A Companion for the Persecuted, Particular prayers
Particular Prayers.
I. For Integrity, and not seeking to any evil ways for Help.
OH! Almighty Lord, thou hast reserved us for days, when *Is. 59, 15.he that will depart from evil, is like to make himself a Prey. But grant me Grace,These Prayers, that are made in the Singular Number, for ones own self; may be turned into Common Collects for others as well as our selves, by a light Change of We for I, Us for Me, Our for My or Mine, &c. as often as these Words occur therein. to esteem no Loss, comparable to that of Innnocency and of a good Conscience; nor to harbour any fear, like to that of thy displeasure, and of the intolerable and eternal pangs of Hell-fire.
Let thy Laws, O! my God, direct all my steps, in my greatest dangers. Keep me more studious in all my Counsels, of what is lawful for me, than of what seems safe and serviceable in my necessity: And never suffer me to stoop to any sin, in hopes thereby to put by fleshly trouble, or to serve any worldly turn.
In thy Providence, O! Father of Mercies, lyes all my safety and protection. And Oh! that I may ever commit my self to that protecting Providence, by keeping close to thy Commandments. Oh! that I may never in any case forsake them, but always look upon that as the ready way to have thee forsake me. Whatever streights or dangers encompass me, the ways of my duty, O! Lord, are the surest ways of thy mercy, and of my own safety. And Oh! that I may find them to be ways of preservation and deliverance at present, and of everlasting peace and joy in the end, through our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
II. For Constancy in Persecuted Duties.
1. Against being turned aside by Worldly Dangers or Losses.
O! Almighty and Everlasting God, Keep me constant to thy Truths and Precepts, amidst all these violent Persecutions, which are ready to come upon me for the same. Oh! that I may*Phil. 1. 27, 28. stand fast in thy ways, and be nothing terrified by the Adversaries thereof. That I may†Eph. 6. 13. & Jude 3. stand fast in the evil day, and contend earnestly for the Faith. Let me not‖Gal. 6. 9. & Heb. 12. 13. grow weary of well-doing, or of godly suffering, nor wax faint in a good Cause Enable me to stand to my duty, at all hazards, and to be ready, if the will of God be so, to witness it unto Bonds; yea, or even to seal it with my blood, and to dye for thee, as thou, Blessed Saviour, hast done for me.
Let not the fear of men, make me forsake thee; nor let my love of this World, make me throw up my blessed hopes of a better. Nor give me up, for the sake of any Losses or Terrors, to fall from my duty, or to*Matth. 10. 33. deny thee before men, that thou mayst not finally deny me before the Angels which are in Heaven.
Oh! that I may never leave thee, Oh! Holy Jesu, because thou art a Man of Sorrows. But give me Grace, with Moses, *Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26.always to prefer the Afflictions of the godly when they are persecuted, before the Joys of the wicked; and to choose to be among those, who suffer for Righteousness, rather than among those, who seem best to thrive and prosper in the ways of violence. Oh! that I may not grudge to take up the Cross, when that is in my way to win the Crown; nor to endure a short tribulation for the Kingdom of Heaven, which thou art ready to give to all that faithfully serve and suffer for thee, thro' our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
II. Against being shaken in mind, or scandalized.
1. By the Defection of others, or by Variety of Opinions.
O Almighty and most Merciful God! keep me from being any ways unsettled, or shaken in mind, about the way of thy Truth, and of thy Righteousness. Oh! that thy Judgments may not make us harbour any suspition, of the Truth of our Holy Faith; but make us see, that they all come upon us, to try how far we can suffer for it; or to punish us, because we have not been true to it. They are sent, O! Righteous Lord, to punish the Loosness and Wickedness of our Lives, amidst the Orthodoxy and Holiness of our Professions.
And let not any other Persons unsteadfastness in thy ways, how great or numerous soever they be, cause me to waver, or once think of varying from the same. Oh! that I may never follow weak minds, in their fickleness and inconstancy; nor worldly minds, in Varying Belief and Professions, according as they are blown about with every blast of worldly Interest, or Convenience. Let me not think the worse of thy Truths, because others forsake them. Nor run in to those, who prefer the ways of worldly ease, before the ways of innocence. Nor grow weary of the ways of everlasting Life; because others, setting more by worldly enjoyments, are ready to exchange them, when there is hopes of present security thereby, for ways of everlasting death. Thy Truth, O! Lord, are everlasting, and still the same. And Oh! that my Belief and Love thereof, may always be one and the same too, for our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
2. Or, By a Reverence of any Mens Persons.
ESpecially, O! Lord, let not my reverence of any Mens Persons, cause duplicate page duplicate page me to erre from the way of thy precepts. Let not them carry me, against my own Knowledge. Nor suffer me to ascribe more Authority, or to have more Belief in their Examples; than in the plain Voice of thy Word, or in the clear & common Notions of Right and Wrong, and of Natural Conscience. If they would have me shut mine eyes against this Light; let me no longer reverence, or give ear to them. Yea,*Gal. i. 8. Though an Angel from Heaven, should come and preach against the same, let me not believe him.*Rom. 3. 4. Let God be true, though they be held Lyars. And let these Monitors be ever firmly thought to speak right, though the most admired Persons gainsay it, and both act and speak wrong.
Make me know, O! God, that thy plain Word, and the known and received Dictates of Natural Honesty and Conscience, are always true and faithful; but that every man, even the best of men, are lyable to fail. Let me ever bear in mind, that good men may alter and lose their goodness; but that evil and unrighteous things, do not alter, nor can ever lose their unrighteousness. So that whensoever a good man falls, to do a manifestly evil, and unrighteous thing; his doing it, can onelyonly make us think the worse of his Person, but is not in any wise to make us think better of the unrighteous Action.
Teach me, O! Lord, that it is thy Law, and not their Example, which is to be my Rule. That I am thy servant, not theirs; and am to hearken unto thee, not unto them; and to ‖Mat. 23. 9, 10.call no man Master upon earth, in opposition to thee my great Master, who art in Heaven. Oh! therefore let thy Truths, O! my God, and not other mens practice, be my Guide; and let thy approbation and acceptance, not their applause, be my recompence, thro' the Merits of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
3. A Prayer for Faith.
O! Almighty and most Merciful Father, who both seest, & sendest all these sufferings, which are come upon us from the Adversaries of thy Truth; give me Grace, to live by Faith in thee, and not by fear of them; and in all my Actions under the same, to order my self as one who regardeth what thou promisest, and not what they threaten.
Though I converse in the midst of them, and they are full of rage; yet keep me ever mindful, O! Lord, that their Malice cannot hurt me, more than Satans Instruments could touch Job, till *Job 1. 10, 11, 12.thou givest them leave. Whatsoever they devise against me, it will come to nothing, till thy time, and *Joh. 7. 10.my hour is come. So that however they threaten, I know I am secure, till thou callest me out to suffering. And since I shall suffer nothing from them, but at thy time, and under thy direction; in the midst of all this fear and danger, I rest my Soul, O! my God, upon thy care, and cheerfully resign my self to thy protection and good pleasure.
And if it seem good to thee to send some sufferings, thou, O! Merciful Father, wilt graciously suit my Tryals to mine Infirmities. Thou wilt order me no more, than by thy Grace, *1 Cor. 10. 13.I shall be able to bear; and†Psal. 76. 10. the remainder of wrath wilt thou restrain. If thou tryest me, it will‖… Pet. i. 6. be only for a season. Thy Grace will take off their Violence, before it has driven me beyond mine Innocence;*Psal. 125. 3. nor wilt thou suffer the Rod of the wicked to rest upon the back of the Righteous, till they are wearied out thereby, to put forth their hand unto Iniquity.
