never Unmindful of us; And O how soon have we been Weary to do thee Service, who art never Weary to do [Page 25] us Good? Yea, we have not only Neglected thy Work, but have been Disobedient against thy Word; And have taken undue Liberties, to go on after our own foolish and hurtful Lusts, in such ways of Living, as thy Word, and our own Hearts disallow and Condemn us for.

And for these things we desire to pour out our Hearts, and to Humble our Sinful selves here before thee: Intreating thy gracious Favour, for the sake of that Mercy of thine in Christ Jesus that has moved thee to Spare us so long, and to do fo much for us already; That thou wilt be pleas'd to give us Repentance and Pardon, for all that is past, wherein we have Offended thee; Whether in Omitting of our Duty, or Failing in it, or doing contrary to it, Howsoever we have transgressed; O Humble us duly under the Sense of it, and Absolve us throughly from the Guilt of it.

And Strengthen us, Good Lord, with might by thy Spirit, in the Inner-man, To make us more Watchful against, and more Victorious over, the Corruption of our Nature, the Temptations of the Devil, and the Distractions and Allurements of this sinful World wherein we live. O destroy in us every Vicious Inclination, every [Page 26] evil Habit, and Rebellious Motion, that exalts it self against the Knowledge of God, and against the Obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Increase and confirm in us still more and more, thy true Knowledge, and Faith, and Fear, and Love; and every Grace of thy Holy Spirit, which thou knowest to be most Wanting in us, and Necessary for us: Such as may make our Lives still more Comfortable to our selves, more Profitable to others, and more to the Glory of thy Name. And however it goes with us, as to the Concernments of this present Time, O that we may still be found in the way of our Duty, Fearing God, and working Righteousness; That we may secure our Interest in the great Saviour of the World; So that when all here shall Fail us, thou may'st take us up, and be the Strength of our Hearts, and our Portion for evermore.

Day by day we Magnify thee, O Lord, who makest every day of our Lives a further Addition to thy Mercies. We Bless thee for our last Night's Preservation and Protection, and for the Rest and Refreshment which thou hast given us. O cause us to hear thy Loving-kindness in the Morning; for in thee do we Trust: Cause us to know the Way [Page 27] wherein we shall go; for we lift up our Souls to Thee. Cast us not away from thy Presence, take not thy Holy Spirit from us. But Direct all our Ways to please thee our God, that thou may'st Crown us with Blessing and good Success. Help us to see thy Power, to Own thy Presence, to admire thy Wisdom, and to Love thy Goodness, in all thy Creatures. And by all the Comforts of Creatures, O draw our Hearts still nearer to thy self, the Blessed Creator of every Comfort: And let our Meditations of God be Sweet, as well as Frequent; That Delighting our selves in the Lord, thou may'st give unto us the Desires of our hearts. Such thy Mercy and Grace we beg for our selves, and all ours, and Thine every where, in our great Mediator's Form of Prayer, Our Father, &c.

A Sixth Morning-Prayer.

WE do here present our selves this Morning before thy Heavenly Glorious Majesty, most Blessed Lord our God; With the desire of our Souls, to pay unto thee that Tribute of Homage and Service, and Prayer and Praise, which thou hast made us Capable of, and every way Oblig'd us to: We desire to perform [Page 28] the same in such a manner, that thou may'st mercifully Accept us and our Services, at the Hands of Jesus Christ. In his great Name, we come to thee, at thy Command, and Worship here at thy Footstool; to beg thy Pardon and Peace, the Increase of thy Grace, and the Tokens of thy Love. For we are not Worthy, that thou shouldst in any way of Mercy, take Notice of us, or be Intreated by us: But Worthy is the Lamb of God slain to take away the Sins of the World, for whose Sake thou shouldest Mercifully look upon us. For he has Fulfilled those holy Laws which we have Broken, and perfectly Satisfied the Justice of Heaven for all our Breaches of 'em. And in him thou art a God Gracious and Merciful to poor Sinners, who deserve nothing from thee, but to be Forsaken and Abhorred by thee. Unto us belongs Shame and Confusion of face for our Sins, and fearful Expectation of all the Judgments and Miseries which thy holy Laws denounce against Sinners; If thou, Lord, should'st be Extream, to mark what we have done Amiss; If thou should'st deal with us, and proceed against us, as in Justice thou mightest.

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But, O Gracious Father, Regard not what we have done Against Thee; but what our Blessed Saviour has done For Us; Nor what we have made our selves, But what he is made of thee our God unto us. And O that Christ may be to every one of our Souls, (what he is to all thy faithful People) Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption: That his precious Blood may Cleanse us from all our Sins; And the Grace of thy Holy Spirit further Renew and Sanctify our Souls, Subdue our Iniquities, Mortify our Lusts, and Quicken us to, and Enable us for, the performance of all Duties of thy holy Service. O let not Sin Reign in our mortal Bodies, that we should Obey it in the Lusts thereof. Let there be no Sin in us, but what is Felt, and Hated, Bewail'd, and Resisted: And let us Approve our very Hearts to thee, the Searcher of 'em and all our Ways, still Pleasing in thy holy Sight.

O Teach us to Know thee our God, and Enable us to do thy Will, as we ought to do. Give us hearts to Fear thee, and Love thee, To Trust and Delight in thee, and to Adhere and Cleave in faithfulness unto thee. That no Temptations may Draw us, nor any [Page 30] Tribulations Drive us from thee: But that all thy Dispensations to us, and all thy Dealings with us, may be the Messengers of thy Love to our Souls; To bring us still nearer to thy Blessed Self, and to make us still Fitter for thy Heavenly Kingdom. Quicken us, O Lord, in our Dulness, that we may not serve thee in a Liveless and Listless manner; But may Abound in thy Work, and be Fervent in Spirit, Serving the Lord. And make us also Faithful in all the Offices of Intercourse with our Neighbours; That we may be Ready to do Good, and bear Evil, and Forbear Revenge, and be Just and Kind, Merciful and Meek, Peaceable and Patient, Sober and Temperate, Humble and Self-denying, Inoffensive and Useful in the World. That Glorifying thee here upon Earth, we may at our Departure hence, Enter into the Joy of our Lord, and be for ever Glorified in thy Heavenly Kingdom.

O thou that hast kept us Alive to this Day, and hast been still Good and Kind to us all our Days, Renew thy Mercy to us, we beseech thee, with this Light: And as thou makest the Outgoings of the Morning and Evening to Rejoyce, So lift up the light of thy Countenance upon us, and make us glad with the Tokens of thy Love. [Page 31] And thou that art ever Present with us, O make us ever duly Aware of thy Presence; That we may Remember thee in all our Ways; and wisely and piously demean our selves in all our Affairs. Be with us, Good Lord, at our Going out, and our Coming in: And let thy Grace follow us this Day, and all the days of our Life; Be thou our Guide until Death, in Death our Comfort, and after Death our Bliss everlasting. O Hear us from Heaven thy Dwelling-place, and when thou Hearest, have Mercy: Forgive the Sins of our Persons, and the Sins of our Prayers, and do more for us, than we are Worthy to expect at thy Hands, for his Sake who alone is Worthy; In whose Comprehensive words we sum up all our Desires, Our Father, &c.

A Seventh Morning-Prayer.

O Lord God Almighty, Thou art the Sovereign Majesty of Heaven and Earth, Against whom all our Sins have been Committed, By whom alone they can be Pardoned, and Subdued, our Souls Sanctified, and all our Wants and Necessities Supplied. Thou art Able, and also Ready to Hear and Help, to Bless and Save thy People that Look up unto thee, and [Page 32] Wait and Call and Depend upon thee. We have none to Repair to, for Remedy against the Evils of our Sins, but unto thee, the Great God, against whom we have greatly Sinned: Who delightest to shew Mercy to the Miserable, and Lovest the Occasions of Glorifying thy Compassion, in helping us out of those Streights and Perplexities, into which our Sins have cast us, from which all the World else cannot Save us. We come, Lord, begging that Mercy, which, thou knowest, we extreamly Want, and Grace to help in time of our Need. We beg the same, for the Sake of thy infinite Beloved Son, our most Worthy Prevailing Advocate; Whose Blood alone is of Virtue and Value sufficient to blot out all the Stains, wherewith our Sins have defiled our Souls.

We are Unclean, Lord we are Unclean; O how Abominable at the Worst, and how Imperfect at the very Best! But if thou Look upon us in the Son of thy Eternal Love, thou wilt not Abhor our Guilty Souls. And to Prepare us for the Mercies of that Saviour, which thou hast Prepared for our Souls, O make us to feel the Burden and the Bitterness of our Sins: And help us so to find them out, to our Repentance, and Reformation, that [Page 33] they may never find us out, to our Ruin and Destruction. Holy Father, Carry on with power thy Victory over our Corruptions, and the work of Faith, and Grace, and Sanctification in our Souls. Quicken us, O Lord our God, and stir us up to, and Help and Assist us in, the performance of all Duties lying upon us; which of our selves, thou knowest how Unable we are to perform. O thou that Workest in us to Will and to Do, of thy good Pleasure, be pleased to Ordain Peace for us, as thou hast also wrought all our Works in us. Stablish the thing, O God, which thou hast wrought for us; and go on to work mightily upon our hearts by thy Grace, till our Souls are Fitted for the Eternal enjoyment of thy Glory.

Dear Lord, Thy Mercles are Fresh and New to us every Morning. We laid us down and Slept; and again Awak'd, for thou hast Sustained us, and kept us from the Terrors of the Night, and from all sad Accidents, to Rise in Peace and Safety. Glory be to thee, O God of our Salvation, who art still so Mindful of us, and Merciful to us. Go on, we pray thee, to be Good to us this Day; And Teach us how to Carry our selves, and to Order all our Affairs. O Direct our Undertakings, and Prosper our Endeavours, [Page 34] Rule our Hearts in thy Fear and Love; and our Lives to thy Honour and Praise. O keep us from Evil, and help us to do that which is Good, and Pleasing to our God through Jesus Christ. Give us, Lord, all that we have asked as we should; Forgive us all that we have asked Amiss; And give us all else Needful, that we should have asked, which we continue to beg, in the Comprehensive words of thy Dear Son, Our Father, &c.

Evening-Prayer for a Family.

O Lord our God, Thou art Infinitely Great, and Infinitely Good. Thy Glory is above all our Thoughts, and thy Mercies are over all thy Works. And above all thy Mercies, have we cause to Admire and Bless, and Praise thee, for those Mercies, which in so Large a Measure, and Especial Manner, thou hast been pleas'd still to vouchsafe unto us; who are the daily Objects of thy Bounty, and do continue still the Living Monuments of thy Goodness. Thy Gracious Attributes of Goodness and Compassion do Invite and Encourage our Applications unto Thee; and Embolden us to look upon thee, as our most Kind and Merciful Father in Jesus Christ. And therefore [Page 35] tho' we have Great and Many Sins to Confess, Yet we Confess them in Hopes of thy Pardon of 'em, and of Power from on High to Enable us against 'em.

Thou didst Create us after thy own blessed Image, in a Holy and Happy Estate: But we have made our selves Vile and Miserable; quite Unlike the things, which at first we came out of thy Hands; Averse to Good, Prone to Evil, and so very full of Provocation, that it is thy wonderful Patience with us, and Loving-kindness to us, that thou hadst not long before this time cut us off in our Sins, and shut us up under final Despair of thy Mercy. But thou hast so far declar'd thy Willingness to be Reconciled even to thy Enemies, that thou hast sent thy Only Son into the World, upon the great Errand of our Salvation, That whosoever Believe in him, should not Perish in their Sins, but have Everlasting Life for his Sake. O Lord, we Believe, Help our Unbelief: And give us the true Repentance towards God, and the right Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; That we may be of the number of those, who do indeed Repent and Believe, to the Saving of the Soul.

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And Save us, O Good Lord, from our sinful Selves, and from the Love and Course of this present evil World; and from every Self-destroying way, which we are Tempted to follow. Make us a way to Escape out of all the Snares of Temptation, wherewith we have been Entangled and held, and sore let and hindred, in running the Race set before us. And make thy Ways Plain before us, and so full of Invitation to us, that we may be throughly Convinc'd of their Goodness and Excellence, and Resolvedly give up our selves to follow 'em: That our own Experience in the way of Godliness may be more to keep and Engage us to it, than all Allurements and Discouragements in the World, to put us beside it. Stablish, O Lord, and Strengthen, and Settle us; That going forth in thy Strength, we may do thy Will to all Well-pleasing, and continue in thy Fear and Love, to our Lives end.

Which things we beg not for our selves alone, but also in behalf of all, whom we ought to intreat thy Mercy for in our Prayers. O bring Nigh unto thee all those that are yet Afar off; and make manifest the Savour of thy Knowledge in every Place: That such as yet sit in Darkness and the Shadow of Death, may [Page 37] come to see the Light of thy Truth, and the Joy of thy Salvation. O that every one who Names the Name of Christ, may Depart from Iniquity, and live up to their high and holy Profession; That they may give no just Occasion to the Enemies of the Lord to Blaspheme; but Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, and put to Silence the Ignorance of Foolish men by Well-doing.

Be Gracious and Favourable, O Lord, in especial manner, to that part of thy Church, which thou hast Planted in this, and the Neighbouring Nations, whereto we belong.

Arise, O God, and Plead thy own Cause, and Maintain thy true and holy Religion which thou hast so Long, and so Wonderfully Own'd and Asserted amongst us. O let not the Enemies of thy Church ever have cause to say, That they have Prevail'd against thy People. But let all that do Espouse thy Cause, and stand up for the honour and defence of thy Truth, be still Prevalent and Prosperous in all their pious Designs; and still have cause to say, The Lord be Magnified, who has pleasure in the Prosperity of his Servants.

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Bless with the choicest of thy Blessings, the King, whom thou hast put in Authority over us. O Lord, Protect his Person, Direct his Counsels, Make his Government Easy and Happy, both to himself and us; And Prosper all his Undertakings and Endeavours, for his own Honour, and for the Publick Safety, Peace and Welfare. Give all Magistrates Wisdom and Courage, to defend the Truth, and do Right to all. Make Ministers an Ensample to the Flock, in all Sobriety, Righteousness and Holiness of Living. And establish us all an Holy People to thy self: Granting us One Heart and one Way; That we may all agree in the same Faith, and to adorn it with a suitable Life.

Comfort all that want the Comforts which we do enjoy: And apply thy self in a way of agreeable Mercy, to the several Necessities and Calamities of all thy Afflicted ones, wheresoever or howsoever they are Tried. Remember with the Favour which thou bearest to thy People, all our Friends and Benefactors, our Kindred after the Flesh, and whoever are Dear to us, on any other account. Make them, O Lord, such as thou wouldst have them, and such as in Christ Jesus, thou wilt mercifully Accept of here to thy gracious Favour, and hereafter [Page 39] to thy glorious Kingdom. Forgive our Enemies, and turn their Hearts; and turn Ours to Forgive them. And Direct all our ways to please thee; that thou may'st make even our Enemies to be at Peace with us.

Hear us, O God of the Spirits of all Flesh, Hear us for our selves and others; Others for themselves and us: And Hear the Son of thy Love, the Lover of our Souls, for us, and all the Members of thy Church Militant here on Earth; whereof he is the Glorious Head. For him, and to him, with thine Eternal Self, most Holy Father, and the Blessed Spirit of Grace, our Guide and Comforter, be all Thanks, and Praise, and Honour, and Glory, humbly and heartily render'd and ascrib'd of us, and all thy People, now and for evermore.

Another Evening-Prayer for a Family.

OUR ever Blessed and most Gracious God, Thou art the Lord and Giver of our Lives and Hopes, and of all our Enjoyments and Comforts. To thee we do Owe our selves, and all that ever we are capable of rendring and ascribing. [Page 40] For by thee, O Lord, we were Created, and had our Being; And through thy good Providence it is, that we still have been Spared and Preserv'd, and Car'd and Provided for, throughout our whole Lives, unto this present time. From thee our God comes all our Help, and in thee is reposed all our Hope. Thou art the bountiful Giver of all the Good that our Souls desire, and the merciful Withholder of all the Evil that our Sins deserve. We acknowlege thy great and daily Goodness to us; and our own exceeding Unworthiness of the least of all thy Mercies. We take Shame and Confusion to our selves, That we have so little Improved, and so greatly Abused, all thy Patience with us, and all the various Instances of thy Bounty to us. For even thy Mercies help to Enflame the heavy Reckoning of our Offences; Because we have done so much against thee, after all the great things thou hast done for us. We desire, O Lord, to be Penitent and Humbled for our Sins; and to Intreat thy gracious Favour, in Jesus Christ, for the Pardon of 'em. Forgive us, we pray thee, for his Sake, all the Sins that ever we have committed against thee; or whereof we now stand Guilty before thee. And being Justified by Faith, [Page 41] grant us Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And as we pray, that thou wilt be to us a Father of Mercies, and a God of Consolation; So that thou wilt make us Followers of God, as dear Children: Ever Jealous over our Hearts, and Watchful over our Ways; Continually Fearing to Offend, and endeavouring to Please thee: and keeping our Hearts with all diligence, that they may not be Hard'ned, through the Deceitfulness of Sin. Thou knowest, O Lord, our Weakness, and our danger of Temptations; Our danger from the cruel subtil Enemy of our Souls; and from this present World, that is so full of Snares; and from our own vile Flesh, and deceitful Hearts; So apt to betray us into the Enemy's hands: We pray therefore, Good Lord, that thou wilt arm us with the whole Armour of God; and Uphold us with thy Free Spirit; and Watch over us for good evermore. Especially in the times of our sorest Trials, let us experience the strongest Aids of thy Heavenly Grace: That we may never fall a miserable Prey to those deadly Enemies that seek to Devour us.

And teach us, our God, to know the Day of Grace, and the time of our Visitation; and to see the things of our Peace, [Page 42] and to Mind and Settle the great Eternal Affairs of our Souls, in this our Day, before they be Hid from our eyes. And while we have Time, O enable us to use and Improve it, to those great Ends, for which thou art pleas'd to put that precious Talent into our hands: That we may make the Short and Uncertain Stay which we have here in this World, an Opportunity of securing to our selves a sure and Everlasting Well-being when we shall Depart from hence.

And seeing thou art pleased yet to hold our Souls in Life, and to make us find and feel, by every days Experience, how abundantly Gracious and Merciful thou art; With much Patience and Longsuffering enduring us, and with Loving-kindness, and manifold Blessings, still preventing and following us; O give us hearts more Sensible of, more Affected with, and more Thankful for those continued Favours which thou art pleas'd to Multiply upon us. And help us to shew forth thy Praise, and the truth of our Thanks; not only in Speaking Good of the Name of God, but so Ordering our conversations, as becomes the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And to thy Mercy in him, most Merciful Father, we do now humbly Recommend [Page 43] our selves, and all that we are and have, this present Night: Beseeching thee to Preserve and Defend, and Bless and Keep us, both in Soul and Body, from all Evils and Dangers, to which the Weakness of our Frame, and the Greatness of our Sins, do expose us. And grant us such comfortable Repose, whereby our frail Nature may be Refreshed, and our decayed Strength Recovered; That we may rise again better fitted and enabled to serve thee according to thy Will, in all the duties of the following Day, if thou shalt be pleas'd to make addition of another day to our Lives. And as thou addest Days and Mercies, be pleas'd also to add Repentance and Amendment to our Lives: That as we come nearer to our Ends, we may be made still Fitter for the enjoyment of thy Heavenly Kingdom: That every day may bring us still so much nearer to those everlasting Joys and Glories which thou hast prepared for them that Love thee. And for all the Good things that ever we have had, and do at present Enjoy, and yet Hope for, from thy bountiful hands, Thine, O Blessed Gracious Lord our God, be the Praise, and Honour, and Glory, offer'd up with all Grateful Hearts, by us and the whole Church, now and for evermore.

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A Third Evening Prayer.

O Lord, thou art our Gracious God, Our Chiefest Good, and our most merciful Father in Jesus Christ. In whose great Name, and prevailing Mediation, alone it is, that we, who have multiplied our Offences against thee, are encouraged still to present our Persons and our Prayers here before thee. It is a Priviledge which we must acknowledge our selves utterly Unworthy to enjoy, that thou should'st admit us into thy Service, yea into Fellowship with thy Blessed Self. We durst not appear in the Presence of such a holy glorious Majesty, in our own Names, or Trusting in any Merits or Righteousness in our selves; Being Conscious to so much of our Sin and Guilt, as may make us Asham'd to come before thy Face, and to Tremble for fear of thy Judgments. But we come in the Name and Mediation of thy Dear Son, whom thou dost infinitely Love above all; Who has fully and sufficiently Atoned for our Sins, and does continually Intercede at thy Right Hand for our Souls: Whom thou delightest to Honour, in Sparing, Accepting, and Saving, poor unworthy Sinners, upon his Account. O Deliver us, most [Page 45] Gracious Lord, for his Sake, from all our Transgressions, for which our Hearts Condemn us; and from all which thou, that art Greater than our Hearts, knowest us to be Guilty of. And Seal to us a full Pardon, in his most precious Blood; which speaks better things on our behalf, than we are able to do for our selves, in all our Prayers.

May, O Lord, the time past of our Lives suffice to have lived to our selves, and to have served our own Lusts and Pleasures: or that an end may be put to all our Presumptuous and Treacherous dealings with thy Heavenly All-seeing Majesty. And grant us New and Clean, Humble and Contrite Hearts, to Tremble at thy Word and Presence, to Hate and Abhor all our foolish and sinful Misdoings. And be thou pleased to engage to thy self, O Blessed Lord, the best and frequentest Thoughts of our Minds, the chief and choicest Affections of our Hearts, and the main Tendency and Activity of our Souls. O let us be taken up with such Content and Delight, in Attendance upon thee, and Communion with thee, that the most Tempting things of this World may not entice us to an Inordinate or Immoderate Love of them; Nor disturb and hinder us in the pursuit of [Page 46] what our Faith foresees, and thy Love has Prepared for, and Promised to thy Servants.

Hear us, O Lord, for our selves; And let our Supplications also ascend before thee, in behalf of all men Living. Send thy Word and the Means of Grace to such as are yet Destitute of 'em. And make them Efficacious and the Savour of Life, to those that do Enjoy them. Convert the Unconverted, and Perfect thy Good work, where thou hast begun it. Give a check from Heaven to all Profaneness, Vice, and Ungodliness: that Presumptuous Sinners may be Ashamed, and the Wickedness of the Wicked may come to an End. O make thy Church to Increase and Flourish, and thy Servants to Prevail and Rejoyce. Be Gracious and Favourable to this our Native Land; to the Head and Governors, and to all the Inferior and particular Members of it. O do thou Rule all our Rulers, Counsel all our Councellors. Teach all our Teachers; And turn and order all the Publick Affairs, to the Glory of thy Name, and to the Welfare of this Church and State wherein we Live. Avert from us, Good Lord we beseech thee, the Judgments which we Feel or Fear: Continue to us the Blessings and Comforts for our Bodies, [Page 47] and especially the Helps and Advantages for our Souls, which through thy Favour we do enjoy. And notwithstanding all the devices of the Enemies of our Peace, and all the great and crying Provocations of our Sins, O be thou still our God, and let us be thy People.

Think thoughts of Pity and Compassion to all the Sons and Daughters of Affliction. O Sanctify thy Fatherly Corrections to 'em. Support them under, and in thy good time, Deliver them from all the Pressures that are upon 'em. Be Good to all our Friends and Neighbours: Reward our Benefactors: Bless our Relations with the best of thy Blessings; making them Near to thy self by Grace, as they are to us by Alliance. Preserve us from our Enemies, and Reconcile them both to us, and to thy self. O that all the Habitations of Christians may be Houses of Prayer: And be thou especially kind to the several Families, where thy blessed Name is Call'd upon. Let thy Heavenly Blessing, and thy Saving Grace descend and rest upon us here in this Family. O Guide us, and Keep us: Make us Wise and Faithful in our Duty; and Prosperous and Blessed in the Issue. Bless all our present Estates to us; And fit us all for whatsoever thou shalt be [Page 48] pleas'd to Call us to. O'teach us how to Want, and how to Abound: And both in a Prosperous, and a Suffering condition, Secure our Hearts to thy self; and make us ever to approve our selves Sincere and Faithful in thy Service.

And now, O Lord, be pleas'd to accept our Evening Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving, to thee the Father of Mercies, and Fountain of all Goodness; For the Mercies of the Day past; and for thy great Mercy and Goodness that has hitherto followed us all the days of our Life. For our Lives have been fill'd with thy Mercies; and thou hast abounded towards us in Loving-kindness, and Variety of thy sweet and comfortable Blessings, pertaining to this World and a Better. Passing by our innumerable Sins, as if thou Sawest them not, thou goest on still to oblige us with New Favours. O Dear Lord, Imprint and Preserve upon our Hearts a lively grateful Sense and Remembrance of all thy Kindness unto us; That our Souls may Bless thee, and all that is Within us may Praise thy holy Name. Yea, let us give thee Thanks from the ground of the Heart, and Praise our God, whilst we have our Being. And for all thy Patience with us, thy Care over us, and thy continual Mercy to us, Blessed [Page 49] be thy Name, O Lord GOD our Heavenly Father: And unto thee be all Thanks and Praise, and Love and Obedience, and Honour and Glory Offer'd by us, and all Thine every where, now and evermore.

A Fourth Evening-Prayer.

O LORD, the Infinite, Incomprehensible God, who wast Before all, art Above all, and wilt be for ever the Same, when Time shall be no more. Thou hast Heaven for thy Throne, and the Earth for thy Footstool; and all the things in both, continually in thy Sight, and at thy Disposal. Thou art the Searcher of our Hearts, and the Overseer of our whole Lives: Here and every where Present; And now and evermore thou Seest us, and Compassest our Path, and our Lying down, and art throughly Acquainted with all our Ways. Thou knowest, O Lord, the Dulness and Hardness, the Vanity and Deceitfulness of our Hearts; How much ado we have to bring them into and keep them in any holy Frame, fit to Attend upon thy Heavenly Majesty. For that we were Born Sinners, and so have Liv'd and continued; And by still Adding Sin to Sin, we have made our selves [Page 48] [...] [Page 49] [...] [Page 50] more the Children of Wrath than we were by Nature: Transgressing thy Holy, Good, and Righteous Laws; Abusing thy great and manifold Mercies; Tempting thy Patience; Despising thy Goodness; Offending thee more even for thy Long-forbearance with us; And making the very Abundance of thy Grace, our Encouragement to continue in our Sins. So that the least of all those Mercies which we do enjoy, is far above any thing that we have Reason to expect at the hands of that God, whom we have so greatly provoked. And justly mightest thou O Lord, withdraw thy tender Mercies from us, and pour out thy Wrath and Indignation to the uttermost upon us: Making us to find and feel by woful Experience, what an Evil and bitter thing it is, to Trespass upon thee, as we have done: Thou mightest make us Experience the same, in that place of Torment, and Outer Darkness, where is Weeping and Wailing, and Gnashing of teeth; and from whence there is no Redemption.

But thou art a God of wonderful Patience, to bear with Sinners: And a God of Infinite Goodness and Mercy, to Forgive the Sins of all them that are Penitent. Thou hast said, That if the Wicked forsake his Way, and the Unrighteous [Page 51] man his Thoughts, and Return to the Lord, thou wilt have Mercy upon him, and Abundantly Pardon. But O Lord, thou knowest, that without thee, we cannot so much as come unto thee, unless thou meet us with thy heavenly Grace, and help us with thy Almighty Assistance. We humbly beg therefore, that thou wilt be graciously pleas'd, to stretch forth thy Powerful and Merciful Hand, to loose the Captive Chain, wherein our Sins have entangled our Souls. And let it be thy gracious Pleasure, O Blessed Lord, to set us Free from every Weight of Sin, and Yoke of Bondage, that lies heavy upon our Souls, and unfits us to serve thee, with that Sincerity, and Readiness and Gladness, which thou requirest of thy People. O help us so to See and Feel, so to Hate and Bewail, and Confess and Forsake our Sins, that we may have the well-grounded Apprehension, and the comfortable Persuasion, of thy Forgiveness of them, thy Acceptance of us, and thy Love to us, in the Blessed Son of thy Eternal Love.

And for his Sake, wilt thou grant us, O Lord, the Increase of thy Grace, and such aids of thy holy Spirit, as may enable us against our Sins, and fit us for all the Duties of thy Service; which either [Page 52] we have Neglected, or but unduly and Faultily performed. That we may serve thee, Our God, Sincerely, without Hypocrisy; Cheerfully, without Dulness; Universally, without Partiality; and Constantly, without Falling away, or being Weary of Well doing. Thou art never Weary to do us Good; O let us never be weary to do thee Service. But as thou hast Pleasure in the Prosperity of thy Servants; So let us take Pleasure in the Service of our Lord; and Abound in thy Work, and in thy Love and Praise evermore. O Fill up all that is Wanting, and Reform what is Amiss in us, and Perfect that which concerns us: Making us such, in our Hearts, and in our Lives towards thee our God, that we may obtain thy blessed Peace here, and thy heavenly Glory hereafter. And be thou pleased to grant us now, (out of the Riches of thy Grace) the comfortable Sense of thy gracious Acceptance of us, and thy merciful Intentions towards us. O speak Peace to our Consciences, and say to our Souls, Thou art our Salvation; That we may look upon thee our God, as a Reconciled Father to us in Jesus Christ.

In his great Name, and prevailing Mediation, we enlarge our Petitions, in behalf of the whole Race of Mankind, [Page 53] that are now with us Alive upon Earth. O that all the Ends of the World may Remember themselves, and Turn to the Lord, and see the Salvation of our God! Do Good, O God, in thy good pleasure to Zion, and Build thou the Walls of Jerusalem; That we may see the Good of it all the days of our Life. Continue thy Mercies to this Sinful Land, whereof we are Sinful Members. Teach us to know the meaning of thy Dispensations to us; And help us to Improve by all thy Dealings with us. O Turn all our Hearts to thee, as the Heart of One man: And Reform all our Lives, according to the holy Pattern and Precepts of our Lord; That thou may'st cause thy Anger towards us to cease, and go on still to take Care of us, and never Leave nor Forsake us.

Bless abundantly the King's Majesty, who now Sways the Scepter of these Realms. O Lord Preserve his Life, Prolong his Days, and Prosper his Government. Give him the Hearts of his Subjects, and the Necks of his Enemies. Make him the Rejoycing of thy People; and a Terror only to Evil-doers. O continue him long a zealous Defender of the Faith, and Assertor of all our Rights. That under his Shadow we may be in Peace and [Page 54] Safety, Enjoying the Liberty of the Gospel, and the free Profession and Establishment of thy true and holy Religion. And grant unto all Magistrates and Ministers continual Supplies of all needful Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit, for the Conscionable and the Comfortable discharge of their several Places. O bring all our Neighbours near to thy self; And be a Friend to all our Friends: A Father to the Fatherless, A Husband to the Widow, A Refuge to the Oppressed, A Physitian to the Sick, A Helper of the Friendless, A God of Consolation to the Distrest and Sorrowful, whatever be their Trouble and Affliction. O Bless to us, whatever thou art pleas'd to allot us, and every thing that befals us. Make all work for our Good, and to build us up in thy Grace, and to help us on to thy Glory.

And as thou hast been Good and Kind to us the Day past, and throughout our whole Lives; (for which we desire, O Lord, humbly and thankfully to admire thy Love, and to Bless thy Name:) So we beg that we may experience the Continuance of thy gracious Goodness to us, and thy Fatherly Care over us, this present Night. O Preserve and Defend, and Bless and keep us, that no Evil may befal us, nor any Plague come nigh our [Page 55] Dwelling. Give us Sleep and Rest, to Refresh and Strengthen us, for thy Service, and our Duty. And Prepare us, O Lord, for our last Sleep in Death, and for our Departure out of this Mortal Life, and those great Accounts that we must make before the Judgment-Seat of Jesus Christ. O Instruct us, and Assist us, in that great Work of Preparation for our Everlasting condition: That we may in this only time of Preparation, Finish the great Work which thou hast given us to do, Before the Night of Death overtake us, wherin we cannot Work. That whenever thou shalt be pleased to give us the Summons of Death, we may find nothing to do but to Die: and cheerfully Resign our Spirits into thy gracious Hands, who gavest them to us; Through the Riches of thy Grace, and the Worthiness of thy Son; In whose Merits alone we Trust, And for all that he has so wondrously effected, to Recover and help us, and to obtain Eternal Redemption for us, To thy Name, O Blessed God of our Salvation, be the Praise, and Honour, and Glory, given by us, and all thy People, from this time forth for evermore.

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A Fifth Evening-Prayer.

O Lord, we desire to Seek thy Face, and to Wait upon thee, in the duties of thy Worship; Intreating thy gracious Favour with our whole hearts, That we may do all as we ought, with good Acceptance to our God. And to whom should we make our Applications, but unto thee, the Father of Mercies, and the Fountain of all Goodness; who art Able to do exceeding abundantly for us, even above all that we Ask or Think: And who hast declared thy Willingness to be Importun'd and Sollicited by us; and thy Readiness to Hear, and Help, and Answer us, in those things which we beg at thy gracious and bountiful Hands, in the Name and Mediation of our great Lord and Saviour! O let our Prayer be set before thee as Incense, and the Lifting up of our hands be as the Evening-Sacrifice, pleasing to thee our God, in the Son of thy Love! 'Tis in his blessed Name alone, that we have Encouragement and Boldness to beg of thy Infinite Goodness, all that thou knowest to be Needful and Expedient for us, seeing there is in our selves no Good thing to Recommend us to thy Favour and Acceptance; But a [Page 57] Proneness and Inclination to what is displeasing in thy Eyes, and destructive to our Souls. For besides, that we were by Nature the Children of Wrath, A Seed of Evil-doers, The Sinful Off-spring of rebellious Parents, We have been daily Trespassing upon thee, and still Adding to the heavy Score of our Offences against thee. There is nothing in us, O Lord, but what may provoke thee to Reject us: But there is enough in thy Beloved Son, of all Grace and Goodness, to move thee mercifully to Accept us. He was made Sin for us, that knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him: And that we might be saved through Faith in his Merits, where we could not be saved by any Desert of our own Works. Behold him who was Wounded for our Transgressions, and Bruised for our Iniquities: And as the Chastisement of our Peace was upon Him, So let the Merit of his Righteousness be upon us; and by his Stripes let our Souls be Healed.

Nor do we only beg for Pardon of our Sins, but also for Power against them; and Grace sufficient for us, to Break them off, and to walk more pleasingly before thee, in all the ways and duties of Righteousness and Holiness, which they Word prescribes to us. O never suffer us to [Page 58] be Tempted above what we are Able; But make our Temptations less, or thy Grace in us, and our Spiritual Strength, greater than all our Temptations: That no Iniquities may Prevail against us, nor any Presumptuous Sin have Dominion over us. O make us more Conformable to the Pattern and the Precepts of our Saviour; And more Transformed into his holy Image and Likeness: That we may not profess the Religion of Jesus, to the Wrong and Disparagement of it; Nor make the way of Truth, by reason of us, to be Evil-spoken of: But let our Light shine before men, to the Glory of thee our Heavenly Father, and to the Edisication of those with whom we have our Conversation.

And seeing the Time of our Abode in this Transitory World is so very Short and Uncertain, and we have an Everlasting estate to abide in, after our Departure hence, where we must be Happy or Miserable Eternally, according to what we do now in the Body: O let us not here set up our Rest, as if we were at Home upon Earth; Nor flatter our selves with the thoughts of Long Life, or sure Enjoyment of any of these things that Perish in the Using: But all the days of our Appointed Time may we wait till our [Page 59] Change come; And not only live in Expectation of it, but in the daily serious Preparation for it; In the exercise of all those Graces and Good Works that may make it unto us, Christ to Live, and Gain to Die: That in Life and Death we may be always Thine, still Safe in thy Hands, and Acceptable in thy Sight.

And together with our Own, we commend to thy Mercy, O God of the Spirits of all Flesh, The Necessities and Distresses of all our Brethren throughout the World. O Enlighten the Ignorant, Quicken the Careless, Awake the Secure, Convince the Erroneous, Reclaim the Vicious, Establish the Unsettled, and Comfort the Dejected. Bring all to the Knowledge and Love of thy Truth, and to the participation of thy Grace, and the Obedience of Christ, and so to the Blessed Hope of thy Heavenly Glory, and the Eternal Salvation of their Souls. We Pray (as more particularly bound) for the King, and all our Magistrates and Ministers; And all our Friends and Relations; and all thy Servants, and the Afflicted, every where; Especially those whose Happipiness and Salvation▪ thou knowest us to be chiefly concerned for: O do thou for us, and for them, as thou knowest Best, and most Needful and [Page 60] Expedient, for thy own Mercy sake in Jesus Christ.

And as we Pray to thee for what we Want; So we desire to Praise thee for all that we have received at thy Hands. And Blessed be thy Name, O Lord, That we have any thing, yea that we have so many things, to Bless and Praise thee for. O what shall we Render to the Lord for all his Benefits! What can we give to thee our God, but the Glory of thy own Gifts and Goodness unto us? O Dear Lord! Let not our Hearts be shut and Straitned towards thee, whose Hand is every day so Open unto us. But do thou possess and Enlarge these Hearts of ours with more and greater Love and Thankfulness to Thee, that hast so Abounded in Loving-kindness towards us: That we may give thee Thanks with all our Hearts, and Glorify thy Name for evermore.

And now that the Night is upon us, and we are ready to betake our selves to our Rest, We commit our selves to thy gracious Protection, who never Sleepest nor Slumberest, but hast still a watchful Eye open upon thy People. O Watch over us, our God, we pray thee, for Good; That none of the Evils or Harms which our Sins have deserved, may befal [Page 61] us. Preserve us from the Works, and from the Powers of Darkness; and from all the Terrors and Dangers of the Night. Let all our Sins, to day, or any time heretofore committed, be Removed out of thy Sight. And shew us the Light of thy Countenance, O Lord, To Refresh us with the Sense of thy Blessed Love and Favour, in our Dear Redeemer. For whom, and to whom, with thy Eternal Self, and Holy Spirit, be all Thanks and Praise, and Honour and Glory, ascrib'd of us, and of all thy Church, from this time forth World without end.

A Sixth Evening-Prayer.

O Lord our God, most High and Mighty, most Wise and Holy, and Just and Good! Thou art, and ever wast, and for ever shalt continue, unspeakably Blessed and Glorious, above all that we are able to Express or to Conceive. Thou dost not need the Services of Men or Angels, to make the least addition to thy Glory and Bliss. Man cannot be Profitable unto God; Our Goodness will not extend to the Lord. But in Kindness and Love to our Souls it is, that thou art pleas'd to lay thy Commands upon us, To wait upon thee in these duties of thy [Page 62] immediate Service, which is the blissfull Imployment of all the glorious Host of Heaven. Thou Humblest thy self even to behold the things that are in Heaven, to take notice of the Worship of those Blessed Creatures above: O how wonderful is thy Condescension then, to look down upon us, poor sinful Worms, that dwell here in houses of Clay, whose foundation is in the Dust! Lord, what is Man, that thou takest knowledge of him, and the Son of man, that thou makest Account of him! Thou canst not Need us, nor any thing of ours, O Blessed God; But we all stand in great and continual need of thee, our Sovereign Good; Of thy Mercy and Forgiveness, thy Grace and Guidance, thy Blessing and Assistance: Without which we could never hope to escape the Curses and Miseries which are the due Wages of our Sins, nor ever to attain unto that Glory and Blessedness which is the Free-Gift of God in Jesus Christ.

The Desire of our Souls, therefore, is to thy Name, O Lord, and to the Remembrance of thee: Our eyes are towards thee, and all our Expectation is from thee: And still we wait, and call, and Depend upon thee, till thou have mercy upon us, according to our several Necessities; [Page 63] and according to the riches of thy Grace, and the multitude of thy Mercies. O Remember not against us Former iniquities; Enter not into Judgment with us, according to the desert of our Sins: But according to thy Mercy Remember thou us, for thy Goodness sake, O Lord. Blot out our Transgressions as a Cloud; and Justify us Freely by thy Grace, through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ. And Bless us, Holy God of our Salvation, in turning us from all our Iniquities; And giving us Grace to Repent, and Amend our Lives, according to thy holy Word.

And to this end, be thou pleased to Enlighten our darkned Minds with the beams of thy Saving Truth; That we may not be Unwise, but Understanding what the Will of the Lord is. And Reform our depraved Wills, Inclining them to a cheerful and ready Compliance with all the Motions of thy Good Spirit. Regulate our unruly Passions; Purify our corrupt Affections; And Convert all the Faculties of our Souls, to be Instruments of thy Glory, as they have been of thy Dishonour: And make our Bodies fit Temples for thy Holy Spirit to dwell in. Yea, Sanctify us wholly, that we may, as we ought, Sanctify thy Blessed Name.

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And Quicken us, O Lord, to hear thy Voice, while it is called To day; That we may make Haste, and not Delay to keep thy Commandments. O keep us frequently and Affectionately mindful of the Shortness of our Time, The Frailty of our Lives, and the Uncertainty of our Being here in this Mutable World, that so soon Passeth away, and where we have no Continuing City, but are Strangers and Sojourners with thee, as all our Fathers before us were. O let the Remembrance and Consideration of this, have such a prevailing Influence upon us, as to Crucify this World to us; and make us more Concerned for our everlasting Welfare, and more Careful to improve every present enjoyment, to our Souls Eternal Advantage; and to grow Holier still, as we grow Older: That the days which pass over us, may not leave us, without any Amendment wrought upon us: but that the work of thy Grace may go on successfully upon our Hearts, till it has made us Ripe and Ready for the Joys and Glories of thy Kingdom.

The same things also we beg in behalf of all that ought to share in our Prayers. O Forgive the Sins, and Relieve the Miseries of thy poor Creatures every where. Enlarge the Borders of [Page 65] thy Church, and make Additions to it daily of such as shall be Saved. O that all who are called Christians, may be truly Christian, both in their right Believing, and their holy Living. The Church which thou hast planted among us, Lord watch over it for Good, night and day; That no Weapon form'd against it may prosper. Give thy Judgments, O God, to the King, that he may Judge thy People righteously, and break in pieces their Oppressors. Grant him an Interest in the hearts of his People; and thy Protection from the hands of his Enemies. May he so Rule and Reign here for thee, that he may come to Live and Reign for ever with thee. Make all our Magistrates men Fearing God, and Eschewing Evil. And O that all who are called to serve at thy Altar, may be blest with Skilful Heads, and Compassionate Hearts, and Exemplary Lives. Make them Wise to Win Souls: And Faithful, Industrious, and Successful in their Sacred Office, as thy Workmen, that need not be ashamed. Bless and Prosper all the Places of good Leearning and Education: And make all this People the Lords People; That they may all Know thee, from the Greatest to the Least; and so order their Conversation aright, that they may see the Salvation [Page 66] vation of God. Remember them all for Good, who have been any way Instruments of our Good. Such as have done us Good, O Lord Reward them: And all that have, or would, Hurt us, O Lord Forgive them. Give unto all that Mourn in Zion, Beauty for Ashes, The Oil of Gladness for Mourning, and the Garments of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness. And in the time of our Health and Peace and Prosperity, O that we may Remember, and Provide for, the time of Trouble, and Sickness, and Death; When all Worldly succours will Fail us; and the greatest Powers on Earth cannot Deliver us out of thy Hands. O make us now so mindful of our Duty, that then thou mayst Remember us in Mercy; and be with us, and Support us, and never Leave nor Forsake us.

Our own Unworthiness would make us Despair of obtaining all these Great and Good things which we beg at thy Hands, O Lord; But the remembrance of thy continual Bounty, and how much we are every day Receiving from thee, puts Life into our Hopes, and Encouragement into our Prayers, and leaves us no reason to doubt of such Experimented Mercy. And Blessed for ever be thy Name, That we have so much to say of [Page 67] thy Goodness by our own Experience; That thou hast, in so many Advantages, made us to Differ. O Good Lord! Continue such thy Gracious Favour to us, and thy Fatherly Care over us this Night. As we go to Rest after the Labours of the Day, So help us to do thy Work, that we may enter into that Rest which remains for thy People, in the Close of this Life. And so Discharge us from our Sins, and Supply us still with thy Grace, That we may finish our Course with Joy, and in the end of our Lives find that greatest of all Mercy, To be Received into thy Glory, Which we beg for the allsufficient Merits of our only Redeemer, For whom, and to whom, with thee, O Everlasting Father, and the Holy Ghost the Comforter, in the Unity of the ever-Glorious Trinity, be all Praise and Honour and Glory ascrib'd of us, and of all the Israel of God, now and for evermore.

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A Seventh Evening-Prayer.

O Lord the Great and Glorious God, Infinite in Power, Wisdom and Goodness; The wonderful Maker and Preserver, Ruler and Disposer of us, and of all the World! Thou hast Created all things by thy Almighty Hand; Sustainest and Orderest all that thou hast Made, by thy Wise and Righteous Providence; and thy Mercy is Everlasting, and over all thy Works. O who is able to express or to conceive the exceeding Riches of that Grace and Goodness of the Lord, which in such a plentiful measure is still descending and Overflowing upon poor sinful Creatures, who deserve nothing from thee, but to be Forsaken and Abhorred by thee! This day, and every day of our Lives, O Lord, we have tasted largely of thy Mercy, and liv'd altogether still upon thy Fatherly Care and Bounty.

But notwithstanding all thy Patience and Gracious dealings with us, and all the repeated Pledges of thy Favour and Kindness to us; O how ill have we Requited thy Love! And what unsuitable Returns have we made for all thy great and continued Goodness that we have found! Beside the Guilt of Sin and our [Page 69] Inbred Corruption, which as a sore Clog, hangs heavy upon us; We are amaz'd at the Greatness and Multitude of all our other Sins that we have committed against the Light and Teachings of thy Gospel, the Dictates and Strivings of thy Spirit, and the Love and Sufferings of thy Son: Against all the Patience and Long-suffering which thou hast exercised towards us; And against the many Mercies and Methods of our Conversion and Sanctification, wherewith, from time to time, thou hast sought to make us what we should be. O Lord, we have given thee so great Provocation, that we are afraid lest thou shouldst Forsake us utterly, and cause the day of thy Patience to be at an end with us, and grant us no more of the Grace which we have so greatly Abused; No more of the Holy Spirit, which we have so frequently Resisted. And what have we now but Judgment to expect from thee, O Lord, but that thy Mercy rejoyces over Judgment! And thy Word assures us, That thou delightest not in the Death of Sinners, but rather that they should turn to thee and Live. Therefore still thou leavest us these Opportunities to appear before thee, to Plead with our God, for the Life of our Souls that have Sinned against thee. And [Page 70] what have we to Plead, O Blessed Lord, but thy own Gracious Nature, and Merciful inclinations, and the many Promises and Declarations of thy self, which thou hast made to Returning-Sinners in Jesus Christ? Thou hast sent thine only Son to be our Almighty Saviour: And he that did no Sin, was Manifested, to take away our Sins. O for his Sake be thou pleased to Pity us, and Spare us, and Forgive us! Turn away thy Wrath from us, Receive us to thy blessed Favour, and comfort us with the sure Persuasion that our great and many Sins are Remitted

And because such is the Infirmity of our Nature, that without thy Grace we have not the least Power to keep our selves, even from the greatest Sins; O grant us the Increase of thy Grace, and such Help of thy good Spirit, as may Fortify us against all Temptations, and make us Willing and Faithful, and Diligent in thy Service. And be pleased, O Lord, yet further to Discover and Manifest thy self to our Souls, That we may know aright, Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. And give us Power from on High, to enable us so to Live and Practice, according to that Light and Knowledge of our Duty, which thou art pleased to impart unto us, That we may [Page 71] not hold the Truth in Unrighteousness, Knowing the Better, and Doing the Worse; But may walk in the Light, as Children of Light, while we have it; that we may never in Judgment be Deprived of it. O let us not be only Almost, but Altogether Christians; Sincere Converts, True Penitents, and Sound Believers. And wilt thou, that Workest all in all, do that Work of thy Grace throughly upon all our Hearts, for which we may have cause to give thee Praise and Glory to all Eternity?

Which things we beg not only for our selves, but for all the Partakers of our Nature, whom thou hast made to share in our Hopes and Capacities of Eternal Happiness: Especially for thy whole Church, wheresoever or howsoever disposed of over all the Earth: For the King's Majesty; and all our Rulers and Governers: For our Ministers and Teachers: For our Relations and Neighbours; our Friends and Benefactors: And for all thy Afflicted, whatsoever be their Tryals and Troubles. O supply all their Wants, and fulfil all their Desires, so as thy Wisdom sees Best; For thy own Mercy sake in Jesus Christ.

Thou art the great Preserver of men, who hast Kept and Blest us To day, and all our Days. Praised be thy Name for all thy Goodness, which we so Long and [Page 72] Largely have Experienc'd. O make us Sensible and Thankful, as we are oblig'd to be. Take Care of us, O Lord, and be Good to us, this Night. Give us Bodily Rest in Bed; and Rest for our Souls, in thy self. And be thou our God and Guide, our Hope and Help, our Joy and Comfort, and All in All to us, this Night and for evermore.

Morning-Prayer for the Lord's Day.

O Most Blessed and Gracious Lord our God, whose Almighty Hand has brought us out of Nothing, to what we are; to see the Light, and enjoy the Comforts of Life: And whose Free Grace has call'd us out of a State worse than Nothing, to the Knowledge of thy holy Truth, and to the Hope of thy Heavenly Glory! We bless thy Name, That thou hast conducted usSafe, through all Estates and Events, and through all the Trials and Troubles in our Lives, to see the comfortable Light of this Day; And that we have yet a Day of Grace, wherein to see the things belonging to our Peace. We bless thee that thou hast so far consulted the Good of our Souls, as well as Glory of thy Name, in setting apart this Day for Holy Uses, to engage [Page 73] us to solemn Attendance upon the Lord; In whose Service consists all our Honour and Happiness. O how much Higher might we have been in Grace, and in thy blessed Favour; How much Nearer to thee our God, and Fitter for thy Heavenly Kingdom, had we rightly us'd, and conscienciously improv'd those Seasons and means of Grace which thou hast been pleased to put into our hands, for the best profit and advantage of our Souls!

But we have been unkind and Cruel to our own Souls, as well as disobedient and Rebellious against our Lord: Many times Frustrating the Opportunities of appearing before thee, and Shunning and Neglecting the duties of thy holy Service: And even when we have set ourselves to Seek thy Face, it has been with such Coldness and Dulness, Rudeness and Distractions, That thou mightest justly Abhor our Souls, and Despise our Prayers, and cast back all our Services in our faces, for any thing that there is in us or them, to recommend us to thy Blessed Favour and Acceptance.

But be thou pleased to look upon us in the Son of thy Love, the Lord our Peace and Righteousness; and Forgive us all that is past, wherein we have Neglected thy Work, ill Performed it, or done against [Page 74] it. Help us O God of our Salvation, and deliver us from the Bands and the Burden of our Guilt; and Purge away all our Sins for the Glory of thy Name: That they may not stand as a Partition-Wall, to hinder the Desires of our Souls from Ascending up to thee; Nor to hinder the Light of thy Countenance from Descending upon us. But let thy Peace and Love and Favour shine into our Souls, That we may see the Felicity of thy Chosen, and with Joy draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation.

O let us not rest in any Forms of Godliness, denying the Power thereof; Nor take up with the Name and Shew, and Profession of Christianity; But be swayed with its Life, and Power, and Spirit. That the Gospel of our Lord, and the Graces of the good Spirit of God, may shine forth in our Lives, to the Glory of thee our Heavenly Father, and to the adorning of the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. O Gracious God be with us; and with all the Ministers and Stewards of thy Holy things, who are this Day to speak thy Word to thy People: And furnish them with Abilities suitable to their great Work; that they may fitly apply themselves to the Capacities, and to [...] Necessities of their several Hearers. [Page 75] And grant, Lord, unto us, and unto all the Hearers of thy holy Word, Humble and Teachable Spirits; to receive thy Truth in Meekness, and in the Love of it; so as to Profit and Grow by it. O do thou remove all the Hindrances of our Spiritual Growth and Improvement, That thy Word may have Free course, and be Glorified amongst us. And let us this day go forth in the Strength of the Lord God, and Prosper and Increase with the Increase of God, by thy Grace and Blessing accompanying our Desires and Endeavours; Till from Serving thee Imperfectly here upon Earth, we attain to Glorify and Enjoy thee our God, in the Perfection of Holiness, and in those Everlasting Joys and Glories of thy Kingdom, which thou hast Prepared for them that Love thee.

And let thy Grace and Blessing, Thy Love and Fellowship, thy Direction and Assistance, O Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us and with all whom we ought to beg thy Mercy for in our Prayers, this day, and for evermore.

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Another Morning-Prayer for the Lord's Day.

O Lord the great Almighty God! Thou art the Giver of Life and Strength, and of all Grace and Goodness; without whom we can do Nothing; and through whose gracious Assistance it is that we are enabled to do all things belonging to thy Service and our Duty: We humbly Pray, That thou wilt be Graciously Present with us, and Powerfully Assistant unto us this day; To Direct and Quicken, and Enable and Further us in all the ways and duties of thy holy Service. O Forgive our Iniquities, that Seperate between thee and our Souls: and remember not the Sins against us, which may justly provoke thee to Hide thy Face from us. But according to thy Mercy, Remember thou us, O Lord, and Accept us, and our poor imperfect Services, at the Hands, and for the sake of Jesus Christ.

O leave us not to the Dulness and Hardness, the Vanity and Deceitfulness of our own depraved Hearts; But shew the Power of thy heavenly Grace, in working mightily upon these Hearts of ours: To bring and keep them in such a Holy [Page 77] Frame, That we may be fitter to Attend upon thee, and perform more Faithful and Acceptable Service to thee, and enjoy more of that Heavenly Communion with thee, which thou hast made us Capable of, and which our Souls will be for ever Restless without. O let us not serve thee in Formality and Hypocrisie, making any duties of Course the Cover of a Vain Licentious Life: But let Hearts and Souls, and all that is within us, be taken up in a Reverent, Faithful and Affectionate Attendance upon thee. Nor let us serve thee of Constraint, only because we must; But with all Readiness and Gladness, and Love and Delight to be so engaged: Making thy Pleasure to be ours, and the Sabbath and Service of our Lord, the Joy and Solace of our Souls. O help us so to Sanctify thy Day, that thy Day may be a means to Promote the Sanctification of our Souls. Let us bestow ourselves in Exercises befitting the Holy Season; and not Prophane it to any Vain or Vicious purposes: But on the Lord's day, may we abound in the Work of the Lord; And not do our own Works, nor find our own Pleasure, nor speak our own Words, in the day which thou hast Hallowed for thy self; But rest from all our Sinful ways, as well [Page 78] as from our Common Labours; And so Delight our selves in the Lord, that thou may'st give us the Desires of our hearts.

