A Sovereign Salve, Text 2
A PRAYER, which they When 'tis a man which you pray for, ſay the prayer as it is: but when 'tis a woman, make uſe of theſe variations in the margent; which (to prevent miſtakes) are marked out to your hands.that come to viſit the Diſtreſſed, or are about him in the time of his Diſtreſſe, may make uſe of, if they cannot pray in a better forme of their owne.
O Lord prepare our unprepared hearts to …ledge…rayer.
O Lord heare our prayer for this thy poore …ledge…iſtreſſed Servant, and let our cry come unto …ledge…hee.
O Moſt gracious God, and in Jeſus Chriſt our moſt mercifull and loving Father; we …ledge…re unworthy (we confeſſe) to ſpeake …ledge…nto thee, in the behalfe either of our …ledge…elves, or others: yet this duty lying upon us by thy command, and thou …ledge…aving annexed a gracious promiſe of hearing thereunto; we are bold in th…ledge… name and mediation of Jeſus Chriſt, to come before thy Throne of Grace at this time, to commend unto thee the weake and diſtreſſed eſtate of this thy Servant.
O Lord, we could gladly wiſh (him) a happy, and ſpeedy deliverance Or her.out of all theſe (his) troubles; and Or her.ſo much we pray for, if it be thy bleſſed will to grant it: but if thou hav…ledge… otherwaies determined of (him) an…ledge… Or her.doeſt purpoſe (for (his) further triall Or her.thine owne glory, and others good▪ to keepe (him) ſtill under thy Fatherly Or her.chaſtiſing hand; we herein humbly ſubmit our wils to thy bleſſed will and doe intreat thee, and that for Jeſus Chriſt his ſake, that thou wilt b…ledge… pleaſed, every day, and houre, an…ledge… minute, whilſt this thy chaſtiſing hand ſhall lye upon (him) more and Or her.more, by the powerfull working o…ledge… thy gracious, and ever-bleſſed Spirit Or her. Or her. Or her. Or ſhe. Or her ſelfe.to ſanctifie this (his) croſſe unto (him▪ and (him) unto thy ſelfe; that (he▪ may with more patience in (himſelfe▪ and with more comfort to (his) aſſiſting Or her.Friends, undergoe the ſame.
And becauſe (his) ſinnes were the Or her.firſt procuring cauſe of this (his) diſtreſſe, Or her.and are the meanes (as farre as we can judge) of the continuance of …ledge…t; we doe beſeech thee (O thou which art the Father of mercies, and …ledge…he God of all conſolation) that thou wilt be pleaſed, for thy Sonne Chriſt Jeſus his ſake, and for the merits of …ledge…hat bitter death, and bloody paſſion, …ledge…hich he hath ſuffered for (him) to Or her.…ledge…ardon and forgive unto him all (his) Or her. Or her. Or ſhe.…ledge…innes paſt; as well that wherein (he) …ledge…as conceived, and borne; as alſo …ledge…ll the offences, and tranſgreſſions, …ledge…hich ever ſince, to this day, and …ledge…oure, (he) hath committed, in Or ſhe.…ledge…hought, word, or deed, againſt thy Divine Majeſtie.
Good Father, caſt them all behind …ledge…y back; remove them as farre from …ledge…hy preſence, as the Eaſt is from the …ledge…eſt; blot them out of the Booke of by remembrance; lay them not to his …ledge…harge; waſh them away with the blood of Jeſus Chriſt (his) Saviour, Or her.that they may never be more ſeene: and deliver (him) from all the judgements Or her. Or her.which are due unto (him) for theſe (his) ſinnes; that they may ceaſe Or her.to trouble (his) conſcience here, and Or her.never be able to riſe up in judgement againſt (his) ſoul hereafter.Or her.
And good Father, impute unto (him) the righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Or her.Chriſt his Saviour, whereby (he) Or ſhe.may appeare righteous againe in thy fight.
And that (he) may have the more Or her.comfortable aſſurance of this thy mercy; good Father, let thy bleſſed Spirit, by his teſtimony, ſeale up the ſame unto (his) ſpirit every day mor…redge… Or her.and more.