And when thou hast brought me into my troubles, make me believe assuedly, O! my God, that thou wilt not leave me there. Tho' I am in no wise sufficient for them of my self,*2 Cor. 12. 9. thy Grace shall be sufficient for me; for thy strength is made perfect in our weakness. Still as I need thee, O! Father, thou wilt be with me. Thou wilt strengthen me by thy succours, when my Burdens grow too heavy for me. Thou who sendest me tribulations, wilt send me comfort in them; and*2 Cor. 1. 4. make my consolations abound by Christ, as my sufferings abound for him. And make all the sorrows which I endure, to work for thy greater Glory, and my greater good, in thy due time.
And Oh! that in the mean while, I may look steadfastly from the Cross to the Crown, and be firm in the belief and expectation, that they who patiently*2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. suffer for Christ, shall be sure to reign with him. †Heb. 12. 2.Set the joy before me, that for its sake, I may willingly endure the …ross, and despise the shame. And hold my eyes fast on*2 Cor. 4. 17, 18. the exceeding weight of Glory, which shall Recompence our present Ignominy; and on the things eternal, wherewith thou wilt repair our Loss of Temporal, for our Lord Jesus Christs sake. Amen.
4. A Prayer for Trust in God.
O! Almighty and most Merciful Father, whilst I walk here in the midst of fear and danger, I humbly and cheerfully trust my self to thy care. I place my safety, in an humble confidence in thee; and come to meet these difficulties, and prepare to bear them, not in any vain presumption of my own strength, which alas! at best is but weakness; no, nor of any earthly supports; but onelyonly in the Name and Power of the Lord my God.
Lord! I trust to thee, who art able to save me, and hast promised to help me. I trust to thee, who lovest to be trusted, and hast always been true to me, and*Psal. 9. 10. never failest those that trust in thee. I look for all my succours, and deliverances, from thy Grace; and am not*Is. 28. 16. hasty to fix times to thy Providence, or to set bounds to my own patience; but am contented, yea thankful, to receive them in thine own way, and at thine own time, even at thy *Ps. 102. 13.set-time of sending them. Oh! help me therefore, O! my God, for thy Faithfulness, and thy Mercies sake, and let me not be disappointed of my hope, for our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christs sake. Amen.
5. Against trusting more in other things than in God, and fixing too much on Earthly Dependances.
GRant, O! Gracious Lord, that under all our tryals & troubles, we may be duely sensible of the vanity and inconstancy of all earthly supports. Oh! that we may never*Jer. 17. 5▪ depart from thee, to trust in them. Nor give over our patient looking up to thee, and thy wise Providence, whose Ways and Methods are far above out of our reach; to presume on our own vain fancies and bold surmises, and *Prov. 3. 5.lean to our own understandings. Lord, give us not up to†Hos. 12. 1. feed on wind, which serves not to preserve us, but only to puff us up. Nor to turn aside from regarding thy sure Promises, to support our selves, & delude one another with lyes & vain confidences; and to warm our selves at imaginary*Is. 50. 11. Fires, and walk in the Light of those Sparks, which are not of thine, but onelyonly of our own kindling.
Let us not rest our hearts, O! God, and place our confidence, in any*Jer. 17. 5 Arm of Flesh; for there is no trust in them. For*Ps. 62. 9. surely men are vanity; yea, to be layd in the ballance with thee, they are altogether lighter than vanity. We cannot*Jer. 17. 9▪ know all that is in their hearts; and they dayly, and suddenly, change their minds and purposes; or their power fails, and they cannot bring their devices to pass. For where they are the most fixt on things, and seem best prepared for them; 'tis not *Prov. 19. 21.their device, O! Lord, but thy purpose which shall stand, & in a moment thou breakest all their measures. And in a little time,*Ps. 146 4▪ they turn to their dust, and in that very day all their thoughts perish. They are no staff of support, O! God, but*Ezek. 29. 6. a staff of reed to lean upon, and will break, Is. 36. 6.and run into our hands and pierce them, when we lay our weight upon them.
Teach us then, O! Father, in looking upon them, not to look off from thee; and to consider them, even the best of them, only as means of thy Care and good Providence, which can preserve and deliver us without them by a thousand other ways, tho' there is not any of them that can profit us without thee. And make us all to look upon thee, as the Lord from whom cometh our help, and in whose sole Grace and Mercy we repose our intire and chiefest Trust, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
6. Prayers for Patience.
1. In easie and unwearied endurance.
O! Almighty & most gracious God, who suitest thy Gifts to our Necessities; in these suffering-times, give me a suffering spirit, and enable me to*2 Tim. 2. 3. bear hardship as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ.
Endue me with such patience under the same, as no heaviness, or length of my Tryals shall overcome. Let me not be driven by any cruel and unjust usage for thy sake, to accuse thy Providence, or to revile my Persecutors. Let me not shew uneasiness under my sufferings, but willingly and contentedly bear them; yea, rejoyce in the same, and thankfully praise thee, *Act. 5. 41.that thou countest me worthy to suffer for thy Name. Keep me from growing weary of bearing thy Cross, or from fainting under it. Tho' thou tarryest, enable me to wait for thee. Oh! that I may persevere in waiting, and hold on to the end, and never let go my patience, when my Persecutors have left me nothing else, or cast away my confidence in thee.
Oh! that I may inwardly triumph in the Righteousness of my Cause, when I am trodden down by the violence of the Oppressors. That I may be comforted to think, that I have still the more of thy Love, as I bear the more of their Malice. Oh! that I may be*Rom. 12. 12. joyful in hope, as well as patient in tribulation; and count it an extraordinary favour to me, that I have been called out to lose any thing for thee, to testifie my love unto thy Laws, and to dispose me for thy Gracious Acceptance, through the Merits and Mediation of my dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
2. In not envying the success of the wicked, in compassing unrighteous Devices.
O! Lord, who for wiseends, art ofttimes pleased to permit a Righteous Cause to be worsted, and the devisers of unrighteousness to prevail against it: Suffer us*Pro. 24. 19. 20. not to fret, or torment our selves, when we see such wicked men prosperous, and triumph for bringing their unrighteous devices to pass. Let not that tempt us, O! God, *Pro. 23. 17.to envy sinners, much less to think favourably; yea, or even doubtfully of their wicked Violence. Never give us up to measure the Justice or Injustice of Undertakings, by success; and to miscall apparently wicked things, naming Evil Good, and Wrong Right, only because we see it prosperous. Let us not fall to take part with the Injury, only because of its seeming prosperity; or to think that God has forsaken what is right, because he permits it to be oppressed for a while; or, when we see it once down, to despair of his ever raising it up again.
Thy Judgments, O! most Mighty Lord, are unsearchable, and a great deep: teach us with all humility to reverence them, not by bold expositions, especially in favour of apparently unrighteous things, to abuse the same. They surprize us with doing right, when all outward hopes and appearances thereof are gone. Help us therefore, when things are at the worst, still to have hope and faith in thee, to raise them up again. They open a way, and make a light of deliverance to break forth, at thine own time. Give us patience in expectation, till that time come. The Unrighteous, as Pharas was, are more in the way of thy mercy, when thou keepest thy plagues upon them, to soften their hearts, than when thou takest them off. Oh! let us not envy them for that ease, which hardens sinners, and is their greatest unhappiness. They are kept up with successes, for full tryal of thy servants patience; and, if they will not repent thereof, to *Matth. 23. 32.fill up the measure of their own wickedness. Gen. 15. 16.Let us therefore learn therein, Gracious Lord, to adore thy forbearance, and to imitate the same, not to repine at it: And to finish the work of our own patience, that*Ja. 1. 4. patience may have its perfect work in us.
