An Office for Prisoners for Crimes, Office 1
AN OFFICE FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
Scriptures for Prisoners for Crimes.
Psal. 51.
Ezek. 18. v. 10. to the end.
Ps. 25. v. 7. to v. 20.
Rom. 1. v. 28. to Chap. 2. v. 8.
I.
THEY that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. Job. 4. 8.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the Cords of his Sins: Prov. 5. 22.
Bloody and Deceitful Men shall not live out half their days.
My Heart is sore painted within me, and the Terrors of Death, are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me. Psal. 55. 4, 5, 23:
What Glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your Faults, you shall take it patiently? 1 Pet. 2. 20.
My Son, Give, I Pray thee, Glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make Confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done.
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus have I done. Josh. 7. 19, 20.
We indeed suffer justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. Luke 23. 41.
II.
Fools, because of their Transgression, and becuse of their Iniquities, are afflicted.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their Trouble, and he delivereth them out of their Distresses. Psal. 107. 17, 19.
Oh! Let the sorrowful sighing of the Prisoner come before thee, according to the greatness of thy power; preserve thou those that are appointed to dye. Psal. 79. 11.
The Lord hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from Heaven did he behold the earth.
To hear the groaning of the Prisoner: To loose those that are appointed to death. Psalm 102. 19, 20.
III.
If our heart condemn us not; God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 1 Jo. 3. 20.
The Law is not made for a Righteous man, but for the Lawless and Disobedient, for the Ungodly and for Sinners, for Unholy and Prophane, for Murderers of Fathers, and Murderers of Mothers, for Man-Slayers.
For Whore-mongers, for them that Defile themselves with Mankind, for Men-Stealers, for Lyars, for Perjured Persons, and if there be any other Thing, that is contrary to sound Doctrine. 1 Tim. 1. 9, 10.
Without are Sorcerers, and Whoremongers, and Murderers, and Idolaters, and whosoever Loveth and maketh a Lye. Rev. 22. 15.
Know ye not, that the Unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Drunkards, shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
Such were some of you: But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11.
The Lord hath sent me to Proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound. Isa. 61. 2.
They that be whole, have no need of the Physitian, but the sick. I came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. Mar. 2. 17.
If the wicked restore the Pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the Statutes of Life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ezek. 33. 15.
Zacheus stood, and said unto the Lord, behold! The half of my Goods I give to the Poor: And if I have taken any thing from any Man by False Accusation, I restore him fourfold. Luk. 19. 8.
Father, I have Sinned against Heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son. Luke 15. 18, 19.
God be merciful, unto me a Sinner. Luke 18. 13.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
I. A general Prayer for all Prisoners, taken out of the Companion for the Persecuted. pag. 135.
O! Almighty and Everlasting God, thou seest the Streights and Sorrows which I endure in this Place, and how unable I am to help my self, or to bring about my own Deliverance. But the less Hope and Support I have in my self, the more I look up unto thee, and place my Trust in thy Mercy. And when my own Care can avail the least, let thine, O! Thou blessed Helper of the Helpless, appear the most for me.
Give me a Body, O! My God, fit to bear the Inconveniences of this close Place, and Grace to be content therewith; whilst I lye up here, let me not want necessary Provisions, nor repine at the meaness thereof. Suit the Lowness of my Desires, to the hardship of my Circumstances, & let the greatness of my Study and Care be [to do †To indemnify and content my Crediter when fo… Debt.Justice] and shew temperance and selfdenials, not to please my self, or to gratify my own Carnal Ease and Appetites.
Whilst I am here kept a part from my former acquaintance, Grant, O! Lord, that I may carefully retire into my self, and call my own ways to remembrance. And, Oh! That I may amend▪ whatsoever is amiss there, and set all so streight with thee, that I may delight to look into my own Heart, and to search out my own Spirit. Lord! Now thou hast left me nothing else to do, make me apply my self to the one thing necessary: To grow in Holy Reverence and Devotion of Spirit, in the Study of dealing justly and fairly with all, who are any way Concerned with me; in Humility and Mortified Affections, in Patience and Contentedness, Oh! Plant and fill my Soul with all Heavenly Virtues, and make bright all the cloudy and dark parts thereof, with the Rays of thy Divine Image. And then, O! My God, I shall see something of thee, as oft as I look into my self, and learn to be pleased with my own Company, though others are kept from me.
