The Devout Christian Instructed How to Pray and Give Thanks, Prayers

The Devout Christian Instructed How to Pray and Give Thanks · Prayers

p. 425A large FORM OF DEVOTION.

When any perſon is diſpoſed to ſpend a day, or part of it, in Devotion: the uſual addreſſes to God in the morning, may be continued in this manner.

O Moſt High and holy One, who inhabiteſt eternity, and art God over all, moſt bleſſed for evermore. Happy are they who ſtand continually in thy preſence, and are always admiring, praiſing, loving and obeying thee; p. 426and rejoycing in thy love and favour towards them! The higheſt Angels can deſire no greater bliſs, than to be thus knit unto thee, and to live in ſuch conſtant union and friendſhip with thee. An happineſs, I am ſenſible, that is above our reach, who dwell in houſes of clay, and groan under the burden of this fleſh: but which we aſpire towards, and our uncloathed ſpirits hope for, in the other world. And bleſſed be thy infinite goodneſs, we are incouraged by Chriſt Jeſus to look up unto thee, for the beginning and taſte of this happineſs; whilſt we remain here below, at this great diſtance from the Throne of thy Glory.

And accordingly I humbly proſtrate my ſelf before thee at this time, beſeeching thee in the name of my dear Saviour who gave himſelf for me, that thou wilt graciouſly vouchſafe to inſpire me with ſuch delightful thoughts of thee, and ſuch a transforming love unto thee, as may p. 427fill my heart with unſpeakable joy and ſatisfaction, whilſt I am in thy preſence to admire and adore thee; to praiſe thy incomprehenſible perfections; to acknowledge with all humility my intire dependence on thee; thankfully to remember all the benefits thou haſt done unto me; ſorrowfully to bewail my ungrateful behaviour towards thee; moſt earneſtly to deprecate thy diſpleaſure; to implore thy grace and favour; and to make an abſolute ſurrender of my ſelf to thee, with moſt hearty Devotion to thy ſervice.

It is the unfeigned deſire of my ſoul to ſpend ſome time in attending wholly to theſe duties; the better to diſpoſe me to ſerve thee, in the reſt of my life. But alas! O Lord, what am I, or what can I do, unleſs thou wilt make thy ſelf preſent to me; and ſend down thy holy Spirit upon me! My thoughts and affections are exceeding dull and heavy; p. 428and they will ſoon flag and grow weary; unleſs thou wilt be pleaſed by thy Almighty Power to raiſe and bear them up towards heaven. I moſt humbly therefore again beſeech thee, in thy infinite mercy, to touch my heart with ſuch a lively ſenſe of thy Divine Majeſty, as may fix my wandring thoughts, and compoſe my tumultuous affections, and ſtir up my flat and cold deſires, and may make me feel the power, and taſte the ſweetneſs of every Divine Truth; whilſt I read or meditate in thy holy Word, and whilſt I pray to thee, and praiſe thee, and bleſs thy holy Name. O that all other things may be ſhut out of my ſoul, and that I may be ſo alone with thee, as to be more apprehenſive of thy greatneſs, and of thy goodneſs, and of thy purity, and of my near relation to thee, and the innumerable obligations which I lye under to be thine intirely! O that nothing may be ſo bitter to me as to think, p. 429that I have in the leaſt offended thee! and that nothing may be ſo marvellous in my eyes, as thy exceeding abundant love in the Lord Jeſus, by whom thou haſt incouraged ſinners to place their faith and hope in thee!

Help me, O my God, through that new and living way which he hath conſecrated, to draw nigh unto thee, and to throw down my ſelf at thy feet; waiting for a gracious look from thee, reſigning my will to thee, ſtrongly uniting it in hearty affection to thy holy Will, and reſolving never to riſe up any more in oppoſition to it, but to live in thy love, and in ſincere obedience to all thy commands.

So ſhall my ſoul bleſs thee as long as I live; I will alway be ſpeaking good of thy Name, and will ſhew forth thy praiſe, as well as I am able, to all generations. Amen.

p. 430AFter this ſhort addreſs to God for his aſſiſtance; conſider a while who it is, to whom you have begun to ſpeak. Caſt your eyes upon the heaven and the earth, and think of the glory of that Majeſty, which fills all things, and cannot be contained in any. Then labour to affect your heart with your own mean, vile and ſinful condition. For which end examine what particular ſins you have been guilty of. Set them down in writing before your eyes, that they may be confeſſed and lamented. And likewiſe conſider in the ſame manner, what particular bleſſings you have received, that they may be moſt thankfully acknowledged. In all which you may aſſiſt your ſelves and be much excited, by reading ſome of the Pſalms of David, and ſome part of ſuch pious Books as you are acquainted withal. After which, proceed to p. 431expreſs the ſenſe of your heart to God, with the greateſt deliberation, in the manner following: pauſing a while, and ruminating upon what you have ſaid; at the end of every part thereof.

I.

O Moſt glorious Majeſty of heaven and earth, upon whom all creatures depend for life, and breath, and all things. I moſt thankfully embrace and deſire wiſely and faithfully to improve this happy leiſure, which thou vouchſafeſt me, of retiring from this world, and making my reſort to thee,2 Cor. 1.3.2 Cor 1:3 the Father of mercies, Rev. 5.13.Rev 5:13and the God of all comfort. Pſal. 48.1.Ps 48:1Thou art worthy,Rev. 4.8.Rev 4:8 O Lord, to receive from me and from the whole world, bleſſing, 1 Sam. 2.2.1 Sam 2:2Pſal. 145.17. 45.7.Ps 145:17Ps 145:45Ps 145:7and honour, and glory, and p. 432power; Job 37.23.Job 37:23for thou art great and greatly to be praiſed. Pſal. 19.1.Ps 19:1All the hoſt of heaven continually praiſeth thee;Job 42.2.Job 42:2 Pſal. 135.6.Ps 135:6and ſo ought all the Church on earth,148.5,6. 147.5. ſaying; Holy, 104.24,27,28,31.holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which is, which was, 145.4,13. 102 27. 119.89. 146.2. 111.1. 148.13.and which is to come. There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beſides thee. Thou art righteous in all thy ways, Job. 11.7.Job 11:7and holy in all thy works. Thou loveſt righteouſneſs, and hateſt iniquity; and art excellent in power, and in judgement, and in plenty of juſtice. The earth is thine, and the fulneſs thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament ſheweth his handy-work. The ſun, moon and ſtars praiſe the name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. He hath alſo eſtabliſhed them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree p. 433which ſhall not paſs. I know, O Lord, that thou canſt do every thing; and that no thought of thine can be hindred. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſes, that doth he in heaven and in earth, in the ſeas, and in all deep places. For he is great, and of great power; his underſtanding is infinite. Praiſed be thy Soveraign goodneſs and tender mercy, which ſpreads it ſelf over all thy works. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wiſdom haſt thou made them all. And they all wait on thee; that thou mayſt give them their meat in due ſeaſon. That thou giveſt them they gather: thou openeſt thy hand, they are filled with good. The glory of the Lord ſhall endure for ever: the Lord ſhall rejoyce in his works. Thou always waſt, and ever wilt be the moſt holy, powerful, wiſe and good. Thy kingdom is an everlaſting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. One generation ſhall …raiſe thy works to another, and ſhall de…lare thy mighty acts. They all paſs p. 434away like a ſhadow; but thou art the ſame, and thy years ſhall have no end For ever, O Lord, thy word is ſetled in heaven: Thy faithfulneſs is unto all generations. While I live, there fore, will I praiſe the Lord: I wil… ſing praiſes to my God, while I have any being. I will praiſe thee, O Lord with my whole heart, whoſe name i… exalted above all bleſſing and praiſe For we cannot know the Almighty to perfection: His wiſdom is unſearchable, and his ways paſt finding out His name alone is excellent, his glory is above the earth and heaven.

II.