And however it passes here on earth, O! God, yet we are assured that at the Great Day, the Judge of all the World will do exact Justice. The wicked shall then be eternally punished, for all their prosperous wickedness: And the Just shall be everlastingly recompensed, for all the sufferings which they have endured, and for all the losses which they have sustained, in adhering to the ways of Righteousness. Oh! therefore, blessed Lord! that we may ever detest all wickedness, & carefully keep off from it, even when here we see it most prosperous. And steadfastly reverence the ways of Duty and Righteousness, and stick to them, even when we see them labouring under the Cross▪ and born down with cruel Oppressions. Oh! that we may see, and believe assuredly, that although we do not live to see the prosperity of the ungodly turned into punishments, and the sufferings of thy Saints, exchanged for Crowns and Glories, in this world; yet we shall certainly see the same fulfilled in both to the uttermost, in another world. Where, Lord, grant that I may have my Place of Ease, whatever Troubles I meet with here, for my Dear Saviour Jesus Christ's sake Amen.
7. For Prayers, and unwearyed Devotion under Persecutions.
O! Holy Father, give me Grace to look up to thee in all my distresses, and to make holy & fervent Prayers, both my most bounden service, and my most sure support, under all these Persecutions. Oh! that the growth of my sufferings, may continually heighten and increase my Devotions. That I may be*Rom. 12. 12 instant in Prayers, and *Eph. 6. 18.watch thereunto with all perseverance. And the more straitness and scarcity I find at any time, of publick opportunities; make me so much the more diligent and constant, earnest and affectionate, in my private devotions.
Let not the Malice of mine Oppressors, be able to estrange my soul from thee, or make me weary of conversing with the Almighty. Let devotion be the life and stay of my Spirit, and let me never forget, that my chief remedies against their Violence, are Prayers and Tears. When they drive me from all confidence in my self, teach me to run for sanctuary, and to seek help from thee. Even from thee, O! my God, who with a Fathers pity and tenderness, beholdest what we suffer for thy sake, and wilt support us under the same; who seest our wrongs, and wilt do us right in thy due time. And*Ps. 56. 8. who bottlest up all our Tears, and wilt remember them with surpassing and eternal Mercies in the day of Recompences, for our Dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
8. A Prayer for diligent Attendance on Publick Assemblies.
ANd, O! Gracious Lord, in these Tryals, give me Grace diligently to attend upon the Publick Ministrations, and to make one in offering up thy pure Worship, in the Communion and Assemblies of the Saints.
Make me fully sensible, that when they most violently oppress us, we have most need to fly to thee with joynt accord, to help and defend us. And that when they seek most to extirpate thy pure Worship, it lyes upon us to meet together, to pay the same and bear it up. Oh! that their Cruelty against it, may enkindle in us a godly Zeal for it. That we may *Heb. 10. 23, 25.hold on our Profession without wavering; and resolutely stick to thine Holy Assemblies, without which we can not pretend to stand up for thy Cause.
And Oh! that no difficulties, or hazardousness of these Assemblies, may make us indifferent about thy service; and that none among us may lay hold thereof, as an excuse for Irreligion, or prophane Negligence. Make us all see, that we can have no excuse in rejecting Prayers and publick Ministrations, more than in rejecting other Duties, only because they are persecuted, and have the Cross upon them. Yea, Lord, let nothing seem so terrible to me, as being debarred the opportunities of waiting upon thee. Nor any Loss seem so hard to be endured, as losing this way of access to God, and the devotion of my Spirit.
Whilst I am serving thee, make me confident, O! my God, that thou wilt protect me. My safety at all times, lyes in the care and guardianship of thy good Providence. And I can never have more reason to expect that careful Providence, than when I am taken up in thine immediate service. But if suffering shall happen to meet me there, let me comfort my self to think, that it finds me at a good work, and can not come to me when I am better employ'd. And whatever I lose in this case, make me sensible, O! Lord, that it is not lost, but most wisely and well layd out; and that I can not part with my Worldly Substance for a better Cause, or to my greater Advantange. Oh! that I may*Heb. 10. 34. rejoyce in such spoyling of my Goods, as what is a*Mat. 6. 20. laying up Treasures for my self in Heaven. And be glad to have my poor perishing substance thus lent to thee, to be repayd with an Eternal Inheritance in thy Kingdom, through the Merits of my Blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
9. Prayers for Godly Prudence and Caution, in Days of Peril and Persecution.
1. For Prudence.
BUt though I am ready to come and suffer for thee, when thou callest me to it; let me not run upon it, O! Gracious God, before thy Call. Suffer me not to expose my self to their Violence, needlesly: Nor to bring it upon my own Head, for things that are no part of thy service. Nay, nor even for doing good things unseasonably; or with such Unnecessary Provocations, or improvident Carriage and indiscreet Circumstances, as are fit to fetch down troubles, when I might have been safe in doing the same, with due foresight and godly caution.
Oh! that Conversing, as I do, in the midst of dangers, I may learn to *Mat. 10. 16.beware of men. That knowing†Eph. 5. 16. *the days are evil, and that trouble is hasting on apace of it self, I may not throw away my quiet before I need, but redeem the time. Grant me the skill and care, O! Merciful Lord, to be provident in all things, and*Eph. 5. 15. walk circumspectly. To*Col. 4. 5. walk in wisdom towards those that are without, that they may find nothing for which to lay hold of me, but my Love and Zeal to thee, and a wise and faithful discharge of my duty; which, though they persecute, thou, O! my God, wilt graciously accept, for my Dear Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
2. For Integrity therewith.
BUt together with*Mat. 10. 18. the wisdom of the Serpent, give me Grace, O! Holy Father, in all my tryals to shew forth the innocency and sincerity of the Dove. Let all my wisdom and waryness, be shewn in doing of my Duty, but never in letting it fall. And in doing it faithfully, without maim or disobedient reserves; diligently, without remissness; and resolutely and undauntedly, when thou callest me forth to shew boldness. Let it never carry me, to secure my self, by neglecting thee, or thy service; or by acting against the rules of Truth and Righteousness, or against the Honour and Interest of thy Cause. Under all my sufferings, O! Lord, help me constantly & strictly to attend to the ways of Religion, that I may suffer with innocence; and not to the worldly ways of Parties, which abound too much with wickedness. And let me never forget, that there is as much need, of a good and righteous Carriage, under sufferings for Christ; as of a good and righteous Cause, for the same.
But in serving thee faithfully, O! Gracious God, let me not shew rashness, nor give the Enemies of thy Truth Advantage against me, by any culpableness or unadvisedness of my own Carriage. Whatever I suffer, let it not be as the Fruit and Chastizement of my own folly, and precipitancy. But grant, that in that day, I may have the comfort & support to think, that 'tis all come upon me, for my duty towards thee, and for an acceptable and well guided Zeal for thy Glory, which, however it is spitefully treated by them at present, will be graciously received, and remembred by thee at last for mine unspeakable and Eternal Comfort, through the Merits of my onelyonly Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
10. A Prayer for Patience and Charity towards our Persecutors.
O! Blessed Lord, whilst we are suffering at their hands for thy Cause, fill us with Patience, and Charity towards our Persecutors. Keep us always mindful, that there is as much need, of a meek and forgiving Carriage, as of a Righteous Cause, in those that suffer for thee. And that thou sendest Persecutions, for a Tryal of our Patience and Charity towards our Oppressors; as well as for a Tryal of our Constancy, to thy Truth and Righteousness.
Let us not fail, O! God, of a gracious Acceptance with thee, by our impatience and wrathfulness against them. Yea, and let not the way of Truth and Righteousness miscarry in our hands, through the scandal of our angry Passions. Let us not prejudice any against the goodness of our Cause, by the bitterness and implacableness of our spirits; nor tempt good minds, to be hasty in concluding that we want Truth, because they see we can not be easie in suffering for it, and want Charity.