And in whatsoever want I am of other Comforts, Grant, O! Father of Mercies, that both here and ever hereafter, I may have the Comfort of thy Presence. When all else are taken from me, do not thou forsake me. Though I dwell in a disconsolate Room, let thy Spirit dwell with me. Let thy Law at all times direct me, and let the Sense of thy Love Comfort me. And after thou hast graciously improved this Melancholy Restraint, to wean me from vain and carnal delights, to set my Soul free; in thy good time, O! My refuge and strength, deliver me out of this Prison, and set my Body too at liberty, for my dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
And for the more Particular Necessities OF Imprison'd Criminals, They may use these Prayers following:
A Particular Prayer FOR PRISONERS for CRIMES.
I. For deliverance from his Sins and Sorrows.
O! Blessed Lord, who art the comforter of all sad and sin-sick Souls, comfort me, I humbly intreat thee, in this height of my Fears and Sorrows. But first convert me, and then comfort me. I am over-laden with Sins, which overload me with Sorrows. And do thou, O God, rid me of my Sins, that I may get rid of my Sorrows. Nay, rid me of my Sins, tho, for my just Punishment in this World, thou leavest me under my Sorrows. Whatever befal my Body, for just Punishment of my greivous▪ *Or Crimes.Crime, for which I am here in Custody; let true Repentance set my Soul safe, and secure it of thy everlasting Mercy, for the Merits of thy dear Son, and of my sweetest Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Our Father, &c.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
II. The Prisoners Confession of God's Justice in his sad Circumstances.
I am come into this Prison, O! Most Holy and Righteous Lord, laden with Sins and Sorrows; and am here shut up for the Curse and Shame of an untimely end, which my Heinous Wickednesses have most justly deserved. I am terribly affraid of my earthly Judge, and of that heavy Sentence which my Crimes make me justly lyable to receive from him. But infinitely more affraid, of that far more heavy and eternal Doom, which I am lyable to receive for the same at thy Righteous Bar.
Now Fear and Trembling have seized upon me, Psal. 55. 5.and an horrible Dread hath overwhelmed me. Without, is the prospect of Death and Disgrace; and within,Psal. 38. 8. 10. is Guilt and Anguish. My Spirit is broken within me, and I am even at my wits end, Psal. u…. 1.and my Heart faileth me: And tho my Burden is Intollerable, yet O! Almighty Lord, I cannot say, but it is infinitely just. 'Tis a most reasonable, and righteous Return, for my daring Provocations of thy justice: And much more, for my vile Abuses of thy Mercy and Patience. I must needs acquit, and justify thee; and have none to accuse, but mine own Self, for all my present Fears and Misery.
I am†Prov. 11. 6. taken, O! just Lord, in mine own Naughtiness, and am only left to lye down in that Bed of Guilt and Sorrow, which I have been long a making for my self. All my life, I have been†Job. 4. 8. Sowing wickedness, and am now brought to Reap the Fruit thereof. I have†Job. 15. 16. Drunk up iniquity like Water, and tho, to my mad and distempered Fancy, it seemed to yield a slight and short Pleasure, while it slid along the Palate; yet now I find it leaves an immoveable Bitterness, and is nothing but Gall and Wormwood, when it is got into the Belly. I have Drunk it up with Greediness, and fill'd up the measure of my sins, till I perceive now, alas! That there is like to be no measure of my Sufferings, and I am in danger to be swallowed up, and utterly to sink under the Number and Weight of them.
Thus, Oh thou Righteous Avenger of all ungodly and incorrigible wretches, has thy Justice at last overtaken me. And altho thy vengeance is oft times slow; yet to my Grief, and thy Glory, I find 'tis sure, and, when it comes, insupportable. I can in no wise bear my Load, tho I have not the least exception against the Reasonableness, and Justice of it. Only my Hope is in thy Mercy, which thou art wont to remember even when thou takest upon thee to shew Judgment. And as thou art the Avenger of Sinners; so remember, Gracious Lord, that thou art also the Saviour of them. Oh save me, the Chiefest, and most wretched of Sinners: And shew Favor unto me, not according to my Deserts, but according to thine own boundless Mercyes, for our dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
III. His Profession of Repentance under the same.
I have sinned, O Almighty Lord, and sinned Grievously, and have continued irreclaimable in the same for many years. But now, by the Alarm of mine own Dangers, and by the Help of thy Grace, I am made sensible of mine iniquities, and am made truly sorry for my sins. I sadly lament, all the wicked wast of my time and strength, and all my long and heinous Course of Ungodliness, and abuse of thy Patience, which has provoked thee to give me up to this great sin, for which I am now most deservedly made a Prisoner, and may be called to answer shortly with my Blood.