O what high dignity is this! tha… I am admitted into thy preſence t… ſpeak unto thee; the bleſſed and only Potentate, 1 Tim. 6.15.1 Tim 6:15the King o… kings, and Lord of Lords who only haſt immortality! O how happy ought I to think my ſelf, tha… I may draw thus nigh to thee, wh… p. 435dwelleſt in light unapproachable! who art ſo happy in thy own moſt bleſſed Nature; and who if thou doſt but open thy ſelf to any ſoul, and filleſt it with a great ſenſe of thee and affection to thee, thou letteſt heavenly joys into it, and makeſt it happy beyond expreſſion! For heaven cannot be ſeparated from thee: but whereſoever thou art, there is peace and ſatisfaction, joy and gladneſs, and unſpeakable bliſs. Adored be thy divine goodneſs, which hath made me ſo happy this day, as to feel ſome ſenſe of thee begin to ſhine in my ſoul. Adored be thy goodneſs, which incourages me ſtill to look up unto thee, that I may feel more of thee; yea, hath ingaged me by innumerable Mercies, to continue theſe addreſſes to thy divine Majeſty: O how excellent is thy loving kindneſs, Pſal. 36.7.Ps 36:7O God! 139.17.How precious are thy thoughts unto me! how p. 436great is the ſum of them! Pſal. 46.5.Ps 46:5Many, O Lord my God, 22.9,10.are thy wonderful works which thou haſt done, and thy thoughts which are to me-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and ſpeak of them, they are more than can be numbred. By thee I was fearfully and wonderfully made in ſecret. Thou art he that took me out of my mothers womb; and didſt make me hope upon her breaſts. I have been caſt upon thee ever ſince, and thou haſt been my gracious God unto this moment. My infancy and childhood was attended with a very careful providence. And thou haſt bleſſed my riper years with a continued health and ſtrength of body and mind, and abundance of good things to ſupport and refreſh me in my pilgrimage through this world to a better life. I never have wanted my daily bread, even when I was not able to ask it of thee. And thou haſt beſtowed on me many p. 437friends and kind benefactors. And prevented me likewiſe by a timely grace, and ſent me many inſtructors; that I might remember thee my Creator, and Jeſus Chriſt my Saviour. Into whoſe family, bleſſed be thy Name, I was early adopted, and aſſured of thy fatherly love and tender mercy towards me. O how deeply do I ſtand indebted to thee for all thoſe, by whoſe Counſels, or Sermons, or Writings, or religious Society, or godly Examples, or charitable Prayers, I have been helped forward in my way to heaven! Bleſſed be thy Name for all the means whereby I have been led to the knowledge of thy great love in the Lord Jeſus, which paſſeth knowledge. For ever bleſſed be thy Name, for ſending him into the world, born of a woman, to be a teacher of righteouſneſs; to go before us, and leave us a pattern of a moſt holy life; to dye for our ſins; and to riſe again for our juſtification; and p. 438then to aſcend into the heavens to prepare a place for us; where thou haſt advanced him above all principalities and powers, Phil. 3.10,11.Phil 3:10Phil 3:11and given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jeſus every knee ſhould how, and every tongue confeſs him to be the Lord, to the glory of thee, O God, the Father Almighty. I glorifie thee, O heavenly Father, with all my heart and ſoul, for inſpiring thy holy Apoſtles and Prophets;2 Cor. 4.6.2 Cor 4:6 and ſhining into their hearts to give the light of the knowledge of thy glory, in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. I thank thee for calling me to faith in thee; for making ſuch great and precious promiſes to incourage our hope, and for diſpoſing me, in any meaſure, to be an inheritour of them. I thank thee for granting ſuch power to our bleſſed Lord, to fulfil his word; for making him a royal high-Prieſt, and appointing him to bleſs us, here and eternally. Glory be to thee, O p. 439Lord moſt high, who haſt ſo often favoured me with the gracious viſitations of thy holy Spirit; inlightning my mind, drawing my will towards thee, exciting in me holy deſires, working many pious purpoſes and reſolutions in my heart, giving me a taſte how gracious thou art, ſetting before me the hope of eternal life, and perſwading me by innumerable arguments to entertain thoſe bleſſings, which I ſhould have been forward of my ſelf to have deſired. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord! Pſal. 106.2.Ps 106:2who can ſhow forth all his praiſe! How often haſt thou ſpared me when I deſerved to be puniſhed! How many dangers have I eſcaped! From how many aſſaults of the enemy have I been guarded! And how many of his deſigns have been defeated by an inviſible and unobſerved goodneſs, which ought for ever to be acknowledged!**Mention all the particular mercies you can remember: and then proceed ſtill to admire his loving kindneſs, in all thoſe you took no notice of, or have forgotten.

p. 440III.

O my God, with what awe and reverence ought I to make mention of thy name, who dwelleſt in eternity, whoſe throne is ineſtimable, whoſe glory cannot be comprehended, 2 Eſd. 8.20,21.before whom the hoſts of angels ſtand with trembling! With what humility of ſoul, ought I to acknowledge thy Divine Grace, that thou who art ſo great and highly exalted, wilt humble thy ſelf to take notice of ſuch poor things as we are! Thou art to be admired with our higheſt thoughts: thou art to be loved with all our heart, and ſoul and ſtrength. We ought to render thee moſt chearful ſervice; and confeſs that we never ſerve our ſelves more, than when we even loſe all thought of our ſelves, and forget all things here, in admiring, loving, praiſing, and giving thanks to thee. All that is p. 441within me ought to bleſs thy holy Name. O how great ought my joy to be in thy love, and in thy Salvation: who art worthy to be praiſed with all pure and holy praiſe. Tob. 8.16.Tob 8:16Therefore let thy Saints praiſe thee, 12.6.with all thy creatures. And let all thine angels, and thine elect praiſe thee for ever. It is good to praiſe God and exalt his Name, and with honour to ſhew forth all his works; therefore be not ſlack to praiſe him. Yea, to thee, O Lord, I ought to reſign my ſelf with the greateſt willingneſs of heart; to truſt and hope in thee at all times; to excite all others to ſhew forth thy praiſe; and to ſtudy to glorifie thee more and more, not only by my words, but with my body and ſoul, in all the actions of a ſober, righteous and godly life. I can deſire no greater honour in this world, than that I may live to the praiſe of the glory of thy grace in Chriſt Jeſus; walking worthy of p. 442thee, who haſt called me to thy Kingdom and Glory; and behaving my ſelf in all things, as becomes one that hath received ſuch pledges of thy love already, and looks for thy mercy unto eternal life. All thy Laws, I know, are juſt and good. Thy ways are ways of pleaſantneſs, Prov. 3.17.Prov 3:17and all thy paths are peace. Pſal. 19.10,11.Ps 19:10Ps 19:11More to be deſired are thy commandments than gold, yea, than much fine gold: 119.165.ſweeter alſo than hony, 84.11,12.and the honey comb. By them doth thy ſervant ſhine gloriouſly; Ecclus. 4.12.Sir 4:12and in keeping of them there is great reward. He that loveth them, loveth life; he that holdeth them faſt ſhall inherit glory; and whereſoever they enter the Lord will bleſs. Great peace have they that love thy Law: and nothing ſhall offend them. The Lord God is a ſun and ſhield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them p. 443that walk uprightly. O Lord of hoſt, bleſſed is the man that truſteth in thee!

IV.

But the more, O Lord, I ſpeak in thy praiſe, the more I am ſenſible, I reproach my ſelf; who have not given thee that honour and glory, that fear and love, that hearty ſervice and chearful obedience, which is due unto thee, ſo many ways. I ſtand condemned out of my own mouth, of moſt fearful ingratitude to thee, from whom I have received ſo many, and ſuch ineſtimable benefits. How ſeldom have I thought of them? Or how little have they affected my heart? How loth have I often been, to diſpoſe my ſelf to commemorate the greateſt love of my deareſt Saviour? And how ſoon am I weary, even of the moſt delightful imployment, of praiſing and bleſſing thee? With whom I profeſs that I deſire and hope to live for ever, and praiſe p. 444thy Name. O the vanity of my mind! the looſeneſs of my thoughts! the inordinateneſs of my deſires, and unrulineſs of my paſſions! the diſcontent of my ſpirit! the unſtedfaſtneſs of my reſolutions! the breach of my promiſes! the coldneſs of my prayers, and the dulneſs of my meditations! the loſs of my precious time, and neglect of good opportunities! my eagerneſs after theſe worldly enjoyments, and feeble indeavours after heaven!

I am aſtoniſhed to think, that ever I ſhould diſtruſt thy providence, who haſt been ſo tenderly careful of me; or be unthankful for thy benefits, which are every moment poured forth ſo plentifully upon me; or be uncharitable to my Neighbours, when I ſtand in ſo great need of mercy my ſelf, and live continually upon thy bounty; or abuſe any of thoſe bleſſings, which thou canſt ſo eaſily deprive me of, or wholly ſpoil the comfort of them. And yet p. 445alas! how prone have I been to deceive my ſelf with ſhadows of Religion and Devotion towards thee? and to content my ſelf with the praiſes of thoſe divine perfections, which I have not ſo zealouſly ſtudied to imitate? O how unlike am I to the humble, the meek, the pittiful, and the patient Jeſus? Yea, how inſenſible am I of his incomparable love, which made him to lay down his life for me? How many ways have I injured my Neighbours, or neglected to do them good? I am conſcious to my ſelf of ſundry offences, not only againſt the rules of righteouſneſs and mercy, but of ſobriety and godlineſs**Here mention the particular acts of intemperance, uncharitableneſs, or any elſe you have been guilty of.. And thou to whom all things paſt are preſent, who ſearcheſt the hearts and tryeſt the reins, knoweſt a great deal more. My ſecret ſins are no more hid from thee, than thoſe which are moſt open and manifeſt. p. 446And they are all the more grievous, becauſe a petty temptation hath too oft prevailed to make me neglect my duty towards thee. O how ſhameful is it, that a ſmall gain, or a momentany pleaſure, or the good word of men whoſe breath is in their noſtrils, ſhould be preferred before that honour which I owe to thee, and thoſe infinite treaſures of thy grace in Chriſt Jeſus, and that immortal life and glory, which he hath promiſed to the faithfull! And all this againſt the clear underſtanding which thou haſt given me of thy will; againſt many holy purpoſes, reſolutions and vows of abſolute obedience to it in all things; and againſt the taſtes I have had how gracious thou art, and how good it is to keep thy commandments.

V.

I bluſh, O Lord, to lift up mine eyes towards heaven. To me belongs p. 447nothing but ſhame and confuſion of face; in which I ought to lye down before thee, if I reflected only upon the baſeneſs and vileneſs of my deſcent; being the off-ſpring of diſloyal parents, who were rebels and traytors againſt thy divine Majeſty. This is a juſt reproach and diſgrace to the beſt of us. We were tainted in our firſt Father, who hath left a foul blot and ſtain upon our Nature: and we feel that weakneſs in our reaſon, that ſtrength and violence in our paſſions, and that forwardneſs in our wills to follow them, and to be led by them, which is ſufficient to humble and lay us low in our own eyes. With what dejection of ſpirit then ought I to mention all thoſe offences, whereby I or others have juſtified that firſt rebellion, and ſtill taken part with the Devil and his Angels, againſt thee and the motions of thy holy Spirit in our hearts!

