PRAYERSONSEVERAL OCCASIONS.

PRAYERSONSEVERAL OCCASIONS.PRAYERS.A Prayer for one desiring and seeking after the New-Birth.BLESSEDJesus, thou hast told us in thy gospel, that unless a man be born again of the Spirit, and his righteousness exceed the outward righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, he cannot in anywise enter into the kingdom ofGod. Grant me therefore, I beseech thee, this true circumcision of the heart; and send down thy blessed Spirit to work in me that inward holiness, which alone can make me meet to partake of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light.Create in me, I beseech thee, a new heart, and renew a right spirit within me. For of whom shall I seek for succour but of thee, OLord, with whom alone this is possible?Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole! O say unto my soul, as thou didst once unto the poor leper, I will, be thou renewed. Have compassion on me, OLord, as thou once hadst on blindBartimeus, who sat by the way-side begging.Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest what I would have thee to do. Grant,Lord, that I may receive my sight; for I am conceived and born in Sin; my whole head is sick, my whole heart is faint; from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, I am full of wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores; and yet I see it not. O awaken me, though it be with thunder, to a sensible feeling of the corruptions of my fallen nature; and for thy mercies sake, suffer me no longer to sit in darkness, and the shadow of death.O prick me, prick me to the heart! Dart down a ray of that all-quickening light, which struck thy servantSaulto the ground; and make me cry out with the trembling jailor, “What shall I do to be saved?”Lord, behold I pray, and blush, and am confounded that I never prayed on this wise before.But I have looked upon myself as rich, not considering that I was poor, and blind, and naked. I have trusted to my own righteousness. I flattered myself I was whole, and therefore blindly thought I had no need of thee, O great physician of souls, to heal my sickness.But being now convinced by thy free mercy, that my own righteousness is as filthy rags; and that he is only a true christian who is one inwardly; behold with strong cryings and tears, and groanings that cannot be uttered, I beseech thee to visit me with thy free Spirit, and say unto these dry bones, Live.I confess, OLord, that thy grace is thy own, and that thy Spirit bloweth where he listeth. And wast thou to deal with me after my deserts, and reward me according to my wickednesses, I had long since been given over to a reprobate mind, and bad my conscience seared as with a red-hot iron.But, OLord, since, by sparing me so long, thou hast shewn that thou wouldst not the death of a sinner; and since thou hast promised, that thou wilt give thy holy Spirit to those that ask, I hope thy goodness and long-suffering is intended to lead me to repentance, and that thou wilt not turn away thy face from me.Thou seest, OLord, thou seest, that with the utmost earnestness and humility of soul, I ask thy holy Spirit of thee, and am resolved in confidence of thy promise, who canst not lye, to seek and knock, till I find a door of mercy opened unto me.Lord, save me, or I perish; visit, O visit me with thy salvation. Lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death. O let me no longer continue a stranger to myself, but quicken me, quicken me with thy free Spirit, that I may know myself, even as I am known.Behold, here I am. Let me do or suffer what seemeth good in thy sight, only renew me by thy Spirit in my mind, and make me a partaker of the divine nature. So shall I praise thee all the days of my life, and give thee thanks for ever in the glories of thy kingdom, O most adorable Redeemer;to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all honour and praise, now and for evermore.Amen.A Prayer for one newly awakened to a Sense of the Divine Life.OALMIGHTY and everlasting Father, who in the beginning spake and it was done, saying, “Let there be light, and there was light;” O most adorable Redeemer, who, whenAdamhad eaten the forbidden fruit, wast revealed as the seed of the woman, and didst in the fulness of time die an accursed death to save us from the guilt and power of our sins, and thereby break the serpent’s head; O blessed and eternal Spirit, who didst once move upon the face of the great deep, who didst overshadow the blessed virgin, who didst descend on the Son ofGodat his baptism, and didst come down after his ascension in fiery tongues upon the heads of each of his apostles; O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and oneGod, by whose joint consultation we were first made, and into whose name we have been again baptized; Accept my humble and hearty sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for calling me out of darkness into thy marvelous light; for quickening me when dead in trespasses and sins, and moving on the face of my polluted and disordered soul.Thou hast promised, OLord, that thou wilt not quench the smoaking flax, or break the bruised reed. And thou hast told us, that thy Holy Spirit should be in us as a well of water springing up unto eternal life. Finish therefore, I beseech thee, the good work begun in my soul, and now thou hast called me, never let me lie down again in sin.Thou seest, OLord, the good seed sown in my heart, is but as yet as a very small grain of mustard-seed. O continue to water, with the dew of thy heavenly blessing, what thy own right-hand hath planted, and it shall become a great tree.Thou hast touched the eye of my mind by thy divine power, and I see men as trees walking. Let thy holy Spirit, by his blessed influences, more and more remove the remaining scales, ’till I at length see all things clearly.With shame and confusion of face, OLord, I confess, I am unworthy of this and all other thy mercies. For I have long since done despite to the Spirit of grace, crucified the Son ofGodafresh, and put him to open shame. But do thou, who art rich in mercy to all that call upon thee, in faithfulness forgive me what is past, and grant I may from henceforward work out my salvation with fear and trembling, since thou hast so graciously wrought in me both to will and to do, after thy good pleasure.I know, OLord, that now thou hast begun to deliver me out of my natural, and worse thanEgyptianbondage, I must expect to pass through a barren and dry wilderness, that there are lions in the way, that the sons ofAnakare to be grappled with, before I attain to the true sabbath of the soul.But thou, angel of the everlasting covenant, who didst send thy ministring spirits to rescue righteousLot, who♦leddest thy sheep by the hands ofMosesandAaron, and didst appear in a vision toAnanias, commanding him to go and lay his hands upon thy servantSaul; send me always a faithful and experienced pastor, who may lead me by the hand, and keep me from lingring in my spiritualSodom, by his prudent directions under thee; and preserve me from the snares and fury of my spiritual adversaries, which otherwise may overtake and destroy my soul.♦“ledest” replaced with “leddest”O make me teachable like a little child. Convert my soul and bring it low. Grant I may be willing to learn what things I ought to do, and also may have power faithfully to fulfil the same.Strengthen me, I beseech thee, by the holy Spirit, to cut off a right-hand, to pluck out a right-eye, to lay aside every weight, especially the sin that doth most easily beset me; to forsake father and mother, brethren and sisters, yea, and my own life also, rather than not be thy disciple.O suffer me not to deceive my own soul by a partial reformation. Search me and try me, and examine my heart, and let no secret unmortified lust or passion ever keep me from life everlasting.Lord, I am not my own: Thou hast bought me with the price of thy Son’s most precious blood.Thou hast often required, and lo! I now give thee my heart, to the best of my knowledge, without secretly keeping back the least part. For whom have I in heaven but thee, and what is there on earth that I can desire in comparison of thee!O mould me into thy own most blessed image, myLordand myGod. Fill me with thy grace here, fit me for thy glory hereafter. Even so,Lord Jesus. Amen, and Amen.A Prayer for one under Spiritual Desertion.OEVER blessed and most compassionate Redeemer, who wast in all things tempted like as we are, sin only excepted. O thou lover of souls, who in the days of thy flesh didst offer up strong cries and tears, and wast heard in that thou fearedst. O thou restorer of mankind, who wast in such an agony in the garden, that thou didst sweat great drops of blood, falling to the ground. O thou Almighty High-Priest, who, when through the eternal Spirit thou wast about to make thy soul an offering for sin, wast deserted of thy Father, and didst cry out, in the bitterness of thy soul, “MyGod, myGod, why hast thou forsaken me.” O thou, who now sittest at the right-hand of the Father, continually to make intercession for us, look down, I beseech thee, upon me, thy unworthy servant; for thou hast turned away thy face, and lo! I am troubled; thou hast taken off my chariot-wheels, and I drive heavily; thou hast permitted a cloud to overshadow me, and an horrible darkness, fearfulness, and dread to overwhelm me, so that my spirit would utterly sink within me, did I not believe thou wouldst yet turn again and visit me.Father, if it be possible, remove this horrible darkness; but if my soul cannot be made perfect without it, thy holy, thy blessed will be done.Lo here I am! Deal with me as it seemeth good in thy sight. Only let thy grace be sufficient for me; and in the midst of my agonies send down, I beseech thee, an angel from heaven to strengthen me.Lord, thou knowest that Satan hath desired to have me, that he may sift me as wheat: O grant that my faith fail not.Suffer, O suffer him not to get an advantage over me, for thou art not ignorant of his devices. O let him not so prevail against me, as to make me entertain hard thoughts of thee, my most loving Master; and compassionate Redeemer. For I know, thou of very faithfulness hast caused me thus to be troubled, and dost afflict me for no other reason, but to make me partaker of thy holiness.Give me, O give me the shield of faith, and enable me to repel all the fiery blasphemous thoughts, which that wicked one shall, at any time, dart into my mind. Let me drive them off, as carefully asAbrahamdid the birds that came to devour his sacrifice. And oh! let him never tempt me to think, thou wilt impute them to me for sin.Lord, thou only knowest the present dryness and barrenness of my soul, and how liable I am to be tempted to fret against thee, and to seek pleasure in the creature when I can find no sensible satisfaction in thee, my great Redeemer, who artGod, blessed for ever.But, I beseech thee, keep my soul quiet and composed, and for thy mercy’s sake, enable me only to take pleasure in thee, and to sit down solitary in the bitterness of my soul, and patiently wait till I can draw comfort from thee, the fountain of living waters, rather than hew out to myself broken cisterns, that will hold no water.Never, never let me fall out with any of thy ordinances; or think I do not please thee in my holy duties, because I have no inward sensible pleasure in them myself.Enable me to walk by faith, and not by sight, and to seek thee in the use of all appointed means, though it be sorrowing; being assured, that after three days I shall find thee in the temple; or that thou wilt make thyself known unto me, by breaking of bread, or in some other way.Lord, I believe (help thou my unbelief) that I am now talking with thee, as certainly asMarywas, when thou didst converse with her at the sepulchre; though she knew it not. In thy due time reveal thyself again to me, as thou didst to her, and let me hear the voice of my beloved.Thou hast promised, thou wilt not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but wilt, with the temptation, make a way for us to escape, that we may be able tobear it. Fulfil, OLord, this thy promise! And after I have suffered a while, strengthen, establish, settle, and visit me, as thou didst thy servantAbraham, when he returned from the slaughter of the five Kings.Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me; restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and when my heart is duly prepared, and humbled by these inward trials, grant me a feeling possession of thee, myGod, for the sake of thy dear SonJesus ChristourLord.Amen,Amen.A Prayer for one under the Displeasure of Relations, for being Religious.BLESSEDLord, who hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us; and hast always shewn thyself to be aGodhearing prayer, mighty and willing to save; hear me now, I pray thee, when I call upon thee, for trouble is at hand.Thou seest, OLord, how many of my brethren, according to the flesh, persecute me for thy name’s sake; so that I must renounce them, or decline openly professing thee before men.ButGodforbid I should love father or mother, brethren or sisters, more than thee, and thereby prove myself not worthy of thee. No! I have long since given thee my soul and my body; so, lo! I now freely give thee my friends also.I now find by experience, that as it was formerly, so it is now. They that are born after the flesh, do persecute those that are born after the spirit. Thou camest not to send peace on earth, but a sword. And unless a man forsake all that he hath, he cannot be thy disciple.Lo! I come to perform this part of thy will, O myGod; being assured, that whosoever forsaketh father or mother, brethren or sisters, houses or lands, for thy sake, or the gospel, shall receive a hundred-fold in this present life, with persecution, and in the world to come life everlasting.I trust, OLord, it is for thy sake alone, that I now make an offering of the favour of my friends to thee; for thou knowest, OLord, how continually they cry out againstme, though I am doing no more than thy holy word strictly requires me to do.But do thou, O blessed Saviour, who saidst untoPeter, “Get thee behind me Satan,” enable me to stop my ears to their false insinuations, charm they never so sweetly; for they favour not the things that be ofGod, but the things that be of men. And unless, OLord, thou dost help, they will be an offence unto me, and cause me to deny theLordthat bought me.Far be it from me, OLord, to be surprized, because of those offences; for thou hast long since denounced woe against the world because of offences; and I find it is needful for my soul, that such offences should come, to try what is in my heart; and to try whether I love thee in deed and in truth.Blessed, therefore, for ever blessed be thy holy name, that I am accounted worthy to suffer for thy name’s sake. O let me rejoice, and be exceeding glad, that my reward shall be great in heaven.O let me never regard any of their threatnings; for when my father and mother forsake me, thou, OLord, I am assured, wilt take me up.Take me, O take me into the arms of thy mercy; for henceforward know I no man after the flesh; and whosoever doth the will of my heavenly Father, the same shall be my brother, and sister, and mother.I know, OLord, I know that this will expose me to the derision and persecution of those that are round about me. But do thou, who didst seek for the poor beggar, after he was cast out by theJewishcouncil, and didst reveal thyself unto him, reveal thyself to me also, when my name is cast out as evil by my friends and the world. Though they curse, yet bless thou me, OLord, and enable me, I most humbly beseech thee, to pray for them, even when they most despitefully use me, and persecute me. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”It is owing, OLord, to thy free mercy alone, that I have in any measure been enlightened to know thee and the power of thy resurrection. O let the same grace be sufficientfor them also, and make thy almighty power to be known in their conversion.Thou didst once, O blessed Saviour, magnify thy goodness in turning thy servantPaul, from a bitter persecutor, to be a zealous preacher of thy gospel; and madest the trembling jailor cry out, even to those whose feet he had hurt in the stocks, “Sirs, what shall I do to be saved?”Look down, therefore, I beseech thee, in pity and compassion, on those of my own houshold; and after I am converted myself, make me or some other person instrumental to strengthen these my weak brethren; that though we are now divided amongst ourselves, two against three, and three against two, yet we may at last, all with one heart and one mouth, glorify thee, OLord; that thou mayest come and abide with us, and love us as thou didstLazarus,Mary, and her sisterMartha. Grant this, O Saviour, for thy infinite merits sake!AmenandAmen.A Prayer for one entrusted with the Education of Children.ODEARESTJesus, who gatherest thy lambs into thy bosom, and didst solemnly command thy servantPeter, to feed them; grant I may shew that I love thee more than all things, by doing as thou hast commanded him.Lord, who am I, or what is in me, that thou should thus put honour upon me, in making me any way instrumental to the preparing souls for thee? O thou blessed Saviour, I have sinned against heaven, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, much less to be employed in the service of thy children.But since thou hast been pleased in me, to shew forth all thy mercy, and hast called me by thy good providence to this blessed work, grant I may always remember, that the little flock committed to my charge, are bought with the price of thy own most precious blood. And let it, therefore, be my meat and drink, to feed them with the sincere milk of thy word, that they may grow thereby.To this end, I beseech thee of thy free grace, first to convert my own soul, and cause me to become like a little child, that from an experimental knowledge of my own corruptions, I may have my spiritual senses exercised, to discern the first emotions of evil that may at any time arise in their hearts.O give me, I beseech thee, a discerning spirit, that I may search, and try, and examine the different tempers of their sin-sick souls; and, like a skilful physician, apply healing or corrosive medicines, as their respective maladies may require.GraciousJesus, let punishing be always my strange work; and, if it be possible, grant that they may be all drawn to their duty, as I would be drawn myself, by the cords of love. And when I am obliged to correct them, grant it may not be to shew my authority, or gratify a corrupt passion, but purely out of the same motive from which thou dost correct us, to make them partakers of thy holiness.O! keep me, I beseech thee, from being angry without a cause: Permit me not rashly to be provoked by the infirmities and perverseness of their infant years; but grant I may shew all long-suffering towards them: And by exercising such frequent acts of patience and forbearance, grant I myself may learn the meekness and gentleness ofChrist.O thou, who didst teach thy disciples how to pray, pour down, I beseech thee, the Spirit of grace and supplication into their hearts, that at all times, and in all places, they may both desire and know how to call upon thee by fervent prayer.Father, into thy hands I commend my own and their spirits: Look down from heaven, the habitation of thy holiness, and bless them from thy holy hill.Keep them, O keep them unspotted from the world; grant they may fly youthful lusts, and remember thee, their Creator, in the days of their youth. Train them up, I beseech thee, in the way wherein they should go; and when they are old, let them not depart from it.O thou, who didst sanctifyJeremiahfrom the womb, and calledst youngSamuelbetimes, to wear a linnen ephod before thee, sanctify their whole spirits, souls and bodies, and preserve them blameless, till the second coming of ourLord Jesus Christ.O thou, who didst endueSolomonwith grace, to chuse wisdom before riches and honour; incline their hearts to make the same choice of thee, their only good; and may they always renounce and triumph over the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.Finally, do thou, O blessedJesus, who at twelve years old wast found in the temple, sitting among the Doctors, both hearing and asking them questions, grant, that these children may love to tread the courts of thy house, and have their ears opened betimes, to receive the discipline of wisdom, that so, if it be thy good pleasure, to prolong the time of their pilgrimage, here on earth, they may shine as lights in the world; or, if thou seest it best, to bring down their strength in their journey, and to shorten their days, they may be early fitted by purity of heart, to sing eternalHallelujah’s to thee, the Father, and the Holy Ghost, in the kingdom of heaven for ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake,Jesus ChristourLord.Amen,Amen.A Prayer for a Person in Want.OALL-POWERFUL and graciousGod, who didst bring water out of a rock for the children ofIsrael, and water out of a jaw-bone to sustain a thirstySamson; who hadst compassion uponHagarwhen she was ready to perish, who sentest ravens to feedElijah, and dost feed the young ravens who daily call upon thee, behold me, OLord, who now cry unto thee in great distress.I confess, OLord, I am unworthy of the crumbs which fall from any rich man’s table. Wast thou to deal with me according to my deserts, I should now be lifting up my eyes in torments. But in the midst of judgment, remember mercy. Thou, OLord, art the preserver of the body. Thou hast declared, that godliness has the promise of the life that now is, and that if we seek first the kingdom ofGodand his righteousness, food and raiment shall be added unto us. Fulfil these promises in me thy unworthy servant.I behold the lillies of the field, they toil not, neither do they spin; wilt thou not feed me?Lord, I believe; O help my unbelief! I am ashamed that I have so little faith.Lord Jesus, thou Son ofDavid, I believe that thou wilt help me. Only give me patience to wait till the hour appointed for helping me, is fully come. I know, in thy due time, thou wilt turn my water into wine, and richly supply all my wants. Patiently let me tarry thy leisure. Never let me fret againstthee, myLord. Though I am poor, let me not be tempted to steal; but strengthen me, I beseech thee, against Satan’s assaults. Let me know, that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of thee, myGod. Though poor asLazarus, yet, when I die, let me be carried by angels intoAbraham’s bosom. And however thou mayest be pleased to deal with my body,Lord, feed my soul, I beseech thee, with that bread which cometh down from heaven. Though poor in this world, O let me be rich in faith. Suffer me not to stagger at thy promises through unbelief. Let the poverty of my body be a means of humbling my proud heart. O let me not be ashamed of my low estate, since thou, OLord, didst not disdain to let women minister to thee of their substance, and hadst not where to lay thy head. Help me to sanctify thee myLord Godin my heart, and bring me safe at last to thy heavenly kingdom, throughJesus Christ, my only Advocate and Redeemer.Amen.A Prayer before Singing of Psalms.OALMIGHTYGodwho out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast perfected praise, open our mouths, that our lips may shew forth thy praise. Let our souls be filled as with marrow and fatness, and out of the abundance of our hearts, let our mouths speak. Enable us to sing with the spirit, as well as with the understanding, and to make melody in our hearts unto thee, OLord. O let us rejoice in thee evermore, and help us to shew forth our thankfulness not only with our lips, but in our lives; and from praising thee here,Lordgrant we may, at the hour of death, be translated to join with angels and archangels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee eternally hereafter. Even so,Lord Jesus,AmenandAmen.A Prayer for One before he goes to his Labour.OALL-GRACIOUS, and ever-blessedLord God; who, when thou hadst placed the first man in the garden ofEden, didst command him to dress it, and after he had eaten the forbidden fruit, didst impose this as a part of the divine curseupon him, that he should eat his bread by the sweat of his brows: O most adorableJesus, who thyself didst work at the trade of a carpenter, and hast by an Apostle, commanded all to abide in the vocation wherewith they are called by thee, O prosper thou my handy-work.Behold, in obedience to thy command, I now go forth to labour for the meat which perisheth. O let me do it with a single eye to thy glory, and suffer me never to forget to secure that meat which endureth to everlasting life. Let me not be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. O let me walk with thee all the day long; and though my body be on earth,Lordlet my heart and affections be fixed on thee in heaven, and preserve me, I most humbly beseech thee, in my going out and coming in, from this time forth and for evermore. Do thou, who didst appear to the disciples when they were fishing and mending their nets, manifest thyself unto me, when employed in the business of my lawful calling. Do thou, who calledstMatthewfrom the receipt of custom, call me effectually by thy grace. Grant, OLord, that I may not stand any of my time idle, but be continually improving my talent, that whether I live, I may live unto thee, or whether I die, I may die unto thee, OLord; so that whether living or dying, I may be thine. O never let me be like the unjust steward, ashamed to dig. Suffer me not to be slothful in business, but grant I may be always fervent in spirit, serving thee, OLord. Lift up my hands when they hang down; strengthen, O strengthen my feeble knees, let not the sun burn me by day, nor the moon hurt me by night. Provide for me to-day, and keep me from being solicitously careful for the morrow: and after the labour of this troublesome world is over, translate me, OLord, together with all thy faithful servants, to that happy place, where we shall enjoy an everlasting rest, with thee O Father, with thee O Son, and with thee O Holy Ghost; to whom, as three persons, but oneGod, be ascribed, as is most due, by angels, and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, by things on heaven, and things on earth, all honour, power, might, majesty and dominion, now and for evermore.AmenandAmen.A Prayer for a Rich Man.OSOVEREIGN and all-bountifulLord God, who makest poor, and makest rich, and dost govern all things both in heaven and earth, accept my unfeigned sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for giving me all things richly to enjoy. What am I, OLord, what is in me, that I should have bread enough and to spare, whilst so many are ready to perish with hunger? Not my merit, OLord, but thy mercy; not my foresight, but thy sovereign good-will and pleasure has made me thus to differ from, and hath exalted me above my brethren. O let not my prosperity destroy me; but as thou hast made me rich in this world’s goods, for thy infinite mercy’s sake, make me rich towards thee, rich in faith and good works. Suffer me not, OLord, to say unto gold, thou art my hope, or unto the fine gold, thou art my confidence. Let me not trust in uncertain riches, but in thee, the ever-livingGod. Let me not lay up for myself treasures on earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but grant I may lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust do corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal.I know, OLord, that this is impossible with man, and that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into thy kingdom. But, Abba, Father, all things are possible with thee! Enable me, therefore, by the all-sufficiency of thy grace, to sell all things in affection, to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow thee every day. Give me that faith which overcometh the world. Grant that I may not indulge myself in the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, or make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lust thereof.Lord, let me be given to hospitality. When thy disciples are sick, incline me, OLord, to go to see them; when they are in prison, grant I may not be ashamed to visit them; when they are strangers, may I take them in; when naked, may I cloath them; when hungry, may I feed them; when thirsty, may I give them drink; may I be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, a father to the fatherless, and cause the widow’s heart to leap for joy. May I be a follower of thee, O lowlyJesus, who though thou wast rich, yet for our sakes didst becomepoor, and camest not to be ministered unto, but to minister. O let me ever remember thy words, and count it more blessed to give than to receive. And, as I am like a city built upon a hill, grant that my light may so shine before men, that they seeing my good works, may glorify my Father which is in heaven. Let my affections, OLord, be set on things above, and not on things of the earth. Let my conversation be in heaven, and grant I may use the world, as though I used it not. Make me a faithful steward of thy manifold gifts, OGod, and grant I may not make friends of the accursed mammon of unrighteousness, that when my natural life fails, thy blessed angels may carry me into everlasting habitations, and I may receive that blessed sentence, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thyLord.” Or, if thou pleasest, OLord, for my trial, to order that my riches should take themselves wings, and fly away, grant I may learn how to want, as well as how to abound, and say, with thy servantJob, “TheLordhath given, theLordhath taken away: blessed be the name of theLord.” Having nothing, may I learn to possess all things in thee; and in whatsoever state I am, make me therewith content. May I always behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, and when my appointed time is come, may I not need, like the rich fool in the gospel, to have my soul required of me, but chearfully give up the ghost, and be translated to join withAbraham,Isaac, andJacob, and all the other spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee for ever and ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sakeJesus ChristourLord.Amen, andAmen.A Prayer for a Servant.OTHOU high and lofty one, who inhabitest eternity, yet art pleased to dwell with the humble heart: O blessedJesus, who hast made of one blood, all nations under heaven, with whom there is no respect of persons, and who in the days of thy flesh didst go down to heal a centurion’s sick servant; have mercy, I beseech thee, on me, even me, also a poor servant. Stretch forth the right hand of thy power, to heal all the diseases of my sin-sick soul, and enable me by thy Holy Spirit, faithfully to discharge the several duties of that vocation, whereto I am called by thee. Give me grace, Imost humbly beseech thee, to obey my master, according to the flesh, in all things; not with eye-service, as a man-pleaser, but with singleness of heart, as untoChrist; knowing, that whatsoever any man doth, the same he shall receive of theLord, whether he be bond or free.Make my obedience to my master on earth, like that which the holy angels pay to thee in heaven. When I am commanded to go, may I go; when I am required to come, may I come; whatsoever I am bid to do agreeable to thy will, may I do it heartily, as unto theLord, and not unto men. But if at any time, OLord, to try what is in my heart, thou shouldst permit me to be tempted to do any wickedness, O give me grace, as thou didstJoseph, patiently to submit to a prison, and to death itself, rather than sin against thee, myGod; knowing that it is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towardsGod, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Enable me, OLord, to shew good fidelity in all things committed to my charge. Do thou, who blessedstAbraham’s servant, when he went to take a wife for his master’s sonIsaac, so bless me in all my master’s business, that he may see, asPotiphardid, that theLordmaketh all that I do to prosper in my hands.Keep, OLord, also the door of my lips, that I offend at no time with my tongue; let a false tongue be far from me, and let me never lie unto my master, asGehazidid. O let no such unfaithfulness cleave unto me; lest by being a partaker with him in his crime, I partake also in his punishment. Bridle also my tongue from ever answering again: may all sullenness and peevishness of temper be put away from me, with all passion: may I learn of thee, O holyJesus, to be meek and lowly in heart; O make me patient of reproof, willing to be taught, and subject with all fear and godly reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Or if ever, through the weakness of the flesh, I should offend in this point, asHagardid againstSarah, enable me, I beseech thee, immediately to repent and to return again to my obedience. Grant also, OLord, I may behave holily and unblameably to my fellow servants: let no corrupt communication, nor foolish talking or jesting, which is not convenient, at any time come out of my mouth, but rather giving of thanks: may our conversation be always seasonedwith the salt of thy holy word, and such as may tend to the edifying one another.Endue us all with that charity, which hideth a multitude of faults; and if ever, OLord, thy glory should call me to bring up an ill report to my master against any of my fellow-servants, which, I beseech thee, of thy mercies, I may never have occasion to do; grant it may be done with gentleness and compassion, not to insinuate myself into my master’s favour, but to prevent them sinning against thee, and thereby ruining their own souls. Keep us, we beseech thee, from striving among ourselves, asAbraham’s andLot’s herdsmen did, about any of the concerns of this life; but grant we may be always provoking each other to love and to good works. Preserve us, we beseech thee, from envying one another, either the favour of our master, or any blessing whatsoever. Let us not seek our own, but each our brother’s welfare, as members of the same body, as disciples of the sameLord. When one of us suffers, let all suffer; when one rejoices, let all of us rejoice with him. Make us pitiful and tender-hearted to each other; and if at any time we should have a quarrel, enable us, OLord, immediately to forgive one another, even as thou,God, forChrist’s sake, hast forgiven us.Finally, OLord, endue us with a deep humility, that we may in brotherly love prefer one another, and in lowliness of mind each of us esteem his brother better than himself. O hear all our prayers for our master, and grant that he and his houshold may faithfully serve thee, ourLord. O make him as devout asCornelius, and us, like the soldiers that waited upon him, devout also. That thus adorning thy holy gospel in all things, we may, at thy second coming to judge the world, be rewarded according as we have improved the different talents which we have received from thee, O glorious Redeemer, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever oneGod, world without end.Amen,Amen.A Prayer for a poor Negroe.ORIGHTEOUS Father, who hast made of one blood all nations under heaven, and with whom there is no respect of persons, look down from heaven on me a miserable sinner.And as thou hadst once compassion on the eunuch of the Queen ofCandace, a negroe like myself, OLord, let thy mercy be shewn in like manner upon me. O send some one to teach me the saving knowledge ofJesus Christ. Behold I am foolish;Lord, make me wise unto salvation.Lord, I am poor, do thou enrich me by thy Spirit.Lord, I am miserable in myself, O make me happy in thee.Lord, I am naked, O cloath my poor soul with the righteousness of thy beloved sonJesus. Blessed be thy name, for bringing me over into a christian country. OLord, let me not come in vain. Make me willing in the day of thy power, and for thy mercy’s sake, reveal thy dear Son in me. Shew me what it is to be born again of thy Spirit, and letJesusbe my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Let me know, O Father of lights, how I have died inAdam, and how I must be made alive inChrist. Make me contented with my condition, knowing, OLord, that thou hast placed me in it. Let me never be tempted to rebel against my master or mistress; and enable me to be obedient not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.Lord, keep the door of my lips, that I may not offend with my tongue. Keep my hands from picking and stealing, and suffer me not to behave unseemly on theLord’s-day. Bless my master and mistress, and my labours for their sake. Bless the Governor, and all that bear rule in this province, and grant that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. Have mercy on my poor countrymen:Lord, suffer them no longer to sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Arise, thou Son of Righteousness, arise with healing under thy wings. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, OLord, and let us know the truth as it is inJesus. Grant I may be truly converted myself, and then, if it be thy blessed will, enable me, OLord, to strengthen my poor brethren. O take us poor negroes for thine inheritance, and bless all those who endeavour to teach us thy will. Prosper, OLord, the work of their hands upon them, O prosper thou their handy-work. Grant they may turn thousands and ten thousands of us to righteousness, and shine as the stars in the firmament for ever and ever. May we be their joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of theLord Jesus, and join with them for ever and everin singing praises to thee, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom, as three persons, but oneGod, I desire to give all praise, now and for evermore. Even soLord Jesus,Amen, andAmen.A Prayer for a Person before he goes a Journey.GOD ofAbraham,GodofIsaac, andGodofJacob, who leddest the people through a wilderness by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night; and didst guide the wise men, on their journey toJerusalem, by a star in the east; give thy angels charge concerning me thy unworthy servant, that I may not so much as hurt my foot against a stone. Keep me, OGod, keep me on my journey, and suffer me not to fall among robbers.Jesus, thou good Samaritan, take care of, support, defend, and provide for me. Behold, I go out by the direction of thy providence;Lord, therefore, let thy presence go along with me, and thy Spirit speak to my soul, when I am journeying alone by the way-side. O let me know that I am not alone, because my heavenly Father is with me. Keep me from evil company, or, if it be thy will I should meet with any, give me courage and freedom, OLord, to discourse of the things concerning the kingdom ofGod. And O that thou wouldst let me meet with some of thy own dear children! O that thou wouldst be with us, as with the disciples atEmmaus, and cause our hearts mutually to burn with love towards thee, and one another! Provide for me proper refreshment, and wherever I lodge, be thou constrained, OGod, for thy own name’s sake, to lodge with me. Teach me, whether at home or abroad, to behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth. Preserve my houshold and friends in my absence, and grant that I may return to them again in peace. Enable me patiently to take up every cross that may be put in my way. Let me not be weary and faint in my mind. Make, OLord, right paths for my feet, enable me to hold out to the end of the race set before me, and, after the journey of this life, translate me to that blessed place, where the wicked one will cease from troubling, and my weary soul enjoy an everlasting rest with thee, O Father, Son, and blessed Spirit; to whom, as three persons, but oneGod, be ascribed all possible power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore.Amen.A Prayer for a Person at the Beginning of a Sickness.OALMIGHTY and everlastingGod, with whom alone are the issues of life and death, who dost wound and dost heal, who killest and makest alive, who bringest down to the grave, and liftest up again, and hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us, stretch forth, I beseech thee, the right hand of thy majesty on high, and save me from the power of this present sickness, which otherwise will destroy my life. Have compassion on me, as thou hadst onPeter’s wife’s mother, when she lay sick of a fever. Rebuke my distemper, and grant it may leave me. Speak the word, OLord, and thy servant shall be whole. It is but for thee to say, Go, and it shall go: for I believe,Lord, that thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.Jesus, thou son ofDavid, have mercy upon me. By thine agony and bloody sweat, by thy cross and passion, by thy precious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, goodLorddeliver me from my present approaching illness. Behold, to thee I fly for succour. In obedience to thee, do I give place to the physician. But I know that I may waste all my substance, and shall not grow better, but rather the worse, unless thou, O great Physician, who, in the days of thy flesh, didst give sight to the blind, and restore strength to the lame, and didst cure the woman of the bloody issue, dost also recover me from my sickness. Do thou, therefore, who didst bless a bunch of figs to the recovery ofHezekiah, sanctify the means that shall be made use of to my recovery. O let me not, likeAsa, seek only to the physician, but depend on thee, OLord, for a blessing. Or, if the decree be gone forth that I must die, grant, OLord, I may set my house and heart in order, and though thou killest me, let me put my trust in thee. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: though worms destroy my body, yet grant, that in my flesh I may see thee myGod.If it be thy will, let this sickness not be unto death, but spare me yet a little longer, that I may recover my spiritual strength before I go hence, and am no more seen. If thou seest it best, let this affliction immediately pass from me. Nevertheless,not as I will, but thy will be done. Only sweeten it, OLord, with a sense of thy love, and strengthen me with thy mighty power in the inner man. Let thy grace be sufficient for me. Magnify thy strength in my weakness, and under the shadow of thy almighty wings, let my soul take refuge till this day of thy visitation be overpast. Shew me, OLord, wherefore thou contended with me. For I know of very faithfulness thou hast caused me to be thus troubled. Make thou my bed in my sickness, and let thy rod as well as thy staff, comfort me. In patience, grant I may possess my soul. And though this affliction at present be not joyous, but grievous; yet grant, OLord, I may be so exercised thereby, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Let tribulation, OLord, work patience, patience experience, experience hope, even that hope which maketh not ashamed, and whereby thy love, OGod, may be shed abroad in my heart. Give me, OLord, in this, and in every thing to give thanks, and enable me to suffer, as well as to do thy will, even like the angels in heaven. O! for thine infinite mercy’s sake, let not Satan get any advantage over me, by tempting me to charge thee foolishly. Let not such a wretch as I am, ever complain for this punishment of my sin, knowing that I receive the due reward of my crimes. O suffer me not to cry out with wickedCain, “My punishment is greater than I can bear;” but let me sanctify thee theLord Godin my heart, and rejoice in this tribulation, knowing that whom thou lovest thou chastenest, and scourgest every son whom thou receivest. Blessed be thy name OLord, that thou hast not yet given me over to a reprobate mind. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast not cursed me, as I most justly deserve, as thou didst the barren fig-tree. Blessed be thy name, that thou still dost condescend to dig and dung round me. O purge, purge me for thy mercy’s sake, and grant that I may henceforward bring forth fruit unto thee. O let me not forget this day of my visitation: and if it be thy good pleasure, that I shall not die, but live, grant that I may constantly declare thy works, OLord. Whenever I am cleansed, let me immediately return and give thanks. With thy servantHezekiah, may I go up into thy house, OLord, and pay thee my vows, which I now makewhilst I am in trouble. Suffer me to sin no more, lest a worse evil befal me: and as thou wast pleased to reveal thyself in the temple to the poor man, whom thou didst cure in the days of thy flesh, be pleased, for thy mercy’s sake, to reveal thyself to me. Then shall I shew forth my thankfulness, not only with my lips, but with my life, by giving myself up to thy service, who didst die for our sins, and rise again for our justification; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever.Amen.A Prayer for a Woman lately married to a believing Husband.EVERLASTING Father, who didst makeEveout of the rib ofAdam, and didst give her to him to wife, accept my thanks for calling me to the marriage-state, and blessing me with a husband fearing thee. O, for thy mercy’s sake, make me a help meet for him. Grant, asSarahcalledAbraham, so I may call and honour him as my lord. Let me always remember, I am the weaker vessel, that man was first made, and not woman, and suffer me not at any time to usurp authority over him. O let me always take heed to reverence, and be in subjection to my husband; and let not my adorning be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or of wearing of gold, or of putting on fine apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of thee, myGod, of great price. O let me be grave, discreet, chaste, a keeper at home. Suffer me not to be a busy-body, or to wander about from house to house. Keep me from being a tatler, speaking the things which I ought not. And if thou dost bless me with children,Lord, teach me to guide them in the right way, and manage my house with such meekness and wisdom, that I may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Though in the marriage-state, enable me, OLord, to serve thee without distraction, and let me never be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. May I withMary, continually sit at thy feet, and learn of thee, OJesus, to be meek and lowly in heart. Keep me from being a snare to my husband. Make me willing to part with him whensoever thou shalt call him from me. Into thy hands, OLord,I commend both our spirits, souls and bodies. O sanctify us throughout, and let our seed be blessed. O let our marriage-bed be undefiled, and give us to live together as heirs of the grace ofGod, that our prayers be not hindered. Help us to love one another, like thee and thy church. Give us freedom to pray with and for each other, and grant I may be the glory of my husband, as the church is the glory of thee my Saviour. Hear me, OLord, hear me, according to the multitude of thy mercies inJesusmy Redeemer; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, I desire here and hereafter to ascribe all power, might, majesty, and dominion, for ever and ever.Amen, andAmen.A Prayer for a Man, convinced that it is his Duty to marry, for Direction in the Choice of a Wife.OALMIGHTY, ever-livingGod, who, after thou hadst made all things out of nothing, and man after thy own divine image, didst say, “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him;” look down, OLord, on the work of thine own hands, and hearken to the voice of my humble request. OLord, chuse a help meet for me. ThouLord, art acquainted with my wants. Thou didst once chuse aRebeccaforIsaac. Thou art the same to-day as thou wast yesterday. Bless me, even me also, in like manner, O my Saviour. Suffer me not, OLord, to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. O let me not be in the number of the sons ofGod, who saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them wives of all which they chose.Lord, do thou chuse for me, and direct me to a child of thine own, adorned with a meek and quiet spirit. O suffer me not to fall by the hand of a woman. For,Lord, thou knowest I desire to take a wife, not for lust, but uprightly; therefore, mercifully ordain, that I may have one after thy own heart. When I marry, let it be only in and for thee, OLord. Let not lust or passion pervert or blind my eyes; but,Lord, give me to watch unto prayer, and let thy providence point out the person thou hast appointed for me. Thou didst directAbraham’s servant;Lord, for thy mercy’s sake, direct me. Behold, I call thee, O blessedJesus, to my marriage. Directme also, when I consult my friends, thy disciples. O bless their advice unto me in this important change of my life, and let all know my marriage is of thee, myGod. All which I humbly beg in thy name, and through thy merits, O blessed Lamb ofGod, thou heavenly bridegroom of thy church, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore.Amen, andAmen.A Prayer for a Woman, desiring Direction ofGod, after an Offer of Marriage is made to her.FOUNTAIN of light and life, who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy dear Son’s name, look down on me thy poor handmaid, and answer my request, for thy infinite mercy’s sake.Lord Jesus, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee, and desire only to live unto thee. Shew me, OLord, shew me, for thy mercy’s sake, what thou wouldest have me to do. I see, OLord, the advantages of a single life, and that I can now care only for the things of theLord, and serve thee without distraction. If thou seest this state best for my soul, O give me power over my own will, and never suffer me to know man. But since thou hast declared that “Marriage is honourable in all;” if thou seest that state best for me,Lord, shew me whom thou hast chosen for me. Behold, thy handmaid is now invited to the marriage-state, and thou alone knowest the heart of him who offers to be my husband. O suffer me not to deceive my own soul; watch, OLord, watch over and influence my deceitful heart. O let me see the tokens of thy will, before I give a determinate answer. Suffer me not to say, I will go with him, until I plainly see this proposal is of thee, myGod. Influence my relations hearts, as thou didst influence the hearts ofRebecca’s friends; and if it be thy will I should be joined with this thy servant, O let me love him only in thee, and for thee, to the glory of thy great name, and the salvation of both our immortal souls, throughJesus Christour Lord. Even so,Lord Jesus,Amen, andAmen.A Prayer for Persons in a Storm at Sea.DEARESTLord, and all-powerful Redeemer, who wast praying on the mountain, whilst thy disciples were toiling and rowing all night, and the wind was contrary; who didst also appear by night to thy servantPaulin a ship-wreck, saying, “Fear not,Paul, forGodhas given thee all the souls that sail with thee;” mercifully look upon us, who are now exposed to the same danger. Say unto our souls, “It is I; be not afraid:” and to the winds, “Peace, be still;” and immediately there shall be a great calm.Save,Lord, or we perish; for the waves rage horribly. Thou hast sent forth thy word, and the waters flow. O let not the deep shut her mouth upon us, and suffer not the water-floods to swallow us up!We know, OLord, for what cause this evil is come upon us. We have not feared thee, theGodof heaven, who madest the sea and dry land, as we ought. Therefore we are exceedingly afraid, lest thou shouldst not deliver us in this needful time of trouble.But O thou who didst once hearJonah, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of the fish, though he was fleeing from thy presence, hear us also for thy mercy’s sake. For thou hast cast us into the deep, into the midst of the seas, the floods are compassing us about, and thy billows and waves are passing over us. Save our lives from destruction, OLordourGod, and let us yet lift up our hands unto thee in thy holy temple.But if the decree be gone forth, that our bodies must now perish and see corruption, thy blessed will be done. Only grant, OLord, that our souls may be precious in thy sight, and that we may be preserved from the storm of thy everlasting anger; so that when the voice of the archangel shall sound, and the trump ofGodcommand the sea to give up its dead, we may rise to life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, oneGod, now and for ever.Amen, andAmen.A Thanksgiving for a safe Arrival after a Voyage.ALMIGHTY and graciousLord God, who art good, and doest good, who sendest thy rain on the just and on the unjust, and causest thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good; we thy unworthy servants humbly beseech thee, that thou wouldst open our lips, and enlarge our hearts, to shew forth thy praise, for letting us see thy wonders in the deep, and for leading us through the sea, as on dry land, and bringing us to the haven where we would be.O do thou, who didst inspireMosesand the children ofIsraelto sing a song unto thee, when thou broughtest them up out of the Red-sea, open our lips, OLord, that our mouths may shew forth thy praise: for thou art our strength and our song, and art become our salvation. Thy right hand is become glorious in power. Who is like unto thee, OGod, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Praise theLord, O our souls, and may all that is within us praise his holy name.We have seen thy paths in the great waters, and thy providence and power hath alone preserved us, otherwise the deep had long since overwhelmed us, and the waters gone over our souls. It is thy arm, OLord, alone hath brought us this salvation. O that we may therefore praise thee for thy goodness, and declare the wonders that thou hast shewn to us, the unworthiest of the children of men.Lord, let us never be unmindful of thy manifold mercies, but enable us to pay thee the vows we made thee when we were in trouble. O keep us, keep us, we beseech thee, unspotted from the world into which thou art sending us. Grant we may not turn thy grace into wantonness, but henceforward walk so holy, and unblameably in all manner of conversation and godliness, that after we have passed the waves of this troublesome world, we may arrive at the haven of eternal rest, which thou hast prepared for all that love ourLord Jesusin sincerity. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sakeJesus Christour Saviour.Amen, andAmen.A Prayer for a Sailor.OTHOUGodof the sea and dry land, who in thy strength settest fast the mountains, and art girded about with power, who claspest the winds in thy fist, and holdest the waters in the hollow of thy hand, who deckest thyself with light, as with a garment, who spreadest out the heavens like a curtain, who tellest the number of the stars, and callest them all by their names, who hast set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass, and hast said, Hitherto shall ye come and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed: O thou, who hast madePleiades,Orion, andArcturus, who layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters, who makest the clouds thy chariot, and walkest on the wings of the wind: O thou almightyJehovah, who hast called me by thy providence to go down to the sea in ships, and to occupy my business in the great waters; grant, that as I daily see, so I may daily admire thy wonders in the deep, and learn from storms and winds to obey thy word. They go, OLord, when thou biddest them go; they come, when thou commandest them to come. But I have broken all thy commands: thou hast commanded me to go often, but alas! I go not. Thou requirest me to come and draw near unto thee in prayer, but alas! I come not. Or if I do pray unto thee at such time as a storm comes upon me, yet my devotion ceases with the storm, it is but like a morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away.Lord, I blush and am confounded, when I consider how often thou hast magnified thy power in my preservation, and yet that I could continue so ungrateful. Thou hast often heard me when I have cried unto thee, when I have been staggering to and fro, and been at my wit’s end, when the waves went up to the heavens, and down to the hell beneath, and my soul hath fainted for very trouble: but I have forgotten to praise thee, OLord, for thy goodness, and to thank thee for the wonders thou hast shewn to me, the unworthiest of the sons of men.Thou wast withNoahin the ark, and his little family; O do thou vouchsafe to guide and protect me. Thou wast withJonah, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of hell; hearme also, now I cry unto thee out of the great deep. I would not behave more wisely in the things of this life, than in the things which belong to my everlasting peace. Let me not be so careful to shun a shipwreck, and never fear making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Let me not be so careful to eye my compass, and yet seldom eye thy most holy word, which alone can guide me through this world to the haven of everlasting rest. Let me not every day be solicitous to be at my wished-for port, and never desire to see and enjoy thee. Let me not daily improve every wind, and continually neglect those glorious opportunities, which I enjoy of fitting myself for thee. Let me not fear a storm, and yet never fear that fiery tempest, which will ere long come upon the wicked, from thy presence.Keep me, OGod, from impatience, when the winds and seas are contrary. Grant me a lively persuasion, that thy providence ruleth all things; that thou intendest every thing for my good, and enable me therefore patiently to tarry thy leisure, and to give thee thanks for all things that befal me, since it is thy will inChrist Jesusconcerning me. Let me not complain of the weather, since that is tacitly complaining of thee, myGod.Keep, OLord, I beseech thee, the door of my lips, that I may not offend thee with my tongue. O put away swearing far from me, and let me no longer, as I have done, cloath myself with cursing as with raiment, lest, as I delight in cursing, it should happen unto me, and as I loved not blessing, so it may be far from me.O let me no longer deceive my own soul, by thinking it impossible thus to offend thee with my tongue. All things are possible with thee, myGod! Purify, therefore, I beseech thee, my heart: create in me a new heart; renew a right spirit within me: for out of the abundant wickedness contained therein, my mouth hath so often uttered profane things.Keep me, OLord, I beseech thee, unspotted in my conversation, and let not the evil communications, to which I am daily exposed, corrupt my good manners. O let me never have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather give me courage to reprove them; and, as my life is always in thy hand, O let me not forget thy law.Grant, OLord, that the crosses I meet with, may not increase, but rather break my passions. Let me, in the hours of watching, watch unto prayer, and teach me to endure hardness like a good soldier ofJesus Christ.Keep me, OLord, from loving unrighteous gain, and grant I may render untoCæsarthe things that areCæsar’s, and pay tribute to whom tribute is due: knowing that money unjustly gotten, is but laid up to the owner’s hurt, and that hereafter it will pierce me through with many sorrows, and eat my flesh as doth fire. May my one business be to lay up treasures in heaven, and to secure an interest in thee, O blessedJesus, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, oneGod, blessed for evermore.Amen, andAmen.The Pious Soul longing for Heaven.LORD! how have I loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. O glorious seat; the residence and the workmanship of the great, the mightyGod: let me continue, let me increase in this love of thee more and more.Let this weary pilgrimage be spent in advancing daily toward thee, and may the breathing of my soul after thee, sanctify and comfort the labours of each day, and refresh my waking thoughts by night.Let my heart be always where my treasure is already; and in this dry and desolate wilderness, may I feel no other thirst, than that of arriving at my heavenlyCanaan, and partaking in the society and the joys of that happy people, who have theLordfor theirGod.O may thatGodwho made me, possess me in his holy temple! Not that I dare presume to hope for thy beauty and bliss upon the account of any deserts of my own; but yet, the humblest sense of my own unworthiness will not sink me into despair of it, when I reflect upon the blood of Him who died to purchase this mansion for me. Let but his merits be applied to me; let his intercessions assist my want of worth, and then I am safe; for those merits cannot be overbalanced by my sins, nor were, or can those prayers be ever offered up toGodin vain.For my own part, I confess with shame and sorrow, that I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost, drawn out my wandrings and my miseries to a great length, and am cast out of the sight of myGod, into the blindness and darkness of a spiritual banishment. In this forlorn estate I sadly bewail the wretchedness of my captivity, and sing mournful songs when I remember thee, OJerusalem. As yet I am at an uncomfortable distance, and at best my feet stand only in the outer courts ofSion. The beauties of the sanctuary are behind the veil, and kept hid from my longing eyes; but I am full of hope, that the builder of this sanctuary, and thegracious shepherd of souls, will carry me in upon his shoulders, that I may there rejoice with that gladness unspeakable, which all those happy saints feel, who are already admitted into the presence of theirGodand Saviour; the Saviour who hath opened his royal palace to all believers, by abolishing the enmity in his flesh, and reconciling all things in heaven and earth by his own blood.He is our peace, who hath made both one, and broken down the middle wall of partition, promising to give us the same degree of happiness in his own due time, which is already enjoyed in thee. For thus he hath declared, that they who are worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, shall be equal unto the angels. OJerusalem, the eternal habitation of the eternalGod! may’st thou be the second darling of my soul, and only he be preferred before thee in my affection, who shed his blood to make me worthy of thee. Be thou the joy and comfort of my languishing mind, my great support in hardships and distresses; may the remembrance of thee be ever sweet, and the mention of thy name a holy means to drive away all sorrow from my soul.An Act of Praise.BLESS theLord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless theLord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. O praise theLord, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominions; praise theLord, O my soul.Let us magnify that greatGod, whom angels praise, whom dominions adore, whom powers fall down and tremble before; whose excellent glory cherubim and seraphim proclaim with loud incessant voices: let us bear a part in this heavenly song, and together with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, laud and magnify that glorious name; let us tune our voices with theirs, and though we cannot reach their pitch, yet will we exert the utmost of our skill and power, in this tribute to the same commonLord; and say with them, as poor mortals are able, Holy, holy, holy,Lord Godof Hosts; heaven and earth are full of thy glory; glory be to thee, OLordmost high.For these are the happy spirits, who offer a sacrifice of pure praise before the throne ofGodcontinually, who are ever wrapt in the contemplations of his perfections; and see them, not like us through a glass darkly, but near at hand, and face to face.What tongue can express, what thought conceive, the admirable beauty, the exact order, the numberless multitude of this heavenly host? The inexhaustible source of joy springing from the beatific vision; the fervent love which ministers delight without torment; the ever-growing desire, which rises with their satisfactions, and the grateful satisfactions, which crown that desire; a desire always eager, and never uneasy, always full, and never cloyed: the blessedness derived down to them, by their inseparable union to the fountain of all bliss; the light communicated to them from the original light; the happy change into an immutable nature, by seeing the immutableGodas he is, and being transformed into the likeness of him they see?But, how, alas! should we hope to comprehend the divinity and bliss of angels so far above us, when we feel ourselves unable to find out the nature and perfection of our very soul within us? What sort of being must this be, which inspires a lump of dead flesh with life and activity, and yet, when most desirous so to do, cannot confine its thoughts to holy exercises? What a mixture of power and impotence is here? How great, and yet how poor and little is this principle, which dives into the secrets of the most high, searches the deep things ofGod, and expands itself to celestial objects, at the same time that it is forced to employ its talent in the invention of useful arts, and to serve the necessities of a mortal life? What sort of creature is this, that knows so much of other things, and so little of itself; so ingenious in matters abroad, so perfectly in the dark to what is done at home? Specious but very disputable notions have indeed been advanced concerning the origin of our soul; but all we know of it, amounts at last to this; that it is an intellectual Spirit, created by the Almighty power of its divine maker, endued with such an immortality as he was pleased to qualify it for; enlivening and sustaining a body subject to change, corruption, and death, and liable to all the unequal affectionsof fear and joy, and every turbulent passion, that in their turns exalt and depress, enlarge or contract its power.And what an amazing thing is this now! The more we attend to it, the more we shall find ourselves lost in wonder. When we read, or speak, or write ofGod, the great creator of the universe, we can distinguish ourselves clearly and distinctly, though at the same time his perfections be too vast, for our words to express, or our minds to comprehend; the subject, not of an adequate conception, but of an awful astonishment.But when we descend lower, and treat of angels and created spirits, of souls united to bodies, and beings of the same level with, or a condition inferior to our own; we are not able to support our ideas with proofs so incontestable; and find it impracticable to satisfy ourselves or others in the enquiries concerning them.Why then should we, to so very little purpose, hover uncertainly about these lower regions, and spend our time and pains in groping in the dark? No, let our minds rather enlarge their thoughts, and take a nobler range; let them leave all created objects behind, and run, and mount, and fly aloft: and, taking faith to the assistance of reason, fix their eyes, with the utmost intenseness our nature will bear, upon the Creator, the Universal Cause.Yes, I will make a ladder, like that ofJacob’s, reaching from earth to heaven, and as by rounds, go up from my body to my soul, from my own soul to that eternal Spirit that made it; who sustains, preserves it always with me, about me, above me; thus skipping over all the intermediate stages of beings, and re-uniting my own soul to Him from whom it came, and in whose image it was created.Whatever bodily eyes can discern, whatever leaves impressions upon my imaginative faculty, shall be resolutely set out of the way, as a hinderance to that more abstracted contemplation, which my mind is desirous to indulge.A pure and simple act of the understanding, is that which must carry me up, and boldly soar at once to the Creator of angels, and souls, and of all things.And happy is that soul, which, refusing to be detained by low and viler objects, directs its flight to the noblest and mostexalted, and, like the eagle, builds its nest in the top of the rocks, and keeps its eye steady upon the Sun of righteousness; for no beauty is so charming, no pleasure so transporting, as that with which our eyes and mind are feasted, when our greedy sight and eager affections are determined to ourGodand Saviour, as to their only proper center; when, by a wondrous mystical, but true and spiritual act of vision, we see him who is invisible; behold a light far different from this which chears our senses, and taste a pleasure infinitely sweeter than any this world and its joys can afford; for this is a short and insincere pleasure; this is a dim and feeble light, confined to a narrow space, always in motion from us, and in few hours put out by constant returns of darkness: these are enjoyments which the great Creator hath distributed to brutes, nay, to the vilest of insects, in common with mankind; and therefore let us thirst and aspire after such as are truly divine; for what even swine and worms share with us, cannot deserve the name of light and pleasure, but, in comparison of those more refined, are to be esteemed no better than pain and night.Now toGodthe Father,&c.