I am touched to the quick, and sorely afflicted, O! Righteous God, with the Trouble and Sorrow, which this Crime has brought upon my Self. But more with the Offence, which it has given thee; and the greatest Care I have upon me, is to have thee forgive me. Lord! I do from the bottom of my Heart, repent of all my Sins, but especially of this great*Here you may name the sin. One. I am greivously Troubled for what is past, and am fully bent against falling any more into it for the Time to come, and am ready to take shame to my self for the same, I am vile in mine own eyes, and am content to be so in the eyes of other Persons. I am truly willing to make any submissions, where I have given just Offence, and, as far as I am able, to repair the wrong which I have done thereby. And Oh! That thou wouldest ever keep me most ready to do this fully and faithfully; and then direct me to do it prudently, and in such sort, as may not be more prejudicial than needs to my worldly safety.
Tho' thou lookest upon me therefore, O! Almighty Lord, as a Sinner, yea, as one of the greatest of Sinners: Yet for Christ's sake, look upon me as a penitent Sinner. And tho' my sins are Great, my dearest Saviour shed his Blood for the greatest Sins; and thro the Merits of that Blood, true Repentance is accepted by thee, O! Merciful God, from the greatest Sinners. Oh! For his sake, spare thy sinful, but repenting Creature, and tho' Justice be exacted of me for my crimes here, yet admit me to some comfortable and well-grounded hopes of thy Mercy for the same hereafter, thro' the Merits of my dearest Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
IV. Prayers for Learning Righteousness, and Improvement of remaining Moments of Life.
I.
THY Rod, O! Blesse… Father, which is lifted u… in justice, to punish our Iniqu…ties; is used also by thy Grac… to cure them. Oh! Let this my most deserved Affliction teach m… Wisdom. Make my Goal, my school wherein I may learn Righteousness; and let my chains be preachers of Repentance. Now I feel the smart and punishment thereof, give me grace to be fully sensible of the wretchedness and folly, of an ungodly and mispent Life. Let me loath the Sin, as well as the Sorrow; and be duly affected with the injurie and dishonor which I have thereby done to thee, as well as with the danger and distress which I have thereby brought upon my self; that my contrition being truly for my sins against thee, I may be duly qualified for thy most gracious Pardon of the same, thro the Merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
II.
And Help me, O! Gracious God, carefully to improve all my remaining moments, and to employ all the time which I have now to Live, in minding the true work and business of Life. Habituate my heart to thy fear, to humility and patience, temperance and self-denials, fasting and prayers. Teach me to prize and set a great value upon all helps and opportunities, of instruction and improvements in the way of Godliness. To be desirous above all things of thy Grace; and of the Company of good People whose discourse and carriage may affect my heart therewith; and of their Prayers, since I am most unworthy thro the multitude of my heinous offences, to pray unto thee for my Self, or to present unto thee any Petitions from my polluted Lips.
Let not my corrupt Lusts, O! God, run at Liberty, whilst my body is under Guards and Custody. And let me by no means resort to the company of desperate Sinners, to keep off Remorse for my own Guilts; nor seek to drown the agonies of my Mind, in excess of Wine, nor to divert them by vain Conversation. But what space thou shalt graciously spare me, Oh! That I may carefully employ, and lay out with utmost diligence, to make my peace with thee, and to prepare for eternity.
Lord! Help me to true Repentance, that with all my Heart I may return unto thee. Do thou help me, now I call unto thee. help me, O! God of mercy, for none else can help me. Help thou me, or I shall dye eternally. Make my Repentance true and acceptable in thy sight, that if I dye, I may depart in thy Peace; or, if by thy Grace, I be spared to live on still longer, I may return from all my former Errors to a Life of Holiness, and devote all the remainder of my Days to thy Glory, thro our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
V. Prayers for Acceptance of Repentance, tho late, and for the sincerity and integrity thereof.
I.
