The Practice of Christian Graces, Part 3
COLLECTS for several GRACES.
For FAITH.
O Blessed Lord, whom without Faith it is impossible to please, let thy Spirit I beseech thee work in me such a Faith as may be acceptable in thy sight, even such as worketh by love, O let me not rest in a dead ineffectual Faith, but grant that it may be such as may shew it self by my works, that it may be that victorious Faith which may enable me to overcome the world, and conform me to the Jmage of that Christ, on whom I beleeve, that so at the last I may receive the end of my Faith, even the salvation of my soul, by the same Jesus Christ.
For HOPE.
O Lord; who art the hope of all the ends of the earth, let me never be destitute of a well grounded hope, nor yet possest with a vain presumption, suffer me not to think thou wilt either be reconciled to my sins, or reject my repentance, but give me, I beseech thee, such a hope as may be answerable to the onelyonly ground of hope, thy promises, and such as may both incourage and enable me to purifie my self from all filthiness, both of flesh and Spirit, that so it may indeed become to me an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast entering even within the vail, whither the forerunner is for me entered, even Jesus Christ my high Priest and blessed Redeemer.
For the LOVE of GOD.
O Holy and gracious Lord, who art infinitely excellent in thy self, and infinitely bountiful and compassionate towards me, I beseech thee suffer not my heart to be so hardned through the deceitfulness of sin, as to resist such charmes of love, but let them make deep and lasting impressions on my soul. Lord, thou art pleased to require my heart, and thou onelyonly hast right to it. O let me not be so sacrilegiously unjust as to alienate any part of it, but enable me to render it up whole and entire to thee. But, O my God, thou seest it is already usurped, the world with its vanities hath seized it, and like a strong man armed keeps possession, O thou who art stronger come upon him, and take this unworthy heart of mine as thine own spoil, refine it with that purifying fire of thy love, that it may be a fit habitation for thy Spirit: Lord, if thou see it fit, be pleased to let me taste of those joyes, those ravishments of thy love, wherewith thy Saints have bin so transported. But if in this I know not what I ask, if I may not chuse my place in thy Kingdome, yet O Lord deny me not to drink of thy cup, let me have such a sincerity and degree of love, as may make me endure any thing for thy sake, such a perfect love as may cast out all fear and all sloth too, that nothing may seem to me too grievous to suffer, or too difficult to do in obedience to thee, that so expressing my love by keeping thy Commandments, I may by thy mercy at last obtain that Crown of life, which thou hast promised to those that love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For SINCERITY.
O Holy Lord, who requirest truth in the inward parts, I humbly beseech thee to purge me from all hypocrisy and unsincerity. The heart, O Lord, is deceitful above all things, and my heart is deceitful above all hearts, O thou who searchest the heart, and reins, try me, and seek the ground of my heart, and suffer not any accursed thing to lurk within me but purify me even with fire, so thou consume my dross. O Lord, I cannot deceive thee, but I may most easily deceive my self, I beseech thee let me not rest in any such deceit, but bring me to a sight and hatred of my most hidden corruptions, that I may not cherish any one darling lust, but make an utter destruction of every Amalekite; O suffer me not to speak peace to my self, when there is no peace, but grant I may judge of my self, as thou judgest of me, that I may never be at peace with my self, till I am at perfect peace with thee, and by purity of heart be qualified to see thee in thy Kingdom, through Jesus Christ.
For DEVOTION in PRAYER.