PRAYERS.

A Prayer for one desiring and seeking after the New-Birth.

BLESSEDJesus, thou hast told us in thy gospel, that unless a man be born again of the Spirit, and his righteousness exceed the outward righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, he cannot in anywise enter into the kingdom ofGod. Grant me therefore, I beseech thee, this true circumcision of the heart; and send down thy blessed Spirit to work in me that inward holiness, which alone can make me meet to partake of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light.

Create in me, I beseech thee, a new heart, and renew a right spirit within me. For of whom shall I seek for succour but of thee, OLord, with whom alone this is possible?Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole! O say unto my soul, as thou didst once unto the poor leper, I will, be thou renewed. Have compassion on me, OLord, as thou once hadst on blindBartimeus, who sat by the way-side begging.

Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest what I would have thee to do. Grant,Lord, that I may receive my sight; for I am conceived and born in Sin; my whole head is sick, my whole heart is faint; from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, I am full of wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores; and yet I see it not. O awaken me, though it be with thunder, to a sensible feeling of the corruptions of my fallen nature; and for thy mercies sake, suffer me no longer to sit in darkness, and the shadow of death.

O prick me, prick me to the heart! Dart down a ray of that all-quickening light, which struck thy servantSaulto the ground; and make me cry out with the trembling jailor, “What shall I do to be saved?”

Lord, behold I pray, and blush, and am confounded that I never prayed on this wise before.

But I have looked upon myself as rich, not considering that I was poor, and blind, and naked. I have trusted to my own righteousness. I flattered myself I was whole, and therefore blindly thought I had no need of thee, O great physician of souls, to heal my sickness.

But being now convinced by thy free mercy, that my own righteousness is as filthy rags; and that he is only a true christian who is one inwardly; behold with strong cryings and tears, and groanings that cannot be uttered, I beseech thee to visit me with thy free Spirit, and say unto these dry bones, Live.

I confess, OLord, that thy grace is thy own, and that thy Spirit bloweth where he listeth. And wast thou to deal with me after my deserts, and reward me according to my wickednesses, I had long since been given over to a reprobate mind, and bad my conscience seared as with a red-hot iron.

But, OLord, since, by sparing me so long, thou hast shewn that thou wouldst not the death of a sinner; and since thou hast promised, that thou wilt give thy holy Spirit to those that ask, I hope thy goodness and long-suffering is intended to lead me to repentance, and that thou wilt not turn away thy face from me.

Thou seest, OLord, thou seest, that with the utmost earnestness and humility of soul, I ask thy holy Spirit of thee, and am resolved in confidence of thy promise, who canst not lye, to seek and knock, till I find a door of mercy opened unto me.

Lord, save me, or I perish; visit, O visit me with thy salvation. Lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death. O let me no longer continue a stranger to myself, but quicken me, quicken me with thy free Spirit, that I may know myself, even as I am known.

Behold, here I am. Let me do or suffer what seemeth good in thy sight, only renew me by thy Spirit in my mind, and make me a partaker of the divine nature. So shall I praise thee all the days of my life, and give thee thanks for ever in the glories of thy kingdom, O most adorable Redeemer;to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all honour and praise, now and for evermore.Amen.

A Prayer for one newly awakened to a Sense of the Divine Life.

OALMIGHTY and everlasting Father, who in the beginning spake and it was done, saying, “Let there be light, and there was light;” O most adorable Redeemer, who, whenAdamhad eaten the forbidden fruit, wast revealed as the seed of the woman, and didst in the fulness of time die an accursed death to save us from the guilt and power of our sins, and thereby break the serpent’s head; O blessed and eternal Spirit, who didst once move upon the face of the great deep, who didst overshadow the blessed virgin, who didst descend on the Son ofGodat his baptism, and didst come down after his ascension in fiery tongues upon the heads of each of his apostles; O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and oneGod, by whose joint consultation we were first made, and into whose name we have been again baptized; Accept my humble and hearty sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for calling me out of darkness into thy marvelous light; for quickening me when dead in trespasses and sins, and moving on the face of my polluted and disordered soul.

Thou hast promised, OLord, that thou wilt not quench the smoaking flax, or break the bruised reed. And thou hast told us, that thy Holy Spirit should be in us as a well of water springing up unto eternal life. Finish therefore, I beseech thee, the good work begun in my soul, and now thou hast called me, never let me lie down again in sin.

Thou seest, OLord, the good seed sown in my heart, is but as yet as a very small grain of mustard-seed. O continue to water, with the dew of thy heavenly blessing, what thy own right-hand hath planted, and it shall become a great tree.

Thou hast touched the eye of my mind by thy divine power, and I see men as trees walking. Let thy holy Spirit, by his blessed influences, more and more remove the remaining scales, ’till I at length see all things clearly.

With shame and confusion of face, OLord, I confess, I am unworthy of this and all other thy mercies. For I have long since done despite to the Spirit of grace, crucified the Son ofGodafresh, and put him to open shame. But do thou, who art rich in mercy to all that call upon thee, in faithfulness forgive me what is past, and grant I may from henceforward work out my salvation with fear and trembling, since thou hast so graciously wrought in me both to will and to do, after thy good pleasure.

I know, OLord, that now thou hast begun to deliver me out of my natural, and worse thanEgyptianbondage, I must expect to pass through a barren and dry wilderness, that there are lions in the way, that the sons ofAnakare to be grappled with, before I attain to the true sabbath of the soul.

But thou, angel of the everlasting covenant, who didst send thy ministring spirits to rescue righteousLot, who♦leddest thy sheep by the hands ofMosesandAaron, and didst appear in a vision toAnanias, commanding him to go and lay his hands upon thy servantSaul; send me always a faithful and experienced pastor, who may lead me by the hand, and keep me from lingring in my spiritualSodom, by his prudent directions under thee; and preserve me from the snares and fury of my spiritual adversaries, which otherwise may overtake and destroy my soul.

♦“ledest” replaced with “leddest”

♦“ledest” replaced with “leddest”

♦“ledest” replaced with “leddest”

O make me teachable like a little child. Convert my soul and bring it low. Grant I may be willing to learn what things I ought to do, and also may have power faithfully to fulfil the same.

Strengthen me, I beseech thee, by the holy Spirit, to cut off a right-hand, to pluck out a right-eye, to lay aside every weight, especially the sin that doth most easily beset me; to forsake father and mother, brethren and sisters, yea, and my own life also, rather than not be thy disciple.

O suffer me not to deceive my own soul by a partial reformation. Search me and try me, and examine my heart, and let no secret unmortified lust or passion ever keep me from life everlasting.

Lord, I am not my own: Thou hast bought me with the price of thy Son’s most precious blood.

Thou hast often required, and lo! I now give thee my heart, to the best of my knowledge, without secretly keeping back the least part. For whom have I in heaven but thee, and what is there on earth that I can desire in comparison of thee!

O mould me into thy own most blessed image, myLordand myGod. Fill me with thy grace here, fit me for thy glory hereafter. Even so,Lord Jesus. Amen, and Amen.

A Prayer for one under Spiritual Desertion.

OEVER blessed and most compassionate Redeemer, who wast in all things tempted like as we are, sin only excepted. O thou lover of souls, who in the days of thy flesh didst offer up strong cries and tears, and wast heard in that thou fearedst. O thou restorer of mankind, who wast in such an agony in the garden, that thou didst sweat great drops of blood, falling to the ground. O thou Almighty High-Priest, who, when through the eternal Spirit thou wast about to make thy soul an offering for sin, wast deserted of thy Father, and didst cry out, in the bitterness of thy soul, “MyGod, myGod, why hast thou forsaken me.” O thou, who now sittest at the right-hand of the Father, continually to make intercession for us, look down, I beseech thee, upon me, thy unworthy servant; for thou hast turned away thy face, and lo! I am troubled; thou hast taken off my chariot-wheels, and I drive heavily; thou hast permitted a cloud to overshadow me, and an horrible darkness, fearfulness, and dread to overwhelm me, so that my spirit would utterly sink within me, did I not believe thou wouldst yet turn again and visit me.

Father, if it be possible, remove this horrible darkness; but if my soul cannot be made perfect without it, thy holy, thy blessed will be done.

Lo here I am! Deal with me as it seemeth good in thy sight. Only let thy grace be sufficient for me; and in the midst of my agonies send down, I beseech thee, an angel from heaven to strengthen me.

Lord, thou knowest that Satan hath desired to have me, that he may sift me as wheat: O grant that my faith fail not.

Suffer, O suffer him not to get an advantage over me, for thou art not ignorant of his devices. O let him not so prevail against me, as to make me entertain hard thoughts of thee, my most loving Master; and compassionate Redeemer. For I know, thou of very faithfulness hast caused me thus to be troubled, and dost afflict me for no other reason, but to make me partaker of thy holiness.

Give me, O give me the shield of faith, and enable me to repel all the fiery blasphemous thoughts, which that wicked one shall, at any time, dart into my mind. Let me drive them off, as carefully asAbrahamdid the birds that came to devour his sacrifice. And oh! let him never tempt me to think, thou wilt impute them to me for sin.

Lord, thou only knowest the present dryness and barrenness of my soul, and how liable I am to be tempted to fret against thee, and to seek pleasure in the creature when I can find no sensible satisfaction in thee, my great Redeemer, who artGod, blessed for ever.

But, I beseech thee, keep my soul quiet and composed, and for thy mercy’s sake, enable me only to take pleasure in thee, and to sit down solitary in the bitterness of my soul, and patiently wait till I can draw comfort from thee, the fountain of living waters, rather than hew out to myself broken cisterns, that will hold no water.

Never, never let me fall out with any of thy ordinances; or think I do not please thee in my holy duties, because I have no inward sensible pleasure in them myself.

Enable me to walk by faith, and not by sight, and to seek thee in the use of all appointed means, though it be sorrowing; being assured, that after three days I shall find thee in the temple; or that thou wilt make thyself known unto me, by breaking of bread, or in some other way.

Lord, I believe (help thou my unbelief) that I am now talking with thee, as certainly asMarywas, when thou didst converse with her at the sepulchre; though she knew it not. In thy due time reveal thyself again to me, as thou didst to her, and let me hear the voice of my beloved.

Thou hast promised, thou wilt not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but wilt, with the temptation, make a way for us to escape, that we may be able tobear it. Fulfil, OLord, this thy promise! And after I have suffered a while, strengthen, establish, settle, and visit me, as thou didst thy servantAbraham, when he returned from the slaughter of the five Kings.

Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me; restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and when my heart is duly prepared, and humbled by these inward trials, grant me a feeling possession of thee, myGod, for the sake of thy dear SonJesus ChristourLord.Amen,Amen.

A Prayer for one under the Displeasure of Relations, for being Religious.

BLESSEDLord, who hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us; and hast always shewn thyself to be aGodhearing prayer, mighty and willing to save; hear me now, I pray thee, when I call upon thee, for trouble is at hand.

Thou seest, OLord, how many of my brethren, according to the flesh, persecute me for thy name’s sake; so that I must renounce them, or decline openly professing thee before men.

ButGodforbid I should love father or mother, brethren or sisters, more than thee, and thereby prove myself not worthy of thee. No! I have long since given thee my soul and my body; so, lo! I now freely give thee my friends also.

I now find by experience, that as it was formerly, so it is now. They that are born after the flesh, do persecute those that are born after the spirit. Thou camest not to send peace on earth, but a sword. And unless a man forsake all that he hath, he cannot be thy disciple.

Lo! I come to perform this part of thy will, O myGod; being assured, that whosoever forsaketh father or mother, brethren or sisters, houses or lands, for thy sake, or the gospel, shall receive a hundred-fold in this present life, with persecution, and in the world to come life everlasting.

I trust, OLord, it is for thy sake alone, that I now make an offering of the favour of my friends to thee; for thou knowest, OLord, how continually they cry out againstme, though I am doing no more than thy holy word strictly requires me to do.

But do thou, O blessed Saviour, who saidst untoPeter, “Get thee behind me Satan,” enable me to stop my ears to their false insinuations, charm they never so sweetly; for they favour not the things that be ofGod, but the things that be of men. And unless, OLord, thou dost help, they will be an offence unto me, and cause me to deny theLordthat bought me.

Far be it from me, OLord, to be surprized, because of those offences; for thou hast long since denounced woe against the world because of offences; and I find it is needful for my soul, that such offences should come, to try what is in my heart; and to try whether I love thee in deed and in truth.

Blessed, therefore, for ever blessed be thy holy name, that I am accounted worthy to suffer for thy name’s sake. O let me rejoice, and be exceeding glad, that my reward shall be great in heaven.

O let me never regard any of their threatnings; for when my father and mother forsake me, thou, OLord, I am assured, wilt take me up.

Take me, O take me into the arms of thy mercy; for henceforward know I no man after the flesh; and whosoever doth the will of my heavenly Father, the same shall be my brother, and sister, and mother.

I know, OLord, I know that this will expose me to the derision and persecution of those that are round about me. But do thou, who didst seek for the poor beggar, after he was cast out by theJewishcouncil, and didst reveal thyself unto him, reveal thyself to me also, when my name is cast out as evil by my friends and the world. Though they curse, yet bless thou me, OLord, and enable me, I most humbly beseech thee, to pray for them, even when they most despitefully use me, and persecute me. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

It is owing, OLord, to thy free mercy alone, that I have in any measure been enlightened to know thee and the power of thy resurrection. O let the same grace be sufficientfor them also, and make thy almighty power to be known in their conversion.

Thou didst once, O blessed Saviour, magnify thy goodness in turning thy servantPaul, from a bitter persecutor, to be a zealous preacher of thy gospel; and madest the trembling jailor cry out, even to those whose feet he had hurt in the stocks, “Sirs, what shall I do to be saved?”

Look down, therefore, I beseech thee, in pity and compassion, on those of my own houshold; and after I am converted myself, make me or some other person instrumental to strengthen these my weak brethren; that though we are now divided amongst ourselves, two against three, and three against two, yet we may at last, all with one heart and one mouth, glorify thee, OLord; that thou mayest come and abide with us, and love us as thou didstLazarus,Mary, and her sisterMartha. Grant this, O Saviour, for thy infinite merits sake!AmenandAmen.

A Prayer for one entrusted with the Education of Children.

