The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 93
Ejaculations.
O Lord, of whom may I seek for succour but of thee, who for my sins art justly displeased, yet, O Lord God, most holy, O Lord, most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver me not at my last hour into the bitter pains of eternal death. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of my heart, shut not thy merciful eyes upon my prayer, but hear me, O Lord, most holy, O God, most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge Eternal, suffer me not at my last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from the Father. I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy child; yet, O Lord, do not thou cast off the bowels and compassion of a Father; but even as a Father pittieth his own children, so be thou merciful unto me. Lord, the Prince of this world cometh, oh let him have nothing in me, but as he accuseth, do thou absolve: he laies many grievous things to my charge, which he can too well prove; I have nothing to say for my self, do thou answer for me, O Lord my God. O Lord, I am cloathed with filthy garments, and Satan stands at my right hand to resist me, O be thou pleased to rebuke him, and pluck me as a brand out of the fire. Cause mine iniquity to pass from me, and cloath me with the Righteousness of thy Son. Behold, O Lord, the Devil is coming towards me, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time: O save and deliver me, lest he devour my soul like a Lion, and tear it in pieces, while there is none to help. O my God, I know no unclean thing can enter into thy Kingdom, and I am nothing but pollution. My very Righteousnesses are as filthy raggs, O wash me, and make me white in the blood of the Lamb, that so I may be fit to stand before thy Throne. Lord, the snares of death compass me about; O let not the pains of Hell also take hold upon me, but though I find trouble and heaviness, O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. O dear Jesus, who hast bought me with the precious price of thine own blood, challenge now thy purchase, and let not the malice of Hell pluck me out of thine hand. O blessed High Priest, who art able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by thee, save me, I beseech thee, who have no hope, but by thy merit and intercession. O God, I confess I have defaced that Image of thine thou didst imprint upon my soul, yet oh thou faithful Creator, have pity on thy creature. O Jesu, I have by many and grievous sins crucified thee afresh, yet thou who prayest for thy persecutors, intercede for me also, and suffer me not, O my Redeemer, my soul, the price of thy blood, to perish. O Spirit of grace, I have by my horrid impieties done despight unto thee, yet O blessed Comforter, though I have offended thee, and often grieved thy Holy Spirit, be thou pleased to succour and relieve me, and say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Mine eyes look unto thee, O Lord, in thee is my trust. O cast not out my soul. O Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded. O blessed Lord, who scourgest every Son whom thou receivest, let me not be weary of thy correction, but give me such a perfect submission to thee the Father of spirits, that this chastisement may be for my profit, that I may thereby be partaker of thy holiness. O thou Captain of my salvation, who wert made perfect by sufferings, sanctifie to me all the pains of body, all the terrours of mind, which thou shalt permit to fall upon me. Lord, my sins have deserved eternal torments, make me cheerfully and thankfully to bear my present pains; chasten me as thou pleasest here, that I may not be condemned with the world. Lord, the waters are come in even unto my soul; O let thy Spirit move upon the waters, and make them like the Pool of Bethesda, that they may cure whatsoever spiritual disease thou discernest in me. O Christ, who first sufferedst many and grievous things, and then enteredst into thy grave, make me so to suffer with thee, that I may also be glorified with thee. O dear Jesus, who humblest thy self to the death of the Cross for me, let that death of thine sweeten the bitterness of mine. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers; I believe that thou shalt come to be my Judge, I pray thee therefore help thy servant whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood: make me to be numbred with Saints in glory everlasting. Thou art the Resurrection and the Life, he that believeth in thee, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, which is far better. Lord, I groan earnestly, desiring to be cloathed upon with that house from Heaven; I desire to put off this Tabernacle, O be pleased to receive me into everlasting habitations; bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto thy Name. Lord, I am here to wrestle not only with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness: O take me from these tents of Kedar, into the heavenly Jerusalem, where Satan shall be utterly trodden under foot. I cannot here attend one minute to thy service without distractions. O take me up to stand before thy Throne, where I shall serve thee day and night. I am in heaviness through many tribulations; O receive me into that place of rest, where all tears shall be wiped away from my eyes; where there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. I am here in the state of banishment and absence from the Lord. O take me where I shall for ever behold thy face, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of glory. O blessed Jesu, who hast loved me, and washed me from my sins in thine own blood, receive my soul. Into thine hands I commend my Spirit, for thou hast redeemed me. O Lord, thou God of Truth, come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.