Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

either pray for me, or defire my prayers, whatever thy infinite wisdom knows to be moft expedient for us. Requite all those who have been any ways inftrumental to my good, according to their works; and forgive thofe that have done or wished me evil, and grant them repentance and better inclinations. All which offer up unto thee, and humbly befeech thee to grant, for the fake and through the merits of thy dearly beloved Son Jefus Chrift, our Lord.

A

The Thanksgiving.

Amen.

up

unto

Lmighty God, Father of all mercies, J offer thy divine majefty my unfeigned praises, in return for all thofe numberlefs mercies and benefits which thou haft vouchfafed unto me: but more particularly blefs thy holy name for the mercies have received, for my deliverance from fin, and the temptations which have been conquered by me, and for all the good that I have done; for preferving me in health and fafety; for the plentiful provifion which enjoy by thy goodnefs; and for the continuing to me the enjoyment of fo many comforts; as alío for delivering me from the evils which I have most justly deserved, and to which am continually expofed by the weakness of ture and the power of the enemy. Yet above all laud and magnify thy glorious name for the incarnation, birth, life, paffion, death, refurrection, and afcenfion of my Saviour, thy Son, Jefus Chrift, who is the foundation of all thy mercies, and the author and finisher of my faith; in whofe name alone have a right to pray to thee, and to fum up all my prayers and prailes, faying,

Our Father, &c.

[ocr errors]

my na

Then rifing from your knees, if your time and bufinefs will permmt, improve your foul by reading Jome portion of holy fcripture, more efpecially of the New Teitament. Bat first befeech your heavenly Father to affift you with his Holy Spirit, that you may fo anderftand and practife his sword, that it shall make you wife unto jabvation, in fome firs form as here followeth:

A Prayer for the right Ufe of the Holy Scriptures. BLeffed Lord, who haft caufed all holy fcriptures to be written for our learning; grant that I may in fuch wife hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digeft them; that

y may,

may, by patience, and comfort of thy holy word, embrace and ever hold faft the bleffed hope of everlafting life, which thou haft given me in my Saviour, Jefus Chrift. Amen.

Directions.

In reading the great myfleries of faith, proftrate your reason to revelation, and lift up your beart continually to God in fome short fentence agreeable to the jubject you are reading after the manner following. And reading a little at a time, digeft it well for thy comfort and practice. And if time fhall permit, read fome part of this New Whole Duty of Man; for variety is found, not only to please, but to be the best way to inftruct buman nature.

Ejaculations,

To be used while reading the Scripture.
ORD, give me grace to obey this command.
Or,

Lo

Lord, deliver me from this temptation, this fin, or this judgment.

Or,

Glory to thee, O Lord, for this mercy.

Or,

Lord, grant me thy grace to make my calling and election fure.

Directions and Prayers for Evening.

AT night Spare fome time, before thou goeft to bed, for thy devotions; and laying afide all business and company, retire to thy clofet, and begin with

[ocr errors]

The Preparatory Prayer.

in

God, send into my foul thy Holy Spirit, to help my firmities; and fo difpofe my mind, and prepare my heart, that my prayers and praises may be acceptable in thy fight, through-Jefus Chrift, my Lord. Amen.

Directions.

To this add the prayer in page 444 for a right ufe of the holy fcriptures; and then read fome portion of holy fcripture, and of this New Whole Duty of Man, in the manner as directed just above. And, having compofed thy thoughts, pray to God to enlighten thy memory in the examination of thy paft life, faying.

A Prayer for Sincerity in the Examination and Acknowledgment of our Sins to God.

[ocr errors]

Eternal God, who searchest the hearts, and triest the reins of man, who knoweft his thoughts long before; dispose me frequently to examine the state of my own mind, Ff4

and

and to compare my actions with the rule of thy laws: raise in me an abhorrence of whatsoever offends thee, that may al-: ways turn my feet unto thy teftimonies; and let neither selflove, floth, negligence, nor any other darling paffion, so impofe upon or divert me from fearching into the corruptions of my own heart, as to escape my repentance: but vouchfafe me the affiftance of thy Holy Spirit, that 7 may so impartially judge and condemn myself, that I may not be condemned at thy fearful judgment-feat, and that in a full discovery of my own vilenefs may humble myself under the rod of thy divine juftice, and from my heart condemning all thofe follies whereby have provoked thy wrath and indignation against me, may earnestly follicit thy pardon and forgiveness, thro' the merits of thy Son Jefus Chrift, my Lord. Amen.

Directions.

Then examine your confcience by this short method.

A fhort Form of Examination of Confcience.

WHAT fin have this day committed in thought,

word, or deed?

What opportunity of doing good have neglected? Have omitted or carelessly performed my religious duties?

Have done any injustice to my neighbour in his body, family, goods or reputation?

Am willing to make him reftitution, as am able? Am ready, as God has forgiven me in Chrift Jefus, to forgive fuch as have offended me?