And Bless to us thy Word, O Gracious Father, and all the Means of Grace, which through thy Favour, we do enjoy: That we may not use the same in Vain, nor to our Hurt; But for the further Informing of our Minds, The Reforming of our Lives, and Advantage of our Souls: Still Growing in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, till we attain to be such as thy holy Word requires we should be, in all holy Conversation and Godliness. Great Peace have they that Love thy Law, and nothing shall offend them. O Dear Lord! Increase our Love to thy Word, which the Angels desire to Look into; And make our Souls pliable and submissive, to be Turn'd and Ruled by it; Till we become in all things Conformable to it.

Bless us, Our Father, and command a Blessing upon all our pious Designs and Performances this Day: And Bless thy Servants whom thou hast appointed to Bless us in thy Name, and to break the Bread of Life to our Souls. That they may speak thy Word, as they ought to Speak; and give to every one their Portion in due Season; And that thy Word [Page 79] which they deliver, may be to our Conviction, Edification, and Comfort, and the Savour of Life to our Souls. O thou that hast the Key of David, and Openest and no man Shutteth, Thou that speakest to the Heart, and givest the Increase, Open our Understandings to receive thy Truth, both in the Light, and in the Love of it. And set it home so Powerfully upon our Hearts, and Root it so deep in our Souls, that the Fruits may be seen in our Lives; We being not forgetful Hearers, but faithful Doers of thy Word.

And grant, O Good God, that our Services this Day may be such, as shall tend to our Advantage and Rejoycing, in the great Day of thy Appearing and Glory; That we may so Hallow these Sabbaths here upon Earth, that hereafter we may be admitted to the joyful Celebration of the Eternal Sabbatism in Heaven: There with all the Church Triumphant, to Laud and Magnify thy Glorious Name, and to enjoy thy Love, and Sing thy Praise for ever.

And for the Addition of this Sabbath to all the rest, For the benefit of thy Word, and the Ordinances of thy Worship, and all the Means of Grace, and Hopes of thy Eternal Glory; To thee the God of all Grace, be the Praise, and Honour, and [Page 80] Glory, render'd of us, and of all Thine, from this time forth and for evermore.

Evening-Prayer for the Lord's Day.

O Lord our God! Thou art infinitely Good, and thou hast shewed us what is Good, and what thou requirest of us for our own greatest Good always, that it may go well with us both now, and to all Eternity. Thou sendest out thy Light and thy Truth amongst us, to make the way of Life and Salvation plain before us: And thou givest us many Opportunities and Advantages, to quicken and further us in thy Knowledge and Service; and in that way of our Duty which leads to the Kingdom of thy Glory. We have Line upon Line, and Precept upon Precept, Thy Messengers early and late, to open and apply thy Word; and to give us Calls and Warnings, Directions and Exhortations, for the promoting of our Edification here, and our Salvation for ever. Thou hast not been Wanting to us, O Lord, But we have been exceedingly Wanting to Our selves, and to the Duty which we owe unto our God. And O how little is it to be seen in our Lives, how Good and Kind the Lord [Page 81] has been to our Souls! How have we loved Darkness rather than Light, and chose to follow the Suggestions of our own foolish and hurtful Lusts, rather than to be guided by the Rules and Prescriptions of thy blessed Word; that has no design upon us, but to promote our present Peace, and our Eternal Bliss. And because we have so little Improved all the precious Talents which thou hast put into our hands, Thou mightest, O Lord, justly take away the Gospel of the Kingdom from us, and give it to another People, that should bring forth Fruits more Worthy of it, and more answerable to it, than we have done. Because thou hast Called, and we have Refused, Thou hast stretched forth thy Hands, and we have not Regarded; Thou mightest therefore leave us to our own Perverseness and Impenitence, to add Sin unto Sin, till our Iniquities became our Ruin.

But O Lord God, Merciful and Long-suffering! we humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt not so enter into Judgment with thy Servants. But in Mercy Pardon all our Contempt of thy Word, and our not Profiting by it, and all the Means of Grace that we have had. And teach and help us, for the time to come, better to use and Improve such gracious Opportunities [Page 82] set before us; to the Glory of thy Name, and the Benefit of our Souls. As the Rain descends from Heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the Earth, and makes it Fruitful; So let not thy Word return unto thee Void, but accomplish thy good Pleasure; and Prosper in that whereunto thou art pleas'd to send it. O make it Instrumental and Effectual to Work thy Grace, where it is not; and to Establish and increase it where it is: To Edify and build us all up in the true Fear and Love of God, and in the right Knowledge and Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And though we cannot now find, upon the Review of our Services this day, That we have duly kept a Day Holy to the Lord; Yet let not thy Day, O Gracious God, be a Lost day to us, nor thy Word as Water spilt on the ground: But may thy Spirit cause thy Word to do thy great and Gracious Work throughly and successfully upon all our Hearts, for which we may have cause to give thee Praise and Glory to all Eternity. And as we receive how we ought to Walk, and to Please thee our God, So help us to walk more Worthy of the Lord, unto all Well-pleasing: Increasing in thy Saving-Knowledge, and being still more Ready to, and [Page 83] more Rich and Fruitful in every Good Work, that is Pleasing in thy sight, through Jesus Christ.

At his hands, O Lord our God, we beg thy gracious Acceptance of our humble Returns of Praise and Thanksgiving, for all Blessings and Favours, Spiritual and Temporal, so Freely conferr'd upon us, and so Long vouchsafed and continued to us, even throughout our whole Lives, until this present time. Thou hast dealt Graciously with us, O Blessed Lord, and been exceedingly Good and Kind to us, not only beyond all that we had reason to Expect from thee, but above all that we are able to Express here before thee. We bless thy Name, our Heavenly Father, That in so many respects thou hast made us to Differ from multitudes in the World, who are Destitute of those Comforts and Conveniencies of this Life, and Means and Hopes of a Better, which through thy Favour to us, we do enjoy. We acknowledge thee in all; and we desire to ascribe unto thee the whole Praise and Glory of all. Especially our Souls desire to bless thee for the Mercies of all Mercies, which thou hast shewed, and still art pleas'd to continue to our Souls: Particularly what we have receiv'd and Experienced this Day, Thy House open to [Page 84] us, and the Food of our Souls set before us; The Word of Salvation sounding in our Ears, and the Spirit of God Striving with our Hearts, and helping our Infirmities, and Englightening our Minds, and Reviving our Souls.

O that we may not Receive the Grace of God in Vain! That all thy Mercies may not be Lost upon us; But that we may better answer the Care and Kindness of Heaven, which we have so Long and Largely experienc'd: And that we may so Thankfully Resent, and carefully Improve thy Distinguishing Favours to us, and all thy Bountiful dealings with us; That thou mayst not Withdraw thy tender Mercies from us, but still Increase thy Grace and heavenly Blessings upon us; and Rejoyce over us to do us Good.

In mercy pass by all which thy most pure and holy Eyes (from which nothing is hid) have seen Amiss this day past, in any of our Thoughts, Desires, Expressions, or Actions. O Pardon our Neglect of what we should have done, and our Guilt of what we have Mis-done. Forgive the iniquities of our Holy things; and enter not into Judgment with us, even according to the Best of our works and Services: But overlook all our Sins, and Failings, and Imperfections, through [Page 85] our great Mediator and Redeemer, Who does appear in the Presence of God on our behalf, and ever lives at thy Right Hand, to make Intercession for us. And for Jesus Christ, the blessed Author of all our Hopes and Happiness, and for all the Comforts and Good things of this Life, and Means and expectations of the Glorious Life to come, which thou art pleas'd to give us together with him, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name, be the Praise, and Honour, and Glory, humbly and heartily render'd and ascrib'd of us, and of all thy Church, now and for evermore.

Another Evening-Prayer for the Lord's-Day.

O Lord, Thou art Good to the Soul that Seeks thee: Thou art full of Invitation, and all the Endearments of Love, to draw and encourage poor Sinners to come unto thee. Thou dost not bid us Seek thy Face in Vain, nor serve thee for Nought; But art a Lord that hast Pleasure in the Prosperity of thy Servants; and Payest us not according to our poor imperfect Services, but Givest like thy self, Infinitely Good; and most Rich in Mercy; The Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 'Tis not any thing in [Page 86] thy Laws, O Gracious Lord, but the Sinfulness of our depraved Nature, that makes any of them seem Grievous to us, which are all Holy, and Just, and Good; tending only to promote our present and Eternal Happiness. Nor is it any thing in thy blessed Service, but the Indisposedness of our own Vile Hearts, that makes any part of that Tedious to us, which is the work of Angels; and our Wisdom, Honour, and Interest, yea what we may make our Delight, as well as our Duty to perform. Holy God, we have nothing of our own we can depend upon, nor can we ever hope to be Justified in thy sight, upon the account of any Works or Worth of our own: For by our own Hearts and Deeds we are reproved and condemn'd, and should be left Speechless in the Judgment, if thou, O Lord, should'st call us to account, according to the Merits even of our Best Services. But we desire to take Refuge and Sanctuary under the Shadow of our Crucified Saviour, and to be found in him, not having our own Righteousness, but that which is by the Faith of Jesus Christ; That the Shame of our Nakedness may be covered, and all our Sinful Deformities hid from thine eyes: That thou may'st Forgive us mercifully, [Page 87] and Receive us graciously, and Love us freely, in the Son of thy Love, in whom thou art Well-pleased.

Command a Blessing, we pray thee, O Lord, upon the Word which this day we have heard, and upon all the Means of Grace that have been us'd for the good of our Souls. It is not of him that Planteth, nor of him that Watereth, but of thee our God, who givest the Increase; O be thou pleased to second the Preaching of thy Word, with the powerful Influences of thy Grace and Holy Spirit; that it may be the Savour of Life to our Souls, and the Power of God to our Salvation. O let us so Hide thy Word in our Hearts, that we may not, as we have done, Sin against thee; That it may be as a Treasure within us, to stand us in stead in every hour of Temptation, and in all the times and cases of our Need. That we may walk more Humbly and Closely with our God, and more Conscientiously and Circumspectly before thee; and be so Obedient to the holy Precepts of thy Word, that finally we may enjoy the glorious Promises, which it gives us the blessed Hopes of.

Supply the Want of thy Publick Ordinances, We beseech thee, by the immediate Teachings of thy Good Spirit, to all [Page 88] such as through any unavoidable Impediments, are kept from them. And continue to us, O Gracious Lord, the Light of thy Gospel, and all the happy Opportunities, which we enjoy, for our Souls advantage. And Preserve us also by thy Grace, from the Curse of Barrenness, under all thy holy Means, and abundant Mercies: For it were better for us we never had them, if we are not the Better for them. That they may not therefore hereafter rise up in Judgment against us, O make them now Efficacious to us. And Write thy Laws in our Hearts, and cause them to accomplish all the purposes of thy Grace in our Souls, and to shine forth with a Convincing Splendor in our Lives; to make us every way such as thou wouldest have us.

And now we give Thanks, as we are infinitely Bound to thee, O Lord God our Heavenly Father, for the Mercies of this Day; and for thy great Mercy and Goodness that has hitherto followed us all the days of our Lives: O how wonderful is thy Patience and Long-suffering, that thou shouldst all day long stretch forth thy Hands to a Rebellious and Gainsaying People! And how Unwearied thy Kindness and Love, that we still enjoy so many Comforts with our Lives, who [Page 89] have taken the course to spoil all with our Sins! Yea, that thou shouldst not withhold the Greatest Mercies from such as cannot pretend to Deserve the Least at thy hands! Blessed be thy Name, O most Merciful Father, That thou hast Defended us from so many Dangers in our Lives, which threatned to Destroy us: And Deliver'd us out of so many Troubles, under which we should have Sunk and perisht, if thou hadst not been nigh to us, and done great things for us. We Bless thee for our Health and Plenty, Peace and Liberty: For the use of our Reason, Limbs, and Senses, and for the Comforts of all thy good Creatures: For the Kindness of Friends, and Safety from our Enemies: For the Benefits and Refreshments of Society, and the Success and Prosperity of our Affairs here in the World. But above all, we Bless thee, for the Mercies and Blessings relating to the World to come; For Jesus Christ, and all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things in him, tending to the Salvation of our Souls: For Remembring us in our Low Estate, and sending Eternal Redemption to us, by the hands of thy Dear Son: For the Light and Direction of thy Word: For the Teachings and Strivings, the Aids and Consolations of thy Spirit: For all the Means and Helps [Page 90] which we have to do us Good: For all thy Grace wrought in us, and bestowed upon us: And for all the Discoveries and Hopes of Eternal Glory, which thou hast given us. O how infinitely Indebted are we to the Kindness and Love of God our Saviour! O that we may ever be Sensible and Thankful as we ought! And with all that thou hast given us, Blessed God, Give us Hearts fill'd with thy Love, and Lifted up in thy Praise, and Devoted to thy Honour and Service. We can but Acknowledge the vast Debt, that we are never Able to Pay. We cannot Praise thee according to the Riches of thy Grace, and the Multitude of thy Mercies; But we desire to Bless and Praise thee, with all the Capacities and Abilities wherewith thou hast Blessed us. And help us, O Lord our God, to Glorify thy Name, not only in Speaking to thy Praise, but so entirely Devoting our selves to thy Pleasure, that we may be Thine in Faithfulness, and in the Sincerity of our hearts, even all the days of our Lives.

O make us truly Penitent and Humbled for all which this day we have done Amiss: And make us unfeignedly Thankful for all the Good that we have Receiv'd; and for all which thou hast, in any manner or measure, enabled us to do [Page 91] Aright. The Evil is from ourselves alone, and to us belongs Shame and Confusion of face for it: But all the Good is of thy Free Grace, and thy meer Mercy; And to thy Blessed Name, O Lord our God, be all the Praise and Glory, render'd with the most Sensible and Grateful Hearts, now and for evermore.

A Prayer for any Intermediate Time of the Lord's Day.

O Lord the God of Glory! Thou fillest Heaven and Earth with thy Presence, Fill my Heart, I pray thee, with thy Grace, and the Mindfulness of thy Presence with me: That I may Demean my self, as under thy awful Eyes, and ever Manifest in thy Holy Sight; Who art cheerfully and constantly Worshipped and Attended by all the Heavenly Host of Glorious Angels, and Immortal Spirits above; where Thousand Thousands Minister unto thee, and Ten Thousand times Ten Thousand stand before thee. O happy are they who are ever in thy Blessed Presence, and still taken up in the joyful Contemplation and Fruition of Thee, and the things Above: Who have an everlasting Period put to all their Sins, [Page 92] and Troubles and Temptations, here below; and have their Souls full of Holiness, their Hearts fill'd with Joy, and their Mouths with everlasting Praises of God. O Lord, look down from Heaven, the Habitation of thy Holiness, and the Throne of thy Glory, and behold with Pity the poor Remnant of thy Heritage, who are yet upon our Warfare and Pilgrimage in this present evil World: beset with many and mighty and malicious Enemies of our Souls; and Groaning for Deliverance from the Bondage of Corruption, that we may be brought into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God.

The good Lord Pardon every one of us that now Prepare and set our selves to Seek thy Face, and to Meet and Enjoy our God in the Ordinances of thy Worship: Though we be not cleans'd according to the Purification of the Sanctuary; Accept us in thy Beloved Son according to what we have, and fill us with thy Good Spirit, to make us what we should be. O give me a Devout Soul, and a Praying Heart; That I may not only go over the Words of Prayer, or rest in any Forms of Godliness; but serve thee with my Spirit, and Lift up my Heart to the Lord, and as much as is Possible, Converse above.

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It is good for me to Draw nigh to God, in whose Service consists all our Honour and Bliss. O let my Heart Rejoice in Seeking the Lord: And with greater Liveliness, and Love, and Cheerfulness, let me frequent thy Ways, and Study thy Word, and Admire thy Works, and Praise thy Name. I Bless thee, my God, That thou hast given me an Understanding to know thee, a Heart to Love thee, and a Soul capable of Waiting upon thee in the duties of thy Holy Immediate Service here, and capable of Enjoying thee in thy Eternal Heavenly Glory hereafter. I Bless thee for all Opportunities and Advantages which I have to Serve thee, and to Work out my Salvation: For the Ministry of Reconciliation committed to thy Servants; For all their Labours and Writings, and for all other Means of Grace, and Helps Heaven-ward.

O give me also such a Love to thy Word, that I may value it above all the Wealth of the World, and relish it better than all the Pleasures of the Flesh; Esteeming the Words of thy Mouth more than my necessary Food: And receiving it not only in the Light, but in the Love of it, that I may be Saved. And give me, Lord, a Heart to Fear thee, and to keep thy Commandments always, That [Page 94] it may go well with me, both now and for ever. O let me so make thy Word the Rule of my Life, that it may also be the Ground of my Hope. And while it is sounding in my Ears, O be thou also Teaching my Heart; to make it Efficacious and Saving to my Soul. And let there be such a Transcript of the Gospel in my Life, That I may not only Hear what it Says, but be such as it Describes. O Gracious God! Continue the Light and joyful Sound of thy Gospel amongst us; And help us so rightly to Use it, and to make our due Benefit of it, that we may find cause to Bless and Praise thee for it. O that every Sabbath may add still to our Stature in Christ Jesus; and that we may so Sanctify thy Sabbaths now while we are on the Way, that in the End we may attain to the Blessed Sabbath of thy Everlasting Rest: There to Live in the Sight and Love, and in the Enjoyment and Praises of thee our God, Blessed for Evermore.

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A Confession of the Sins Forbidden, with Prayer for Grace, to perform the Duties enjoyn'd in the Commandments.
(Preparatory to the Sacrament; Or at any time of Humiliation.)

O Lord the Great and Glorious God, against whom I have grievously Offended, and who for my Sins art justly Displeased. I know not where to Begin or End with the Rehearsal of those my Transgressions, which are more than I can Remember, and greater than I can Express. Thou art God alone, and there is none beside thee, that has absolute Sovereignty over me, and that can be a Full and Final Happiness to me. But O Lord my God! other Lords besides thee have had Dominion over me. I have Idolized things in My self, and in this present World, and have set them in the stead of God: Either Disbelieving thy Being, or Forgetting thy Presence, or Disliking to Retain thee in my Thoughts, and living Without thee in the World. I have not Improv'd in my Knowledge, answerably to the Means of Instruction wherewith thou hast Blessed me. And that I [Page 96] have no more and better Knowledge of God, it is my Shame, and owing to my sinful Dullness and Negligence in that which does most of all Concern me. I have not had all my Expectation from thee, nor my whole Dependance upon thee, nor my chief Hope and Delight in thee: But have Stuck and Trusted to Creature-Comforts, and Worldly Enjoyments; things short of thee my God, to make me Happy. O how have I Hardned my Heart against the Fear of thy Glorious Majesty, who canst whenever thou pleasest Kill and cast Sinners into Hell! Making bold to Sin against the clear Light which thou hast caused to Shine upon me! And how have I shut my Heart against the Love of my Chiefest Good, who has still been doing me Good, and laying fresh Obligations upon me, with thy Renewed Favours every day! Loving the Creatures and any Sensual Pleasures more than the God Blessed for ever.

I have conceived Injurious unbecoming Thoughts of thy Infinite Greatness and Goodness, till I have become Vain and Wicked in my Imaginations; Thinking the most High and Glorious God to be even such a one as My self. And instead of Worshipping thee in Spirit and in Truth, it has been after my own Fancy and [Page 97] Humour, in a Formal, Customary manner.

O what light Account have I made of thy Great Name! And what little Zeal have I shewed for thy Honour and Glory! How have I Disregarded thy Word and Works, thy Mercies and Judgments, thy Calls and Warnings, and all thy Offers and Invitations! And either Neglected the Offices of thy Worship, or Profaned thy Holy things, and abused Religious duties, to cover my own Offences: Drawing nigh to thee with my Mouth, when my Heart has been far from thee.

Thy Day I have not Remembr'd as I ought, to Keep it Holy; But have us'd as Common, what thou hast set apart for Sacred; and born the Holy Season as a Burden, and made bold with thy Hallowed Time, to spend it upon my Sloth and Lusts, and Worldly Trifles, and Carnal Impertinencies.

O how have I Fail'd and Sinn'd in all my Relations! As a Superior, in Pride and Vanity; As an Inferior, in Stubbornness and Envy; As a Parent and Child, Master and Servant, Friend and Neighbour, Not discharging my Duty in any Capacity as I ought.

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How Careless have I been of my Own and others Souls! How Passionate and Unmerciful, Contentious and Revengeful! Bitter in my Words, Malicious in my Heart! Tempting some into Soul-ruining Sins; and not doing what in me lyes to keep others from the wicked Undoing of themselves; Nor exerting my Desires and Endeavours to do Good unto all.

O Lord! I am Unclean, Unclean; Defiled wirh filthy Imaginations rolling in my Head, and Lustful Desires harbouring in my Heart, and breaking out in Corrupt Communication and Carnal Carriage, and Intemperate Living after the Flesh. Yea, I have been guilty of the Spiritual Whoredom, in Forsaking the Blessed Bridegroom of my Soul, to cleave to lying Vanities, and to keep up that Friendship with the World, which is Enmity with God.

I have been Unfaithful in the unrighteous Mammon, and not Honoured thee with my Substance, Nor done the Good which thou hast made me capable of doing, with the World's Good: But by Idleness, and Injurious Entrenching on the Rights of others, or by Profuse consuming my Portion on my own Lusts, I have been a Sacrilegious Usurper of thy Good Creatures.

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O! what Vicious Liberties have I taken to my self, in speaking Evil of my Neighbours! Using them in my Words, as I would ill Resent to be us'd: Slandering and Reviling, Dissembling or Rash-Judging: And often wronging the Truth; to Avenge, to Excuse, or to Exalt my self.

O what a Nursery of Covetous and Carnal Desires has been this Corrupt and wicked Heart of mine! Cherishing and delighting in Evil-Motions; Repining at others Welfare: Coveting all to My self, and Catering only for the Flesh, to fulfil its Lusts.

Such Sins have I committed against thy Holy Law: And I have also Sinned against thy Gracious Gospel, O Lord, not Acquainting my self with the way of Salvation by Jesus Christ: But Neglecting so great Salvation, and Disregarding the Only Saviour, whom to Know and Win, I should have accounted all things else but Loss and Dung. I have not been Awed by thy Threatnings, Nor Taken with thy Promises, nor list'ned to the Calls of thy Word, Nor Yielded to the Motions of thy Spirit, Nor Believed the Truths, Nor Loved the Ways, Nor Plied the Means, Nor Improved the Opportunities, which thou hast graciously set before me: But [Page 100] have shut my Eyes against the things of my Peace, and made light of all my Saviour's Doings and Sufferings, and various Methods, for the Salvation of my Soul: Taking pleasure in the Enemies of his Cross, Little concern'd for the Success of his Gospel; Nor laying to Heart my own, or others Sins; Nor seriously Repenting, Nor fervently Praying, But doing all these things, as if I did 'em not.

Such is my heavy Charge: This is my heinous Guilt: O that I may not only Confess it, but be duly Humbled for it! and lay my mouth in the Dust, if so be that yet there may be Hope! And is there Hope for such a great and Provoking Sinner? Lord of Love, Thou hast helped many poor miserable Souls in a low dangerous case: And many, I believe, are now Triumphing and Praising thee in Glory, who much and long Rebell'd against thee here below. Such are the Wonders of thy Grace, to get thee Glory in Seeking and Saving that which was Lost. And thy Hand is not Shortned, nor thy Mercy Abated; But still thou art as Able and Ready to help and Save, as ever thou wast. O put me in the way where all thy Goodness may pass before me. And help me to [Page 101] exercise such Humiliation and Repentance in thy Sight, that thou mayest exercise thy Pardoning and Saving Mercy upon my Soul: And never lay my Sins to my Charge, but upon his Account who was made Sin for us, though he knew no Sin, That we might be made the Righteousness of God in him.

Nor do I only beg for Pardon of Sin, but also for Power against it. That thy Preventing Grace may dash and break Temptations in the first Approach; and thy Assisting Grace enable me to Resist in the Assault, and to Overcome in the Issue. That I may never fall a miserable Prey to the cruel Adversary that walks about, as a Roaring Lyon, seeking whom to Devour. And turn my feet, O Lord, to thy Testimonies, and help me with an Enlarged Heart, to run the way of thy Commands. O give me Grace to take and Chuse thee for my God; and to Know, and Trust, and Fear, and Love, and Serve, and Worship thee as God. Give me a true Reverence for thy Name, Zeal for thy Glory, Serious Devotion and Constancy in all the Duties of thy holy Religion; Conscientious Care of the Sanctification of thy Day, and due Veneration and Affection for all thy Holy things.

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Help me also, my God, rightly to discharge all Relative duties, that I owe to Superiors, Equals, Inferiors, and all with whom I have my Conversation in the World: That I may give no just Offence to any, but so carry towards every one, as to Credit my holy Profession, and win others into the Love of it. O make me Careful of my own and others Souls; Peaceable and Patient, Merciful and Kind; Desirous of, and what in me lyes, Endeavouring to promote the Good of all; So Loving my Neighbour as my self. O make me Chaste and Continent; Pure in Heart, Sober and Modest in Speech and Carriage; Temperate in the use of thy good Creatures; Given to Prayer, and all the exercises of Godliness, that tend to Mortify the sinful Lusts of the Flesh. Make me also Faithful in the unrighteous Mammon, Contented with my Portion, Industrious in my Calling, Upright in my Dealing, Honouring thee with my Substance, and doing Good, and not Hurt, with what thou hast given me of the World's Good. Help me, O Righteous God, still to Love and Own, to Confess and Maintain the Truth; Candidly to interpret the Sayings and Doings of others; Not delighting in their Shame, but being as tender of their Reputation, as [Page 103] I would desire they should be of mine. And help me, O my Lord, to resist the Beginnings, and first Risings of Evil Motions in my Mind; and to keep my Heart with all Diligence from giving Harbour to Covetous and Unclean Desires. O let me not give my mind to Earthly things; Nor be Carnally-minded, which is Death; but Spiritually-minded, which is Life and Peace. And incline my Heart, O Good God, to Meditate and Love and Keep thy holy Laws.

O make me Resolved for, and in Love with, a Life of Holiness according to thy blessed Will and Word. And let me not only Think and Purpose to live Godly in Christ Jesus, But bring my Purposes into Actions, my Actions into Habits, and my Habits into a holy lasting Perseverance, and Enduring so to the End, that I may be Saved. And through the ways of thy holy Commands, O Lord, lead me to the Joys of thy Heavenly Kingdom: That having my Fruit unto Holiness, I may find the End Everlasting Life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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A Prayer before the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

O What am I, poor Unworthy Sinful Wretch, That I should go to the Table of the Lord, and put my self on, for the Portion of his Saints! Great God! My Guilt, and Shame, and Fear, do pull me back, and make me ready to conclude it Presumptuous and Vain for me ever to expect such high Honour and Favour from thee, after I have so foully Misbehaved my self towards thee. I durst not think of making so near Approaches to thy holy Majesty, but that thou art pleas'd to Invite and Command us so to do. Nor could I ever Hope for such Heavenly Blessings at thy hands, O Lord, but that thou art so infinitely Good, and Kind, even to such as deserve nothing from thee, but to be Forsaken and Abhorred by thee. Instead of stretching forth a Scepter of Mercy, to Invite me to thy Table, Thou might▪st, with the Rod of thy Wrath, dash me in pieces as a Potter's Vessel: And instead of Entertaining me with the Bread of Life, and the Cup of Blessing, might'st give me the Bread and Water of Affliction, and throw me down, where I [Page 105] should in vain cry out for a Drop to Cool my Tongue.

But seeing thou art pleas'd to call even Sinners that have Undone themselves, to come unto thee for Help; and hast appointed this Sacrament, as a means of Conveyance, to help them to Pardon and Grace, that stand in Need of the same; Therefore seeing I do extreamly Need thy Pardoning Mercy, and thy Sanctifying Grace, I come, Lord, though Polluted, and unfit to Appear before thee: And I dare not but Come, as knowing I shall be Undone, keeping away from thee. I come not, Lord, because I am Worthy, but because thou art Rich in Mercy. I come as the poor Starved wretch to the Fire: I come as the Hungry to be Fed; And as the Sick and Maimed, to be Recovered and Healed. That I may wash in the Blood of thy Son, and be Cleansed: That I may receive of thy infinite Fulness, all that is Wanting in my Wretched Self: And that I may so Touch my Saviour, as to perceive Virtue from him, to Heal my Sinful Sores, and to enable me for thy faithful Service.

O that I may come in the Humblest manner, with all Reverence and Godly Fear: And with the most earnest Longings after Christ Jesus; and the heartiest [Page 106] Resolutions to Live unto him, that was pleas'd to Die for me. And do thou Instruct me, O Lord, and Assist me, in the Examination, the Humiliation, and Preparation of my self, in order to my Safe and Comfortable Participation of this Holy Ordinance. Before I compass thy Altar, wilt thou Purify my Heart by Repentance, and Faith in the Blood of our great Redeemer. O let me Receive a Broken and Bleeding Saviour, with a Broken and Contrite Heart. And make me so Willing and Obedient, that I may eat the Good of the Ordinance: So Conformable to thee, that I may find Communion with thee; and may have not only a Representation, but a Participation of Christ Crucifyed. O Turn in, my Lord, and be not as a Stranger to the Soul that is the Purchase of thy own Blood. Enrich thy Ordinance with thy Presence; That I may find him whom my Soul desires to Love, and whose Love is better than Wine: That Christ may Appear and be known to my Soul, in this Breaking of Bread: That I may receive such Life from thee, as may enable me to Live unto thee: And make me know, that thou Abidest in me, by the Spirit which thou hast given me.

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Blessed Saviour! Weigh not mine, but thy own Merits: For I have not Deserved thee, but thou hast Redeemed me. I can never be Worthy of thee; But give me, I beseech thee, such agreeable Dispositions, Apprehensions, Affections, and Resolutions, in my Coming to thee, that I may eat and drink Worthily, of what I am to receive from thee: That I may participate of thy Sacred Body Crucified, and thy precious Blood shed for us, with such Discerning, and Reverence, and Penitence, and Love, and Thankfulness, as I ought to do. And what I am not in my self, O do thou make me, out of thy own infinite Fulness, such a meet Receiver at thy Table, that I may find Welcome with thee, to my present Consolation, and Everlasting Salvation.

O thou that hast Prepared a Table in this Wilderness, with Heavenly Provisions for our Souls, Prepare my Soul, Dear Lord, for these Provisions; and give me Spiritual Appetite, as well as Spiritual Sustenance: That as the Hart pants after the Water-brooks, my Soul may Pant after thee, O God: That with Desire I may desire to eat this Passeover, And so Open my mouth, that thou may'st fill my hungry Soul with thy Good things; And so Lift up the everlasting Doors of my Heart, [Page 108] that the King of Glory may come in; That Christ may Dwell in my Heart by Faith, and Abide with my Spirit, as long as I am to Abide here in the Flesh.

O make thy Ordinance Healing, and the Savour of Life to my Soul. And make it also a Sealing Ordinance, to Clear up to me the Pardon of my Sins, and the Assurance of thy Love. And as thou Sealest the Covenant of Grace, O let me Seal the Covenant of Obedience; and in such a Devout and Acceptable manner come unto thy Table, That I may return from it with my Conscience quieted, My Corruptions subdued, My Graces increased, and my Soul encouraged, with an enlarged Heart, to run the way of thy Commands.

Ah Lord! to whom should I repair but unto thee my Life, my Strength and my Redeemer! O thou that Callest unto thee the Labouring and Heavy-laden Sinners, Help me so to Come to thee, that in thee I may find Rest for my Soul. Thou that hast commanded us to break our Bread to the Hungry, O break the Bread of Life to all of us that hunger and thirst after Righteousness: And give unto us, O Lord God our Heavenly Father, evermore give us this Bread. And thou [Page 109] that art pleas'd still to continue to us the Liberty and Advantage of this Ordinance, to nourish and revive our Souls, O work in our hearts a higher Esteem for it, and a greater Love to it. And in our Preparations before, In our Communicating there, and our Conversation after, O teach and help us to Carry Beseeming the Holy Heavenly Feast, and as becomes the Redeemed and Obliged of the Lord, and the very Living Members of Jesus Christ.

Hear me, O Lord my God, and Forgive me; Bless and Direct me, Quicken and Assist me, in the work now lying upon me: And be Good to me, and deal Graciously with me; That I may discharge all my Offices, heartily as to the Lord, and with good Acceptance in the sight of God, through the Beloved of thy Soul, the only Saviour of mine.

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A Prayer for Grace to Resign, and give up our selves to God.

O My Great and Glorious Maker and Redeemer, My continual Preserver and Benefactor, My only Lord and Owner! Thine I am every way, by all the tyes of Duty and Love; and not at my own Disposal, to do what I will with my self: For thou hast Form'd me for Thy self, and dearly Ransom'd me, after I had Lost my self. Yea, I have been solemnly Devoted to thee, and Vowed to Renounce all Tempters for my Heart and Service, that would Rival with my Blessed Lord; and obediently to Serve thy Divine Pleasure, and to walk in thy holy Ways, all the days of my Life. And to be so True and Faithful in the Covenant of my God, is not only my Obligation, but my Honour and Interest, my highest Perfection, and my greatest Bliss.

But with Confusion and Remorse, I must acknowledge, O Lord, how I have Sacrilegiously Alienated my self from thee, and most foolishly and wickedly Forsaken thee, to serve other Lords; Yea to be under the Power and Servitude of my own Silly Humours and Brutish Lusts: Nor [Page 111] concern'd so much to Please thee, as My self: As if I were so my own, that I had no Lord over me, to whom belongs all the Right and Title to me. O my God! Forgive and Mortify this wicked pernicious Selfishness in me: And let me no longer unjustly Withhold my self from thee; Nor madly expose my self to Ruin, by living in the World Without thee; Nor hang in a tremulous Suspence between God and Mammon, vainly thinking to Hold in with both. But make me so Wise and Considerate, not only of my Duty, but of my own Felicity, as willingly and cheerfully to Surrender and Devote my self to the Blessed Author of my Being: That so I may both answer the End for which I was Made, and also attain the Happiness whereof I am Capable. Seeing all that are Far from thee shall Perish, as Branches cut from the living Root that feeds them; And I have no Sufficiency in my self, but derive all my Good from Union with my God: I am convinced, O Lord, that I am Thine, by thy undoubted Right; And that I ought to yield my self for such, by my own free Choice, and Voluntary Act. It is Best for me so to do; and I can never do well, in standing off from it. O bring me to it, and make me Faithful and Hearty in it.

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My Lord, Break all the Tyes that Detain me from thee: And Seize and take me for thy Own: Yea keep and continue me in thy Fear and Love, to my Life's end. And upon my Mind and Memory, upon my Will and Affections, upon my Heart and Conscience, O write Holiness to the Lord: And every way make me willing Wholly to be Thine. Let thy Will ever be mine in all things: And Melt down this Stubborn Will into a ready Compliance with thy holy Pleasure. O let me Love and Hate, and Joy and Dislike, as thou dost. Let my Soul and Body, and all the Faculties and Powers both, be under thy Conduct, and employed to thy Glory. Let all that I am, and all that I have, (whatever is Mine) O let it be Thine, not in Pretence only, but in deed and in Truth. And never let me think it Hard to Renounce all for Thee, who art infinitely Better than all else that ever can Tempt me.

O help me so sincerely to Deny my self, that I may own no Guide and Ruler, but my great Lord and Proprietor; That my Eyes may be ever towards thee, and my whole Dependance upon thee; And that thou maist be All in All to me; And thy Word my Rule, and to promote thy Honour and Pleasure, my great Aim and Endeavour: That in all things thou maist ever be Regarded, and Preferred, and Glorifyed by me, through Jesus Christ.

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Thanksgiving and Prayer after the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

I Desire with all my Soul to Adore and Magnify thy blessed Name, O Lord, my Heavenly Father, for all the Expressions of thy Love and Bounty, to me a poor unworthy Sinner. Particularly, for thy precious Favours, and the Renewed Pledges of thy Love in Christ Jesus, which I have Received from thee this Day; That thou hast admitted me, not only into thy House, but to thy Table; and us'd me as thy Friend, and the Child of thy Family, who deserve to be cast out as an Enemy, and to be Trampled, even as the Off-Scowring of all things. O what manner of Love is this, That I should Fare so well, who deserve so Ill at thy Hands! O that it should be so done to wretched Sinful men! That the God so greatly Offended by us, should not only Forgive us, but Entertain and Feast us with all the Good things, which our Blessed Saviour has Merited and Prepared for us! Lord, what is Man, that thou art so Mindful of him, and the Son of man, that thou so Visitest him! And what am I, one of [Page 114] the Vilest and Sinfullest of men, that the Great Lord, so ill used by me, should deal so exceeding Graciously with me! O make me to know the things that are freely Given me of God, and how much I do owe unto the Lord for all thy Kindness to my Soul, which thou hast Redeemed, and Eternally Obliged to thy Self. O give me a Heart deeply Sensible of thy Mercy, and stedfastly Purposing to live to thy Glory, That I may shew my Thankfulness for thy Benefits, by my Obedience to thy Precepts. O keep me Mindful of the Vows of God upon me: And help me to Live, as having my Holy Redeemer now Dwelling in me.

And as I have Received Christ Jesus the Lord, so Enable me to Walk in him; To Walk more Worthy of the Lord unto all Well-pleasing; To walk in Love, as Christ Loved us; and to go on in the Strength of what I have Received from thee, to Live unto thee; Following after Holiness, as being not only brought so Nigh to, but intimately Conjoyned with the Holy One of God. As I have eat and drunk the Sacramental Bread and Wine, to the nourishment and refreshment of my frail Body; So let the Crucified Body, and Effused Blood of God my Saviour Nourish and Sustain my Immortal Soul [Page 115] unto Life Eternal; And Revive me with the Sense of thy Pardon, and Peace, and Love, that's Better than Wine, and better than Life it self.

And O that the Sacrifice of Christ Jesus, (that Sacrifice of Himself) which he offered upon the Cross, and which I have this day been Commemorating at thy Table, may Atone for all the Failings and Miscarriages in my Preparations and Performances! That upon the account of that Grand Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World, I may be Spared and Accepted with thee my God here to thy Blessed Love, and hereafter to thy Heavenly Glory: Through him that Gave himself For us, and has also Given himself To us; Even the Son of thy Love, and the great Lover of our Souls: For whom, and to whom, with thy Eternal Self, and Holy Spirit, be all Thanks, and Praise, and Honour, and Glory ascribed of me, and of all thy Church, now and for evermore.

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Prayer and Humiliation for a Publick Fast-Day.

O Lord God, Glorious in Holiness, and of Purer Eyes, than to behold any Iniquity, without Abhorrence of it, and Indignation against it! How shall Man, Sinful Man, that drinks in Iniquity like Water, appear before thee! And how shall we, Vile and Frail, Polluted and Depraved as we are, shew ourselves in the Presence of such a Great and Wise, Just and Holy God, as thou art! When we look upon thy Perfect Law, and see what we should be, What manner of Persons, in all holy Conversation, and Godliness; And when we Reflect on our own Hearts and Lives, and find what we are; How Wanting in our duty, and how Contrary to that holy Rule, which thou dost Prescribe us, to Keep our Hearts, and to order our Conversation by; We cannot come into thy Presence, O Lord, without Confusion of Face, and Anguish of Soul, and Remorse of Conscience, to think how Foolishly and Wickedly we have done; and how Abject and Wretched we have made ourselves; even Viler than the Dust of the Earth, or any thing that Moves upon it.

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Besides that, we brought with us a Corrupt Nature into the World, full of Strangeness to thee our God, and full of Enmity against thy Holy, Good, and Righteous Laws; We have Mis-spent the most of our Time here in the Neglect of thy Work, and in Disobedience against thy Word, Daily multiplying our Offences against thee, as thou hast been pleased daily to multiply thy Blessings and Favours upon us. O the Precious Time that we have Lost, The Means that we have Neglected, The Mercies that we have Abused, The Calls and Warnings, Offers and Invitations, that we have Disregarded! How Bold have we made with thy Glorious Majesty, and with thy holy Laws! What little awful Regard have we had of thee! What little Conscientious Fear of Offending thee!

O the Crying Sins and Abominations, The Prevailing Wickedness, and the Bold, Open Impieties, [The Swearing and Drunkenness, The Pride and Uncleanness, The cruel Enmity and all manner of Injustice, The corrupt Communication, and ungodly Conversation] whereby God is so greatly Dishonoured and Provoked every day, almost every where! And O how large a Share have we had in Adding to the Publick Guilt! Sinning as we have done, in all [Page 118] Estates and Affairs, in all Relations and Circumstances of our Lives! And not only through Weakness and Surprize, and the Violence of Temptations, But many times Knowingly, Wilfully and Presumptuously; With a High Hand, and Stiff Neck, against thee our Glorious Maker, and Judge Eternal! And O how great a Weight have we added to all our other Sins, by the Hardness of our Hearts, and our Impenitent Continuance in our Sins! Committing Great Sins with little Remorse, little Penitent Concernment for all the Evils whereof we have been Guilty! Yea, Lord, how unsuitable still are our Hearts and our Lives to those holy Rules, which thy Word gives us in charge to follow! So much is there still Amiss with us, and Wanting in us, that it is the great abounding Mercy of our Lord, thou dost yet Lengthen out our Lives, and thy Patience with us, and still leave us any of these Opportunities, to Humble ourselves before thee, and to cry for Mercy to thee, in that day of Grace, which through the Forbearance of our God is yet over us.

We have not Glorified thee, O Lord, in bearing Fruits of Holiness answerable to thy Revealed Will, and to thy Obliging Love: But we desire to give Glory [Page 119] to God, in Confessing our Sins, and Humbling our Souls, and Acknowledging our Desert of all thy Judgments; and Admiring and Magnifying the Riches of that Grace and Mercy, which has Spar'd us so long a Time, and shewed us such marvellous Kindness, notwithstanding all the High Provocations of our Sins. Lord, we have heard (and blessed be thy Name, we have found) That the King of Heaven is a Merciful King; That with thee, our God, there is Mercy, that thou may'st be Feared; that our Sins, though great and manifold, may be Pardoned; and that our Souls, though Ruinous, and much endangered by reason of our Sins, may be Recover'd and Heal'd, and Eternally Sav'd. O help us so to Accuse, and Judge, and Condemn ourselves, that we may not be Judged of the Lord, to be Condemned with the World; And so to lay our Sins to Heart, that thou mayest never lay them to our Charge, But upon the Account of thy Son, our Saviour, whom thou hast given to be the Propitiation for our Sins; And in whom thou art a God Gracious and Merciful to poor Sinners, that deserve nothing at all from thee but to be Forsaken and Abhorred by thee for his Sake. O Good God! give us Repentance and Pardon for all that [Page 120] is past, wherein we have Offended thee; whether they be our Sins of Omission, or Commission; Sins of Weakness, or Wilfulness; Failings or Presumptions; the Sins of Ignorance, or such as we have committed against Light and Knowledge; O Gracious Lord! Humble us duly under the Sense of 'em, and Absolve us throughly from the Guilt of 'em. O set our Sins in order before us, and make us to Know our Transgressions, and the Plague of our own Hearts; and every one of us so to Search and Try our ways, that we may Turn to the Lord, and bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance: And not only Loath ourselves in our own sight, for all the Evils whereof we have been Guilty; But also Loath as much as ever we have Loved, the things which displease thy Holy Will, and dishonour thy blessed Name. O that we may Forsake our Sins, not only in the Outward Commission, but in the Inward Affection; Not reserving to ourselves any Sin or Lust to be Spared, Nor any way of Wickedness, wherein we would be Allowed; But keeping at that Distance which thy holy Word teaches us to keep, from every Evil and Accursed thing, that is Abomination in thy sight, and Destructive to our Souls; And Cleansing ourselves [Page 121] from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit; endeavouring to Perfect Holiness in the Fear of God.

We have been Accessary to the Accumulated Heinous Guilt that endangers us all, and calls for Judgments on the Land. O that we may be as forward to Contribute our Help, by the Humiliation of our Souls, and the Reformation of our Lives, to Save our Nation, and turn away the Anger gone out against us, that we Perish not. Save us, O Lord, from our Sins, which are the Enemies of our own House, more Mischievous to us, than any other Evils or Enemies abroad. O pour out a Spirit of serious Repentance and Reformation upon the whole Nation, to heal the Distempers of our Souls, To curb the Disorders of our Lives, and to recover the decayed Power of Godliness in the Land: And so prepare and dispose us, not only for thy Temporal Mercies, but for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to Eternal Life. Help us to turn from the Evil of our Ways, that thou mayest Turn from the fierceness of thy Wrath, and cause thy Anger towards us to Cease. O that we may Hear the Rod, and who has appointed it! And so Prepare to Meet thee our God, in the way of thy Judgments, That the God [Page 122] of Peace, may think thoughts of Peace to us, and not of Evil; to give us an expected End, and the desired Issue out of all our Fears and Dangers.

Thou canst shew us Great and Mighty things, which we know not, and Exceed all our Expectations, as well as our Deservings, by thy bountiful Favours. And though thou mightest make us know the Worth of Slighted Mercies, by their Want, and deprive us of all the Good, which we have so little Improved, and so greatly Abused; Yet, O how many Promises of thy Word, and what frequent Experiences which we have had of thy Mercy, in time of our Need, are there, that do encourage us still with Hope to look unto thee, our God, and to Wait for the Salvation of the Lord, O how long in all our Provocations hast thou Spared us! And how often, in our Distresses, sent wonderful Redemption to us! And to thee who hast Helpt and Deliver'd, we look still for Help and Deliverance. O our God! be thou pleased to take the Motive now from thy own Mercy, that has so far been pleas'd to Interess thy Glory in our Safety: And go on to Help and Deliver us, for the Glory of that Mercy which first made us thy People. Turn us again, [Page 123] O Lord God of Hosts, and cause thy Face to shine, and we shall be Saved.

Either in Mercy Turn away the Evils from us, or Prepare us for them, and Support us under them, and bring us happily out of 'em: That we may not Sink and Perish in 'em, but find Spiritual Good, by Temporal Evils; and find the Light Momentary Afflictions work for us a far more Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory; and all things Concurring to promote our Grace and Peace with God through Jesus Christ. And though thou shouldst feed us with Bread of Adversity, and Water of Affliction, Yet let not our Teachers be removed into Corners. O bring us not under a Famine of the Word of the Lord: Nor give us over to the Formality of a Lifeless Profession, under all the Means of Grace, to send Leanness into our Souls. Though thou permit the Floods and Storms to arise and increase, Yet Fortify us so by thy Grace, that we may not be Moved by any of these Afflictions, so as to turn the blessed Advantage of Suffering for thee, into an Occasion of Falling from thee.

Seeing the Truth it self will not make us Free, if we are not True to it; [Page 124] And the Purest Religion cannot be our Defence, when we continue still so Bad, as to Shrowd the worst Conversation under the best Profession; O help us to rid our Hands and our Hearts of the Accursed things that provoke thy Wrath and Indignation against us. And let us wisely Consider of thy Doings; And Know the Time of our Visitation; And hearken to the Calls, and take the Warnings, and improve the Means and Mercies Vouchsafed to us, while we have them; And follow the Conduct of thy good Providence, and Comply with all the gracious Methods us'd to Reclaim us from our Sins, and to Reform our Lives, and save our Souls: That all may not be in Vain to us, but at last Effect the Purposes of thy Saving Mercy upon us; To deliver us from the Evils to come, and to set us Safe in the hands of Jesus Christ, our Blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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An Addition in time of War.

O Lord, the Great and Dreadful God, against thee we have so greatly Sinned, and carried as such Enemies to thy Glory, that thou mayest justly use our Enemies as thy Scourge, to Correct us, and to make us feel some of the Smart of our Sins: For which it is meet that we should Patiently bear thy Indignation, even under such thy Dealings. But however thou shalt be pleas'd to express thy Anger against us, O let us not fall into their Hands, whose very Mercies are Cruel. Arise, O God, let not Man prevail, nor those that Hate us, Swallow us up: But Scatter them by thy Power, and bring them down, O Lord, our Shield. Thou that makest the Wrath of Man to Praise thee; O work thy Glory even out of that which looks so Contrary: Yea, restrain the Remainder of their Wrath; and put a Stop to the Effusion of Blood, That Wars may Cease, and our Land have Rest, and thy People be blest with Peace. Our Eyes are upon thee, our Great Saviour and Mighty Deliverer, to give us Help from Trouble, [Page 126] because Vain else is all the Help of Man. In times of Danger, O be thou our Shield and Buckler. And when our Sins lay us open to the Malice of Enemies, Gracious God be thou our Hiding-place, to preserve us from the Feared Evils, and deserved Judgments. O for thy Truth sake, for thy Churches sake, for thy Beloved Son, our Blessed Saviour's sake, Spare us, Good Lord, and give us not up a Reproach to the Enemies of our Holy Religion: Nor let them ever have cause to Rejoyce in our Ruine.

O go forth with our Armies, Thou Almighty Lord of Hosts; and Bless and Prosper all, both our Land and Naval Forces. And that we may not be in Rebellion against Heaven, while others are Warring against us, O save us from our Provoking Sins, and Direct our ways to Please the Lord; and help us so to make our Peace with our God, that thou may'st make even our Enemies to be at Peace with us. O Purge the Camp of every Cursed thing, which Enfeebles their Strength, and Defeats their Attempts, that they cannot stand before their Enemies. And turn them from all the Provocations which weaken our [Page 127] Hopes of receiving Good, by their Hands. Cover thou their Heads in the Day of Battle; and Preserve them in all the times and cases of Danger. O let them be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his strength; and Return with Safety, Honour, Victory, and all good and happy-Success. O hear the Prayers and Cries of thy Servants, which stand in the Gap, Interceding in the Anguish of their Souls for these poor Sinful Nations, which have so long abused the rich Vouchsafements of thy Mercy; That we may be Spared and Saved; and by the kind Hand of Omnipotent Mercy, pluck'd as a Brand out of the Fire, to Survive our Sins and our Fears, and to see the Good of thy Chosen, and Rejoyce in the Gladness of thy Nation, and Glory with thy Inheritance, for all the Riches of thy Grace and Goodness to us in Jesus Christ.

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In time of Infection.

O Lord God, the Giver of our Health, which is the Blessing that sweetens all the other Blessings of our Lives. 'Tis only of thy Mercy, that we have so much Health continued, after the Disorderly manner in which we have lived. And, O how Just were it with thee, utterly to take away that Health from us, which we have so greatly Abused to a Forgetfulness of thee, and Wantonness against thee! How justly might'st thou smite us with the most Sharp and Noisome Diseases, which our Nature most Abhorreth, To hurry us out of the Land of the Living, and put a sorrowful End to our Wretched days! Our Flesh Trembles for Fear of thee, and we are Afraid of thy Judgments; Lest thou should'st strike into us the Arrows of the Almighty, for the Poison thereof to drink up our Spirits; Lest thou should'st give unto Death a Command to come in at our Doors and Windows, and make Havock among us, and sweep us away with the Beesom of Destruction. But O thou Hope of Israel; The Saviour thereof in time of Trouble! Regard not our ill Deserts, but Remember thy own tender Mercies, and gracious Promises: And take Pity on us, [Page 129] and turn away this Plague from us. Put a stop to the raging Infection, and say to the Destroying Angel, It is Enough. That we may not be so afraid for the Terrour by Night, nor for the Arrow that flies by Day; Nor for the Pestilence that walks in Darkness, Nor for the Destruction that wasteth at Noon-day: But with Ease in our Minds, and Gladness in our Hearts, may serve thee faithfully and cheerfully all our days; And devote our Spared Lives, which we have Begg'd at thy Hands, and our Health and every Mercy, to be laid out and used to thy Honour and Glory; Through the Strength and the Righteousness of thy Dear Son, our most compassionate and Prevailing-Mediator, Jesus Christ.

In time of Famine.

O Lord most High, The Creator of every Comfort! Thou hast long dealt out thy comfortable Blessings, with a Plentiful hand to us: And we have freely enjoyed all the Abundance of thy Good things heaped upon us. But when thou hast Fed us to the Full, how have we Kick'd against our Blessed Owner, and most Bountiful Benefactor; And Consumed the Provisions for our Bodies, to [Page 130] feed the Lusts that War against our Souls; and to strengthen and embolden us in our Rebellion against the Majesty of Heaven! Most Righteous therefore, we Confess would be thy Judgments, Holy God, if thou should'st stretch out upon us the Line of Confusion, and the Stones of Emptiness, and Break the Staff of our Bread, and Curse us in all our Store, and in all the Endeavours of our hands, to help our selves.

But, O thou Blessed Father of Mercies, in Mercy Avert from us the Hunger, and Thirst, and Nakedness, and Want of all things, which is the due Desert of our Sins, and of our wicked Abuses of thy Creature-Comforts: That the Husbandman may not be Ashamed, Sowing much, and Gathering in Little; And that the Land may not Mourn, and all the Inhabitants; with the Beasts of the Field, and the Fowls of Heaven. Humble us, O Lord, for all our Sins; and Turn us from that Wickedness, which turns our Land into Barrenness: And then again be pleas'd to Command a Blessing upon the Blasted Comforts, and abundantly Bless our Provision, and Satisfy our Poor with Bread; And give us Fruitful Seasons, filling our Hearts with Food and Gladness. That we may see thy Hand, and Sing and [Page 131] Praise thy Power, and Admire and Adore thy Mercy and Bounty; And in the Strength and Refreshment of our Comforts Restored, joyfully devote our selves to thy holy Service, all the days of our Lives.

In time of any sore and grievous Calamity.