In all our Tryals, O! Blessed Jesus, let us steadfastly consider, how meekly and charitably, thou didst endure thine. And learn of thee,*1 Pet. 2. 23. to suffer without threatning, and not only to bear our Enemies, but*Mat. 5. 44. to love them. To beat back their Violence, by unwearyed Patience; and to overcome their inclinations, of heaping Injuries on our heads, by our dayly heaping Forgiveness and Kindnesses on theirs. And, instead of being angry at those, by whom we suffer; let it please us, O! God, that we are counted worthy to suffer for thy Name, and enable us to rejoyce at our Losses in this World, in hopes of the Blessed Recompence thereof in thy Heavenly Kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Particular Prayers for Patience towards them.
1.
HOwever Cruel or Unjust their usage be, give us Grace, O! Almighty Father, to bear it patiently. Let us not seem fretful and uneasie at our Worldly Losses, as if we payd thee this service with ill will, and were more affected with those things, which they have taken from us, than with the Blessed Hopes of a better and a more enduring substance. Let us suffer meekly, without wrath; and quietly without noise: And neither disturb our own spirits, by discontent and impatience; nor our Persecutors, by bitter Reproaches & Accusations; nor our Neighbours, by wearisome Complaints.
In the midst of all their Troubles, give us inward composedness; and *Luk. 21. 19.Patience to possess our souls, and have rest in our selves. And keep our hearts at rest, O! God, on thy Promises, by*Tit. 2. 13. looking to the sure and blessed hope that is set before us: not on the uncertainty of any worldly supports, or prospects of this Life, which, like the Reeds of Egypt, are lyable to break when we lean upon them, and to run into our hands.
And let this patient endurance of all their unreasonable and unjust Violence, *Jam. 1. 4.have its perfect Work in us. Let us not be wearyed out of it, or give way at last to angry resentments; but shew forth this calmness & sweetness of spirit, to the end. Oh! let not our Patience be broke by their injuries, but hold out, till at last it has broke them, and made them relent and grow weary of inflicting the same; and till thou shalt have graciously turn'd our troubles from them, into everlasting Rest and Peace with thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2
AND whilst thou art pleased to try us with these sufferings, O! Blessed Lord, grant that we may never take a priviledge for Lawless Wrath, on pretence of being angry for thy Cause. Oh! keep us sensible under their sharpest provocations, that*Jam. 1. 20. the wrath of man is much apter to transgress the Rules of Piety and Righteousness, than to maintain them. Make us mindful that it belongs to thee to punish wrongs done to thy Holy Religion; that thou art most interested in the same, and most concerned to chastise the Enemies thereof, and wilt do it in thy due time. And that when ungodly men persecute the ways of Holiness, our part is constantly to profess and practice them, to plead when we are called, and patiently to suffer for the same; but thine, to punish for them.
And, Lord, let us not be more hasty for wrath and vengeance, than thou art, in thine own Cause. Let not us lose Patience towards them, whilst thou bearest with them; but study, and pray for their Conversion, and willingly, and joyfully help on the same, that they may be saved at last, through the Merits and Mediation … thy dear Son, our only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Particular Prayers for Charity toward Persecutors.
1
HElp us, O! Father of Mercies▪ not only to bear our Persecutors Patiently, but to treat them Charitably. Enable us to love our Enemies, whilst we suffer by them; to forgive their wrongs, whilst we smar… under them; and not to aggravat… their evil usage, but, as thou*Luk. 23. 34. did… O! Blessed Jesu, whilst thou borest▪ the extremity of their Malice upon the Cross, rather study how we may any ways lessen or excuse the same. Oh! that we may approve our selves thy true followers, by*1 Pet. 2. 23. suffering without Threatning; by†Mat. 5. 44. praying for them, whilst they are persecuting us; by returning blessing for their cursing, kindness for their cruelties, and*Ro. 12. 21. by overcoming their evil with good.
But let none of us please our selves, O God! with thoughts or hopes of Vengeance; nor*Prov. 24▪ 17, 18. rejoyce at their fall, lest it displease thee, and thou turn away thy wrath from their Heads, and direct it upon our own. Let us*1 Pet. 3. 9. not render evil for evil, or railing for railing to any man, nor meet their malice with bitter Passions and angry Returns. Keep us ever fully sensible, O! Lord, that under the greatest cruelty of their usage, to shew Patience and Charity is our business; but that the taking Vengeance, must be left to thy Justice. And enable us mildly to commit our Cause to thee, and desire that thou wouldest end our sorrows, not by their destruction, but conversion, thro' our only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
2.
LOrd, let not us fall to hate them, because they cruelly despite us; nor to take up with any false Accusations against them; or, when they stand truly chargeable with any smaller matters, to strain upon them so far, till we have raised them into great and shameful Offences, by our own evil surmises. Let not us†1 Cor. 13 4, 5, 6. vaunt our selves, because they unreasonably depress us; nor behave our selves in any kind unseemly towards them, tho' they should cast off all regard of humanity and decency towards us. Nor ever so far forget thee, as to rejoyce in any Iniquity, when it is like to prejudice their Cause, or to serve ours. But to rejoyce always in the Prosperity of thy Truth, and in seeing great Temptations turned aside, and general Falls prevented, and in having good and right things take place.
If they*1 Cor. 13. 3, 4, 7 provoke us, O! God, enable us to shew patience. If they persist therein, help us to suffer long. Let us bear all things without wrath, and endure all things without weariness, and not forget to be kind towards them; to believe all things favourably, and to speak all things charitably, whilst they are doing all things contrary towards us. And to look upon all these, as parts of that Charity, without which all our sufferings for thee are nothing worth.
Oh! Let*Jam. 3. 17. the Heavenly Wisdom, which keeps us pure from their errors and corruptions, keep us also peaceable, without bursting into noise and quarrels; and gentle, without yielding to anger and bitter words: and placable and easie in admitting excuses, without any shew of rigor in exacting Reasons, or of being studious of Revenge. Let it keep us full of mercy and good fruits, without any mischievous returns, or any proneness to cruelty and inhumanity, when 'tis in our way to shew the same. And without Partiality and Hypocrisie, as persons uniform in all Acts of Vertue and Justice, when they serve others as well as when they serve us; and who are careful not to put on any Vertue for a pretence, nor to decry things as Evil in others, whilst we can allow of the same in our selves. Teach us, O! Gracious Lord, that it is only by these Blessed Fruits, that our Belief and Espousal of a right Cause, must approve it self to be the wisdom that cometh from above, and which, as it prceeds from thee, must gain us all acceptance with thee, thro' the Merits of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
3 A Prayer against evil Surmises, and for Candor in Censuring those, who either Persecute us, or fall from the way of Righteousness.
O! Gracious God, in Censuring the Persons or Actions of all those, who either persecute us, or in these days of Tryal are faln from thee, let Equity & Candor direct and govern all our Thoughts and Speeches, and let not ill will byass us. Oh! that we may never charge them with imaginary Guilts, through our own evil Surmises; nor hastily make sure of any things against them, whilst they are really uncertain; nor make the worst of doubtful things, which goodwill might easily think better of. Yea, where their Falls are plain and manifest, grant us Grace, O Lord, to behold them, as thou didst the wickedness of thy Persecutors, with the bowels and compassion of a Friend, and not with the malicious insults and triumphs of an Enemy. And to judge of them, with a sense of humane infirmities, considering, that we also are lyable to be tempted our selves, and to fall by temptations, and therefore ought to*Mat. 7. 1, 2. mete out the same measure to them, in judging of their Actions, which we desire that others would mete out to us again, when they come to censure ours. Yea, O! Holy FATHER, cause us always to have before our eyes thy Clemency, as well as our own Necessity; and keep us ready to afford those allowances and abatements in their case, which we all need and desire at thine hands, and through thy mercy hope to find from thee, in our own.