THESE good thoughts of Mine, O! Most merciful God, I know are late Purposes in one drawing towards the end of his Days. And Purposes, of one affrighted with the near approach of Death; who whilst he was at ease and liberty, was wont most wretchedly to slight thy Calls, and to abuse thy Grace.
But O! Father, accept me, tho I return late into thy service; and†Mat. 20. 9. have tarryed till it is the last hour of the day. Accept me, tho it is the Rod that has given Repentance, and Affliction that has made me Wise. Be graciously pleased, O! Good Lord, with any thing, and at any time, that shall bring me back to thy Self. And despise not my Repentance, altho it is the Repentance of a Malefactor in agonies; more than thou didst despise that,Luk. 23 42, 43. of the Penitent Theif upon the Cross. But make me find that true Repentance is wellcome to thee at all times, and that in this world it is never too late to grow Wise, nor will ever be in vain to return with our whole heart to thy Service, thro Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
II.
And, Oh! Merciful God, by the Power of thy Grace, make my Repentance True, and my Return intire, that it may be acceptable in thy sight thro' the Blood of my dearest Lord. What good Purposes I have begun, through Fear of this World; carry me on to perfect, by the considerations of the next world. Improve my Horror of Pain, into an Hatred of Sin; and my Sorrow for the Dangers, which I have brought upon my Self, into a Godly sense of the dishonor which I have done to thee. Oh! Cut me not off from my Sins, till thou hast cured me of them, and finish'd the Work of Grace upon my poor Soul. That I may have all my Punishment in this Life, but Peace with thee, and Rest after Death, in the Joys of Paradice, for my dear Saviours sake, who died to save Sinners; yea, to save such capital offenders, as I am, and as suffer'd with him, when he hung upon the Cross between two Theeves, Amen. Our Father, &c.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
VI. For Respite, and longer Time in this world; and against the day of Tryal.
I.
LOrd! If it be thy good pleasure, spare me a little longer, and let me escape that untimely end, which my Crimes have deserved. I would fain live on some time, to make proof of my good purposes; and having abused so much time to contract evil Habits, I should be most glad and thankful to have a little more, to wear them off again. Tho I have many worldly Reasons for this Respite; yet O! Great and Righteous Judge, I desire it not so much upon any other account, as of Redeeming my former years of Vice, and of growing more Perfect in thy service, and of being better fitted than alas! I am at present, to appear before thy Judgment Seat. Hear me, O! Lord, for thy mercys, and thy Dear Son and my only Saviour Jesus Christs sake, Amen.
II.
Oh! Thou God of Patience and long-sufferance, shew thy accustomed Forbearance unto thy wretched Servant. Save me from that▪ Pit of Destructions, which I have Digged for my self; and from the sentence of Death, which I am▪ horribly affraid to hear from the mouth of my earthly Judge.
But let this deliverance be brought about, O! My God, only by the wise Ordering of thy good Providence, not by any Falshood of mine, or other unlawful Arts. I fear Death, O! Righteous God. But that which makes me most affraid of it, is, because I have sinned. And I Desire to fear sining, more than dying.
O! Therefore, gracious Father, suffer me not to yeild to any new wickedness, tho it be to save my Life. Make me diligent, in all innocent ways, and means, for my Preservation, and direct me to the wisest. But let me resort to none that is ill, nor say or do any thing for my own Defence at my Tryal here, which will rise up against me, and be Matter of Accusation, when I come to be tryed again at thy dreadful Bar. And the less care I may seem capable hereby, to take of my self; the more do thou care for me, O! My God. And when my Cause comes to be heard, so order things by thy Mercy, that there may not be a full evidence produced against me; and that neither the Judge, nor Jury, may be disposed to stretch things to my Prejudice; that so thy Servant may escape.
But if in thy Justice, thou hast determined, to cut me off untimely for this offence: Thy Blessed, and most Righteous Will be done. But then, gracious Lord, perfect my Repentance, before I go hence, and for the voice and merits of thy dear Sons most precious Blood, pardon my Sins. I am more concerned for thy Favor, than how to come off here. I am content to suffer, what thou pleasest in this world; so thou wilt let me go off in thy Peace, and admit me among the meanest of thy Servants in the world to come, for our Lord Jesus-Christs sake, Amen.
Our Father, &c.
EJACULATIONS FOR THE PRISONER FOR CRIMES, At his TRYAL.
LORD, Hear the Cry of the Prisoners, and Deliver thou those who are appointed unto death, Amen.