O Gracious Lord God, who not onelyonly permittest, but invitest us miserable and needy creatures, to present our petition to thee, grant I beseech thee, that the frequency of my prayer may be somewhat proportionable to those continual needs I have of thy mercy: Lord, I confess, it is the greatest honour and the greatest advantage, thus to be allowed access to thee, yet so sottish and stupid is my profane heart, that it shuns or frustrates the opportunities of it. My Soul, O Lord, is possest with a spirit of infirmity, it is bowed together, and can in no wise lift up it self to thee. O be thou pleased to cure this sad, this miserable disease, to inspirit and inliven this earthy drossy heart, that it may freely mount towards thee, that I may set a true value on this most valuable priviledge, and take delight in approaching to thee, and that my approaches may be with a reverence, some way answerable to that awful Majesty I come before, with an importunity and earnestness, answerable to those pressing wants I have to be supplied, and with such a fixedness and attention of mind, as no wandring thoughts may interrupt; that I may no more incur the guilt of drawing neer to thee with my lips, when my heart is far from thee, or have my prayers turned into sin, but may so ask that I may receive, seek that I may find, knock that it may be opened unto me; that from praying to thee here, I may be translated to the praising thee eternally in thy glory, through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ.
For HUMILITY.
O Thou High and Lofty one, that inhabitest Eternity, yet art pleased to dwell with the humble spirit, pour into my heart, I beseech thee, that excellent grace of Humility, which may utterly work out all those vain conceits I have of my self; Lord convince me powerfully of my own wretchedness, make me to see that I am miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and not onelyonly dust, but sin, that so in all thy dispensations towards me I may lay my hand upon my mouth, and heartily acknowledge that I am less then the least of thy mercies, and greater then the greatest of thy Judgements. And, O Lord, grant me not onelyonly to walk humbly with my God, but even with men also, that I may not onelyonly submit my self to thy rebukes, but even to those of my fellow Christians, and with meekness receive and obey their admonitions. And make me so to behave my self towards all, that I never do any thing through strife or vain-glory; and to that end grant, that in lowliness of mind I may esteem every other man better then my self, and be willing that others should esteem them so also; that I neither nourish any high opinion of my self, nor covet one among others, but that despising the vain praise of men, I may seek that praise which cometh from thee onelyonly. That so in stead of those mean servile Arts I have used to recommend me to the esteem of men, I may now imploy all my industry and care to approve my self to thee, who resistest the proud, and giveth grace to the humble: grant this, O Lord, for his sake, who humbled himself unto the death of the Corss, Jesus Christ.
For the FEAR of GOD.
O Glorious Majesty, who onelyonly art high, and to be feared, possess my Soul with a Holy awe and reverence of thee, that I may give thee the honour due unto thy Name, and may bear such a respect to all things which relate to thee, that I may never prophane any Holy thing, or sacrilegiously invade what thou hast set apart to thy self. And, O Lord, since thou art a God that wilt not clear the guilty, let the dread of thy justice make me tremble to provoke thee in any thing, O let me not so misplace my fear, as to be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the Son of m…n who shall be made as grass, and forget the Lord my Maker; But replenish my Soul with that fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, which may be as a bridle to all my brutish appetites, and keep me in a constant conformity to thy Holy will▪ Hear me, O Lord, I beseech thee, and put this fear in my heart, that I may not depart from thee, but may with fear and trembling work out my own Salvation, through Jesus Christ.
For TRUST on GOD.
O Almighty Lord, who never failest them that trust on thee, give me grace, I beseech thee, in all my difficulties and distresses, to have recourse to thee, to rest and depend on thee; thou shalt keep him, O Lord, in perfect peace, whose mind is staid on thee, O let me alwayes rest on this firm Pillar, and never exchange it for the broken reeds of worldly succours, suffer not my heart to be overcharged with cares of this life, taking thought what I shall eat, or drink, or wherewithall I shall be clothed, but grant, that having by honest labour and industry done my part, I may cheerfully commit my self to thy providence, casting all my care upon thee, and being careful for nothing, but to be of the number of those whom thou ownest and carest for, even such as keep thy Testimonies and think upon thy Commandments to do them. That seeking first thy Kingdom and the righteousness thereof, all these outward things may be added unto me, in such a measure as thy wisdom knowest best for me; grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ his sake.
For THANKFULNES.