Directions.

To the above may be added fuch other questions as your particular circumftances may. require, which you will find more particularly fet forth in the general heads of examination, which fellow hereafter in thefe devotions, Lefore the prayers for the facrament. And then confefs your own guiltiness to Almighty God in this or fome fuch form as follows:

A

A Form of Confeffion.

Lmighty and most merciful Father, I have erred and ftrayed from thy ways like a loft sheep. I have followed too much the devices and defires of my own heart. F have offended against thy holy laws. I have left undone thofe things which fought to have done; and I have done thofe things, which cught not to have done; and there is no health in me. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon me, a miferable offender,

offender. Spare me, OGod, who confefs my faults; cleanse me from all my fecret and unknown tranfgreffions, and be reconciled unto me, who am heartily forry for my fins, and grieved that have offended thee. Reserve not my fins to be punished in the day of thyfierce anger: but fpare me, and grant that f may never fall into thofe evils, which my fins have justly deferved of thy juftice. Restore me that am penitent; according to thy promises declared unto mankind, in Chrift Jefu, my Lord. And, as there is nothing fo much defire as to be of the number of thine elect; for thy favour is better than life itself, and the most perfect freedom is not to be compared to thy fervice; grant me ftrength by the affiftance of thy Holy Spirit to forfake all my fins, and to reform whatever has been amifs in the temper and difpofition of my mind, or in any of the actions of my life, that when 7 depart hence, may be received into that bleffed state, where fin and death fhall have po dominion over me. All which I beg for the fake and in the name of Jefus Chrift. Amen.

Directions.

After which acknowledgment of your own corruption and unworthiness, renew your refolution of amendment, and beg for mercy through Chrift; and this not flightly, and only as of course, but with as much devout earnestness, as if you were fure that death were as near approaching as your fleep, which, for aught you know, may be fo indeed : and therefore you should no more venture to go to bed and to fleep unrecommended to God, than you would dare to die in that miferable ftate.

Then offer up unto God the tribute of your evening facrifice of prayer and thanksgiving; as well for his ufual and daily prefervations, as for his extraordinary deliverances; and above all, endeavour by the confideration of his mercies to have your beart the more closely knit to him, remembering that every favour received from God is a new engagement upon you to love and obey him ftill more and more.

The Evening Prayer for Every Day.

Moft glorious Lord God, although know that thou hateft iniquity with a perfect hatred, yet I am affured also that thou delighteft in the ways of mercy; that thou art a tender lover of fouls; and not only permitteft, but invitest us, miferable creatures, to come unto the throne of thy grace, to be protected under the shadow of thy wings. Therefore, O Lord, with humble confidence 7 lift up my foul unto thee, befeeching thee not to caft me away from thy prefence; but, for the fake of my dear Redeemer, receive me graciously to thy mercy, and let the merit of his bitter death and passion attone for all my follies and miscarriages. Pardon, meekly

befeech

beseech thee, whatever I have done ainifs this day, and all my life past, either against thee, my neighbour or myself. Convince me truly, O Lord, of the great folly and danger of fin, and make me so afraid of offending thee, that I may abstain from all appearance of evil, and do nothing but what is pleafing in thy fight. Let the intereft of my immortal foul be my chief care and concern; and grant, that may liveas becomes the gospel of Chrift, denying all ungodliness and worldly lufts, and living righteoufly, foberly, and godly, in this prefent world. But, forafmuch as without thee I am not able to please thee, grant me the affiftance of thy grace and Holy Spirit, that may pass through all the temptations of this world with peace, and innocence, and safety; inable me to bear up, with courage and refolution, against all the affaults of my great adverfary the devil, who is daily lying in wait to deftroy me. Cleanfe me from all my fecret and unknown tranfgreffions and grant that may seriously confider and reflect upon the foulness and deformity of fin, and what dreadful threatenings thou haft denounced against it; that may become a true and fincere mourner for my paft fins; and, as far as is poffible, redeem my mif-fpent time, by employing the remainder of my days to thy fervice, and to thy glory for ever. Teach me fo to number my days, that may become wife unto falvation; and give me that hatred and abhorrence of fin and iniquity, that may abstain from every kind and fort of evil, which is abominable in thy fight, and hurtful to my foul. Breathe into me, O Lord, a new heart, new affections, and new defires, that I may love thee with more fincerity, and ferve thee with greater faithfulness, than I have ever done before. Open my eyes to behold the vanity and uncertainty of all things here below, and grant that

may make thee my only joy and my delight, my stay and my truft, my guide and my counsellor; and grant that in the days of health and profperity may confider my latter end, and remember and provide for that great account which J muft one day give before the judgment-feat of Chrift; that when the hour of my departure fhall come, may meet death without fe ir or amazement, and with a well-grounded hope of thy mercy and goodness may chearfully refign my foul

« ПредишнаНапред »