Thy mercy indeed is ſo much the p. 448more miraculous, which hath beſtowed ſuch great benefits, as I have acknowledged, upon ſuch vile, ſuch ſinful, ſuch unthankful wretches, and at the beſt ſuch unprofitable creatures; whoſe underſtandings are ſo ſhallow to comprehend and admire thy love; whoſe affections are ſo heavy, ſo liſtleſs, and ſo unapt to lay it to heart; and who when they have done all that they can, have done no more than was their duty to do. But the greater reaſon there is that I ſhould be confounded at the remembrance of my diſobedience to thee, notwithſtanding ſuch unexpected, as well as undeſerved, demonſtrations of thy love and grace towards mankind. It becomes me to bow my ſelf lower than my knees before thee; and to debaſe my ſelf as much as I am able in thy preſence; ſince I am but ſinful duſt and aſhes, that deſerves to be caſt down, even into the pit of deſtruction. The very multitude of my offences is enough p. 449to amaze and perplex my thoughts; the weight of them, did I always feel it, may well depreſs and ſink my ſpirit into the greateſt horror and affrightment; but the baſeneſs and ingratitude of them to ſo gracious a Father, O how —

VI.

I am not able to expreſs, O Lord, the ſhame, the conſternation and the trouble of my ſpirit, at the thought of that ingratitude. I loath and abhor my ſelf, as unworthy to live and breath upon the face of the earth. I am aſtoniſhed at thy wonderful patience, and long-ſuffering, which not only endures ſuch a wretch as I am; but permits me to ſpeak unto thee, and to cry for mercy to that love, which I have ſo much abuſed. O that I were ſenſibly affected with ſomething of thee! That at leaſt thy ſparing and forbearing mercy did mightily move, and everlaſtingly p. 450poſſeſs my heart with admiration of it! That ſo I may with the more ingenuous ſorrow and grief bewail mine offences, againſt ſuch tender bowels of compaſſion towards me.Jer. 9.1.Jer 9:1 O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep bitterly for my unkind requitals of the infinite bounty of thee my Creator, and of the inconceiveable love of my bleſſed Saviour, and of the unwearied grace of thy holy Spirit, which I hope I ſtill feel working in my heart! Fill me, O God, with the ſaddeſt remembrance of all my follies; and poſſeſs my reaſon ſo much againſt them, that I may have an utter hatred and deteſtation of them, as the greateſt offences to me, as well as to thy divine Majeſty. It is eaſier, I know, to make large confeſſions, than to be truly contrite and broken in heart: and we are more inclin'd to ſigh and groan under the ſenſe of thy diſpleaſure, p. 451than to abhorr that which is evil, and to cleave to that which is good. Rom. 12.9.Rom 12:9Be thou therefore pleaſed,Pſal. 42.8.Ps 42:8 O Lord the Father of our ſpirits, to wound my ſoul with a lively ſenſe of the vileneſs of my behaviour towards thee,Dan. 5.23.Dan 5:23 the God of my life, in whoſe hand my breath is, and whoſe are all my ways. Eſtrange me from every thing, that will not let me love thee with all my heart, and ſoul, and ſtrength; by whom it is that I have power to love any thing at all. Set my heart in ſuch a perfect enmity to all things contrary to thy bleſſed will, that I may never be reconciled to them any more. And diſpoſe me to ſuch an entire affection to all thy commands, that none of them may be grievous to me, but I may account thy yoke to be eaſie, and thy burden to be light.

And then be merciful unto me, good Lord, according to thy loving p. 452kindneſs: Pſal. 51.1.Ps 51:1according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my tranſgreſſions. 25.7.38.18.Be merciful unto me for Jeſus his ſake,32.5. who came into the world and dyed to ſave ſinners.143.2. O remember not the ſins of my youth, 130.3,4.nor the tranſgreſſions of my riper years:86.5,6. 25.11.according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodneſs ſake, O Lord. For I confeſs mine iniquity, and am ſorry for my ſin. I acknowledge my ſin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. Enter not therefore into judgement with thy ſervant: for if thou, Lord, ſhouldeſt mark iniquities; O Lord, who ſhall ſtand? But there is forgiveneſs with thee: that thou mayſt be feared. Thou art good and ready to forgive: and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear therefore unto my prayer, and attend to the voice of my ſupplications. And p. 453for thy name ſake pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.

VII.

Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord; who haſt not yet caſt me away from thy preſence, nor dealt with me after my ſins, nor rewarded me according to mine iniquities. Adored be thine infinite goodneſs, that I am ſo far from being caſt into the place of weeping, wailing and gnaſhing of teeth, that I do not yet ſuffer here the pains, and the anguiſh and miſery, which mine offences have deſerved. I might have been lamenting them in thoſe doleful complaints of thy ancient ſervant; ſaying, thine arrows ſtick faſt in me, and thy hand preſſeth me ſore. There is no ſoundneſs in my fleſh, Pſal. 38.2.3.6. &c.Ps 38:2Ps 38:3Ps 38:6becauſe of thine anger: 88.16,18.neither is there any reſt in my bones, becauſe of my ſin. I am troubled, I am bowed p. 454down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loyns are filled with a loathſome diſeaſe: and there is no ſoundneſs in my fleſh. I am feeble and ſore broken: I have roared by reaſon of the diſquietneſs of my heart. But thanks be to thy moſt long-ſuffering goodneſs, thy fierce anger goeth not over me; thy terror hath not cut me off. Lovers and friends haſt thou not put far from me; nor mine acquaintance into darkneſs. Yea, thou declareſt thy ſelf willing to accept me again into friendſhip with thy ſelf. And haſt in the moſt loving manner invited me to come unto thee, and bid me hope for a pardon through thy mercy in Chriſt Jeſus. O how ſweet are thoſe gracious words; Come unto me all ye that labour, Matth. 11.26.Matt 11:26and are heaven laden, Heb. 8.10,12.Heb 8:10Heb 8:12and I will give you reſt! How precious are thy promiſes,Act. 26.18.Acts 26:18 that thou wilt put thy laws into our mind, and write them in our hearts: And be merciful to our p. 455unrighteouſneſs, and remember our ſins and iniquities no more! Marvellous was thy mercy, O Lord Jeſus, who ſent thine Apoſtles to open mens eyes, and to turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they might receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and inheritance among them, who are ſanctified by faith that is in thee.

VIII.

I receive with all thankfulneſs this thy exceeding great grace, which hath declared, that if we walk in the light as thou art in the light, 1 Joh. 1.7.1 John 1:7we ſhall have fellowſhip one with another, Ecclus. 17.29.Sir 17:29and the bloud of Jeſus Chriſt thy Son ſhall cleanſe us from all ſin. I admire thy incomprehenſible love. O how great is the loving kindneſs of the Lord our God, and his compaſſion unto ſuch, as turn unto him in holineſs! It conſtrains me to offer up my ſelf with the heartieſt affection to p. 456thy ſervice: reſolving hereafter to be more watchful, more diligent, more zealous in the performance of my duty; and to walk more circumſpectly as a child of the light, and to make it my delight to do thy will, O God. Behold, O Lord, my heart is bent to reſign it ſelf perfectly into thy hands: and to make a new dedication of all the powers of my ſoul and body, to be employed continually in well doing. I have ſworn and am ſtedfaſtly purpoſed to keep thy righteous precepts. Pſal. 119.30.Ps 119:3031.11.I have choſen the way of truth; 14.15.thy judgements have I laid before me. 16.115.I will ſtick unto thy teſtimonies: 111.112.and run the way of thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart; that I may not ſin againſt thee. I will rejoyce in the way of thy teſtimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts: and have reſpect unto thy ways. I will delight my ſelf alſo p. 457in thy ſtatutes: I will never forget thy word. Depart from me, ye evil doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Thy teſtimonies have I taken as my heritage for ever: for they are the rejoycing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform thy ſtatutes alway; even unto the end.

IX.

Accept, I beſeech thee, the free-will-offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgements. Give me underſtanding, and I ſhall keep thy law: yea I ſhall obſerve it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. With my whole heart have I ſought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Pſal. 119.108,34,35,10,115,116,117.Ps 119:108Ps 119:34Ps 119:35Ps 119:10Ps 119:115Ps 119:116Ps 119:117I am ſenſible of the exceeding great weakneſs and inconſtancy of our nature, and that without thy gracious aids, I ſhall not be able to accompliſh p. 458theſe reſolutions. And therefore I look up unto thee, with the more ardent deſires, for power from above, to confirm and ſtrengthen them; and to aſſiſt me mightily to fulfil thy whole good will and pleaſure. I will ſtedfaſtly depend upon the promiſe of my bleſſed Saviour, who hath told me that thou wilt give thy holy ſpirit to them that ask it of thee. My hope, O God, is in this thy true and faithful word. Ʋphold me according unto thy Word, that I may live; and let me not be aſhamed of my hope. Hold thou me up and I ſhall be ſafe: and I will have reſpect unto thy ſtatutes continually. Preſerve in me ſuch a lively ſenſe of thy good will and readineſs to help me, that I may be ſo ſtrong in our Lord and in the power of his might, as to be able to do all things through Chriſt ſtrengthing of me. O thou Father of mercies, who haſt beſtowed ſo many and ſo great bleſſings on us without asking; who haſt viſited us ſo lovingly, p. 459when we could not deſire any grace from thee, and when we could, but did not deſire it, and when we did, but very coldly, and with little devotion of ſpirit: deny not the humble and importunate requeſts of thy poor ſupplicant, who moſt earneſtly beſeeches thee, that thou wilt grant me, according to the riches of thy glory, to be ſtrengthened with might, by thy Spirit, in the inner man. Epheſ. 3.16.Eph 3:16Arm me therewith againſt the aſſaults of all temptations, either from the good, or the evil things of this life; that they may never ſeduce, or deterr me from my duty: but I may do vertuouſly, in all points, according to my Chriſtian profeſſion, and thoſe vows and promiſes, wherein I ſtand ingaged to thee.