And becauſe (his) owne bodily infirmity, Or ſhe.and the ill diſpoſition thereof, may have beene, and be ſtill a means to increaſe and aggravate theſe (his) preſent Diſtreſſes; good Father, Or her.doe thou (which by thy gracious providence haſt appointed the means which thou wilt have thy children to uſe, and by the lawfull uſe thereof, to expect a bleſſing upon thine owne meanes) direct both (him) and (his) Or her. Or her.aſſiſting Friends, to make uſe of ſuch meanes, as may be pleaſing in thy ſight, and profitable for (his) bodily Or her.health; and doe thou give thy bleſſing unto the meanes ſo uſed, in thy good time.
And in the meane time (good Father) doe thou, by thy Almighty power, and providence, ſo reſtraine the might and malice of Satan, that common enemy of (his) and our ſalvation; Or her.that he may not be able, either out of theſe diſtempers of body, or thoſe ſinnes of (his) ſoule formerly Or her. Or her.committed, to make (him) either in thought, word, or deed, to diſhonour thee (his) God, to offend (his) Or her. Or her.Chriſtian brethren, or to adde further diſtreſſe unto his owne ſoule.
And for this end (good Father) let thy gracious promiſes alwaies ſuſtaine (him) let thy holy Word direct (him) Or her. Or her. Or her. Or her.thy bleſſed Angels watch over (him) let thy good Spirit guide (him) and thy Almighty power, and providence, keepe and defend (him.)Or her.
And, O thou bleſſed Sonne of God, the Saviour and Redeemer of mankinde, be thou alſo (his) Saviour, and Or her.Redeemer. Thou art that Heavenly Phyſician, which art able to cure all the diſeaſes of our ſoules; and behold here is a ſick ſoule, which needs the heavenly Phyſician: Oh apply therefore unto the feſtered ſoares of (his) Or her.ſoule the Soveraigne plaiſter of thy ſufferings, and the ſaving ſalve of thy merits, that it putrifie not to death, nor languiſh in deſpaire.
Thou art that good Samaritan, which powred in wine and oyle into the wounds of the halfe-dead Traveller; and behold, here is a wounded ſpirit, that wants the pity of ſuch a good Samaritan.
O doe thou pity this thy wounded Servant, like that good Samaritan! And as thou haſt already powred into his wounded ſoule the ſharpe wine of thy deſerved wrath, and juſt indignation to ſearch it; ſo doe thou powre in alſo the mollifying & ſuppling oyle of thy mercy in thy good time to heal it.
Thou are that good, and tenderhearted Shepherd, which left'ſt the ninety nine in the Deſert, to goe to ſeeke the Sheep that was loſt: Behold, here is ſuch a loſt Sheep, loſt in (his) owne Or her.eies, loſt alſo in the eies of the world; O doe thou then, which art that good Shepherd, bring backe this loſt Sheep unto thy fold, and let (him) once againe Or her.enjoy thoſe greene paſtures of ſpirituall comfort, from which (he) Or ſhe.hath ſo long and wittingly erred.
It was propheſied of thee (O meek Saviour) that thou wouldſt not breake the bruiſed Reed, nor quench the ſmoaking Flax: Behold, here is ſuch a Reed, grievouſly bruiſed with the burthen of his paſt ſinnes, and weight of thy future judgements: Oh breake (him) not (gracious Saviour) but ſupport Or her.(his) bruiſed ſoul with thy tender Or her.hand of mercy, pity, and compaſſion: Here is alſo ſuch ſmoaking Flax, whoſe light of joy and comfort is quite blown out, and in whom there is left onelyonly ſo little a ſpark of grace, that (his) ſad, Or her.and ſorrowfull ſoule hath much adoe to ſend forth the leaſt ſmoak, or teſtimony of any ſuch grace there. Yet as little as it is, O quench it not, but blow it up with the ſoft breath of thy Spirit of meekneſſe, that it may in thy good time break out againe into its wonted flame, and fervency.
Thou (O gracious Saviour) inviteſt all thoſe that are weary, and heavy loaden, to come unto thee: Behold, here is ſuch a weary, and heavy loaden ſoul, that fain would (in confidence of this thy gracious promiſe) come unto thee for eaſe, and comfort; but (he) is ſo Or ſhe.over-laden with the ſight of (his) own Or her.ſinnes, and the ſenſe of thy wrath due unto (him) for them, that (he) cannot Or her. Or ſhe.ſtirre. O doe thou then (which haſt borne our infirmities, and carried our ſorrowes) take this heavy burthen from (him) & that (he) may be as able Or her. Or ſhe. Or ſhe.to goe, as thou art willing (he) ſhould come unto thee: Doe thou (O bleſſed Saviour) quicken (him) by thy Or her.Spirit, strengthen (him) with thy grace, Or her.enlarge (his) heart with thy love; and Or her.in caſe all other helpes faile, even draw (him) unto thee.Or her.
