Judgment and Mercy, Prayer 2
Evening Prayer before the Sermon.
O Lord our God, great in Majeſty, and infinite in Power; and in Jeſus Chriſt our moſt mercifull and loving Father: we poore, and wretched ſinners are here again by thy providence aſſembled in thy Sanctuary, to be made partakers of the good of thy houſe. But Lord what are we that we ſhould tender any petition to thee? unworthy we are to behold this bleſſed light that ſhines to us much more unworthy to enjoy theſe conveniences, and opportunities of meeting in thy houſe to know the way and means to a better life: But moſt worthy of all thy plagues to be powred down upon us, both in this life, and that which is to come.
For beſides that originall corruption, wherein wee were borne and conceived and which like a leproſie hath over ſpread all the powers & faculties both of ſoul and body;) we have heaped up a numberles number of actuall tranſgreſſions. There is not any of thy holy Commandements, but in thought, word and deed, moſt grievouſly, and frequently we have violated. And which advanceth our iniquity, and heightens our rebellion, theſe evills have not only eſcaped us in the times of ignorance, but even ſince it hath pleaſed thee to inlighten us with the knowledge of thy truth: ſo that notwithſtanding thy mercies, thy judgements, the motions of thy good Spirit; the bleſſed light of thy Goſpell afforded to us, we have continued the courſe of our rebellion againſt thee: yea that we may be yet more vile in thy preſence, even at this time when we come before thee, we are clogged with ſo many imperfections, that if thou ſhouldeſt be extreame to marke what is done amiſſe, how mighteſt thou plague us in our bodies, in our goods, in our good names? how mighteſt thou fill us with the fury of an unpacified conſcience, and write bitter things againſt us, and a wounded ſpirit who can beare? How mighteſt thou give us up to a reprobate ſence to commit ſinne with greedineſſe, and puniſh one evill with another; and after all this caſt us into that place of torment, to ſucke out the dregs of thy vialls? O God, in all this thou ſhouldeſt be juſtified, and clear when thou are judged, and we deſervedly puniſhed.
Our ſinnes, our ſinnes, O Lord, call to heaven for vengeance; the pit is ready to ſhut her mouth upon us, if thou wert not the Lord of mercies. But thou haſt opened a way for poore diſtreſſed ſinners to come to thee through thy Son. We flye to the horns of the Altar, and intreat thee for Jeſus Chriſt ſake to be mercifull to us.
And thou ſweet Saviour of the world, whoſe name imports mercy, and whoſe worke brought ſalvation for the ſons of men; thou knoweſt that we are but fleſh, and remembreſt that we are but duſt. Thou that art a High Prieſt touched with our infirmities, that knoweſt the power, & ſtrength of old Adam how it leads us captive to ſin and wickednes; ſtand between us, & the wrath of thy offended Father, mediate our cauſe with thy Father, that all our iniquities may be done away by thy ſufferings, that we may ever finde to our comfort, that though we have done ill, we have an advocate with the Father, Ieſus Chriſt the righteous. And doe thou, dear Father, every day more and more aſſure and perſwade our ſouls that thou art reconciled to us in thy Son, by ſending his Spirit into our hearts to renue us to that glorious Image of thine from whence wee are fallen; and which may enable us to performe every good duty: that as heretofore we have given our bodies and ſoules to be weapons of unrighteouſneſſe; ſo in every part and power of them we may glorifie thee our God and Saviour, and as much time as remains in the fleſh, worke out our ſalvation with feare and trembling.
And be cauſe thou of thine infinite wiſdome haſt ſet apart the Miniſtery of thy Word for this purpoſe; good Lord bleſſe it to us at all times, and at this time. Enable me that am to ſpeake, the moſt unworthy of all the ſons of Levi: Lord cover all my ſins and manifold imperfections in that mercy of thine that hath no meaſure; and be pleaſed ſo to aſſiſt me by thy more particular helpe, that I may deliver thy word, boldly, truly, feelingly, and ſincerely. Circumciſe the hearts and eares of this thy people, that they may heare attentively, treaſure it up in their hearts carefully, and bring it forth in their lives and converſations conſcionably, to thy glory, and aſſurance of their owne ſalvation in the day of Jeſus Chriſt; to whom with thee, O Father, and thy bleſſed Spirit, be aſcribed, as is moſt due, all honour and glory, both now, and for evermore.