X.

Fill me, O God, with the whole knowledge of thy Will, in all wiſdom and ſpiritual underſtanding, that p. 460I may walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleaſing, being fruitful in every good work, and increaſing in the knowledge of thee, my God. Increaſe that faith, likewiſe, more and more, which worketh by love, and purifieth the heart, and overcometh the world. Stir up in me that lively hope, which may make me purifie my ſelf, even as thou art pure: and that ardent love to thee, which will make me chearfully do thy will, and love my Brethren, with a pure heart fervently. Excite in me a great hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs; till I feel the ſatisfaction of perfect reconciliation with thee & conformity to thee. Continue me in the number of thoſe, who are humble and lowly in their own eyes, & moderate in all their appetites and deſires: who mourn daily that they have offended thee, and that others keep not thy laws: who are meek and gentle towards all men, in heart and word, and all their actions: who are merciful and kind, ready to give p. 461and to forgive: who are pure in all their thoughts, intentions, paſſions and converſation: and who ſtudy the things that make for peace; and who are void of all pride and vainglory, of all ſtrife and contention; indeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. O my God, poſſeſs me with ſuch a ſtrong ſenſe of the bleſſedneſs which thou haſt pronounced to all theſe; that I may be willing alſo to ſuffer wrong rather than to do it, and to ſuffer any thing for righteouſneſs ſake with a conſtant heart; giving thanks unto thee that thou wilt honour me and count me worthy to ſuffer for the name of Chriſt. Help me to give a good example to all my Neighbours by the ſincere practice of all theſe vertues; ſhining as a light in the world, and being the ſalt of the earth: That others ſeeing my good works, may glorifie thee our heavenly Father. Diſpoſe my heart to caſt all its care on thee; to pray without ceaſing; to bleſs p. 462thy holy name at all times; to truſt in thee, with a ſtedfaſt confidence in thy almighty goodneſs; to make thee my ſtrength, and my fortreſs, and the rock of my ſalvation; to have my converſation without covetouſneſs; and to ſet my affections on things above, where Chriſt is at thy right hand. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, let thy comforts, O Lord, delight my ſoul. When I am full, O that I may never wax wanton, or forget thee; but ſtill rejoyce in our Lord alway: that ſo when I have nothing, I may be as poſſeſſing all things. Let the doing of my duty, ever be my pleaſure: and to ſerve thee, be a great reward. Let a contented mind, be inſtead of all that I want: and a thankful heart, ſweeten all my enjoyments. Let patience always eaſe me under my burdens: and an entire ſubmiſſion to thy will, breed in me a ſettled tranquillity of ſpirit. Let my delight be in the excellent that are in the earth: and my thoughts p. 463be very much there while I live, where I deſire to be when I dye. That heaven being my aim, my hope, and the longing expectation of my ſoul, I may conquer all difficulties in my way to it; and go through honour and diſhonour, good report and bad report, proſperity and adverſity, with the ſame chearfulneſs and evenneſs of mind; till at laſt I come to that place of reſt and peace with the glorified Jeſus, who is able to give eternal life to them that obey him.

XI.

Bleſſed be thy name, who haſt inſpired my heart with theſe holy deſires; and wrought theſe purpoſes and reſolutions in me. It is an earneſt, I hope, of thy never failing love towards me; in aſſurance of which I repoſe my ſelf with full ſatisfaction of heart. Yea, this is my joy and my glory, that I know thee; and that I live under the care of thy wiſe, p. 464merciful, and almighty providence at preſent, and that I have the promiſe of remiſſion of ſins, and of a crown of life; when the times of refreſhment ſhall come from thy preſence, and thou ſhalt ſend Jeſus Act. 3.19.Acts 3:19to conduct all the faithful to that glorious place where he lives. This is my ſalvation and and all my deſire. 2 Sam. 23.5.2 Sam 23:5Now that I ſee thy abundant love, O heavenly Father, it ſufficeth. Rejoyce with me likewiſe, all ye Angels of God, according to the word of our Lord, that there is joy in heaven over one ſinner that repenteth. Luk. 15.7.Luke 15:7Bleſs the Lord, ye heavenly hoſts, ye minſters of his that do his pleaſure. Pſal. 103.21.Ps 103:21And, O that this joy may increaſe continually by my daily increaſe in all goodneſs, and the perfecting of my repentance! till I come to be admitted into their company, and enter into the joy of my Lord.

p. 465XII.

And I wiſh the ſame happineſs to all mankind, which I deſire for my ſelf. It will multiply my joy to ſee all the people praiſe thee, O God, to ſee all the people praiſe thee. O make a joyful noiſe unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladneſs, and come before his preſence with thanksgiving. Pſal. 100.1.Ps 100:1Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and ſtrength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worſhip the Lord with holy worſhip: fear before him all the earth.96.8,9.

More eſpecially, I deſire the increaſe of grace, mercy and peace to thy choſen people: Beſeeching thee to bleſs thy univerſal Church, and to fill the hearts of all its members with thy love; that they may reſt p. 466neither day nor night, ſaying, Bleſſed be God: Bleſſed be the glorious Majeſty of heaven and earth, whoſe power, wiſdom and goodneſs excel all praiſe, and endure for ever. And ariſe, O God, for the ſighing of the poor and the needy: let not the men of the earth always oppreſs them. Pſal. 10.18.Ps 10:18Let the ſalvation of thy people come out of thy holy place. 14.7.Be thou exalted in thy own ſtrength, and ſo will we ſing and praiſe thy power. 21.13.Lord continue thy loving kindneſs unto thoſe that know thee, and thy righteouſneſs to men of upright heart. Let not the foot of pride come againſt them: and let not the hand of the wicked remove them. 36.10,11,12.O let the wickedneſs of the wicked come to an end: but eſtabliſh thou the juſt.7.9.

Protect, O Lord, and defend that part of thy Church which thou haſt planted in theſe Kingdoms. Great p. 467and innumerable have been thy mercies to us: but, alas! we are a ſtubborn and rebellious people; a people that ſet not our heart aright, and whoſe ſpirit hath not been ſtedfaſt with thee. And therefore thou haſt juſtly plagued us many ways: and we ſhould have but our deſerts, if thy hand ſhould ſtill be ſtretched out, to puniſh us ſeven times more for our ſins. But what is man that thou ſhouldſt take diſpleaſure at him? or what is a corruptible generation, that thou ſhouldeſt be extreamly angry with them? For in truth there is none among them but hath dealt wickedly: and among the faithful there is none that hath not done amiſs. But in this, O Lord, thy righteouſneſs and goodneſs ſhall be declared, if thou be merciful to them which have not the confidence of good works. Pſal. 78.8. 2 Eſdras 8.34,35,36. Pſal. 79 8,9. 118.25.Ps 78:8Ps 78:2Ps 79:8Ps 79:9Ps 79:118Ps 79:25O be merciful unto us; be merciful unto us, and do not utterly p. 468forſake us. O remember not againſt us former iniquities, and that we have ſo ſoon forgot thy works, and the wonderful deliverances which thou haſt given us. Help us, O God of our ſalvation, for the glory of thy name, and deliver us and purge away our ſins for thy names ſake. Fill us with thy wiſdom from above, that we may be heartily in love with the Religion, which we profeſs: and preſerve us in it for ever. Defeat the counſels of all its enemies: and bring their wicked devices to nought. Unite us to each other in brotherly love: and make us at peace among our ſelves. O let peace be within this Church: Let them proſper that love her, and ſeek her good. Save now, I beſeech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beſeech thee, ſend now proſperity. And for that end indue our Soveraign Lord, the King, with all the gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit. Hear the daily prayers of thy Church for him; that he may p. 469always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: and ſtudy to preſerve thy people committed to his charge, in wealth, peace and godlineſs. Enlighten all our Biſhops, Prieſts and Deacons, with true knowledge and underſtanding of thy Word; and enable them both by their life and doctrine to ſet it forth, and ſhew it accordingly. Teach all our Counſellors and Senators wiſdom: and give all our Magiſtrates courage and zeal, to excute Juſtice, and to maintain Truth. Vouchſafe to all thy people increaſe of grace, to hear thy word with meekneſs, and to receive it with pure and ſincere affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the ſpirit. Give them honeſt and good hearts, to honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him; to ſubmit themſelves to all their Governours, Teachers, ſpiritual Paſtors and Maſters; to order themſelves lowly & reverently to all their betters; to be careful not to hurt one p. 470another by word or deed; to be juſt and true in all their dealing; to bear no malice nor hatred in their hearts; to preſerve themſelves to temperance, ſoberneſs and chaſtity; not to covet one anothers goods; but to learn and labour truly to get their own living, and to do their duty in that ſtate of life, unto which it hath pleaſed thee to call them.

And, good Lord, bleſs the honeſt labours of all men among us, and crown them with good ſucceſs: Eſpecially of thoſe who have any work in hand, for the glory of thy name, the increaſe of Chriſtian piety, and the peace of thy Church. Reward the bounty of all charitable perſons, either for the honour of Religion, or the relief of them that are in poverty. And make the bones which thou haſt broken to rejoyce. Comfort all that are in a ſorrowful condition: and bring them out of all their troubles. Send thy Angel to guide and preſerve thoſe who are in p. 471journeys, upon their lawful occaſions. Let them that go down into the deep, and do buſineſs upon the great waters, obſerve thy providence; and praiſe thee for thy goodneſs, and for thy wonderful works for the children of men. Forgive all that have done me any evil: and requite the kindneſs of thoſe who have done me any good. Let their ſouls abide in good, and their ſeed inherit the earth. Pſal. 25.13.Ps 25:13Rejoyce the heart of all my Friends: and fulfil the petitions of all that have deſired my prayers. 106. ult.Let none that wait on thee, O Lord, be aſhamed: let all them that truſt in thee, ſay continually, the Lord be magnified. Save and deliver every one of us, O Lord our God, from the hands of our enemies, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praiſe. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, from everlaſting to everlaſting; and let all the people ſay, Amen. Praiſe the Lord.

p. 472AFter this, if the ſpirits be tyred, it will be fit to give them ſome refreſhment. And then it will be very profitable to read and weigh ſeriouſly our Saviours Sermon on the Mount, contained in the V. VI. and VII. Chapters of the Goſpel according to St. Matthew. And ſuch meditations may be interſperſed as are moſt ſutable to the perſons condition and occaſions: With the addition of ſome of the prayers foregoing, for RESOLƲTION in well doing, or for the DIVINE GRACE; or for good SƲCCESS in any buſineſs, or for Friends that are TROƲBLED IN MIND, or are in a long JOƲRNEY, &c. And then conclude with the following Prayer and Thanksgiving.

p. 473I.