Laſtly (O ſweet Saviour) thou art the true light, which lightneth every one that commeth into the world; yea, thou art that Sunne of righteouſneſſe, which bringeth light even to thoſe that ſit in darkneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death! Behold here ſuch a darke, ſad, ſorrowfull ſoule, which needeth the comfort of ſuch a Heavenly light. O doe thou then which art the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, cauſe the bright beames of thy favour to ſhine upon (him) open (his) eies that (he) may ſee Or her. Or her. Or ſhe. Or ſhe.it; cheare up (his) drooping ſpirits, that (he) may rejoyce in it, and ſo continue this thy mercy and favour to (him) that no cloud of diſtruct ariſing Or her. Or her.from (his) owne faithleſſe heart, may hide it; nor any other thing interpoſed by Satans ſubtilty, may from hence forward ever eclipſe it againe unto (him.)Or her.
And O thou holy and unſearchable Spirit of God, which art the onelyonly Comforter of Gods Elect, be thou the Comfort, and Comforter of this thy Diſtreſſed Servant: Thou wert pleaſed to come downe on Jeſus Chriſt, the Sonne of God, in the likeneſſe of a Dove; Oh come thou down in like manner on this thy poore diſtreſſed Servant; that ſo thou mayſt, either with Chriſts Dove, aſſure (him) that Or her.(he) is the (Sonne) of God, in whom Or ſhe. Or Daughter, Or Child.he is well pleaſed through him; or at leaſt, with Noahs Dove, thou mayſt bring (him) the Olive-branch of peace; Or her.and withall bring (him) word, that Or her.the waters of affliction, wherein the wearied Arke of (his) ſoule hath been Or her.ſo long toſſed, are now abated.
Thou wert pleaſed againe, at the firſt to be given, and afterwards to deſcend in a viſible manner on the Apoſtles; O be thou pleaſed to be given thus, and thus to deſcend into the ſad and ſorrowfull ſoule of thy Servant, fot (his) comfort at this time.Or her.
Thou wert firſt given unto them by breathing; O doe thou breath then …ledge…nto this breathleſſe ſoule, that hath …ledge…n (himſelfe) out of breath in fol…ledge…owing Or her ſelfe.thee in the unſearchable waies of thy providence, that breath of life, which may put (him) in breath again, Or her.…ledge…o follow thee, howſoever thou ſeem …ledge…o run from (him.)Or her.
Thou didſt deſcend on them, ſecondly, in the ſound of a mighty ruſhing winde, and in the likeneſſe of fiery tongues; O doe thou deſcend in like manner on this thy poore diſtreſſed Servant, at this time.
(He) is deafe, yea, like the deafe Adder, Or ſhe.that ſtoppeth (his) eares at all Or her.that may be for (his) ſoules comfort: Or her.O doe thou open them, that (he) may Or ſhe.heare the ſound of their feet, that bringeth (him) glad tidings of peace; Or her.yea, and the ſound of all thoſe ſound comforts for (his) ſoules comfort, Or her.which are ſet downe in thy Word.
(His) owne carnall thoughts, and Or her.ſtrong and ſtrange imaginations, like ſo many ſtrong holds, are exalted againſt thee, and thy work of comfort in (his) heart.Or her.
The clouds of errour ariſing out of (his) depraved underſtanding, doe Or her.darken unto (him) the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, Or her.which was wont to ſhine ſo ſo chearfully into (his) ſoule.Or her.
The fogges of noyſome deſires doe put (his) will into ſuch a miſt, that (he) Or her. Or ſhe.knowes not where, or which way to goe for comfort.
The heate of (his) preſent felt Diſtreſſe, Or her.hath ſo ſcorched, parched, and even dryed up (his) ſoule, that (he) is Or her. Or ſhe.ready to dye for want of ſomething to coole it.
Yea, ſo averſe and backward is (he) in all things that may be for (his) Or ſhe. Or her. Or ſhe. Or ſhe.Soules good, that further then (he) is driven (he) will not goe to ſeeke for any comfort, nor ſo much as accept of it, when it is offered unto (him.)Or her.