Here the cry of my wants for Mercy, not of my sins for Justice, Amen.
Help me, O! Lord, for I have none but thee to look unto: My defence lies not in my own Innocence, but only in thy meer Mercy and tender Providence, Amen.
EJACULATIONS After his TRYAL, if Acquitted.
LORD, thou redeemest me from the Grave, and this Acquittal of me, is as Life from the Dead. Blessed, yea, for ever blessed be thy most endearing Mercy, Amen.
Lord, the Life which here thou hast given me, I do most humbly and intirely give back, and devote to thee. Oh! Accept me, and let me have nothing more to do with Sin and Vanity, Amen.
Oh! Let me never forget this inestimable Mercy, nor fail to make the best use of this remainder of Life, which out of thine abundant Goodness, thou hast now lent me, Amen.
If Condemned.
LORD, I meekly receive this Sentence, as my just Punishment: I have the due reward of my Deeds.
But as my Sin brings this untimely and shameful Death; Oh! Let my true Repentance, thro my dear Lord and Saviours Merits, secure the forgiveness of my Sins, and bring me to everlasting Life, Amen.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
VII. Prayers after Sentence of Condemnation, or any time before Execution, and at Execution, only making the Changes as they are noted in the Margin.
O! Almighty, and most righteous Judge, to thee it belongeth to take vengeance, and to me to suffer it. I must clear thy justice, and confess I have my deserts, and have none but my Self to blame for this heavy [†At Execution instead of Sentence, say and shameful Death, Sentence.]
But now, O! Lord, when the Sword of vengeance is unsheathed, and is come to the stroke, do thou stand by me, and Comfort me. Deal not with me, as I have done with thee; but tho I have basely, and wretchedly forsaken thee all my Life; yet leave me not, I humbly intreat thee, in†add this at execution my last Hour.
[‡now for when at execution. When] the justice of man lays my Blood upon my own Head, let thy Mercy, O! Blessed Jesu, lay thy Blood upon it too, to expiate the guilt of mine. Let that purge me from all my sins, that altho I Dye Stained therewith here, I may appear without spot before the Tribunal of my Heavenly Father, Amen.
II.
Sweet Jesu! Thou disdainedst not to Cast an eye upon the†Luk. 23. 43. Penitent Thief on the Cross. Oh! Despise not me,†who am now to for when I at execution. [when I] suffer in like case, as he did; and I hope truly repent me of my sins, and fix all my Hopes in thee under my distress, as he did in his. Thou once hungest upon a Tree thy self, for the sins of others. Oh! By the Blood of thy Cross, Save me, who [†at execution say a… now. stand justly condemned] to suffer the same for mine own sins. Save me, O! Lord, a great & wretched, but a penitent contrite Sinner. In thy merits, Do I trust,†Luk 23. 46 Into thy merciful Hands do I commend my Spirit. I Believe, that thou, O! Lamb of God, art†1. Tim. 1. 15. the Saviour of sinners: Oh! Save me, who am Chief among Sinners, and rescue my trembling and departing Soul from eternal Misery. I Freely, and from my Heart, forgive all mine Enemies; Oh! Do thou, in the abundant Riches of thy Mercy, forgive me. Accept of such recompence, as I am able to make to those, who have sufferd by me, and make up the wrongs, which I have done to any, and which now I am no longer able to repair. Supply all that to them, and their Families, by thy mercy, which they have lost by my wickedness, that they may neither be tempted nor burden'd by the loss, nor I tormented by the punishment accruing thereby.
Give me strength, O! Almighty and most merciful Lord, under†Add these at execut. my last Agonies. Help me, to bear all patiently, and to resign my self holy to thy Mercy. Let the example of my Fall, be a warning to others, that the prevention of their Crimes may make some reparation for the greivous Scandal, which I have given by mine. And tho I tast thy Justice in my ignominious Death, yet, O! Gracious Father, let me find the sweetness of thy mercy after it, for my dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christs sake, Amen.
III.
Lord, save me, for I flee unto thee for safety. Save me, or else I perish everlastingly. Save me a wretched Sinner, O! Jesu, thou Saviour of Sinners. I have been a lost Sinner, but thou†Luke 19. 10. Camest to seek and save that which was lost. And after all my woful and wretched course of Sins, my own most deserved afflictions, and thy most undeserved Grace, I hope have brought me now at last to true Repentance; and thou hast Order'd*Luk. 24. 47. Repentance and remission of Sins, to be Preach'd to all Sinners. Oh! Save me a penitent Sinner, and as thou didst with†Luk. 23. 43. The Theif upon the Cross, receive and comfort me in this may last Hour, Amen.