I Moſt humbly adore and worſhip thee, O Lord moſt high, the poſſeſſor of heaven and earth: And admire thy infinite love to mankind, whom thou haſt thought worth the expence of the bloud of thy dear Son, and the conduct and aſſiſtance of the holy Ghoſt, and the Miniſtry of Angels (by whom thou exerciſeſt a moſt watchful providence over us) and ſo many gracious meſſages from heaven, wherein thou haſt plainly declared, that thou deſireſt to ſee us eternally happy, by being made partakers of a Divine Nature. When we ſeriouſly conſider thy glorious perfections, and thy aſtoniſhing kindneſs towards us, we may juſtly wonder at our ſelves, that we ſhould ever refuſe to be conformed to thy will; nay, that we ſhould not be exceeding forward to joyn our ſelves unto thee, in p. 474moſt hearty love and intire friendſhip with thee. I am amazed at the dulneſs and ſtupidity of our Nature; that there ſhould need ſo many intreaties and beſeechings of us, to be ſo happy. It is impoſſible to think of thee, and to prefer any thing in our eſteem, and deſire and choice, and delight and joy, before thy favour and good will towards us: who art ſo able and ſo deſirous to beſtow the greateſt bliſs upon us. And therefore I moſt earneſtly beſeech thy goodneſs, that to all other mercies which I have begged of thee thou wilt add this grace, to bring thy ſelf often to my remembrance, and to poſſeſs my heart with a conſtant, ſerious and deep ſenſe of thy marvellous kindneſs; in giving me liberty to chuſe ſo great a good as thy ſelf, and in propounding to my will ſuch everlaſting happineſs; and in drawing me from thoſe ways, which are contrary even to my peace and ſatisfaction here, by ſuch powerful motives to well doing.

p. 475II.

Awaken, O Lord, awaken this ſenſe continually in my mind. Faſten my thoughts upon thoſe unſeen, and eternal enjoyments. Make me feel what an happineſs it is to love thee with all my heart; to cleave unto thee againſt all temptations which would allure or affright me from my duty; to bleſs and praiſe thee with joyful lips; to be kept in perfect peace and tranquillity, while my mind is ſtayed on thee; to be full and ſatisfied, and to deſire nothing more, but to live for ever in thy love. O make me more and more to conceive and remember, what an infinite delight, thou the infinite good canſt pour forth into us; how highly our Lord Jeſus is dignified and exalted; and that thou haſt made him moſt bleſſed for ever, and made him exceeding glad with thy countenance; Pſal. 21.6.Ps 21:6and that p. 476he will bring all thy children unto his glory. Settle in my ſoul ſuch ſtrong apprehenſions of theſe things; that they may purifie my heart more perfectly, and provoke me to an unwearied diligence in well doing, and make me endure hardſhip alſo, if need be, as a good ſouldier of Jeſus Chriſt, who was made perfect through ſufferings.

III.

And aſſiſt me eſpecially in theſe holy addreſſes to thee; that continuing inſtant in prayer, I may feel my heart lifted up more and more towards heaven, by ardent breathings after thee. And indue me likewiſe with ſuch a ſpirit of wiſdom, and ſuch ſincerity of heart, that I may never be diſcouraged though I fall ſhort of the height of my deſires: but I may always thankfully acknowledge thy grace, in what I have attained, and labour earneſtly to grow better, with a quiet, patient, p. 477even and ſteady mind. Preſerve in me an humble confidence, that thou wilt never forſake the work of thine own hands: And let that confidence make me induſtrious, but not ſlothful. And let thy holy Spirit bleſs and further my endeavours; and a fervent deſire and hearty good will preſs me forward; and the pleaſures of Religion mightily indear it to me; and the joy that thou haſt ſet before me, make me run the way of thy commandments with an enlarged heart. And the nearer I come to the end of my race, may it pleaſe thy goodneſs to preſent me with a clearer ſight of that Crown of Life, which our Lord hath promiſed! Open to me more of the treaſures of thy Kingdom; and fill me with a greater joy in hope of thy glory: that ſo I may be willing to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, which is beſt of all.

p. 478IV.

And now, O Lord, what thanks ſhall I render unto thee for theſe holy thoughts, deſires and affections, which, by thy grace, I feel in my heart: together with all the other benefits, which thou haſt beſtowed on me, or intendeſt for me. Great and marvellous things, O God, haſt thou wrought for the children of men: and thou haſt promiſed far greater, if we will but be truly grateful unto thee, for what we have already received. Thou ſendeſt one bleſſing, as the earneſt of another: having given thy Son to us, that he might give us thy holy Spirit; and given him to dye for us, that he might give us life. Thou granteſt to us thy grace, that we may repent: and thou giveſt repentance, that thou mayſt give us pardon: and thou pardoneſt our ſins, that we may be thy children; and being thy p. 479children thou deſigneſt to make us thy heirs together with our bleſſed Saviour. Thou giveſt us temporal bleſſings, that we may thirſt after ſpiritual: and thou filleſt us with ſpiritual bleſſings in Chriſt, that we may long for the accompliſhment of them in immortal life. There is none can declare the goodneſs of the Lord. We beſt declare our ſenſe of it, when we thankfully receive it; and become as good as thou wouldſt have us, and inableſt us to be. And how great, how free is that goodneſs, which is moſt of all pleaſed when we are happy! and eſteems our doing our ſelves good, with thy grace and favour, the return that we ſhould make to thy bounty! Thou doſt us good before we ask; and thou giveſt liberally unto us, that thou mayſt move us to ask more. Thou intreateſt us when we are unwilling: thou beſeecheſt us, that we would let thee bleſs us, and not put impediments p. 480in the way of our own happineſs: thou pittieſt us, when we have no compaſſion for our ſelves; and art ſtill careful of us, when we trifle away the richeſt mercies.

V.

O the exceeding riches of thy grace to the children of men! who can number all thy mercies? and who can underſtand the greatneſs of thoſe, of which we make mention? It is eaſier to ſpeak of them, than to be affected with the multitude and ſurpaſſing value of them: and we can ſooner be affected with them, than do any thing worthy ſuch excellent love. Our Praiſes and Thankſgivngs conſiſt too much in words, and tranſient admirations, and ſudden paſſions. O that I had ſuch a ſerious, ſuch a conſiderate heart, as to return unto thee, the conſtant, uniform and chearful obedience of a godly life! By which, I know, I ſhall p. 481not only moſt praiſe and glorifie thee, but do the greateſt benefit to my ſelf. And when I have done all that I can, I will acknowledge my ſelf an unprofitable ſervant, that hath done no more, than was his duty to do. I will eſteem all my goodneſs, to be the fruit of thy great goodneſs to me. And I will rejoyce in this, that thou art formed in me, and that I am made like unto the Son of thy love; and that I have hopes through thy abundant and undeſerved mercy to live with him in his heavenly Kingdom. Which I beſeech thee haſten, to the eternal joy of all thoſe that love his appearing. Amen, Amen. Let thy kingdom come; that I may ſee the good of thy choſen, and glory with thine inheritance: and we may all with united hearts and affections, render our thanks unto thee, and ſing thy everlaſting praiſes.

The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, p. 482and the love of God, and the communication of the holy Ghoſt, be with me, and with all thy people every where, both now and always. Amen.

A Prayer in Lent, or upon any publick Faſt.

I.

O Moſt glorious God; who art from everlaſting to everlaſting bleſſed in thy ſelf; and who alone canſt ſatisfie the hungry ſoul, and filleſt the humble with good things. In a ſerious ſenſe of my own emptineſs and thy fulneſs, of my great needs, and thy bounty and readineſs to beſtow thy benefits, I caſt down my ſelf before thee; worſhiping & adoring thine incomprehenſible perfections, with a great fear of thy Almighty Majeſty, and an humble hope in thine infinite goodneſs, and an hearty love to thy purity & righteouſneſs, and intire ſubmiſſion to thy p. 483holy Will: believing thy gracious promiſes, deſiring to be guided by thy wiſdom, depending on thy providence, bleſſing and praiſing thee for thy unſpeakable mercies to me, and earneſtly beſeeching the continuance of them; with a continued ſenſe in my heart of thy abundant goodneſs to me, and to all thy creatures, and of thoſe duties which I owe to thee, and to all men.

II.