O thou then which deſcendeſt in a mighty, and powerfull winde; doe thou with the mighty, and powerfull winde of thy grace, throw downe all thoſe ſtrong holds in (him) which are exalted Or her.againſt thee. Doe thou chaſe away all thoſe clouds of errour, which dar…ledge…en (his) underſtanding. Doe thou Or her.…ledge…eare (his) will of all thoſe fogges and Or her.…ledge…iſts of noyſome deſires, which doe …ledge…ake (him) doubtfull which way to Or her.…ledge…ake for (his) ſoules comfort. Doe Or her.…ledge…hou coole and refreſh (his) parched, Or her.…ledge…nd ſcorched heart, which is ready to dye for heate. Yea, doe thou ſo fill …ledge…he ſailes of (his) affections, that (he) Or her. Or ſhe.may (though unwillingly) be driven at the laſt into that Haven of reſt, where (his) ſoule would be.Or her.
Againe, (his) heart and tongue are Or her.growne ſo cold in zeale, that neither can (his) heart meditate, nor (his) Or her. Or her.tongue utter any prayer unto thee for comfort.
(His) underſtanding, that was wont Or her.to conceive; and (his) affections, that Or her.were wont to proſecute the beſt things, are now ſo darkned, and cooled in (him) that it is even a paine, Or her.and griefe unto (him) ſo much as to Or her.thinke, much leſſe to proſecute any ſuch things.
Yea, ſo much droſſe of ſinfull corruption, doth not onelyonly ſtick unto, but is even incorporated into all the powers and faculties both of his ſoule Or her.and body, that (he) feareth to be Or ſhe.rejected of thee, as Reprobate Silver.
O thou then which deſcendeſt alſo in the likeneſſe of fiery tongues, be thou a fire in (his) heart and tongue, to Or her. Or her. Or her. Or her.make (him) more Zealous and fervent in (his) prayers: Be thou a fire in (his) underſtanding, to enlighten the darkneſſe of it: Be thou a fire in (his) affections, Or her.to inflame the coldneſſe of them: Yea, be thou a fire in (his) Or her.whole man, both ſoule and body, to ſever for the preſent, and in thy good time to conſume the droſſy and ſinfull corruptions of both.
And now, O Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghoſt, the three perſons of the ever-bleſſed Trinity, which all joyned together to make man at the firſt; joyn all your forces together again to remake this poor dejected ſoul, a worm, and no man; or if any (in (his) own apprehenſion) Or her.the worſt of men.
And for this end, O Omnipotent …ledge…ather, doe thou contribute thy power …ledge…o ſupport his weakneſſe: O infinitely Or her.…ledge…iſe Sonne, doe thou contribute thy …ledge…iſedome, to informe (his) ignorance: Or her.…ledge…nd O thou holy and bleſſed Spirit …ledge…f God, doe thou contribute thy ſan…ledge…tity, and all other ſaving graces, to …ledge…eform in him what is amiſſe through…ledge…ut.Or her.
And unto theſe, and all thy other …ledge…leſſings beſtowed on (him) doe thou Or her.▪O gracious God) in thy good time, …ledge…dde this one (if it be thy bleſſed will) …ledge…o let (him) ſee an happy iſſue, and Or her. Or her.…ledge…nd of all theſe (his) troubles; that …ledge…o (he) for (himſelf) and we for (him) Or ſhe. Or her ſelfe. Or her.may praiſe and glorifie thy great, and glorious name for this thy mercifull deliverance of (him.)Or her.
Heare us (O Lord) now praying for (him) heare (him) alſo (good Or her. Or her.Lord) both now and at all times praying for (himſelfe) yea, heare Or her ſelfe.both (him) and us, for thy Sonne Or her.Chriſt Jeſus his ſake, in whom alone we know thou art well pleaſed; and in whoſe name, and in whoſe words, we conclude all theſe our imperfect prayers, ſaying as he hath taught us; Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.
Thy grace, O Lord Jeſus Chriſt; thy love, O heavenly Father; thy comfort and conſolation, O holy and bleſſed Spirit, be with us all, and eſpecially with this thy poore diſtreſſed Servant, now and for evermore.
AMEN.
What here is good, to God abſcribed be▪
What is infirme, belongs of right to me▪
THE END.
End of the text · Richard Gove, A Sovereign Salve (1650)