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