I moſt ſorrowfully bewail my careleſneſs, O Lord, that I have had ſo ſeldom, or ſo ſhort, or ſo cold and little affecting, thoughts of thee: and that I have performed theſe acts of worſhip and adoration, of fear and reverence, of faith and love, of ſubmiſſion and reſignation, of ſupplication and thankſgiving, with ſo little intention and earneſtneſs of mind, with ſo little zeal and fervency of affection, and with ſo little humility p. 484and proſtration of ſpirit. Nothing, O my God, is of ſo bitter remembrance to my thoughts, nothing is ſuch a load to my heart, as that I have loved the world, at any time, more than thee; and purſued with greater eagerneſs the poſſeſſions, and pleaſures, and honours of a dying life, than the glory and treaſures of thy Kingdom, the joy and happineſs of eternal endurance. It grieves me to think that I have, at any time, ſo coldly entertained the glad tydings of ſalvation, ſo liſtleſly embraced the loving invitations of my dear Saviour; ſo negligently improved the helps and aſſiſtances of the holy Spirit of Grace, and ſo faintly ſought, I ſorrowfully again acknowledge, that glory, honour and immortality which Chriſt hath brought to light by his Goſpel. How little have I been wounded with the dying and bleeding of thine only begotten Son for my ſake! How little concern'd ſometimes in his p. 485paſſionate deſires of the happineſs of mankind! How little melted with the ardent flames of his incomparable love! How little moved or perſwaded with his importunate intreaties! How incompliant with his inſpirations, diſobedient to his commands, and inſenſible of his precious promiſes, and fearful threatnings!

III.

I have praiſed thee, alas! but ſeldom or ſlightly, for ſo glorious an example, as he hath left us, of an holy life; for the effects and fruits of his paſſion, and interceſſion; and for the power which he hath obtained at thy right hand. And lother have I, too often, been to imitate his life, and to imploy that power which he hath ſent me from heaven, to bring my heart to a conformity with his pattern. How often have I received thy good creatures without ſuch ſerious and hearty thankſgivings p. 486for them, as they deſerve! and taſted their ſweetneſs, with little ſenſe of thee, or delight in thee, who art the fountain of all bliſs! How ſollicitous have I been to pleaſe men, and obtain the good opinion and praiſe of others; rather than to pleaſe thee, and to do thy commandments, the praiſe of which endureth for ever! O the little envyings that have been in my heart at my Brethrens greater proſperity! and my aptneſs to be angry and peeviſh, to entertain ſuſpicions eaſily, to make wrong or unkind interpretations, to aggravate offences, and to keep too long a ſenſe of injuries! I hate my ſelf even for theſe things. O how vile then and odious are all thoſe ſins of injuſtice, or unmercifulneſs, of which I may have been guilty!

IV.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord, be merciful unto me; through the blood p. 487of that ſpotleſs Lamb, which was ſhed for the ſins of the world. Remember not againſt me the vanity of my thoughts, the errors and miſtakes of my judgement, the pride of my ſpirit, the greedineſs of my ſenſual deſires, the violence and diſorder of any of my paſſions, the unrulineſs of my tongue, the inconſtancy of my purpoſes, or the baſeneſs and unworthineſs of any of my ends and intentions. O holy God, and merciful Father, enter not into judgement with me for the miſpenſe of my precious time, for letting ſlip any good opportunites, or for my ill husbanding the many Talents, which thou haſt intruſted me withal. Let not the abuſe of any of thy creatures, the ill example that I have given to any of my Neighbours, my unthankfulneſs for a world of mercies, my inobſervance or forgetfulneſs of thy fatherly providences, and my inſenſibleneſs of others miſeries, be charged upon p. 488me at the day of our Lord, or incenſe thy ſevere diſpleaſure againſt me in this preſent life. O remember not my immoderate ſorrow for worldly loſſes; my exceſſive pleaſure in the abundance of any worldly enjoyments; the deadneſs of my grief, and the ſcarcity of my tears, for my own ſins, and the ſins of others; and the heartleſneſs of my joys in thee and in thy Son Chriſt, and for all the good thou haſt done to me and to my Brethren, or which they do for thy honour, and the comfort of thy people. Let not any diſcontent with my condition, provoke thee to make it worſe: nor my want of love to thee, deprive me of the love of others: nor the breach of any of my reſolutions, be puniſhed with an indifferency and careleſneſs of ſpirit: nor the abuſe of any of thy bleſſings, or unthankfulneſs for them, move thine offended goodneſs to ſtrip me naked of them.

p. 489V.

But, gracious Lord, ſo pardon me, as to give me the grace of thy holy Spirit to change and renew me throughout, in ſpirit, ſoul and body, and to enable me daily to amend my life according to thy holy word. That's the hearty deſire and purpoſe of my ſoul: which longs for nothing more than a power from above, to poſſeſs me with more ſteady and affectionate thoughts of thee; and to fill me with a more inflamed love to thee, and to all my Brethren; and to diſpoſe my will to reſign it ſelf in all things to thee, and chearfully to comply with thy providence, and zealouſly to imploy all holy opportunities of doing or receiving, good. O God, deny me not this great grace, though unworthy of the leaſt; but ſtrengthen me with might by thy Spirit in the inner man. Let it teach and direct me in the right p. 490way; let it aſſiſt me to walk in it; let it conſtantly incourage my progreſs; chearing and refreſhing me when I am ready to faint, upholding me when I am ready to fall, recovering me when I ſlip, enabling me with fervent deſires to implore thy mercy, and with reſolved watchfulneſs to ſtrengthen my ſelf againſt all temptations for the time to come.

VI.

Preſerve in me ſuch a ſerious and deep ſenſe of the worth of my ſoul, of the weight of all eternity, of the certainty and greatneſs of the glory which ſhall be revealed, that they may prevail more with me than all the honours, and riches, and pleaſures of this life. Prepoſſeſs me with a clear underſtanding of the Goſpel of our Saviour, with a ſtrong ſaith, a fervent charity, and a lively hope, againſt all other things that p. 491preſs upon me, and ſollicite my affections: that ſo nothing may find admittance into my heart, but what ſhall ſubmit to thy laws, and live under the government and diſcipline of our Lord Jeſus. Inſtruct me how to make all my pleaſures diſcreet, moderate and uſeful to me; that they may never take up the beſt of my time, nor devour the ſtrength of my mind. Teach me to uſe the riches of this world aright, and to do good to my ſelf and others with them. Diſpoſe me to look upon greatneſs or honours, but as greater opportunities to do thee more honour, and the world more ſervice. Moderate all my paſſions, and ſubdue them perfectly to the obedience of Reaſon and Religion. O that all my converſation with others may be innocent and profitable: and my private retirements more devout and heavenly: and all my imployments without inordinate cares and fears, or any diſtruſt of thy good p. 492providence. Help me to look upon long life as deſireable, only that I may have more time to root out perfectly all evil habits and diſpoſitions, to implant and increaſe all Divine Vertues, & to do the more good; that I may be better ſitted for an happy life, world without end. Amen.

The ſame prayer may be uſed in time of any publick calamity: and ſome of theſe following prayers added, as there ſhall be occaſion.

A Prayer in time of Plague.

GReat and many, O Lord, are the ſins whereby we have provoked thee in theſe Kingdoms, to ſend all thy ſore judgements upon us; the ſword, the famine, and the peſtilence, to cut off from them man and beaſt. It is only of thine infinite mercies, that we are not utterly conſumed, and becauſe thy compaſſions p. 493fail not. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs, that we are not yet delivered into the hand of thoſe that hate us; but only corrected by thy own hand, who art the Father of mercies. To them we flee now in our great diſtreſs: and beſeech thee, that thou wilt not ſhut up the bowels of thy tender mercy and compaſſion towards us, in diſpleaſure. But puniſh us, that thou maiſt pardon us, and amend us, and make us a more devout, ſober, righteous, and charitable people, zealous of good works. Say to thy deſtroying Angel, Hold thy hand, it is enough. Or if thou art pleaſed to have it ſtill ſtretched out againſt us, give grace to us who are yet in health to ſpend our time in examining our hearts and lives; in bewailing our offences; in ſetling our purpoſes of repentance and new obedience; in inuring our ſelves to delight in Prayer and holy Meditation; in giving thanks to thee for thy merciful preſervation of us; in p. 494preparing our ſelves for whatſoever change thou art pleaſed to make in our condition; and in doing good with compaſſionate hearts, to thoſe poor people, that lye under thy heavy viſitation. And graciouſly vouchſafe to beſtow upon them intire patience and ſubmiſſion to thy Will: and enable them, with unfeigned repentance and humble hope in thy mercy, to reſign themſelves and theirs into thy hands; that howſoever thou ſhalt diſpoſe of any of us, living or dying we may be the Lords.

Lord have mercy upon us all, for Jeſus Chriſt his ſake. Amen.

In time of War.

O God, who haſt juſtly puniſhed our carnal ſecurity, and abuſe of that peace and quietneſs which p. 495we have enjoyed, by making us hear the ſound of the trumpet, and the alarm of war; be merciful unto us, I moſt humbly beſeech thee: and awaken ever one of our ſouls thereby, to ſearch and try our ways, and to turn unto thee, by a timely repentance and amendment of our lives. Though we deſerve to be cut off by the ſword, which is unſheathed as a fooliſh people that have not known thee; ſottiſh children, that have no underſtanding; who are wiſe to do evil, but to do good have no knowledge: Jer. 4.22.Jer 4:22yet ſpare us, good Lord, ſpare thy people, and give not thy heritage to reproach. Joel 2.17.Joel 2:17O thou God of peace, who didſt ſend thy own Son among thine enemies, to make reconciliation between loſt men and thy ſelf; inſpire our hearts, and the hearts of all thoſe with whom we are at difference, with a love of peace: and incline us to hearken and conſent to reaſonable terms of p. 496reconciliation. And for that end root out of every one of our minds and hearts, all pride and ambition; all inordinate deſire of greatneſs and dominion; all covetouſneſs, and greedineſs of wealth; all falſe opinions, prejudices, and miſapprehenſions; all anger, paſſion, and cauſeleſs jealouſies; and eſpecially all ſtudy of revenge; all rancour, and bitterneſs; all hatred and malice; with whatſoever elſe is contrary to the Doctrine and Spirit of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Poſſeſs us with the Spirit of Truth, and love, and brotherly affection. Make us tender-hearted, and to have compaſſion one towards another; to ſtudy to be peace-makers; to pray for peace; to ſeek thoſe things which will make for peace; and not only to ſeek after it, but to purſue it, to the utmoſt of our power. Direct to thoſe expedients which will happily unite, and tye us faſt together. Or if theſe miſerable differences continue, p. 497and cannot otherwiſe be compoſed, go forth, O Lord, with our hoſts: give wiſdom and valour to our leaders; reſolution and undaunted courage to our ſouldiers, and good ſucceſs to all thoſe enterpriſes which are undertaken for the common good and ſafety of theſe Kingdoms. O God, let us fall into thy hands, for thy mercies are great: but not into the hands of men, when they are wrathfully diſpleaſed at us. And if thou art pleaſed to crown us with victory, give us grace to uſe it with moderation, juſtice and charity. O that we may overcome likewiſe all temptations to bold and preſumptuous continuance in our ſins againſt thee: and be ſubdued by thy favour towards us, to a ſerious ſtudy and care, how to lead a peaceable life in all godlineſs and honeſty; for the ſake of Chriſt Jeſus, the Prince of peace. Whoſe grace be with us all. Amen.

p. 498In time of Scarcity.