ODEARESTJesus, who gatherest thy lambs into thy bosom, and didst solemnly command thy servantPeter, to feed them; grant I may shew that I love thee more than all things, by doing as thou hast commanded him.

Lord, who am I, or what is in me, that thou should thus put honour upon me, in making me any way instrumental to the preparing souls for thee? O thou blessed Saviour, I have sinned against heaven, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, much less to be employed in the service of thy children.

But since thou hast been pleased in me, to shew forth all thy mercy, and hast called me by thy good providence to this blessed work, grant I may always remember, that the little flock committed to my charge, are bought with the price of thy own most precious blood. And let it, therefore, be my meat and drink, to feed them with the sincere milk of thy word, that they may grow thereby.

To this end, I beseech thee of thy free grace, first to convert my own soul, and cause me to become like a little child, that from an experimental knowledge of my own corruptions, I may have my spiritual senses exercised, to discern the first emotions of evil that may at any time arise in their hearts.

O give me, I beseech thee, a discerning spirit, that I may search, and try, and examine the different tempers of their sin-sick souls; and, like a skilful physician, apply healing or corrosive medicines, as their respective maladies may require.

GraciousJesus, let punishing be always my strange work; and, if it be possible, grant that they may be all drawn to their duty, as I would be drawn myself, by the cords of love. And when I am obliged to correct them, grant it may not be to shew my authority, or gratify a corrupt passion, but purely out of the same motive from which thou dost correct us, to make them partakers of thy holiness.

O! keep me, I beseech thee, from being angry without a cause: Permit me not rashly to be provoked by the infirmities and perverseness of their infant years; but grant I may shew all long-suffering towards them: And by exercising such frequent acts of patience and forbearance, grant I myself may learn the meekness and gentleness ofChrist.

O thou, who didst teach thy disciples how to pray, pour down, I beseech thee, the Spirit of grace and supplication into their hearts, that at all times, and in all places, they may both desire and know how to call upon thee by fervent prayer.

Father, into thy hands I commend my own and their spirits: Look down from heaven, the habitation of thy holiness, and bless them from thy holy hill.

Keep them, O keep them unspotted from the world; grant they may fly youthful lusts, and remember thee, their Creator, in the days of their youth. Train them up, I beseech thee, in the way wherein they should go; and when they are old, let them not depart from it.

O thou, who didst sanctifyJeremiahfrom the womb, and calledst youngSamuelbetimes, to wear a linnen ephod before thee, sanctify their whole spirits, souls and bodies, and preserve them blameless, till the second coming of ourLord Jesus Christ.

O thou, who didst endueSolomonwith grace, to chuse wisdom before riches and honour; incline their hearts to make the same choice of thee, their only good; and may they always renounce and triumph over the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.

Finally, do thou, O blessedJesus, who at twelve years old wast found in the temple, sitting among the Doctors, both hearing and asking them questions, grant, that these children may love to tread the courts of thy house, and have their ears opened betimes, to receive the discipline of wisdom, that so, if it be thy good pleasure, to prolong the time of their pilgrimage, here on earth, they may shine as lights in the world; or, if thou seest it best, to bring down their strength in their journey, and to shorten their days, they may be early fitted by purity of heart, to sing eternalHallelujah’s to thee, the Father, and the Holy Ghost, in the kingdom of heaven for ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake,Jesus ChristourLord.Amen,Amen.

A Prayer for a Person in Want.

OALL-POWERFUL and graciousGod, who didst bring water out of a rock for the children ofIsrael, and water out of a jaw-bone to sustain a thirstySamson; who hadst compassion uponHagarwhen she was ready to perish, who sentest ravens to feedElijah, and dost feed the young ravens who daily call upon thee, behold me, OLord, who now cry unto thee in great distress.

I confess, OLord, I am unworthy of the crumbs which fall from any rich man’s table. Wast thou to deal with me according to my deserts, I should now be lifting up my eyes in torments. But in the midst of judgment, remember mercy. Thou, OLord, art the preserver of the body. Thou hast declared, that godliness has the promise of the life that now is, and that if we seek first the kingdom ofGodand his righteousness, food and raiment shall be added unto us. Fulfil these promises in me thy unworthy servant.

I behold the lillies of the field, they toil not, neither do they spin; wilt thou not feed me?Lord, I believe; O help my unbelief! I am ashamed that I have so little faith.Lord Jesus, thou Son ofDavid, I believe that thou wilt help me. Only give me patience to wait till the hour appointed for helping me, is fully come. I know, in thy due time, thou wilt turn my water into wine, and richly supply all my wants. Patiently let me tarry thy leisure. Never let me fret againstthee, myLord. Though I am poor, let me not be tempted to steal; but strengthen me, I beseech thee, against Satan’s assaults. Let me know, that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of thee, myGod. Though poor asLazarus, yet, when I die, let me be carried by angels intoAbraham’s bosom. And however thou mayest be pleased to deal with my body,Lord, feed my soul, I beseech thee, with that bread which cometh down from heaven. Though poor in this world, O let me be rich in faith. Suffer me not to stagger at thy promises through unbelief. Let the poverty of my body be a means of humbling my proud heart. O let me not be ashamed of my low estate, since thou, OLord, didst not disdain to let women minister to thee of their substance, and hadst not where to lay thy head. Help me to sanctify thee myLord Godin my heart, and bring me safe at last to thy heavenly kingdom, throughJesus Christ, my only Advocate and Redeemer.Amen.

A Prayer before Singing of Psalms.

OALMIGHTYGodwho out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast perfected praise, open our mouths, that our lips may shew forth thy praise. Let our souls be filled as with marrow and fatness, and out of the abundance of our hearts, let our mouths speak. Enable us to sing with the spirit, as well as with the understanding, and to make melody in our hearts unto thee, OLord. O let us rejoice in thee evermore, and help us to shew forth our thankfulness not only with our lips, but in our lives; and from praising thee here,Lordgrant we may, at the hour of death, be translated to join with angels and archangels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee eternally hereafter. Even so,Lord Jesus,AmenandAmen.

A Prayer for One before he goes to his Labour.

OALL-GRACIOUS, and ever-blessedLord God; who, when thou hadst placed the first man in the garden ofEden, didst command him to dress it, and after he had eaten the forbidden fruit, didst impose this as a part of the divine curseupon him, that he should eat his bread by the sweat of his brows: O most adorableJesus, who thyself didst work at the trade of a carpenter, and hast by an Apostle, commanded all to abide in the vocation wherewith they are called by thee, O prosper thou my handy-work.

Behold, in obedience to thy command, I now go forth to labour for the meat which perisheth. O let me do it with a single eye to thy glory, and suffer me never to forget to secure that meat which endureth to everlasting life. Let me not be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. O let me walk with thee all the day long; and though my body be on earth,Lordlet my heart and affections be fixed on thee in heaven, and preserve me, I most humbly beseech thee, in my going out and coming in, from this time forth and for evermore. Do thou, who didst appear to the disciples when they were fishing and mending their nets, manifest thyself unto me, when employed in the business of my lawful calling. Do thou, who calledstMatthewfrom the receipt of custom, call me effectually by thy grace. Grant, OLord, that I may not stand any of my time idle, but be continually improving my talent, that whether I live, I may live unto thee, or whether I die, I may die unto thee, OLord; so that whether living or dying, I may be thine. O never let me be like the unjust steward, ashamed to dig. Suffer me not to be slothful in business, but grant I may be always fervent in spirit, serving thee, OLord. Lift up my hands when they hang down; strengthen, O strengthen my feeble knees, let not the sun burn me by day, nor the moon hurt me by night. Provide for me to-day, and keep me from being solicitously careful for the morrow: and after the labour of this troublesome world is over, translate me, OLord, together with all thy faithful servants, to that happy place, where we shall enjoy an everlasting rest, with thee O Father, with thee O Son, and with thee O Holy Ghost; to whom, as three persons, but oneGod, be ascribed, as is most due, by angels, and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, by things on heaven, and things on earth, all honour, power, might, majesty and dominion, now and for evermore.AmenandAmen.

A Prayer for a Rich Man.

OSOVEREIGN and all-bountifulLord God, who makest poor, and makest rich, and dost govern all things both in heaven and earth, accept my unfeigned sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for giving me all things richly to enjoy. What am I, OLord, what is in me, that I should have bread enough and to spare, whilst so many are ready to perish with hunger? Not my merit, OLord, but thy mercy; not my foresight, but thy sovereign good-will and pleasure has made me thus to differ from, and hath exalted me above my brethren. O let not my prosperity destroy me; but as thou hast made me rich in this world’s goods, for thy infinite mercy’s sake, make me rich towards thee, rich in faith and good works. Suffer me not, OLord, to say unto gold, thou art my hope, or unto the fine gold, thou art my confidence. Let me not trust in uncertain riches, but in thee, the ever-livingGod. Let me not lay up for myself treasures on earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but grant I may lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust do corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal.

I know, OLord, that this is impossible with man, and that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into thy kingdom. But, Abba, Father, all things are possible with thee! Enable me, therefore, by the all-sufficiency of thy grace, to sell all things in affection, to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow thee every day. Give me that faith which overcometh the world. Grant that I may not indulge myself in the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, or make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lust thereof.Lord, let me be given to hospitality. When thy disciples are sick, incline me, OLord, to go to see them; when they are in prison, grant I may not be ashamed to visit them; when they are strangers, may I take them in; when naked, may I cloath them; when hungry, may I feed them; when thirsty, may I give them drink; may I be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, a father to the fatherless, and cause the widow’s heart to leap for joy. May I be a follower of thee, O lowlyJesus, who though thou wast rich, yet for our sakes didst becomepoor, and camest not to be ministered unto, but to minister. O let me ever remember thy words, and count it more blessed to give than to receive. And, as I am like a city built upon a hill, grant that my light may so shine before men, that they seeing my good works, may glorify my Father which is in heaven. Let my affections, OLord, be set on things above, and not on things of the earth. Let my conversation be in heaven, and grant I may use the world, as though I used it not. Make me a faithful steward of thy manifold gifts, OGod, and grant I may not make friends of the accursed mammon of unrighteousness, that when my natural life fails, thy blessed angels may carry me into everlasting habitations, and I may receive that blessed sentence, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thyLord.” Or, if thou pleasest, OLord, for my trial, to order that my riches should take themselves wings, and fly away, grant I may learn how to want, as well as how to abound, and say, with thy servantJob, “TheLordhath given, theLordhath taken away: blessed be the name of theLord.” Having nothing, may I learn to possess all things in thee; and in whatsoever state I am, make me therewith content. May I always behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, and when my appointed time is come, may I not need, like the rich fool in the gospel, to have my soul required of me, but chearfully give up the ghost, and be translated to join withAbraham,Isaac, andJacob, and all the other spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee for ever and ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sakeJesus ChristourLord.Amen, andAmen.

A Prayer for a Servant.

OTHOU high and lofty one, who inhabitest eternity, yet art pleased to dwell with the humble heart: O blessedJesus, who hast made of one blood, all nations under heaven, with whom there is no respect of persons, and who in the days of thy flesh didst go down to heal a centurion’s sick servant; have mercy, I beseech thee, on me, even me, also a poor servant. Stretch forth the right hand of thy power, to heal all the diseases of my sin-sick soul, and enable me by thy Holy Spirit, faithfully to discharge the several duties of that vocation, whereto I am called by thee. Give me grace, Imost humbly beseech thee, to obey my master, according to the flesh, in all things; not with eye-service, as a man-pleaser, but with singleness of heart, as untoChrist; knowing, that whatsoever any man doth, the same he shall receive of theLord, whether he be bond or free.

Make my obedience to my master on earth, like that which the holy angels pay to thee in heaven. When I am commanded to go, may I go; when I am required to come, may I come; whatsoever I am bid to do agreeable to thy will, may I do it heartily, as unto theLord, and not unto men. But if at any time, OLord, to try what is in my heart, thou shouldst permit me to be tempted to do any wickedness, O give me grace, as thou didstJoseph, patiently to submit to a prison, and to death itself, rather than sin against thee, myGod; knowing that it is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towardsGod, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Enable me, OLord, to shew good fidelity in all things committed to my charge. Do thou, who blessedstAbraham’s servant, when he went to take a wife for his master’s sonIsaac, so bless me in all my master’s business, that he may see, asPotiphardid, that theLordmaketh all that I do to prosper in my hands.

Keep, OLord, also the door of my lips, that I offend at no time with my tongue; let a false tongue be far from me, and let me never lie unto my master, asGehazidid. O let no such unfaithfulness cleave unto me; lest by being a partaker with him in his crime, I partake also in his punishment. Bridle also my tongue from ever answering again: may all sullenness and peevishness of temper be put away from me, with all passion: may I learn of thee, O holyJesus, to be meek and lowly in heart; O make me patient of reproof, willing to be taught, and subject with all fear and godly reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Or if ever, through the weakness of the flesh, I should offend in this point, asHagardid againstSarah, enable me, I beseech thee, immediately to repent and to return again to my obedience. Grant also, OLord, I may behave holily and unblameably to my fellow servants: let no corrupt communication, nor foolish talking or jesting, which is not convenient, at any time come out of my mouth, but rather giving of thanks: may our conversation be always seasonedwith the salt of thy holy word, and such as may tend to the edifying one another.

Endue us all with that charity, which hideth a multitude of faults; and if ever, OLord, thy glory should call me to bring up an ill report to my master against any of my fellow-servants, which, I beseech thee, of thy mercies, I may never have occasion to do; grant it may be done with gentleness and compassion, not to insinuate myself into my master’s favour, but to prevent them sinning against thee, and thereby ruining their own souls. Keep us, we beseech thee, from striving among ourselves, asAbraham’s andLot’s herdsmen did, about any of the concerns of this life; but grant we may be always provoking each other to love and to good works. Preserve us, we beseech thee, from envying one another, either the favour of our master, or any blessing whatsoever. Let us not seek our own, but each our brother’s welfare, as members of the same body, as disciples of the sameLord. When one of us suffers, let all suffer; when one rejoices, let all of us rejoice with him. Make us pitiful and tender-hearted to each other; and if at any time we should have a quarrel, enable us, OLord, immediately to forgive one another, even as thou,God, forChrist’s sake, hast forgiven us.

