Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

I doubt not of thy fatherly affection to those that study, in all fincerity, to approve themselves unto thee; and therefore still refolve to leave my felf intirely to thy wife counfels, that thou mayft difpofe me into fuch a condition as thou feeft best in this world. Remember me but of my duty; quicken and excite me to it; ftrengthen me in the doing of it; support me under all discouragements; advise me in all difficult cafes; and comfort me with a ftedfaft belief of thy holy word; and I fhall ever be giving thanks and praise unto thee, who dealeth fo bountifully with

me.

And now, O moft gracious and liberal benefactor! with my whole ftrength, with all the faculties of my foul and body, I praise and magnify thy holy name for thy great and innumerable benefits, proceeding purely from thy bounty, and intended wholly for my good, particularly for preferving me this day in the midst of so many dangers incident to mankind, and delivering me from the variety of calamities and miferies as are due to my fins.

Thou art my Creator, O my God, and merciful protector; thou art the ultimate

end

end of my being, and fupream perfection of my nature; under the fhadow of thy wings is perpetual repofe, and from the light of thy countenance flows eternal joy and felicity: To thee glory and honour, to thee adoration and obedience, be afcribed from all thy creatures for ever.

And fince thou haft ordained us the day to labour, and the night to take our reft; as I praise thee for the bleffings of this day past, so I beseech thee for thy protection this night to come: Let the eye of thy providence watch over me, and thy holy angels pitch their tents round about me, that, being fafely delivered from all dangers, and comfortably refreshed with moderate fleep, I may the better be enabled to perform the employments of my calling and ftate of life, and faithfully perfevere in the duties of thy fervice, and so daily advance to new victories over my paffions, and to a more perfect observance of thy commandments; till, having paffed my days in thy fear, I may end them in thy favour, and rejoice with thee for ever, in thy heavenly kingdom, through Jefus Christ our Lord and only Saviour; who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth,

reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

A shorter Prayer for the Evening.

B

Leffing, glory, honour and praise be

again returned to thee, O Father of mercy, from a most thankful heart; which offers up it felf alfo in holy devotion to thee. Who art my foveraign Lord, my most loving Saviour, my Deliverer and Benefactor; the Fountain of all the good things we enjoy at prefent, and the hope of my foul for ever and ever. Blessed be thy renewed kindness to me this day past; both to my self and my relations, to my foul and my body, in my tranfgreffions with men, and in the liberty thou alloweft me of addreffes to thyfelf. Pardon, good Lord, whatsoever hath escaped me in thought, word, or deed, contrary to my duty; and accept of those fincere intentions, and unfeigned purposes, which were, and I hope fhall always be in my heart to ftudy to approve myself to thee in all welldoing.

It is but juft and reasonable that I should follow thy will, and not my own; and in a grateful sense of what I have received from thee, I ought to be moved to employ all the powers of my foul and body for thee. But fuch is the goodness of thy will, that is for my ease and pleasure, and greatest happiness, to be abfolutely led and governed by it. I am fenfible, O Lord, how much I am indebted to thee, for teaching me by Christ Jefus, and also strongly obliging me to exercife myself to all godliness, purity, righteoufnefs, humility, goodness and truth. And accordingly I thank thee above all things, for his holy instructions and example; for the hope thou haft given us by his blood, that thou wilt be fo merciful to our fins, as not to deny us the power of thy holy Spirit to enable us to follow him, and obey his commands; and for that exceeding great and precious promise which he hath given us of immortal life, to encourage us to follow him willingly and chearfully, even to the death.

O that I may feel a lively and ftedfast faith in his word, continually working with great power in my heart; exciting me to

an

an unwearied diligence, and zeal, and love, and patient continuance in my duty towards thee, and towards all men; that fo my hope in thec may grow and increase, and I may joyfully expect that hour which fhall tranflate me hence, to the eternal happiness of the other world. And during my stay here, I commend myself to thy good providence, which hath hitherto been fo tender of me. I trust thee wholly with myfelf, and all belonging to me; and am willing in every thing to be difpofed of, as thou feeft good. This night I flee unto thy almighty protection; hoping thou wilt keep me fafely, and whether I awake in this or the other life, I shall still be praifing thee; whose mercy endureth for ever, Amen.

An Interceffion for the Evening.

W

ITH these prayers for myself, I prefent my fupplications likewife to thee, O Father of mercies for the good of the world. Pity the follies of mankind; deliver them from their fins, and miferies. Hear the groans of every part of the creature, that is yet fubject to the bondage

« AnteriorContinuar »