O God, who turneſt a fruitful land into barrenneſs, for the wickedneſs of them that dwell therein; pour down upon the ſinful inhabitants of theſe Iſlands, a ſerious ſenſe of their own undeſervings, and of thy righteous judgements, which thou haſt ſent upon them. That they may humble themſelves before thee, and repent of their wantonneſs and riot, of their feaſting themſelves without fear, and hardning their hearts againſt the cryes of the poor, of their diſcontent and repining in the midſt of plenty, and their loathing the divine food of their ſouls; which thou haſt juſtly puniſhed with ſcarcity of bread in all places. Make us aſhamed, O Lord, and heartily ſorry for theſe and all other our offences againſt p. 499thy Divine Majeſty. And as an earneſt of better obedience for the time to come, diſpoſe the hearts of thoſe who are afflicted, to ſubmit with meekneſs to thy puniſhment: and preſerve them from all murmuring at thy wiſe providence. Open the hearts likewiſe of thoſe who are rich, to ſhow mercy to them, and comfort them in their miſeries. The greater ſtores of proviſion any have treaſured up, againſt this time of want; encline them ſo much the more to conſider the poor and needy, and fear to oppreſs them. Enlarge their hearts in more abundant charity, by the advantage they make of this preſent Scarcity. And when thou ſhalt have turned it into plenty again, Lord, make us all truly thankful, and ſoberly to uſe thy bleſſings, and to bring forth plentifully the fruit of good living, to the honour and praiſe of thy Name, and the eternal happineſs of our ſouls and bodies, in that world p. 500where there is no want, but fulneſs of joy for evermore. Amen.

A Thanksgiving for any publick or private mercies.

O God moſt high, and bleſſed for evermore: who haſt beſtowed upon us the happineſs to know and underſtand thee, that thou art the Lord of all, and that thou exerciſeſt loving kindneſs, judgement and righteouſneſs in the earth, and that thou haſt ſaid, in theſe things thou delighteſt. Jer. 9.24.Jer 9:24Thou art to be worſhipped and adored with my continual praiſes and thankſgivings, who am here proſtrated before the Throne of thy Grace, oppreſſed with the great load of thy mercies and benefits, which call upon all that is within me to bleſs thy holy Name. I have often acknowledged that thou p. 501art the Author of my being; and that it is thy favour which hath made my life not to be a burden to me, as it might have been by innumerable miſeries. And now I heartily renew thoſe acknowledgements; and thank thy great goodneſs for my long continued health, eaſe, peace and plenty; or that thou haſt mercifully relieved and ſupported me, in any ſickneſs, pain, trouble, or loſs of worldly goods that hath befaln me. Particularly I thank thee for thy late bleſſings which thou haſt conferred upon me, notwithſtanding my undeſervings, and high provocations, which I have any way given thy divine Majeſty, to deprive me of all good things.

[Here mention the particulars in which you are privately concern'd: and if it be the publick mercy of ceaſing a great Contagion, proceed thus.]

p. 502Bleſſed be thy goodneſs, which hath preſerved ſo many of us alive in the midſt of a great mortality; and hath reſtored health again into the habitations of our Neighbours. Bleſſed be thy ſparing mercy which hath delivered us from the noiſome peſtilence; and when a thouſand fell at our ſide, and ten thouſand at our right hand, didſt not ſuffer it to come nigh our dwelling. Thou haſt been our refuge, and our fortreſs, our God, in whom we ought to truſt for ever.Pſal. 91.2,7.Ps 91:2Ps 91:7

[After a War is ended, ſome ſuch words as theſe may be added.]

Pſal. 124.1,2, &c. 65.7. 29. ult.Ps 124:1Ps 124:2If it had not been the Lord who was on our ſide, may we all well ſay, if it had not been the Lord who was on our ſide, when men roſe up againſt us: Then they had ſwallowed us up quick, p. 503when their wrath was kindled againſt us. Bleſſed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Bleſſed be the Lord, who hath cauſed wars to ceaſe: and made our enemies to be at peace with us. It is the Lord, that ſtilleth the noiſe of the Seas, the noiſe of their waves, and the tumult of the people. The Lord giveth ſtrength to his people: the Lord bleſſeth his people with peace.

[When Plenty is reſtored, ſay]

Pſal. 65.9,12. 132.15. 147.14. Joel 2.23.Ps 65:9Ps 65:12Ps 65:132Ps 65:15Ps 65:147Ps 65:14Joel 2:23Thou haſt viſited the earth and bleſſed it; thou haſt made it very plenteous. Thou haſt crowned the year with thy goodneſs; and thy clouds have dropt fatneſs. Thou haſt bleſſed our proviſion abundantly, and ſatisfied our poor again with bread. Bleſſed be the Lord, who hath cauſed the former and latter rain to come down for us in their ſeaſon; and filled us with p. 504the fineſt of the wheat. We eat in plenty and are ſatisfied: Praiſed be the name of the Lord our God, that hath dealt wondrouſly with us.

But above all, thy great and glorious name is to be praiſed, for thine incomprehenſible mercy in thy Son Chriſt, whom thou haſt ſent unto us with better bleſſings; to be the Mediator of our peace with thee, to heal all the diſeaſes of our ſinful natures, and to deliver us from the power of Satan, and of Hell and Death, and to reſtore us to an immortal life. Thanks be to thine infinite goodneſs, which hath taught us by him the way of truth and righteouſneſs; and made him an offering for our ſins; and raiſed him from the dead, to the Throne of Glory in the heavens; and ſent from thence the holy Spirit, to enlighten our minds with the whole knowledge of thy will, and to ſhed abroad thy great love in our hearts, p. 505and to be the earneſt of an heavenly inheritance, together with our bleſſed Lord; who is heir of all things, having the hoſts of Angels ſubject unto him, whom he hath appointed (bleſſed be thy Name) for the guard and defence, the ſuccour and help of all his faithful ſervants. I thank thee, O Lord, that thou haſt pardoned ſo many offences; & ſo graciouſly importuned me to return to my duty; and afforded ſo long time and ſpace of repentance; and waited ſo patiently for my amendment; and continued to me conſtantly, as I muſt again confeſs, ſo many bleſſings which I have abuſed, or reſtored them to me after a ſhort correction of my faults. I cannot wiſh for any further happineſs, but only for an heart gratefully to reſent thy love, and to delight to meditate continually on thy tender mercies; that ſo I may love thee more, and thank and ſerve thee better the reſt of my days, and live in good hope to paſs from p. 506all this happineſs here to eternal bliſs. And this grace thou haſt likewiſe promiſed to beſtow upon me; yea, I feel the motions of thy holy Spirit in my heart, exciting in me a ſenſe of thy goodneſs, and provoking me to love and to good works.

O my ſoul, never forget the loving kindneſs of the Lord. Let his name be daily bleſſed and praiſed with a joyful heart; for his goodneſs endureth continually. Pſal. 52.1.Ps 52:1To him I ought to live, and not unto my ſelf; for he is my Creator, and Saviour, and Comforter, who daily loadeth me with his benefits. Therefore I ought to glorifie him, both with my body and with my ſpirit, which are his. Accept, good Lord, of the unfeigned deſires and purpoſes, which thou ſeeſt in my heart, in all things to be conformed to thy Will. And accordingly aſſiſt me always with the renewed influences of thy heavenly p. 507grace, that I may grow in ſpiritual wiſdom and knowledge of my duty; and that I may heartily love it, and faithfully remember it, and give all diligence to perform it, notwithſtanding any difficulties that I meet withal to oppoſe it. In able me to maintain a conſtant ſenſe of thy divine preſence, to reverence thy holy Name and Word, and to walk before thee in all humility, thankfulneſs, patience, heavenly mindedneſs, and contentedneſs of ſpirit. And help me likewiſe to exerciſe all juſtice; charity, meekneſs, and forgiveneſs towards all men: and to live in a ſober, chaſte and moderate uſe of all the good things of this world. Let thy fear always curb the diſorders of my paſſions; and thy love be a ſpur to my indeavours; and the example of the Lord Jeſus, and all the Saints provoke me to zeal and fervency of ſpirit; and the hope of eternal bliſs ſtrengthen, incourage and make me conſtant in p. 508all the troubles and hardſhips of this life: that perſevering in well doing, I may finiſh my courſe with joy, and win the Crown of Righteouſneſs, which he hath promiſed to all the faithful. Amen, Amen.