O Most Gracious and Bountiful Lord, who fillest all things living with good, and expectest no other return▪ but praise and thanksgiving, let me O Lord, never defraud thee of that so easy tribute, but let my heart be ever filled with the sense, and my mouth with the acknowledgment of thy mercies. It is a joyful and a pleasant thing to be thankful, O suffer me not, I beseech thee, to loose my part in that Divine pleasure, but grant that as I daily receive blessings from thee, so I may daily from an affectionate and devout heart offer up thanks to thee, and grant that not onelyonly my lips, but my life may shew forth thy praise, by consecrating my self to thy service, and walking in Holiness and Righteousness before thee all the dayes of my life, through Jesus Christ my Lord and blessed Saviour.
For CONTRITION.
O Holy Lord, who art a merciful embracer of true penitents, but yet a consuming fire towards obstinate sinners, how shall I approach thee, who have so many provoking sins to inflame thy wrath, and …o little sincere repentance to incline thy mercy! O be thou pleased to soften and melt this hard obdurate heart of mine, that I may heartily bewail the iniquities of my life, strike this rock, O Lord, that the waters may flow out, even flouds of tears, of wash my polluted conscience; My drowzy Soul hath too long slept securely in sin, Lord, awake it, though it be with thunder, and let me rather feel thy terrours, then not feel my sin. Thou sentest thy blessed Son to heal the broken hearted, but Lord what will that avail me, if my heart be whole. O break it, that it may be capable of his healing vertue; and grant, I beseech thee, that having once tasted the bitterness of sin, I may flye from it, as from the face of a serpent, and bring forth fruits of repentance, in amendment of life, to the praise and glory of thy grace, in Jesus Christ our blessed Redeemer.
For MEEKNES.
O Blessed Jesu, who wert led as a sheep to the slaughter, Let, I beseech thee, that admirable example of Meekness quench in me all sparks of anger, and revenge, and work in me such a gentleness, and calmness of spirit, as no provocations may ever be able to disturb. Lord, grant, I may be so far from offering the least injury, that I may never return the greatest, any otherwise then with prayers and kindness, that I who have so many talents to be forgiven by thee, may never exact pence of my brethren, but that putting on bowels of mercy, meekness, long-suffering, thy peace may rule in my heart, and make it an acceptable habitation to thee, who art the Prince of peace, to whom, with the Father, and Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory for ever.
For CHASTITY.
O Holy and immaculate Jesus, whose first descent was into the Virgins womb, and who doest still love to inhabite only in pure & virgin hearts, I beseech thee send thy Spirit of purity to cleanse me from all filthiness, both of flesh and spirit; my body, O Lord, is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, O let me never pollute that Temple with any uncleanness. And because out of the heart proceed the things that defile the man, Lord, grant me to keep my heart with all diligence, that no impure or foul thoughts be harboured there, but enable me, I beseech thee, to keep both body and Soul pure and undefiled, that so I may glorify thee here both in my body and spirit, and be glorified in both with thee hereafter.
For TEMPERANCE.
O Gracious Lord who hast in thy bounty to mankind afforded us the use of thy good creatures, for our corporal refreshment, grant I may alwayes use this liberty with thankfulness, and moderation, O let me never be so enslaved to that brutish pleasure of the taste, that my Table become a snare to me, but give me, I beseech thee, a perfect abhorrence of all degrees of excess, and let me eat and drink onelyonly for those ends, and according to those measures, which thou hast assigned me, for health and not for luxury. And Lord, grant that my pursuits may be, not after the meat that perisheth, but after that which endureth to everlasting life, that hungring and thirsting after righteousness, I may be filled with thy grace here, and thy glory hereafter, through Jesus Christ.
For CONTENTEDNES.
O Merciful God, thy wisdom is infinite to choose, and thy love forward to dispence good things to us, O let me alwayes fully and intirely resign my self to thy disposals, have no desires of my own, but a perfect satisfaction in thy choices for me, that so in whatsoever estate I am, I may be therein content. Lord grant I may never look with murmuring on my own condition, nor with envy on other mens. And to that end I beseech thee, purge my heart of all covetous affections, O let me never yield up any corner of my Soul to Mammon, but give me such a contempt of these fading riches, that whether they increase o… decrease, I may never set my heart upon them. But that all my care may be to be rich towards God, to lay up my treasure in Heaven, that I may so set my affections on things above, that when Christ who is my life shall appear, I may also appear with him in glory. Grant this, O Lord, for the merits of the same Jesus Christ.