O Most High and Dreadful God, The Supream Commander of the whole World! Holy and Reverend is thy Name; Just and Terrible are thy Judgments: Yet O how Unsearchable, and thy Ways past our Finding out! Thy Path is in the great Deep; and thy Footsteps are not known. Clouds and Darkness are round about thee; Yet Righteousness and Judgment still are the Habitation of thy Throne: And thou canst never do Injury to any; But art Righteous in all thy Ways, and Holy in all thy Works. Who would not stand in everlasting Awe of thy Heavenly Glorious Majesty, O Lord, in whose Hands we all of us are, to be Us'd as thou Wilt! Who canst Touch and Consume us by thy own Immediate Stroke, Or arm any of thy Creatures in Heaven or in Earth against us; Or, make the Vilest of them the [Page 132] Executioners of thy Just Indignation; Or turn the very things wherein we have Offended, into the Instruments of our Punishments; Yea, and Plague us even in our Comforts, Making the Choicest Blessings of our Lives, become the Saddest of our Crosses, and the keenest of our Torments; Either to take away Life from us, or make it less Desirable than Death to us.

We fall down and Kneel before the Lord our Maker, in humble Submission to thy Correction; Acknowledging the heavy Desert of our Sins, and the perfect Justice of thy Judgments. Humble us, O Good Lord, under thy Hand; And Forgive us the heinous Guilt that Provokes thee so to stretch it out against us. Thou that takest away the Sins of the World, have Mercy upon us, and Turn us from our Sins; and Deliver us from Evil, and turn away thy Wrath, and all such Plagues from us. O let thy boundless Compassions cover the multitude of our Transgressions: And Remember thy poor Miserable Creatures in Mercy; even such Mercy as may Relieve and Help us, in our Need and Distress; And Save and free us from our Fears and Dangers, and from our Griefs and Pressures: That we may comfortably spend our days, and Glorify thy holy Name for evermore.

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Ʋnder any great Difficulties and extraordinary Affairs.

O Lord, Thou art a God of Knowledge, whose Understanding is Infinite; And thou art never at a Loss to Effect what we would have. Though the Lord knows the Thoughts of Man, that they are Vanity: And our Wisdom is so often at a Stand, that we know not what to do for our selves; As at this time, our Affairs are so Perplext and Entangled; and such a Labyrinth now involves us, That we are perplexed in our Counsels, and the Heads of the Wise are Puzzled, in Contriving how to Extricate and help us out. There are many Devices in a Man's Heart, But the Counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Yea Man's Goings are of the Lord, How can man then Understand his own Way? His Heart may Devise his way, But the Lord Directs his Steps. If we Lean not to our own Understandings, but in all our Ways Acknowledge thee, O Lord, Thou hast promised to Direct our Path: And when we Commit our way to thee, and Trust in thee, We have thy Word, that thou wilt bring it to pass. [Page 134] But thou hast pronounced Wo to them that take Counsel, but not of thee; That cover with a Covering, but not of thy Spirit, and have not asked at thy Mouth.

Our Eyes therefore are upon our God; and to thee we Seek now for Wisdom from Above; That we may learn to know the Right, and to Chuse the Best. For without thee, O Lord, our Wisdom is Folly, and our Debates are Madness. O be thou graciously Present in our Councels, and Teach thou our Senators Wisdom; That they may find out the True Expedients, to Heal our Breaches, and Redress our Grievances; and to keep us Safe, and do us Good, and make us Holy and Happy. O may we all be Taught of God Which way to take, and how to Determine and Act, Consonant and agreeable to thy Blessed Will, and for our own Peace and Welfare, both here and for ever.

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A Prayer for Temporal Blessings.

O Lord our God, Thou knowest that while we are in this Life, we have need of its Supplies; And hast both Promised to such as Seek thy Kingdom, and the Righteousness thereof, the Addition of all other Necessaries: And also hast Commanded us to Ask of thee our Daily Bread, and to cast our Care upon thee, for all that is Fitting for us. I Pray therefore to thee, my Heavenly Father, for such a Child's Portion, as thy Wisdom sees to be Convenient and Agreeable to my Condition. O give me such Health and Wealth, and so much of the World's Good, as shall be for my Good. And while I have a Life to be Nourished, let me not Want the Supports and Comforts of it. Give me Skill and Ability to Provide for my self; And add thy Blessing to my Endeavours. And where I cannot Supply all my own Necessities, O do thou Raise up Friends and Means to Help me; That I may never be Destitute of what is Sufficient to Sustain me. Be it never so Poor and Mean, Yet let me Acquiesce in the Distributions of thy Good Providence, and having Food and Rayment, be therewith Content. In Prosperity, [Page 136] Keep me from Forgetting Thee: And in Adversity, Keep me from concluding my self to be Forgotten of thee. O keep me from all unnecessary Cares, and unprofitable Dejections. And teach me how to Want, as well as how to Abound. Add to me, O my Father, what thou knowest me further to Need; and Bless to me, what already I have: That the Bodily Comforts may not be to my Soul Occasions of Falling, but Encouragements to my duty, and Engagements on my heart, to Abound in thy Love and Praise, and the Work of the Lord. And in the want of all other Supplies and Succours, Be thou, O God, my All in All, in Life and Death, and evermore. Amen.

For Rain.

WE Confess, O Lord, That we have so greatly Abused the Comforts of thy Good Creatures, that thou mightest justly withdraw them from us, and make the Heavens over us as Brass, and the Rain of our Land Dust; and the Land it self to Mourn, and all that grows upon it to Wither. But, O thou Father of Mercies, who in Judgment Remembrest Mercy, Consult not now our Merits, but thy own Mercies, how to [Page 137] use us. Thou that hast the Bottles and Treasures of Heaven at thy command, Be pleas'd now to open the Windows of Heaven, and cause the Rain to come down in its Season; Making Grass to grow for the Cattle, and Herbs and Fruits of the Earth for the Service of Men. And however thou art pleas'd to deal with us, O Suppress all our Repinings at any of thy Dealings. And let them all Amend and Better us; and make us a People Prepared to receive the Mercies which we Want and Wait and beg for, at thy gracious Hands, upon the Account of Jesus Christ.

For Fair Weather.

LOrd, if thou shouldest turn a Fruitful Land into Barrenness, for the Wickedness of them that dwell therein, Yet Righteous wert thou, and Just would be thy Judgments: And we must not Open our mouths to Reply against God; but bear the Indignation of the Lord, which our Sins have so much Deserv'd; When our Iniquities have turn'd away the Blessings, and withholden the Good things from us. But, O Father of Mercies, Spare us, and Forgive us, for thy own Mercies Sake: And put a Stop to the Calamity [Page 138] that threatens Destruction to the work of thy Hands: That the Rain, which is thy Blessing, may not be turn'd into a Curse; Nor descend from Heaven, to Corrupt and Spoil the Fruits of the Earth. O cause the overflowing Showers to cease, that Damp the Joy of the Harvest, and endanger the Blasting of our Blessings. And as thou hast given us Plenty, and caused our Land to yield its Increase; So give us, We pray thee, a Seasonable time to gather in the Fruits, which thy Bounty has provided for us: That in the Use of them, we may Joyfully and Cheerfully Serve thee; and not Consume them upon our Lusts, but Live to thy Glory, as we do upon thy Bounty. And when thy Judgments are in the Land, O that we who Inhabit it, may Learn Righteousness! Nor let our Concernment be so great for our Bodies, as for our Souls; That however we fare here, it may go Well with us for ever. O let us not Labour so for the Meat that Perisheth, as for that which endures to Everlasting Life: Which Everlasting Provision for our Unchangeable Condition, above all we beg at thy Hands, O Lord God our Heavenly Father, for the Sake of Jesus Christ our only Saviour.

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Prayer and Praise for a Publick Thanksgiving-Day.

BLessed Lord, the only Living and True God, who art of Thy self, and givest Being and Preservation to us, and to all things else that are in the World! We Live by thee; Our whole Dependance is upon thee, for all the Good that ever we Have or Hope for. And above all thy Mercies have we cause to Admire, and Bless, and Praise thee our God, for those Mercies which in so large a Measure, and especial Manner, thou hast been pleased still to vouchsafe unto us, who are the Work of thy Hands, and the Purchase of the Blood of thy Son; Whom thou hast Made and Redeem'd, to shew forth thy Praise, and to Glorify thy Name. And we desire to Pay unto thee that Tribute of Homage and Service, and Prayer and Praise, which thou hast made us Capable of, and so many ways Oblig'd us to: We desire to perform the same in such a manner, that thou may'st mercifully Accept us, and our Services, at the hand of Jesus Christ.

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Worthy art thou, O Lord our God, to receive all Honour and Glory, all Thanks and Praise and Love and Obedience, as in the Courts of Heaven, So in all the Assemblies of thy Servants here upon Earth. For thou art Great, and dost Wondrous things; Thou art God, alone. And thy Goodness is equal to thy Greatness, Thy Mercy is over all thy Works, and endureth for ever. Thou Lord hast been Favourable to thy Land, and dealt exceeding Graciously with us; For which we desire to Bless thy Name, and to give thee all the Glory. For 'tis of the Lord's Mercies we are not Consumed, because thy Compassions fail not: And that we are here Alive to Praise thee, and in any Condition to keep a Thanksgiving-Day. That we are not now Nothing, or Worse than Nothing, We must acknowledge it to be of thy Free-Grace, O Lord, and thy meer Mercy. That all the Evils which have Threatned us, have not befall'n us; and that those Evils which have come upon us, have not utterly destroy'd and Undone us: It is because thou Lord art Gracious and Merciful, and Patient and Kind, and still doing Good to poor Sinful men, who deserve nothing but Evil at thy hands.

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O how much have we to say of the Goodness of the Lord by our own Experience, and thy Help at hand still in all the times and cases of our Need! How Sweet and Wonderful is it to Recount all the Instances of thy Patience with us, and thy Bounty to us! How from time to time thou hast Signaliz'd us with thy Mercy, and made us Remarkable for thy Blessings and Favours, most kind and Precious, of many sorts! Thou hast cast our Lot in a Land of Light, where we live under the Influences of thy Gospel, and thereby are Call'd to obtain the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. And for all the happy Advantages and Good things of this Life, which thou hast given us plenteously to enjoy, thou hast made us the Envy of our Neighbours, and the particular Objects of thy Kindness. Though many times we have provoked thee to stretch forth thy Hand, and shake the Rod over us, and threaten to Destroy us: Yet in Judgment still thou hast remembred Mercy towards us; and after the Clouds and Darkness gather'd about us, and Dread and Distress were on every side of us, Thou hast caused the Heavens again to Clear up, and smile upon us; and Return'd with the Visitations of thy Love, and the Joy of thy Salvation.

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In the late Dangers, thou hast been to us a Tower of Defence; And in the time of our Need and Perplexity, thou hast shew'd thy self graciously and Powerfully on our behalf. Thou hast helpt us for the Glory of thy Name, and Redeem'd us for thy Mercy Sake: Not because we were Worthy, but because thou hadst a Favour to us: And therefore to thy Name alone be all the Praise. What shall we render to the Lord for all his Benefits! What can we give to thee our God, but the Glory of thy own Gifts and Goodness unto us! O let not our Hearts be Shut and Streightned towards Thee, whose Hand has been so wide Open unto us. But do thou Possess and Enlarge these Hearts of ours, with more and greater Love and Thankfulness to the gracious Giver of all our Good things. And make us more Sensible of thy Goodness and Love bestowed upon us; That we may give thee Thanks from the Ground of the Heart, and have our Mouths fill'd as with Marrow and Fatness, when we Praise our God with Joyful Lips.

O make us truly Thankful, as we are a greatly Obliged People. And let us not only Mention the Loving-kindness of the Lord; but Glorify thy Name in bearing much Fruit, more answerable to such [Page 143] Mercy and Encouragement, as we have received from Above. We can never enough Admire and Magnifie the Riches of thy Grace, and the Multitude of thy Mercies: But, O Good Lord, enable us still more to Love thee, and better to Serve thee; And in so doing for us, thou wilt still further Oblige us: Because in Loving and Serving thee, we do best Love and Serve our own happiest Interests. As our Minds cannot but Muse, and our Tongues speak of thy Works; So let our Lives be led to thy Praise: That thou the Great and Good God mayest in all things be Glorified by us, through Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving for Temporal Blessings.

GRacious God, the bountiful Provider for all the World's Family! The Eyes of all wait upon thee; And thou givest them their Meat in due Season. Thou openest thy Hand, and satisfiest the Desire of every Living thing. Every Year thou Renewest the Face, and the Fruits of the Earth; And givest Rain from Heaven, and Fruitful Seasons; to fill the Hungry with Good things, and to fill all our Hearts with Food and Gladness. O how many of thy Creatures [Page 144] have bestowed their Labours, and lost their Lives, and been Consumed, to Cloath and Feed, and Sustain and Pleasure us; O at what vast Expence art thou continually, to maintain the whole World of Creatures, that every where hang upon thee, for Life and Breath and all things! Yet thou art not Weary to do us Good; But still showrest down Blessings thick upon us; to provide, not only Necessaries, to keep us Alive; but also Variety of Comforts, to make our Lives sweet and Desirable. Yea, thou Delightest in Mercy, and hast Pleasure in the Prosperity of thy Servants; and makest us now to find, by our own happy Experience, how abundantly Good and Kind thou art.

For Rain.

O Lord, thou hast sent a Gracious Rain upon thy Inheritance, to Refresh the dry and Thirsty Land, and cause it to yield its Increase; Giving us the joyful Opportunity to Serve and Praise thee, in the Abundance of the Provisions, which thou art pleased so to make for us. O that men would Praise thee for thy Goodness, and for such thy Wonderful [Page 145] Works to the Children of Men! O Good God, to thy Name only be all the Glory.

For Fair Weather.

Lord, thou hast in mercy shut the Windows of Heaven, and put a Stop to the Overflowing Showers, that threatned to Drown the Fruits of the Earth: And hast caused this Sweet and Comfortable Change, to Refresh thy unworthy Servants, and to make all the Creatures Rejoyce in thy Goodness. Blessed be our God, that deals so Graciously with us: And Glory be to thy Name, thou great Withholder of all Evil, and Giver of all Good. Let the People Praise thee, O God, Let all the People Praise thee. Then shall the Earth yield her Increase; And God, even our own God shall Bless us.

For the Cessation of Infection.

O thou great Preserver of Men! Thou hast Delivered our Souls from the hand of the Grave, and kept us Alive, that we should not go down to the Pit. The Jaws of Death [Page 144] [...] [Page 145] [...] [Page 146] were Open upon us; and we went with our Lives in our Hands: Our Hearts Failing us for Fear of the Destruction raging amongst us; When rhe very Air, which we drew in to give us Life, was to so many the sad Messenger of Death; and when Thousands fell on every side us, it has not come Nigh us. But we have dwelt in the Secret place of the most High, and under the Shadow of the Almighty, have been kept in Safety. O what shall we say, what shall we Give unto Thee, Our Present Help and Only Saviour in time of Trouble! We are every way Thine, O Lord; and to thee only be all the Glory. We Bless thee, our God, as those that are made Alive from the Dead. And O that the Lives which have been given us at our Request, we may Return back, to be Spent in thy Service! That we may Love and Please, and Praise our God, while we have our Being.

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For the Restoration of Plenty.

O God the Fountain of all Goodness! Thou didst Threaten with Famine to destroy the Blessings of the Earth, which we have so wickedly Abused: But remembring thy own tender Mercies, and not our ill Deserts, hast rais'd a New and plentiful Supply for us. And now thou Crownest the Year with thy Goodness, and thy Paths drop Fatness. Thou hast Loaded the Earth with the Fruits of thy Bounty, and sent Abundance of all Good things, for the Service and Comfort of Man. O make us more Sensible of the Obligation which thy Love has laid upon us. And as thou fillest us with thy Good things, So fill our hearts with thy Love, and Grace to use every Gift aright to thy Glory. That in the Use and Strength of what we are continually Receiving from thee, we may Devote ourselves to Live unto thee, and to serve thee with Gladness and Rejoycing, for all thy rich Mercy to us in Jesus Christ.

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For Victory over our Enemies.

O Almighty Lord, the most High God, who Rulest in the Kingdoms of men, and dost whatsoever thou Pleasest in Heaven and in Earth! In thy Hands is Power and Might, so that none is able to Withstand thee. It is thou that givest Salvation unto Kings, that deliverest thy Servants from the hurtful Sword. Thou hast Saved us from our Enemies, and put them to Shame that Hated us. It was not by our own Power or Conduct, that we have been so Prosperous; Nor did our own Sword or Arm Save us: But thy right Hand, and thy Arm, and the Light of thy Countenance, because thou hadst a Favour unto us. Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness, and the Power, and the Glory, and the Victory. The Lord is our Strength, and our Song, and is become our Salvation. Now therefore, our God, we Thank thee, and Praise thy Glorious Name. And O what cause hast thou given us to Rejoyce in thy Goodness, that thou hast not given our Enemies [Page 149] cause to Rejoyce in our Ruin! Great is thy Mercy, O Blessed Lord, and to thee alone be the whole Praise and Glory. O make us more Sensible of this thy Help at hand, in time of our Need: And give us Grace still to keep the Memory of it in our Grateful Minds. O thou Great Lord of Hosts, who givest such Safety and good Success, Wilt thou teach us also rightly to Use thy Sweet and Marvellous Kindness and Love: That being delivered from the hands of our Enemies, we may serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness before thee, all the days of our Lives; and not fly out into Licentious carriage, as if we were Deliver'd to commit Abominations; (so throwing ourselves into the hands of our Spiritual Foes, after we have Escaped the other:) But demeaning ourselves as the Redeemed and Oblig'd of the Lord, O let us Love and Trust, and Bless and Praise the Reliever of our Misery, the only Giver of all Victory, and the God of all our Mercies, for ever and ever.

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For Peace.

O God of Peace that makest Wars to Cease to the Ends of the Earth; That breakest the Bow, and cuttest the Spear asunder, and burnest the Chariot in the Fire! Thou hast in Mercy put a Stop to the Effusion of Blood, and made Peace in our Borders. Thou hast Rebuked strong Nations, to make them beat their Swords into Plough-Shares, and their Spears into Pruning-Hooks: That Nation may not Rise against Nation; But every man sit under his Vine, and under his Fig-tree, and none make them Afraid. O how sweet is thy Mercy, and Reviving, as Life from the Dead! And thou, Lord, that hast given us Peace, O give us also Grace, to use it to thy Glory; and to serve thee still the more Freely and Cheerfully. That we may not only have Peace with men, but also with our God; Even the Peace of God that passeth all understanding, to keep our Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus.

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O that we may be Sensible of the Kindness and Love of God our Saviour, as we ought, and ever give thee Thanks with all our Souls! Dear Father of Mercies! rather take all our Good things from us, than leave us Speechless and Heartless to thy Praise. O that our Hearts may be Enlarged with thy Love, and Lifted up in the Celebration of thy Praises! To thy Name, O Lord, be the Glory of all thy Mercy and Bounty. And may all thy Works and thy Servants Bless thee, and Praise thee, and Magnify thee for ever. And may we have Grace to express the Thankfulness of our Hearts, in the whole Conduct of our Lives; Devoting ourselves to be thine in Faithfulness, as long as we are in Being. Amen, Amen.

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Thanksgiving for Preservation and Deliverance from Dangers and Troubles.

MAny, O Lord my God, are thy Wonderful Works which thou hast done; And thy Thoughts which are to us-ward, for Good; they cannot be Reckoned up in order unto thee. If I should declare and speak of them, they are more than can be Numbred. According to thy Name, so is thy Praise, to the Ends of the Earth. The Dead Praise thee not, Nor any that go down into Silence: The Living, The Living he shall Praise thee, as I desire with all my Soul to do this day. My Heart is fixed, O God, my Heart is Fixed, I will Sing and give Praise. I will be Glad and Rejoyce in thee, and Sing Praise to thy Name, O thou most High. I will Praise thee, O Lord, for thou hast Heard me, and art become my Salvation. I found Trouble and Sorrow, Then I called upon thee; And thou wast Attentive to my Cry, and Nigh to my Help. And though thou might'st have made me an Example of thy Judgments to others, as others have been made so to me; Thou didst not consult [Page 153] my Deserts, but my Distress; doing great things, and working Strange Deliverance for me; not because I was Worthy, but because thou Aboundest in Mercy.

I was in woful Perplexity: Fear was on every side: All my Hope was ready to Expire; and I thought there was no Help for me, but I must Sink and Perish. Then didst thou, O Lord, Interpose between me and the Threatning-Mischief, and Reveal thy glorious Arm, to pluck me out of the very Jaws of Destruction; And set me at Liberty from my amazing Fears, and in Safety from the dreadful Dangers: And hast kept me Alive, and Restored my Comforts; Not taking me away in the midst of my days, nor cutting me off Untimely, from the Land of the Living; But sparing me in Mercy, and giving me, as it were, a New Life from the Dead. Thou hast Chastened me, but not given me over to Death. When my foot slipped, thy Mercy, O Lord, held me up. Thou art the God that dost Wonders; Wonders of Power, and Wonders of Mercy. As nothing is too Hard for thee to Effect, So nothing is too Good for thee to Bestow, Yea, thy Kindness and thy Help at hand, in the woful time of Need, is so Sweet and Surprising, that nothing can so Affect and Transport our Souls.

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Thou, Lord, hast made me Glad through thy Work: I will Triumph in the Works of thy Hands. I will sing of thy Power, Yea, I will sing aloud of thy Mercy. For thou hast been my Defence and my Refuge in the day of my Trouble. Unto thee, O my Strength, will I sing, For God is my Defence, and the God of my Mercy. O Lord God, Merciful and Gracious! I am now Sensible of such Mercy from thee, as I am not able to Express before thee. I will Extol thee, who hast Exalted me; And not suffer'd the Trouble and Danger to Overwhelm and Ruin me. In my Distress I cryed to thee, and thou hast Enlarged me. O Blessed be God, who has not cast away my Prayer, nor his Mercy from me. But Dearest Lord! Thou hast kept me in Safety, and caused the Destruction so to pass over me, that I suffer'd but in my own Fears of what I have so little Felt. I cannot without Amazement look back upon the Perillous case that I was in, and the Brink of Ruin that I lay upon. And that I should Escape, as I have done, O how Marvellous is it in my Eyes! And O what cause have I for thy Praise, that I am here Alive to Praise thee! O my God, it is thy Good Hand that has wrought so Wonderfully for me, And thy Fatherly [Page 155] Kindness that has shew'd such extraordinary Favour to me. O! if I had been snatch'd away unprepared, How dreadful a Change should I have found! But in Mercy, and Love to my Soul, (I give thee Glory) Thou hast made a Way for my Escape: And I am Preserved the Living Monument of thy unspeakable Goodness.

O what shall I say unto thee, whose Name is Exalted far above all Blessing and Praise! And what shall I do for thee to whom my Goodness will not extend! I can never answer the Obligation which thy Love, Dear Lord, has laid upon me: But let me Admire and Love, and Bless and Praise thee, with all the Capacities and Abilities which thou hast given me. And O that thou would'st Imprint so deep upon my Heart, the Sense of such Seasonable Relief and Wonderful Mercy, That I may never Forget, never Slight or Abuse, the great Goodness that thou hast shew'd me, and the Signal Preservation and Recovery which thou hast wrought for me: But ever give thee Thanks with all my Heart; And carry as one that is so highly Obliged, all the days of my Life: Not Secure and Careless, because I have so Escap'd; But the more Watchful and Diligent, the more I have been Engag'd and Favour'd Approving my Thankfulness [Page 156] in such a Manner, as thou may'st graciously Accept in my Blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for Blessing, Direction, Help, and Good Success, in any Great Enterprize.

O Lord God, Infinitely Wise and Good, Who teachest Man Knowledge; and givest both the Skill and Power to Accomplish our Purposes, And also the Blessing and Success, to bring things to pass, according to our Wishes! I know not what to do: But my Eyes are upon Thee; and all my Expectation is from thee; and still I desire to Wait and Call and Depend upon thee. A great Work now I have to do, But O how little Strength to do it! All my Sufficiency is of thee, Who workest in us to Will and to Do, of thy Good Pleasure. Thou that hast been my Help, Leave me not, nor Forsake me, O God of my Salvation. But let me be Taught of God, What I have to do. Let the Gracious Lord make me to Understand, what is thy Pleasure concerning me. O that my Ways were Directed to Please thee; That I may [Page 157] have the Light of thy Countenance shining upon me!

My Lord, and my God! Leave me not in the hand of my own Counsel; Nor to the Conduct of my own Foolish and Deceitful Heart: But Lead me by the way that I shall go, and Guide me continually; That Discretion may preserve me, and Understanding may Keep me. O make my way Prosperous; and give me thy Blessing and Good Success. Bring all Needful things to my Remembrance: And where I have not the Presence of Mind, nor Power of Performance, O Magnify thy Power in my Weakness; And let me go forth in thy Name and Strength; and Speed and Prosper, by thy Grace and Blessing. Let thy good Providence so be my Defence and Security, And thy Holy Spirit my Guide and Councellor; That I may wisely Chuse, and rightly Manage, and successfully Accomplish, the things wherein I am engag'd.

Thy Will be done, O Lord, however I am Pleas'd or Cross'd: And let me ever Design thy Glory, Whether it make for my Gain or Loss, in any respects of this present Life. O be thou still a Gracious Father to me, and a Merciful Provider for me. And grant me now the comfortable Sense of thy good Acceptance of me, and [Page 158] thy Designs of Mercy towards me. Be thou pleas'd to take me to thy Fatherly Care and Conduct: And Preserve me from the Evils, into which I am prone to fall; And Quicken me to the Good, which I am Averse to perform. O Establish thou the Work of my hands upon me: Yea, the work of my hands Establish thou it. My God and Guide, My Help and Strength! If thou Lead me not, I shall run into Errors; If thou Keep me not, I shall fall into Dangers: But hold thou me up, and I shall be Safe. And let me Experience thy Power and Presence with me, and all the Goodness of the Lord passing before me: That I may so go through this, and all the Affairs of my Life; That at my last Review thereof, thy Name may have the Praise, and my Soul the Comfort, in the hour of Death, and in the great Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for Illumination and Knowledge.

O Lord, the Enternal, Uncreated Light! Thou hast not left thy self without Witness amongst us: But in thy Word and Works before us, in our Souls and Consciences within us, and in all thy Creatures on every side us, we may see the Tracks of thy Presence, thy Power, Wisdom, and Goodness. That I have, therefore, no more and better knowledge of God, and the things belonging to my Peace, it is my Shame, and owing to my Sinful Dulness and Negligence, in that which does most nearly and Eternally Concern me. Ah Lord! I have not Improved in Knowledge, answerably to the Light which thou hast caused to shine upon me; Nor according to the Means of Instruction, wherewith thou hast Blessed me. But I have need to be Taught my self, the things, whereof I might have been a Teacher of others. For which I desire, Lord, to Humble my self, and to beg thy Pardon; and come now to ask Wisdom of God, who givest to all Men Liberally, and Upbraidest not.

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I cannoe See or Know thee, O Lord, but by the Beams of thy own Light, which thou art pleas'd to Impart: O wilt thou vouchsafe yet further and more fully to Discover and Manifest thy self to my Soul: And teach me to Know aright thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. O Blessed Son of Righteousness, arise upon me, with Healing in thy Wings; to scatter all the Clouds of Folly and Ignorance, and Error and Prejudice, that overspread my Soul. Open my Eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy Law. And open my Understanding, that I may Understand the Scriptures; And not remain in Darkness concerning any thing that is needful for me to Know, in order to my present Peace and Duty, and to my Eternal Bliss and Felicity. And whereinsoever I, or any whom I am concerned with, or for, are otherwise Minded than we ought to be; O God, Reveal the same to us: And let us all be Taught of Thee, to know thee, from the Greatest to the Least: And not be Unwise, but Understanding what the Will of the Lord is.

That the Soul be without Knowledge, is not Good; O encline our Ears to Wisdom, and our Hearts to Understanding; [Page 161] That we may follow on to Know the Lord, and Increase in the Knowledge of God. Shew us thy Ways, O Lord, and Lead us in thy Truth. And whatever else we are Ignorant of, Unto us let it be Given, to Know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God; And to Know what we are to Believe, And how we are to Conceive of thy Blessed Self, and all the things of God that Concern us. O Lord, our Light, Give us Understanding in the way of Godliness; A Spiritual Discerning of the things of thy Spirit; And make us Wise to Salvation. Give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, in the Knowledge of Thee; The Eyes of our Understanding being Enlightned, that we may see what is the Hope of thy Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of thy Inheritance in the Saints, and what the mighty Power of thy Spirit which works in them that do Believe.

O put thy Law in our Inward parts, and Write it in our Hearts; That we may be well Acquainted with thy Will Revealed in thy Word: That the Scripture may not be to us a Book Sealed, or a Gospel Hid; But a Lamp to our Feet, and a Light to our Path; To shew us what we have to do, and how to Demean [Page 162] our selves in all Estates, Affairs, and Circumstances of our Lives. O that our Ways were directed to keep thy Statutes! And help us, O Lord, so to do thy Will, that we may know the Scriptures to be of God, And may have the Witness in Ourselves; And perceive the Divinity of thy Word, by the Heavenly Power and Efficacy of it upon our Lives. And though now we see but Darkly as in Glass, and know but in Part; And cannot by Searching find out the Almighty to Perfection: Yet help us still more and better to Know our God, as we can Know; Till hereafter we shall Know, as we are Known, and see Face to Face, in that Blessed Presence of thine, where is fulness of Joy for evermore.

A Prayer for Repentance.

O Most Holy Lord God, against whom I have greatly Sinned, and who for my Sins art justly Displeased! Thou hast revealed thy Wrath from Heaven, against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men, that Impenitently go on in their Trespasses; And hast let us know, That as we all have Sinned, so except we Repent, we shall all Perish. Even the Saviour of Sinners, will not Save any Sinner [Page 163] without Repentance; Nor dost thou Remit what we do not Repent: Though upon our Repentance, thou hast assur'd us of thy gracious Pardon and Acceptance. And when we Return unto thee, and Humble ourselves before thee, thou wilt shew us thy Compassion, and grant us thy Salvation. O Gracious Lord! Great is thy Mercy, to Vouchsafe unto us this Remedy: And to deal so favourably with us, as to Forgive and Receive us, when we are but Sensible of our Miscarriages and Rebellions; and humbly Submit ourselves; and leave off to do so Foolishly and Wickedly. Such Humiliation and Reformation, is the best and most needful thing for me to do: But O how Averse and Insufficient am I to do it! Thou Searcher of Hearts, knowest my Heart to be so Hard'ned, through the Deceitfulness of Sin, that as soon may I fetch Water out of the Flint, as Godly Sorrow out of this Obdurate Heart: If thou, the Great God, do not Soften it with thy holy Fear, and Dissolve and Overcome it with thy powerful Love; And that I can no more Turn with all my Heart to the Lord, than I can Turn the course of a River to run back to the Fountain: Unless thou Draw me by thy [Page 164] Grace, and give me Power from on High, to Enable me for the Blessed Work.

O thou that dist cause Water to gush out of the Stony Rock, wilt thou Break and Melt my Rocky Heart into such Contrition, as works Repentance unto Salvation. Yea, thou that Fashionest all the Hearts of the Sons of Men, Take away from me the Heart of Stone, and give me a Heart of Flesh, Broken and Contrite, such as thou wilt not despise: That I may look upon him whom my Sins have Pierced, and Mourn; and be in Bitterness for all the foul Offences that I have committed against the Lord of Love, the God of all my Mercies. O give me such true Repentance for 'em, that thou may'st also give me full Pardon of 'em. Give me, Good Lord, that Repentance, which thy Holy Word requires of Sinners, And such as thy gracious Goodness in Christ Jesus will mercifully Accept; Even the Repentance unto Life, never to be Repented of. O help me so to Repent, and to be Converted, that my Sins may be Blotted out, when the times of Refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord. Turn thou me, O Lord God of my Salvation, and so shall I be Turned, and Change my Mind, and Amend my Life, and bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance; [Page 165] Not only Confessing and Bewailing Sins Committed, but also Hating and Forsaking Sins Confess'd and Bewail'd; Loathing as much as ever I have Loved, the things that displease thy holy Will, and Dishonour thy Blessed Name.

What I cannot Recall, Yet, Lord, give me Grace to Repent. And where I am, alas, so far from Innocent, Father of Mercies, make me Penitent. And touch my Heart with such a powerful Sense of all thy Loving-kindness, as may work upon my Ingenuity; to Break my Heart for my Sins, and from 'em: And make me sorrowfully Concern'd, that ever I should commit Offences so Great, against the God so infinitely Good; Yea, make me so Circumspect and full of Care, to keep my self henceforth in thy Fear and Love, That I may never be so Strange to thee, as I have been; Nor Fall away from thee, and Trespass upon thee, as I have done. O my God! let thy Goodness lead me to such Repentance. And help me so to Break off my Sins; and to Turn and Cleave unto thy Blessed Self; That thou may'st have Mercy upon me, and Abundantly Pardon all my Abounding Sins: Through the Infinite Riches of thy Grace and Goodness, in the Son of thy Love, my only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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A Prayer for Faith and Trust in God.

WIthout Faith it is impossible to Please thee, O God; And therefore I come to Beg of thee that Faith which is thy Gift. Lord help my Unbelief; and Increase my Faith. Whatever thou hast Revealed, let me take it upon the Credit of thy Word: And where I have thy Promise, let me not Stagger through Unbelief; But fully Persuade my self, it shall be as thou hast Said. O bless and enrich my Soul, with such a Holy, Lively, and unfeigned Faith, as may enlighten my Mind, and Purify my Heart, and Influence my whole Life: Such a Faith as may enable me to Receive Jesus Christ for my Saviour, and heartily to Give up my self to him for my Lord; So to be Rul'd and Sanctifi'd by him here in this Life, That I may be for ever Sav'd and Glorified by Him, in that Life which is to Come. O Help me so to Assent unto the Truths, that I may also Consent to the Terms of the Gospel. And work in me that Effectual Faith, which may work by Love; and enable me to Overcome the World, and to live Above it: Looking at, and for, the great and Glorious things of a better World; those Unseen things that are Eternal.

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In my greatest Darkness and Distress, O let me Trust in the Name of the Lord, and Stay my self upon my God: Committing my Ways unto thee, and casting my Burden upon thee, who Carest for us; Yea, putting my Trust in thee, though thou Slay me: Trusting in thy Almighty Power to Help and Save; In thy tender Inclinations to Pity and Relieve; And in the sure Promises which thy Love has made, and which thy Faithfulness will certainly make Good, unto all that wait and Call upon thee, to Remember thy Word unto thy Servants, upon which thou hast caused them to Hope. And though I am not presently answer'd in the Wishes of my Heart, O let me Tarry and Wait patiently for the Salvation of the Lord; and have my Eyes upon the Lord my God, till he have Mercy on me. Yea, make me so Sound and Strong in the Faith, that my Faith may never Fail; but that it may be found to praise and honour and glory, in every time of Tryal; and at the great Appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for Power to live by Faith upon Christ, and the Divine Promises.

IT is the Command of my Saviour, That they who Believe in God, should Believe also in Him; As our only Mediator with the Father; To whom none can come, but by him: Neither is there Salvation in any other: Who counts it no Robbery to be Equal with God: Yea, who himself is over all, God Blessed for ever. But it is Life Eternal to Know him, And none shall Perish that Believes in him. O the Riches of Grace, and the Wonders of Divine Mercy, that it should so be done to poor Sinners! Blessed for ever be thy Glorious Name, O God of all Grace, who of thy abundant Mercy, hast provided such a Wonderful Remedy for our sinful Misery; To Save us through Faith in him, where we could not be Saved by any Merits or Performances of our own.

Great and Holy Lord! In all that ever I do, I cannot but see the extream Need of a Saviour; And that I am Undone, without the Free Grace of God in Jesus Christ. And therefore I desire to go even [Page 169] out of My self, and to be found in Him; Not having my Own Righteousness, but that which is through the Faith of him; And to sit down under the shadow of that Blessed Tree of Life, which yields the richest Fruits, most Sweet to the Taste of all Sensible Souls. O that Christ, who is the End of the Law for Righteousness, to every one that Believeth, may be the Lord my Righteousness! That his Righteousness may be Imputed to me; And that with the Heart I may Believe unto Righteousness; Even so Believe in Jesus Christ, that I may be Justified by Faith, and have Peace with God through him.

The Blessed Jesus is my Life and Strength, my Wisdom and Riches, my Health and Joy, my Glory, and my All: There is no Healing for my Soul, but in his Blood: No Peace for my Conscience, but in his Reconciling me to God: No Satisfaction to my Mind, but in that most perfect Atonement, which Satisfies even the strictest Justice of Heaven. O none but Christ! None but Christ! Without this Allsufficient Redeemer, I am a Lost Creature. I beseech thee, therefore O Lord, whatever else I want, Leave me not Destitute of him: But give me Christ, or I die Eternally. Though I confess my self most Unworthy of him, and [Page 168] [...] [Page 169] [...] [Page 170] that I deserve to go for ever without him; Because I have so wickedly despis'd him, and Neglected his great Salvation, and abused all his Kindness and Love: Yet I dare not add this to all my other Offences, To Despair of that Mercy of thine, O Lord, which in him thou art pleas'd to hold forth even to the most Sinful and Unworthy. Seeing thou art in Christ Jesus, a God Reconciling the World to thy Self, and hast given him to be the Propitiation for our Sins; And he came to Seek and to Save even the Lost, And to call Sinners to Repentance; And Invites to him the Labouring and Heavy-laden; Yea, bids whoever is athirst, to Come, and take the Water of Life Freely, without Money, and without Price; And promises that such as come to him, he will in no wise cast out. To him therefore I look, and in him will I Trust. And of thee, my gracious Father, I beg for help to do it as I ought. O be thou pleased to Shine into my Heart with thy Heavenly Light, to Reveal thy Son in me, And to shew me his All sufficiency for me, and my own happy Share and Interest in him. Dear Lord! Give me thy Son to Save me: And give me thy Spirit, to Draw me to him, and enable me to take Hold of [Page 171] him, to Rely upon him, and to Believe in him, to the Saving of my Soul. O make me more Acquainted with thy way of Saving Sinners by Jesus Christ; And help me, (for my own part) to Acquiefce in it, and to Submit to the Righteousness of God.

Seeing thou, O God of all Grace, Justifiest Sinners Freely by thy Grace; Not for the Worth of our Works, but for the Worthiness of thy Son, through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ: O may it be Given unto me, to Believe on him, and to repose all my Trust in him; That Believing, I may have Life through his Name. And may I be still fully persuaded in my Mind, That he is the true Messias, and the only Saviour of the World; And never distrust his Power, or his Love; Nor be Faithless, but Believing, That Christ is my Lord, and my God, who Loved me, and Washt me from my Sins in his own Blood. And the God of Hope fill me with all Joy and Peace in Believing; That this may be all my Solace, and my Soul's Rest, To lye at the Feet of Jesus, to cast my Burden upon the Lord, and Lean on the Beloved of my Soul, and upon the Promises of God in Christ. Though there's nothing in me but Pollution and Disorder, O [Page 172] let me not keep off from my Saviour; But come to him at his Call, and Believe in the Name of the Son of God, to be made Clean and Whole. None can more Need his Help, Lord, than I do: O that it may not pass by me; But let the Saviour of the World be the Saviour of my Soul. And let Christ Abide with my Spirit, and be ever at hand, to do me Good. O that my Redeemer may look with an eye of Favour upon me, and Revive me with some Tokens of his Love, which is better than all the Enjoyments and Comforts of the World.

Help me, O thou great Author and Finisher of our Faith, to Pray in Faith; Believing that I shall Receive the things which I ask in thy Name. O my Lord, and my God! Make me to Know and Believe the Love thou hast to me: Yea, that thou hast Loved me with an Everlasting Love. And let it Bear me up under all Troubles, Fortify me against all Temptations, and Quicken and enable me for the performance of all my Duties, To know whom I have Believed, and to know that the Lord Jesus Christ is my Strength and my Redeemer. O that Christ may Dwell in my Heart by Faith; And that the Life which I now live, may be by the Faith of the Son of God, [Page 173] who Loved me, and Gave himself for me: In whom, though now I see him not, yet Believing, Let me Rejoyce with Unspeakable Glorious Joy.

It is thy gracious Promise, Lord, to Blot out thy Peoples Transgressions, for thy own Sake, and to Heal their Backslidings, and not Remember their Sins, Nor let Sin have Dominion over them; Yea, to have Mercy even upon the Wicked and the Unrighteous Man, Forsaking his Way and his Thoughts, And Abundantly to Pardon; To give to thy Servants the Heart of Flesh; A New Heart, and a New Spirit: To Teach 'em, and Quicken 'em: To put thy Spirit within 'em, and cause 'em to walk in thy Statutes, and to keep thy Judgments, and do them: To perform the Good Work in 'em: And though they Fall, to Uphold 'em with thy Hand, and let none pluck 'em out of it: Yea, to put thy Fear in their Hearts, That they shall not Depart from thee, And to Preserve 'em to thy Heavenly Kingdom, and give unto them Eternal Life. O Exceeding great and Precious Promises! No such Cordials to poor Fainting Souls! For they are not too Great to be made Good: But Faithful is he that has Promised, who also will do it. 'Tis Ratified [Page 174] in Heaven; And not one jot or tittle of thy Word, Lord, shall pass away, till all be Fulfilled. O let me Believe, that I, even I, shall see it. What time I am Afraid, let me Trust in thee; And give Glory to God, in Believing thy Gracious Promises, Though I know how Unworthy I am, to have them accomplish'd upon me. Let me lay up thy kind words of Promise, O my Father, as the Richest Treasure; and Confide in 'em, as the Surest Tenure: Counting nothing so Firm, as what God hath said, And Despising all the Wealth and Honours and Pleasures of the World, in Comparison of Thy self, and thy Son, and thy Spirit, thy Love, and thy Grace and Glory: Which I earnestly beg of thy bountiful hands, for Jesus Christ his sake.

A Prayer for the Divine Assistance.

O Lord God Almighty, who givest Power to the Faint, and increaseth Strength to them that have no Might! Without Thee I can do Nothing; Nor so much as Will, or Think any Good, nor keep my self from any Evil: But by thy gracious Assistance it is, that I am Enabled [Page 175] for the Performance of every Duty lying upon me: And my Help is in the Name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth: And thou art Able to Keep us from Falling, and to make us Perfect in every Good Work, to do thy Will; Working in us that which is Well-pleasing in thy Sight through Jesus Christ. Yea, thou hast encourag▪d us to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of Need. Lord of Power and Love! I come, trusting in thy Almighty Strength, and thy infinite Goodness, and thy gracious Promise; to beg from thee what is Wanting in my self: Even that Grace which shall help me, Such to Be, and So to Do, as thou would'st have me. O my God! let thy Grace be Sufficient for me, and ever Present with me: And let thy Good Spirit Help my Infirmities, and Strengthen me with Might in the Innerman: So to Enable me, against my Sins, and for thy Service, that I may be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might; and do all things as I ought, through Christ Strengthning me.

O thou that hast shew'd thy self still Graciously on my Behalf, and brought me on Hitherto, Never cast me off, I beseech thee, Nor Abandon me over to [Page 176] my self, who am a Reed shaken with the wind, a Leaf driven to and fro: But let me still Experience, thy Help at hand, and my God Performing all things for me. I will go forth in the Strength of the Lord God, and Trust in the Lord Jehovah, in whom is everlasting Strength. O my Lord! come in to my Succour, and be thou my Helper; To carry me on, beyond my own Strength, and to make all that I Think, and Speak and Do, acceptable in thy Sight. O may I both put forth my self, to Stir up the Grace of God that is in me; And also find such fresh Supplies of Grace, That I may see my desires Accomplisht, and my Endeavours brought to good Effect: And so Rejoyce in the Lord, and Glory in thy Holy Name, Through Jesus Christ, our Strength and our Redeemer.

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A Prayer for Sincerity.

O My Lord, the only Wise God, whose Understanding is Infinite, and from whom no Thought can be Withholden! Thou fillest the whole World with thy Presence, and hast all things ever Naked and Open before thine Eyes. Thou that Teachest man all his Knowledge, shalt not thou Know? O Lord, thou Searchest the Heart, and hast even the Secretest of our Sins in the Light of thy Countenance. And thou chiefly Callest for our Hearts; And requirest Truth in the Inward Parts; And wilt bring every work into Judgment, and every Secret thing, whether Good or Evil. My God! I acknowledge and bewail here before thee, the Guile and Deceitfulness of my Heart: That I have been so Unmindful of thy All-seeing Eye ever Intent upon me; And that I have made so Bold with thy Glorious Majesty, still Present with me. For which, I confess, O Lord, Thou mightest long since have cut me off, and appointed me my Portion with Hypocrites. But as thou hast Spared me, So Humble me, I beseech thee, and Pardon me, for all such Hypocrisy, and Treacherous dealing, whereof I have been guilty. And [Page 178] thou that speakest to the Heart, and canst order it, even as thou wilt; O make my Heart Right with God, and without any allowed Guile in thy Sight; So Sound in thy Statutes, that I may not be Ashamed, Nor be found Wanting of what I profess my self to be, when thou shalt come to take an Account of me.

O let thy All-seeing Eye, and not the Eye of the World, be the Star, to Steer my Course by. And let thy blessed Favour, more than the Liking of any Sinful men, be ever my Study and Delight. Search me, O God, and Try me; And whatever unpardoned Guilt, or Unrepented Wickedness, Whatever unknown Error, or Countenanced Lust lies in my Soul; O help me to See it, and of thy Mercy, Deliver me from it: And let me not Regard Iniquity in my Heart; Let no Presumptuous Sin have Dominion over me. Let me not Allow my self in any Way of Wickedness; Nor go on in Formality and Hypocrisy to Serve thee; But walk before thee with an Upright Heart, and do all Sincerely and Heartily; as to the Lord. O let me not be only Almost, but Altogether a Christian; Obeying from the Heart, all thy Will delivered to us, to be done by us; And not so much concern'd to Seem Religious and Good, [Page 179] as such to be Indeed and in Truth. Make me willing to Part with the Dearest Sins, And to perform the Hardest Duties, for the Sake of my Lord; Who parted with the Highest Glory, and underwent the Sorest Misery, for the Sake of my Soul. O make me True to my own Convictions, and Faithful in Exerting my own Endeavours: Yea, make me ever Jealous over my Heart, and Conscientious in all my Thoughts and Words and Ways. That I may not go Self-condemned, for walking in a Disguise, and but shewing to be what I am not; That my Praise may be not of Men, but of God: And that I may have continual Rejoycing, in the Testimony of Conscience, and that Peace of God, which passeth all Understanding. O my Father, who Seest in Secret! Let the Pleasing of thy holy Will, and the Honouring of thy Blessed Name, and the Enjoying of thy Gracious Favour, be the great End, which I design and Aim at, in all my Actions, and Undertakings; That thou, the Great and Good God, may'st in all things be Glorified by me, Through Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for Humility.

O Most High God, infinitely Glorious above all our Expressions or our Thoughts! Thou sittest on the Circle of the Earth, and the Inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers; Yea, before thee, all Nations are as Nothing, and counted to thee, Less than Nothing, and Vanity. O what is Man, that thou shouldest be so Mindful of him! Yea that he should be so Unmindful of his own Vileness and Sinfulness, To Exalt and Lift up himself, and to Swell with the Conceit of his own Worth and Excellence! I desire, O Lord, to Humble my self, That I have been no more Humble; But have thought more Highly of my self, than I ought to think; And Vaingloriously set off my self before Men, When I deserve only to be Despised, and Nothing but Confusion is my Portion. O thou that Resistest the Proud, and givest Grace to the Humble, Give me the Grace of Humility; And make me Mean and Vile in my own Eyes, that I may be Accepted in thy Sight. Make me, Lord, of the number of those Poor in Spirit, those Humble and Contrite Ones, to whom thou wilt Look, and with whom thou wilt Dwell.

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O set my Sins in order before me, and make me to know my Transgressions; That I may not Flatter my self in my own Eyes, but carry it as becomes poor Sinful Dust and Ashes; who deserve to be Trodden under foot, and to be cast out, as the Off-scowring of all things: Taking nothing but Shame to my self, and giving all the Glory to thee, of whatever is Good in me. Great and Holy God! Make me more Studious to be thy Favourite, than to be so Accounted; And better pleas'd to do my Duty, than to Hear of it. Neither of Men let me Seek Glory, but the Honour that comes of God only. And the more I have Received from thee, the more let me Ascribe unto thee; And not be Proudly Opinioned of my self; But give all Thanks and Glory to Thee, for any Good, wherein thou hast made me to Differ: Not Loving or Intending the Praise of men, in doing the Work of God; But performing all my Offices, as one that is Indeed, and not only Called, Thy Humble Servant.

O Discover me so to my self, that I may still walk Humbly with my God, and be Cloathed with Humility: Considering how Frail I am as a Creature; and how Vile, as a Sinner. Let me ever Detest and [Page 182] Dread and Resist the Pride that goes before Destruction; And so Humble my self under thy Mighty Hand, that thou may'st Exalt me in due time. And for all the Good that ever I have Performed or Enjoyed, Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but to thy Name be all the Praise and Glory, humbly and heartily acknowledged and rendred, now and for evermore.

A Prayer for Mindfulness of God's Presence.

O Lord, the Infinite, Incomprehensible God! Thou art the High and Holy One, who Inhabitest Eternity, and dwellest in the Light which no man can Approach to. And from thy Glorious Throne in Heaven, thou Lookest down upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth; And hast thy Eyes in every Place, and Ponderest every thing. Though no Mortal Eye can See thee; No Created Understanding is able to Comprehend thee: Yet thou art here, and every where Present; And now and evermore thou Seest us, and Understandest our very Thoughts afar off; and art throughly Acquainted [Page 183] with all our Ways. Yea, thou art so Universally Observant, as to have a particular Concernment for every Person and Action in the World. Great God! thou fillest Heaven and Earth with thy Presence, O fill my Heart with thy Grace, and the Mindfulness of thy Presence with me; That I may set the Lord always Before me, and evermore Remember thee in all my ways.

O that ever I should Forget God that Made me! The God who Quickens every thing that Lives; Concurs with every thing that Moves; and Upholds every thing that has a Being throughout the World! O that I should Live so much Without thee in the World, In whom I ever Live and Move and Am! And who hast still been with me, and Watchful for Good over me all my days. Holy God! Because I have Regarded thee no more, Thou mightest make me Sensible of thy Presence, in Judgments worthy of Thy self. But, O Lord, in Mercy Pardon all such my Sinful Neglect and Inadvertence. And as I am ever expos'd to thy All-seeing Eye, so make me ever duly Aware of it. And let the Remembrance of thy Presence Sway and Guide me; in Secret and in Company at all Times, in all Places, and in all my Actions: [Page 184] That I may demean my self, as ever under the Aweful Eyes of the Great God of Heaven and Earth: And Fear thee above all other Powers, Love thee above all other Goods, Serve thee before all other Lords, And Trust in thee more than in any other Refuge. Yea, let me Rejoyce under the Shadow of thy Wings; and herein Solace my self, That thou art at my Right hand, and Ever With me. O let not the Remembrance of my Lord be Grievous to me; But let my Meditations of God be Sweet, as well as Frequent; That Delighting my self in the Lord, thou may'st give unto me the Desires of my Heart. And so Guide me with thine Eye, that as I am still Manifest, I may be also still Accepted in thy Blessed Sight, Through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for Tenderness of Heart.

ALmighty Lord, The God of all Grace, who Speakest to the Heart, and it Obeys thee; And when 'tis grown Callous and Hard, Thou canst make it Soft and Relenting; and give Sight and Sense even to such as are Blind and past [Page 185] Feeling! O shew the Power of thy Heavenly Grace, in working upon this Stupid, Insensible Heart of mine; So as to make me know both the Evil of my Sins, and the things of my Peace. And be thou pleased to give me such a Sight of my Sins, Such Humiliation of Soul, and Brokenness of Heart, as may Prepare me for all the promised Mercies of God in Jesus Christ. O Father of Mercies! Punish not my Past Sins, by leaving me to commit Sin with Greediness; Nor ever give me up to such Blindness of Mind, and Hardness of Heart, as should render me Senseless and Incorrigible. But Quicken and Awaken my dull Soul, into a Lively Sense of Sin, and Tenderness of Conscience, and due Apprehension of my great and Eternal Concernments. O make me ever Jealous over my Heart, and Watchful over my Ways; Continually Fearing to Offend, and Endeavouring to Please my God: Keeping my Heart with all Diligence, that it be not Hardned through the Deceitfulness of Sin; And keeping at that Distance, which thy holy Word teaches us to Keep, from every Evil and Accursed thing, that is Provoking in thy Sight, and Destructive to my Soul.

O let me not Continue in Sin, that Grace may Abound; Nor Kick against the Bowels [Page 186] of Mercy, that so long has Born with me, and been so abundantly Good to me; But give me, O my God, such a fulness of New Life, as may beget in me a greater Quickness of Spiritual Sense; And make my Conscience quick of Feeling, even as the Apple of my Eye: That I may so Feel my Sins here, as to prevent my Feeling of them for ever, when there shall be no Remedy. From Hardness of Heart, and Contempt of thy Word and Commandments; Good Lord Deliver me. And give me a Heart so Soft and Tender, as to Smite and Correct me, for every, even the least, sinful Evil; And to Hold me back, not only from gross and Scandalous Offences, but from all that is Suspicious, or has a tendency to Sin, from the Occasions of Falling, and all Appearances of Evil. O let me so Observe thee, with a Child-like Tenderness, and Aweful Regard, all the days of my Life, That I may not Slavishly Dread thee, so as to be Consumed with Terrours, in the great day of thy Wrath: But may then receive the blessed Portion of thy Children, who lived still Looking and Preparing for the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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A Prayer for the Fear of God.

O Lord, the Great and Dreadful God! In whose hands is my Time, At whose Mercy is my Soul, and all that Concerns me both here and for ever. Thou, even Thou, art to be Feared; And who may stand in thy Sight, when once thou art Angry! The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom; and Happy is the man that Feareth always: But to Harden our Hearts against thy Fear, is not only Folly and Impiety, but Madness and Ruin. I am Afraid, O Lord, because I have Feared thee no more; But have made so Bold with thy Glorious Majesty, and with thy holy Laws: Who canst, whenever thou pleasest, Avenge thee of thy Adversaries; and Kill and cast Sinners into Hell; That I have been so Fearless in the ways of Sin, where I should not have dar'd to be Seen, And so Timerous in the Cause of God, where I should not have Fear'd the Faces of any Men. O Absolve me, I beseech thee, Good Lord, from all such Guilt that lies upon me. And put thy Fear into my Heart; that I may never experience, what a Fearful thing it is to fall into thy Hands. O Unite my heart, to Fear thy [Page 188] Name: And let thy Fear be ever before my Eyes, to Restrain me from the Evil of my Ways. O let me so stand in Awe of thee, that I may not Dare to Provoke thee. Let me not be so much Afraid of any Man, that shall Dye, as of the Almighty Ever-living God; Nor so Fear any Loss or Suffering, that can but take away a Temporal Good; as I Fear the Sin and Wickedness, that would deprive me of the Good Everlasting. O let me Fear the Lord, and Depart from Evil: And have my God in such Regard, That I may not offer wilfully to Violate thy holy Laws: But Fear to Dishonour thy Name, or to Rebel against thy Word, or to rest Short of what thou Requirest at my hands. And O that thy Fear may not only keep under some of my Sins, but Regulate my whole Life, and Sway my very Heart; That I may do thy Will entirely from the Heart, and go on to Perfect Holiness in the Fear of God.