Let us not be rigorously hard upon them, for common Offences, which are ordinarily incident to frail and sinful Natures. Nor for such Falls in great Tryals, as may move pity upon the account of humane weakness, as well as deserve blame for their own ungodliness. Let us not shew severity in accusing them violently, and condemning them without any mixture of mercy, for having been over-born by fear, or for having complyed too far for sustenance, or safety; for having err'd under some great astonishment, and where they had little time for deliberation, and little help for Counsel and Advice; or for falling any other ways, in very difficult and perplexed circumstances.
Suffer us not to favour any wickedness in them, O! Righteous God, and much less to justifie it. But when we are about to tax and condemn the Crimes, to the end that we may shew a just Zeal for thee and for thy Righteousness: Let us remember withal, to consider the greatness and difficulties of their Tryals; and thereupon to pity their frailty, and to imitate thy mercy, which thou art graciously pleased to shew, both to them, upon their Falls, and likewise to us upon any Falls of ours whereby we dayly stand in need thereof, for our most dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
11. A Prayer for Grace to turn the same, from carrying on impatience aud anger against others, to carry on amendment of our selves.
LOrd! under all these sorrows and sharp sufferings, teach us to look for the cause thereof within our selves. Our own Sins, O! Righteous Father, are most justly, though severely, punished in them; and our earthly affections and dependances, need to be purged off by them. And therefore, instead of envying and accusing others, and taxing the injustice of our Persecutors; make us look up with reverence to thy Justice, and lay to heart our many private and publick Miscarriages, and learn thereby to condemn and amend the errours of our own ways.
Grant, O! God, that the experience of our own fears and failures under our Tryals, may keep us humble and jealous over our selves, and charitable towards the Falls of others. And let our dayly proofs, of thy seasonable succours and preservations, teach us to have firm Faith in thee, and to rely intirely on thy care and gracious promises. Let the difficulties which we feel in sustaining Losses for thy sake, shew us the worldliness of our desires. Let the inclinations which we find at any time, to ease or secure our selves by sin, or to allow in our selves what we condemn in others; convince us of the deceitfulness of our own hearts, and of the hypocrisie of our pretences. Shew us all the roots of bitterness, which are ready to discover themselves when we are tryed; and when we see them, give us Grace to cast them out, and to purge our Hearts of the same.
Thus, O! Holy Father, if we cannot amend our Confusions, make them, we humbly intreat thee, thorowly to amend us. And teach us by the needful and profitable Discipline thereof, both to walk more perfectly in thy fear; and to bear them with patience, remembring that therein we are reaping the just fruits of our own ways; and to shew Charity towards our Persecutors, as considering how we have done amiss our selves, and how by such Mercy and Forgiveness towards others, we are all to expect Mercy and Forgiveness of our own Offences at thine hands, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
12. A Prayer for Charity to the Persecuted.
O! Righteous Lord, who tryest thy People with heavy sufferings for thy Truth and Righteousness sake; give me the heart constantly to own thy ways, and those who suffer for them. Oh! that whensoever I see*1 Cor. 12. 26. a Member of thine suffering, as a good Fellow-Member, I may suffer with it. That I may be among those,†A…. 6. 6. who grieve for the afflictions of Joseph; and come in to bear a share of their Adversity, who are enduring afflictions for thee; and *Heb. 12. 3.remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them.
Let†2 Tim. 1. 8. not me be ashamed of the Testimony of the Lord, nor of any of those who are his Prisoners. But rejoyce to make my self a Companion of such, as are bearing Tribulation for his Truths, and be glad when I can minister unto their necessities, and relieve the same. When I see them *Mat. 25. 42, 43. 45.Sick, and in Prison, give me the heart to visit them, or strangers, and forced to leave their own homes for thy Cause, to take them in; or in want of food, and rayment, to supply them therewith. Give me Grace to do something like to them, as I would do to thee, O! Blessed Jesu, wert thou here before me, and in their Condition.
And Oh! that I may look upon such services, as the most blessed opportunities of shewing my Love unto thys self, remembring that thou wilt say unto us one day,*Mat. 25. 40. in as much as ye did it unto the least of these, ye did it unto me. Yea, that I may reekon my self therein, to be shewing kindness, not so much to them, as to my own soul. Knowing, that thus to communicate, and have fellowship with them in their sufferings, is the way to communicate and have fellowship with them in their Blessedness; and that†Mat. 10. 41. he who receiveth a Prophet, or a righteous Man, in the name of a Prophet, or of a righteous Man, shall have a Prophet's, or a righteous Man's reward. Wherewith thou, O! Father, wilt crown, both the Sufferers and their Partakers in the end, through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
13. A Prayer for deliverance from Persecutions, after one is wearied therewith.
O! Merciful God, who hast visited my Bac…slidings, and tryed my Faith, and fixt adherence to thy ways with sharp Persecutions; look now with pity on my sorrows and infirmities, and if it seem fit for thy Glory, and for my Good, send me the sweet and speedy comforts of rest and peace.
Consider my weakness, O! God, for I am†Psa. 14…. 6. brought very low. Consider that it is thine own cause, and that I am persecuted for thy sake. Consider those†Ps. 69. 6. that wait on thee, and let not them be ashamed, or disheartned for my cause. Consider mine Enemies, and let not them still more and more†Ps. 140. 8. exalt themselves. And*Ps. 74. 18, 22. remember, that they daily reproach thy ways, and as oft as thou givest them success against us, they triumph in it as thy favouring and owning of their ungodly violence, and asperse thee with their wickedness.
†Ps. 74. 22.Arise then, O! Almighty God, and plead thine own cause. Arise, and right the oppressed, and make the proud, and the Men that rage in ways of ungodliness and violence,*Ps. 9. 20. to know themselves. Return not upon them, what they have done to us, O! Lord. But †Ps. 83. 16.fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy Name; and give us ease from their violence, and grace to turn it to thy praise, and to the performance of all holy and thankful Obedience, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
14. Intercessions, or Prayers for others in Times of Persecutions.
1. A Prayer for Persecutors, who at any time, or any where, are oppressing Truth, or Righteousness.
O! Most Gracious Father, shew mercy, we humbly intreat thee, towards our Persecutors, though they neither shew mercy, nor justice towards us. Cure the delusion of seduced, and seducing spirits. Let them not be led away with errors any longer, nor intoxicated with the love thereof. Let them not continue to resist thy truth; much less proceed to blaspheme and reproach it; and least of all, to set themselves to fight against it by an arm of flesh, and cruelly to persecute and extirpate the professors thereof.
Pity those who are ignorant, and set straight those who are perverse among them. Remove those prejudices, which blind their eyes; and sweeten and mollifie their spirits, that they may no longer be driven aside by malice and bitter passions; and dispose them by humility and meekness, and a sincere love of truth and righteousness, to a joyful reception and acknowledgement thereof, that instead of persecuting, they may fall resolutely to profess them, and, if need be, to suffer for the same.
But if any still harden themselves in their error and violence, and think that by destroying thy servants, †Jo. 16. 2.they please thee, and do God service: yet deal not thou with them, O! God, as they deal with us; but save their Lives, though they seek to take away ours. Though we suffer, yea, or die by their hands, let them not die in their errors and wicked violence: But curb them, Good Lord, in their carier, and stop it in thy due time.
And if it may seem good to thee, work this blessed change in them, by mild and gentle methods. But if nothing else will touch their hearts with remorse, afflict their bodies, O! Merciful Father, and let†Prov. 29. 15. the Rod give understanding, and teach them repentance. Yea, let all thy crosses come upon them, rather than the curse of a seared Conscience.
