The Christians Freedom, Prayer
A Prayer.
O Lord God, heauenly Father; when I doe consider how many wayes, and by how many sorts of sinnes I hauehave offended thee night and day; and doe duely call to minde how graciously thou hast kept me this night, and how many blessings and fauours I hauehave receiued of thee without number: I am euen astonished at my great ingratitude, and doe vtterly condemne my selfe of highest rebellion against thee. Many hauehave been the dayes, weeks, moneths and yeeres, that thou hast here afforded mee to liue; and in all the time of my life hitherunto, thou hast graciously preserued mee, plentifully relieued mee, and continually kept me vnderunder thy Fatherly protection, in all my nights and dayes; and hast beene euermore watchfull ouer mee; that I hauehave from time to time, from night to day, and from day to night, beene euer sustained through thy grace, though I hauehave sometimes felt thy correcting rod by some crosses for my sinnes, yet hauehave they beene euer easy, in comparison of my deseruings; and profitable vntounto me. Lord pardon and forgiue mee my sins, forgiue my manifold offences, wash me throughly by the blood of Iesus Christ my Redeemer, and cleanse mee from all my pollutions, for they are many, and I am ashamed that euer I gaue way vntounto them. But now Lord, now, though late, I pray thee to leade mee by thy Spirit in more obedience; stay me, that I runne not this day into any vnseemely or vngodly actions; withhold mine eyes from vanities; keep vnderunder the vngodly affections of my corrupt heart, that though they may begin to worke sinne in me, Lord suppresse them before they come to execution. Disperse Lord, and dispell all the clouds of ignorance and errors, that darken mine vnderstanding, and giuegive me wisdome rightly to know thee, and thy Son Christ, and what hee hath done for my soule; and through thy grace restraine mee this day from that thou hast commanded me to shun: and let mee doe nothing but what may please thee, then whatsoeuer I shall thinke, speake or determine, shall bee to thine owne glory, profitable to my selfe and others. Preserue mee from the secret and hidden snares of Satan, who is restlesse to allure me to sinne, enticing me to imbrace the vanities of the world, and to yeeld to the lusts of mine owne corrupt nature. But Lord, as I hauehave by thy prouidence, past the darkenesse of this night, and doe now enioy the ioyfull benefit of the light of this day: so let mee this day auoid all the workes of darkenesse; and as the day doth administer light vntounto my corporall eyes, the better to doe the works and offices of my calling; let the light of thy Spirit, O Lord, shine in my soule, that I may walke in the light of thy truth in true obediēce, to the good example of others. Thou hast allotted mee a calling in this life; giuegive me power and wisdom rightly to performe it: my best endeauours can little preuaile without thy blessing & direction; and therfore I humbly pray thee to prosper whatsoeuer I take in hand this day. Blesse mine vnderstanding O Lord, that I may rightly know and bee able truely and faithfully to performe what belongeth vntounto my place and calling. Blesse the health of my body, the strength & continuall vse of my limbes and senses, which of themselues are weake, and may soone decay without thy blessing. Increase O Lord, and confirme my faith, grace, wisedome, and obedience eueryevery day more and more, that I may eueryevery day more and more dye vntounto sinne, and bee made stronger & more perfect in righteousnesse. Heale O Lord, all my corporall and spirituall infirmities, and dispose my heart, that I may bee eueryevery day more and more mindfull, that this my life is short, and that this day may bee my last day: and let mee so walke this day, as if it should bee the last day of this my mortall life; that I may be assured of the immediate entrance into that life which is eternall with Christ my Redeemer. And vntill that last day shall come, O Lord, I intreate thee in the name of Iesus Christ, that this day and all the rest of my dayes and nights, may bee prosperous and blessed vntounto mee; the day for the performance of my calling, the night for my rest, vntill I come to my finall and perpetuall rest with thee and thy Sonne, to whom with thy blessed Spirit, I ascribe all honour, praise and glory. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Downame, The Christians Freedom (1635)