May I Fear thy Name, and not Blaspheme it; Fear thy Wrath, and not Provoke it; Fear thy Word, and not Despise it; Fear thy Goodness, and not Abuse it; Fear thy Omniscience, and not make Bold with Secret Sins; Fear thy Omnipotence, and not Strive with my Maker in any case. And give me, O my God, the [Page 189] right Mixture of Fear and Faith; To keep me in an Even Temper, between Presuming and Despairing: That no Crosses or Evils coming upon me, may ever make my Faith to Fail; Or Sink me down into such Consternations, as to Unfit me for my Duty: And that no Successes, and fair Prospects of the World's Good before me, may Harden me into a wretched Boldness with thee; Nor lift me up into Wantonness and Stubbornness against thee: But that I may keep up an Aweful Regard of thy Glorious Majesty, and a Dutiful Respect to all thy holy Commands evermore.

A Prayer for the Love of God.

O Thou Infinite Goodness and Love, who art most Sweet and Amiable in thy self; and most full of Invitation, for all thy own Glorious Excellencies and unspeakable Perfections; And also for thy Loving-kindness, and all the Wonders of thy Mercy and Bounty to thy Creatures! 'Tis the Riches of thy Grace to make us Capable of this Blessed Privilege, To Love thee; Beyond which the Highest Angels know no greater Bliss: Yea, that thou hast not only given us Capacities for it, but the greatest Obligations, to Engage [Page 190] our Hearts to it. Yet after all the Reasons and Motives which we have to Love our God, O how poor and Defective has been my Love! Yea, in what Strangeness and Enmity to thee, Lord, have I Liv'd! 'Tis my Sin, and Shame, and Misery, to be so Listless and Backward to thy Love: O my God, I have done foolishly and wickedly, in Forsaking the Fountain of Living Waters, to hew to my self the Broken Cisterns, that can hold no Water; Shutting my Heart against the Love of my Chiefest Good, Who hast still been doing me Good; and laid fresh Obligations upon me, with thy Renewed Favours every day: And preferring any Trifles and Vanities of this present Time, Yea and the Satisfaction of my own foolish and hurtful Lusts, above thee and thy Love which is better than Life.

O Good God! be thou pleased to Pardon all the Defects of my Love to Thee, and all the Excesses of my Love to Earthly things; and Turn my Inclinations and Affections from all vain Objects, to thy Blessed Self, who art the Worthiest of all Love: and to conquer all my Cores, and for ever Win my Heart. O shew thy self to me as a Pardoning God, Full of Compassion, Ready to Forgive, and Willing to Save me! [Page 191] Yea, make me to know so much of the Love wherewith thou hast Loved me, That I may make better Returns of Love to the Gracious Giver of all my Good. Touch my Heart with such a powerful Sense of thy Loveliness and Loving-kindness, that I may experience stronger Desires and Inclinations after thee, and greater Complacence and Delight in thee: And may love all other things in comparison of my Best and Dearest Lord, as if I Loved them not.

The Lord Direct my Heart into the Love of God; and Shed abroad, and Increase thy Love in my Heart: That I may Love the Lord my God with all my Heart, and Soul, and Mind, and Might. O disgrace to me all such Tempting things of the World, as would draw away my Love from Thy self: And so Discover thy self to my Soul, as may take my Heart: That this Heart of mine, which, has been so Cold and Dull, and Dead to thy Love, may feel its mighty Warmth and Power; and from Complaining of the Want, may come to Rejoyce in the Abundance of it. O my Life, my Hope and Joy, that hast so much and Eternally Oblig'd me! Give me the Grace and the Power to Love thee: Let me still be Longing to Appear before thee; and Delight [Page 192] in the Duties that bring me Nigh to thee, and help me to Communion with thee. Increase my Love to thy Word, and to all the things of thy Spirit and Grace. And let me take more Satisfaction and Pleasure in the Light of thy Countenance, than in the Increase of Corn and Wine, and all the most desired Enjoyments of this Life. O let me not Rest in the Gifts, Forgetting the Bountiful Giver of every Good thing: But Draw and Joyn my Heart, Dear Lord, still nearer to Thy self, with the Cords of Love. And together with all my Enjoyments in the World, O let me enjoy still more of thee my God; In the Enjoyment of whom, consists all my true Life, and Peace, and Happiness, here and for ever. Engage to thy Self, O my Lord, the Chief, and Choicest Affections of my Heart; And take it the willing Captive of thy Love. And help me still to verify my Love of God, by hating of Evil, and keeping thy Commands, and Delighting to do thy Will, O my God. Let the Desire of my Soul, the Care of my Heart, and the Endeavour of my Life, be to Observe and Please thee. And so Secure my Heart, Lord, to thee, That I may not go a Whoring from thee; But may be Rooted and Grounded in thy [Page 193] Love; and through thy good Help and Grace, Keep my self in the Love of God; Looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to Eternal Life.

A Prayer for Hope.

O Lord God of Hope, The Blessed Founder of all our great and Glorious Expectations! Thou hast Promised thy People such Bliss and Glory, as is not only above all our Deserts to Enjoy, but above all our very Thoughts to Conceive. Yet 'tis not too Great for thy Almighty Hand, and thy Boundless Love to Give. And because thou Givest so like Thy Self; and hast made Preparations for thy People, answerable to thy own Infinite Greatness and Goodness, Therefore thou art not Ashamed to be called their God. None has Seen, nor can Tell, or Think, the Things which thou, O God, hast laid up for them that Love thee. But it is Good to Hope, and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. Even in Dark Days, and Perillous Times, that make us know Adversity; and Threaten us still with more; Yet Patiently to wait for what we Hope; Till he that Hides his Face [Page 194] from us, Cause the Light of of his Countenance to Break out upon us.

O my God! give me such a Hope, as may Lift up my Head, and Strengthen my Heart, and Embolden my Spirit, against all Temptations and Discouragements of the present Time: That I may never yield to any Consternations, so as to Destroy my Faith and Hope, and Unfit me for my Work, and thy Service. O give me, for a Helmet, the Hope of Salvation; That Hope which may be as the Anchor of my Soul, Sure and Stedfast. O let me Hope and Praise thee more and more: And Rejoyce in the Hope that leaveth not Ashamed: Yea, and hold fast the Rejoycing of my Hope firm to the End.

Though I am Sinful and unworthy, Yet let me Hope in the Lord, with whom is Mercy and Plenteous Redemption, to Redeem his People from all their Iniquities. O Gracious God, infinitely Good! I should have no Hope, but in thy tender Mercies, in thy Beloved Son, and in thy faithful Promises; which do give Assurance of Pardon and Acceptance to all that humbly and Believingly apply themselves to thee, in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ. But I beseech thee, O Lord, Remember [Page 195] thy Word to thy Servant, upon which thou hast caused me to Hope. O Seal me with that Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the Earnest of our Inheritance: That I may Abound in Hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. O let Christ in me, be my Hope of Glory. And having this Hope in me, help me to Purify my self, as my Lord is Pure. That my Hopes may be Rational and Well-grounded Hopes, to see and Enjoy the Lord; and to live in thy Kingdom and Glory, most Blessed for evermore.

A Prayer for Charity.

O Most Gracious and Merciful Lord our God, who art very Goodness and Love it self! Thou hast commanded, That he who Loveth thee, should Love his Brother also: Yea, that we should Love our Neighbour as ourselves. Father of Mercies, Forgive me all my Sins of Uncharitableness: And give me a Heart to Abound with Loving-kindness, to all the Partakers of my Nature, that are the Work of thy Hands, and Sharers in my Hopes. Let me not Despise any for their Low Estate; Nor Hate any for their Abusive Carriage; Nor cast off [Page 196] any as Reprobates, for their Scandalous Wickedness: But be kindly Affectioned unto all; Desirous of their Holiness and Happiness; And Contributing what lyes in me to Promote it: Shewing the Mercy, which thou knowest I Need; And Forgiving others, as I my self desire to be Forgiven: Yea, Ready to Distribute, and Willing to Communicate; As I would be glad to find Favour, and Receive Supply of my own Wants. Give me, O Gracious God, a Large Heart, And (according to my Ability) an Open Hand: That I may Give Cheerfully, and Sow Plentifully; While I have Time, doing Good unto all Men, Especially to them that are of the Houshold of Faith: Yea, loving the Opportunities of such Well-doing; And Blessing thy Name, who hast so Blest and Enabled me; And Refreshing my own Bowels, in making the Loyns of the Poor to Bless me.

And O that we may all approve ourselves the Disciples of our Lord, by the Love we have one for another: And shew that we are Passed from Death to Life, because we Love the Brethren; and bear the greatest Kindness to the Children of God: Ever Esteeming and Affecting them above all; and tendering such [Page 197] as Nearest and Dearest to us, that are so to thy Blessed Self. O let our Love be without Dissimulation; Not only in Word and in Tongue, but in Deed, and in Truth; Loving one another with a Pure Heart, fervently; Loving even the Worst, so as to Wish them well, and Seek their Good; And having our Delight in the Saints that are in the Earth, And the Righteous, that are more Excellent than their Neighbours: Loving them for thy holy Image and Spirit appearing in 'em; and setting our Hearts upon 'em, because thou art With 'em, and hast a peculiar Favour to 'em, And with an Everlasting Love, hast Loved them. O Lord of Love, keep me from Censoriousness, and Rash Judging of any: That I may think and Hope the Best of all, which their Case will admit; And Love every one for his Sake, who has shewed the Greatest Love to us all, Even our Dearest Lord, and only Saviour Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for Unity.

O God of the Spirits of all Flesh, Who hast made of one Blood, all Nations of Men, to dwell on the Face of the whole Earth! Wilt thou make us to Agree in Mind and Affection, as we do in Nature and Constitution: And give to all Nations, Unity, Peace and Concord. And as thou hast called the Faithful all throughout the World, into One Body, so make the Multitude of Believers, (as once they were) of One Heart, and of One Soul. O let not the Seamless Coat of Christ, be torn in Pieces; Nor thy Church be Rent into Schisms and Contending-Parties, fierce and bitter against one another: But make us One Fold and Unanimous Flock, under Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls. O put a Healing Plaister on our Bleeding Wounds; and let not those Invidious Names of Sides and Parties, that Exasperate, be kept up, to give Distaste and Prejudice: But take away from the midst of us, That Perverse Spirit, which makes us a Nation void of Councel; and not Understanding the things of our Peace; But Dashing our [Page 199] selves one against another. O God of Peace! Dispose our Hearts to Hearken to all Peaceable Councels, And to Comply with all Healing Designs. And so Allay the Heats which our Dissentions have rais'd, That amidst the Variety of Apprehensions, we may yet keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bonds of Peace; And Evidence our Relation to the Prince of Peace, by following after those things that make for Peace.

O Lord, Rebuke the Storms of our Animosities and Debates; And say to those Winds and Waves, Peace, Be Still; And they will Obey thee. O wilt thou Heal our Breaches; And give us first the true Peace with God; as the Foundation for a firm and Lasting Peace with one another. O that the Uniting-Spirit of Christ Jesus may so far prevail upon us, as to Draw and Knit us together in the blessed Communion of thy Saints: That we may with Combined Wills and Interests, as one Man, put forth ourselves, To advance the Glory of thy Name, the Publick Good, and the Common Salvation of all our Souls: Through thy rich Mercy to us, in our Blessed Peace-Maker, Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for Meekness and Peaceableness.

O Almighty God, who alone can'st Order the Unruly Wills and Affections of Sinful Men! Wilt thou be pleas'd to Regulate my Exorbitant Passions; And Suppress in me that Pride, from whence cometh Contention: And beat down every Rebellious Motion, that exalts it self against Peace and Patience, and Gentleness and Meekness of Spirit. O help me to put away all Bitterness, and Wrath, and Anger, and Clamour, and Evil-Speaking, with all Malice. And however I am Tempted and Provok'd, O that I may Possess my Soul in Patience; And not be Overcome with Evil, but Overcome Evil with Good. And Enable us, O God of Patience, to Bear one anothers Burdens, and to Forbear one another in Love: That we may not Contend, but for the Faith of Christ; Nor Strive, but to Enter in at the Strait Gate; Nor Provoke one another, but unto Love and Good Works.

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O if thou the Great God should'st enter into Judgment with me, and break out in Fury upon me, As I have been ready to take Fire at Affronts, and to fall with rage upon my Antagonists; Lord, how soon should I be Consumed, and sink under the saddest Misery, past Recovery! O may I ever dread to be Rigid and Cruel, who know the extream Need that I have of Mercy. And thou the God of Peace and Love, Forgive me, I beseech thee, all the Sins that ever I have committed against Peace and Love. O let the Peace of God dwell in my Heart; And thy Wonderful Long-suffering of me, be ever an Engagement upon me to shew all Meekness to all Men; and to bear the Ignorance and Weakness, the Follies and Mistakes, the Wrongs and Indignities of my Fellow-Creatures: Seeing I my self am Undone, without the Forbearence of God; and have nothing to Hope for, and to Comfort my self in, but the Finding of such Favour at thy Hands.

O teach and help us all to live in Peace, and to Love in Truth: Following Peace with all Men; And Walking in Love as Christ Loved us: That we may be United and Knit together, [Page 202] as Fellow-Members of the same Body, whereof he is the Glorious Head. Who though extreamly Wronged and Provok'd, Yet did not Cry, nor lift up, nor cause his Voice to be heard in the Streets. Of whom let me learn such Meekness and Lowliness of Heart, that in him I may find Rest for my Soul. O my God! Suppress all Bitter Resentments in my Mind; And let the Law of Kindness be in my Tongue; And a Meek and Quiet Spirit shewing it self, in all the Conduct of my Life. And, Lord, make us all so Gentle and Peaceable, and easie to be Intreated, and hard to be Provoked, That we may be Followers of God, as Dear Children; And that thou, the God of Peace, may'st be with us; and Delight to dwell amongst us; and Rejoyce over us, to do us Good: For thy Mercy sake, in Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer under Abuses and Provocations.

O Most High and Wise, Holy and Righteous Judge of all the Earth, The great Author and Lover of Peace and Truth! Thou knowest my Foolishness; and my Sins are not Hid from Thee. How far I have been Accessory to pull down these Troubles and Mischiefs upon my own Head; And how much Worse, than any of these, I deserve at thy Hands, is all Naked and Open to thine Eyes. I Submit, Lord, to thy Correction, who dost often use such Instruments of thy Displeasure. And O that the Ill-will of Men may quicken me the more to Examine my self for that which is Offensive in thy Sight: And make me the more Careful to have my Heart right with God; And to Ingratiate my self with Heaven: Which will more than Recompence for the loss of any one's Favour in the World.

But seeing my heart Condemns me not in the present Case, for being the Cause of all this Wrath and Clamour, and Malice and Vengeance: And herein I apprehend my self now to Suffer Wrongfully; Being Slanderously Reported; Falsely Accused, [Page 204] Shamefully and Despightfully Used, And Hated without a Cause: I take the Boldness to pour out my Complaint before thee, O God, and to Shelter my self under the Shadow of thy Wings. Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that Strive with me: And Save me from those that Rise up against me. Though for my Love, they are my Adversaries, Let me give my self to Prayer; And not Avenge my self, But give Place unto Wrath; And Commit my Cause to thee that Judgest Righteously. O Convince my Adversaries of the Error they are in: And turn them from the Ill way they are upon. And the Remainder of their Wrath, O do thou Restrain; And here make me a way to Escape, as thou hast so often been my Help.

I confess, O Lord, Thou mightest justly use them that Provoke me, as thy Scourge, to Chastise me, for Provoking thee: And I know not, but such now may be thy Pleasure. O help me then patiently to bear the Indignation of the Lord; because I have so greatly Sinned against thee. And however I am Pursued and Struck at, O let me not Render Evil for Evil, nor Railing for Railing, But contrarywise Blessing: Considering him that endureth so great Contradiction of Sinners against himself; That I be not Wearied, [Page 205] and Faint in my Mind. If the man after thy own Heart, had so many bitter Implacable Enemies; that not only Traduced his Name, but sought his Life: If thy Holy Apostle was called a Babler and Troubler of the World, and a Pestilent Fellow, not fit to Live: Yea, if the Son of thy Eternal Love had the report of A Wine-Bibber, A Friend of Publicans and Sinners, A Deceiver of the People, and A Dealer with the Devil: If he that Deserv'd so Well of men, Far'd so Ill at their Hands: If he that did no Sin, was prosecuted, as if he had been the Chief of Sinners: If he Suffer'd so much Evil, who never Deserv'd any: O why would such an Unworthy Sinful Wretch as I, to whom belongs Confusion of Face, and the Worst of Punishment, So heinously Resent it as Insufferable, To be set at Naught, and but to endure the Correction of my own Wickedness! Though I deserve it not from them; Yet O how much worse do I Deserve from the Heavenly Majesty Offended by my Sins! Who may'st justly Pay me by their Hands. Let men then Say or Do what they can against me; O let me be as a Deaf man that Heareth not; and as a Dumb man that opens not his Mouth; Little Regarding the Anger of Man, If I can but be happy in the [Page 206] Favour of my God. O Lord keep back thy Servant from giving any Just Provocation: And let me not Suffer as an Evil-Doer; Nor let the Wo be to me, because the Offence cometh by me. And then, when Persecuted for Righteousness Sake; I shall Rejoyce, and Bless thy Name, and give thee Thanks and Praise, for all thy Grace and Goodness to me in Jesus Christ.

A Prayer under Infamy and Disgrace.

O Lord! Righteousness belongs to thee; But to me Confusion of Face, as it is this day. Shame is the Portion of my Sins: And I deserve no better, than to be Slighted and Despis'd My self, Who have so Slighted thy Laws, and Despised the Glorious Majesty of Heaven. If I had been Innocent, I might have been Confident, to lift up my Face without Spot: But Wo is me, that I have Sinned; to make my self Vile, and fit only to be Trampled on. As far as I am Obnoxious and Guilty, I take Shame to my self, as the Reward of my Folly and Wickedness. And O that I may so Feel it here, That I may not hereafter awake to Shame and Everlasting Contempt. And let not any that wait on thee, O Lord God of Hosts, be Ashamed [Page 207] for my Sake. Yea, where I suffer Wrongfully, Yet, Lord help me to take it Patiently. Though I am Reproached for the Name of Christ, and Persecuted for Righteousness Sake; Let me not droop under the Censures and Scorns of Men; If I can but find Acceptance and Favour in thy Sight. Seeing it is not men's Applause or Reproach that can make us Happy or Miserable: Though we have their Good Opinion and Commendation, we are never the Better, when out with Heaven. And though we have Lost ourselves with them, we are never the Worse, When we Approve ourselves to him that Searches our Hearts. Thy Word, O Lord, gives us Encouragement, Suffering as Christians; That we should not be Ashamed, but Glorify thee on this behalf. And thy Apostles who were made as the Filth of the World, and the Off-scowring of all things, Rejoyced that they were counted Worthy to suffer Shame for the Name of Jesus. Though I pass through evil Report as well as Good, O what a small thing is it to be Judged of Man's Judgment! And if thou, my God, wilt have me to be Low in the World, Yea even a Hissing and Proverb of Reproach, Let me bear thy Indignation, and Submit to thy Correction: Not so much concern'd for the Disgrace, as to Remove [Page 208] the Cause; And the more Careful and Diligent to Please the Lord, and to Seek the Glory that is of God.

If men Speak Evil of what they Understand not, and Perverse Scoffers, walking, after their own Lusts, Oppose and Deride me, Contradicting and Blaspheming thy Truths; O let not thy holy Religion ever Sink in my Thoughts, for any of their Hard Speeches, or Course Usage: But Looking unto Jesus, The Sun of Righteousness, that once lay under Clouds, The Lord of Glory, who bore such Reproach and Infamy, Who heard Ill from the World, though he never did Evil in his Life, And was Despis'd and Rejected of Men, Though he Deserv'd so much better than ever any did from 'em; Let me little Regard what Names they call any of his Houshold, who can call the Master of the House as bad. But may I still follow my Blessed Saviour in Meekness and Patience; having my Eyes and Dependance upon the great Author and Finisher of our Faith, Who first Despising, and then Surmounting the Shame, art now set down at the Right hand of the Majesty on High; And from thence shalt come in greatest Glory to Judge the World: Whose Name be ever Blessed, World without End.

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A Prayer for our Enemies.

O Lord of Love, the Prince of Peace! Thou hast told us, That thou camest to send a Sword and Fire upon Earth; And that it must needs be, that Offences come. Even the Best of men, in Passing through this Tumultuous World, are often Justled, and Evil-intreated. And if it be the Lot of thy own holy Followers, to have Hatred and Tribulation in the World; O What am I, Vile Sinner, That I should look to be exempted from this Common Portion? Such as I have made my Enemies, by my Folly and Miscarriage, Lord, incline and enable me to Appease and Gain them. And so Direct my ways to Please thee, that thou may'st make them to be at Peace with me. And such as are my Enemies Wrongfully, Lord, lay not this Sin to their Charge: But Forgive them; and Open their Eyes, and Pacify their Minds, and Turn their Hearts: That they may See their Error, and first be Reconciled unto God, And then Live with their Brethren in Unity and Godly Love: And that at last, I may meet them in the Arms of Jesus Christ. And those that will not cease from Hating, Lord Prevent them from Hurting me. Or though they do [Page 210] me Hurt, Let me endeavour to do them Good; and not Hate, but Love my Enemies; for thy Sake, who hast commanded us to Love them; And who didst express the highest Love to us, in Dying for us, even when we were thy Enemies. Let me consider them as thy Rod, and the Staff of thy Indignation, in all that I Suffer from them: That instead of striving to Avenge my self, I may Submit to thy Hand.

O Good Lord! Mortify in all of us, the Carnal Mind, that is Enmity against God, and those Lusts that war in our Members, from whence come Wars and Fightings amongst us. Turn all our Enmity against the common Enemies of our Souls. And Joyn all our Hearts to thee, in thy true Fear and Love. That we may not Meditate Revenge, but Study to be Quiet; Nor Foment and pursue our Quarrels; But follow after the things that make for Peace; And with one Mind, and with one Mouth, Glorify our God through Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer under Crosses and Disappointments in our Affairs.

O My Lord! I Live by thee, and do continually Depend upon thee, for Life and Breath, and all things. Thy Providcnce has Appointed my Station, and Disposes whatever Concerns me in the World. If not so much as a Sparrow falls on the ground without thee: And the very Hairs of our Head are all Numbred; Thou can'st not be Unconcerned in the Changes and Accidents that befal thy Servants: But thou hast a Hand in all our Affairs: And whatever Instruments and Occasions have been in the Way, It is thy Pleasure, That so it should be with me as it is. Restrain me therefore, O Lord, from Fretting my self to do Evil. And help me to take up my Cross, and Follow my Meek and Lowly Saviour, in Self-Denial, and quiet Submission to the Will of my Heavenly Father.

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O who am I, Sinful Wretch, who have so much Displeased thee, That I should never be Cross'd, nor have any thing to Trouble me! Thy Will be done, O Lord, How much soever it goes against Flesh and Blood. And let me ever Design thy Glory, and endeavour to Conform to thy Pleasure; Whether it make for, or against me, in any respects of this Life. O that I may learn Obedience, by the things which I Suffer! That I may not be Worse, but better in my Spiritual Concerns, for these Rubs and Disappointments in matters of the World. And O that the Adverse things, which Interrupt and Trouble me, in my Designs and Enterprises here, may turn all to the Glory of thy Name, and to the furtherance of my Comfortable Accounts, in the hour of Death, and in the great Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer under Losses and Damage in our Goods and Estate.

BLessed Lord! Thou art the great Proprietor and Owner of Whatever we have to Enjoy. The World is Thine, and the Fulness thereof. Thou Givest, and thou Takest away: Blessed be thy Name in all. Thou hast made me to Abound with many things, which others are Destitute of: And if thou also makest me Want what others Abound with, Yet teach me, My God, how to be Abased, and to suffer Need, as well as how to Abound; And in whatsoever Estate I am, therewith to be Content. Seeing all these things come Alike to all: And no one knows Love or Hatred, by what is here before him. And as it will Profit a man nothing to Gain the whole World, and Lose his Soul: So all the Losses in the World cannot Undo him, whose Soul is Safe in thy Hands: O let me not Grieve therefore, as if I were Undone, for what I have Lost: But cheerfully Commit my self to thee, to Chuse my Inheritance for me; And be least of all Concern'd for my Worldly Portion, So [Page 214] that I may but See the Joy of thy Salvation. And the Lord Repair to me these Damages, an infinitely better way, out of thy own Fulness, with the more Precious things that accompany Salvation. That I may imitate thy holy Servants of old, Who took joyfully the Spoiling of their Goods, as knowing that they had in Heaven, a Better, and an Enduring Substance. O make me now the more Sollicitous and Industrious, to lay up my Treasure in Heaven: When I see how little any thing is to be Confided in here on Earth. O let me Look less upon these Temporal things that are Seen; And be most of all Concerned, That I lose not the Blessed things Eternal: But Provide so well for my Soul, and be so Rich towards God, That when all here shall Fail me, Thou may'st never Fail me, But be the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for evermore.

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A Prayer under Confinement and Loss of Liberty.

O Lord my God, infinitely Kind and Good! I have, through thy gracious Indulgence, long enjoyed my Freedom in the World; And been Permitted to go in and out, whither I would, at my Pleasure. But now that I am under Restraint, and Confined to this Place, O how much Sorer Affliction ought I, with Patience to endure, For turning my Liberty into Licentiousness, and flying out, as I have done, into wild Excesses and Disorders, To Wander from thee, and Weary my self in the Ways of Wickedness! This Confinement I acknowledge to be but the Easie Correction of my Extravagance, who deserve to be shut up in the Eternal Prison, from whence there's no Redemption. But for thy Dear Son, my Blessed Saviour's Sake, I beg, Lord, That this Restraint may be, not in Judgment, but in Mercy to me: That it may bring me to the Consideration and Repentance of all those Vicious Liberties that I have taken, to live after my own foolish and Hurtful Lusts: And that it may Remove [Page 216] me out of the way of such Temptations, and Opportunities of Sinning against thee; And Engage me more closely and dutifully to Attend upon thee: That in thy Service, I may find a better Freedom, than the Freedom which I have lost; Having free Access into thy Presence, and Boldness at the Throne of Grace; And Deliverance from the Bondage of my Sins, and Power to tread down the Enemies of my Soul, and to bring them Under, that have Reigned over me.

O that I may now be Crucified to the World, as well as Sequestred from it: That I may not be turn'd off with Regret, and a Heavy Heart; But may leave it in Affection, As I am shut out from its Conversation: That I may in Heart and Mind Ascend and Dwell Above: and have my Conversation in Heaven, and such Fellowship with thee my God and Saviour, which I may infinitely prefer above all the Society and Enjoyments of the World. If the Son of God shall make me Free, I shall be Free indeed. O bring my Soul out of Prison, The Horrible Pit of my Sins and Fears; That I may not there be kept to the Judgment of the Great Day. And I will then Praise thy [Page 217] Name: Let my Body be shut up in never so Narrow a Compass. O set my Feet in such a Large Room, My Affections at Liberty, to Enjoy thy Infinite Self; and to Expatiate in thy Heavenly Kingdom, that is Boundless and Everlasting: And make me a Fellow-Citizen with the Saints, and of the House-hold of God: And then, though I lie in a Jail, and in a Grave, Yet I shall be a Prisoner of Hope: Looking for that blessed Hope, to be Delivered from the Bondage of Corruption, into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God. Even for his Sake; who for Ours, was Apprehended and Confined, and Put to Death and laid in the Grave; And now Liveth and Reigneth with thy Eternal Self, and Holy Spirit, over all, God Blessed for evermore.

[Page 218]

A Prayer under Sad Accidents and Disasters Falling on the Body.

O Lord most High, The All-disposing God, Thou hast Taught us, That Affliction rises not out of the Dust, nor comes by Chance, without thy Appointment; But is the Messenger dispatch'd on thy Errands, Who hast an Over-ruling Hand in all these Disasters that befal us; Whatever else be the Occasion of our Hurts. And still thou hast good Reason to do as thou dost; Tho' the Reason may be Hid from us. I know, O Lord, that thy Judgments are Right, and that thou in Faithfulness, hast Afflicted me. O why should a Living man Complain, a man for the Punishment of his Sins! Great God, I humbly Submit to thy Hand, and will bear the Effects of thy Displeasure, which I have pull'd down upon my self. O my Lord, Give me Patience, and Strength, and Grace, proportionable to this great Trial: And enable me so to demean my self under it, that after the Affliction, I may find cause to say, It was Good for me to be Afflicted. Thou that hast torn and Smitten, thou alone art able to Heal, and bind up my Breaches. O wilt thou Remember me in my Low Estate, out of [Page 219] that Mercy of thine which endures for ever. And help me to find out the Cursed things that have Provoked thee, so to stretch out thy Hand upon me. O that I may Search and Try my Ways, and Turn to the Lord, and bring forth fruits meet for Repentance. And for his Sake who was Wounded for our Transgressions, and Bruised for our Iniquities, Lord Forgive and Heal my Soul, that has Sinned against thee. And in thy good time, Repair the Breaches made upon my Body too, If it seem Good in thy Sight: And make me to hear Joy and Gladness, That the Bones which thou hast Broken may Rejoyce.

If thou wilt, Lord, Thou canst make me Whole. O may it be thy Gracious Pleasure, to work so Wonderfully for me: And Glorify thy Power and Mercy in my Help and Recovery! Or however thou shalt Dispose of this Vile Body, Grant me, O my God, an humble Resignation to thy Will, and Satisfaction with thy Dealings. And make this Sad Dispensation, which is so Grievous for the Time, Gracious in the Issue. O make it the Messenger of thy Love to my Soul; and the Means of Converting and Sanctifying it, and Preparing it for the Lord; and fitting it to Receive all the Saving Mercies of God in Jesus Christ.

[Page 220]

A Prayer for a Blind-Man.

O Lord our God, Thou art Light, and in thee is no Darkness at all. Thou hast Created the Light and the Sun. And givest both the Power of Seeing, and Objects to be Seen. It is a Pleasant thing to Behold the Light. But of that Sweet Benefit thou hast thought fit to Deprive thy Servant. O Blessed be thy Name, even Taking away, as well as Giving. For thou art Wise, and Just, and Good in all. Every thing that happens to us, is of thy Appointment, Lord of all, who hast Made us, and may'st do what thou Wilt with thy Own. Yea there is no Unrighteousness with God; But whatever thou dost, is Meet and Right to be done; Though many of thy Providential Ways are here in the Dark to all, as now all thy Visible Works are Darkness to thy Servant. Yea Lord, Thou art Gracious in all that thou bringest upon us; And canst bring the greatest Good, even out of the worst Evil that befalls us. And Thy self art infinitely Better to all thy Servants, than [Page 221] their Eyes, and all the things that ever Eyes Beheld.

Thy Servant here desires with Meekness and Patience, to Submit to thy Heavy Stroke; And Confesses, That thou art Just, in Quenching that Light of his Eyes, which he did not use, as he ought, to thy Glory. But wilt thou, O Gracious Lord, in Judgment Remember Mercy: And Bless to him this thy Afflicting Hand upon him; That it may promote his Repentance, and Peace with God; And cut off all the Occasions of worse Stumbling and Falling, than any whereto his present Darkness may Expose him. That so many Temptations, which enter in at the Eyes, being taken away, He, (freed from those Interruptions and Distractions,) may better Attend on the Lord; And be more Intent upon the Concerns of his Soul, and more Curious and Exact, in looking Inward, to the things between God and his Heart, and in pressing after a better Light, than that which thou hast taken from him. Lord, as thou hast shewed thy Sovereignty and Justice, in taking away his Sight: So let thy work of Power and Mercy be made Manifest in him, Both in ministring Comforts to him; and Enabling [Page 222] him Contentedly and Cheerfully to bear up under the Loss; And also in Making it up to him, so much a Better way, That he may be a Gainer by it, in his Spiritual Affairs, and what pertains to his Everlasting Bliss. O Good God, Bring him out of the Sinful Darkness, into thy Marvellous Light: That he may be Light in the Lord, though he wants the Light of this World.

O thou Father of Lights! Enlighten the Eyes of his Understanding; that he may See What is the Hope of thy Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of thy Inheritance in the Saints, and what the mighty Power of thy Spirit which works in them that do Believe. Now that he cannot Behold the Temporal things, O that he may be more Earnest, in Looking after the Unseen things which are Eternal; In Looking to Jesus, and Minding the things of his Peace, and Studying the Mysteries of Salvation, and the Wonders of thy Love, and the Glories of thy Kingdom. O thou Giver of all Grace! Give him the Eye of Faith, and Spiritual Discerning, to See him that is Invisible; whom no Mortal Eye hath Seen, or can See. Gracious Lord, Discover thy self still more and more to him; And Reveal thy Son in him. And [Page 223] Teach and Guide him: And entertain him with Thoughts and Considerations pertinent to his Condition. And let thy Good Spirit, as a Councellor and Comforter, still Abide in him; And bring to his Mind, and work upon his Heart, all things that shall make for his Edification and Encouragement in thy holy Ways. Have Compassion upon him, O Lord; and be Gracious and Kind to him; And do all that thou knowest Needful and Good for him. And lead him, and Help him on continually; 'Till in thy Light, he shall See Light: and have his Eyes Opened at the last, to see the Splendor of thy Kingdom, and all the Joy of thy Salvation: Yea to See thy Glorious Face, To See thee as thou art, and to Know as he is Known; in that Heavenly Presence of thine, where is Fulness of Joy: There to be ever with the Lord; And to enjoy thy Sight and Love, and Blessed Self, World without end.

[Page 224]

A Prayer under Grievous Pains.

O Lord thou art a Merciful God, and dost not Afflict Willingly, nor Greive the Children of men: But when the Necessity of our Case calls for Sharp Applications; Thou Chastizest us for our Profit, that we may be Partakers of thy Holiness. Blessed is the man whom thou Chastenest, O Lord, and Teachest him out of thy Law! O that it may be in such Mercy to the Soul of thy Servant, that thy Hand is so Hard upon him at Present. Now that thou hast cast him into the Furnace, O that it may be a Means to purge out his Dross, and to Fit him for thy acceptable Use and Service. O that he may Learn such things in the School of Affliction, as may stand him in stead, and do him Good for ever.

But thou, O God of Consolation, who knowest our Frame, and how little it is that we can Endure; Though it be so much that we Deserve: Be pleas'd to Remember him in Mercy; And make his Sufferings Less; or thy Grace in him, and his Patience and Spiritual strength Greater than all his Sufferings. O take [Page 225] the Load off him; or Lighten it to him: Or Enable him to Bear what thou art pleas'd to lay upon him. Lord, all his desire is before thee, and his Groaning is not hid from thee. O Regard his Affliction, when thou hearest his Cry. And enter not into Judgment with him, according to the Desert of his Sins; But according to thy Mercy Remember thou him, for thy Goodness Sake in Jesus Christ. O Gracious Father, Sanctify to him, what thou hast laid upon him: That the present sore Evil, may have a comfortable Issue, and work for his Spiritual and Eternal Good. And the Lord Support and bear him up under it; And bring him safe and Happily out of it: To the Rejoycing of thy Servant, and to the Glory of thy Name. And however thou shalt deal with him, O Good Lord Suppress all his Repinings at thy Dealings: That he may not so Sin, as to Charge God Foolishly; Who never dost the thing but what is most Righteous, and Fit to be done: Yea nothing but what thy Servants shall once have cause to Bless and praise thee for doing. But teach and help him, to Glorify God in the time of his Visitation, by his humble Submission to thy Will, his patient Abiding of thy Hand, [Page 226] and his faithful Reformation under it: That thou may'st return with the Visitations of thy Love, and Restore Ease and Comforts to him; and shew him the Joy of thy Salvation: For thy own Mercy Sake in Jesus Christ.

A Prayer under Dangerous Sickness.

O Lord God Almighty, and ever Blessed! In whom we all ever Live, and Move, and Are. We acknowledge it to be of thy Mercies, we are not Consumed, because thy Compassions fail not. If thou hadst, long before this time, cut us off in our Sins, and shut us up under final Despair of thy Mercy; Yet Righteous hadst thou been; O Lord; And how justly might'st thou now refuse to Hear us, Calling upon thee in our Prayers; As we so often have Refus'd to hear thee, Calling upon us by the motions of thy Holy Spirit! But thou art God, and not Man; And thy Thoughts are not as our Thoughts, Nor thy Ways as our Ways: But as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, So are thy Thoughts and thy Ways Above ours. Thou art our Refuge and Strength, and [Page 227] present Help, in time of Need and Trouble: In which times thou hast commanded us to Call upon thee; And hast promised to Hear us, and to give us cause to Praise and Glorifie thee for thy Goodness and Mercy to us.

And now we come to thee, O Lord our God, in behalf of this thy Servant, that lyes here in a Low and Distressed State under thy Chastizing hand: Look down we beseech thee, Mercifully upon him: And be thou Gracious and Favourable to him; according to the Necessity of his Case, And according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies in Jesus Christ. In as great Danger as he is, Yet if thou wilt, O Lord, thou canst set him up, and make him Whole: If thou but speak the Word, the thing will be done. And in Submission to thy most Wise and Good Disposal of all things, we would beg this Mercy at thy Hands; That thou would'st be pleas'd to Rebuke his Distemper, to Remove thy Stroke, and cause the bitter Cup which thou hast given him, to pass away: And make him a way to Escape out of the Affliction that is upon him. And to this end, That thou would'st Direct to the Means proper for his Help; And command a Blessing▪ upon [Page 228] them, to promote his Recovery. Spare him, Good Lord, and Restore him, if it be thy Will: That he may have a Longer time to work out his Salvation, And be more Useful in his Place, and do more Good in his Generation. Or however thou shalt be pleas'd to deal with him, as to the concerns of his Body; (which we pray may be in a way of Gentleness and tender Mercy) Yet Lord, let his Soul be ever Precious in thy Sight. And may this Sickness of his Body, be for the Health of that Immortal Better part.

O give him a right Discerning of the things belonging to his Peace, before they be hid from his eyes. Shew him what he has to do; And Enable him for the doing of it: That he may have the Sound Peace with God through Jesus Christ. Give him the true Repentance towards God, and the right Faith in the only Saviour of the World. Wash and cleanse his Soul with the Blood of thy Son, and the Graces of thy Spirit; That it may be deliver'd from all Defilements it has contracted in this present evil World; and be found Safe and Happy in the hour of Death, and in the great Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fit him, O Lord, for Living [Page 229] or Dying, Or whatever in thy Wise and Righteous Providence, thou hast designed for him: That it may be unto him Christ to Live, and Gain to Die: That in all he may find cause to Glorify thy Name; Still experiencing thy Gracious Goodness to him, in the Son of thy Love. If thou shalt please yet to Release him from his bed of Languishing, to live longer upon Earth, O that he may Live to Thee, In thy Fear, and to thy Praise; And do thee better Service, and bring thee greater Glory. Or if thou hast determined, That this Sickness shall be a Sickness unto Death, and this Visitation his Last Visitation, Prepare him, O Merciful God, by thy Grace, for thy Blessed Self: And grant him a Safe and Comfortable Passage, out of this Wretched Life, to an infinitely Better. Through the Merits and Mediation of thy Beloved Son, our only Saviour Jesus Christ.

[Page 230]

A Prayer under Ling'ring Sickness.

O Good God, thou hast long kept thy Servant under thy Chastening hand. Thou hast made him Acquainted with Grief, and his Sickness is become his old Familiar Companion. Yet O Blessed Lord, Grant that he may not think it Long, to wait thy Leisure, who art pleas'd to wait so Long for the Return of a Sinner; And who art very Pitiful, and of tender Mercy, Having kind Intentions, even in thy Bitter Dispensations: Yea; Chastenest whom thou Lovest, and Scourgest every Son whom thou receivest. Teach him, O Gracious Father, to see Love in thy Rod, as well as Justice in all thy Dealings. That he may Humble himself under thy mighty Hand, and also think it Good for him to be Afflicted; And Patiently wait for the Lord, in hope of Good out of this Evil; and a happy Conclusion of the long Visitation. Blessed be thy Name, O Father of Mercies, That thou dost not pour out all thy Wrath; But in Judgment rememberest Mercy, To make the Affliction Supportable: Giving some Ease and Relaxation from torturing Pains; and mingling many sweet Ingredients with this Bitter [Page 231] Cup. O make him so Sensible of thy Kindness and Love, That he may be, not only Contented, but Thankful, under thy Hand.

Yet that his Faith may not Fail, nor his Patience be Wearied out, Return, O Lord of Love, at the last, and give thy Servant a Discharge from this Warfare; And say to the Affliction, It is enough. Make him Glad, according to the time wherein thou hast Afflicted him, and wherein he has seen so much Adversity. And till thou hast been pleas'd to Remember him in such Mercy; O grant that he may neither Despise thy Chastening, nor Faint under thy Rebukes; But take all as he ought; And employ the Time which thou lendest, and Improve the Affliction which thou Continuest, as a gracious Opportunity for his Soul's Advantage. That under the Decays of the Outer Man, the Inner may be Renewed day by day; And all that is wanting in his Spiritual concerns, may be filled up; and whatever pertains to his Everlasting Salvation promoted and Perfected: Through the Riches of thy Grace, and the multitude of thy Mercies, in Jesus Christ.

[Page 232]

A Prayer for one that is Stupified, or Light-Headed.

O Thou great Maker and Preserver of Men, Who knowest our Frame and our Frailty; How soon our Senses may Fail us, and our Understanding depart from us: To what Accidents, Distempers, and Decays, our weak Nature is liable; Even such as may make the most Acute and Judicious Man, quickly become as a Child or Ideot; And turn all our Wisdom and Ingenuity into Folly, or Frenzy. We are every one of us in thy Hands, O Lord, to be used as thou wilt; To have our Speech and Sense, Yea, our very Breath and Life taken away, when thou pleasest. Thou art Righteous, in all that comes upon us; And who shall say unto thee, What dost thou? Yet even in Chastising and Correcting, thou keepest a Measure; and dost not forget thy Mercy and Compassion; Nor drivest us away from the Throne of Grace, But bid'st us Call upon thee in our Troubles, And art still Attentive to the Prayers of thy Servants; Yea, Waitest to be Gracious, and wilt not let them Seek thy Face in Vain. Hear us, O Father of Mercies, [Page 233] we beseech thee; And let thy Mercy now be shewed to thy poor weak Distempered Servant, according to the Exigence of his Case, in the time of his Need. Thou O God All-sufficient, who Createst Faculties, can'st as easily Restore them, and give Light and Understanding even to the Simple, And Scatter all the Clouds, and Supply and Rectify every thing that is Defective and Amiss. O that thou would'st be pleas'd to shew thy self so Graciously and Powerfully in the present Case! And Repair the Breaches made upon thy Servant; And give him Sense and Apprehension sufficient, to Discern the State of his Soul, and to see the things of his Peace.

Thou Lord Almighty, who did'st command the Light to shine out of Darkness; and often bringest Order and Beauty even out of Confusion and Deformity, canst Lighten the Darkest Mind, Inform the weakest Head, and Regulate the Wildest Imagination: Yea, thou can'st speak immediately to the Heart, and Incline and Secure it to Thy self; And can'st convey Instruction, and all suitable Relief, where the Doors are shut up against us. O God of all Power and Love, Wilt thou speak to the Soul of thy Servant, so, that it may observe thy Voice: [Page 234] And seize that precious Jewel for thy Own, That it may be Safe in thy Hands, Lord, Direct and Quicken, Help and Assist him, where we cannot. And do the great Work of Grace, Worthy of the Wonder-working God, to Effect Salvation for him, by thy own Self; In the Failure of Outward Means and Applications. O have pity upon his Infirmities; And be Merciful to his Mistakes and Failings, His Rovings and Follies. Give him, Gracious God, a Broken Penitent Heart, And a Believing Willing Mind: And then Accept him in thy Beloved Son, according to what he hath: And, of thy rich Grace, make him an Entrance into thy Everlasting Kingdom: Where all the Shadows being Vanish'd and gone, he may see Light in thy Light; And joyfully give thee Praise and Glory to all Eternity. Be Gracious, O Good Lord, and Indulgent to him: And do all that thou knowest to be Needful and Good for him: Through the Mediation, and for the Merits of him, who took part of our Flesh and Blood, that he might be touch'd with the feeling of our Infirmities. And to thy Mercy, in that our Merciful and Faithful High Priest, we commit this Infirm Member of his Mystical Body; Beseeching thee, O [Page 235] Blessed Lord our God, to shew thy self unto him a Compassionate and Tender Father, in the same Jesus Christ our only Saviour.

A Prayer for a Sick Child.

O God of the Spirits of all Flesh, The only Giver and Preserver of Life, in every Living Soul: The Smallest as well as the Greatest, are thy Work, and thy Care; And neither without the Compass of thy Providence, Nor below the Notice and Regard of our Heavenly Father; Who though so Great, above all, Yet Despisest not any. O Dear Lord, Let thy thoughts be full of Pity and tender Mercy to this poor Sick Child, for whose Affliction we are now concerned. And send him that Relief and Comfort from Above, which none of us are able to give; Either Lighten the Load, or increase the Strength to Bear it. And deal gently and graciously with him, Good Lord, beyond what we are worthy to ask at thy hands, even for thy own Goodness and Mercy sake. Spare him, O Father of Mercies; And grant him Ease and Release from his Trouble, Yea, make Haste to Deliver him, we Beseech [Page 236] thee. And in Submission to thy Will, we beg the Recovery of his Health, and the Continuance of his Life, to be spent in thy Fear, and to thy Praise; That he may do thee Service, and bring thee Glory, in his days upon Earth. But forasmuch as Children themselves, who are Shapen in Iniquity, and Conceiv'd in Sin, are therefore subject to Death, which Reigns even over them, that have not Sinned after the Similitude of Adam's transgression; If thou art pleased Lord, to take him away so Early, O let it be in Mercy; And Prepare him then so for thy self, That it may be to him the greatest Gain to Die: That he may not only be deliver'd from the Miseries and Dangers of this World, and that to come; But by the quickest Improvement, may be Perfected in Knowledge and Grace, and made Ripe and Ready for Heaven and Eternal Glory. Through the infinite Satisfacton and Merits of thy Beloved Son our compassionate Saviour, who so kindly Embrac'd and Bless'd young Children, and ever Lives at thy Right Hand, to Interceed for Young and Old, the only Prevailing Advocate for us all. And to thy Mercy in him, O most Gracious God, we commend this Afflicted Child; Beseeching thee to deal well by him, and be [Page 237] Good and Kind to him; And out of the Riches of thy Grace, Provide and do abundantly, as thou knowest best for him, in Life and Death, and for evermore.

A Prayer for a Dying Man past hope of Recovery.

O The Hope of Israel, The Saviour thereof, in time of Trouble, When all other Hope and Help fails, It is not in vain to seek unto thee for Succour, who can'st bring back from the mouth of the Grave, and Quicken the very Dead: And where thou art not pleas'd any further to prolong the Temporal Life, yet can'st deliver from Eternal Death, and bring safe to the blessed Life Everlasting. For the sake of which, no Troubles or Death should be thought too much to be Endured; If by any means, we may attain to the joyful Resurrection of the Dead; and get safe to the Heavenly Canaan, The Land of the truly Living; where Death it self is swallowed up of Life; And thy Saints are above the Danger of Dying any more, and live full of Joy to Everlasting Ages. We think it too late to beg the Recovery of thy Servant, O Lord; Now that he seems to us, going the way [Page 238] of all Flesh; And just Launching forth into his Everlasting condition. But tho' the time of his Departure appears to be at hand, yet we cannot think it too Late to beg thy Mercy for him, as long as his Life is in him. And as we cannot chuse but be greatly concerned for him, So we know not how better to express this our Concernment for him, than in beseeching thee to be Good and Gracious to him.

O Lord our God, Leave him not, nor Forsake him; But Support and Assist him now in his sorest Extremities, in his last Agonies, when he is to Conflict with the King of Terrors; Let him find the most sweet and seasonable Aids from the Almighty God of his Salvation. And take him not out of this Life, till thou hast sitted him up for a Better. O thou Ever-living God, stand by him in the Dying Hour; And Secure him in thy Hands, from the deadly Enemies of his Soul: And Finish all that is Wanting of the work of thy Grace upon his Heart. Freely and fully Pardon and deliver him from all his Sins: And accomplish him to Appear with Comfort and Rejoycing in thy Blessed Presence. O make his Departure Easie, and full of Peace and Hope. Carry him safe through the [Page 239] dark Passage, upon which he is entring; And let him find it the Gate of Glory, and a Door open'd into the Everlasting Kingdom and Joy of his Lord. Into thy Hands Lord, we Commend his Spirit: O thou Father of Mercies, Be Merciful to him, and Receive his Departing Soul; And when he is number'd among the Dead, Let him be also number'd among the Redeemed and Blessed of the Lord: For his Sake, who himself Died for Sinners, and Rose again, and Lives, and is Alive for evermore, and has the Keys of Death and Hell. To thy Mercy, in that Blessed Saviour of the World, O most Merciful Father, we now humbly Recommend him: Beseeching thee to be All in All to him, And infinitely Better than we are Worthy or able to ask for him. And let him be Thine in Life and Death, and for evermore: Through the All-sufficient Merits and Mediation of thy Dear Son, our most prevailing Advocate and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

[Page 240]

A Prayer upon the News of others Death.

O Lord, the Ever-living and All-disposing God; in whose hands our Breath is; And at whose Call we must all be gone out of this World, and our Place here will no more be found. O what is Man, Every Man Living, even at his best Estate, but altogether Vanity! What Man is he that Liveth, and shall not see Death? The Great, and the Mean, The Wise and the Foolish, Good and Bad, all yield up the Ghost, and go down to the Grave. Thou art pleas'd, O my God, to give me the advantage of seeing many, my Neighbours and Acquaintance, taken away to their Long Home before me: And leavest me yet standing, The Living Monument of thy Goodness; with these Opportunities to appear before thee, in that Day of Grace, which through the Forbearance of my God, is yet over me. O what am I better than all my Fathers and Brethren, That I should be Exempted from the common Portion of all Men Living! When it is Appointed to all Men once [Page 241] to Die: And I am as sure of my own Dying, as if I were already Dead. O let me not be as the Bruits that have no Understanding, Without Mindfulness of my Mortality, or Consideration of my Latter End. But in the Death of others, Let me see as in a Glass, my own Frail and Uncertain State in the present World; How Slippery is my Standing, And how soon I must Follow all the vast Multitudes, that are gone before me out of the Land of the Living. O let me make full Account of it, and so Live, as one that surely Expects to Die. That when my own Turn shall come, I may not go off with a Heavy Heart; But depart in Peace, and Sleep in Jesus: Having my Soul Safe in thy Hands, And my Body resting in Hope of gloriously Rising at the last Day; through him who is the Resurrection and the Life, Our Blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

[Page 242]

A Prayer upon the Death of our Dear Friends.

GReat God, The Lord of all, Thou dost whatsoever thou Pleasest in Heaven and in Earth; And who may call in Question any thing which thou dost? Thou Givest, and Takest away; Raisest and Dashest our Hopes; Sendest and Destroyest our Comforts: And thou art Wise and Righteous and Good in all. 'Tis Just we should be deprived of the Enjoyments, which we nothing but Slight and Abuse: Yea, 'tis Good for us to have those things taken from us, which our Abuse makes Hurtful to us. Blessed be thy Name then, even when thou takest away, as well as when thou Givest. Yet O Lord, who art justly Displeased for our Sins, In Mercy turn these Losses to the Advantage of my Soul: And so Repair the Breaches, out of thy own Infinite Fulness, That I may find thy own Blessed Self unto me more and Better than many, even such Friends and Comforts. They were but the Instruments and Means of Conveyance; Thou the Eternal Spring and Fountain of all Good, art still the Same: And amidst all these Changes, never Changest [Page 243] at all: And what thou didst derive to me by such Means, thou canst more than make out to me another Way.

O my Heavenly Father, take my Eyes and Heart and Hope off such poor Dying Comforts, to fix them upon the only Satisfying Good; in the enjoyment of which, consists all my true Life and Peace and Bliss. And let the great Emptiness and frequent Disappointments that I find in all the Comforts of Creatures, and all the Enjoyments of the World, teach me more Wisdom, than to place my Affections and Dependance upon them; And help to Disengage and Loosen my Heart from them; And raise up my Desires and Hopes to the Glorious Permanent Objects, so infinitely to be Preferred before them. O let me be more Crucified to the World, where is nothing but Emptiness and Frustration, Vanity and Vexation of Spirit: And may I have my Conversation more in Heaven: Where is my Blessed Lord, and all his Happy Followers, of whom the World was not Worthy; And every thing that the Soul of Man can Want or Wish. O God of the Spirits of all Flesh, Especially of the Just made Perfect, Help me so to Follow thy Servants my Friends Departed in the Lord, That [Page 244] I with them, may attain at last, to live in the Sight and Presence, in the Love and Praises, and in the Fellowship and Enjoyment of thee my God, Blessed for ever.

A Prayer for Patience.

