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longer blasphemed among the heathens through us. O blessed Lord, how long shall Christendom continue the vilest part of the world, a sink of all those abominable pollutions, which even barbarians detest? O let not our profession and our practice be always at so wide a distance. Let not the disciples of the holy and immaculate Jesus be of all others the most profane and impure. Let not the subjects of the Prince of Peace be of all others the most contentious and bloody; but make us Christians in deed, as well as in name, that we may walk worthy of that holy vocation wherewith we are called, and may all with one mind and one mouth glorify thee the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have mercy on this languishing Church; look down from heaven, the habitation of thy holiness, and of thy glory. Where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards us? Are they restrained? Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: but though our backslidings are many, and we have grievously rebelled, yet according to all thy goodness, let thy anger and thy fury be turned away, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary, which is desolate for the Lord's sake; and so separate between us and our sins, that they may no longer separate between us and our God. Save and defend all Christian kings, princes, and governors, especially those to whom we owe subjection plead thou their cause, O Lord, against those that strive with them, and fight thou against those that fight against them, and so guide and assist them in the discharge of that office whereunto thou hast appointed them, that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Bless them that wait at thine altar; open thou their lips, that their mouths may show forth thy praise. O let not the lights of the world be put under bushels, but place them in their candlesticks, that they may give light to all that are in the house. Let not

Jeroboam's priests profane thy service; but let the seed of Aaron still minister before thee. And, O thou Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, succour and relieve all that are in affliction: deliver the outcast and poor; help them to right that suffer wrong; let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee; and according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; grant ease to those that are in pain, supplies to those that suffer want; give to all presumptuous sinners a sense of their sins; and to all despairing a sight of thy mercies: and do thou, O Lord, for every one abundantly above what they can ask or think. Forgive my enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and turn their hearts. Pour down thy blessings on all my friends and benefactors, all who have commended themselves to my prayers. [Here thou mayest name particular persons.] And grant, O merciful Father, that through the blood of the cross we may all be presented pure and unblameable, and unreprovable in thy sight; that so we may be admitted into that place of purity, where no unclean thing can enter, there to sing eternal praises to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever.

A Prayer in Times of common Persecution.

O Blessed Saviour, who hast made the cross the badge of thy disciples, enable me, I beseech thee, willingly and cheerfully to embrace it: thou seest, O Lord, I am fallen into days, wherein he that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey: O make me so readily to expose all my outward concernments, when my obedience to thee requires it, that what falls as a prey to men, may by thee be accepted as a sacrifice to God. Lord, preserve me so by thy grace, that I may never suffer as an evil-doer; and then, O Lord, if it be my lot to suffer as a Christian, let me not be ashamed, but rejoice that I am counted worthy to suffer for thy name. O thou, who for my

sake enduredst the cross, and despisedst the shame, let the example of that love and patience prevail against all the tremblings of my corrupt heart, that' no terrors may ever be able to shake my constancy; but that, how long soever thou shalt permit the rod of the wicked to lie on my back, I may never put my hand unto wickedness. Lord, thou knowest whereof I am made, thou rememberest that I am but flesh; and flesh, O Lord, shrinks at the approach of any thing grievous; it is thy Spirit, thy Spirit alone, that can uphold me. O establish me with thy free Spirit, that I be not weary and faint in my mind. And by how much the greater thou discernest my weakness, so much the more do thou show forth thy power in me and make me, O Lord, in all temptations stedfastly to look unto thee, the author and finisher of my faith, that so I may run the race which is set before me, and resist even unto blood, striving against sin. O dear Jesus, hear me; and though Satan desires to have me, that he may winnow me as wheat, yet do thou, O blessed Mediator, pray for me, that my faith fail not; but that, though it be tried with fire, it may be found unto praise, and glory, and honour, at thy appearing. And, O Lord, I beseech thee, grant that I may preserve not only constancy towards God, but charity also towards men, even those whom thou shalt permit to be the instruments of my sufferings. Lord, let me not fail to imitate that admirable weakness of thine, in loving and praying for my greatest persecutors. And do thou, O Lord, overcome all their evil with thy infinite goodness; turn their hearts, and draw them powerfully to thyself, and at last receive both me and mine enemies into those mansions of peace and rest, where thou reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever.

A Prayer in Time of Affliction.

O just and holy Lord, who with rebukes dost

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chasten man for sin, I desire unfeignedly to humble myself under thy mighty hand, which now lies heavy upon me; I heartily acknowledge, O Lord, that all I do, all I can suffer, is but the due reward of my deeds and, therefore, in thy severest inflictions, I must still say, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. But, O Lord, I beseech thee, in judgment remember mercy, and though my sins have enforced thee to strike, yet consider my weakness, and let not thy stripes be more heavy or more lasting, than thou seest profitable for my soul. Correct me, but with the chastisement of a father, not with the wounds of an enemy: and though thou take not off thy rod, yet take away thine anger. Lord, do not abhor my soul, nor cast thy servant away in displeasure, but pardon my sins, I beseech thee: and if in thy fatherly wisdom thou see fit to prolong my corrections, thy blessed will be done. I cast myself, O Lord, at thy feet, do with me what thou pleasest try me as silver is tried, so thou bring me out purified. And, Lord, make even my flesh also to subscribe to this resignation, that there may be nothing in me that may rebel against thy hand, but that having perfectly suppressed all repining thoughts, I may cheerfully drink of this cup: and, how bitter soever thou shalt please to make it, Lord, let it prove medicinal, and cure all the diseases of my soul, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruit of righteousness, that so these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, may work for me a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory, through Jesus Christ.

A Thanksgiving for Deliverance.

O blessed Lord, who art gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil; I thankfully acknowledge before thee, that thou hast not dealt with me after my sins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities. My

rebellions, O Lord, deserve to be scourged with scorpions, and thou hast corrected them only with a gentle and fatherly rod; neither hast thou suffered me to lie long under that, but hast given me a timely and a gracious issue out of my late distresses. Lord, I will be glad, and rejoice in thy mercy; for thou hast considered my trouble, and hast known my soul in adversity. Thou hast smitten, and thou hast healed me. O let these various methods of thine have their proper effects upon my soul, that I, who have felt the smart of thy chastisements, may stand in awe, and not sin: and that I, who have likewise felt the sweet refreshings of thy mercy, may have my heart ravished with it, and knit to thee in the firmest bands of love! and that by both I may be preserved in a constant and entire obedience to thee all my days, through Jesus Christ.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE TIME OF SICKNESS.

[When thou findest thyself visited with sickness, thou art immediately to remember, that it is God, who with rebukes doth chasten man for sin. And, therefore, let thy first care be to find out what it is that provokes him to smite thee: and to that purpose, examine thine own heart, search diligently what sins lie there, confess them humbly and penitently to God; and, for the greater security, renew thy repentance for all the old sins of thy former life; beg most earnestly and importunately his mercy and pardon in Christ Jesus, and put on sincere and zealous resolutions of forsaking every evil way, for the rest of that time which God shall spare thee. And that thy own heart deceive thee not in this so weighty a business, it will be wisdom to send for some godly Divine, not only to assist thee with his prayers, but with his counsel also. And, to that purpose, open thy heart

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