Finally, OLord, endue us with a deep humility, that we may in brotherly love prefer one another, and in lowliness of mind each of us esteem his brother better than himself. O hear all our prayers for our master, and grant that he and his houshold may faithfully serve thee, ourLord. O make him as devout asCornelius, and us, like the soldiers that waited upon him, devout also. That thus adorning thy holy gospel in all things, we may, at thy second coming to judge the world, be rewarded according as we have improved the different talents which we have received from thee, O glorious Redeemer, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever oneGod, world without end.Amen,Amen.

A Prayer for a poor Negroe.

ORIGHTEOUS Father, who hast made of one blood all nations under heaven, and with whom there is no respect of persons, look down from heaven on me a miserable sinner.And as thou hadst once compassion on the eunuch of the Queen ofCandace, a negroe like myself, OLord, let thy mercy be shewn in like manner upon me. O send some one to teach me the saving knowledge ofJesus Christ. Behold I am foolish;Lord, make me wise unto salvation.Lord, I am poor, do thou enrich me by thy Spirit.Lord, I am miserable in myself, O make me happy in thee.Lord, I am naked, O cloath my poor soul with the righteousness of thy beloved sonJesus. Blessed be thy name, for bringing me over into a christian country. OLord, let me not come in vain. Make me willing in the day of thy power, and for thy mercy’s sake, reveal thy dear Son in me. Shew me what it is to be born again of thy Spirit, and letJesusbe my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Let me know, O Father of lights, how I have died inAdam, and how I must be made alive inChrist. Make me contented with my condition, knowing, OLord, that thou hast placed me in it. Let me never be tempted to rebel against my master or mistress; and enable me to be obedient not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.Lord, keep the door of my lips, that I may not offend with my tongue. Keep my hands from picking and stealing, and suffer me not to behave unseemly on theLord’s-day. Bless my master and mistress, and my labours for their sake. Bless the Governor, and all that bear rule in this province, and grant that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. Have mercy on my poor countrymen:Lord, suffer them no longer to sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Arise, thou Son of Righteousness, arise with healing under thy wings. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, OLord, and let us know the truth as it is inJesus. Grant I may be truly converted myself, and then, if it be thy blessed will, enable me, OLord, to strengthen my poor brethren. O take us poor negroes for thine inheritance, and bless all those who endeavour to teach us thy will. Prosper, OLord, the work of their hands upon them, O prosper thou their handy-work. Grant they may turn thousands and ten thousands of us to righteousness, and shine as the stars in the firmament for ever and ever. May we be their joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of theLord Jesus, and join with them for ever and everin singing praises to thee, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom, as three persons, but oneGod, I desire to give all praise, now and for evermore. Even soLord Jesus,Amen, andAmen.

A Prayer for a Person before he goes a Journey.

GOD ofAbraham,GodofIsaac, andGodofJacob, who leddest the people through a wilderness by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night; and didst guide the wise men, on their journey toJerusalem, by a star in the east; give thy angels charge concerning me thy unworthy servant, that I may not so much as hurt my foot against a stone. Keep me, OGod, keep me on my journey, and suffer me not to fall among robbers.Jesus, thou good Samaritan, take care of, support, defend, and provide for me. Behold, I go out by the direction of thy providence;Lord, therefore, let thy presence go along with me, and thy Spirit speak to my soul, when I am journeying alone by the way-side. O let me know that I am not alone, because my heavenly Father is with me. Keep me from evil company, or, if it be thy will I should meet with any, give me courage and freedom, OLord, to discourse of the things concerning the kingdom ofGod. And O that thou wouldst let me meet with some of thy own dear children! O that thou wouldst be with us, as with the disciples atEmmaus, and cause our hearts mutually to burn with love towards thee, and one another! Provide for me proper refreshment, and wherever I lodge, be thou constrained, OGod, for thy own name’s sake, to lodge with me. Teach me, whether at home or abroad, to behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth. Preserve my houshold and friends in my absence, and grant that I may return to them again in peace. Enable me patiently to take up every cross that may be put in my way. Let me not be weary and faint in my mind. Make, OLord, right paths for my feet, enable me to hold out to the end of the race set before me, and, after the journey of this life, translate me to that blessed place, where the wicked one will cease from troubling, and my weary soul enjoy an everlasting rest with thee, O Father, Son, and blessed Spirit; to whom, as three persons, but oneGod, be ascribed all possible power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore.Amen.

A Prayer for a Person at the Beginning of a Sickness.

OALMIGHTY and everlastingGod, with whom alone are the issues of life and death, who dost wound and dost heal, who killest and makest alive, who bringest down to the grave, and liftest up again, and hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us, stretch forth, I beseech thee, the right hand of thy majesty on high, and save me from the power of this present sickness, which otherwise will destroy my life. Have compassion on me, as thou hadst onPeter’s wife’s mother, when she lay sick of a fever. Rebuke my distemper, and grant it may leave me. Speak the word, OLord, and thy servant shall be whole. It is but for thee to say, Go, and it shall go: for I believe,Lord, that thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.Jesus, thou son ofDavid, have mercy upon me. By thine agony and bloody sweat, by thy cross and passion, by thy precious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, goodLorddeliver me from my present approaching illness. Behold, to thee I fly for succour. In obedience to thee, do I give place to the physician. But I know that I may waste all my substance, and shall not grow better, but rather the worse, unless thou, O great Physician, who, in the days of thy flesh, didst give sight to the blind, and restore strength to the lame, and didst cure the woman of the bloody issue, dost also recover me from my sickness. Do thou, therefore, who didst bless a bunch of figs to the recovery ofHezekiah, sanctify the means that shall be made use of to my recovery. O let me not, likeAsa, seek only to the physician, but depend on thee, OLord, for a blessing. Or, if the decree be gone forth that I must die, grant, OLord, I may set my house and heart in order, and though thou killest me, let me put my trust in thee. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: though worms destroy my body, yet grant, that in my flesh I may see thee myGod.

If it be thy will, let this sickness not be unto death, but spare me yet a little longer, that I may recover my spiritual strength before I go hence, and am no more seen. If thou seest it best, let this affliction immediately pass from me. Nevertheless,not as I will, but thy will be done. Only sweeten it, OLord, with a sense of thy love, and strengthen me with thy mighty power in the inner man. Let thy grace be sufficient for me. Magnify thy strength in my weakness, and under the shadow of thy almighty wings, let my soul take refuge till this day of thy visitation be overpast. Shew me, OLord, wherefore thou contended with me. For I know of very faithfulness thou hast caused me to be thus troubled. Make thou my bed in my sickness, and let thy rod as well as thy staff, comfort me. In patience, grant I may possess my soul. And though this affliction at present be not joyous, but grievous; yet grant, OLord, I may be so exercised thereby, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Let tribulation, OLord, work patience, patience experience, experience hope, even that hope which maketh not ashamed, and whereby thy love, OGod, may be shed abroad in my heart. Give me, OLord, in this, and in every thing to give thanks, and enable me to suffer, as well as to do thy will, even like the angels in heaven. O! for thine infinite mercy’s sake, let not Satan get any advantage over me, by tempting me to charge thee foolishly. Let not such a wretch as I am, ever complain for this punishment of my sin, knowing that I receive the due reward of my crimes. O suffer me not to cry out with wickedCain, “My punishment is greater than I can bear;” but let me sanctify thee theLord Godin my heart, and rejoice in this tribulation, knowing that whom thou lovest thou chastenest, and scourgest every son whom thou receivest. Blessed be thy name OLord, that thou hast not yet given me over to a reprobate mind. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast not cursed me, as I most justly deserve, as thou didst the barren fig-tree. Blessed be thy name, that thou still dost condescend to dig and dung round me. O purge, purge me for thy mercy’s sake, and grant that I may henceforward bring forth fruit unto thee. O let me not forget this day of my visitation: and if it be thy good pleasure, that I shall not die, but live, grant that I may constantly declare thy works, OLord. Whenever I am cleansed, let me immediately return and give thanks. With thy servantHezekiah, may I go up into thy house, OLord, and pay thee my vows, which I now makewhilst I am in trouble. Suffer me to sin no more, lest a worse evil befal me: and as thou wast pleased to reveal thyself in the temple to the poor man, whom thou didst cure in the days of thy flesh, be pleased, for thy mercy’s sake, to reveal thyself to me. Then shall I shew forth my thankfulness, not only with my lips, but with my life, by giving myself up to thy service, who didst die for our sins, and rise again for our justification; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever.Amen.

A Prayer for a Woman lately married to a believing Husband.

EVERLASTING Father, who didst makeEveout of the rib ofAdam, and didst give her to him to wife, accept my thanks for calling me to the marriage-state, and blessing me with a husband fearing thee. O, for thy mercy’s sake, make me a help meet for him. Grant, asSarahcalledAbraham, so I may call and honour him as my lord. Let me always remember, I am the weaker vessel, that man was first made, and not woman, and suffer me not at any time to usurp authority over him. O let me always take heed to reverence, and be in subjection to my husband; and let not my adorning be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or of wearing of gold, or of putting on fine apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of thee, myGod, of great price. O let me be grave, discreet, chaste, a keeper at home. Suffer me not to be a busy-body, or to wander about from house to house. Keep me from being a tatler, speaking the things which I ought not. And if thou dost bless me with children,Lord, teach me to guide them in the right way, and manage my house with such meekness and wisdom, that I may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Though in the marriage-state, enable me, OLord, to serve thee without distraction, and let me never be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. May I withMary, continually sit at thy feet, and learn of thee, OJesus, to be meek and lowly in heart. Keep me from being a snare to my husband. Make me willing to part with him whensoever thou shalt call him from me. Into thy hands, OLord,I commend both our spirits, souls and bodies. O sanctify us throughout, and let our seed be blessed. O let our marriage-bed be undefiled, and give us to live together as heirs of the grace ofGod, that our prayers be not hindered. Help us to love one another, like thee and thy church. Give us freedom to pray with and for each other, and grant I may be the glory of my husband, as the church is the glory of thee my Saviour. Hear me, OLord, hear me, according to the multitude of thy mercies inJesusmy Redeemer; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, I desire here and hereafter to ascribe all power, might, majesty, and dominion, for ever and ever.Amen, andAmen.

A Prayer for a Man, convinced that it is his Duty to marry, for Direction in the Choice of a Wife.

OALMIGHTY, ever-livingGod, who, after thou hadst made all things out of nothing, and man after thy own divine image, didst say, “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him;” look down, OLord, on the work of thine own hands, and hearken to the voice of my humble request. OLord, chuse a help meet for me. ThouLord, art acquainted with my wants. Thou didst once chuse aRebeccaforIsaac. Thou art the same to-day as thou wast yesterday. Bless me, even me also, in like manner, O my Saviour. Suffer me not, OLord, to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. O let me not be in the number of the sons ofGod, who saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them wives of all which they chose.Lord, do thou chuse for me, and direct me to a child of thine own, adorned with a meek and quiet spirit. O suffer me not to fall by the hand of a woman. For,Lord, thou knowest I desire to take a wife, not for lust, but uprightly; therefore, mercifully ordain, that I may have one after thy own heart. When I marry, let it be only in and for thee, OLord. Let not lust or passion pervert or blind my eyes; but,Lord, give me to watch unto prayer, and let thy providence point out the person thou hast appointed for me. Thou didst directAbraham’s servant;Lord, for thy mercy’s sake, direct me. Behold, I call thee, O blessedJesus, to my marriage. Directme also, when I consult my friends, thy disciples. O bless their advice unto me in this important change of my life, and let all know my marriage is of thee, myGod. All which I humbly beg in thy name, and through thy merits, O blessed Lamb ofGod, thou heavenly bridegroom of thy church, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore.Amen, andAmen.

A Prayer for a Woman, desiring Direction ofGod, after an Offer of Marriage is made to her.

FOUNTAIN of light and life, who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy dear Son’s name, look down on me thy poor handmaid, and answer my request, for thy infinite mercy’s sake.Lord Jesus, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee, and desire only to live unto thee. Shew me, OLord, shew me, for thy mercy’s sake, what thou wouldest have me to do. I see, OLord, the advantages of a single life, and that I can now care only for the things of theLord, and serve thee without distraction. If thou seest this state best for my soul, O give me power over my own will, and never suffer me to know man. But since thou hast declared that “Marriage is honourable in all;” if thou seest that state best for me,Lord, shew me whom thou hast chosen for me. Behold, thy handmaid is now invited to the marriage-state, and thou alone knowest the heart of him who offers to be my husband. O suffer me not to deceive my own soul; watch, OLord, watch over and influence my deceitful heart. O let me see the tokens of thy will, before I give a determinate answer. Suffer me not to say, I will go with him, until I plainly see this proposal is of thee, myGod. Influence my relations hearts, as thou didst influence the hearts ofRebecca’s friends; and if it be thy will I should be joined with this thy servant, O let me love him only in thee, and for thee, to the glory of thy great name, and the salvation of both our immortal souls, throughJesus Christour Lord. Even so,Lord Jesus,Amen, andAmen.

A Prayer for Persons in a Storm at Sea.

DEARESTLord, and all-powerful Redeemer, who wast praying on the mountain, whilst thy disciples were toiling and rowing all night, and the wind was contrary; who didst also appear by night to thy servantPaulin a ship-wreck, saying, “Fear not,Paul, forGodhas given thee all the souls that sail with thee;” mercifully look upon us, who are now exposed to the same danger. Say unto our souls, “It is I; be not afraid:” and to the winds, “Peace, be still;” and immediately there shall be a great calm.

Save,Lord, or we perish; for the waves rage horribly. Thou hast sent forth thy word, and the waters flow. O let not the deep shut her mouth upon us, and suffer not the water-floods to swallow us up!

We know, OLord, for what cause this evil is come upon us. We have not feared thee, theGodof heaven, who madest the sea and dry land, as we ought. Therefore we are exceedingly afraid, lest thou shouldst not deliver us in this needful time of trouble.