O My God! Thou knowest what an Evil World we live in; which I help to make still worse by my Sins: And I that have done so little Good, and so much Evil, must not look for all Good, and no Evil, at the Hands of God. In the World, thou hast told us, we shall have Tribulation: And O that my Tribulation may work Patience; That I may go away Contented with the Load thou art pleas'd to lay upon me; And still Possess my Soul in Patience, However tryed by Corrections from thy Hand, or by Injuries from the hands of Men. To blame the Instruments, or complain of thy Providence, under the Pressures lying upon me, will but torment and Break my self to pieces, and still add to that, which I count so Grievous to Endure. O let me better Provide for my own Ease, as well as Duty, than so to Disquiet my [Page 245] self in Vain. And whatever thou do'st with me, O Lord, let me be Dumb, and not open my Mouth, to Reply, or Murmur, Because it is thy doing; Make me to Acquiesce and rest Satisfied even in the bitterest Dispensations of thy good Providence; Contented with such things as I have, And Patient in the Want of such Comforts as I have not. And when nothing but Trouble and Sorrow is my Portion, (had I what my Sins Deserve;) O let me not be Querulous and Froward; Forasmuch as thou dealest not with me after my Sins, nor Rewardest according to my Iniquities. But may I Patiently Encounter all Difficulties and Grievances, in my Passage through this weary troublesom World; Knowing that the same Afflictions are accomplish'd in my Brethren that are in the World; And it is but the common Lot of all poor sinful Mortals here upon Earth. O make me Patient to the Coming of the Lord; Enduring all Grievous things with a Meek and quiet Spirit: Seeing they are Happy that Endure; And such as Endure to the End, shall be Saved. O my Lord, let no Pains or Sufferings, ever drive me from thee; But rather be a Means to bring me Nearer to thee. And let the Remembrance [Page 246] of the great Day of the Lord, and the Eternal State of the World to Come, work in me a Contempt of this World, Mortification of my Lusts, and Patient abiding of the Cross: Seeing it is of so little Consideration, what we do Enjoy or Endure here for a short Season; So that we be delivered from the Wrath to come, and it may go well with us for ever. O let me by Patient Continuance in well-doing, , seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality; And count nothing in this World, either Dear to Possess, or Intolerable to Suffer; So that I may finish my Course with Joy, and at the last, Rest from all my Labours and Troubles, with the Redeemed and Blessed of the Lord: Which I wait and beg for at thy Good Hands, O my Gracious Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for Preparation and Readiness to Die.

LOrd, What is our Life but a Vapour, that Appears for a little Time, and then Vanisheth away! Even at the Longest, how Short! And at the Strongest, how Frail! And when we think ourselves most Secure, Yet we know not what a Day may bring forth, to turn us out of all; Nor how soon thou may'st come, before we are Aware, to call us to our last Accounts. Quickly shall we be as Water spilt on the Ground, that cannot be gathered up again: Quickly snatch'd away from hence, and our Place here shall know us no more for ever. Our days, one after another, are spent apace: And we know not how near to us is our Last day; when our Bodies shall be laid up in the Grave, and our Souls call'd to appear at the Tribunal of God, to receive our standing Doom, for Bliss, or Woe Eternal. Yet, O Good God, How have I lived in this World, as if I should never Leave it! How Unmindful of my Latter End! [Page 248] How Improvident of my Time! How Careless of my Soul! How Negligent in my Preparation for my Everlasting condition! So that thou may'st justly bring my Last hour as a Snare upon me, to Surprize me in my Sins, and my Unpreparedness to Appear before thee. But, O Dear Father of Mercies, Remember not my Sins against me; But Remember thy own tender Mercies, and thy Loving-kindnesses; which have been ever of Old. O Remember how Short my time is: And Spare me that I may recover my Strength, before I go hence, and be no more Seen. Make me so Wise, as to Understand and Consider my Latter End: And to Remember also the Shortness of my Time: And teach me so to Number my days, that I may apply my Heart to the true Wisdom. Lord, What have I to do in this World, but to make Ready for the World to come? O that I may be Mindful of it, and Intent upon it, to Finish my Work, before I Finish my Course!

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In the days of my Health and Peace and Prosperity, O that I may Remember and Provide for the time of Trouble and Sickness and Death; when the World's Enjoyments will Shrink away from me, and prove utterly unable to Support and Help me. O let me never allow my self in any course of Living, wherein I would be Loath or Afraid to Die: But let me see my Sins Die before me, that they may never rise up in Judgment against me. And enable me so to Die unto Sin daily, that I may not Die for Sin Eternally. Instruct me, Good Lord, and Assist me in my great work of Preparation for a dying Hour; That I may not then be dreadfully Surprized, But meet it with Courage and Comfort. O Gracious God, shew me how to do it: Quicken me into a serious Concernment about it: And help me, with good Success, to Perform it. That I may be fitted for Heaven e'er I leave this Earth; And may have the sound Peace with God, through Jesus Christ, before I Depart hence into the State where I must abide for ever. O my Lord, make me so Ready to meet thee at thy Coming, that thy Coming may [Page 250] be the matter of my Hopes, and Desires and joyful Expectation: That I may Love the Appearance of Christ, who is my Life, and long for that Blessed time, when thou wilt put an everlasting Period to all my Sins and Troubles and Temptations here; and Exchange my present Being in the Body, to be ever with the Lord. O my Strength, Help me so to Live, as at the hour of Death I shall wish that I had Lived: And so to make Ready for Death all my days; That at my Last day, I may have nothing to do but to Die, and cheerfully Resign my Spirit into thy gracious Hands, O my Father, and find a merciful admission to thy Favour, and to thy Kingdom, for the sake of my only Saviour Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer in Publick Commotions and Distractions.

ALmighty Lord, the Righteous God, Thy Judgments are in all the Earth: And it is no wonder if this Wicked World should be also a Troublesome World; Where Wars and Rumors of Wars are abroad, and the Sword is making Havock among the Nations. And though we have hitherto been kept from such wasting Calamities, as have swept away Multitudes of our Brethren; Yet thou for our Sins, hast now Broken the Kingdom, and made it Tremble. O Heal the Breaches of it, for it shaketh. We have no Sanctuary to fly to for Refuge, But that Mercy of thine, O Good God, which we have so much and so often Abused and Despis'd; Nor any Help from Trouble, but what we Seek at thy Hands, who for our. Sins art justly Displeased. O thou that Waitest to be Gracious, and whose Mercy endureth for ever, Have Compassion on us, and Spare us, Good Lord, Spare thy People, whom thou hast Redeemed with thy Precious Blood, and still Signalized with thy wonderful Mercies: And Turn us again, O Lord God of Hosts, Cause thy Face to Shine, and we shall be Saved. O make [Page 250] [...] [Page 251] [...] [Page 252] us a Way to Escape out of those Fears and Dangers, wherein our Sins have involved us: That Peace may be Restored, and the Gospel of Peace, in much mercy, Continued to us and our Posterity, as long as the World endures. O that we may learn Righteousness, by thy Judgments! And not dare to go on in our Trespasses and Rebellions against thee, When thou hast a Controversy with us, and art making Inquisition for Blood amongst us! But let us so Turn to thee, in the way of our Duty, that thou may'st Turn to us in a way of Saving Mercy. And seeing this is not our Rest, and little but Alarms and Commotions, and one Deep calling to another, is to be expected in this Uncertain Tumultuous World, O that we may have our Eyes further than the Ends of the Earth, and lift them up to the Lord, from whom cometh our Help; And Seek the Continuing City to come; And lay up our Rest and our Treasure in that Kingdom which cannot be Moved: That we may Chuse the good Part which shall not be taken from us, and Flee from the Wrath to come, and have Peace in our Lord, and Hope in our Death; Even the Hope of that Eternal Life, which is thy Promise and Gift, O Blessed God, through Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer in time of Threatening Dangers.

GReat God, Holy and Just, I am amaz'd and Terrified to think of the dreadful Wages which my Sins have deserved. Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me, And my Spirit is Overwhelmed, and my Heart fails me for Fear; So that I know not what to do: But my Eyes are upon thee, My great Saviour and mighty Deliverer, to give me that Help, which from Man 'tis Vain to Expect. And at this time that I am Afraid, I will Trust in thee; and under the Shadow of thy Wings make my Refuge, till these Calamities be over-past. O my Lord, Take me to thy Fatherly Care, and thy Almighty Protection. And Save me from the hands of my Enemies, and from Feeling the Evils which I Fear to come upon me. O Dispel the Clouds, and Turn away the Storms, and Clear up the Face of Heaven, so Blacken'd now over our Heads. Thou Lord, that knowest how to Deliver, and never art a Loss to Effect what thou Wilt, Command Deliverances for me, I beseech thee; And be not far from me, when Trouble seems so Nigh [Page 254] to me: But let me find thy Help at hand, in this Time and Case of my Need.

O my God, Thou hast been a Shelter for me, and a strong Tower of Defence from the Enemy. And though I walk in the midst of Trouble, thou wilt Revive me: Thou wilt stretch forth thy Hand upon my Enemies, And thy Right hand shall save me. O my Saviour, I fly to thee, to Hide me. Be thou pleased to Defend me from them that Rise up against me. Consider the Trouble that I suffer of them that Hate me: And lead me in thy Righteousness, because of my Enemies; make thy way Straight before my Face. Deliver me, O Lord, from the Evil and Violent man, and from my Persecutors, that are Stronger than I. O let not any that are my Enemies wrongfully, Rejoyce over me: But shew me some Token for Good, That they who Hate me, may See it, and be Ashamed, Because thou, Lord, hast Holpen and Comforted me. O Fortify me against that Fear of any men, which would Terrify me out of my Duty to thee my God. Let me never be so Awed by them, as to make Bold with thee, and Trespass upon thee; to Escape them, or to Ingratiate myself with them. Thou hast been my Help; be thou pleased to come in now to my Succour; [Page 255] And shew thy self, Graciously and Powerfully on my behalf. Do it, Lord, for the Glory of thy Name, for the Merits of thy Son, and for thy own Mercy Sake. That I may see thy Hand, and Praise thy Power, and Admire thy Love, and Adore thy Grace and Goodness, while I have my Being.

A Prayer upon the Remembrance of former Sins.

O Who can understand his Errors? Who can call to Mind the Innumerable Offences of all his Life? When ever since we could do any thing, Alas, what have we done that is free from Sin? But O the Heinous Offences, the Presumptuous Sins, the great Transgressions, whereof I have been Guilty! Which stare me in the Face, and Recoil upon my Heart, and cast down my Soul within me! Because I have committed them with so many foul aggravating Circumstances; against such Light and Love, Means and Mercies, Calls and Warnings, Convictions and Experiences, and all the sundry and mighty Obligations from the Lord. I am cover'd with Confusion, O my God, [Page 256] and fill'd with bitter Remorse, and ghastly Fears; as often as I look back upon such Blots, and Falls, and Scandals of my Life. O if they should rise up in the Judgment against me, they could not but utterly Sink and Ruin me. But, Lord my God, Help me so to Remember, that thou may'st Forget them: So to Charge them upon my self, that thou may'st never lay them to my Charge: So to keep them before my Eyes, to Abase and Humble my Soul; That thou may'st Hide thy Face from my Sins, and Blot out all my Iniquities; Especially those that are so Counfounding and Terrible to my Thoughts. O let me ever walk Humbly before thee, Seeing I have so Shamefully Sinned against thee. And though thou hast kept me from my deserved Shame in this World, O let not thy Indulgence embolden me to Repeat, or Slight the Wickedness; But let this thy Goodness, O my God, work in me a more deep and serious Repentance.

And thou, Lord Almighty, who alone can'st bring Good out of Evil, Be thou pleased to make my past Falls, an Occasion of my Surer Standing for the Future. O Embitter the Pleasures of [Page 257] Sin to me, and Hedge up the ways of Wickedness, as with Briars and Thorns before me; That I may Loath, as much as ever I have Loved, the Offensive things, And never Return again to Folly. O let the Flames wherewith I have been Scorched, Terrify me from being any more so Concerned. And let the Sense and Remembrance of all the Former Offences of my Life, Quicken and Awaken me, as into the deeper Repentance for 'em, So into the more careful Circumspection and Watchfulness against 'em. That I may not be so Strange to thee my God, as I have been; Nor Trespass upon thee, and Rebel against thee, as I have done: But pass the time of my Sojourning here in Fear; And be more Tender, and Wary, and Vigilant, all the days of my Life.

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A Prayer under Fears and Doubts of our Spiritual Condition.

O Lord my God, I hope thou hast, of thy rich Mercy, Changed and Renew'd me in some measure; And wrought a Good Work upon me, to bring me out of my Natural and Damnable condition, into the State of Grace and Salvation. But yet the Carnal Nature is so Predominant over me, and many Sins so Lively and Strong in me, And still I find the Good things of thy Spirit in so much Weakness and Imperfection upon me; That the Sorrows of my Heart are enlarged, and my Soul is Disquieted within me: Seeing too frequent cause to Question, Whether my Spots are the Spots of thy Children; Whether I have known the Grace of God in Truth, And whether I do not Deceive my self, in Reckoning upon that, which I neither Am, nor Have.

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Mine Eyes are to thee, O God the Lord, Leave not my Soul Destitute. From the Ends of the Earth will I cry to thee; When my heart is Overwhelmed within me, Lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I. O Lord Rebuke me not in thy Anger, Neither Chasten me in thy Sore Displeasure. Forsake me not, O my God, Be not far from me. Make haste to Help me, O Lord my Salvation. Attend to my Cry, for I am brought very Low: Hear me speedily, My Spirit fails. Save me, O God, for the Waters are come in to my Soul: I sink in the deep Mire, where there is no Standing. Bring my Soul out of Prison, that I may Praise thy Name.

O shew me the true Estate of my Soul: And make me to know the things that are Freely given me of God. And Deliver me, Gracious Lord, from all those things that Provoke thee to Hide thy Face from me, And that wrap up my Soul in Clouds and Darkness, and make me so much a Stranger to Peace and Comfort. O grant that I may have a clear discovery of the Evidences of my Calling and Election; And Seal a comfortable Assurance of thy Blessed Love in Christ [Page 260] Jesus to my Soul. O thou that did'st bid the Winds and Waves, Peace, be still, And they Obeyed thee, Settle my Discomposed Mind, and Quiet my Troubled Breast; And bring me to see the Light of thy Countenance, and the Joy of thy Salvation. O thou that art of Power to Stablish us, be pleased to Establish my Heart with Grace; And let me be Rooted and Grounded in the Faith: That I may not Stagger through Unbelief: But hold the beginning of my Confidence Stedfast to the End. Rejoyce the Soul of thy Servant; For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my Soul. And let the Joy of the Lord be my Strength, to make me Victorious over my Sins, and always to Abound in thy Work; Never pleas'd so much with any thing, as to do the things pleasing to my God, through Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer under the Dread of God's Wrath, and Everlasting Damnation.

O Lord the great and Dreadful God, against whom I have greatly Sinned, and who for my Sins art justly Displeased. When I consider the Holiness of thy Laws, and the Strictness of thy Justice; And when I reflect upon the Heinous and Innumerable Sins of my Heart and Life, My Flesh Trembles for Fear of thee, and I am Afraid of thy Judgments. O who may stand in thy Sight, when once thou art Angry? Who can bear up for ever, under all the Vials of thy Wrath, to the uttermost pour'd out! When thy Mercy shall be clean gone, and thou shalt Cast off, and shew Favour no more! Yet even that Damnation would be my Woful Portion, which I could no more Avoid than Abide; Shouldest thou, O Lord, enter into Judgment with me, and proceed as thou mightest, against me: I could then hope for no better, but to be depriv'd of all the Comforts of this Life, and to be deliver'd into the bitter Pains of Eternal Death. But though the Wages of my Sins [Page 262] be that Death, Yet the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. O for his dear Sake, who has Satisfyed thy Justice, and Appeased thy Wrath for all our Offences, Even thy Son, who was Deliver'd up into the hands of Sinners, that he might Deliver us from the Wrath to come, And Suffer'd and Dyed once, that we might not Suffer and Die for ever, O God the Father of Heaven, Have Mercy upon me a miserable Sinner. And from thy Wrath, and from Everlasting Damnation, Good Lord Deliver me. And help me, in the Fear of thee my God, to Flee from the Wrath to come; And to rid my Hands and my Heart, of every Cursed thing, that Provokes the Lord to Kill and cast Sinners into Hell.

O thou Blessed Saviour of the World, Save me from my Sins, and from all their dismal Effects: And Reconcile me to God, and make my Peace, through the Blood of thy Cross. Thou tookest upon thee our Mortal Nature, That thou mightest through Death Destroy him who had the Power of Death; And Deliver them, who through Fear of Death, were all their Life time subject to Bondage. Have compassion, Lord, I beseech thee, on my Infirmities; [Page 263] and suffer me not to be overpower'd by my own Fears: Nor distrust the Efficacy of thy Death, or Intercession; but give me everlasting Consolation, and Good Hope, through Grace. And being Justifyed by Faith, O let me have Peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Hide not thy Face from me, O my Lord, Lest I be like to them that go down into the Pit. But Revive my Soul, with the Sense of thy Love, and the Hopes of thy full Absolution, and Everlasting Salvation: That I may give thee Thanks from the ground of the heart; and shew with Gladness, what thou hast done for my Redeemed Soul; And joyfully sing thy Praise, and keep in thy Love, Looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to Eternal Life.

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A Prayer under Strong Temptations.

HOly God! I desire to Humble my self here before thee for that continual Proneness which is in me, to Sin against thee; That I am so Unlike to Thee; and so Contrary to what thy Holy Laws require me to be. After all the great things thou hast done for me, Alas, How apt am I still to Spoil and Undo my self! The malicious Tempter is laying Snares for me every where: And the things of this World are still pressing hard upon me; Either to Terrify me out of my Duty, Or to Humour me into my Ruin. And O how ready is my sinful Flesh, to Side with the Cruel Enemy, against my own Soul! Innumerable Evils have compass'd me about; My Iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to Look up. They are more than the Hairs of my Head, therefore my Heart fails me. O the Sin that still dwelleth in me, that is so nigh to me, that does so easily Beset me, and is so apt to Prevail against me; To pull me away from the Obedience of thy Blessed Will; And to engage me in Forbidden things, Displeasing in thy Sight, and [Page 265] Destructive to my Soul! O Wretched man that I am! Who shall Deliver me from the Body of this Death! When the Custom of Sinning has so Increased my Sinful Inclinations, That the Leopard may as soon Change his Spots, and the Ethiopian his Skin, as I who am Accustomed to Evil, can of my self Cease from it: If the Lord of Hosts be not with me; If the God of Jacob be not my Refuge.

But with thee, the Almighty God, all things are Possible: Yea, thou canst as easie make us Holy, as Bid us be so. To thee the very Powers of Hell are Weakness: Nothing in the World can Resist thy Will. O Pity thy poor Tempted Creature, and give me not up, in Justice, to a Reprobate Sense, and to Vile Affections; Nor to such Blindness of Mind, and Hardness of Heart, as should render me past Feeling: Nor ever Punish my Former Sins, by giving me over to their Sway and Power. But let it be thy gracious Pleasure, O Lord, that all my Prevailing Iniquities may flee and Perish at thy Presence. O give out the Commanding-Word to these filthy Corruptions, Hitherto shall ye go, and no further. Speak Death to my Sins, that my Soul may Live, and for ever Bless thy Name. Stop and Heal the Running Sores, That they [Page 266] may no more Break out, as they have done, to the Dishonour of thy Name, the Wounding of my Conscience, and Hind'ring the Concerns of my own and others present Peace, and Eternal Bliss. Yea, so Sanctify my Nature, O Lord, and Renew me, even in the Spirit of my Mind, That my Heart may Rise against the Sinful Evils: And that I may Hate all Iniquity, and every False way; So Resisting the Devil, that I may not Conspire with the Deadly Enemy of Souls, to Undo my self. O give me Power from on High, to set me above the Power of my Sins: And give me Grace Sufficient, to turn my Heart against the Love of my Sins: That I may not be False in thy Covenant, nor False to my own chief Interest; But manfully fight thy Battles, and approve my self thy Faithful Soldier and Servant, to my Life's End. That being so Faithful until Death, thou may'st give unto me the Crown of Life; And take me at last from this Warfare, to Reign with thee World without End.

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A Prayer for Chastity.

O God of infinite Purity! Thou hast called us, Not to Uncleanness, but to Holiness. Thou hast commanded us to be Holy, as thou art Holy: And hast promised to none but the Pure in Heart, to See and Enjoy thee, in the Beauties of Holiness, and the Joys above. O how shall I, a Polluted Wretch, shew my self before thy Heavenly Majesty, who art perfect Purity, and in whose Sight even Heaven it self is not Clean! O most Gracious Lord! Look not upon me, as I am in my self, and as I through my Sins, have made my self Vile, even in my own Eyes: For then thou can'st not chuse but Abhor my Soul, and pour out all thy Wrath upon me. But Wash me throughly from my Iniquity; And Cleanse me from all my Sin and Guilt, in that Fountain open'd for Sin and for Uncleanness, The Precious Blood of the Lamb of God, slain to take away the Sins of the World. Lord, if thou wilt, Thou can'st make me Clean: O Create a Clean Heart in me; And say to my Sin-Defiled Soul, as thou did'st to the Leper, I will, Be thou Clean: And I shall be Cleans'd, and fitted now for thy holy Service, and hereafter for thy [Page 268] Heavenly Glory. O my God! Cast the Unclean Spirit out of thy Temple: And if he will not out, but by Prayer and Fasting; Let me add such Abstinence to my Prayers, as may help to Starve the Fleshly Lusts, that War against my Soul. And by any Means, Help me, My Strength and my Redeemer, to Possess my Vessel in Sanctification and Honour, Not in the Lust of Concupiscence, as those that know not God. Holy Lord! Chase away the Birds of Prey, that would devour thy Sacrifice; And drive out these Unclean Beasts, that would Trample down the Plantation of thy Grace in my Soul. O let me not live after the Flesh, Lest I Eternally Die; But by the Spirit so Mortify the Deeds of the Body, that I may for ever Live. Instead of doing the Works of the Flesh, Let me Hate the very Garment Spotted with it; And not without Detestation, once Name the Filthy Lusts. Help me, My God, to Avoid every Occasion of Falling: And to Abstain from all Appearance of Evil; And so to Delight in Purity, and to keep my self from my Iniquity, That I may lead the Noble Spiritual Life, as becomes the Child of my Heavenly Father: And not Grieve thy Holy Spirit, O God, But be Pleasing in thy Blessed Sight, Through Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for the Mortification of all Fleshly Lusts.

I Have Vow'd and Promised unto thee, my God, To Renounce all the Sinful Lusts of the Flesh; And am Devoted, as Holy to the Lord: That having Put on Jesus Christ, I should not make provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lust thereof; But Cleanse my self from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, Perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God. But though I have some Delight in the Law of God, after the Inner man: Yet I find another Law in my Members, warring against the Law of my Mind, bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin, which is in my Members: And this I acknowledge and Bewail to thee, O Lord Almighty! who alone canst set me Free from the Lusts that are too hard for me. O Help me, Lord God of my Salvation, against the Power of these prevailing Iniquities: And Purge away all my Sins, for the Glory of thy Name. May the time Past of my Life suffice, to have served my own Lusts and Pleasures: O let not Sin, any longer Reign in my mortal Body, that I should Obey it in the Lusts thereof. But help me, Lord, to cut off [Page 270] the Right Hand, and to pluck out the Right Eye; to Keep under my Body, and to bring it into Subjection: That I may have the Mastery of my Lusts, and Overcome the Sins, that have so often Overcome me. O Mortify and Destroy in me every Rebellioas Motion, and every Vicious Inclination, that exalts it self against the Gospel and Government of Christ Jesus; That gives Satan Advantage over me, and hinders my Saviour from Reigning as a King, Supream in my Heart.

Preserve me, Lord most Holy! from all those Sinful Pleasures, that would make me fall Short of the Heavenly Pleasures, which are at thy Right Hand for evermore. O let me not lead a Sensual Life, Minding the things of the Flesh, as if they were the only Esteemed and Beloved things: But make me so Spiritually-Minded, That I may, above all things, Savour and Relish the things of the Spirit of God. Let not Sinful Flesh and Lust, but thy Heavenly Spirit and Grace, have the Predominancy in my Soul; To Guide and Govern my Heart and Life. Especially let the Sins, to which I am most strongly Inclined, be effectually Subdued. O let me not yield my self the miserable Slave of my Soul-ruining [Page 271] Lusts; But carry my self as the Wise, and Faithful Follower of my Heavenly Lord and Saviour. And as thou who hast Called me, art Holy, So make me Holy, in Disposition, and in all my Conversation; Such a Lover and Follower of Holiness, that I may See and Enjoy the Lord. O gird me with might to that Spiritual Conflict, wherein I am engaged, not only against Flesh and Blood, but Internal Foes, too Strong for me to deal with; That through Christ Strengthening me, I may go on Conquering and to Conquer all that withstands thy Glory, and my Salvation, Till Satan be Bruised under my Feet: That nothing may ever be able to Separate me from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord.

A Prayer before the Hearing of God's Word.

O Most Blessed Lord, the God of all Grace! who art pleas'd to send out thy Light and thy Truth among us; Both to Discover our Sins unto us, And also to make the way of Life and Salvation Plain before us: Be thou pleased also to send the [Page 270] [...] [Page 271] [...] [Page 272] Spirit of thy Son into our Hearts: That he who is the Author, may also be the Interpreter of thy Word; To make it plain to our Understandings, To set it home powerfully upon our Hearts, and to render it the Savour of Life unto our Souls. The Lord Open our Ears, and Quicken our Attention, to Receive what shall be Deliver'd from thy Word, with Carefulness and Meekness, and with all Readiness and Gladness, and Love and Delight in it, and Desire to come on, and Grow by it. And Strengthen our Memories, to Treasure up and Retain what we Hear; That we may not let it Slip, without making our Benefit of it, and being the Better for it. O Gracious God! Teach us to Profit; And make our Improvements more answerable to those Means of Grace, which through thy Mercy we do enjoy. Let the Word which shall Sound in our Ears, also Sink down into our Hearts, and Take Root in our Souls, and Produce and shew the Fruits of it in our Lives: That we may not be Forgetful Hearers, but faithful Doers of thy holy Word. O let the immortal Seed of this Heavenly Word, beget such Principles of Grace and Holiness in our Hearts, that may [Page 273] be in us, as a Well of Water, Springing up to Everlasting Life. Make us so Obedient to the holy Precepts, that we may also Inherit the Glorious Promises of thy Word. O let our Teachers be taught of God. And direct the Stewards of thy Mysteries to give unto every one their Portion in due Season. Yea, give, Lord, thy heavenly Benediction and Increase, upon the Planting and Watering of thy Servants: And make the waters of the Sanctuary Healing to our Souls. Yea, make thy Word as Fire in the mouths of thy Messengers: And set home the Sword of the Spirit with thy own Hand; Making it Mighty through God, to the pulling down of Strong Holds; And Subduing all Opposition to the Obedience of Christ. O let thy Spirit cause thy Word to do thy Great and Gracious Work Effectually upon all our Hearts, for which we may have Reason to give thee Praise and Glory to all Eternity.

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A Prayer for Increase of Grace.

O God of all Grace! Who both Quickenest the Dead, and after thou hast given Life, givest the Increase: Thy People go from Strength to Strength, Growing in Grace, till they Appear before thee in Glory. And the Path of the Just is as the Shining Light, Shining more and more, to the perfect Day. But, O Lord! How Barren and Unfruitful have I been among the Trees of Righteousness! And how little have I made my Profiting and Progress appear, under all thy gracious Means, and abundant Mercies! Yea, how Weak and Low am I still in my Spiritual Estate! O how small is my Will and Strength to that which is Good! How much am I behind many of thy Servants, who have not had the Helps and Advantages which I so long have enjoyed! And how little is it to be seen in my Life, what great things the Lord has done for my Soul! O my God! I have not Improved the Talents, which thou hast put into my hands; Nor answered the Care and Kindness of Heaven, which I have so long Experienc'd. Thou hast not been Wanting to me, O Good Lord! But I have been exceedingly Wanting to my Self, and to that Duty which I owe to [Page 275] my God. I am Ashamed that it is no Better with me: That so many Mercies have been Spilt and Lost upon me. Forgive me, O my Father! and Repair thy holy Image in me; Who have so much Dishonoured thee, and Disabled and Spoil'd my self. O help me still more and more, to Put off the Old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts; And to put on the New, which, after God, is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness. What ever else I want, Lord deny me not thy Grace; But Increase it in me, And Discover it still more and more upon me. Yea, let the Graces of thy Spirit, that accompany Salvation, so Flourish in my Soul, That the Peace of God which passeth all understanding may keep my Heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

Blessed Saviour! who camest into the World, that we might have Life, and have it more Abundantly! Of thy Fulness let me receive Grace Sufficient for me; to make me Strong in the Lord, and Ready to every Good work. My Life, My Strength, and My Redeemer! Leave me not under the Curse of Barrenness, To stand at a Stay, or to Decline in my Spiritual estate: But as thou hast wrought all my Works in me, Stablish, O God, that which thou hast wrought for me: And Strengthen the things [Page 276] which remain, that are ready to Die: And Cherish all the Seeds of Grace sown in my Heart; That my Soul may Prosper and Increase with the Increase of God; As a watered Garden, and a Spring whose Waters Fail not: Growing in Knowledge and Grace, and Abounding in all those Fruits of Righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the Glory and Praise of God. That so I may be fully satisfied of the Truth of thy Grace in me, by its Growing upon me. O my Lord! Carry on with Power the work of Faith and Sanctification in my Soul; That my sinful Corruption, every day like the House of Saul, may grow Weaker and Weaker; And thy Grace in me, every day, like the House of David, may grow Stronger and Stronger; Till from Groaning under Sin, the Body of this Death, I come to Triumph over all that opposes and hinders the Progress of my Spiritual Life. And as thou art pleas'd to afford me the Means of Grace, O grant me the Increase of thy Grace, to answer the End of all those Means: That in the use of them, I may be made still Wiser, and Holier, and Better, and fitter for thy Blessed Acceptance in Jesus Christ my only Saviour.

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A Prayer for Quickening Grace.

I Acknowledge and bewail before thee, O Lord, the Living and All-seeing God, my sinful Dulness and Indisposedness for the Duties of thy holy Service. When I should Delight in the Law of God, and Serve thee with Gladness, and make it my Meat and Drink, to do the Will of my Heavenly Father; O how Cold and Listless am I to that which is the Best for me, and which does most nearly and Eternally concern me! I am Alive to the World, and very apt to be Transported with Sensual Objects: But O how Heavy and Dead to those Offices of Attendance on my Lord, which are the Glory and Joy of all the Worthies of Heaven! My Soul cleaves to the Dust of the Earth: Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy Word; According to the word of thy Precept, which does Command us to be Spiritually-minded, to Abound in thy Work, and not to be Slothful in business, but Fervent in Spirit, Serving the Lord. And Quicken me, O my Lord! according to the word of thy Promise, That Sin shall not have Dominion over thy Servants; And that thou wilt Perfect what concerns [Page 278] thy People. Dear Lord! be thou pleas'd to Perfect that which concerns my Soul. And engage the Love of my Heart to thy Service; And make me Delight to do thy Will, O God; and with an Enlarged heart, to run the way of thy Commands. O help me to put forth my self with Vigor and Activity in thy holy Ways; and to apply my self to the performance of thy Blessed Pleasure, Not only because I Must; but because it is the Desire of my Soul, and the Joy of my Heart, to be so taken up: That nothing in the World may give me so much Cheerfulness and sweet Satisfaction, as to Approve my Heart unto my God, and my Ways pleasing in thy Sight, Through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for Ability to acquit our selves as we ought, in our several Places and Relations.

O Lord, our Lord! Thy Word enjoyns us, Wherein we are Called, therein to Abide, with God. And this is the Duty which we are especially to take Care of; (Next to the Care of our Souls) To study to be Quiet, and to do our own Business. That we may Provide for ourselves, and for our Dependants; [Page 279] And render to all their Dues; And not be Burdensom, but Helpful to others. O thou that givest Skill and Ability, for the performance of these Offices, to which thou Callest, Teach and Enable me, I beseech thee, for the work of my Place, and all the duties of my Calling. Good Lord! Pardon all my past Unfaithfulness and Negligence herein: And Direct and Bless, and Accept and Assist me, in Discharging it for the time to come. O make me so Contented with what I get by Honest means, that I may never offer to go beyond or Defraud my Neighbours in any matter; But be punctually Just in all my Dealings: And Conscientiously perform my duty in all my Relations; Carrying my self as I ought towards every one, with whom I am any way concern'd in the World; Whether Superior, Equal, or Inferior; Offensive to none, But (as I have Power and Opportunity for it) Good and Useful to all. O let me not walk Disorderly, nor be guilty of the Impertinence and mischief, To be Negligent at Home, and to Busie my self Abroad, in other mens Matters. But may I Keep my own Station; And with quietness work and eat my own Bread; And provide things Honest in the sight of all men; [Page 280] Following after that which is lovely, and of good Report; And herein exercising my self, to have always the Conscience void of Offence towards God, and towards Men. Yea, whatever any may justly expect from me, Help me, O my God, to discharge it faithfully and acceptably. And command a Blessing, Lord, upon all my honest Labours and Endeavours; And make them Successful, to promote my own and others real and Eternal Good, and to Glorify thy Blessed Name, through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for Grace to Serve the Lord with Gladness.

O My God! Thou art a Lord that hast Pleasure in the Prosperity of thy Servants: And thy Servants have all the greatest reason to be most highly Pleas'd in the performance of thy Service. It is Good for me to Draw nigh to God; in whose Presence is fulness of Joy: And the Hearts of them may Rejoyce that seek the Lord. For thou dost not Imploy us, but to Oblige us; Not for any Advantage to thy self, But only for our own greatest Good every way; that [Page 281] it may go well with us, both here and for ever. O my Lord! I am full of Trouble and Confusion, That ever I should be so Listless, as I have been to thy Blessed work: And so Liveless in it, and soon weary of it; To the Dishonour of thy Name, and the Reproach of thy Service; As if I had a Hard Master, and a fruitless Work; O that I should bear as a Burden, that which should be the Solace of my Life, and the Rejoycing of my Heart! Forgive me, I beseech thee, Good Lord, all this which I Bewail before thee: And Heal the Indisposedness in me, which makes thy Service a Weariness to me. And so Renew my Spirit; And Draw and Joyn my Heart to thy Blessed Self, That I may not serve thee as out of Compulsion, but Inclination; Not as Forcing my self, but Loving thy Work. O rid my mind of that tormenting Dread, which makes me Uneasie in the Service of my Lord. And give me a Heavenly Heart, set upon the Heavenly Business; And such a mighty Love, as may Sweeten all my Obedience: That I may not account it Grievous or Tedious; but my Soul's Satisfaction and exceeding Joy. O let me not Serve thee, my God, with the Spirit of Bondage, as a Slave; But with the [Page 282] Cheerfulness and Gladness of an Ingenuous Child: Sitting down with Delight under thy Shadow; Delighting my self in the Lord, and so Pleased with thy Work, that my Services may also be Pleasing in thy Sight, through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for Skill to Carry ourselves aright among all with whom we are concern'd in the World.

O Lord my God! I desire to Humble my self in thy Sight, for all the Folly, Indecency and Disorder of my Conduct: That I have so frequently fail'd in it, and so foully Miscarried and Lost my self in my Intercourse with my Neighbours: That my Example has too often tended more to the Hardening, than to the Converting of Sinners: And that I have lain as a Stumbling-Block, and Rock of Offence, in the way of my Brethren; Not only Prone to be Tempted with Evil, and to be overcome my self: But also becoming a Temptation and Snare to others; So as to Draw them to Sin, or to Embolden them in it. Though thou hast shew'd me what is Good, and made me to know Better things, and laid the [Page 283] greatest Engagement upon me, to be Faithful in thy Covenant: Yet, O how apt have I been to lose my Relish of the things of God, among sinful Men! How apt to be carried into Folly, in the Stream of the Company! To fall into base Compliances, and consent with Sinners, and Follow the Multitude to Evil.

O my God! give me Repentance and Pardon, for all my own Sins: And for all the Guilt which I have contracted, in being Accessory to the Sins of others. And so Fortify me with thy Grace, that I may not be in such danger, to be Awed or Seduced out of my Religion: That I may never be Ashamed of Christ before Men; But boldly Appear for thy Truth and Holiness, even in the Face of an Evil and Faithless Generation. O teach me to walk in Wisdom, towards them that are Without; and in all Kindness towards them that are Within: And without Offence, (in Prudence and Usefulness) to all. Make me wise in the Choice, and in the Use of my Company; That they may not be to me, Nor I to them, an Occasion of Falling; But that we may be Mutual Helps and Edifiers of one another; and [Page 284] Examples of all that is Good and Imitable, and Praise-worthy. O Great Lord! Make me so faithful to thee, and to my own Conscience; That no Conversation with any in the World, may Discompose the Religious Frame of my Soul: That I may not be Startled at any bold Censures of thy Ways and Wisdom; Nor ever Draw back from thee, for the Contradiction of Sinners: But cease from Man, whose Breath is in his Nostrils, For wherein is he to be accounted of? O turn my Fear of their Faces into Love of their Immortal Souls; who are my Fellow-Servants in thy Work, and Fellow-Travellers to our Long Home; and should be Faithful, and would be Happy. And where I cannot promote their Duty and Felicity, Yet Grant, O Lord, That they may not hinder Mine; That where I am not Edified, I may not be Corrupted by 'em.

O my God! may thy Presence ever Sway me, more than the Presence of any Men: That I may count it a small thing to be Judged of them; And not be Determined by their Way or Humor: But Regard my own Conscience, more than others Opinion; and [Page 285] do all in the Sight of God, Heartily as to the Lord: Not in so much care to Ingratiate my self with any, as to Please the great Judge of all. Yet keep thy Servant, O Lord, from giving Scandal and Offence to any; That I may not by Pride and Passion, by Vanity and Indiscretion, or by Morosity and sowr Opposition, disparage my Profession; make the way of Truth, through me, to be Evil-spoken of. But help me, My God and Guide, to walk Circumspectly, and to speak and act with due Consideration of all Times and Places, Persons and Circumstances. That I may Wisely behave my self, and guide my Affairs with Discretion; And so go in and out among Men upon Earth, as to preserve my Integrity in thy Sight, and have my Conversation in Heaven, and still enjoy that most Blessed Fellowship with thee my Heavenly Father, and thy Dear Son, my only Saviour.

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A Prayer for Grace to use our Speech aright.

O Lord our Gracious God! who hast given us Reason and Speech to Express our minds to one another, and to Converse comfortably together. What great Cause have we to Praise thee, that we are so fearfully and Wonderfully Made! And our Tongues, that are our Glory, are most of all so, when with them we set forth thy Glory! But, alas, That I have so much cause to Humble my self, for all the Abuses of my Tongue; And that I have so many ways Perverted the happy Priviledge of Speaking; Either holding my Peace, where I should have spoke to thy Honour and the Good of my Neighbour; Dumb and Tongue-ti'd to thy Praise, and to Pious Conference with thy Servants: Or else pouring out Words, to Dishonour thy Name, to Wrong my own Soul, and to Offend and Injure others. Forgive me, O Merciful God! I beseech thee, all my sinful Silence; My Vain and Idle Words; and my Evil, Corrupt Communication. And help me so to Speak, as to Express thy Grace in my Heart; and [Page 287] to minister the same to my Hearers. Set a Watch, O Lord, before my Mouth, and Keep the Door of my Lips; That nothing thence may proceed, but what shall be some way or other good for the use of Edisying. Help me to keep my Mouth, as with a Bridle, when I am provok'd to Speak Unadvisedly with my Lips. And let no Profane or Filthy Speeches proceed out of my Mouth; Nor any thing be said by me, that ought not to be Named among Christians.

O Lord! Open thou my Lips, That my Mouth may shew forth thy Praise. Make me forward to Speak for thee, and for the Service of thy Truth, and the Glory of thy Name: But as Slow to Speak any Evil, to Defile my self, or to Hurt my Neighbour. Give me, Lord, a Considerate Mind, to Weigh what is fit to be said: And make me Wise and Serious, Sober and Modest; Pious and Charitable, in what I speak: That it may be without Offenee; but not without some Profit, to the Partners in my Conversation. O fill my Heart with such Grace, that out of the Good Treasure, I may be ever and anon producing somewhat, to oblige the Company, and to advance thy Glory. And put such Thoughts into my Mind, and such Words into my Mouth, That my Tongue [Page 288] may be as the Pen of a Ready Writer; To utter things Seasonable and Acceptable, for the Benefit of my Associates: And that I may never abuse the Liberty of Speech, into the Licentiousness of Vain or Evil Speaking: But turn and imploy it to the Wise, Good and Worthy Ends, for which it was given; And speak of, and for thy Testimonies, even before the Greatest, without being Ashamed.

O Lord! Restrain the Blasphemous and Brutish Generation, that set their Mouths against Heaven, and out of those open Sepulchres Belch forth Impieties and Impurities, to Dishonour him that made them, To Grieve the Souls of thy Servants, and to spread the Contagion of their Ungodliness. O fill their faces with Shame for what they have done, and their Hearts with Dread, to stop them from proceeding so any further. Confound the Viperous Brood that Hiss and vent their Venom against thy holy Ways: And give them other Tongues; that they may use thy Gifts to better purpose. O let the Lying Lips be put to Silence, that speak Grievous things proudly and Contemptuously against the Righteous. And let such as Fear thee, and think upon thy Name, Speak often to [Page 289] one another; so as to promote and set forward their common Edification and Consolation, and Eternal Salvation, Through thy gracious Goodness to 'em in Jesus Christ.

The Convinced Sinner's Prayer.

HEarken to the Voice of my Cry, My King and my God! for unto thee will I pray. But wherewithal shall I appear before the Lord, and Bow my self to the most High God; Whose holy Laws I have Broken, and whose just Displeasure I have Incurred! I acknowledge my Transgression, O Lord, and my Sin is ever before me. My Iniquities are gone over my Head as a sore Burden, they are too Heavy for me to bear. When thou with Rebukes dost Chasten Man for Iniquity, thou makest his Beauty to consume away like a Moth. My Sin now has found me out; And that which once I thought too little to be Repented, seems now too Great to be Pardoned. I Flatter'd my self in my own Eyes, till my Iniquity is found to be Hateful. I thought I was Rich, and increas'd with Goods, and had need of nothing: But now I find that I am Miserable, and Wretched, and Poor, and [Page 290] Blind, and Naked. So that there is nothing but Disorder and Ruin in my Soul. I have Undone my self; But [...]o work my own Recovery, I have no Sufficiency. O how Wicked have I been, to Allow my self in the Way and Mind, which is Enmity against God! How Ignorant, yet how Confident! How Vile, Yet how Arrogant! In what need of Mercy, Yet how Unmerciful! How Sinful, yet how Impenitent! How Bold in the Sins where Conscience reprov'd me; But how Cold in the Cause where thy Spirit encourag'd me! O the Spoils, and Ruins, and Desolations which my Sins have made in my Soul! How have they Darkned my Mind, Perverted my Will, Debased my Affections, Disorder'd my Passions, Hard'ned my Heart, and Seduc'd it away from my most Good and ever Blessed God, to Cleave unto the things Displeasing in thy Sight, and Destructive to my Soul!

There is no Hiding any thing from thee, the Infinite God, who fillest Heaven and Earth. What shall I say unto thee, Lord! I scarce know how to say Bad enough of my self. O Wo is me, That I have done so Foolishly and Wickedly! Whither shall I betake my self, When against thee, O Lord, I have so Sinned, [Page 291] and done such Evil in thy Sight! Thou art the Offended Majesty I cannot get out of the Reach of: And whose Judgments I can never be able to Bear up under. A guilty Consciousness makes me Afraid to come unto thee: Yet I know there is nothing but certain Destruction, to keep away from thee. And though there is no Peace to the Wicked, so Continuing: Yet if the Wicked Forsake his Way, and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts, and Return to the Lord; Thy Promise then, O God, is to have Mercy upon him, and Abundantly to Pardon. I have none to seek to for Remedy against my Sins, but unto the Just and Holy God, against whom I have so Grievously Sinned. And how shall I stand in thy Sight, O Lord, Who Hatest and Condemnest the Works of Darkness, and the Workers of Iniquity? Whose Wrath against Sin Burns as Deep as Hell, and as Long as Eternity!

I submit, Great Lord, to thy Offended Majesty: And I have no hopeful Prospect, looking any way, but to thy Almighty Power, thy Superabounding Grace, and thy ever-enduring Mercy: Who at the Lowest, canst Raise; and at the Worst art able to Relieve us. Nothing is too Hard for thee to Effect: [Page 292] The most wretched Case is not past thy Cure. Though our Sins be as Scarlet, Thou can'st make them as white as Snow: Though they be Red like Crimson, thou can'st make them as Wool. Yea, thou hast found a Ransom, and laid Help upon one that is Mighty; And able to Save to the uttermost all that come to God through him. If I had not Sinned, I had no need of such a Redeemer: But they were Sinners whom he came to Save. And therefore to the Lord Jesus I look, with the desire of my Soul, to find a Healing for this sinful Soul of mine, in the precious Blood of his Cross. O Good God! when my Sins cry to thee for Vengeance, Be thou pleas'd to hear his Blood and Merits pleading and Interceding for my Soul, and speaking better things in my behalf, than I am able to do for my self in all my Prayers.

Behold, O Merciful Lord, a Miserable Object, on which to Glorify thy Power and Compassion, thy Wonderful work, and great Salvation! O look upon me, in my Blood, and bid me Live. Speak Death to my Sins, that my Soul may Live, and for ever bless thy Name. Turn away thy Face from my Sins; [Page 293] And Blot out all my Iniquities. For thy Name sake, O Lord, Pardon my Sin, for it is Great: Too great for any, but the God of Infinite Goodness and Love, to give me a Discharge from. O Magnify thy All-sufficiency, to help me out, in this my woful Misery. Make the happy Experiment upon my poor Soul, How Great things, Worthy of God, thou canst do: That where Sin hath Abounded, thy Grace may much more Abound. Return, O Lord, Deliver my Soul; O Save me for thy Mercy sake. Save me from the Guilt and Filth, from the Power and Curse of all my Sins. And thou Lord, that knowest how to Deliver, Make me some way to Escape, out of the Desperate Streights and Perplexities into which my Sins have cast me: That my Iniquities may not hang upon me, to be my Ruin; But that they may be taken away and Forgiven, and washed out with the Blood of Jesus Christ. O Turn thou me, Lord God of my Salvation, and I shall be turned from my Sins, and from this present Evil World, more Effectually and Fully to thy Blessed Self. O give me such Conviction, as may end in sound Conversion. And let me Experience in my self, that Grace of God which bringeth Salvation. I want thy [Page 294] Grace, O Lord, and want it I shall for ever, if thou be not pleas'd to look Graciously upon me in my Blessed Redeemer. But thou wilt have never the less, how much soever thou Bestowest: And thou can'st not bestow thy Grace upon any one that more needs it. O God of all Grace, that keepest Mercy for Thousands! Hast thou not a Blessing for me? A Spiritual Heavenly Blessing? For thy dear Son, my only Saviour's sake, Let me find such Grace in thy sight. O get thee everlasting Glory, in so Obliging the Unworthy. And whatever I want, O deny me not that Saving Grace, which though a precious Treasure that I am Bold to ask, Yet it is not too Great or Good for the God infinitely Great and Good to Give. O do that work of thy Grace throughly upon my Heart, for which I may have cause to Glorify thy Name for evermore.

A Prayer for the Troubled Soul.

O God of the Spirits of all Flesh! Thou knowest the Grievous Torment of a Wounded Spirit; And hast [Page 295] Promised not to break the Bruised Reed▪ nor to Quench the Smoaking Flax. Have pity, Lord of Love, upon thy disconsolate Servant, whose Spirit is sore Broken, and Overwhelmed within him: And Relieve, and Heal, and Comfort him, with thy Peace, and some Tokens for Good, that thou hast thoughts of Love and everlasting Mercy towards him. O Blessed Jesus, who callest to thee the Labouring and Heavy-laden Sinners, with the Promise of Rest for their Souls! Give some Glimpse of thy Mercy, and Faith in thy Merits and Promises to this poor Troubled Soul, cast down with the sense of his Sin, and the Fear of thy Wrath. The Sacrifices of God are a Broken Spirit: A Broken and a Contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not Despise. O hide not thy Face from thy Servant; Nor cast him away from thy Presence in Displeasure: But speak Peace to him, and cause thy Face to Shine upon him.

O God of Consolation! Be thou pleas'd to cheer him up with the Hope and Belief of thy Pardon and Acceptance: And give him a comfortable Affiance in thee, And the Witness of thy Spirit with his Spirit, to Persuade him, That he is the Child of God; Whom thou Lovest, tho' thou Chastenest, And with thy Terrors [Page 296] Preparest him for thy Comforts. O that he may see Love in the Rod; And take it as the Chastisement of a kind Father, and not the Vengeance of an Incensed Judge: And that he may find this Humiliation working for his everlasting Consolation: Seeing they that Mourn, are Blessed, and shall be Comforted; And such as Sow in Tears shall Reap in Joy. O that his Sorrow may be the Godly Sorrow, which works Repentance, not to be Repented of: That it may have such a happy Issue, and End in unspeakable Glorious Joy. But let him not Sorrow as one without Hope: Seeing the Trouble for Sin, is a Preservative from the Damnation of Hell: And such as are now in Glory, went this very Way to Heaven; Working out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling; And so feeling the Burden of Sin here, that they might not lye under it for ever. Therefore though he walks in Darkness, and has no Light, Yet let him Trust in the Name of the Lord, and Stay upon his God.

O Lord! Rebuke him not in thy Anger; Neither Chasten him in thy sore Displeasure; But Return, and set him Free from thy heavy Pressure now upon him. Be pleased, O Lord, to Deliver [Page 297] him; O Lord, make Haste to help him. Quicken him, for thy Name's sake; And for thy Righteousness sake, bring his Soul out of Trouble. Thou hast shewed him great and sore Troubles: Be thou pleased to Revive him again, that he may Rejoyce in thee. Shew him thy Mercy, O Lord, and grant him thy Mercy, O Lord, and grant him thy Salvation: O Refresh him Early with such thy Mercy: That he may be Glad and Rejoyce in thee, all his days; When thou hast Consider'd his Trouble, As thou hast known his Soul in Adversity. That thy Name may have the Glory, and his Soul the Comfort of thy Seasonable Relief, and thy sweet Abundant Mercies, in Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for the enjoyment of God's gracious Presence, and Divine Communion.

O Thou Infinite Majesty of Heaven and Earth, who canst no where be Absent, but fillest all things! No Place is so Desolate as to be without thee: No Men so Bad, but they Live and Move, and have their Being in thee. Yea, the very Devils are not out of thy Reach, But Aware of thy Presence, though to their Cost: And [Page 298] even in Hell, thou art there. But to thy People and Saints, that are of the Household of God, and bear thy Image, and know thy Voice, and how to Prize thy Love, To them thou art pleas'd to Open and Communicate thy self in Especial Favourable manner; And to go in and out among them, as the Children of thy Family; And in the most wonderful Condescension, to treat them, as thy Friends and Favourites; To Revive their Spirits, and to Cheer their Hearts. And thou hast Promised, That thou wilt not leave them Comfortless, But come to 'em, and Dwell in 'em, and be their God, and let them be thy People. Thus thou dost Manifest thy self to them, Though not to the World. For the Ungodly are Far from thee, and live without God in the World. Our Sins do make the Cursed Wall of Separation between thee and our Souls: And for my Sins, O how justly mightest thou, Lord, Forsake me, and cast me off in Displeasure; And hide away thy Face, and keep at a Distance from me, and Abandon me over to my Wretched self; As an Enemy whom thou canst not Love, but Disdainest to Look upon!

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But though my Ill Deserts at thy Hands may well Provoke such thy Indignation against me; Yet let my Forlorn estate without thee, move thy Compassion towards me. And where thou canst not take Pleasure in me, Yet, Father of Mercies, have Pity on me: And cast me not away from thy Presence, Nor Abhor, nor Forsake me, for thy Name sake. And for the sake of that Mercy, which has mov'd thee to do so much already for me, and so far to discover thy Grace upon me; O come to me, and make me such, that thou may'st Abide with me, and Rejoyce over me, to do me Good. My Soul is as a Desolate Wilderness, a confused Chaos, Yea, even the Image of Hell, without thee, my God: While thou art not with my Spirit, I live Wickedly to thy Dishonour; And I know not how soon I shall Die Wretchedly, to my own Eternal Undoing: If thou cast not an Eye of Pity upon me; If thou make not haste in Mercy, to help me. O Emanuel, God with us! For thy Mercy sake, for thy Promise sake, for my Misery sake, See me lying Afar off; and bring me Nigh, through the Blood of thy Cross. O bring me out of my Strangeness to thee, and my Distance from thee: That [Page 300] I may be safe under the Shadow of thy Wings; and Happy in the Solaces of thy Love.

If thou Reject me, O my God! what Company or Comforts of the World can avail, or make any Recompence for the loss of thy Favour, in which is Life, and without which, I am Dead while I Live, and shall be for ever Accursed when I Die? But if thou be with me, and lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon me, I shall have heavenly Fellowship, and overflow with unspeakable Joy. Even in the absence of all other Friends and Comforts, I shall not Need, I shall not Desire 'em: When I can go to God, my Exceeding Joy, and be taken up with my Blessed Lord, in whose Presence is Fulness of Joy. O Blessed are they whom thou Chusest, and causest to Approach so Nigh unto thee, O Lord; And who are so highly Favoured by thee: Whose gracious Presence can make the poorest Cottage better than the Stateliest Palace; And fill the Hearts of thy Servants with such Divine Delights, as the greatest men of the World are Strangers to. O what manner of Love is this, That the great God of Heaven should vouchsafe to Visit, and Reside with poor Mortals [Page 301] on Earth! And O that my Soul were fit to to be the Habitation of the King of Glory! But Lord, How Unworthy am I, that thou should'st come under my Roof! O Blessed Jesus! Be thou pleased to Regard my Undone State without thee, and my restless Longings after thee: And be pleas'd to come unto me, Dear Lord, not because I Deserve, but because I Need thee; Not for my Merits, but for thy Own: Who art Worthy, for whose sake I should be so Favoured from on High. My Lord and my God! Whom have I in Heaven but thee! And there is none upon Earth, that I desire besides thee. O be not as a Stranger to the Soul, in which thou hast planted an inclination to Serve thee: But Bless and Honour me, with that Divine Fellowship, which thou hast made me, not only Capable, but Desirous of. And give me the satisfaction to Find, what thou hast given me a Heart to Seek. Yea, give me Grace, O my Lord, to go on Seeking, till I find, whom my Soul desires above all to Love. Let me endure any thing easier than thy Absence and Displeasure; And Desire nothing so much, as thy Presence and Favour.