For DILIGENGE.
O Lord, who hast in thy wisdom ordained that man should be born to labour, suffer me not to resist that design of thine, by giving my self up to sloth, and idleness; But grant I may so imploy my time, and all other talents thou hast intrusted me with, that I may not fall under the sentence of the slothful and wicked servant; Lord, if it be thy will, make me some way useful to others, that I may not live an unprofitable part of mankind, but however, O Lord, let me not be useless to my self, but grant, I may give all diligence to make my calling and election sure; My Soul is beset with many and vigilant adversaries, O let me not fold my hands to sleep in the midst of so great dangers, but watch and pray, that I enter not into temptation, enduring hardness, as a good souldier of Jesus Christ, till at last from this state of warfare, thou translate me to the state of triumph and bliss, in thy Kingdom, through Jesus Christ.
For JUSTICE.
O Thou King of righteousness, who hast Commanded us to keep judgement and do Justice, be pleased by thy grace to cleanse my heart and hands from all fraud and injustice, and give me a perfect integrity and uprightness in all my dealings. O make me ever abhor to use my power to oppress, or my skill to deceive my brother, and grant I most strictly observe that sacred rule, of doing as I would be done to, that I may not dishonour my Christian profession, by an unjust or fraudulent life, but in simplicity, and godly sincerity, have my conversation in this life, never seeking to heap up treasures of wickedness, but preferring a little with righteousness, before great revenues without right. Lord, make me exactly careful to render to every man what by any sort of obligation becomes his due, that I may never break the bond of any of those relations, thou hast placed me in, but may so behave my self towards all, that none may have any evil thing to say of me: That so if it be possible, I may have peace with all men, or however I may by keeping innocency and taking heed to the thing that is right, have peace at the last, even peace with thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For CHARITY.
O Merciful Lord, who hast made of one blood, and redeemed by one ransome all Nations of men, let me never harden my bowels against any that partake of the same nature and redemption with me, but grant me an Universal Charity towards all men. Give me, O thou Father of compassions, such a tenderness and meltingness of heart, that I may be deeply affected with all the miseries and calamities outward or inward of my brethren, and diligently imploy all my abilities for their succour and relief. O let not an unchristian self-love possess my heart, but drive out that accursed spirit, and let thy Spirit of love enter and dwell there, and make me seek not to please my self, but my Neighbour for his good to edification, even as Christ pleased not himself. Lord, make me a faithful steward of all those talents, thou hast committed to me, for the benefit of others, that so when thou shalt call me to give an account of my stewardship, I may do it with joy and not with grief: grant this, merciful Lord, I beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake.
For PERSEVERANCE.
O Eternal and unchangeable Lord God, who art the same yesterday and to day and for ever. Be thou pleased to communicate some small ray of that excellence, some degree of that stability to me thy wretched creature, who am light and unconstant, turned about with every blast; my understanding is very deceivable, O establish it in thy truth, keep it from the snares of seducing spirits, that I may not be led away with the errour of the wicked▪ and fall from my own stedfastness; my will also, O Lord, is irresolute, and wavering, and doth not cleave stedfastly unto God, my goodness is but as the morning cloud, & as the early dew it passeth away. O strengthen and confirm me, and what ever good work thou hast wrought in me, be pleased to accomplish and perform it, until the day of Christ. Lord thou seest my weakness, and thou knowest the number and strength of those temptations I have to struggle with, O leave me not to my self, but cover thou my head in the day of battel, and in all spiritual combats make me more then conquerour, through him that loved me. O let no terrours or flatteries either of the world, or my own flesh ever draw me from my obedience to thee, but grant that I may continue stedfast, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord, and by patient continuance in well-doing, seek, and at last obtain glory, and honour, and immortality, and eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.