And when there is nothing left but smiting to reduce them, Lord give not off smiting them, till they are brought to see the wickedness of persecuting the ways of truth and righteousnes, and to make the best amends they can, by standing up zealously for the same. Say not unto them, as thou †Isa. 1. 5.didst to the Revolting Jews, who still grow worse and worse under their corrections, Why should you be stricken any more? Nor deliver them up to the wretched ease of incorrigeable sinners, who are therefore at ease because their state is hopeless, and whose ease and respite is only that of condemn'd Prisoners, who are sealed up for sudden and inevitable vengeance. But by what-ever means thou shalt see sit to work the same; let their repentance prevent thine eternal vengeance, through the Merits of our Dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
2. Prayers for the Persecuted, who happen in any place to be suffering for the cause of Truth or Righteousness.
1.
O! Almighty and most Merciful Father, extend thy help and pity in these trying times, to all the necessities and back-slidings of thy Servants. Have Mercy upon all, who either by their own worldly fears, and covetous desires, or by the Art and cunning of Seducers, have been made to fall from thee, and raise them up again. Neither suffer them to rest secure, nor to grow desperate in their wickedness, but fill their hearts with such awakenings, as may put them in the way of true Repentance.
And when any of them grow doubtful of what they have done, Lord, carry on their doubts to a full Conviction. And when once they are convinced of their Errors, give them no rest till they have amended them. Let their†Act. 10. 31. Prayers and Alms ascen… up before thee, and bring down Grace still more and more to see their fall, and to fit and fortify their Spirits to recover from it. Enable them to overcome all fears of shame and worldly loss; to place their truest, and their only honour in Repentance; and their highest interest and safety, in rectifying and repairing what they have done amiss; and to study above all things, how, despising worldly considerations, they may recover thy Peace, and save their precious and immortal Souls.
Shew Mercy also, O! Gracious God, on all those, who are shaken in mind by these Storms, and begin to stagger in the Faith, and fix and settle them therein. And on all those, who by thy Grace have resolutely withstood the same, and daily perfect and confirm them. Oh! Lord, daily make them more numerous, and let their Sufferings, like that of thy faithful Servants and Confessors of old, be a fruitful Seed of a truly righteous and holy Church. Lengthen out their Patience, whilst thou prolongest their Sufferings, and strengthen their Faith, that they may stedfastly persevere therein. Let thy Providence supply those wants, which any of them are reduced unto for a good Conscience. Give them comfort under their Sufferings, and in thy due time an happy riddance thereof, and endless and unspeakable joys at last in exchange for them.
The more their Enemies seek to root them out by unrighteous Persecution, Oh! that they may answerably strengthen themselves the more in fervent and godly Devotion. Make them to have a strict and conscionable eye to all thy Laws, that whilst in these Persecuted points, they suffer as Saints, they miss not at last of their reward, by taking liberty in any other things to live as Sinners. Oh! that they may study in all things to please thee in their Lives, that so they may be accepted in their Sufferings, for our Lord Jesus Christs sake. Amen.
2.
AND tho' here, O! Righteous Father, for thine Holiness, and for thy Truths sake, they are vile in the eyes of Men; let them be precious in thine Eyes, and do thou own them from Heaven. Plead thou the cause of thy Servants, against those that oppress them. Let their Persecutors see, that there is no fighting against thee. Make them find, that Truth is stronger than they, and will at last prevail over them. And that Persecutions, which they use for rooting out the sincere Professors thereof, are over-ruled by thine Almighty Power and Wisdom, to propagate and multiply them.
And when all others are ready to forsake us in our afflictions, do thou, O! God, stick by us. Do thou stick by us in our extremities, and deliver us.†Ps. 140. 8. Let not the mischievous imaginations of the wicked always prosper, lest they be too proud. *Ps. 125. 3.Let not the Rod of the Wicked rest upon the Lot of the Righteous, lest they put forth their hand unto Iniquity. Shorten the days of these Sorrows, and make hast to help and deliver us. And work that Deliverance, if it please thee, by the Conviction, rather than by the destruction of our Enemies, for our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christs sake. Amen.
3. Prayers for a Kingdom when in any Time or Place it happens to labour under Persecutions, for any part of Gods Truth, or way of Righteousness: Or, when it is torn to pieces by Intestine Divisions about the same.
1.
O! Almighty and most Merciful God, have Mercy upon this most wretched and sinful Land, and exalt the greatness of thy Mercy, by curing the Height of our Misery. And in the first place, purge our Sins, O! Lord, which are the chief cause of all our Sorrows, and which are the heaviest Plague that we lye under, tho', alass! we are least sensible thereof.
Oh! give us not up to a Reprobate mind, and a seared Conscience. Let thy Correction open all our Eyes, to see and abhor all that iniquity and ungodliness, which calls aloud to thee for Vengeance. Oh! that we may see, what it is to be false and faithless to God and Man; to forsake thee in our Distress, and seek to unrighteous ways for Refuge. That we may lay to heart all that Hypocrisie and Prophaneness, all that shedding of Innocent Blood, all that Violence whereof our hands are full, and the Spoils and Oppressions, and other Wickednesses, which have reign'd amongst us.
And by these foretasts of Sorrows, which we have already felt in the course of these Iniquities: Grant, O! Lord, that we may be struck with Terror of those insupportable Plagues and after-reckonings, which are yet to come if we continue in the same. And that we may learn thereby to Sin no more, but apply our selves faithfully to seek and serve thee, that we may be fit for thine Eternal Mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2.
AND when thou hast cleared us of the Guilt, then Deliver us, O! Gracious Lord, from the Curse of our Transgressions. Let not Power be employed to suppress thy Truths, or a Righteous Cause, but to support them. Let not violence be able to force the Seat of Justice, nor to hinder or pervert the due and free course thereof. Bless the Labours of all those, who seek to have Truth and Equity take place, and to plant and settle Peace on Righteousness. And set thy Face against them, whose hearts and hands are set on ways of unjust Violence, and publick Disturbance. Turn their hearts, O! God, to be in love with Peace and Justice: Or if still they will be obstinate against the same, weaken their hands, that they may not be able to hinder us of the speedy and happy influence, and settled enjoyment thereof.
Bind up our breaches, O! Father, and make all our unnatural broils and bloodshed cease. We are a People shaken to pieces, do thou settle us. We are all in confusion, do thou bring us into order. We are broken by our Sins, Oh! do thou repair and heal us, by restoring us to ways of Righteousness. Our guilt and misery have made us heartless, and void of courage; Oh! let Innocence, and the light of thy Countenance, raise our Spirits. We lye comfortless in our Iniquities, Oh! Oh! Let thy Spirit reform us, and then speak comfort to us. Heal all the Sores of our Souls, and then lighten our Earthly Burdens. Keep Life in this exhausted*or in these Exhausted Kingdoms, when these Prayers need at any time to be put up for more Kingdoms than on…. Kingdom, which is ready to faint, and daily encrease it in the same, and settle us once more in Justice, and Holiness, Peace and Safety, for Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.
4. Prayers for the Church, when in any any Time or Place, it is called to suffer Persecution for Truth or Righteousness.
1. A general Prayer for things needful to the same in such Times of Persecution.
O! Almighty Lord, who†Acts 20. 2…. hast purchased to thy self a Church with thine own Blood; look in Mercy …pon the same, however Distressed …ro' all the World. Especially upon …at part thereof which languisheth in this Land, and suffer not the Adversary to lay it was…e, or utterly to deface it, after thou hast paid so dear for it.