And be not thou Far from me, O my God; But let me Experience thy [Page 302] gracious Presence with me; And the Goodness of the Lord passing before me. Lord Jesus, be with my Spirit; And Dwell in my Heart by Faith. As thou hast Promised to be with thy Lovers and Followers Always, even to the End of the World; Lord, for thy Mercy sake, Blot out my Sins: And then for thy Promise sake come and Visit my Soul. O make me such as I should be towards thee; And such as thou may'st take Pleasure in: And then shew thy self unto me, with the Favour which thou bearest to thy People. And may thy gracious Abode with me now on Earth, be to me a comfortable Earnest of my Glorious Abode with thee for ever in thy Heavenly Kingdom. Be with me, O my Saviour, every where, and at all Times: In Health and Sickness; In Prosperity and Trouble; In all Estates, and in all Events and Circumstances of my Life: To Sanctifie and Sweeten to me whatever befalls me. And never Leave nor Forsake me, in my present Pilgrimage here, Till thou hast brought me safe through all Tryals and Dangers, to be Ever with the Lord: There to live in thy Sight and Love and Glory, World without end.

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A Prayer for Heavenly Comforts.

O Most Blessed Lord, the God of all Consolation, Who Comfortest those that are Cast down; And givest such Peace and Joy, as the World can neither give, nor take away! I confess my self Unworthy of so much as any Good Look from thy gracious Eye; Or any Glimpse of the Light of thy Countenance, to be lifted up upon my Soul. I deserve to be in Heaviness for my Sins; To Groan under the Oppressive Burden, even all my days; And at last to go down in Sorrow to my Grave. But because thou knowest, Lord, our Danger, to Surfeit on the Pleasures of Sin; When thou with-holdest Heavenly Consolations from us; And that the Joy of the Lord is our Strength, to carry us on with Fidelity and Alacrity in the way of our Duty: I beseech thee, O Lord of Love, to speak Peace to my Conscience, and say to my Soul, That thou art my Salvation. To Fortify me against the Stollen Sinful Pleasures, and to Engage my heart to a Faithfulness in the Covenant of my God; I beg of thee some Tokens of thy Love to me, Some Discoveries of the Light of thy Countenance upon me, Some Experience of the Joy [Page 304] of thy Blessed Spirit in me. My Soul Thirsteth for thee, My God, To see thy Power, and thy Glory, so as I have Seen thee in the Sanctuary. How Long wilt thou Forget me, O Lord, For ever? How Long wilt thou Hide thy Face from me? How Long shall I take Counsel in my Soul, Having Sorrow in my Heart daily? O cause thy Face to Shine upon me: And let my Heart Rejoyce in thee, because I have Trusted in thy holy Name. Let my mouth be fill'd with thy Praise, and with thy Honour all the day long. And let my Soul be Satisfi'd, as with Marrow and Fatness, when I praise thee with Joyful Lips.

Whether I come in, or be Left out, in the Distribution of thy common Favours, which thou scatterest with an Indifferent Hand, amongst all sorts of men: O Remember me, Lord, with the Favour which thou bearest to thy People, and Visit me with thy Salvation. That I may see the Good of thy Chosen: That I may Rejoyce in the Gladness of thy Nation, and Glory with thy Inheritance. O that I may Experience the Joy and Peace in Believing; And Rejoyce in Christ Jesus, and count thy Love better than Wine, and prefer it above my Chiefest Joy. Seeing the work of Righteousness [Page 305] is Peace, and the Effect of it Quietness and Assurance for ever; O make me the true and Faithful Subject of that Spiritual Kingdom, which is Righteousness and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. O let me so Tast that the Lord is Gracious; And give me such Feelings of thy Spirit's Operations in me, Such Witness with my Spirit, Such Hopes of thy Glory, and such Tokens for Good, to Persuade and Assure my Heart, of thy Everlasting Love and Favour in Christ Jesus to my Soul; That my Soul may bless thee, O Lord, and all that is Within me may Praise thy holy Name: And that the Satisfaction and Delight which I take in thy Service, may also Invite in others to give up themselves to it. And so thou, the Blessed Giver of all Joy and Comfort, may'st by us all be Glorifi'd, through Jesus Christ.

Prayer and Praise for a Converted Sinner.

I Will Praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my Heart; And I will Glorify thy Name for evermore. So great is thy Mercy towards me, that thou hast deliver'd my Soul from the Lowest Hell. [Page 306] My Lips therefore shall greatly Rejoyce, when I Sing to thee; And my Soul, which thou hast Redeemed, shall make her Boast in the Lord. For I was Darkness; But now am Light in the Lord. I was Dead, and am Alive again. I was Lost, and am Found. When no Eye Pitied me; And when I had not a Heart to Pity my self: Then didst thou, Lord of Love, look upon me in my Blood, and bid me Live. O Sinful wretch! That I should be Taken, and others Left! I stand amazed at thy Kindness and Love, O God my Saviour, For all the great things, which thou hast done for my Soul: More than if thou hadst given me Wealth, and Strength, and Wit, and Beauty, to the Admiration of all: More than if thou hadst set me with the Princes of the Earth, and Blessed me with all the Fulness and Glory of the World. For, O how soon do all these things pass away and Perish! But the Word of God, by which I am Born again, Lives and abides for ever. The Grace of God, which brings Salvation, appearing to me, is in me a Well of Water, springing up to Everlasting Life. O God of all Grace! who had'st such thoughts of Mercy towards me, even when I was in Enmity against thee; and did nothing but Forget and Provoke [Page 307] thee; Thou wilt not Despise the Day of Small things; nor cast me off, for the Failings of my Services: After thou hast wrought in me some Good things towards thee; and brought my Soul from the gates of Hell, within Prospect of the Heavenly Glory.

O what great and sore Troubles hast thou shewed me! Yet didst thou turn again and Refresh me, and Comfort me on every side, with the most Reviving and Richest of all Mercy. I must for ever have Perisht, if thou, Lord, hadst not brought me from my Deadness in Trespasses and Sins, to Newness of Life; And better I never had been Born, if I had not been New-Born. O Blessed Change! And mighty Work, Worthy of God! O the Riches of Grace, and the Wonders of Divine Power and Love! What shall I render to the Lord, for these greatest of all Benefits, Which I am not able, so much as worthily to Express! I can never enough Admire and Bless thee, O my God, for thy Love to my Soul, which thou hast brought to see the Joy of thy Salvation; How thou didst bear with me, in all my Dulness and Perverseness; And what work thou hadst, to bring me into any good Hopeful way, for the Heavenly Bliss. Yet wouldst thou not suffer me to Undo my [Page 308] self; But gavest me Checks in the way of my Sins: Till thou hadst Overcome my Heart, by thy Almighty Grace, and brought me Home to thy Blessed Self; And from the slavish Dread of thy Wrath, to the sweet Apprehensions of thy Love.

Bless the Lord, O my Soul; And all that is within me Bless his holy Name. My God and Saviour! I was Hopeless and Helpless; And at the Lowest thou hast Remembred me; At the Worst thou hast Holpen and Comforted me. The Fear of Hell was upon me: And thou hast set me above that killing Dread, to Rejoyce in Hope of thy Glory. I Thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, That thou hast Hid these things from the Wise and Prudent, And hast Reveal'd them unto Babes. O who am I, Unworthy Wretch, That I should be made so Happily to Differ from any Others; and from my former Self! O! what have I done, to Invite such Saving Mercy to Shine upon me! When so great a part of the World is still in Darkness, and the Shadow of Death! I am Unworthy, Lord, I am Unworthy: But thou art the God infinitely Good, and Abundant in mercy.

O Blessed God of my Salvation! Accept the Oblation of My Self, and all [Page 309] my Services, together with my Thanks and Praise for this thy Love in Christ Jesus, wherewith thou hast so Eternally oblig'd me to thy self. To give all Glory to thee, O what abundant Cause hast thou given me! When as I have no Good thing on Earth, but of thy Bounty; And am out of Hell, only through thy Mercy. And O that my Life may be spent in thy dearest Love, and in thy faithful Service; Ever Delighting to do thy Will, O my God! As I am the Receiver of such Mercies, So make me the Preacher of thy Praises. Let me Bless thee, Lord, at all times; And have thy Praise Continually in my mouth, even while I have my Being. Accept, O Gracious Father, and Continue me for thy Own: And make me still Fitter for thy Blessed Acceptance in Jesus Christ my Saviour.

A Prayer after a Relapse into Sin.

O My God, I am filled with Confusion, to lift up my Face unto Thee, from whom I have so Foolishly and Wickedly departed; And against whom I have so Greatly and Provokingly Sinned. I am Ashamed to Confess unto thee, what, [Page 310] Alas, I have not been Afraid to Commit against thee. Thou, Lord, hast made me to know Better: But I have held the Truth in Unrighteousness; And therefore deserve to be beaten with many Stripes, for sinning so against my own Knowledge. Yea, how oft have I been taught, as with Briars and Thorns, What an Evil and bitter thing it is, to Trespass upon the Lord, as I have done? And yet worse than a Child or Bruit, I have run upon the Offences for which I knew I must sadly Repent, or do worse. Nor have I only Resisted the clearest Light and Conviction; But Trampled upon the Richest Grace and Love. Therefore I am Inexcusable, O Righteous Lord! and have nothing to say in my own Defence. No, The Guilt which I have contracted, Stops my Mouth. O! into what a Depth am I fallen! And is there any Hope for one, that has so Wilfully spoil'd himself as I have done? The Pardon and Grace which I am Necessitated to come begging at thy Hands, O my Lord, How much greater are they than I have any Reason to Expect! Yet not greater than thou, the God of all Grace, canst Give; Nor greater than thou hast also Promised to Bestow, even upon the greatest Sinners, Repenting and Returning [Page 311] to Thee: It is thy Reviving Word to such, That thou wilt have Mercy upon them, and Abundantly Pardon. And tho' men may be False, and their Offers but Ensnarements; Yet Faithfulness it self can never Deceive us.

Seeing thou hast made such a Way for our Redemption, O God of all Grace, To Heal and Save our poor lost Souls by the stripes and Death of thy own Beloved Son; O that the Blessed Saviour whom thou hast sent into the World, may exercise his Power, and Pity, and great Salvation upon me, in this my Woful condition! And make me some way to Escape, that I may not be thus taken Captive by the Tempter at his will. Good God! There is nothing in me but Misery, to thy Mercy. O fetch arguments of Pity from thy own infinite Goodness, and thy tender Inclinations, to Compassionate and Relieve poor Sinners, Returning to thee, after they have foolishly Misbehav'd themselves, and wickedly Rebell'd against thee. Mercy, O Lord, Mercy I beg of thee, for Mercy sake. O let thy Compassion spare me, and withhold thy Justice from proceeding against me. I have Sinned as a Silly wicked Man; O Lord, Pardon and Heal me, as an Almighty and most Merciful [Page 312] God. I have gone Astray, like a Lost Sheep: O Seek thy Servant, and bring me back to the Shepherd and Bishop of my Soul. Wilt thou take this sad Opportunity to advance thy everlasting Glory, in Pitying the worst of Fools, in Saving the Chief of Sinners? For thy Name sake, O Lord, Pardon my Iniquity, which is so exceeding Great. O Absolve me from the Guilt, Deliver me from the Power, Cleanse me from the Pollution, and Save me from the Punishment of this, and all my Offences; That Expose me to thy Wrath, and Indispose me for thy Service; Estranging me from thee, and hindring the Freedom of my Love and Delight in thee.

Lord of Love, the God of my Mercy! Heal my Backslidings, that I may not again return to Folly. O let me Vow, and Pay to the Lord my God; And so go forth in thy Strength; That thou may'st confirm my Resolution, and Enable me to Perform what I have Promised. O thou compassionate Succourer of the Tempted, Lead me not into Temptation; But by thy Grace and mighty Aid, Secure me so to thy self: That I may not only in this day of Confusion and Anguish, when my Wounds are fresh Bleeding upon me, But in all times to come, Humble my Soul, [Page 313] and Hate my Sin, and take Heed to my Ways; And with Purpose of heart Cleave to the Lord; And keep in thy holy Fear and Love, to my Life's End.

Another Humbling Office under any Foul Fall.

O Just and Holy God! What shall I say unto thee, and how shall I shew my Face before thee! After I have so highly Affronted thy glorious Majesty, and Violated thy righteous Commands, Striking more Wounds still into my wofully-distressed Conscience! O that I should have the sad Occasion, to come upon the same account, to Confess and Bewail the Sin, which I have so often Confest and Bewail'd! Holy Lord! I am asham'd, that I have this Need to Beg; And Afraid lest my Sins have so Provoked thee, that I should Beg in Vain. For Sin when it is Finished, brings forth Death: It destroys our Grace, and Peace and Comfort now: And without the Interposition of infinite Mercy, It will Destroy Soul and Body Eternally. And when I am under the Desert of that Condemnation, O what Mercy from the Father of Mercies, do I experience, that it is not Executed upon me? What Patience, but that of the Long-suffering [Page 314] God, would ever bear with such, as Provoke him every day? When he could so easily break out in Fury, and Avenge him of his Adversary! O how justly mightest thou, Lord, refuse to hear me now crying to thee in the Anguish of my Soul, Who have so often Refus'd to Hear thee calling upon me, by the Motions of thy Holy Spirit! O the Spoils and Havock, and Desolation, which my Sin has made in my Soul! So many Aggravations of this Sin, do make it, beyond Measure, Sinful, till I am become Vile in my own Eyes. And such frequent Falls do Ruin my Hopes; and render my Case so extreamly Hazzardous, That I am ready to Fear, lest Mercy should quite have done with me, and Abandon me over to my wretched self, and leave me to be Filthy still; And to lye and Perish in my Sins, because I have Revolted still more and more.

I abhor my self; And Humble my Soul here in the Dust before thee, O Lord. And because I have made so Bold with thy Laws, I am sorely Afraid of thy Judgments. My Sins have taken such Hold of me, that my Heart fails me. Yet Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me Clean, and make me Whole. I come therefore in hope, to Beg the so often Forfeited Life of [Page 315] my Poor Soul, at thy blessed Hands. For thou that hast charged us to Forgive an Offending Brother Seventy times Seven, (even as oft as he Repents) wilt not thy self be Harder to thy Offendors, when they become Penitent Seekers of thy Mercy. No, Though we so often Forget our Duty, Thou canst never Forget thy Mercy. A Woman may sooner Forget her Compassions to the Fruit of her Womb, than the Lord of Love will Forget his Kindness to his Child. And to the Mercy that has hitherto, so wonderfully Endur'd me, O my Lord, I Seek and Beg now this Addition, Even the further Prolonging yet of thy Patience towards me.

In the day of my Trouble I will Call upon thee; For thou wilt Answer me. I believe, Lord, thy Power and thy Readiness, to Relieve poor Sinners Repairing to thee. And to that End didst thou, O Blessed Saviour, come into the World, and shed thy Precious Blood; To Atone for our Guilt, and to Cleanse us from all our Sins. O that I, who have the greatest Need, may feel the Happy Benefit! That where Sin has Abounded, thy Grace may much more Abound! Look upon me, O Lord, as thou didst on thy offending Disciple; To melt my Heart into a kindly Relenting, and Penitent concernment for this [Page 316] great Evil. That I may Look upon him whom my Sins have pierced, and Mourn; And be in Bitterness for the Grievous Offences, that I have committed, against the Lord of Love, and the God of all my Mercies. What is past, I cannot Recall it; But thou, my Jesus, canst Remit it, and give me grace to Repent it: O give me such true Repentance for it, that thou mayst also give me full Pardon of it. And in thy great Mercy, be Reconciled to me, and at Peace with me.

And grant, O Gracious Lord, That the Custom of Sinning, may not so Dull my Sense of it, That I should commit these great Sins with little Remorse: Nor let it so Increase my sinful Inclinations, that I should be the Servant of Corruption; Giving Harbour and encouragement to the Cursed things; And taking part with the Enemies of my own House, to be the worst Tempter to my self: Be thou, O Lord, my strong Tower of Defence against 'em: And enable me to go on Conquering and to Conquer, till in the Name of the Lord, I have destroyed 'em. So often have I Fallen by their Hands, that I fear lest one day I should so Fall by 'em, as never to Rise again: But thou, my Strength and my Redeemer, art Stronger than the Strong One, and Able yet to Secure [Page 317] me. O Blessed Keeper of Israel! Keep back thy Servant from Presumptuous Sins: Let them not have Dominion over me; That I may be Upright and Innocent from the great Transgression. Nor punish my past Sins, by giving me up to commit Sin with Greediness. But Subdue my Iniquities that Prevail against me: And pluck me out of the Mire and the Snare, for thy Mercy sake. O that the same Mercy, which hitherto has held the hand of Justice from Cutting me off, and so often Spared me; May also Forgive and Renew me. And so Strengthen all the Good things of thy Grace in my Soul, that I may be full of Power, to defend thy Rights, against these Usurpations of the Sinful Part in me; And may be found so Faithful until Death, that thou mayst give me the Crown of Life: Not for any Worth in me; But for the Worthiness of thy Son, and for the sake of thy own tender Mercies in Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving for Recovery after a Fall into Sin.

I Bless thy Name, O Lord my God, infinitely Good, That thou hast kept me Alive to this day; And after all my ill Carriage towards thee, and all my presumptuous [Page 318] Boldness with thee, and manifold Rebellions against thee, Thou hast not given me over as a Prey, to the Deadly Enemy of my Soul, that seeks to Devour me: But dost yet leave me a Reserve of Hope, That it is not in Vain to Seek thy Face, and to Wait for Mercy at thy Hands. O my God! How Wonderful is thy Patience in my Eyes, that I have not Perisht in such Sins! 'Tis through thy Grace, that I come to Pause and Consider of my Sin and Danger, and the way to Escape. And therefore hast thou so Spared me in all my Sins, that by Helping in such a Desperate Case, thou might'st shew forth all the Wonders of thy Grace.

O Father of Mercies! Hast thou yet a Blessing for such a Rebellious Wretch? And may I yet make bold to look for thy Favour, after I have done thee such infinite Wrong? O the unconceivable Depths of Goodness, that are in thy Gracious Nature, to Use me as a Dear Friend, Who have Misbehav'd my self towards thee, as the worst Enemy! And to leave me Hopes of Pardon and Heaven; When 'tis Mercy far above all my Deserts, But to Spare my Life upon Earth, and to keep my Soul out of Hell! And hast thou, Lord, kept me to this day, and brought me through so many Temptations and [Page 319] Dangers in my Life, to be Avenged on me, and to Destroy me at last? O my Gracious Father, the God of all my Mercies! I cannot think thou so Delightest in my Death. I have Wronged thee too much with all my Sins already; And let me not add this now to the heavy Score, To Dishonour such Tried Mercy, with the base Distrust, and Despair of its Continuance. O no, I Believe, (Lord help my Unbelief) That thou art not Willing I should Perish, but by Repentance come to Salvation. And O what a Gracious God have I, to deal so Bountifully with me! And what a Stony Heart, to be no more Affected with the Richest Mercy! O what a Life of Sins, and what a Life of Mercies has mine been! With Amazement I reflect on both; To think how Bad I have been towards thee, my Lord, And yet how Good thou hast been to my Soul. O that such Wonders of Love, may have the prevailing force upon my Heart; To turn it against the Sins, that have engag'd me in such Rebellion against the Lord: And to bring me Nearer to my God, than ever I have been; And to make me more Abound in thy Love, and more Delight in thy Service, than ever I have done. O that I may never commit Sins so Great, against the God so infinitely Good! But [Page 320] be Warned by these Escapes, and Won by these Mercies, to be more Watchful and Faithful, in Keeping my self from my Iniquity; Continually Fearing to Offend, and Endeavouring to Please thee my God, through Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving for Spiritual Victory.

O Lord God, Almighty and most Merciful, who givest Strength and Power to thy People; And with the Temptation, makest them a Way to Escape! By thy Grace I am what I am. And thy Grace bestowed on me was not in Vain; But help'd me in time of Need, to withstand and Overcome the Temptation wherewith I was assaulted. My own Strength, Lord thou knowest, is but Weakness, and my Heart not to be trusted. But thy Hand held me up; And by the Help of my God, I have preserved my Integrity, and so Resisted the Devil as to make him Flee from me. I find, O Lord, by sweet and joyful Experience, thy Ways to be ways of Pleasantness, and Paths of Peace: And that in Observing thy Laws, there is great Reward. O how much are the Heavenly Raptures of Victory▪ to be preferr'd before the filthy Pleasures of Sin! Shame and Dread and Sorrow [Page 321] are the cursed Consequences of Yielding to the Tempter: But Glorying and Confidence, and the Peace of God, and Joy in the Holy Ghost, are the Conqueror's Portion.

I will greatly Rejoice in the Lord: My Soul shall be joyful in my God; Who has Lifted me up, and not suffer'd my Foes to Triumph over me. They have Thrust sore at me, that I might fall; but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and is become my Salvation. The Voice of Rejoycing and Salvation is in the Dwellings of the Righteous. The Right hand of the Lord doth Valiantly, and brings mighty things to pass. I shall not Die, but Live, and declare the Works of the Lord, and tell what he has done for my Soul. Blessed be God, who has not turn'd away my Prayer, nor his Mercy from me. O Lord my God! Thou hast been Watchful over me for Good: Thou wast Nigh to me; Thou hast shew'd thy Fatherly Care of me; And in Love to my Soul, hast Preserved me; because thou hast a Favour to me. I am Thine; and I will be Thine, and will Love thee, and Bless thy Name, and give thee Thanks for ever.

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A Prayer for greater Concernment and Diligence for the Soul, and the things of another World.

O Lord God, to whom I do owe my self, and all that ever I am or have! Thou hast given me my Being, and Time and Talents here in the World; As Opportunities and Advantages for thy Service; and for the Working out of my Salvation. And O what have I to do upon Earth, but to Prepare my self for Heaven! When I am here placed between the Infinite Eternity of Happiness and of Misery; In a Capacity for the one, and in Danger of the other. O what should be my Care and utmost Endeavour, but to Flee from the Wrath to come, and to lay hold on Eternal Life! To Provide well for my Everlasting condition, and to make Sure Work for my Immortal Soul, in this only time of Preparation! But O how Negligent and Careless have I been in that which most of all Concerns me! Doing every thing, rather than the great Work which thou didst send me into the World to do! And so thou mightest justly come upon me, Lord, with a dreadful Surprize, to call me to my last Accounts, in a day Unlook'd [Page 323] for, and at an Hour that I should not be ware of. But for the sake of that Mercy of thine in Christ Jesus, which has prevail'd with thee to spare me so Long, Go on, I beseech thee, O my God, to be merciful to me, in Forgiving me all my past Sloth and Negligence; and in Quickening me to a greater Concernment and Assiduity to Redeem the Time that I have lost, and to Improve every present Enjoyment, to my Soul's Eternal Advantage. O preserve me from the all-Distracting Cares, and the Sinful Pleasures of this Life. And let me look less upon the Temporal things that are Seen; And keep open my Eyes towards the great, Unseen Eternal things that are before me. O make me more Concerned for my Everlasting State, and more Careful to do that Work, which above all things in the World, is most Needful to be done. O let me dread the Doom of the Slothful Servant; And not be Listless to the Business that is of greatest Importance. Lord, shew me both the Truth and Reality, and also the Worth and Excellency of things to Come: Both to dispel all my Doubtings of 'em; And also to whet my earnest Longings after 'em. O give me such a View and Aprehension of my Supream Eternal Good, as may raise [Page 324] my Desires after it, proportionably to it: And make me so Dissatisfied without it, that I may count nothing too much to do, nothing too Hard to Endure, that I may at last attain to the Blessed Enjoyment of it.

O let the Meditation of Hell, be a Preservative, to deter me from all the Ways leading to that Dreadful End. And may I so look to the Heavenly Joy set before me, That with all Vigor and Alacrity, I may put forth my self, to get safe into the possession of Everlasting Glory. O my God, give me the Spirit of Wisdom from Above, to discern the vast Disproportion between the short Moment of this Present Time, and the infinite Duration of Immortality: And between the Pleasures of Sin, that are but for a Season, and those Heavenly Pleasures that are at thy Right Hand for evermore. Seeing all these things must be Dissolved, O make me such a manner of Person as I ought to be, in all holy Conversation and Godliness; Looking for, and Hasting to the Coming of the Day of God. Quicken me, O Lord, in my Dulness, and Hasten me out of my Delays; That I may not Prolong the time of doing, what I am convinc'd is Necessary to be done; to save me from the Second Death, and bring [Page 325] me to Inherit Eternal Life. O! to what purpose am I troubled and Careful about many things, when I neglect the One thing Needful! Help me, my God, to use the Reason and Understanding which thou hast given me, in Looking Before me, and Considering what it is that makes for my true Happiness. And give me also Resolution and Faithfulness, to Chuse and Follow it; whatever Difficulties at present are in it. Help me, O Lord, to Remember and Consider all the powerful Inducements, which may Quicken me into a greater Care for my Eternal State; That my Being may not last Longer than the Good of my Being; But it may go Well with me elsewhere for ever, when all that is here shall Fail me. O that I may now give Diligence to make my Calling and Election Sure: And Strive to Enter in at the Strait Gate; And Labour for that Meat, which endures to Everlasting Life: By Patient Continuance in Well-doing, Seeking for Glory, Honour, and Immortality; That I may not fall Short of that Rest, which remains for the People of God; But so Labour here in thy Work, that hereafter I may Rest from my Labours in thy Kingdom. Not for the Merit of my Works, but for thy Mercy's sake, in Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for Faithfulness and Constancy in the Profession of our Religion.

O My Lord and my God, who hast Called me to the Knowledge of thy Eternal Truth, And by the Light of the Gospel shining upon me, hast made the Way of Life and Salvation plain before me! Be thou pleased to give me the Ingenuity and Courage, still to Confess thee before Men; And to Own thy Holy Religion, even in the Face of an Evil and Adulterous Generation. O let me not be Tossed to and fro, and Carried away with every Wind of Doctrine, by the Sleight of Men, and cunning Craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to Deceive. My God and Guide! Suffer me not to be led away with the Error of the Wicked, and to fall from my own Stedfastness. But may I ever hold fast the Profession of my Faith, without Wavering; And hold the beginning of my Confidence, Stedfast to the End. O give me such an Experimental Knowledge and Relish, and Love of thy holy Truth, as may make me ever Faithful and True to it. That my Mind may not be Corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Christ; And that [Page 327] I may never be put out of that Religion, the goodness whereof I have perceived so much, by my own Experience; But may still appear with Zeal for the Religion, in which I have found so much happy Advantage, and heavenly Satisfaction to my Soul. And grant me, Good Lord, to find and feel still more and more of the powerful Efficacy of true Christianity upon my Heart: That I may be Rooted and Grounded in the Faith, and retain such a Dear Love of the Truth, and take so much Pleasure in the Way which thy Grace has put me upon; That I may never turn my Back upon it, nor prove False to it; But notwithstanding all Temptations to Seduce or Affright me out of it, I may openly Declare for it, and ever be True to it, and Faithfully persist in it, to my Life's End.

A Prayer for Zeal and Activity in the Practice of our Religion.

O Lord, the Holy Jealous God! Thou hast declared how Loathsom to thee are the Lukewarm; and pronounc'd him Cursed that does the Work of the Lord Deceitfully; and told us the dreadful Doom of the Slothful Servant, who [Page 328] was called Wicked and Condemned, Not for Committing foul Evils, but for Neglecting to Improve his Talents. Thou didst send us into this World, to provide for the Next: And we are a People Devoted to the Lord, that have Vow'd and Promised to Serve our God, with all the utmost and Best, that we are, or have. This is the One thing Needful, that we were Made for, and that we are all most strictly Bound to, and must in earnest Mind and Follow it; as ever we would Escape the Damnation of Hell, and enter into the Joy of our Lord. But I am ashamed, O my God, That I have Loyter'd so long in thy Vineyard, and Trifled so much in thy Work; That I have Busied my self about Vanities, and Slighted my greatest Business. And well may I now Tremble for fear of thy Judgments; When I have so little Cocnern'd and Bestirr'd my self, as one of thy Redeemed, Zealous of Good Works.

O Merciful Lord! Forgive me all my sinful Omissions, and all my Careless performances of the duties of thy Service. And Quicken me into a greater Zeal and Diligence to promote thy Glory, and to work out my Salvation. That I may not only Contend earnestly for the Faith and Doctrine of the Gospel; But be as [Page 329] Zealous for the Practice of all Gospel Duties; Shewing that I am in Earnest with the Religion, whereof I make Profession.

To Glorifie thy Name, and Save our Souls, is the biggest of all our Concernments in the World: Nothing can deserve so much of our Care and Zeal and Diligence; when it is for a Crown and a Kingdom, For Heaven and the Glory Eternal, and to be delivered from thy Wrath, and Everlasting Damnation, that we Strive and Labour. O how much are we Concern'd to be Vigorous, forward, and Ready to every Good Work, and most Industrious at the Business of such infinite Consequence; Abounding in the Work of the Lord: when upon this Moment depends the Endless Eternity to come; And all that concerns us for ever, hangs upon the poor Short Life present, that is so quickly gone, and will never Return. O my God! Imprint these Considerations so deep upon my Heart, that I may no more Trifle with the Weighty things of Eternity; Nor shew a Cold Indifferency about that which is of such absolute Necessity; But may act as one that must be a Blessed or a Damned Creature for ever; and be as Zealous for my God, as ever I have been [Page 330] Eager for the World; And as Active in the pursuit of things Eternal, as I have been to pursue the Temporal: That I may indeed Give up my self to thy Service: And make it the main Care and Business of my Life: So shewing the Sincerity of what I do Profess, by that Zeal and Fervency, which is the Life and Soul of Christianity. O thou great Rewarder of them that Diligently Seek thee! help me seriously to Engage in thy Service, and Unweariedly to go through with it: Not Slothful in Business, but Fervent in Spirit, Serving the Lord: Exercising my self to Godliness, continuing Watchful in Prayer, Keeping my Heart with all Diligence, Ordering my Conversation with all Usefulness, and Running the Race set before me, with all Cheerfulness: Full of Life and Spirit in thy Work, And full of good Deeds and Fruits to thy Honour; Ever Labouring to be Accepted here to thy Favour, and hereafter to thy Glory.

Yea, make me more Zealous for thy Honour, O Lord, than for my Own. And whatever is Injurious and Reproachful to thee, O let me Hate it perfectly, and Oppose it Strenuously. And yet with such Prudence and Kindness towards Men, that I may not betray my own Shame, in [Page 331] defending thy Glory: Nor let my Zeal Consume, but Enflame my Charity: And put me upon doing all the Good that ever I am able in my Generation; To serve the Interests of my Lord, and to help forward the Salvation of Souls. O make me Valiant for thy Truth, and Discreet in my Conduct: That I may neither Betray the holy Cause by my Fear, nor Reproach it by my Folly. O let me not spend my Zeal and Spirits for Earthly, but for Heavenly things; Not for my own Lust and Honour, but for thy Blessed Will and Pleasure: Nor in frivolous Contentions, about the little Appendages and Circumstantials of Religion; But in pressing after the Vital and Substantial part; And in my Concernment and Endeavour, about the great Unquestionable duties and Qualifications, necessary to the Saving of the Soul. And grant me thy Grace, O Lord, to live now so Zealously, to the Glory of thy Name; That I may come to live Blessedly for ever, in the Glories of thy Kingdom. Not for the sake of my Services, but of thy Mercies, whose Gift is Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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A Prayer against Worldliness, and for a Heavenly Mind.

THou, O Blessed God, art the only Satisfying Portion and Happiness of our Souls: In whom alone the Desires of our Hearts may find that Rest and Repose, which all the World else cannot give. But, Alas, This World and the things of it have had too much of my Thoughts, and too much of my Heart; Till I have grown Remiss in my Affections, and Cold in my Love, towards thee my God, and those things Above, which are most Worthy of my Love. I have been Eager in the pursuit of Vanities, and Trifling concernments of this present Time; But O how slack and slighty in that which does most nearly and Eternally Concern me! Intent upon this World, as if it would never End; And Forgetful of the next, as if it should never Begin! I have Forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters, to hew to my self the Broken Cisterns that can hold no Water: Disquieting my self in vain, Seeking Rest, and Finding none; Because I have Sought, where the precious Treasure is not to be found. And so thou mightest, Lord, leave me to Inherit my [Page 333] own wretched Choice; To eat of the Fruit of my own Way, and to be filled with my own Devices; Giving me all my Portion in this Life, which I have so bruitishly preferred before an infinitely Better; And shutting me out of that Heavenly Kingdom, which I have Despised, for the sake of this present World.

But O thou Father of Mercies! Forgive me all the Defects of my Love to thee, and all the Excesses of my Love to Earthly things. And so Moderate my Desires after these Inferior Goods, That instead of Doting upon the World, I may Covet earnestly the Best Gifts; and seek first thy Kingdom, and its Righteousness; Esteeming Godliness the greatest Gain, and all but Loss and Dung, for the Love of Christ, and the Glories of Heaven. O shew me so much of those great and Glorious things of the World to Come, as may dull and Deaden my Affections to the things of this present World, and Crucisy the World to me, and me to the World: That it may lose the great Force, which it has had upon me: That I may be more Disengag'd and Loosened from it; And more Enamour'd with, and Intent upon, the things Above, where Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God, which will Fully Satisfy, and never Fail [Page 334] me. O let me not Debase my Heavenly Soul, to lye Grovelling and Rooting in the Earth, and Licking the Dust; As if I were all Flesh, and had nothing to do, but to Drudge for the Vile Body. O may I less mind Earthly things, and Despise the most Tempting Enjoyments of this World, for the Love of my Lord, and the Hope of his Glory. May my Heart be with my Treasure, in the Heavens: Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Not Coveting Great things of the World, nor to continue Long in it; But rather in Care, to get Safe out of it, and Desirous to be Dissolved, and to be ever with the Lord. Even so come Lord Jesus.

A Prayer for Perseverance and grace to Endure to the End.

ETernal God! With whom is Everlasting Strength! Thou art Able to keep us from Falling, and to perform the Good work begun in us, till the day of Christ. But, Lord, thou knowest how Weak and Mutable I am, How Wavering and bent to Backsliding; How apt to Decline and Fall off, after I have been set up, and put in a good [Page 335] Hopeful way Heaven-ward; And in what danger still to Undo my self, after all the great things which thou hast done for me. O Lord of Love! Have pity on my Infirmities, and Strengthen me in my Weakness. Preseve me, Thou blessed Guardian of thy People, who keepest the Feet of thy Saints; O Preserve me from the danger of Apostacy, and Falling away from any good Beginnings, to which thy Grace has ever inclined me. And put thy Fear in my Heart, that I may not Depart from thee. Make me so firmly Thine, that nothing which befals me in the World, may ever Part betwixt thee, and my Soul. And make me so Resolute for thy Service, that nothing which any can say or do, may Interrupt me in, or Take me off, that Way of Life, which is Above to the Wise, to depart from Hell beneath. O let me not be of the Number of those that Draw back to Perdition, but of their Number who do Believe, to the Saving of the Soul.

O Lord God! Thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy Greatness, and thy mighty Hand: Go on, I pray thee, to work for the Glory of thy Name, and Perfect that which concerns me. Thou hast been my Help; Leave me not, nor Forsake me, O God of my Salvation. But Hold thou [Page 336] me up, and I shall be Safe; And I will have Respect to thy Statutes continually. Stablish, O Lord, and Stregthen, and Settle me; And leave me no Will nor Power, to Resist the gracious Designs and Methods of thy Love and Mercy, for the Healing and Saving of my Soul. And as I (by my Frailty) still do Renew my Sins, Gracious Lord, through thy Mercy, Renew me to Repentance: And though I Fall, let me not be utterly Cast down: But Uphold me with thy Almighty Hand: Preserve me to thy Heavenly Kingdom: And Keep me by the Power of God, through Faith to Salvation. O make me so Faithful until Death, That thou may'st give to me the Crown of Life; So to Endure to the End, that I may be Saved; That in the End of my Life, I may Receive the Glorious Consummation of all my Hopes, that Blessed End of my Faith, the Eternal Salvation of my Soul.

A Prayer in Prosperity.

BLessed God, Rich in Goodness and Mercy! Thou art the Portion of my Inheritance and of my Cup. Thou maintainest my Lot. The Lines are fallen to me in Pleasant places; And I have a Goodly Heritage. I Abound, and am Full [Page 337] of thy Good things; And Surrounded on every side with thy Mercies. And so thou makest my Affairs Succeed to my Mind, That I cannot but be Pleas'd and Satisfied with my Condition; And desire with all my Soul to Acknowledge, and Bless and Praise thee, for all thy special Favours, wherein thou hast made me to Differ. Glory be to thee, O Lord, who hast dealt so Well with thy Unworthy Servant; And Signaliz'd me with such great and sundry Blessings. But when thou hast made my Mountain to stand strong, I must not say in my Prosperity, I shall never be Moved. Whereas, I know not what shall be on the Morrow; Nor how soon the Sun may be Hid, that now shines upon me. O! in the time of my Health and Peace and Prosperity, Help me to Remember and Provide for the time of Trouble and Sickness and Death; When the World's Enjoyments will shrink away from me, and prove utterly unable to Supporr and Relieve me. Yea, because the Prosperity of Fools Destroys them: And the Gaining of the World, is the Loss of so many Souls; And that Men of the World, have all their Portion in this Life: Grant, O Heavenly Father, That this may not be my Portion; That I may not Abuse the World's Good to thy Dishonour, [Page 336] [...] [Page 337] [...] [Page 338] and my own Undoing; Nor turn the Gifts of thy Bounty into Weapons of Rebellion against thee: But use them in Humility and Sobriety, and with a holy Fear: Doing the Better Service to thee, for the greater Obligations thou layest upon me; Yea, making many others to Fare the better for such thy Bounty to thy Servant. O make me as Willing, as thou hast made me Able, to Refresh the Bowels of such as Want what I do Enjoy; And as Freely to Give, as I have Receiv'd. That Riches may not be kept to my Hurt; But laid out, to do my self and others Real Good. As I have opportunity, let me do Good to all; Especially to them who are of the Houshold of Faith.

O Gracious Lord! take the Snare out of my Worldly Enjoyments: And preserve me from the Danger and Destruction that so commonly attends a Full and Prosperous condition. And rather turn me out of all my Earthly Possessions, than that they should lye in my Way, to Stop me out of thy Heavenly Kingdom. O let me not want the Affliction, which thou knowest Needful to my Salvation. And though thou makest me Poor, or givest me Trouble; Let me be Contented, and Bless thy Name; Even Taking away from me, as well as Giving to me. But whatever [Page 339] I have here to Enjoy, O let me never set my Heart upon it, Nor trust in uncertain Riches, but in the Everlasting God, who alone canst be to my Immortal Soul, a Never-failing Portion. O Preserve me from the Pride and Forgetfulness of God, and Love of the World, and all the Vices and Corruptions, incident to a High and Plentiful Estate. And let none of my Abundance or Success in the World ever Puff me up with a Proud Conceit of my self, or a Scornful Disdain of others, or Wanton Kicking against the Lord: O let it not pull me from thee; But with the Cords of Love, do thou Draw me Nearer to thee. And with all my other Plenty, my God, let me have the Fulness of thy Grace, and be Rich in Good Works. And with all my other Successes, O that my Soul may Prosper, and be Well in thy Blessed Favour, and made Glad with thy Saving Mercy, and thy good Acceptance of me in Jesus Christ.

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A Prayer for the Enlargement and Prosperity of the Church.

O God of all Grace, who hast Call'd out of this present Evil World, a Chosen Generation, to Know thy Will, to Seek thy Face, to Follow thy Ways, and to Inherit thy Glory. Bless all thy People every where, and cause thy Face to Shine upon 'em; And so Add to their Number, That all the Ends of the Earth may Remember themselves, and Turn to the Lord, and see the Salvation of our God. Call home to thee again thy once only People The Jews; And take the Veil off their Hearts; That they may See and Own their Messias. And let that Blood of Christ, which they wished might fall upon them, to their Confusion, light on their Hearts, to their Conversion. Bring in the Fulness of the Gentiles; And give thy Son the Heather for his Inheritance, and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession. O give thy Gospel a Free and Effectual Passage throughout the World; That it may be further Propagated where it is not yet Reached; And the Joyful Sound may be Heard, even where the Name of Christ is not yet Named. And give such good Success to it where it [Page 341] Shines already, That all who have Receiv'd it, may sincerely Obey it: And every one who names the Name of Christ may Depart from Iniquity; And let their Light Shine before Men, to the Glory of our Heavenly Father; And to the Adorning of the Doctrine, and Advancing the Religion of God our Saviour.

Convince and Convert both the Professed Enemies of Christ; And also the Enemies of his own House. Beat down all Antichristian Powers, both in the False Church, where Christianity is so foully Corrupted; And also beyond the Borders of Christendom, where it is openly Opposed. O shew unto them all, the Light of thy Truth, That they may Know it as it is in Jesus. And Expel their Prejudices together with their Darkness; And so bring them to Receive that Truth in the Love of it, that they may be Saved. O that the true Religion of our Lord Jesus may prevail Powerfully, and gain more Proselytes daily, throughout the World; That Jerusalem may be the Joy and Praise of the whole Earth; And that we may see the Good of it all the days of our Life! And, O that all Errors both in Judgment and Practice, The Heresies of Doctrine, and the Ungodliness of Life, may be more and more Exposed, and Confounded, and Suppressed, [Page 342] till they be utterly Abolished! That the Wickedness of the Wicked, being under Rebuke and Disgrace, may come to an End. And that Truth and Peace and Holiness, may get still more Credit and Authority, and Reign and Flourish to the Ends of the Earth: Through the abundant Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for the Reformed Churches Abroad.

BLess, O Lord, in especial manner, all the Churches that Profess thy Holy and Eternal Truth. Protect them from the Enemies that have evil-will at Sion: Preserve 'em in the Faith: And Restore to 'em Peace, where it is not; And Continue it to 'em where it is. Thou hast shew'd thy People Hard things: Thou hast made 'em to drink the Wine of Astonishment. O how long shall thy Anger smoak against the Sheep of thy Pasture! Make them Glad according to the time wherein thou hast Afflicted them, and wherein they have seen Adversity. Lord, How long shall the Wicked Triumph! How long shall they utter and speak hard things; And take crafty Counsel against thy People, and Consult against thy Hidden [Page 343] Ones! Arise, O God, Plead thy own Cause: Remember how the Foolish Man Blasphemeth thee daily. Help, Lord, for the Godly Man Ceaseth; For the Faithful Fail from among the Children of Men. O that thou would'st arise and have Mercy upon Sion; And that the time to favour her, the set time were come! Thou art our King, O God: Command Deliverances for Jacob. Arise for thy Servant's help; And Redeem them for thy Mercy sake. Let not the Rod of the Wicked Rest upon the Lot of the Righteous: But give a Check and Stop to the Persecuting Spirit, that breaks in pieces thy People, O Lord, and Afflicts thy Heritage. When such wicked Enemies come to Eat them up, Let 'em Stumble and Fall: And let thy People never be Ashamed. Yea, not only Restrain the Remainder of that Wrath; But so Turn it (As thou didst in the Persecuting Saul) That the Enemies and Opposers of thy Ways and Servants, may become Lovers and Followers of the same.

O hear the Sighs, and support the Spirits, Repair the Breaches, and Hasten the Deliverance of thy Servants; who Suffer for the Testimony of thy Truth, and are Persecuted for Righteousness sake: Yea, for thy sake, are Killed all the day long, and counted as Sheep for the Slaughter. [Page 344] O make thy Face to Shine upon thy Servants; and Redeem Israel out of all his Troubles. Be thou, Lord, a Refuge for the Oppressed; A Refuge in times of Trouble: And come in to their Succour; And maker them a Way to Escape out of the hands of such Unreasonable Men, whose Mercies are Cruel. O Break thou the Arm of the Wicked and Evil Man; And Judge the Oppressed, that the Man of the Earth may no more Oppress. Shew thy marvellous Loving-kindness, thou that Savest by thy Right-hand them that Trust in thee, from those that Rise up against them. When their Power is gone, make known thy Own: And when there is none to help, Reveal thy own Arm to bring Salvation. Such as are Banish'd, and driven to seek their Bread in Strange Countries, (leaving all else behind 'em, that they might take their Religion along with 'em;) Lord, grant them to find Favour with those, among whom they are Scattered: And of thy Fatherly Care, Provide for 'em: And in thy good time, Resore them to their Possessions, and to sure Habitations, and quiet Resting-places. Or if thou wilt not abate them the Troubles on Earth, Yet, Lord, let theirs be the Kingdom of Heaven. For the outward Comforts, which they have lost, O [Page 345] give them Heavenly Joys within, and Everlasting Consolations. And by their Persecution and Dispersion, prepare them for, and Conduct and Hasten them to, the Blessed Rest, which Remains for thy People, and the more Glorious Rewards in those Heavenly Mansions above; Where such as Dye in the Lord Rest from their Labours, and their Works follow 'em. That there (out of the reach of all Disturbance, and Danger) they may sing thy Praise for ever-more.

A Prayer for our Church.

BLessed be thy Name, O Lord our God, who hast Called us to be thy People; And caused the Day-spring from on High to Visit us, and the Light of thy Gospel to shine upon us. Thou hast sent to us the Word of Salvation; And made thy holy Religion to be our Birth-right, and the Professed Religion of our Nation. Thou hast not been Deficient in Kindness to us, Gracious Lord; But O how short have we come of our Duty which we owe to thee our God! Great things still time after time, thou hast done in our behalf: But O how little have we done in thy Service, And how much against thy Holy, Good, and Righteous Laws! We have [Page 346] long Experienced thy Care and Kindness, as the Vineyard of the Lord, which thy Right Hand has Planted: Thou hast Hedg'd us about with thy Providence; Digg'd and Prun'd us with thy Judgments; Water'd and Cherished us with thy Mercies: And justly mightest thou, after all, expect the Good Fruits from us. But alas, Our greatest Fruitfulness has been, in the Bryars and Thorns of Contention, And the unfruitful works of Darkness; To Dishonour the Blessed Name by which we are Called; And to Affront the Heavenly Kindness, whereby we have been Obliged. So unworthy have we walked of our Heavenly Vocation, And so little is it to be seen among us, how much thou hast done for us; That we must Confess, O Lord, thou mightest justly take away the Gospel of the Kingdom from us; And give it to another People, that should bring forth Fruits, more Worthy of it, and more Answerable to it, than we have done.

But, O Gracious Long-suffering God, who in Judgment hast ever Remembred Mercy towards us! Enter not so into Judgment with us; For our Unmindfulness of thee, and our Boldness with thee; Our Barrenness under all the Means of Grace, Our Ingratitude for the most precious Benefits, [Page 347] and our Abuses of the Innumerable Blessings and Favours, pertaining to this Life and a Better, which we so long have enjoyed: Nor remember our Sins against us; But Remember thy own tender Mercies and Loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old. O say not of this Land, Thou hast no Pleasure in it: But Return, we beseech thee, O God of Hosts, Look down from Heaven, Behold and Visit this Vineyard, and the Branch which thou madest Strong for thy Self. Be thou as a Wall of Fire about our Church; To Check the Malice, and break the Forces, of all that would Invade the Peace, Corrupt the Purity, and Destroy the Prosperity of it. And be thou as a Refiner's Fire, and like Fullers Soap in the midst of us; To Purge away our Dross, and to Purify us yet more from all remaining Errors and Corruptions. That Righteousness may be the Foundation of the Walls of our Church, and Peace the Ornament of her Palaces.

O may that Right Hand of thine which does Valiantly, work Wonders for our Safety. Especially be thou pleased, Lord, to work such a holy Reformation upon us, That we may be a truly Reformed People, as well as so Called; A Peculiar People, Zealous of Good Works; A People Eminent for that Righteousness, which Exalts [Page 348] a Nation, That thou the Righteous Lord, who Lovest Righteousness, mayst Bless us, and with Favour compass us as with a Shield; And cause thy Anger towards us to Cease; And Rejoyce over us to do us Good. After all the Methods for our Good, that we have Resisted, O what shall we ask, But that thou would'st be pleas'd, O Lord our God, to do for us, what thou knowest Effectual to Reclaim and Save us? And after all the Grace of God, that we have received in Vain, O give us the Grace, which we may not Withstand or Abuse; But Comply with it, to make us such as thou wouldest have us: And to Secure to us all thy Saving Mercies in Jesus Christ, our Blessed Lord, and only Saviour.

A Prayer for the King, and all our Rulers and Magistrates.

ALmighty Lord, the most High God, By whom Kings do Reign! Thou puttest Down one, and Settest up another: And there are no Powers but of thee; The Powers that be are Ordained of God. Thy Word directs us to Pray for Kings, and for all that are in Authority. And both in Duty and Inclination, I become a Petitioner to thy Heavenly Majesty, for [Page 349] thy Chosen Servant King WILLIAM, And all our Governors, of what sort or degree soever. Give thy Judgments, O God, to the King; that he may Judge thy People righteously, and Break in pieces their Oppressors. Give him the Spirit of Government, and make him Wise as an Angel of God, to discern between Good and Evil; A Ruler after thy Heart, And a Follower of Wise and Pious Princes, in all things Excellent and Praise-Worthy. O make him Obedient to Thee; And his Subjects Obedient to him, for thy Sake. Rule his Heart in thy Fear and Love; That he may Rule his People, to thy Honour and Glory: That in his days the Righteous may Flourish, and Abundance of Peace, with the Liberty of the Gospel, and the free Profession, and good Encouragement of thy true and holy Religion. Protect him, Lord, that he may Protect us. Bless his Arms, with good Success and Victory; And his Government with all Happiness and Prosperity. O Keep him as the Apple of thine Eye: Hide him under the Shadow of thy Wings; That no Mischief may befal him, nor any Son of Belial come near to Touch thy Anointed, so as to do him any Harm. And may he long continue to Rule and Reign for thee, here in his Earthly Kingdom, [Page 350] Till he come to Live and Reign with thee Above in thy Kingdom Everlasting.

Give, Lord, unto all our Rulers Spirits suitable to their Places. Make them a Terror only to Evil-doers, and the Praise of them that do Well. O that they may use for thee, all the Power which they have received from thee; Not Bearing the Sword in Vain; But Curbing and Suppressing all Vice and Ungodliness; And Defending and Encouraging whatever is Holy, and Just and Good. O give them Wisdom to Understand, and Hearts to Consider, And Abilities to Repair the Breaches, and to Redress the Grievances of thy People. That under the Protection of the Powers Protected by Thee, and under such Rulers, as are Ruled by thy Word, we may lead Quiet and Peaceable Lives, in all Godliness and Honesty.

And grant, O Lord, That I and all my Fellow-Subjects, may Submit to every Ordinance of Man, for thy Sake; And in Conscience towards God, yield our selves Tractable to the Powers which thou hast Ordained. That the Fear of God may teach us to Honour the King; And the Sense of our Duty to the Lord, may also keep us within the Bounds of our duty to them, unto whom thou hast [Page 351] Commanded us to be Subject and Obedient. That we may not bring an Evil Report upon our holy Profession; But put to Silence the ignorance of Foolish men, by Well-doing. And may all Rulers so Rule, and Subjects so Obey; And every one of us, from the Highest to the Lowest, Understand and Seek after God (Seeking the Lord, while thou mayst be found, and Calling upon thee, while thou art Near); That thou mayst not Root us out from being a People, as we have justly deserved; But be still our God, and do us Good, in all the wonted Ways of thy Loving-kindness to us, Through the Son of thy Love, our Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Magistrates Prayer.

O Thou Great and Supream Ruler of all the World! By whom all the Governors on Earth are set up, to Restrain the Unruly, and to Favour thy People! Though thou needest not the Services of Men or Angels, to Assist thee; But canst Immediately by Thy self, do whatever thou pleasest in Heaven and in Earth; With the least Word of thy Mouth, with the least Motion of thy Will: Yet thou art pleas'd to Honour some of thy [Page 352] Creatures, as thy Vicegerents; And to Order and Govern the Sons of Men, by those of their own Kind; Exalting some Chosen out of the People, to Preside and Rule over the Rest. Me thou hast Called, Lord, to this Honour; And hast been pleas'd to set me above the Common Lot of men, as one of the little Representatives of thy Blessed Self. O King of Glory! I will Exalt thee, who hast Vouchsafed so to Raise me. And as thou hast made me to Differ from others in this Dignity: So make me to Excel in every Praise-worthy Property. O that I may Represent, not only thy Power and Majesty, But thy Wisdom and Holiness, Thy Truth and Goodness, Thy Justice and Mercy. O that I may Retain a Lowly Mind, in my High Station; And not Forget, or Lift up my self, Nor Insult over my poor Inferiors: But like the Great God, who Despises not any, May I Condescend to men of Low Estate; And without Respect of Persons, Judge according to every man's Work: Yea delight to Rescue and Succour the Injured and Oppressed; To Deliver the Needy when he cries, The Poor also, and him that has no Helper.

O! may I rather Fear my Accounts, than be Proud of my Office: And in the Fear of the Lord, let me ever be Careful to [Page 353] Execute that which is Righteous in the sight of God; And with all Faithfulness to discharge my Trust, as one that must be Judged my self, and find the same Measure, with which I Meet. And seeing the Eyes of all are upon me, and my Place exposes me the more to common Notice; And my Example has a greater Influence, than that of a Private ordinary man: O make me, Lord, the more Vigilant and Cautelous in the Inspection of my self, and the Ordering of my Conversation aright: That I may not Embolden others to commit such Wickedness, as I ought to Punish; Nor lead People into the Sin and Ruin, which I should help to Save them from; Nor be a Scandal and Grief of Heart to the holy Followers of Jesus, whom I am set up to Patronize and Comfort. But let my Conversation be such, as shall put to Confusion Dissolute and Exorbitant Sinners, As well as my Justice strike Terror into the Evil-doers. O make me a hearty Lover of all Good men, and one that Honours them who Fear the Lord. Make me ever ready and Forward, to Defend and Countenance and Encourage the Generation of thy Children, Such as Live Godly in Christ Jesus. And let me with Courage Exert my Authority, in a zealous Vindication of [Page 354] thy Glory; And in Asserting the Rights, and Promoting the Growth and Advancement of thy true and holy Religion. O that the Honour of thy Name, and the Interests of thy Kingdom, and the Welfare of thy Church and Chosen, may be ever next my Heart: That above all things, I may seek the things of Jesus Christ; And truly and Indifferently minister Justice, to the Punishment of Wickedness and Vice, and to the Maintenance of thy true Religion and Vertue. And all the Power and Interest that I have in the World, O may I so lay it out, to the Service of thy holy Truth, and to set forward the blessed Design of the Gospel of thy Dear Son; That after my Advancement here, I may not be Thrown down hereafter; Nor receive the dreadful Doom, for Betraying my Trust, and Abusing my Authority: But may Appear with Comfort and Joy before my Judge, whose holy Cause I Espous'd and Advance; And whose faithful Servants I Shelter'd and Cherish'd, and shew'd the greatest Kindness to: And with them may be Raised at the last, to that highest of all Bliss and Glory, which shall endure for evermore.