Our Father, &c.
EJACULATIONS For him at the time of Execution.
INTO thy Hands, O! Lord, I commend my Spirit, Amen.
I return thee a Spirit, alass! loaded with Sins: But wash'd I humbly hope with the tears and sorrows of true Repentance.
Lord graciously accept my Repentance, and pardon my Sins, for the Merits of that most Precious Blood, which was shed to wash away the sins of all truly and penitent Sinners, Amen.
PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.
VIII. A Thanksgiving for deliverance out of Prison, whither they had been justly committed for capital Crimes.
I.
O! Almighty Lord, who art the blessed Author of all Life & Happiness, with a most thankful Heart, I humbly adore and praise thy Mercy, which hath now lent me my life anew, and rescued me out of the jaws of Death. My Sins, had set a snare for my own Life, and I had digged a pit for mine own Soul. Yea, my ungodly ways, had most heinously injured thee, at the same time they threaten'd to destroy my self: And yet, neither my own madness in seeking misery; nor the resentment of the greivous wrongs thereby done to thee, could put by thy Love, O! Father of Mercies, and God of all Comforts, from shewing mercy unto me. I called out to thee, and was holpen; I put my Trust in thee, and was not confounded. I sought thee earnestly, and thou wast found of me. The snare is broken, and I am delivered. The Pit is cover'd, and to the glory of thy free Mercy, and tende… Care of me, I have happily escaped: For which all praise an… thanks be ever ascribed to the… thro Jesus Christ my Lord. Ame…
II.
And Lord, keep, the memory of this surpassing Mercy always fresh upon my Spirit, and let me ever be praising thee for the same, with joyful Lips. Never suffer me to forget the vows, which I made in my distress; but let my whole life be one acceptable Sacrifice to thee my Redeemer, and make all my actions to shew forth thy Praise. When I was in Trouble, O! Blessed Lord, it was not so much out of the love of Life, as out of the love of innocence, that I desire to be Respited. Oh! Grant me Grace now to employ my Life, as I then designed to do and to make good now, what I did then pretend. Fix me unalterable in all the ways of Godliness, which I have begun. Preserve me from Repeating any of my former wickednesses, especially this Great one, which was so like to bring down vengeance on my Head for all the Rest.
Tho I am cleared thereof before men, yet I know, O! Righteous Lord, that I shall ever stand Guilty of it before thee, unless I shew true amendment of the same, and make Restitution for all the wrongs done to any thereby, in the best sort I can. Oh! Keep me ever ready to do that fully, whatever it cost me; and carefully to slip no opportunities of doing the same. And make me so watchful, to spend all the remainder of my Days, in all holy and Thankful obedience, that I may not only have the Purposes and Promises of Repentance, which, alas! was a great part of what I had to shew before, but the Proofs thereof to produce, and to comfort my heart withal on any new Alarm. And then▪ O! Gracious God, when thou shalt bring me to fear Death a second Time, thy blessed will be done, and by thy Grace I shall be able, and in condition to bid it welcome, thro the merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
III.
Once more Blessed, yea, for ever Blessed be thy Great and Glorious Name, O! Almighty Father, for bringing me into this Distress, as well as for bringing me out of it. I reverence thy Justice, for bringing it upon me. But at the same time, I most thankfully own thy Mercy, which, when all other ways sailed, would order this to reduce me to thy Self, and to make me break off my wicked Courses.
And ever deal with me, O! blessed Lord and Saviour, in this manner. Distress my Body, when thou seest that is necessary to save my Soul. My Flesh is very desirous of ease; but my Heart, O! My God, thro the help of thy Grace, is more desirous of Innocence: And whatever else I am given up to feel, let me not lie harden'd and past feeling in my Sins. Spare not the Rod of Discipline towards me, when thou seest there is need thereof to make me wise; and let me pass, tho it be thro present Misery, if that alone can keep me in the way to thine eternal Mercy. Which Grant, O! Almighty, and most Gracious Lord, that I may here comfortably hope for, and at last injoy, for our Blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.
Our Father, &c.