Let not either Superstition, or immoral Wickedness, Corrupt and Prophane thy Worship; nor let Schism any longer tear thy Body to pleces. Let not vile Men go on, to make Religion a Cover and Pretence for acting against moral Honesty and Justice, lest the Hypocrisie of some beget Atheism in others, and lest thereby loose Men be tempted to think, and take occasion to say, That there is nothing under any Professions of Religion but serving Worldly ends, because they can see nothing else under theirs.
Oh! That Truth and Righteousness may be set up in thy Church, and that Love and Unity may be set up in our Hearts. That we may once more hear the Voice of Joy and Peace, and receive Beauty for Ashes.
Pity a Church, O! Blessed Lord, which has long maintained Truth of Doctrin, and Purity of Worship in the Nation; and which has openly professed, and bore out the Doctrin of patient Suffering for Righteousness, and not resorting to any evil means for Relief, in the Eyes of Men. Pity those who suffer, and are in danger to be destroyed for their stedfast adhering to these thy ways, when others generally fall off from them, and set themselves violently to persecute the same. And hear their Crys, who mourn in Sion, and are afflicted for the Dishonour that is brought upon thy Name, and for all the Violences which are done to an Holy Religion.
Preserve them, Holy FATHER, by thy Power, and give them not up to the VVill of their Oppressors. But stir up thy Strength, and come and help us. Give us Constancy against the Errors of our Persecutors; and in thy good time give us rest from their Violence, for our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.
The Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
GRant, O! Lord, we beseech thee, that the Course of this World may be so peaceably ordered by thy Governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all Godly Quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
2. Prayers for particular Graces or Blessings, when at any time, or any where, it is violently broken, or pressed by Persecutions, to forsake the way of God's Truth, or Righteousness.
1. Prayers for its Purity and Integrity.
1. O! Father of Mercies, who seest all the Back-slidings and Calamities of thy poor Church amongst us; pity its misery, and possess it with such a Spirit, as is fit to enliven and actuate thy Body. Oh! Keep it in thy Truth, and save it from Heresie, and false Doctrines, either about Faith, or Practice. Give it not up to teach Errors for Advantage, or to justifie unlawful ways for worldly Ends, and Securities. Nor suffer it to suit its Doctrines to secular Turns, or to change Religious Principles, as it shall be driven thereto, by worldy Necessities. Fix it in ways of Holiness, O! Lord, that all its Ministrations may be such, as become Saints. Suffer it not to mix sin in thy Service, or to teach it to thy People. To pollute holy Offices, with any ungodly or unrighteous Petitions; and prostitute and prophane thy Worship, by falling therein to offer any abominable things. Oh! let not its Ministrations become the Ministrations of Unrighteousness, but be Holy and without Blemish, as besits thine House, and becomes thy Spouse. Whilst thou art pleased to try it with Tribulations, Lord, let them only purge it, but not lay it waste. And revive a suffering Spirit among us,*or instead of when, say now, If the Church prayed for, is actually suffering. when it labours under a suffering State. Make it willing then, and ready to quit all Interests of this World, and live upon the hopes of a better. Enable it contentedly, yea, joyfully to take up thy Cross, and to bear it after thee. Oh! that at such times it may always be more afraid of Sinning, than of Suffering. Oh! that it may never fall, to make the way of Gain, to pass for the way Godliness; or to Preach up what is Unrighteous, because it is become serviceable and safe. Nor ever seek to Error and Wickedness for Refuge, instead of seeking to God, and trusting in him, and in his holy ways, for the same. Oh! Father, in thy Mercy, guard it against all Error and Ungodliness; rescue it from all Schisms and Divisions; and free it in thy due time of its Distress and Persecutions, for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
2. O! Almighty Lord, Direct and Rule the Hearts of thy People by the Power of thy Grace, that they may no longer run furiously upon Unrighteous Expedients, nor by their Violence drive their Teachers into the Practice and Justification thereof. Oh! that they may seek to hear true, and not pleasing things; and not only hear, but love to be faithfully dealt with. And give them not up, O! Father, to persecute the Preachers of Righteousness, who are ready to warn them of the Error and Danger of their ways; or to despite them, and treat them as their worst Enemies, only for telling them thy Saving Truths. Lord, let not the love of Error, and Hatred of those Truths which are according to Godliness and Honesty, always Reign in them. Let them not persist therein without Remorse. Or, when they are smitten with Relentings, let them not lie sealed up in their Iniquity, as the fallen Angels do, by despair of Mercy, and seat themselves among those Sinners, who, when once they have done ill, think they cannot be safe, but by doing worse. Especially, O! God, deliver them not over to a Reprobate Sense, nor shut them up under a Spiritual Blindness. But open their Eyes, to see from whence they are fallen, and to seek after those things which are necessary to their Everlasting Peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
2. Prayers for cure of Schisms, and for Graces in divided Times.
1. DEliver this Church, O! Almighty Lord, from Schisms, which have torn it to pieces. And grant that all those Members, who are broken off, may return to offer up their Religious Services, in due Dependance upon their own Orthod…x and Lawful Pasters: and to make Conscience of keeping Union, and of continuing Subject and Obedient unto those, who are Rightfully set over them in the Government of thy Church. Let them not think it enough, O! God, to have Holy Prayers. But teach them moreover, to put up these Prayers in such Assemblies, as keep Obedient and United to those Spiritual Fathers, whom thou hast called to be the Rightful Governors of the Body. And make them know, that when, as good Christians, they are careful to joyn in none but Holy Services; they must take care also, as good Church-Members, to present those Services to thine Hands, in the Unity and Communion of thy Church; there to be accepted with thee, through his Merits and Mediation, who is the*Eph. 5. 23. Head and Saviour of the Body, even thy most Blessed Son, and our only Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
2. BEnd the Hearts of all amongst us, O! blessed Lord, to have Peace amongst themselves. Teach them Humility and Submission to those, whom thou hast put in Authority over them. Let Love and Lowliness increase, and all self-denying and amicable Tempers. And remove far from us Covetous and Aspiring Thoughts, and Pride, and self-pleasing, and all Wrath and bitter Passions. Reconcile all jarring Spirits; and cause all Discord and Division to cease. And dispose us all, O! Jesu, thou Prince of Peace, to see those Truths, which make for Peace, and tend to close our Breaches, and willingly to submit to them. Let us not give way so far to Anger and bitter Passions, till none but violent things will please us, and till we grow fond and greedy of any Error that will make the Breach wider, but Zealous against such Truths as might serve again to unite and bring us together. Oh! keep us strictly careful, both of Peace and Truth. And as we humbly pray, that we may never give up thy saving Truths for Peace; so do we likewise, that we may never divide from each other, and be averse to Peace, when thy Holy Truths stand in no need thereof. And whilst we labour under our unhappy Breaches; Let us not be wanting in any mutual Offices of Humanity, good Neighbourhood, or common Justice towards each other: Let us not fancy, that their being of different Opinions, or of different Churches from us, must put a stop to the Just Acts and Offices of Gratitude, and to the Remembrance of former kindness; or that they must give us a discharge, from any mutual Obligations of natural Kindred, or of civil Relations. Especially, O! Merciful God, keep us from placing all Religion in the Notes of a Party. Let us not so over-ratc the real, or fancied Virtues of our several Divisions, as to take up therewith; and become our selves as culpable, for the Breach and allowed Neglect of some Duties, as we charge our Brethren to be, for the Breach of others. But whilst on all sides we are zealous in pursuing those points, wherein we differ; let us be zealous for others too, aud not overlook, or lay aside the care of good Life, and of that common Religion, wherein we all agree, and which at last must deliver us all from thy Wrath, and prepare us for thine Everlasting Mercies, thro' our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