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A Prayey for all our Bishops, Pastors and Ministers.

O Lord most High, The Glorious Head of all the Church! Who hast appointed various Officers in it; For the Perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the Edifying of the Body of Christ! Bless in especial manner, all those whom thou hast Sent to Bless the People in thy Name. And make all our Spiritual Fathers, Careful and tender Nursing Fathers of thy Church. Grant them Knowledge and Grace, both to Manage themselves, and Order their Conversations aright; And also to Watch for Souls, and Feed the Flock of God, and take the Oversight thereof; Not by Constraint, but Willingly; Not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready mind: Caring for all committed to their Charge, and giving to every one his Portion in due season: That they may rightly Divide thy Word, and speak it as they ought to Speak; And do thy Work, as thy Workmen, that need not be Ashamed. O make them Skilful and Faithful in their Sacred Callings; And Successful and Happy in their good Endeavours, to promote the Knowledge and Love of thy Truth, and all the duties of a holy Life. And let [Page 356] both their Example and their Doctrine be such, as shall help to Save themselves, and those that hear them. O that they may speak as the Oracles of God, in Demonstration of the Spirit, and of Power; And that they may shew themselves Patterns of all the Good things, which they Preach to others: Not Prostituting their holy Calling, to serve the Interests and Lusts of men; But Conscientiously discharging it, to the Glory of their Lord: Not walking in Craftiness, nor handling the Word of God Deceitfully; But by manifestation of the Truth, Commending themselves to every man's Conscience, in the Sight of God: And being so good Ensamples to the Flock, that having Preached to others, themselves may not be Cast-aways; But Experience the Joy of that Salvation which they Preach; And when the Chief Shepherd shall Appear, Receive the Crown of Glory that fades not away.

Though the World Hates, and the Devil Opposes them; And even many that should Encourage their Labours, do but Weaken their Hands, and Afflict their Hearts: O Great and Good Lord! Do thou shew thy own Strength, to accomplish thy own Work. Open a Wide Door to the Gospel; and Defeat all Opposition. Stop the Mouths of False Prophets; And [Page 357] drive away Ravenous Wolves from the Flock, And give them Faithful Pastors. And, Lord, Crown the Endeavours of thy Messengers with thy Heavenly Blessing: That they may be Mighty through God, to pull down the Strong Holds of Sin; And to Edify and build up thy Church, in the true Fear and Love of God, and in the right Knowledge and Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. And because Wise men Dye, and cannot Bequeath their Learning and Talents unto others; To supply the Breaches made upon us by their Mortality, Bless both our Universities, and all the Schools and Nurseries of good Learning, and true Religion in the Land: That they may send forth men Able and Apt to Serve thee in Church and State; And to Oblige the World, by doing Good in their Generations, and shewing People the way to be Happy both here and for ever.

The Author's Prayer for himself, as a Minister.

O Blessed Jesus, my Lord and my God! What high Honour hast thou done me, in Calling me to the Office which thou wast pleas'd to take upon Thy self? Who camest not to be Ministred [Page 358] to, but to Minister; and to Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, and Teach the Way of Salvation. All Glory be to Thee, who hast been pleased so to Dignify me. But as thou thy self, (The Head of the Corner) art to some, a Stone of Stumbling, and Rock of Offence: So thy Messengers are to them that Perish, the Savour of Death unto Death, as well as to them that are Saved, the Savour of Life unto Life. And if thy Wise and Holy Servant askt, Who is Sufficient for these things? Well may I a Weak and Sinful Wretch, Tremble under the Work of the Ministry; Lest the Blood of those that Perish, through my Neglect and Default, should be required at my Hands; And lest, when I have shewed others the way to Heaven, I my self should be shut out. But I look unto thee, O Lord, my Life, my Strength, and my Redeemer, who hast Appointed me this Office, to Accomplish me also for it. O thou that Ordainest Strength, out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings, Magnify thy Power in my Weakness. And shew thy self so Graciously and Mightily on my behalf, That I may do all things, as I ought, through Christ Strengthening me. O let me Learn from thee, what I shall Teach concerning thee. Open my Understanding, O Lord, that I may well [Page 359] Understand the Scriptures, and rightly Divide the Word of Truth; and be able by sound Doctrine both to Exhort and Convince the Gainsayers. O put such Thoughts into my Mind, and such Words into my Mouth, That out of the Abundance of my Heart, my Mouth may speak to the Glory of thy Name; And to the Edification of those, unto whom I make my Application. O make me Wise to Win Souls; And Watchful over 'em, as one that must give an Account of 'em: Not Entangling my self in the Affairs of this Life; but waiting on my Ministry; Taking heed to my self, and to my Doctrine; Studying to shew my self, Approved to God, and throughly furnished to every good Work.

Give me Skill and Conduct, prudently to Steer my Course through all Difficulties in my way: And give me Patience and Courage, to withstand all Assaults and Opposition, which I have to Encounter. O my Lord! Be with me, and Guide me, and Help me, and Strengthen and Succour me, now and always, in the great Work lying upon me. Open to me a Door of Utterance, that I may speak thy Word, as I ought to Speak: And make me Faithful, and Diligent, and Successful, in my Sacred Calling; Doing thy [Page 360] Work, as thy Workman, that need not be Ashamed: Not Preaching my self, but Christ Jesus the Lord; Nor seeking the Praise of Men, but the Honour of my God. Yea, make me an Example of all the holy Graces, and Praise-Worthy Practices, which I Preach to others. That I may not lay upon them the Burdens which I refuse to Bear my self; But go before them, in the Ways which they are to Follow; Holding forth the Word of Life in my Conversation, as well as in my Doctrine: That I may shine with a Convincing Light to 'em; And not lye as a Stumbling-Block before 'em: Neither making the Heart of the Righteous Sad, Nor Strengthening the Hands of the Wicked, Nor giving just Offence to any; But approving my self, (as far as I am Able) Useful and Beneficial unto all: Keeping under my Body, and bringing it into Subjection: Lest that by any means, when I have Preached to others, I my self should be a Cast-away.

And O thou that givest the Increase, Command a Blessing, I pray thee, upon all my Studies and Endeavours; That I may not spend my Strength for Nought, nor Labour in vain: But that I may make full Proof of my Ministry; And be Instrumental, through thy Grace, to Convert [Page 361] the Unconverted, and to Build up them that are, in any measure, Sanctified; And so to Save my self, and those that Hear me. That when I have Finished my Course, I may give an Account of my Stewardship with Joy, and not with Grief; And receive the Crown of Righteousness at thy Hands, Not for my Merits, but for thy Mercies sake.

A Prayer for our Benefactors.

I Desire with all Thankfulness to acknowledge thy Loving-kindness, O Lord my God; That thou hast given me so many Comforts; And rais'd me up so many Friends and Helps in the World. 'Tis thou, Lord, who hast the Hearts of all in thy Hands, that turnest the Hearts of any, to Shew me Favour, and to do me Good. They are but the Instruments, and Means of Conveyance: But thou art the Blessed Author, and Original Fountain of all the Kindness. To thee therefore, where alone it is due, I give the Glory, and offer the Sacrifice of Praise. But for them whom thou hast Enabled, and also Inclin'd to Benefit and Pleasure me, I am Oblig'd to offer up the Sacrifice of my Prayers. O be thou Kind to them, [Page 362] Lord, as they have been Kind to me. Refresh their Bowels, as they have Refreshed mine: And Requite their Love, and all their Endearing Offices of Friendship, Sevenfold into their Bosoms. Make me Studious ever to approve my self Grateful; And Ready to make all fitting Returns in my Power. And be thou pleased, O Blessed God, infinitely Good, to Reward them where I cannot: Yea, turn all the Advantages I have had from them, to their own greatest Advantage. And for their Goodness and their kind Favours, Give them, not only Temporal Mercies, But Heavenly Blessings, and Everlasting Consolations. O Give them Christ, and all the Good things of thy Spirit, that accompany Salvation; Yea, give them thy own Self, Lord; who art All in All, to be their Blessed Glorious Portion for evermore.

A Prayer for our Pious Friends.

GLory be to thee, O Lord, for thy Grace discover'd upon any of my Friends. O how great is thy Goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that Fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that Trust in thee, before the Sons of men! Save thy People, and Bless thy [Page 363] Inheritance; Feed them also, and Lift them up for ever. Let none that Wait on thee, O Lord, be Ashamed: But let all that Seek thee, Rejoice and be Glad in thee; And ever have cause to say, The Lord be Magnified, who has Pleasure in the Prosperity of his Servants. O do Good to them that are Good; and to them that are Upright in their heart. And Continue thy Loving-kindness, Lord, to all such as have Chose the Better Part; And still desire to Know, and Fear, and Love thee more, and to Serve and Please thee Better. O answer them in the Wishes of their Hearts, Whose Hearts thou knowest to be set upon the Increase of thy Grace, and Perfecting Holiness in thy Fear. Lead them on from Strength to Strength, from one degree of Saving Knowledge and Grace, to another; Till from Shining here as Lights in the World, they come to Shine as the Stars, and as the Brightness of the Firmament, in the Kingdom of their Father, for ever and ever. And while they are in the World, O do thou keep them, Good Lord, from the Evil of it. And Bless and Prosper all their Designs and Endeavours, to do still more and more Good in it. That all about 'em may be the Better for 'em: And that themselves, when come to the End of their Pilgrimage [Page 364] here, may depart in Peace and Hope and Joy; And find their Grace Exchang'd for the Crown of Glory, that fades not away; among all the Redeemed and Blessed of the Lord, Where they will Admire and Enjoy thy Love, and Extol and Magnify thy Name for evermore.

A Prayer for our Friend, whose Soul we fear to be in a Dangerous condition.

O Lord! it was a mighty Concernment upon the Spirit of thy holy Apostle, that made him declare, He had great Heaviness and continual Sorrow in his Heart, and could wish himself Accursed from Christ, for his Brethren, his Kinsmen according to the flesh. And somewhat like to this, thou knowest, I feel in my self, with reference to some of my Relations, especially my poor Friend . . . . . . who seems to be even in the Gall of bitterness, and the Bond of Iniquity; Setting himself in a way that is far from Good, and lying under the Danger to be for ever Lost. O what shall I do for him! And how shall I apply my self, to be Helpful to him? I would be taught of God; and I desire to learn Wisdom of thee, my Lord, and to [Page 365] be enabled by thy Grace, to use the Methods and Expedients that shall be most probable and Successful to work upon him, and to do him Good. O Instruct me in the Way that I shall take, and Assist and Bless me in the Means and Endeavours I shall use to attain this desirable End.

Yea, thou Great Almighty God, who workest all in all, and canst do whatever thou pleasest, to Enlighten the Darkest minds, to Fashion the Hardest Hearts, to Conquer the Stubbornest Wills, and to Turn even the most Hopeless Sinners to thy self. O be thou pleased to shew the Irresistible Efficacy of thy heavenly Grace, in the Case that is so sad, and worthy of Thy self to Relieve. Be pleased, O Lord, to break in powerfully upon him, and Discover to him what's Amiss with him; and make him to know the Danger of his Sins, and in what condition his Soul is. And Open his Eyes, and Soften his Heart, and Turn his Course, and break the force of his Temptations; and so make him a way to Escape out of the Enemy's hands: That even the Dead may hear the Voice of the Son of God, and Live; That the Presumptuous may be Startled, and the Secure Awakened, and he that is so far gone, yet Recovered: Yea, that the Lost [Page 366] Sheep may be brought Home, and the Sinner so Repent and be Converted, That his Sins may be Blotted out, and his Soul be throughly Healed, and mercifully Accepted, and eternally Saved.

O Gracious God! Thou hast no pleasure in the Death of the Wicked, But art Reconcilable in the Son of thy Love, to the very worst of thy Enemies, and not willing that any should Perish. O what profit is there in his Blood! How shall the Dead and Damned Praise thee? Lord of all Power and Mercy! Get thee Glory in his Recovery. O speak the word, and thy Sinful Creature shall Live, and for ever Bless thy Name. Dear Father! Forgive him all the evil Thoughts and devices of his Heart, and all the Offensive wicked Carriage of his Life. Forgive him all his Sins of Omission and Commission: And bring him off all the ways of Wickedness and Ruin, into which he has struck out: O bring him at last, with purpose of Heart, to Resign and give up himself to the Lord. And make him Diligent to Retrieve himself, and full of Care for his Soul, and very Conscientious and Zealous in all the practices of Piety, and Honesty, and Charity, and Sobriety; Whereby he may approve himself to be truly Changed, and quite another manner of person than [Page 367] he has been, in all holy Conversation and Godliness.

O grant him an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified through faith in Christ Jesus: And send down that Renewing-Grace into his Heart, which may be there as a Well of Water, springing up to Everlasting Life. Thus comfort and rejoice the Soul of thy Servant, O Lord, who does wait upon thee, and cry unto thee, for such thy Saving Mercy, to be shewed upon me and Mine (particularly upon this near Ally, whom I bewail;) even for thy own Mercy sake, in the great Lover and Saviour of Souls; who came to Seek the Lost, and to call Sinners to Repentance, Even thy dearly Beloved Son, our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for the Unconverted.

O Lord God, Gracious and Merciful! Thou art Good to all; And thy tender Mercies are over all thy Works. And thou hast assur'd us, That thou hast no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked; But that he should Turn from his Way, and Live. Yea thou that didst call Zacheus, an Old Sinner, and Saul a Fierce Persecutor, hast the Power over all [Page 368] Hearts in thy Hands, to Fashion them, as thou Wilt: And canst even out of Stones, Raise up Children to Abraham; and make Eminent Saints, out of the very Vilest Sinners. O Father of Mercies! Pity poor Sinners that have not Hearts to Pity themselves: Open their Eyes, to see the Error of their Ways, and the Danger of their Case: Soften their Hearts, into a Penitent Concernment for their Sins: And Awaken them into a timely Care of their Souls. O let thy Spirit Convince them, how Bad it is with them. And set their Sins in order before 'em, That they may Know their Transgressions; And what is the Wages of Sin, and the dreadful Portion of all Ungodly men; And where their Help lies, and what they must do to be Saved. And the Lord make them Faithful to their Convictions; That they may nor hold the Truth in Unrighteousness; But make Haste to do, what they are Convinc'd is Necessary to be done for their poor Sinking Souls, before it be too Late.

O Good God! Give Repentance, to the acknowledgment of the Truth, unto such as have Oppos'd themselves to it: That they may be Recover'd out of the Snare of the Devil, who have been taken Captive by him at his Will: That thy Power and [Page 369] Mercy may be Glorified in their Conversion and Salvation; And not thy Justice in their Ruin and Destruction. They that are so Far from the Kingdom of God, That they Contradict and Blaspheme thy Truth, and Stumble at the Word, and set it at Naught; Resisting the Means of their Salvation, and Hating and Abusing the Followers of Jesus, Turning again to Rend thy Servants: O Lord, our Heavenly Father, Forgive them; For they know not what they do. And Stop and Turn them, as thou didst the Persecuting Saul; When he was Mad against the Saints, and verily thought with himself, that he ought to do many things Contrary to the Name of Jesus. Put them in Fear, O Lord, That they may know themselves to be but Chaff and Stubble, before thee our God, A Consuming Fire. And bring down their High Looks, Subdue their Stiff Necks, and Break their Hard'ned Hearts; To make them to Submit unto thee, that they may not be Slain before thee.

And such as think they are Rich, and Increas'd with Goods, and have Need of Nothing; And know not, That they are Wretched and Miserable, and Poor and Blind and Naked: O Lord, Discover them to themselves, and shew them the true [Page 370] Estate of their Souls. That they may be Sorrowfully Concerned for their Sins, and apprehend the Peril they are in; And timely Seek out for Help, and Flee from the Wrath to come.

Such as are Ignorant, and out of the Way, And to do their Souls Good, have no Knowledge; Lord, Have Compassion on them; And Call them out of Darkness, into thy marvellous Light, That they may not Perish for Lack of Knowledge. O let them be Taught of God, to Know Thee and themselves, and the things belonging to their Peace before they be Hid from their Eyes. O thou that Commandest the Light to Shine out of Darkness, Be pleas'd to Shine into their Hearts; Shew them thy Ways, and Lead them in thy Truth: That they may not be Unwise, but Understand what the Will of the Lord is.

Such as are in pernicious Errors, and Damnable Heresies, Departed from the Faith once deliver'd to the Saints; Having their Minds Corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Christ; Perverting the Truth, as it is in Jesus; And not only Swerving from the pure Doctrine of the Gospel themselves, But also lying in Wait, to Seduce and Deceive others; O Father of Lights, Take away the Veil which is [Page 371] upon their Hearts; That they may see wherein they have Erred, and come to Receive the Truth in the Love of it, and earnestly Contend for the Faith which once they Destroyed.

The Prosperous Worldlings, and Secure Sinners, Setled upon their Lees, That are at Ease in their Possessions, and Admire and Dote upon the Worldly Good, as if it were the Chief and Only Good; Applauding themselves in their Portion, that they have in this Life, as if they had no Need of God, Nor to take Care for any other Heaven: O Dear Father! Shew them how Base is their Choice, so to go a Whoring from the Lord; and how Rotten the Foundation, on which at present they stand. O make them to know, That the Friendship of the World is Enmity with God; And that all this World can never, either Satisfy the Desire, or Recompence for the Loss, of a Soul. Yea, Open their eyes, O Lord, to see how the Fashion of this World passeth away; And how soon all that wherein they Trust and Delight, will be utterly gone, as if it had never been: And what Multitudes, by Forsaking of God, to Cleave unto Mammom, Miscarry, and are Lost for ever; Drown'd in that Destruction and Perdition, from whence there is no Redemption: [Page 372] That they may be Checkt and Cool'd in their Pursuit and Love of the World, and Flee from its Snares, for the Life of their Souls: and so Leave all for Christ, and the Everlasting Glory to come; That they may not be Condemned with the World, but Sav'd in the great Day of the Lord.

And such as are Loose and Prophane, and Scandalous in their Lives, Making bold to Rebel against Heaven, and committing all Uncleanness with Greediness; Scoffing at the Followers of Jesus, and Deriding all that is Serious and Holy, and Needful to the Saving of the Soul; Refusing to be Ashamed, and Hating to be Reformed: How Dangerous and Desperate soever seems their Case, Yet, Lord, it is not past thy Help and Cure; Who Callest those things that are not, as if they were; Who canst Change the Leopard▪s Spots, and the Aethiopian's Skin; Yea, and bring, not only Something out of Nothing, But the greatest Good, out of the Worst Evil. O! where Sin has Abounded, May thy Grace much more Abound. Thou, Lord God Almighty, Do the great Work of thy Grace; To Heal such Wounds and Bruises and Putrifying Sores; And to Recover the Ruinous Sinners, so Far gone, under such Deadly Distempers: That the Prodigals [Page 373] may come to themselves, and Arise, and go to their Father: That such as were Dead, may be Alive again, And such as were Lost, may be Found: That they may yet Turn from their Evil ways, and come to see the Beauties of Holiness, and Delight to do thy Blessed Will, O God, and obtain an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified, through Faith in Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for all that Desire our Prayers.

O Lord God of the Spirits of all Flesh! Thy Word requires us to Pray for others, as well as for our selves; And to Call upon thee, as our Common Father in Jesus Christ. And though I am Unworthy to speak to thy Heavenly Majesty, O most High, either for my self or Others; Yet in the Sense of thy Mercy, and the Obligation of my Duty and Charity, I take upon me to become an humble Petitioner to thee, my Lord, in behalf of all such as desire to be Partakers in my Prayers. O that they may Share in thy Rich Mercies, according to their several Wants and Necessities. They are known to thee, by Name; O let them be Known of thee, in the Number of thy Children. Thou [Page 374] knowest what they most Need, and chiefly Desire: O thou Gracious Giver of all Good, Answer them in the Desires of their Hearts, as far as they desire the things that are Meet and Good. And where they desire what is Unfitting and Hurtful; Convince them of their Errror, that they may not persist in it. And where they see not the things of their Peace, or are Cold to that which is most for their Good; O Lord, Shew them the Saving way. And grant them a great Love for it, and true Zeal to follow it. Bless them, Gracious Father, with so much of the World's Good, as thou knowest to be Good for 'em: But especially Remember them with the Favour which thou bearest to thy People. Instruct them, Lord, in the Knowledge of thy Will, and what they must do to be Saved. And make them Faithful to Practice, according to the Light which thou art pleas'd to give them: Yea, Incline their Hearts to take Pleasure in the performance of their Duty. Bless them, O God of all Grace, with that Grace and Favour of thine, in which is Life, And with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things in Christ Jesus.

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A Prayer for the Blessing of our intended Marriage.

O My God, Thy bountiful Favours have exceeded all my Expectations, as well as my Deservings: And though I have wretchedly Abused thy Kindness and Love, Yet thou Waitest to be Gracious; and art not weary to shew Mercy. Now thy good Providence, Lord, has set the Fruition before me, which looks Hopeful upon me, and for Good to me. If thou knowest it to be so indeed, O Lord of Love, promote, and bring it to pass. And that thou mayst Bless and Prosper my Designs, Grant that I may proceed in thy Fear and Favour; So as shall be for the Glory of thy Name, and the Eternal Welfare of my self, and thy Servant, whom my Thoughts and Affections are set upon. O give me such a Partner of my Fortunes, as may be a Blessing to me for this Life and a Better. And make us truly Beneficial and Comfortable to one another, in all the best Respects, pertaining to our Chiefest Good. Grant, Lord, That we may be Helps Meet for each other, in reference to both Worlds; And that our Love may be Sincere without Guile; Pure without Lust; And [Page 376] Lasting without Decay. O thou that Fashionest all Hearts, Unite our Affections upon such Just and Worthy Accounts, as may make them firm and Durable to the End. Wed us both to thy Blessed Self, as well as to one another: That our Marriage may be in the Lord; And not Separate us from, but bring us Nearer to our God. O grant us New Supplies of thy Grace, for this New Estate of our Lives: That we may fill up the Relation into which we are entring, with all Suitable Duty: That we may not only be Faithful, in still keeping the Marriage-Bed Undefiled, but be Mutual Helps and Comforts, both in the Temporal and Spiritual concernments; and ever Conspire together, to Pleasure and Honour and Benefit one another; And above all, to Glorify and Please thee our God, through Jesus Christ.

The Husband's Prayer.

ACcept my humble Thanks to thee, O Lord my God, who hast provided a Help Meet for me, That is thy Gift, And such a one as thy good Providence has appointed, to be my Partner in the Nearest Relation. O teach and enable me, [Page 377] in all things to carry my self towards her, as behoves and becomes me, in this Station; To Love and Cherish her, as my own Flesh; And not to Despise her, nor to be Bitter against her; But to Bear with her Infirmities, And Forbear her in Love, and all Gentleness. Nor let me Insult over her, as an Inferior; But mildly use my Authority, in treating her, as my dear Yoke-fellow and Companion. Not Rigid in Opposing of her; But Complying with her, and Condescending to her, in all her reasonable Desires and Expectations. O make me Meek and Patient with her; Faithful and Kind to her; Respectful and Tender of her; And well-pleas'd and Satisfied in her: That she may find the Refreshment and Benefit of my Fellowship; And not Bewail, but Rejoice in her Choice, to Forsake all other for my Sake. O Blessed Lord! Espouse my Dear Friend to thy self, in Loving-kindness and Faithfulness, and Tender Mercies. Bless her, and Love her; and make her Lovely, to Thy self, and all. Especially make her like the King's Daughter, Glorious Within. That she may not only live well here, but be most Blessed for ever. And grant, O Lord our God, That we may be Lovers of one another's Souls, and Promoters of each other's Salvations. So that after [Page 378] a short Conversation here, we may Meet again with Rejoycing there, where we shall never Part. Even in that Fulness of Joy, which is in thy Presence: Where though there be no Marrying, nor Giving in Marriage, Yet is there greater Festivity and Gladness, than in any day of Espousals; and all Heavenly Sweets, and the highest Pleasures for evermore.

The Wife's Prayer.

O My God, Thou hast Called me to this State of Life; And it is the Disposal of thy Providence, That I should be Joined in Wedlock with thy Servant. I Bless thee, Lord, That thou hast dealt well with me, and Provided Graciously for me. O Continue thy Goodness to me, in giving me Knowledge and Grace, to demean my self aright in this Relation; That I may Honour and Obey the Lord, in Reverencing and Obeying my Husband: Submitting to him, in all things, not Forbidden by thee; Speaking of him, and to him, with such Words, as signify the high Esteem I have for him: And so Composing my self, as to give him Content, and Increase his Delight; That he may, not only be Satisfied with me, but [Page 379] take Pleasure in me. And in any Occasions of Offence, with Silence, or Soft Obliging words, let me Quench the Flames; So preserving Peace. O give me the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit; Such as may, not only make me Sweet and Amiable at present, But also prevent all Shameful and Mischievous Effects. O make me Humble and Modest, Discreet and Considerate, Careful and Diligent, Faithful and Constant, Mild and Patient: Remembring not only the Duties and Comforts, but also the Temptations and Crosses of the Married Condition; And taking the Worse with the Better, as a part of my Portion: Still shewing my self a Follower of Wise and Pious Matrons, in all things that are of good Report; However I am Tried with Prosperity or Adversity. Bless my Dear Partner, O Lord, with the best of thy Blessings; And Love him, and keep him in thy continual Care, till thou bring him to thy Heavenly Kingdom. O Bind us both in Faithfulness unto thee, as well as to one another. And as we are one Flesh, So make us of one Heart, and of one Soul: That nothing but Death, may ever make a Separation between us. And let us not hold together only upon the Worldly account, but also, and especially, upon the Religious [Page 380] and Godly; To Admire and Love and Serve, and Glorify and Please thee our God through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for a Woman in Travail.

O Almighty Lord God, who bringest to the Birth, and givest Strength to Bring forth: Shew Favour, we beseech thee, to thy Servant, in the time of her Need and Distress: And be not far from her, when Trouble is Nigh to her, and lies so Sore and Heavy upon her: But let her experience thy Help at hand, according to the Necessity of her Case. O Mitigate the Pangs, and make them Tolerable to her: And Support and Relieve her, under the Pain and Pressure that is so Grievous to her. And grant her, Lord, a timely, Safe, and Happy Deliverance, of the Offspring wherewith she Travails: That she may see the Fruit of her Womb, with such Comfort and Joy, as may make her Forget the past Anguish and Sorrow; And with a truly Thankful Heart, Give thee the Glory of such thy Mercy; Who dost things Worthy of God, And makest thy Servants a way to Escape out of the Dangers, that threaten to Destroy 'em. Or should'st thou turn things Contrary to these our Desires, which we humbly present [Page 381] before thee, Should'st thou refuse to Hear us, begging for the Life of thy Handmaid; and make this expected Birth prove the Cause of her Death; Yet Hear us, O Lord, we earnestly Pray thee, for her Soul; That it may be Safe in thy Blessed Hands: That she may be Prepared for a Better Life; And find the best Deliverance of all, from all Sin and Misery, into the Perfection of Holiness, and the Fulness of Joy: There to live in thy Love, and to Sing thy Praise for evermore.

A Thanksgiving after Safe Delivery.

BLessed for ever be thy Name, O Lord our Gracious God, who Remembrest us in our Low Estate, and dost not Abhor the Affliction of the Afflicted; But hearest thy Servants, crying to thee, in their Distress; And sendest Relief and Help in time of Need. O that we may Praise thee, Lord, as we ought, for such thy Goodness, and wonderful Works to the Children of Men! Thou Bringest down, and Raisest up; Thou givest Trouble, and sendest Comfort; Throwest down under Fears and Griefs, and again Revivest our Hopes and Joys. Thou, O God, art Good in all; And Worthy to be Admired [Page 382] and Praised, in every Dispensation of thy Providence. But chiefly are we affected with thy Seasonable Aids of our Misery; When thou givest us Beauty for Ashes, The Oyl of Gladness for Mourning, and the Garments of Praise, for the Spirit of Heaviness. So thou hast now, (Blessed be thy Name!) Refreshed thy Afflicted Handmaid, and Rejoyced the Souls of thy Servants. And here we offer up unto thee, O Gracious Lord! our devout Acknowledgments of thy Lovingkindness; And the Sacrifice of our unseigned Thanks and Praise, for this sweet Reviving Mercy, which is as Life from the Dead. O that thy Handmaid, and all of us, may be duly Sensible of such Favour from the Lord! And for all thy great Goodness, and these continual Obligations from Above, May we give thee all the Love of our Hearts, and the Service of our Lives, and the Glory due to thy Blessed Name, now and for evermore.

A Prayer for our Children.

THE Children, O Lord my God, which thou hast given me, I Return and Surrender them up to Thee. O that they may Know thee, and be [Page 383] Owned by thee, every one, from the Greatest to the Least. Pour out thy Spirit upon my Seed, and thy Blessing upon my Offspring. Make them, Lord, thy Children, by Adoption, and Spiritual Regeneration. O take possession of their Hearts, and Season their tender Years with thy Heavenly Grace. And Teach those who have the Teaching of them; That they may be brought up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, And Train'd up in the Way that they should go. I have helpt to bring them into the World, Children of Wrath: O that thou would'st make me Instrumental to make them the Children of Grace. Lord have Mercy upon them, and speak Life to their Souls. And whatsoever else they want, O let them have thy Grace, and the Portion of thy Childron. My God! Be thou a Gracious Father to 'em, and a Merciful Provider for 'em, in all Estates, all Affairs, and Events of their Lives. Dispose of 'em, and whatever concerns them, to thy Glory, and to the promoting of their Salvation.

Should'st thou take them hence before me, O Fit them for Thee; And make me Willing to Resign them to thee. Or if thou take me from them, O my Lord, Take them up, and be an infinitely better [Page 384] Father to them, when I am gone. O Keep them from the Evil of this World: And Conduct and bring them Safe through it, to a Better. Take thou care even of their Temporal Concernments, and Chuse their Inheritence for them; That they may find a Convenient and Easy Passage through the World. But especially, My God, Take care of their Souls; And give them the Blessed Treasure in Heaven: That when they shall be deprived of All here, they may be taken into the Glorious Kingdom Above; To live with thee, and all the Heavenly Host, World without end.

A Prayer for our Parents.

O Lord God my Heavenly Father! I here prostrate my self before thee, to beg thy Blessing, Grace, and Mercy upon my Earthly Parents. Cast 'em not a way in the time of their Old Age: Forsake 'em not when then their Strength fails 'em. But have Compassion, Lord, on their Infirmities, and help them in all their Weakness. O Remember not against them any of their former Iniquities: But according to thy Mercy, Remember them, for thy Goodness sake in Jesus Christ. O that the true Wisdom may be with them; [Page 385] And Abundance of thy Grace upon 'em: That their Hoary Heads may be found in the way of Righteousness, and their Souls be ever Precious in thy Sight. O let Goodness and Mercy follow them all the days of their Life. Let their Last days be their Best days: And the Longer they live here in the World, Make them still the Readier to Dye, and the Fitter to Live with Thy Blessed Self, in the Glorious Life Eternal. O be thou their Guide until Death; In Death their Support and Comfort; And when Heart and Flesh and all here shall Fall 'em, O do thou never Fail 'em; But be the Strength of their Hearts, and their Portion for evermore.

The Widow's Prayer.

O Ever-living and All-disposing God! Thou hast taken from me the Friend of my Bosom, that was even as my own Soul; And by the Want, now taught me the Worth of that Blessing, which I was not so Thankful for, nor so Careful as I ought, to Use and Improve, (in the Enjoyment) to thy Glory. I submit to thy Over-ruling Hand, which is always Just, though sometimes Heavy; (as now I feel it upon me.) O deliver [Page 386] me, Lord, from the Sins, which are the Cause of thy Displeasure. And Forgive me all wherein ever I have Failed towards thee, or towards my dear Partner. He was thy Gift; And it was thy Goodness that I enjoyed, and thy Help and Comfort, that I found in him: Who canst supply to me by Thy self, what I received from thee, by his Hands. For thou art still the same Eternal Fountain of Goodness; Whatever means of Coveyance thou Cuttest off from us. O Pity me, Lord, under the Breach which thou hast been pleas'd to make upon me: And Support me, in the Dejection of my heart, and Guide and Comfort me, in all the Perplexity of my Thoughts. Withdraw not thou from me, O my God, now Trouble is upon me; But Make even the Bitter Dispensation a happy Occasion to bring me Nearer to thy self; By Removing that which lay betwixt thee, and my Heart: And to Raise this Heart of mine, from the present World to a Better; (where I hope my dear Friend is now with the Lord.) That as a Widow indeed, and desolate, and depriv'd of former Helps, I may Trust in God, and continue in Supplications and Prayers night and day. O thou that hast a peculiar Care, and tender Regard for the Widows, Be pleas'd [Page 387] to Espouse my Concernments, and Direct my Path: And shew me what I have to do; And Fit me for, and Assist me in, every duty now incumbent upon me. O let my Maker be my Husband; To Teach me, and Help me, To Defend and Comfort me; To deal Graciously with me, and to be All in All to me. And bring me Safe, O my God, through this Vale of Misery, to the Blessed Kingdom of thy Glory: For the sake of thy Beloved Son, my only Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Orphan's Prayer.

O Lord my God! Thou art he that took me out of my Mother's Womb; And art pleas'd to style thy self in a peculiar manner, The Father of the Fatherless. Now I am Left unto Thee, My Eyes are upon thee, and I desire to Pour out my Soul before thee: Intreating thy gracious Favour, to have Compassion on me, and Leave me not Desolate, Expos'd to the Wants and Mischiefs and Dangers of this Wicked and Miserable World: But when my Father and Mother have Forsaken me, O Lord, do thou take me up; And be a Father, and the Best of Fathers to me, and still a Gracious Provider for me. Guide me, O my Heavenly Father, and [Page 388] my Friends also, that are concern'd in the Disposing of me, and my Affairs. O be thou pleased to Chuse my Inheritance for me: And Order me, and all that concerns me, to thy Glory, and to the promoting of my present Welfare, and my everlasting Happiness. Direct my Designs, that they may be Agreeable to thy Blessed Will: And Bless and Prosper my Undertakings and Endeavours; That they may Succeed according to my Desire, and give me occasion for thy Praise. My Lord! I commit my self to Thee: O be thou my God, and Guide, even unto Death. Be ever Watchful over me for Good: And Preserve and Keep me; And Conduct and Lead me, in all the Variety of Estates and Affairs in this Life; Till thou hast brought me to Inherit the blessed Portion of thy Children, in that most sweet and Glorious Life, which shall never Fail. Grant this, O Merciful Father, for thy dear Son's sake, my only Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Aged's Prayer.

O Lord of my Life! Thou art my God from the Womb; My Hope and Trust from my Youth! By thee I was brought into the World; And upon thee [Page 389] I have Lived all my Days. O with what Patience and Long-suffering hast thou Endured me! And with what Lovingkindness and tender Mercies still Prevented and follow'd me! How many have I seen Snatch'd out of this Life, as I fear, miserably▪ Unprovided for their Death! Whereas thou Prolongest my Days; And together with more Days, still addest New Mercies to my Life. O that it may be in Mercy to my Soul, that I am suffer'd to Live so Long in the World! That as my Life is Lengthen'd out, so all that concerns my Salvation may be Filled up! That I may Redeem the Time, and Improve all Opportunities and Means of Grace, which thou art pleas'd to put into my hands, for the best Profit and Advantage of my Soul! That my Age may be the Good Old Age, And the remaining Time of my Sojourning here, the Best of all my Time.

Though my Sight is Dim to the World, Let my Eyes be ever towards the Lord; And Open to see the things of my Peace. Though my Ears are Dull of Hearing, Let my Heart be Attentive to thy Calls, and to Hear thy Voice, While it is called To Day. Though I cannot (as formerly) Relish the Pleasures of Meat and Drink, Yet let me Taste the Goodness [Page 390] of the Lord, and Savour the things of the Spirit of God; and Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness, and those Pleasures which are at thy Right Hand for evermore. And though my Limbs are Weak, and my Strength will not serve me to Travel abroad as I have done; Yet make me Strong in the Lord, to do thy Work, and to Walk in thy Ways, and to perform my great Journey Home, to my House Eternal in the Heavens. And seeing there is no man that Liveth, and shall not see Death; And the Longer I have Escap'd it, the Nearer I am now to it, and shall one day certainly Fall by it; And must every day Reckon upon it, and know not but my Soul this Night may be Required of me: O let not my Length of Days tempt me to Forget their End, or to put my Last Day far from me: But let me keep it ever in my Prospect, as Drawing Nigh to me: That I may order all my Concernments, not only like a Stranger and Sojourner with thee, as all my Fathers were; But as a Dying man, and even Number'd among the Dead, and ready to drop into the Grave: Waiting, Watching, and Preparing for the Coming of my Lord, that at thy Coming, thou may'st find me so doing.

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And because I am Old in Sins, as well as in Years: Pull'd down with Iniquity, as well as with Age: And the Number of my Transgressions, exceeds not only my Years and Days, but even the Hours of my Life, and the Hairs of my Head: Where I cannot, Alas, pretend to any Innocence, O my Gracious Lord, Give me true Repentance; and that Godly Sorrow for my Sins, which may prevent my Going down in a worse Sorrow to my Grave. Thou hast Saved many Old Sinners, O God be so Merciful to me a Sinner. Wash me throughly from 'em, in the Fountain of the Precious Blood of thy dear Son. Especially, O Merciful Lord, Acquit and Discharge me from the Sins that lye Hea-viest upon me, and make the Thoughts of Death and Judgment most Frightful to me. O give me, Lord, some Tokens for Good, That I shall find such Mercy at thy Hands: That I may Depart in Peace, and Finish my Course with Joy, and in the End of my Life, be Numbred among the Redeemed and Blessed of the Lord: Through the tender Mercies of my God, and the All-sufficient Merits of my only Saviour, Jesus Christ.

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The Child's Prayer.

O My Good God who hast Made me, Have Mercy upon me; And teach me to Know thee; And Incline my Heart to Love thee; And enable me in all my Life, to do thy Will, as I ought to do. Thou hast Formed me in the Womb for thy Self: And in the Church I have been Devoted, and offer'd up to the Lord, As thy dear Child, in all Duty, to wait upon thee. O thou Blessed Guide of my Youth! Give me thy Grace, to Understand, and Seek after God: Yea, to Seek the Lord Early, And to Remember my Creator, and bear the Yoke in the days of my Youth: That thou may'st not be Unmindful of me in the time of Age; But make me to find a never-failing Comfort in my Later days. As I grow in Years and Stature, So help me, Lord, to grow in Wisdom and Grace, and in Favour with God and men. O Keep me from the Evil of this World; And carry me Safe through it, to thy Heavenly Kingdom. Make me Obedient and Tractable to my Parents and Teachers; And Lowly, and Respectful, and Courteous to All. And Bless me, and Help me, Lord, in my Learning of all such things, as shall stand [Page 393] me in Stead, and do me Good. O my Heavenly Father! Take care of me, and Provide for me; And so Dispose of me in the World, that I may be Useful and Serviceable in my Generation; And a Blessing to the Place, where thy Providence shall Settle my Abode. Preserve me, O my Lord, from the Infection of bad Examples; That I may not be Led away and Enticed, to follow the ungodly Despisers of thy Laws and Religion: But make me a Lover and Follower of such as are Good and Godly; And a Pattern of all that is Commendable, for others Imitation. O God, thou knowest my Foolishness, and seest how Weak I am: O look not upon my Follies, nor Remember the Sins of my Youth; But have pity on my Infirmities, and pass by my Failings. And thou that out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings hast Ordained Strength, O Magnify thy Power in my Weakness; And make me a profitable Member of Society, and the Instrument of thy Glory. Leave me not, O Lord, to my self, in the hands of my own Councel; But let me be taught of God, how to behave my self, and what to do. And take thou the Gracious Charge, and Guidance, and Government of me; And keep my Heart still in thy Fear and Love; And Direct all my Ways to [Page 394] Please thee my God, through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer to be used by the Rich and Great.

O Lord, the Gracious Giver of all our Good things! Thou hast opened thy Hand to me in a Bountiful manner, and givest me all things plenteously to enjoy: So that I am Full, and Abound in the Store, wherein many of my Neighbours are Indigent and Wanting. O that this Plenty, which I have for my Body, may be in Mercy and Love to my Soul! And that I may not be put off with my Portion in this Life; Nor Rest in the Gifts, Forgetting and Slighting the Blessed Giver! For better I never had the World's Good, if I am never the Better for it. And the more I have, the sadder Account I shall make, If I do not Good to my self, and others with it. The Prosperity of Fools Destroys 'em. O Good God! That this may not be my Case! That I may not so Abuse my Prosperous Circumstances, to Rebel against thee, my Lord, with thy own Bounty; And carry Worst towards thee, when thou dealest Best with me. I am thy Steward, O Lord: Grant, I beseech thee, That I may be found Faithful [Page 395] in what is committed to my Trust; That I may Honour thee with my Substance, And serve the Ends of thy holy Religion, in my Prosperous Condition. O that with the Fulness put into my hands, Leanness may not be sent into my Soul! That I may not wax Proud and Wanton, and Careless of Seeking after a Better World; when I am so well Provided in this! O let not my Riches Choak thy Grace, nor Dull my Zeal in thy Service. But the more thou hast done for me, My God, make me the more Careful to approve the Thankfulness of my Heart to thee; And the more Concern'd to Please thee, And the more Fearful to Offend thee. Seeing thou hast pronounc'd it so Hard, for the Rich to Enter into thy Kingdom, O keep me in continual Vigilance, to Escape the Temptations and Dangers, to which I am expos'd in this condition. And teach me, Good Lord, how to Abound, and to use this World, without Abusing it. That the Bodily Provisions, may not, through my Folly, become Snares and Hindrances to my Soul; but by thy Mercy be made Helps and Encouragements to my duty.

O let me not Trust in uncertain Riches, Nor Value my self upon what I have of the World; But be Covetous after the [Page 396] true Treasure of thy Heavenly Grace and Love, And count all things but Loss and Dung, that I may Win Christ, and be Rich in Good Works, and Abound in the Fruits of Righteousness. As thou fillest me with thy Good things, So fill my Heart with thy Love, and Grace to use every Gift aright to thy Glory, Who hast made me so much to Differ from Multitudes of poor Creatures in the World. O let me not Despise any, above whom thy Distinguishing Kindness has Rais'd me. But give me a Heart to Condescend to them of Low estate; And amidst all my Plenty, to be cloathed with Humility, and Forward to all the Offices of Charity; Ready to Communicate, Willing to Distribute; Laying up in store the good Foundation against the Time to Come, that I may lay hold upon Eternal Life: And so making me Friends of the Unrighteous Mammon, that when I fail, they may Receive me into Everlasting Habitations. Whatsoever I have of the World, O that I may have it, Lord, with thy Leave and Love; Sanctified to me, by the Word of God and Prayer; And by a Righteous and Conscientious Improvement of it to the Honour of thy Name, from whom every Good and Perfect Gift does descend. O let me never Gain the World, at the Hazard [Page 397] and Loss of my Soul; But rather than so, let me be Stript of all which I have in this Life, That I may Inherit the Heavenly Treasure, and Life Eternal, Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Prayer to be used by such as are Poor and Low in the World.

O Lord, the great Disposer of all our Estates and concernments! Thy Providence appoints every one their several Stations: And it is thy Will, That there should be Poor and Low, as well as Rich and High in the World. One thing is Needful; And it is not what we have of the World, But what we are towards God, that will do us Good, and make us Happy. If thou show'r not down Plenty upon me, Yet, Lord, give me what is Needful and Convenient for me. And however thou dealest by me, for the things of this Life; O Deny me not the Riches of thy Grace, and the Saving-Good of thy Chosen; which is better than Thousands of Gold and Silver. Teach me, My God, to suffer Need, without Repining at my Lot, or Coveting what I have not, or Envying those that have it. O make me Contented with my Portion; And not agrieved to be Obscure and Mean in the World: So [Page 398] that I may be Known to Heaven, and Accepted in the sight of thee my God through Jesus Christ. Let me never stretch out my hand to Iniquity; Nor seek to help my self, by any Dishonest ways of Getting; but chuse rather to be Poor than Wicked; And to want my Daily Bread, rather than thy Heavenly Grace: Casting all my Care upon Thee, And Trusting to thy Fatherly Care, to Provide for me. Let me Labour, Working with my Hands, the thing which is Good, in all that I can, to Minister to my Necessities: And may thy Blessing Succeed and Prosper all my honest Designs, and poor Endeavours.

And the Less I have of this World, O let me be in greater Care, to Lay out and Labour for an infinitely Better: That I who have no Inheritance upon Earth, may be made Meet to be a Partaker of the Inheritance of thy Saints in Light: That I may not Lose both Worlds; Nor pass from a comfortless state here, to a miserable state hereafter; But may have my Treasure in Heaven, and thy Blessed Self, O Lord, for my Portion for ever. Being found among those Poor of this World, whom thou hast Chosen; Rich in Faith, and Heirs of the Kingdom, which thou hast Promised to them that Love thee.

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And Blessed be thy Name, O Righteous God! That with thee there is no Respect of Persons; But the Poor are as Capable of it, as the Rich: Yea, when it is so Hard for the Rich to Enter, Thou hast put out of my Way many of the Snares and Temptations that hinder others. And my Poverty cannot keep me out of thy Glory: But when I am also Poor in Spirit, as well as Low in the World, I have thy Promise of the Kingdom of Heaven. My God! Grant me that Poverty of Spirit, and those Better things that accompany Salvation. And then how Short soever I am kept in this Life, Thy Will be done: Though I have nothing to Depend upon in the World; Yet I will Rejoice in the Lord, I will Joy in the God of my Salvation: Having Thee for my God, and Chiefest Good, and my most Gracious Father in Jesus Christ. O Lord, Give me Thy self, And then I have All: And for that Best of Gifts, I will Bless thy Name for evermore.

The Master of a Family his Prayer.

O Most High God, the great Lord of all, Whose Providence Disposes the several Ranks of Men in the World: And thy Word gives Rules to Masters, as [Page 400] well as Servants, how to demean themselves in their respective Places. 'Tis thou, my Lord, who hast made me the Head of this House: O that I may walk in it with an Upright Heart; And not shelter any Ill thing, Offensive to God or Man, under my Roof. But Countenancing the Pious, Correcting the Vicious, and yielding my self a Pattern of all that Good, which ought to be seen in the rest; Let me so Command my Children, and my Houshold after me, that they may keep the Way of the Lord. And as for me and my House, Let us ever in faithfulness Serve the Lord. O that there may not be a Hypocrite, nor an Unrenewed, Prophane Person among us. Let not me that am called a Master, my self Serve Sin, Nor be Enslaved by my own Passions and Lusts; But have the Dominion over My self; And keep my Eyes ever Waiting upon the Lord my God, even as the Eyes of Servants are to the Hands of their Masters.

O that my Wife may be the Spouse of Christ; My Children, the Children of God; My Servants the Servants of the Lord; And all the Members of my Family, the true Members of thy Church, and the constant Followers of all that is Laudable and Good. Let me not carry my self [Page 401] with Rigor, and a High hand; Nor Despise the Cause even of my Servants; But with Patience and Fairness Hear them; And give unto them that which is Just and Equal; Knowing that I also have a Master in Heaven. Let me not Insult over any that are under the Yoke, Nor be Severe and Cruel to 'em; Nor Oppress or Defraud 'em in their Wages, or any Rewards or Encouragements, that they may justly expect from me. But let my Dealings with 'em, and my Usage of 'em, be Upright and Candid, Merciful and Kind; Taking Care of their Bodies and their Souls, of their Maintenance and their Carriage, and all that Concerns them; As their benign Patron, and their faithful Friend; And treating 'em with all due Regard, As my Brethren and Fellow-Servants, and my Equals in the Worship of God; with whom is no Respect of Persons. O give me, Lord, an Understanding Heart, and Prudent Conduct, and such a Spirit of Government, That I may go in and out before my People, as one that is taught of God; And Commanding nothing but in the Lord, According to thy Will, and for the Advancement of thy Glory.

O Bless my House, Lord, and Preserve it from Vice and Ungodliness, and from all [Page 402] Disorders and Dangers; And make it a Nursery of Virtue and Piety, and all that is Exemplary, and of good Report. Direct, O God, and Help us every one, in the Discharge of our several Offices; That we may Employ our selves, as we ought, and with Quietness do our own Business: Never Forgetting, but above all Respecting and Pursuing, the great Work of the Lord, for which thou didst send us into the World. O Keep us all evermore in thy Fear and Love; Safe under thy Tuition, And upon the Holy Way to thy Heavenly Kingdom: Through thy Mercy to us all, in our Common Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Servant's Prayer.

O God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth! It is the Ordination of thy Good Providence, That there should be Various Orders and Degrees of Men; And that I should be Disposed of in the Station where now I am. Wherefore I submit, Lord, to thy most Wise Appointment of all things; And desire with Content and Thankfulness, to accept of my Portion, How Low soever in the World. If my Blessed Redeemer, who is Lord of all, would take [Page 403] upon him the Form of a Servant, and Condescend even to the Meanest Offices, for the Service of our Souls: O why should I be agriev'd to be a Servant under the Yoke? When in serving Man as I ought, I do also serve the Lord; And though Bound to others, I may be the Lord's Freeman: Yea, in faithfully discharging the Duties of my Place, I shall be as Acceptahle to my God, as any that enjoys the Highest Station. I leave it to thee, O Lord of all, to Chuse my Inheritance for me. Only I beg at thy Hands, That my Lot may fall, where my Soul may Prosper; Though I Work or Fare the Harder. For if my Soul do Well, I shall be For-ever Happy. If my Heart be Right with God, I shall have his Blessed Countenance and Love. And if I be found in the way of Righteousness, I shall be Exalted in due time, However Abased at present. O my Supreme Lord! Let it not be so much my Care, to get Higher in the World, as to get more in thy Favour, wherein is Life. Let it be more my Concernment, to fill my Place and discharge my Duty with Faithfulness; than to Change it for more Ease, or Profit, or Honour.

O Let me not be the Servant of Sin, But enjoy the blessed Liberty wherewith Christ Jesus sets all his People Free; The [Page 404] Liberty from Sinful Bondage, The Liberty to follow my Lord Chearfully, and to Run the way of thy Commands with an Enlarged Heart. And, Lord, be thou pleased to Fit me for, and Teach and Help me in, the Service to which I am Called: That I may perform it to the Glory of thy Name, To the Pleasure and Welfare of those whom I serve, And to my own Advantage and Comfort. O make me True and Faithful, Careful and Diligent, Humble and Obedient, Meek and Patient, Fair and Peaceable; Doing the business of my Place, not with Eye-Service, as a Manpleaser, But in Singleness of Heart, Fearing God. Not Cross and Froward, But apt to Bear and Deny my self: Not Answering again, to Stir up Wrath; But with Silence and Submission, following the things that make for Peace: Not Debasing my Master, to set off my self, Nor doing him any Damage, for my own filthy Lucre, or fleshly Pleasure: But tendring his Credit and Interest, As one that would be found Faithful in the Sight of my God; who evermore Seest in Secret, and Searchest the very Heart. Whose Servant soever else I am, O Lord, Let me ever be found in the number of Thine. And make me, I beseech thee, Such every way towards thee, that thou may'st mercifully [Page 405] Accept me, and all my Services, for the Sake of thy Beloved Son, my Blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

The Soldier's Prayer.

O Lord God of Hosts, who hast all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth ready to Fight thy Battels, and Execute thy Pleasure! Thou didst not sow any Seeds of Enmity in our Nature; But didst Create Man endued with all the Principles and Dispositions of Peace and Love. 'Tis from our Sins that the Wars and Fightings come amongst us. First we fell out with our God, and our own Happiness: And ever since it is a Contentious Quarrelsom World that we live in; Where Restless men are Justling one another, And Striving for that Ease and Content, which the World has not for 'em. Now that I am in this Military Station, O Lord, Instruct and Enable me, to behave my self therein as I ought. O make me the faithful Soldier of Jesus Christ, in that Spiritual Warfare, wherein I am to Combat with the Enemies, that War against my Soul. And that I may have Peace with my God, Let me have no Peace with my Sins; Nor any Part or Consent with the [Page 406] Rebels against Heaven; Nor be carried away with any Ungodly Examples, into such Wickedness, against which, thou, O God, hast declared thy Wrath from Heaven. O grant that I may never Strive with my Maker; Nor allow my self in such a Habit of Mind, and Course of Life, as are Enmity against God; But ever dread more to fall into thy Hands, than theirs that can but Kill the Body; And shew my self the more Zealous for thee, the more I see others Set themselves against thee. O Lord most High! make me Valiant for thy Cause, as well as that for Man, wherein I am now Engag'd. And Preserve me, O my God, from the Prophaneness and Blasphemy, the Lewdness and Debauchery, the Rudeness and Violence, that are most incident to men of This Profession: That I may not be Infected with their Contagion; But preserve my Integrity, amidst all the Temptations, wherewith I am surrounded.

Though the Sword is in my Hand, Let the Peace of God Rule in my Heart. And though I am a Soldier, Let me not be a Man of Blood, Delighting in War; But a ready Servant of my Countrey, a faithful Instrument for our common Defence and Safety, and a dutiful Subject to the Powers Ordained of God, for the [Page 407] Lord's Sake. O my Strength and my Redeemer, Strengthen my Heart and Hands for the Service, to which I am Called. And make me Successful and Victorious, through thy Blessing and Power from on High. 'Tis thou, Lord, only, that makest us to dwell in Safety: O Cover my Head in the Day of Battel: And in all times of Danger, Be thou my Shield and Buckler. And either Keep the Evil from me; Or Arm me for it, that I may not be Ruined by it; But gain Good out of it; And find Bodily Hurts, making for the Health of my Soul; And even the Temporal Death but a Gate open'd to Eternal Life. And seeing I go with my Life in my Hands, and am more Expos'd than other men, to Dangers and Death; O make me more Careful of my Soul, More Mindful of my Latter end, and more Diligent to put and keep my self in a Preparation and Readiness to Dye. And whether I Prosper or Miscarry in the Attempts and Enterprizes wherein I am now concerned, O let my Soul be ever Precious in thy Sight, and Safe in thy Hands. Help me, O my Supreme Commander, Thou great Captain of our Salvation, So to Live, that I may find it the greatest Gain to Dye. And let me go on so Conquering and to Conquer the Enemies of [Page 408] thy Glory, and the Hindrances of my own and others Salvation; That having overcome, I may sit down in thy Kingdom, and Triumph in thy sweetest Love, and in thy Heavenly Joy, and thy most Glorious Praises, World without end.