Aſſiſt me mercifully, O Lord, in theſe my Supplications and Prayers, and diſpoſe the way of thy ſervant, towards the attainment of everlaſting ſalvation; that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, I may ever be defended by thy moſt gracious and ready help, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.

A ſhort Prayer for a Student.

I Look up unto thee O Lord, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, beſeeching thee to direct, aſſiſt and bleſs all the labours of my mind. Illuminate my underſtanding, p. 509O Father of lights, and lead me unto right apprehenſions in all things. In due me with that humility and ſoberneſs of mind, which thou delighteſt to reward, with more of thy gifts and graces. Beſtow upon me a diſcerning ſpirit; a ſound judgement; and an honeſt and good heart, ſincerely diſpoſed to imploy all the Talents which thou haſt, or ſhalt intruſt me withal, to thy honour and glory, and to the good of mankind.

For which end, I beſeech thee to excite my thirſt after uſeful, rather than much knowledge. And eſpecially inrich me with the treaſures of that inſpired wiſdom, contained in thy holy Scriptures; which are able to make me wiſe unto ſalvation. That growing in underſtanding and goodneſs, as I grow in years; my profiting may be apparent unto all men: and I may give a comfortable account of my time to thee, my God, at the day of the Lord Jeſus. Amen.

p. 510A Prayer that may be uſed, any time of the day, when a perſon hath leiſure to retire.

O Lord, the great Creator and Governor of all things; I proſtrate my ſelf before thee, in the humbleſt adoration of thy incomprehenſible Majeſty: acknowledging that I depend intirely upon thee; praiſing and magnifying thy moſt glorious Power, Wiſdom and Goodneſs, which are conſpicuous every where; and rendring unto thee my moſt hearty thanks for all the benefits, which thou haſt ſo freely and undeſervedly conferred on me. Thou art bountiful to the whole world: All thy Works praiſe thee; and we the children of men ought more particularly to bleſs thee and ſpeak good of thy Name, who have received ſingular marks and tokens of thy favour & grace, above all the reſt p. 511of our fellow creatures. Thou haſt made us after thine own Image; and indued us with reaſonable and immortal ſpirits; and given us a capacity to reflect on thee the author of our being, and to be like unto thee in wiſdom, holineſs, goodneſs and truth. But above all I ought to remember continually that great demonſtration of thy love, in ſending thy dear Son to live among us, to dye for us, and to give us an aſſured hope of immortal life.

I love thee, O Lord. I renew the oblation, which I have often made of my ſoul and body to thee. I wait upon thee ſtill, for what thou ſeeſt good for both. I hope in thy everlaſting mercies, that thou wilt pardon all my forgetfulneſs of thee, and ingratitude unto thee. And I moſt earneſtly implore the grace of thy holy Spirit, to preſerve in my mind, a powerful ſenſe of thee; an ardent love to thee; and an holy care to pleaſe and obey thee in all things. p. 512That the very ſame mind and ſpirit may be in me, which was in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord; the Spirit of wiſdom and underſtanding, and the fear of thee; the ſpirit of meekneſs, humility, purity and charity: and that I may do thy will with ſuch chearfulneſs, zeal, conſtancy, patience and perſeverance, as he did.

I thank thee, O Lord, for all helps and aſſiſtances of that good Spirit, which thou haſt already favoured me withal. That thou haſt ſo frequently made good motions to my ſoul; inſpired me with holy thoughts, and devout affections; and inclined and diſpoſed my will, many ways, to the choice of that which is good. I thank thee for the many ſeaſonable admonitions which thou haſt given me, for the happy opportunities which have been afforded me, for wiſdom and vertue; for a good education, pious examples, faithful friends, and all other furtherances in the way of ſalvation.

p. 513I remember likewiſe, with my moſt grateful acknowledgements, what abundance of good things thou haſt beſtowed on me, from time to time, for my better accommodation in this preſent life. Bleſſed be thy name for my continued health, and food, and raiment. Bleſſed be thy name that my bones are not broken; that I am not groaning under the ſoreſt pains; that I dwell in ſafety night and day; and that I ſtill ſee my friends and acquaintance, and many other comforts round about me.

I thank thee, O Lord, for theſe, and all bleſſings whatſoever, that thou haſt conveyed to me by the Miniſtry of thy holy Angels; unto whom thou haſt given the charge of me. O bleſs the Lord, together with me, ye his angels which excel in ſtrength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word. And enable me every day, I moſt humbly beſeech thee, O Father of mercies, to bleſs thee better; with a purer p. 514heart, and a more lively ſenſe of all thy love, and a greater delight in thy divine Service, and a forwardneſs to every good work.

And as thou haſt preſerved me hitherto this day: ſo bleſs me the remaining part of it. That indeavouring ſincerely in all my deſigns, words, deſires and actions to approve my ſelf to thee, as thy good and faithful ſervant, I may with a good conſcience preſent my ſelf before thee in the concluſion of it: and with the greater confidence of thy gracious acceptance renew my praiſes and acknowledgements, and commend my ſelf to thy bleſſing, and hope for the continued protection of thy holy Angels; through Chriſt Jeſus. To whom be glory for ever. Amen.

A ſhorter to the ſame purpoſe.

I Proſtrate my ſelf before thee, O Lord of heaven & earth, in all humility p. 515of ſoul and body. I acknowledge my dependance upon thee; and thy conſtant care and providence over me, ever ſince I was born: particularly this day; in keeping me hitherto from many dangers, and providing for me many good things; as well for the comfort and pleaſure, as for the neceſſary ſupport of this preſent life. Eſpecially I thank thee for thy exceeding great love in the Lord Jeſus; through whom thou haſt given me good hope of better enjoyments in the life to come, by following that bleſſed example which he hath ſet us, of all well doing, and contented ſuffering.

It is all reaſon, O Lord, that I ſhould love thee, and intirely truſt in thee, and moſt willingly ſerve and obey thee. Accordingly I here again dedicate my ſelf both ſoul and body to thee. I vow my ſelf ever to thy ſervice. I hope ſtill in thy great mercies, which have been ſo tender and ſo abundant towards me. I depend p. 516upon thee, for what thou ſeeſt to be profitable for me. I refer my ſelf abſolutely to thy wiſe Will; reſolving to reſt contented and ſatisfied in that condition wherein thou placeſt me. I believe thou ordereſt all things in heaven and in earth; and takeſt the greateſt care of thoſe that wait upon thee, and commit themſelves unto thee, as I now do, in confidence of thy goodneſs, and ſubmiſſion to thy pleaſure. Eſpecially I rely upon thee, for thy holy Spirit, to preſerve in me theſe holy purpoſes, and inſpire me continually with good thoughts, and ſtir up in me heavenly affections, and increaſe and ſtrengthen my faith and hope in thee, and aſſiſt my indeavours to do according to my pious reſolutions.

Bleſſed be thy great goodneſs for what I have felt already: I thank thee for thy many illuminations from above; for thy grace ſo early preventing me; for the aſſiſtance and furtherance thou p. 517haſt given me; and the happy opportunities I have met withal of improving my ſelf in true wiſdom and goodneſs. It is the earneſt deſire of my ſoul to grow more in both, and to be made perfectly like to my bleſſed Lord and Saviour. By whom all honour and glory be given to thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.

A Grace before meat.

WE acknowledge thy goodneſs, O Lord, in making this [plentiful] proviſion for us. Pardon our ingratitude for thy former mercies. And bleſs us with ſuch a diſcreet and thankful uſe of theſe thy good creatures, that they may not hinder us in our duty, but better diſpoſe us to do thee all faithful ſervice in our ſeveral places; through our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Amen.

p. 518Or this.

WE look up unto thee, O Lord, who giveſt us life and breath, and all things; beſeeching thee to forgive us all our ſins, and to make us ſuch thankful partakers of theſe thy good creatures, that by a moderate uſe of them our bodies may be refreſhed, and made more fit to accompany our ſouls in hearty endeavours to do thee all faithful ſervice, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.

Or this.

WE renew our thankful acknowledgements unto thee, O Lord, for making again this merciful proviſion for us, who are unworthy of the leaſt of thy favours. Add thy gracious pardon likewiſe; and bleſs the ſober uſe of theſe thy creatures, to the ſtrengthning of our frail bodies. And endue our ſouls with the grace of p. 519thy holy Spirit, that we may return back unto thee the ſtrength we receive from them in well doing, and it may be as delightful as our meat and drink to do the will of thee our heavenly Father, through Jeſus Chriſt, &c. Amen.

After Meat.

WE return unto thee, O Lord, our hearty thanks for theſe and all other the like mercies beſtowed upon us, ever ſince we had a being; eſpecially for the promiſes thou haſt given us of eternal life, by thy Son Chriſt. Enable us, we beſeech thee, to continue ſo patiently in all good works, that at laſt we may attain it. And bleſs thine Ʋniverſal Church, theſe Realms, the King, the Queen, and all the Royal Family; and grant us thy grace, mercy, and peace, through Chriſt Jeſus. Amen.

p. 520Or this.

BLeſſed be thy name, O Lord, for our continued health, and food, and raiment, and friends, and all other good things, whereby thou maintaineſt the comfort of this preſent life. Above all we thank thee, for thy love in Chriſt Jeſus, and the hope thou haſt given us by him, of better things in another world: Ʋnto which we beſeech thee to bring us by hearty obedience to thee all our days. Save thine Ʋniverſal Church, &c.

Or this.

WE thank thee, O Lord, that we are alive, and that we live in health, and peace, and the enjoyments of all good things that are needful for the ſupport of this preſent life, and for the attainment of a better. Continue them, we pray thee, unto us: and continue in us ſuch a thankful ſenſe of thy love, that we may live unto thee, by whom we live. Save thy Ʋniverſal Church, &c.