3. Prayers for the Bishops and Clergy, under Persecutions.
1. O! Almighty Lord, under all these Persecutions which are sent to prove and purge us, have an especial care of the Bishops and Pastors of thy Church, who are set to take of thy People, and to defend thy cause, and fill their Hearts with the power of thy Spirit, and with all those Gifts and Graces, which are needful to maintain their own Standing, or prevent the Falls of others. Make them clear Examples, O! God, of Holy Living, and of truly Christian and Righteous Suffering to thy Flock; setting before their Eyes the lively Draughts, and constant Practice of Faith and Patience, Meekness and Charity, and of a Heart mortified to this World, and full of the Thoughts and Hopes of a better. Give them Grace, O! Lord, to watch over thy People, with willing Minds, and with unwearied Diligence. Oh! that they may Rule them prudently, and skilfully, as wise Guides: And feed them faithfully, as good Shepherds. Oh! that they may wholly apply themselves, to Preach thy Word, and to administer thy pure Worship and Sa…rament, to comfort the Afflicted, …o strengthen the Feeble-minded, …o confirm those that Stand, and to raise up those that are faln, to quicken the Indifference and Lukewarmness of some, and to curb and bridle the inordinate Heat, and undue Passions and Violence of others. And let them not think of quitting the trust and Charge of Ministring to Souls,*Joh. 10. 12. when the Wolf approacheth, or leave of caring for thy Flock, to take care of themselves: But keep them ever mindful, O! Holy Jesu, that thou art*v. 11. the true Shepherd who gavest thy Life for the Sheep; and that, as thy true Followers, and faithful Ministers, they must be diligent at such times, in Ministring to their wants, and attend upon the same at all hazards. Let them shew then, that they*Joh. 21. 15, 16, 17. love thee, by feeding thy Sheep. Enable them to shew*1 Jo. 4. 18. perfect Love, which …asteth out Fear. And give them Grace,*Act. 4. 29. to speak thy word, and to do thy work, with Boldness and Uprightness; neither fearing the Faces of their Persecutors, nor tolerating, and muchless; feeding the Diseases, or Vices of their Flocks; but remembring always, that in thy Church, they preside and Minster for thee; and as they, who are to give an Account for Souls. Possess their Hearts, O! God, with such vigilant Care and Love for Souls, and Holy Zeal, and Godly Courage and Prudence, as is requisite for Men iu their High Trusts and Stations, and under the present wants, and Difficulties of thy Church: And be with them in all they do, and in all they suffer for thy Cause, for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake▪ Amen.
2. COmfort up their Spirits also, O! Lord, with the visible Effects, and good Fruits of their Labours and Sufferings among thy People: But whatever success they meet withal, let them not desist from thy Service, nor fall to do thy Work negligently; but when there is the least appearance of their working good up others, let it however satisfie and support them, that they have thereby shown their Fidelity and Love to thee, and have delivered their own Souls. And keep them from all vain Janglings, O! thou Blessed Spirit of Love and Peace, and from falling into desires of vain-Glory, or Emulation among themselves. Let them not defile their own Spirits, or disparage thy Cause, by turning aside to vent humane Passions, or to seek or serve any worldly ends. But in all their Labours and Sufferings for thy Church, help them to approve themselves pure and sincere, as Men, whose great care and chief business is to serve thee, and to watch for the Good of Souls. And whilst they are watching for thy People, Lord, let thy good Providence watch over them. When thy Service, and the ne…ds of Souls do most endanger and expose them, let them be safe in thy keeping. Put by the Malice and Machinations of their Enemies, and give them Patience and unwearied Perseverance, under all their Difficulties and Distresses: Support and Comfort them under the same at present, and turn them all in the end to the furtherance of thy Truth, and to the encrease of their own Everlasting Peace and Happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
4. A Prayer for both Clergy and People.
O! Lord, whilst thou art trying us with Losses and Worldly Sorrows, make us easie under the same, and careful to bear them with Patience, and raised Affections. But let us not betake our selves to Pride, and self-pleasing, and to feed those corrupt Passions, which our Afflictions should purge out, nor ever fall to seek or think of great things here for our selves.
Oh! that our Tribulations may teach us to be humble, and to mortifie our own Passions. Oh! that our worldy Sorrows may cure and turn us, from being any longer fond of this World, and from feeding our selves with any vain and ensnaring Hopes or Desires thereof. And that whilst we are daily crossed in our Fleshly Desires, we may cease to be any longer bent upon our own Wills, and may in all things resign our selves up to thine.
Let not our Persecutions, O! Gracious God, be lost upon us, nor let us be unprofitable Schollars in the School of Affliction: Let it not be justly chargeable on us, that Tribulations could not mend us, nor the fiery Trial resine our Spirits, and purge away our Dross. But bring us by our Sufferings, to know our selves, and to set light by all Earthly things, and to take up with thee for our Portion, and with the Sure and Blessed Hopes of thine Everlasting Mercies, thro' the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
5. A Prayer for the Churches Defence, and Deliverance from Persecutions.
UNder all its Wants and Backslidings, Sorrows and Distresses, look thou upon thy Church, O! Lord, and support and deliver it. Many are they who Combine against it, and great is their Power, and Vigilant and Earnest is their Care and Endeavour, to suppress and destroy it. And against all their Assaults, it has no other Defence, but thy Grace and good Providence.
Do not thou forsake it then, O! God, for it flies to thee, and rests on thee alone for Succor. Maintain it, for it is thine own Cause. And if it be cast down, thine Enemies and theirs will tryumph. Take the Matter therefore into thine Hand, for no other is sufficient for it, and thou art most concerned therein. Bring it safe through this Fi…ry Trial, and let it not be consumed thereby, but, as*1 Pe…. 1. 7. Gold is, only purged and putrified of its Dross. Give it a Cure, O! Lord, of all its Errors and Impurities, and quietness in the End from Persecutions, and Grace not to grow careless, or be Corrupted by days of Ease; but to improve the same, in doing thee Honour and Service with more Freedom, and fewer Interruptions, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
15. A Thanksgiving for any Comfortable Cessation, or for Rest and Ease from Persecution.
BLessed be thy Great and Glorious Name; O! Father of Mercies, and God of all Comforts, for the comfort of these days of ease, from our former Tribulations. Thou hast in great pity considered our Frailty and Weakness, and hath *Psal. 125. 3.not suffered the Rod of the Persecutors to lie too heavy, or rest too long upon o…r Backs. Thou hast not been Deaf to our Desires when we called upon thee, nor suffered our Hopes in thy Gracious Promises to …ail. Thou hast fulfilled thy Word unto thy Servants, who served and suffered for thee in Confidence thereof; and hast made the Wicked to cease from troubling us, and exchanged the Fiery Trial of their ungodly Violence, for the sweet and refreshing Comforts of this Rest and Peace.
O! Lord, let us never forget this great Mercy, nor abuse it. Let us not grow Careless or Corrupt by the Blessings of Peace, or run into Earthly Affections and Dependencies; and contract such Dross, as may need a second time to be brought through the Furnace. But keep us sober, and purged and purified in our Hearts and Minds; and maintain in us …uch a Godly Zeal, and watchful diligence under the same, as will make use of the blessed Opportunities of Peace, for going on with more constancy, and with less hindrance and disturbance in thy Service.
And make us learn, O! Gracious God, by our past Suffering, and Experience of thy Goodness, to keep improved in Faith and Patience. Having found thee so faithful in our necessity, give us Grace to relye upon thee. Let us*Heb. 10. 38. not cast away our confidence, nor*Gal. 6. 9. grow weary in well doing; knowing that in due time we shall reap, if we faint not. Oh! that the sweet Remembrance of thy Mercies may ever fill our Hearts with Love, and our Tongues with Praise. Oh! that it may make us careful in well doing, and confident of thy Faithfulness and Care over us, whilst we commit our Souls unto thy keeping, in holding to thy ways, through our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.