A Prayer for the Melancholy and Distracted.

O Most Good and Gracious Lord! Thou knowest our Frame; And art a God full of Compassion, to Pity and Relieve thy Servants, under their Trouble and Oppression. Look down, We humbly pray thee, with thy wonted Clemency, and Remember in tender Mercy, the Work of thy hands, Our Disconsolate Friend, This Troubled Soul, that is Distracted, in suffering Thy Terrors: While thy Wrath lies hard upon him, and all thy Waves and Billows are gone over him; To disturb his Peace, and oppress his Mind, and Unfit him rightly to use his Reason, or discharge his Duty. O thou that Spakest the Winds and Waves into Obedience and Calmness, Settle and Quiet his discomposed Breast: Speak Peace and Satisfaction to his Troubled Mind: And give him Comfort and sweet Repose, in the Sense of [Page 409] thy Pardon and Love. Lord, Help his Unbelief; and Increase his Faith: That he may not be Faithless, but Believing. Though he now walk in Darkness, and has no Light, Let him Trust in the Name of the Lord, and Stay upon his God. And in the multitude of the Thoughts and Sorrows that he has in his Heart, O let thy Comforts come in, to Refresh his Soul. Thou that Createst Faculties, canst also Restore them; when Impaired: Thou that madest thy Servant out of Nothing, canst bring him to Himself again, and help him to use his Reason aright. Be thou pleased, O Lord, to Deliver and Ease him of the Load that lies upon his Spirit: And let in a Beam of thy Heavenly Light to Scatter and Dispel all the Clouds and Darkness, in which his Mind is wrapt up. O Direct to the Means most proper for his Help: And Bless and Prosper them so, that they may be Efficacious to promote his Recovery out of this Low and Doleful estate. Incline his Ears to Wholsome Councels: And Fashion his Heart, to receive due Impressions. And make him Tractable to the use of Remedies; And willing and ready to Comply with the Advice of Friends; Till he shall be in a better Capacity, to Manage and Help himself. O Gracious Father! [Page 410] Impute not to him any thing that is now said or done Amiss by him; But in Mercy pass it over, as if it had not been said or done at all. O Pity his Frailty, and Forgive his Iniquity: And Heal him, Lord, both in Soul and Body; Rebuking his Distemper so, that his Soul may return to its Rest. O make him perfectly Whole. Yea, make Haste, O Lord, to shew such Mercy upon him; Even for thy own Mercy Sake in Jesus Christ, our Blessed Saviour and Redeemer.

A Prayer for Insensible Sinners.

O Lord, the Great Almighty God, Who Quickenest the Dead, and Callest those things that are not, as if they were. With thee Nothing is Impossible: But the things that Resist all the Skill and Power of Man, Thy Divine Virtue and Glorious Operation, with the greatest Facility, brings to pass. Thou, the Living God, canst Speak Life to Souls Dead in Trespasses and Sins; And make even such as lie in the Grave of all their Habitual Corruptions, Hear the Voice of the Son of God, and Live. It is the great Work of thy Eternal Spirit, Lord, To Convince the World of Sin; And to make [Page 411] Inconsiderate Careless Sinners to Know themselves, and be Concern'd about the Case of their Souls. O that these poor Insensible Wretches, . . . . . Who have Sinn'd themselves even past Feeling, may find such Mercy from the Lord, And Feel in themselves, that Irresistible Force of thy Hand! O that thou wouldest Open their Eyes, to See their Case; And Soften their Hearts, to Bewail their Sins; And Turn their Course, to Flee from the Wrath to Come! Blessed Lord, Awaken them with thy Terrors, before they be Overtaken by thy Judgments! O Break in upon their Souls, by thy mighty Convictions, to make 'em in Bitterness for their Sins: And let thy Quick and Powerful Word pierce into their Hearts, To make 'em Cry and Seek out, What they must do to be Saved.

O if they did but Apprehend their Case, and Know their Transgressions: They that remain so Remorseless and Unconcerned, as if nothing were Amiss with 'em; that can Indulge themselves in Pleasures and Mirth, as if they were in the happiest condition, Would soon be struck down into the deepest Heaviness and Consternation, Refusing to be Comforted; And go Mourning all the day long, yea even Roar for the Disquietness of their Hearts. O God of all Grace! be thou pleased [Page 412] in Mercy, to shew such seeming Severity, To write Bitter things against 'em, and make 'em Possess their former Iniquities; And so to Feel now the Weight and Horror of all their Sins, That they may not Feel it Eternally, when past Remedy. Direct and Empower thy Messengers, Lord, to Speak Home to their Conviction; Crying aloud, and not Sparing, to shew 'em their Transgressions and their Sins. Yea, make thy Word, in thy Servants Mouths, as Fire; to Enflame and Rouze the Consciences of such drowsy secure Sinners; That they may come to Perceive what a Forlorn, Lost Condition, they are in; And be Restless in themselves, Till coming unto Christ, Labouring and Heavy-Laden under the Load of their Sins, In him they find Rest for their Souls. O thou Almighty God! Do Marvellous things Worthy of thy self, In taking away that which Blinds the Minds, and Hardens the Hearts of such Stupid Creatures: And bring them out of the worst Lethargy and Deadness; to Understand themselves, and Seek after God; And to take and Follow the way of Peace with thee, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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The Condemned Malefactor's Prayer.

OUT of the Depths do I Cry to thee, O Lord! Lord, Hear my Voice! Let thy Ears be Attentive to the Voice of my Supplication. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark Iniquities, O Lord, who should stand! But there is Forgiveness with thee, that thou may'st be Feared. Therefore I Wait for the Lord: My Soul does Wait, And in thy Word do I Hope. Though my Sins have Found me out, and brought me to Shame; And they are Heinous beyond expression, And the Thought and Remembrance of 'em fills me with Horror and Confusion: Yet I Believe, (Lord Help my Unbelief) They are not Greater than thy Son has Satisfied for; Nor greater than thy Mercy in him can pardon. As Bad and Sad, as ever I have made my Case (Wo is me Vile and Wretched that I am, So Foolishly and Wickedly that I have done!) Yet it is not past thy Help and Cure, O Lord God Almighty, Who at the Lowest canst Raise; and at the Worst, art Able to Relieve us. Except we Repent, Thou hast told us, that we shall Perish: But upon our Repentance, Thou hast Promised thy Gracious Forgiveness. And though Sin has [Page 414] Abounded, Yet when we Forsake our wicked Ways and Thoughts, and Return to the Lord our God, Thou hast promised to have Mercy upon us, and Abundantly to Pardon. He that Believeth not on the Son of God, is Condemned, with a worse Condemnation, than what I now lie under: But it is thy own most True and Faithful Word, O Lord, That whosoever Believes in him shall not Perish, but have Everlasting Life: And that he who Confesseth, and Forsaketh his Sins shall have Mercy. Though I cannot find such Mercy now at Man's Tribunal; Yet I beg it of thee, the Father of Mercies, who art the Helper of the Friendless; And dost not Reject the Cry even of Fools, in their Distress; Though because of their Sins they are Afflicted; But Remembrest us in our Low Estate, out of that Mercy of thine, which endures for ever. O thou that hast Promised to Forgive every Penitent Sinner, Make me, Lord, I beseech thee, one of that number. O touch my Heart with true Remorse, that it may Melt and Bleed for my Sins, and become such a Broken Contrite Heart as thou wilt not Despise.

O that the Doleful circumstances which I am in, may be turned (through the Riches of thy Grace) into a happy Occasion [Page 415] of Converting my Soul, and Perfecting my Repentance, and Promoting my Salvation! This is a Time of Shame and Sorrow with me; But help me, Good God, so to Repent and be Converted, that my Sins may be Blotted out, when the times of Refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord. For thy Name sake, O Lord, Pardon my Sin for it is Great; Too great for any, but the God of Infinite Goodness and Love, to give me a Merciful Discharge from. And that thou may'st have the Everlasting Glory, and my Soul the Refreshing Fruit of thy Mercy, O Lord, Prepare me for it, by such a serious Repentance, as thy holy Word requires of Sinners, and such as thy Goodness in Christ Jesus will mercifully Accept at my Hands. What is past, I cannot Recal; But thou Lord, canst Remit, and give me Grace to Repent of it: O give me such sound Repentance for my Sins, That thou may'st also give me full Pardon of 'em: Upon the account of thy Beloved Son, our Blessed Saviour, who came to Seek and to Save that which was Lost: And who himself Suffer'd and Dyed once That we might not Suffer and Dye Eternally. O Wash me throughly from my Iniquity, and Cleanse me from my Sin; in that Fountain opened for Sin, and for [Page 416] Uncleanness, The precious Blood of the Immaculate Lamb of God, Slain to take away the Sins of the World: That thou may'st not Abhor my Soul, as I have justly deserved; But of thy wonderful Mercy, Accept me in the Son of thy Eternal Love, in whom thou art Wellpleased.

My Soul is exceeding Sorrowful, even unto Death: O Most Gracious Lord! Grant that my Sorrow may be the Godly Sorrow: Not only a Sorrowing for the Bitter consequences of my Sin; But for the Sin it self, and my wicked Offending of thee, my Great Lord God, as I have done. O Blessed Jesus! who camest to Call Sinners to Repentance, And thy self didst hang upon the Cross, and shew thy Compassion and great Salvation upon the poor Malefactor, there Suffering; Remember me now in such Mercy, Lord, for thy own Mercy Sake. O Son of David have Mercy upon me. Both now and ever, Vouchsafe to Hear me, O Christ. Graciously Hear me, O Lord Christ. And let thy Mercy be shew'd upon me, as I do put my Trust in thee. O Glorify this thy Mercy in my Salvation, and not thy Justice in my Destruction.

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Though Shame is now my Portion, Yet help me, Lord, so to bear thy just Indignation, And to obtain such Benefit to my Soul, out of the Punishment of my Body, That I may not hereafter awake to Shame and Everlasting Contempt. And though I am now under the Sentence of a Temporal Death, Yet spare my Soul, O most Merciful Lord, and Deliver me not into the bitter Pains of Eternal Death. O that I may have all my Shame and Sorrow, and Evil things in this Life; That thou may'st Spare me for ever; And shew forth all the Wonders of thy Grace, and Power, and Mercy, To Prepare me for, and Support me under, the deserved Punishment which I am shortly to Suffer; And to give me Hope in my Death, even this Infamous Death; And after Death, Some part in thy Kingdom, If but to be the Least and Lowest in the House of my God; For the sake of thy own tender Mercies; and for the Infinite Merits of the great Redeemer of the World, my only Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

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Prayer and Praise upon the Occasion of Our Blessed Saviour's Coming into the World.

BLessing and Honour and Glory and Power be to him that Sitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. O Lord God of our Salvation! thou hast Remember'd us in our Low estate, out of that Mercy of thine which endures for ever. Thou hast rais'd up a Great Salvation, and Mighty Deliverance for us; To Heal the Sinful, to Help the Miserable, and to Save that which was Lost. None but thy Blessed Self, O Lord, the Gracious Giver, knows the Greatness of that Gift, which thou hast conferr'd upon us: The greatest that thou couldest Give, or Man Receive; In Giving thy Only Son, to be our Almighty Saviour; To Deliver us from the Eternal Miseries of Hell; And to make us Meet to be Partakers of the Heavenly Inheritance of thy Saints in Light. O how Wonderful have been the Designs of thy Love, and the Councels of thy Wisdom! To Recover our poor Lost Souls, and to work for them a Salvation Worthy of God! That God should be manifested in the Flesh, to Destroy the works of the Devil: [Page 419] And that the Eternally Beloved of thy Soul, should be made the Son of Man, to make us Sinful men, the Children of God! O what manner of Love has the Father bestowed upon us! Exceeding all that ever we are able to Say of it! O that we and all men may Praise thee, Lord, for thy Goodness, and such thy Wonderful Works to the Children of Men! O that we may ever, with all Admiration and Reverence and Thankfulness, Receive and Ponder this great Mystery of Godliness: And that we may return the Glory of Salvation up to thee, Who hast sent the Joy of Salvation down to us! That our Souls may Magnify the Lord, and our Spirits Rejoice in God our Saviour! And Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that has so Visited and Redeemed his People.

And now that thou hast laid Help upon One that is Mighty, and found a Ransom for us, and made All-sufficient Provision to Save us: O help thou us, Lord our God, as we ought, to Entertain and Welcome the Joyful News, That Jesus Christ is Come into the World, to Save Sinners. Father of Mercies! Prepare us for the Blessed Saviour, which thou hast Prepared for us. That he who came into the World, in the Fulness of Time, may come into our Souls with the Fulness of [Page 420] his Grace; And with all the Blessings and Consolations of his Coming. And that as he was Miraculously Formed in the Virgin's Womb, he may be Spiritually Formed in our Hearts. O thou great Lord and Lover of Souls! Remember our Souls in Mercy, with the Favour which thou bearest to thy People; and Visit us with the Joy of thy Salvation. O make the way of Salvation Plain before us: That way may know Where our Help lies, And what we must do to be Saved. And Incline and Quicken us, O Lord, with all Readiness, to take that Way, and to Embrace that Grace of God which brings Salvation; And to Comply with the gracious Designs of thy Mercy, to do us the greatest Good, and to make us for ever Happy. O Blessed Saviour! be thou an Effectual Saviour unto us: And so Save us from our Sins, that thou may'st also Save us from the Wrath to come. So Redeem us here from all Iniquity, that hereafter thou may'st Redeem us from Everlasting Misery. Thou camest down to Earth, to Raise us up to Heaven; And tookest our Nature, to make us Partakers of Thine. O that we may Experience the mighty Power of thy great Salvation upon us; To Heal our Depraved Natures, To Sanctify our Sinful Souls, And to make us such Lovers and Followers of thy holy Ways; [Page 421] That we may have in us, Christ the Hope of Glory, And those Good things of thy Spirit, which do Accompany Salvation. And for all the Great and Strange things, which thou hast so Graciously done for us; in Revealing thy Salvation, and Opening the Door of Hope to us; And putting us in the Way to that Blissful End of our Faith, the Eternal Salvation of our Souls, which thou hast Purchased for us: Unto thee, O Blessed God our Saviour, in the Unity of the Ever-Glorious Trinity, Be all Thanks and Praise and Honour and Glory, render'd by us, and all thy Church, Now and for evermore.

A Prayer on the Occasion of our Blessed Saviour's Death.

O God the Father of Mercies, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, Through whom every Mercy is Vouchsaf'd and Derived unto us! Thou didst Create us after thy own Blessed Image, in a Holy, and a Happy Estate: But we have Defaced thy first Handy-Work, and put our selves, not only in a Case of Strangeness unto thee; but of Enmity against thee. In Adam all Dye; and by the Offence of one, Judgment came upon all men to [Page 422] Condemnation. Yet thou hast not us'd us as Enemies, To leave us in the sad Ruines of our Fall; But hadst an Eye of Pity to us, lying in our Blood, to Bid us Live: Though thy own Eternally Beloved Son was fain to Dye, to Save us from that Everlasting Death, which is the due Wages of our Sins: Yet him thou Sparedst not, that thou mightest Spare us; And make us the Eternal Monuments of thy Mercy. O what Amazing, Unspeakable Love is this, That even when Enemies, we should be Reconciled to God, by the Death of his Son! But O the Cursed Nature of Sin, (To be Hated with a perfect Hatred) that had Need of such an Atonement! O the dreadful Justice of God, (How should we ever stand in Awe of it!) that required such a Satisfaction! O the Love of Christ, which passeth Knowledge, that would Redeem our poor Lost Souls, at such a Costly Rate; And Shed his own precious Blood to Save us! And O the Precious Death of our Lord Redeemer, (To be had in Everlasting Remembrance!) By it we Abide, and on that we depend; for the Pardon of all our Sins; And for our Acceptance with God, both here and for ever. Though we could not Satisfy thy Justice, O God, for our Sins, should we Suffer Eternally: Yet [Page 423] thy Son has fully Satisfied for us; who was a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World. And seeing there is Balm in Gilead, and a Physician that is Able to Heal us, O let not our Souls perish. Let not the Great things which our Lord Redeemer has done and Endured for poor Lost Sinners, be Lost unto us: But let the same be mercifully Accepted upon our Account, and for our Sins. O let not the Blood of Jesus Christ as to us, be shed in Vain; But let it Purge and Purify us from all our Sins; and make our Peace with thee the Just and Holy God, against whom we have Sinned: That we may be Healed by his Stripes, and find his Death, unto us, the Savour of Life.

Though we are Sinful and Unclean, Yet what Pollution and Defilement cannot this Fountain Opened for Sin and Uncleanness Wash and Cleanse us from? Having therefore such an All-sufficient Saviour, to Repair to, We will not be Faithless, but Believing, That Christ is our Lord and our God: Who Loved and Redeemed us, And Washt us from our Sins in his own Blood. O that we may Know him, and the Fellowship of his Sufferings, and be so Conformable to his Death, That it may Mortify the Corruption of our Nature, and the Lusts that war in our Members, [Page 424] and Crucify the World unto us, and us to the World. The Lord Pardon all our Forgetfulness and Disregard and Contempt of thy Affection to us; And make us to Know more of the Love wherewith thou hast Loved us. Touch our Hearts with such a powerful Sense of thy Love, That we may make better Returns of Love, to the great Lord and Lover of our Souls: And that we may never Forget or Slight such Unparallel'd Kindness and Love of God our Saviour, Stronger than Death, and Better than Life. O that the Life which we now live, may be by the Faith of the Son of God, who Loved us, and gave himself for us! O let us not Live any longer, than we may Abound in thy Love. Blessed Lord! Let this be ever preferred above our Chief Joy. And let nothing in the World ever be so Dear to us, as the All-together Lovely Jesus; Who has given the highest Demonstration of Love that ever could be given to our Souls. To thee our Almighty Redeemer, and Sweet Saviour, be all the Praise and Glory, given most humbly and heartily, now and Eternally.

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Prayer and Praise on the Occasion of our Blessed Saviour's Resurrection.

BLessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his Abundant Mercy has Begotten us again to a lively Hope, By the Resurection of Jesus Christ from the Dead. 'Tis he that Liveth, and was Dead; And Behold, He is Alive for evermore, Amen. And has the Keys of Death and of Hell. The Lord Liveth, And Blessed be our Rock: And let the God of our Salvation be Exalted. He that bore our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows, has wrought Eternal Redemption for us. With his own Right Hand, and holy Arm, has he Got himself the Victory: Having Loosed the Pains of Death, Because it was Impossible he should be holden of it. The Glorious Sun of Righteousness is Risen, with Healing in his Wings: And hath shewed, that he is Able to Save himself; And to Save to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Our Eyes therefore are to thee, O Lord, our Life, our Strength and our Redeemer; Who hast all Power in Heaven and in Earth: To whom nothing is Impossible or Difficult: Who Quickenest the Dead, Even Souls Dead in Sin, as [Page 426] well as Bodies Dead in the Grave: And hast Life in Thy self, to give it to whomsoever thou Wilt. O that we may Know thee, and the Power of thy Resurrection! And that we may feel it Efficacious, to Raise us out of the Grave of our Sinful Corruptions, to Newness and Holiness of Life! That having part in the First Resurrection, The Second Death may have no Power over us. Speak Death to our Sins, O Lord, That our Souls may Live, and for ever Bless thy Name. Thou, O Christ, art our Life: And in thee is all Fulness of whatever we Want: O give us the Life, which thou Camest that we might have: And let us have it more Abundantly: Even such Life from thee, as may enable us to Live unto thee; and that Entirely and Clearfully, Even while we have our Life and Being.

Prayer and Praise on the Occasion of our Blessed Saviour's Ascension.

THou art the King of Glory, O Christ; Thou hast Ascended on High; And dragg'd the Infernal Foes after thy Triumphal Chariot. And thou art Exalted far above all Principalities and Powers; And Enthron'd in the Highest Glory, in thy Heavenly Kingdom; Where Saints and Angels, and [Page 427] all the Host of Heaven do Admire and Adore thee. Be thou Exalted, Lord, and Reign in the Greatness of thy Power and Majesty; Till thou hast brought all Enemies in Subjection, under thy Feet. But Lord, Remember us, now thou art in thy Kingdom; where thou Rulest and Reignest on High. O Regard the Supplications, and Relieve the Necessities, of thy poor Subjects and Servants here Below. Save, Lord, and let the King of Heaven Hear us when we Call. And O that we may feel the powerful Attraction of thy Grace and Holy Spirit, To Draw up our Minds and Desires from the poor Perishing Enjoyments here below, to those most Glorious and Everlasting Attainments Above, Where thou Sittest at the Right Hand of God. O let us Lay up our Treasure, and have our Conversation with thee in Heaven; And so love thy Appearing, and Desire to be Dissolved, and to be with Christ; That when Christ, who is our Life shall Appear, we may also appear with him in Glory: And after our Ascending and Dwelling above, in Heart and Spirit, We may at last Personally Ascend, in Soul and Body, to be Ever with the Lord: There together with thy whole Triumphant Church, To See and Admire, [Page 428] and Love and Bless, and Praise and Glorify thee, O Blessed God our Saviour, World without end.

A Prayer on the Occasion of the Coming of the Holy-Ghost.

O Thou Infinite, Eternal Spirit, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who Workest All in All; And especially workest and Abidest in the Hearts and Souls of Men: Pardon, we beseech thee, all our Resisting of thy Motions, and Quenching the Flames, which thou hast ever Enkindled in our Breasts. And be pleas'd so to Enlighten our Minds, and Purify our Hearts, That we may be fit to Receive and Entertain thee, as the Guide and Comforter of our Souls. O Blessed Spirit of Truth! Lead us into all Truth: And Bring all Needful things, out of the Word, to our Remembrance: And set them home Powerfully upon our Hearts, to Influence our Lives, and do us Good, in every time of our Need. O work the Grace that is not in us: And Establish and Increase what thou hast already wrought upon us. Excite and Stir us up to all Good: And Enable us for the performance of it; And Engage us to Continue and Persist in it.

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O Come down, Lord, as Fire, upon us; To Consume our Dross, and to make Clean our Hearts; and Enflame them with Heavenly Love: That we may rightly Relish thy Holy things, And be Lively in following of thy holy Ways. O be thou a powerful Principle of Life, and Light, and Love, and all Grace and Holiness in our Souls: To Clear and Illuminate our Minds; To Spiritualize and Raise up our Affections; To Pacify and compose our Consciences; And to bring our Souls out of every dangerous, Self-destroying course, into the paths of Righteousness, and that way of Life, which is Above to the Wise, to depart from Hell beneath. O Blessed Lord! Restrain us from Grieving the Holy Spirit of God, whereby we are Sealed to the day of Redemption. And Cast us not away from thy Presence: Take not thy Holy Spirit from us. O make us so Tractable to his holy Motions, that we may Experience his Heavenly Consolations. And let the Joy in the Holy Ghost, be more to us, than all the Pleasures of the World. O Blessed Spirit! Be thou ever with our Spirits, to Heal our Distempers, and Help our Infirmities; and work mightily upon our Hearts, by thy Grace; Till our Souls are fitted [Page 430] for that Glory, which is unspeakable and Everlasting.

A Prayer on the Commemoration of any Saints.

O God of all Grace, Who art pleas'd to Call out of this present World, a Peculiar People to Thy self; And so far to Discover thy Grace, and Pour out thy Spirit, upon many of thy Servants, To make them Shine as Lights, in the midst of a Crooked and Perverse Generation; Eminent in all Praise-worthy things, and great Examples to the rest of Mankind. We Bless thy Name, O Lord, That thou hast not left this miserable World Destitute of such Helps and Patterns; both to shew us a more Excellent Way, than the Way of the World: And also to shew us how Practicable is our Duty; And what Encouragement we have, to take the Holy Good way, wherein others with such happy Success, have gone before us: That we in our Sluggishness might be Excited, To be Followers of them, As they were of Christ. And seeing we are Compassed with so great a Cloud of Witnesses, O that we may lay [Page 431] aside every Weight, and the Sin that does so easily Beset us; And Run with Patience, the Race that is set before us! Teach and Enable us, O King of Saints, to make the good Use and Advantage of thy Gifts and Graces, shining forth in the Inoffensive Useful Lives of such, as have given thy holy Religion the best Recommendation; By letting men see their Good Works; and how much more Excellent it makes the Righteous, than their Neighbours.

O that we may never Persecute thy Saints; Nor madly despise those, who are as the Apple of thine Eye; whose great Care is to approve themselves Faithful in thy Covenant, and Zealous for thy Glory; And not only to Preserve their Integrity, and Keep themselves Unspotted from the World; But to do Good in their Generations, and Turn many to Righteousness. May we ever hold such in Highest Reputation, whilst Living; As well as count their Memories Precious when they are Dead. O Heavenly Father! Let them be Dearest to us, that are so to Thy self. And let all our Delight be in such Excellent ones, The Saints that are in the Earth; Of whom the World is not Worthy: However they be so frequently and greatly Abused by the World, As if Unworthy to [Page 432] Live in it O let us not be Conformed to this World; Nor follow the Multitude, to Evil: But be Followers of those, who through Faith and Patience, do already Inherit thy Glorious Promises; And so Live the Life, that we may also Dye the Death, of the Righteous. Help us, Lord our God, So to Imitate thy Saints here, in their Holy Living; That hereafter we may be Number'd with 'em in the Glory Everlasting. As we desire and Hope for, their Blessed End, O let us Love and Follow their Godly Way; And make the Communion of Saints, a Point of our Practice, as well as an Article of our Faith: Being Lovers of all Good men, Honouring them that Fear the Lord, and Esteeming them very highly in Love, for their Works sake. And the Lord Increase the number of true Converts, and thy Faithful People, and those that be Followers of God, as Dear Children, in all Places. O let thy Kingdom Come, and thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven, That thy Church may Grow and Prosper, and Flourish; Till we, with all thy Servants Departed in the Lord, Meet together in the Kingdom of our Father: To live in thy Presence and Love; And to Enjoy and Praise thee, World without end.

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A Soliloquy for the Pious Soul's Solace: By way of Paraphrase on the Creed.

LET not your Heart be Troubled, (saith the Lord of Love, our dear compassionate Redeemer) Ye Believe in God, Believe also in me, (The Messenger of his Love sent to be the Saviour of the World.)

Why art thou Cast down then, O my Soul? And why art thou Disquieted within me? When as

I Believe in God,

And am not Expos'd, as one Forlorn, To Shift for my self, and to Make me a Happiness out of my own Stock, or Want it: But I have a God to Repair unto, and Depend upon; And to Expect all that ever I can Desire, from him. And this God is

The Father

Not only of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Eternal Generation: But My Father, by a late Creation; Which has brought me out of Nothing, to what I am: Not only to [Page 434] Being, and Life and Sense; But to the Use of Reason; and to the Enjoyment of all that ever I have in the World. He is also my Father, and I his Child by Spirtual Adoption: And am persuaded, That a Woman may sooner forget her Sucking-Cld, Than the Lord will Forsake that Work of his Hands, which he has New-Created in Christ Jesus: Nor is he less Able than Willing to do me Good, Being

Almighty,

And what is too Hard for Omnipotence! Or who can pluck me out of his Hands, whom nothing can resist or controul! Though I am Weak, as a shaken Reed my felf; Yet my Help stands in the Name of the Lord, Who is the

Maker of Heaven and Earth.

And what can any of his Creatures do against me, when God himself is for me? He that Made all, Will he see his Child want a Competency in the World? Or should I be turned out of the Earth, Yet all Heaven is the Lords. And when he is my Portion, Iam sure of that, which is [Page 435] infinitely Better than all the World's Good; which alas, is but a poor Drop from the Eternal Fountain of all Goodness. And what can be Better than him that Made it, And gave it all that Goodness which it has? My self, and whatever I see in the World, was once Nothing. And the great Lord, who was most Blessed before all Worlds, And would have been nevertheless Blessed, though we had never been at all, He has brought us into Being; Not for any Need he had of us: But to Communicate of his own Goodness to us,

In Iesus Christ,

And what so Sweet as Jesus in my Mouth! No such Musick in my Ears: No such Gladness in my Heart. I was Lost, And Jesus is my Saviour. I was Dead, And Jesus is my Life. I was an Enemy, And Jesus is my Peace. Still I Sin, And Jesus is my Advocate with the Father. Christ is my Prophet, to Direct me; My Priest, to Atone for me; My King, to Defend me, And to Watch for Good, over me. He is All that I Want; And all that I can Wish. I am Worse than Nothing Without him, and I have all things [Page 436] given me, together With Him. Who is the Beloved of the Father;

His Only Son

The Only One by Nature that is Coequal with the Father; And having such a Friend in the Court of Heaven, I will therefore come Boldly to the Throne of Grace. For if the Son makes us Free, we shall be Free indeed. The Father will deny us nothing, that we Ask in his Name. And the Son upbraids us, that we make no more use of this our Blessed Privilege. Hitherto ye have asked Nothing in my Name (saith he); Ask and ye shall Receive, that your Joy may be Full. Such Pleasure has he in the Prosperity of his Servants, Who is

Our Lord,

Our Heavenly Soveraign; At whose Feet Kings do cast their Crowns; And all the Angels of God Worship him. O Happy the Servants, that have such a Lord! And Blessed be the Lord, that will Admit me, in the number of his Servants! Is not he my Lord, that has Bought me? In one Sacrament, I was Listed into his Service: And in the Other, [Page 437] How oft have I Sworn to him Allegiance! This is the Crown of all my Glorying, That Jesus is my Lord;

Who was Conceived by the Holy Ghost,

In a Miraculous manner, Above all the Power of Nature. And without any the least Spot of Sin: That he might be the Meet Propitiation for all our Sins. He is Fairer than the Children of men, who are all of 'em Shapen in Iniquity, and Conceived in Sin. But He is free from every Blemish, And Altogether Lovely.

Born of the Virgin Mary.

And so he has done the highest Honour to our poor Nature, By Uniting it to the Divine. Taking part of our Flesh and Blood; That he might, not only be Touch'd with the Feeling of our Infirmities, But also Taste Death for our Offences: Coming down to Earth, To Raise us up to Heaven; And Manifested in our Flesh, To bring Salvation Home to our very Doors: And to make us a New and Living way, to a Better Paradice than that which we Lost. And how can I ever now be at a Desperate Loss, when [Page 438] the Lord, in whom lyes our Help, is become God with us! And to Embolden our Addresses to him, He has vouchsaf'd even to set up his Dwelling among us. All the Glory of Salvation be to thee, O Lord, who hast brought such Joy of Salvation to the World.

He Suffered under Pontius Pilate

And having no Need at all to Suffer for any Sins of his Own; Was he not Wounded for our Transgressions, and Bruised for our Iniquities? O wicked Wretch! That I should be one of those, who put the Son of God himself upon Suffering! But, O how Happy for me, That he would be pleas'd to Suffer once, to Save me from Suffering for ever!

He was Crucified,

Love that was strong as Death, fasten'd my Saviour to the Infamous Tree; With his Arms Extended, to Receive me; And his Side Opened, to make me a Passage to his very Heart. O my Dearest Lord! God forbid that I should Glory, Save in thy Cross; Which I shew Satan to Confound him; On which I lean, to Rest my Weary▪Soul; And to which I will [Page 439] Cling, tho carried by the Gates of Hell; Yea, by which I Hope to Climb to the Glory Everlasting in Heaven. He was

Dead,

Not only Abraham, the Friend of God Gave up the Ghost; But he that was Before Abraham, Our Blessed Saviour himself, the Well-beloved Son of God, when he took upon him the Seed of Abraham, was not Excus'd from Dying. And shall I then conclude, That my God has no Kindness for me, Because I must follow such Fore-runners, and go the way of all Flesh? No, Though he Slay me, yet will I Trust in him; And have Hope, even in my Death. For the Death of Christ is my Life: Seeing he has taken out the Sting of Death Temporal; And made it the very Entrance to Life Eternal. He has led us the Way, through that Gloomy Vale, to the Glorious Regions of Immortality. And shall Death Separate me from my Saviour? Or Divorce my Soul from the Heavenly Bridegroom? No, I Depart hence, to be With Christ; And that I may get nearer to him, whom my Soul loveth. He is gone before; And Lord, I will Follow thee Whithersoever thou goest. Thou wast laid in the Grave,

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And Buried.

To make that Desolate Place Inviting by thy Presence; To Perfume the Chambers of Death, And turn the Horrible Pit, into a Happy Seminary; Where the poor, weak perishing Flesh is Sown; To come up again, Powerful, Glorious, and Incorruptible. And shall I shrink from the Bed, where my Lord himself lay? Would I lye Better than he did? No, the Grave its self is become a Goodly Lodging, Since Christ was there. I will not go down in Sorrow to my Grave; When going but to Sleep with Jesus, The Life of my Soul, and the Spring of all my Joy.

He Descended into Hell.

Three Days he continued in the State of the Dead: That none might Question the Truth of his Death; upon which depends all our Hope of Pardon and Life. That I might not Dread the Parting of Soul and Body, which befel my Lord himself: And that none belonging to him, might be out of Heart, even at the Lowest Ebb: When our Redeemer, who lay so long under the Power of Death,

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The Third Day he Rose again from the Dead.

And shall I be in Bondage all my Life, through Fear of Death, When under the Conduct of such a Victorious Captain of our Salvation, That has Triumph'd over all the Powers of the Grave? No, He Lives, and was Dead. And though I know I must Dye; yet withal I know that my Redeemer Liveth, and is Alive for evermore. And because he Lives, I shall Live also: For he has no Life, but what every Member of his shall Share in. Now therefore, O Death, I can triumph over thee: Since my Lord has routed all thy Forces. It's true, Yet thou canst Kill me; but thou canst not Hurt me. For take down this Crazy Cottage of my Body, and this Mortal shall put on Immortality! Dearest Lord, Thou wast Arrested for our Debt; And laid up in the Prison of the Grave, on our Account. But thy Release gives me a Chearful Assurance, That thou hast Satified Divine Justice to the utmost. Since thou art come so Gloriously forth; I am sure that all is Discharged. Then blessed be the God and Father of [Page 442] our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant Mercy, has begotten us again to a Lively Hope, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead.

He Ascended into Heaven.

And O with what Joyful Acclamations was he Welcom'd Home, into those High Regions of the Blessed; After all his Wondrous Atchievements, to Effect Eternal Redemption for us! He led Captivity Captive. And dragg'd the Infernal Powers after his Triumphal Chariot: To shew that Hell, as well as Death, is Subject unto him. And now he has Clear'd us a Way to Glory; And Open'd the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers: Being gone to Prepare a Place for us; That where he is, there we may be also. Even where

He Sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty;

Far above all Principalities and Powers, A Glorious King for evermore. With all Power and Authority in his Hands; And all the Crowns and Mansions of Glory at his Disposal. He is not only the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, By whom all [Page 443] do Reign: But all the Angels in Heaven fly to do his Pleasure. Where he has thrown off the Vail, under which he Shrowded his Majesty here Below: And shews himself now in all the Splendor of the King of Glory: To the Admiration of highest Cherubims and Seraphims, Who will be Joyfully taken up to all Eternity, in beholding such Wonders of Divine Beauty and Glory. To him I Look as the great Author and Finisher of our Faith; And the Blessed Object of my daily Worship and Devotion. Who in all the Height of his Glory, does not Forget his poor Retainers here; But has still Bowels of Compassion, to Intercede for us, As well as Fulness of Power to Prevail on our Behalf▪ And God forbid, That I should Forget this Absent Friend; That he should be to me out of Sight, out of Mind. O where should be my Heart, But with the great Lover and Beloved of my Soul! Who not only Humbled himself on Earth; But even now in Heaven so Humbles himself, as to Remember me in my Low estate. And when therefore I am Loaded, that I know not what to do: I will go and put the matter into his Hands, who can help relieve and support. For what Enemies, too Hard for me, hut he can soon make them his Footstool? What Boon so got [Page 444] Big to be asked, But this great Master of Requests in Heaven, can obtain it for me? What time I am Afraid then, or Troubled, In a Strait, or at a Loss; I will Look unto Jesus, at God's Right Hand Above; And Remember his kind Office there; and Pray his Friendship, and Intreat his gracious Favour with my whole Heart; Who is Worthy ever to be Heard for me; Though I am Unworthy to Speak for my self.

From thence he shall come to Iudge the Quick and the Dead.

And shall Appear in greater Power and Glory, than ever he was seen here in Weakness and Poverty. When his Stubborn Enemies that would not he should Reign over 'em, shall be brought forth and Slain before him. And all his Sheep, that Hear his Voice, and Follow him; Waiting for his Coming, and Loving his Appearing, Shall then Hold up the Head, and never Droop any more; But find the most Refreshing Sunshine, amidst all the Gloominess and Horrors of that Day. Which will be to them a Day of Discharge, and Jubilee, and Coronation: The most Sweet and Lightsom Day that ever came over them. Then shall I see him Sit on the Throne, [Page 445] to give me my Portion; Who was Nail'd on the Cross, to Purchase my Salvation. My Advocate, My Life, My Saviour, will be alone Exalted in that Day. And will my Advocate Accuse me? Will my Life Destroy me? Will my Saviour Condemn me? No, He that is then to be the Judge, is the Son of Man, one that was not ashamed to call us Brethren; and was in all points tempted like as we, and so will shew mercy to all that believe in him in that day.

I Believe in the Holy Ghost.

The Lord and Giver of Life; The Heavenly Councellor and Comforter of our Souls. By whom I call Jesus Lord, and Cry Abba Father unto my God. And having such a Blessed Guardian and Divine power dwelling in me, Why do I drag on heavily, as if left Comfortless? Why do I not overflow with Joy in the Holy Ghost? Am I Weak? He is the Power of the most High, to Help my Infirmities. Am I Forgetful? He is the kind Monitor, to bring all Needful things to my Remembrance. Am I afraid lest I should fail of God's Acceptance and Salvation? This Blessed Spirit Witnesseth with my Spirit, That I am the Child of God; and Seals me to the day of Redemption. Away then [Page 446] thou foul Accuser of the Brethren: Peace Clamorous Conscience: And stand aside pitiful Creature-Comforts: I have Affiance in the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. For I belong to

The Holy Catholick Church.

I am a Member of that most truly Royal Society, Some of which, (already enter'd into the Joy of their Lord) are got out of the Field, to their Crowns; And past from Service, to Triumph. And the rest here yet on our Pilgrimage and Warfare, are reaching forth to the glorious Prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus. The Lines are fallen to me in Pleasant places; Where the Sun of Righteousness is Risen to us; And causes the Heavenly Day-Spring from on High to Shine upon us; Yea in that Church, against which the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail. I Believe

The Communion of Saints.

The same Life and Spirit Pervades the Multitude of Believers every where: And like so many Rivulets, they run all to the same Sea; Though not in the same Channel. Or like divers Strings of a [Page 447] Musical Instrument, Though they have several Notes, yet they make up one. Song of Praise and Glory, to their Common Lord. From whom they receive Influence, as all the Bodily parts do from the Head; And are Knit together as Fellow-Members of Christ's Body. They are the Houshold of Faith; of that Corporation and Family of Heaven, For the sake of which they Forget▪ their own People, and Father's house. Yea, as all the parts of the Body, how mean soever, share in the same Life, as is in the Head and Heart: the Noblest Members Despise not the Vilest: But the Lowest are of use to the Highest; And all Conspire for the joynt Interest of the Whole: So I as a Part of this great Body, (While I struggle not by my self, but keep to the Flock of Christ; And join with them, in the Worship and Service of my Lord, And Tender and Love them in my Heart) am one of their Happy Number, and do Share in the Prayers of every Faithful Christian throughout the World. And Communicating now with the Saints in all Offices of Love, I shall be Advanced with them, to the Possession of their Heavenly Inheritance, in Eternal Life.

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The Forgiveness of Sins.

This is the Article that strikes at the very Root of Bitterness; And removes the Ground of all my Fears and Griefs. O how Numerous are my Sins! And what a Heavy Load upon my Soul! But it Lightens my Heart, to hear of God manifested in the Flesh; To undergo all the Penalties of Sin, in the very Nature that Sinned; To bear our Sins, in his own Body, on the Tree. And when our All-sufficient Surety has Finished the Atonement, Will the Justice of God require a Second Payment? No; God is not only Merciful, but Just also, in Justifying the Believers on Jesus: Who was made Sin for us, who knew no Sin; That we might be made the Righteousness of God in him. And now all the Frightful Guilt is Swallowed up in that Fountain open'd for Sin and Uncleanness. So that my Spirit Rejoices in God my Saviour: And I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord, Whose Blood Cleanses us from all Sin. O that I could Love him yet more, who Forgiveth me so much!

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The Resurrection of the Body.

This is the Christian's Strong Hold, That although we Fall into the Grave, we shall not be utterly Cast down; But have a Lord, that will be the Plague of Death, and the Destruction of the Grave; To Redeem us out of the hands of both. My Flesh is Perishing, as the Grass, that's Green and Wither'd in a Day. But this Mortal shall put on Immortality; Yea Mortality it self shall be Swallowed up of Life. This Heavy Log, though sown a Natural, shall Rise a Spiritual Body: To Glide through Aetherial Regions, to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. Even the Vile, Course Flesh, (in the great Morning of the Resurrection) shall come Gloriously forth, as a Bridegroom out of his Chamber; And like the Trees new Apparell'd in the Spring; More Orient and Beautiful of it self, than all the Robes and Jewels in the World can now make it: Shining as the Firmament; Yea Outvying the Stars and the Sun. Is my Body then often here put to Hardships? Why, I do not look for my Heaven in it now, as it is here: But I expect it to [Page 450] Rise Impatible, past all Suffering. And in the mean Time, I must not think it Strange to be exposed to Storms and Tempests; Till I arrive at the Fair Haven, where I would be. What is then this Body that I am so tender and choice of▪ that I so pamper and gratify! A perishing corruptible Body. What is that body that shall be, A body Glorious and Immortal, fashioned like to the Glorious Body of Christ. Let me then look up to that State, to the Resurrection I believe.

And the Life Everlasting. Amen.

This is the Centre of our Desires, and the Crown of our Joys; The Drift of our whole Religion; and the Height of all Perfection. That which Eases all our Labours, and makes our very Troubles look Chearful upon us. Wretched Relief in the Heathens Antidote against the Dread of Death! Only To Think, That Dye we Must. But Christians have a Consolation Strong indeed, That after Death we shall Live for ever. Our present Lives are, (for the most part) spent in Providing us [Page 451] LIvelihoods. And instead of carrying Happiness now in our Vessels; All that we can do, is but to make Shift a little to Stop out Misery. Though God has graciously made it Pleasant, even to Repair the Decays of our Nature; yet he would not have us mistake that poor Pleasure, for our Heaven: And the Soul that Knows it self, is rather Weary of this Attendance on the Corruptible Flesh; And Aspires after that State, Where the Body shall Obsequiously follow; without the Drudgery of Patching up its Breaches and Decays. Where shall be nothing Vexatious or Troublesom; Nothing to hinder or abate the Perfection of Bliss: Nothing to Mar or Embitter the Fulness of Joy. But all the Black Curtains drawn aside, We shall have that Beatifick Sight of our Lord; which will create in us Raptures, bigger than our Hearts can hold, till Heaven shall hold our Souls; And we Enter into that Joy of our Lord, which is too Large to Enter into us. Where we shall meet with all the best Company in the World; And Enjoy that Sweetest of all Society, without any Reserves, in the most Glorious Place. And their, and our Souls, being then perfectly Heal'd of every thing Offensive; We shall have all the Refreshments, without any the Uneasiness, of Conversation. Every Faculty [Page 452] of the Soul shall there imbibe that Fulness of Satisfaction, which so Long it had Sought, but never Found before. And neither shall the Body want an Agreeable Entertainment, for its Feast and Solace. But 'tis not for a Tongue of Flesh to Utter, what Eyes and Ears of Flesh ne'er Saw nor Heard. 'Tis enough, to Know, That it is Above our Knowledge: Being the Life that is Sweeten'd with a Goodness no Less than the Divine; and Measur'd with a Duration no Shorter than Eternal.

All this I Believe. And I Believe it is more than all this which I Believe, in Believing the Life Everlasting. My Life is Hid with Christ in God: And the Life which I now Live, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who Loved me, and Gave himself for me. And when Christ, who is our Life, shall Appear, Then shall I also Appear with him in Glory. O let me now Begin the Life of Heaven; And hereafter I shall never know its End. While I am here Alive, May I so Dye to the Flesh and the World, That when I Depart from hence, I may Live to God, with Christ; which is the Life incomparably best of All.

FINIS.

[Page]

BOOKS Printed for W. Rogers.

ARchbishop Tillotson's Works in Fol. price 20 s.
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Bishop of Worcester's Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome truly Represented, &c. 4to.
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Bishop of Norwich's Two Sermons of the Wisdom and Goodness of Providence, before the Queen at Whitehall. 4to.
- —Sermon preach'd at St. Andrews Holborn, on Gal. 6. 7.
- —Of Religious Melancholy. A Sermon preach'd before the Queen at Whitehall, 4to.
- —Of the Immortality of the Soul, preach'd before the King and Queen at Whitehall, on Palm-Sunday, 4to.

Dr. Sherlock, Dean of St. Paul's, Answer to a Discourse entituled, Papists protesting against Protestant Popery, 2d. Edit. 4to.
- [Page]—Answer to the Amicable Accommodation of the Differences between the Representer and the Answerer, 4to.
- —Sermon at the Funeral of the Reverend Dr. Calamy, 4to.
- —Vindication of some Protestant Principles of Church-Unity and Catholick-Communion, &c. 4to.
- —Preservative against Popery, in two Parts, with the Vindication.
- —Discourse concerning the Nature, Unity, and Communion of the Catholick Church, First Part, 4to.
- —Sermon before the Lord-Mayor, November 4. 1688. 4to.
- —Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity. 3d. Edit. 4to.
- —Case of Allegiance to Sovereign Powers stated, &c. 4to.
- —Vindication of the Case of Allegiance, &c. 4to.
- —Fast-Sermon before the Queen at Whitehall. June 17. 4to.
- —Practical Discourse concerning Death. In Octavo, Eighth Edition, Price. 3 s. In Twelves, Price 2 s.
- —Practical Discourse concerning Judgment, Third Edit. 8vo.
- —Sermon before the House of Commons, Jan. 30. 1692. 4to.
- —Sermon Preach'd before the Queen, Feb. 12. 1692, 4to.

Dr. Prideaux's Imposture Displayed in the Life of Mahomet, for the Vindication of Christianity from the like Charge. With a Letter to the Deists, &c.
Mr. Elis's Sum of Christianity. 12^o. price 4 d, Stitcht. 6 d. Bound.

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BOOKS Printed for Benj. Tooke, at the Middle-Temple-Gate▪ in Fleetstreet.

FABLES of Aesop, and other Eminent Mythologists, with Morals and Reflections. By Sir Roger L'Estrange. Fol.

A Chronicle of the Kings of England, from the Time of the Roman Government, unto the Death of King James the First; Containing all Passages of State and Church, with all other Observations proper for a Chroncile; faithfully Collected out of Authors Ancient and Modern: And digested into a Method. By Sir Richard Baker, Kt. Whereunto is added, The Reign of K. Charles the First, and K. Charles the Second: In which are many Material Affairs of State, never before published. The Ninth Impression, freed from many Errors and Mistakes of the former Edition. Fol.

Eight Chyrurgical Treatises on these Heads; 1. Of Tumours; 2. Of Ulcers; 3. Of the Diseases in Anus; 4. Of the King's-Evil; 5. Of Wounds; 6. Of Gun-shot Wounds; 7. Of Fractions and Luxations; 8. Of the Lues Veneria. By Richard Wiseman, Sergeant-Chyrurgion to King Charles the II^d. The Third Edition: Fol.

A Catalogue of Books printed in England since the dreadful Fire of London in 1666. to the End of Michaelmas Term, 1695. with an Abstract of the General Bills of Mortality since 1660. and the Titles [Page] of all the Classick Authors, Cum Notis Variorum, and those for the Use of the Dauphin. Fol.

Two Sermons preached before the Condemn'd Criminals at Newgate, 1695. By B. Crooke. M. A. Rector of St. Michael Woodstreet, London. 4^o.

A New Theory of the Earth, from its Original to the Consummation of all things: Wherein the Creation of the World in Six days; The Universal Deluge, and the General Conflagration, as laid down in the Holy Scriptures, are shewn to be perfectly agreeable to Reason and Philosophy. With a Large Introductory Discourse concerning the Genuine Stile and Extent of the Mosaick History of the Creation. By William Whiston, M. A. Chaplain to the Right Rev^d the Bishop of Norwich, and Fellow of Clare-Hall in Cambridge. 8^o.

An Exact Abridgment of the Statutes of King William and Queen Mary, and of K▪ William III. In Force and Use; begun by Jo. Washington of the Middle-Temple, Esq and since his Death Revised and Continued to the End of the Last Session of Parliament, the 27. April 1696. with Two New Tables. 8^o.

The Liberty of Prayer Asserted and Guarded from Licentiousness. 8^o. price 2 s.

Two Letters Written to a Gentleman of Note Guilty of Common Swearing: To which is added, A Third Letter to another Gentleman in the Commission of the Peace, exciting him to the performance of his Part, in Executing the Late Act against Prophane Cursing and Swearing▪ Both by Ben. Jenks, Rector of Harley in Shropshire, and Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Bradford. Price 1 s.

These Two printed for W. Rogers, and B. Tooke.

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Prayers and offices of devotion for families, and for particular persons, upon most occasions. By Ben. Jenks, Rector of Harley, in Shropshire, and chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Bradford.

Author: Jenks, Benjamin, 1646-1724.2016-02

A Prayer for Devotion, and a right Frame of Spirit in the Worship of GOD.

A Family Prayer, in the Order of our Lord's Prayer.

Morning-Prayer for a Family.

Another Morning-Prayer for the Family.

A Third Morning-Prayer.

A Fourth Morning-Prayer.

A Fifth Morning-Prayer.

A Sixth Morning-Prayer.

A Seventh Morning-Prayer.

Evening-Prayer for a Family.

Another Evening-Prayer for a Family.

A Third Evening Prayer.

A Fourth Evening-Prayer.

A Fifth Evening-Prayer.

A Sixth Evening-Prayer.

A Seventh Evening-Prayer.

Morning-Prayer for the Lord's Day.

Another Morning-Prayer for the Lord's Day.

Evening-Prayer for the Lord's Day.

Another Evening-Prayer for the Lord's-Day.

A Prayer for any Intermediate Time of the Lord's Day.

A Confession of the Sins Forbidden, with Prayer for Grace, to perform the Duties enjoyn'd in the Com­mandments.(Preparatory to the Sacrament; Or at any time of Hu­miliation.)

A Prayer before the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

A Prayer for Grace to Resign, and give up our selves to God.

Thanksgiving and Prayer after the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Prayer and Humiliation for a Publick Fast-Day.

An Addition in time of War.

In time of Infection.

In time of Famine.

In time of any sore and grievous Calamity.

Ʋnder any great Difficulties and ex­traordinary Affairs.

A Prayer for Temporal Blessings.

For Rain.

For Fair Weather.

Prayer and Praise for a Publick Thanksgiving-Day.

Thanksgiving for Temporal Blessings.

For Rain.

For Fair Weather.

For the Cessation of Infection.

For the Restoration of Plenty.

For Victory over our Enemies.

For Peace.

Thanksgiving for Preservation and Deliverance from Dangers and Troubles.

A Prayer for Blessing, Direction, Help, and Good Success, in any Great Enterprize.

A Prayer for Illumination and Know­ledge.

A Prayer for Repentance.

A Prayer for Faith and Trust in God.

A Prayer for Power to live by Faith upon Christ, and the Divine Pro­mises.

A Prayer for the Divine Assistance.

A Prayer for Sincerity.

A Prayer for Humility.

A Prayer for Mindfulness of God's Presence.

A Prayer for Tenderness of Heart.

A Prayer for the Fear of God.

A Prayer for the Love of God.

A Prayer for Hope.

A Prayer for Charity.

A Prayer for Unity.

A Prayer for Meekness and Peace­ableness.

A Prayer under Abuses and Provoca­tions.

A Prayer under Infamy and Disgrace.

A Prayer for our Enemies.

A Prayer under Crosses and Disappoint­ments in our Affairs.

A Prayer under Losses and Damage in our Goods and Estate.

A Prayer under Confinement and Loss of Liberty.

A Prayer under Sad Accidents and Disasters Falling on the Body.

A Prayer for a Blind-Man.

A Prayer under Grievous Pains.

A Prayer under Dangerous Sickness.

A Prayer under Ling'ring Sickness.

A Prayer for one that is Stupified, or Light-Headed.

A Prayer for a Sick Child.

A Prayer for a Dying Man past hope of Recovery.

A Prayer upon the News of others Death.

A Prayer upon the Death of our Dear Friends.

A Prayer for Patience.

A Prayer for Preparation and Readi­ness to Die.

A Prayer in Publick Commotions and Distractions.

A Confession of the Sins Forbidden, with Prayer for Grace, to perform the Duties enjoyn'd in the Commandments.
(Preparatory to the Sacrament; Or at any time of Humiliation.)

Ʋnder any great Difficulties and extraordinary Affairs.

A Prayer for Illumination and Knowledge.

A Prayer for Power to live by Faith upon Christ, and the Divine Promises.

A Prayer for Meekness and Peaceableness.

A Prayer under Abuses and Provocations.

A Prayer under Crosses and Disappointments in our Affairs.

A Prayer for Preparation and Readiness to Die.

A Prayer under the Dread of God's Wrath, and Everlasting Damnation.

A Prayer for the enjoyment of God's gracious Presence, and Divine Communion.

A Prayer for Faithfulness and Constancy in the Profession of our Religion.

A Prayer for the King, and all our Rulers and Magistrates.

A Prayer for our Friend, whose Soul we fear to be in a Dangerous condition.