But O thou who didst once hearJonah, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of the fish, though he was fleeing from thy presence, hear us also for thy mercy’s sake. For thou hast cast us into the deep, into the midst of the seas, the floods are compassing us about, and thy billows and waves are passing over us. Save our lives from destruction, OLordourGod, and let us yet lift up our hands unto thee in thy holy temple.

But if the decree be gone forth, that our bodies must now perish and see corruption, thy blessed will be done. Only grant, OLord, that our souls may be precious in thy sight, and that we may be preserved from the storm of thy everlasting anger; so that when the voice of the archangel shall sound, and the trump ofGodcommand the sea to give up its dead, we may rise to life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, oneGod, now and for ever.Amen, andAmen.

A Thanksgiving for a safe Arrival after a Voyage.

ALMIGHTY and graciousLord God, who art good, and doest good, who sendest thy rain on the just and on the unjust, and causest thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good; we thy unworthy servants humbly beseech thee, that thou wouldst open our lips, and enlarge our hearts, to shew forth thy praise, for letting us see thy wonders in the deep, and for leading us through the sea, as on dry land, and bringing us to the haven where we would be.

O do thou, who didst inspireMosesand the children ofIsraelto sing a song unto thee, when thou broughtest them up out of the Red-sea, open our lips, OLord, that our mouths may shew forth thy praise: for thou art our strength and our song, and art become our salvation. Thy right hand is become glorious in power. Who is like unto thee, OGod, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Praise theLord, O our souls, and may all that is within us praise his holy name.

We have seen thy paths in the great waters, and thy providence and power hath alone preserved us, otherwise the deep had long since overwhelmed us, and the waters gone over our souls. It is thy arm, OLord, alone hath brought us this salvation. O that we may therefore praise thee for thy goodness, and declare the wonders that thou hast shewn to us, the unworthiest of the children of men.

Lord, let us never be unmindful of thy manifold mercies, but enable us to pay thee the vows we made thee when we were in trouble. O keep us, keep us, we beseech thee, unspotted from the world into which thou art sending us. Grant we may not turn thy grace into wantonness, but henceforward walk so holy, and unblameably in all manner of conversation and godliness, that after we have passed the waves of this troublesome world, we may arrive at the haven of eternal rest, which thou hast prepared for all that love ourLord Jesusin sincerity. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sakeJesus Christour Saviour.Amen, andAmen.

A Prayer for a Sailor.

OTHOUGodof the sea and dry land, who in thy strength settest fast the mountains, and art girded about with power, who claspest the winds in thy fist, and holdest the waters in the hollow of thy hand, who deckest thyself with light, as with a garment, who spreadest out the heavens like a curtain, who tellest the number of the stars, and callest them all by their names, who hast set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass, and hast said, Hitherto shall ye come and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed: O thou, who hast madePleiades,Orion, andArcturus, who layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters, who makest the clouds thy chariot, and walkest on the wings of the wind: O thou almightyJehovah, who hast called me by thy providence to go down to the sea in ships, and to occupy my business in the great waters; grant, that as I daily see, so I may daily admire thy wonders in the deep, and learn from storms and winds to obey thy word. They go, OLord, when thou biddest them go; they come, when thou commandest them to come. But I have broken all thy commands: thou hast commanded me to go often, but alas! I go not. Thou requirest me to come and draw near unto thee in prayer, but alas! I come not. Or if I do pray unto thee at such time as a storm comes upon me, yet my devotion ceases with the storm, it is but like a morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away.

Lord, I blush and am confounded, when I consider how often thou hast magnified thy power in my preservation, and yet that I could continue so ungrateful. Thou hast often heard me when I have cried unto thee, when I have been staggering to and fro, and been at my wit’s end, when the waves went up to the heavens, and down to the hell beneath, and my soul hath fainted for very trouble: but I have forgotten to praise thee, OLord, for thy goodness, and to thank thee for the wonders thou hast shewn to me, the unworthiest of the sons of men.

Thou wast withNoahin the ark, and his little family; O do thou vouchsafe to guide and protect me. Thou wast withJonah, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of hell; hearme also, now I cry unto thee out of the great deep. I would not behave more wisely in the things of this life, than in the things which belong to my everlasting peace. Let me not be so careful to shun a shipwreck, and never fear making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Let me not be so careful to eye my compass, and yet seldom eye thy most holy word, which alone can guide me through this world to the haven of everlasting rest. Let me not every day be solicitous to be at my wished-for port, and never desire to see and enjoy thee. Let me not daily improve every wind, and continually neglect those glorious opportunities, which I enjoy of fitting myself for thee. Let me not fear a storm, and yet never fear that fiery tempest, which will ere long come upon the wicked, from thy presence.

Keep me, OGod, from impatience, when the winds and seas are contrary. Grant me a lively persuasion, that thy providence ruleth all things; that thou intendest every thing for my good, and enable me therefore patiently to tarry thy leisure, and to give thee thanks for all things that befal me, since it is thy will inChrist Jesusconcerning me. Let me not complain of the weather, since that is tacitly complaining of thee, myGod.

Keep, OLord, I beseech thee, the door of my lips, that I may not offend thee with my tongue. O put away swearing far from me, and let me no longer, as I have done, cloath myself with cursing as with raiment, lest, as I delight in cursing, it should happen unto me, and as I loved not blessing, so it may be far from me.

O let me no longer deceive my own soul, by thinking it impossible thus to offend thee with my tongue. All things are possible with thee, myGod! Purify, therefore, I beseech thee, my heart: create in me a new heart; renew a right spirit within me: for out of the abundant wickedness contained therein, my mouth hath so often uttered profane things.

Keep me, OLord, I beseech thee, unspotted in my conversation, and let not the evil communications, to which I am daily exposed, corrupt my good manners. O let me never have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather give me courage to reprove them; and, as my life is always in thy hand, O let me not forget thy law.

Grant, OLord, that the crosses I meet with, may not increase, but rather break my passions. Let me, in the hours of watching, watch unto prayer, and teach me to endure hardness like a good soldier ofJesus Christ.

Keep me, OLord, from loving unrighteous gain, and grant I may render untoCæsarthe things that areCæsar’s, and pay tribute to whom tribute is due: knowing that money unjustly gotten, is but laid up to the owner’s hurt, and that hereafter it will pierce me through with many sorrows, and eat my flesh as doth fire. May my one business be to lay up treasures in heaven, and to secure an interest in thee, O blessedJesus, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, oneGod, blessed for evermore.Amen, andAmen.

The Pious Soul longing for Heaven.

LORD! how have I loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. O glorious seat; the residence and the workmanship of the great, the mightyGod: let me continue, let me increase in this love of thee more and more.

Let this weary pilgrimage be spent in advancing daily toward thee, and may the breathing of my soul after thee, sanctify and comfort the labours of each day, and refresh my waking thoughts by night.

Let my heart be always where my treasure is already; and in this dry and desolate wilderness, may I feel no other thirst, than that of arriving at my heavenlyCanaan, and partaking in the society and the joys of that happy people, who have theLordfor theirGod.

O may thatGodwho made me, possess me in his holy temple! Not that I dare presume to hope for thy beauty and bliss upon the account of any deserts of my own; but yet, the humblest sense of my own unworthiness will not sink me into despair of it, when I reflect upon the blood of Him who died to purchase this mansion for me. Let but his merits be applied to me; let his intercessions assist my want of worth, and then I am safe; for those merits cannot be overbalanced by my sins, nor were, or can those prayers be ever offered up toGodin vain.

For my own part, I confess with shame and sorrow, that I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost, drawn out my wandrings and my miseries to a great length, and am cast out of the sight of myGod, into the blindness and darkness of a spiritual banishment. In this forlorn estate I sadly bewail the wretchedness of my captivity, and sing mournful songs when I remember thee, OJerusalem. As yet I am at an uncomfortable distance, and at best my feet stand only in the outer courts ofSion. The beauties of the sanctuary are behind the veil, and kept hid from my longing eyes; but I am full of hope, that the builder of this sanctuary, and thegracious shepherd of souls, will carry me in upon his shoulders, that I may there rejoice with that gladness unspeakable, which all those happy saints feel, who are already admitted into the presence of theirGodand Saviour; the Saviour who hath opened his royal palace to all believers, by abolishing the enmity in his flesh, and reconciling all things in heaven and earth by his own blood.

He is our peace, who hath made both one, and broken down the middle wall of partition, promising to give us the same degree of happiness in his own due time, which is already enjoyed in thee. For thus he hath declared, that they who are worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, shall be equal unto the angels. OJerusalem, the eternal habitation of the eternalGod! may’st thou be the second darling of my soul, and only he be preferred before thee in my affection, who shed his blood to make me worthy of thee. Be thou the joy and comfort of my languishing mind, my great support in hardships and distresses; may the remembrance of thee be ever sweet, and the mention of thy name a holy means to drive away all sorrow from my soul.

An Act of Praise.

BLESS theLord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless theLord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. O praise theLord, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominions; praise theLord, O my soul.

Let us magnify that greatGod, whom angels praise, whom dominions adore, whom powers fall down and tremble before; whose excellent glory cherubim and seraphim proclaim with loud incessant voices: let us bear a part in this heavenly song, and together with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, laud and magnify that glorious name; let us tune our voices with theirs, and though we cannot reach their pitch, yet will we exert the utmost of our skill and power, in this tribute to the same commonLord; and say with them, as poor mortals are able, Holy, holy, holy,Lord Godof Hosts; heaven and earth are full of thy glory; glory be to thee, OLordmost high.

For these are the happy spirits, who offer a sacrifice of pure praise before the throne ofGodcontinually, who are ever wrapt in the contemplations of his perfections; and see them, not like us through a glass darkly, but near at hand, and face to face.

What tongue can express, what thought conceive, the admirable beauty, the exact order, the numberless multitude of this heavenly host? The inexhaustible source of joy springing from the beatific vision; the fervent love which ministers delight without torment; the ever-growing desire, which rises with their satisfactions, and the grateful satisfactions, which crown that desire; a desire always eager, and never uneasy, always full, and never cloyed: the blessedness derived down to them, by their inseparable union to the fountain of all bliss; the light communicated to them from the original light; the happy change into an immutable nature, by seeing the immutableGodas he is, and being transformed into the likeness of him they see?

But, how, alas! should we hope to comprehend the divinity and bliss of angels so far above us, when we feel ourselves unable to find out the nature and perfection of our very soul within us? What sort of being must this be, which inspires a lump of dead flesh with life and activity, and yet, when most desirous so to do, cannot confine its thoughts to holy exercises? What a mixture of power and impotence is here? How great, and yet how poor and little is this principle, which dives into the secrets of the most high, searches the deep things ofGod, and expands itself to celestial objects, at the same time that it is forced to employ its talent in the invention of useful arts, and to serve the necessities of a mortal life? What sort of creature is this, that knows so much of other things, and so little of itself; so ingenious in matters abroad, so perfectly in the dark to what is done at home? Specious but very disputable notions have indeed been advanced concerning the origin of our soul; but all we know of it, amounts at last to this; that it is an intellectual Spirit, created by the Almighty power of its divine maker, endued with such an immortality as he was pleased to qualify it for; enlivening and sustaining a body subject to change, corruption, and death, and liable to all the unequal affectionsof fear and joy, and every turbulent passion, that in their turns exalt and depress, enlarge or contract its power.

And what an amazing thing is this now! The more we attend to it, the more we shall find ourselves lost in wonder. When we read, or speak, or write ofGod, the great creator of the universe, we can distinguish ourselves clearly and distinctly, though at the same time his perfections be too vast, for our words to express, or our minds to comprehend; the subject, not of an adequate conception, but of an awful astonishment.

But when we descend lower, and treat of angels and created spirits, of souls united to bodies, and beings of the same level with, or a condition inferior to our own; we are not able to support our ideas with proofs so incontestable; and find it impracticable to satisfy ourselves or others in the enquiries concerning them.

Why then should we, to so very little purpose, hover uncertainly about these lower regions, and spend our time and pains in groping in the dark? No, let our minds rather enlarge their thoughts, and take a nobler range; let them leave all created objects behind, and run, and mount, and fly aloft: and, taking faith to the assistance of reason, fix their eyes, with the utmost intenseness our nature will bear, upon the Creator, the Universal Cause.

Yes, I will make a ladder, like that ofJacob’s, reaching from earth to heaven, and as by rounds, go up from my body to my soul, from my own soul to that eternal Spirit that made it; who sustains, preserves it always with me, about me, above me; thus skipping over all the intermediate stages of beings, and re-uniting my own soul to Him from whom it came, and in whose image it was created.

Whatever bodily eyes can discern, whatever leaves impressions upon my imaginative faculty, shall be resolutely set out of the way, as a hinderance to that more abstracted contemplation, which my mind is desirous to indulge.

A pure and simple act of the understanding, is that which must carry me up, and boldly soar at once to the Creator of angels, and souls, and of all things.

And happy is that soul, which, refusing to be detained by low and viler objects, directs its flight to the noblest and mostexalted, and, like the eagle, builds its nest in the top of the rocks, and keeps its eye steady upon the Sun of righteousness; for no beauty is so charming, no pleasure so transporting, as that with which our eyes and mind are feasted, when our greedy sight and eager affections are determined to ourGodand Saviour, as to their only proper center; when, by a wondrous mystical, but true and spiritual act of vision, we see him who is invisible; behold a light far different from this which chears our senses, and taste a pleasure infinitely sweeter than any this world and its joys can afford; for this is a short and insincere pleasure; this is a dim and feeble light, confined to a narrow space, always in motion from us, and in few hours put out by constant returns of darkness: these are enjoyments which the great Creator hath distributed to brutes, nay, to the vilest of insects, in common with mankind; and therefore let us thirst and aspire after such as are truly divine; for what even swine and worms share with us, cannot deserve the name of light and pleasure, but, in comparison of those more refined, are to be esteemed no better than pain and night.

Now toGodthe Father,&c.

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