the Lord. Even in dark days, and perilous times, when thou makest us to know adversity, and threatenest us with still increasing judgements, yet it is our duty patiently to wait for thee, till thou return unto us in mercy, and cause the light of thy countenance to shine upon us. O my God! give me such a hope as may lift up my head, and strengthen my heart, and embolden my spirit, against all temptations and discouragements of the present time: that I may never yield to any consternations, so as to destroy my faith and hope, or unfit me for thy work and service. O give me for an helmet, the hope of salvation; that hope, which may be as an anchor to my soul, both sure and steadfast. O let me hope and praise thee more and more ; and rejoice in the hope that maketh not ashamed; yea, and hold fast the rejoicing of my hope firm unto the end. Though I am sinful and unworthy, yet let me hope in the Lord, with whom there is mercy and plenteous redemption, to redeem his people from all their iniquities. O gracious God, infinitely good! I could have no hope, but in thy tender mercies, and in thine exceeding great and precious promises, which give assurance of pardon and acceptance to all that humbly seek thee, through the mediation of thy Son, Jesus Christ. But I beseech thee, O Lord, remember thy word unto thy servant, on which thou hast caused me to hope. O seal me with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance; that I may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Let Christ in me be my hope of glory and having this hope in me, help me to purify myself, as my Lord is pure: that my hopes may be rational and well-founded; and that I may : be counted worthy to enjoy thee in thy kingdom and glory, through the name and merits of Jesus Christ, my only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. A PRAYER FOR CHARITY. O MOST gracious and merciful Lord our God, who art goodness and love itself; thou hast commanded, that he who loveth thee should love his brother also yea, that we should love our neighbour as ourselves. Father of mercies, forgive me all my sins of uncharitableness; and give me a heart to abound with loving-kindness, to all who are partakers of my nature, and objects of thy fatherly compassion. Let me not despise any for their low estate; nor hate any for their abusive carriage; nor cast off any as reprobate for their scandalous wickedness: but be kindly affectioned to all: desirous of their holiness and happiness; and contributing what lieth in me, to promote it; showing the mercy, which thou knowest I need; and forgiving others, as I myself desire to be forgiven. Make me ready to distribute, and willing to communicate: and, as I should be glad to find favour, and to receive a supply of my own wants, give me, O gracious God, a large heart, and (according to my ability) an open hand: that I may give cheerfully, and sow plentifully, while I have time; doing good unto all men, especially to them that are of the household of faith: yea, loving the opportunities of such well-doing; and blessing thy name, for disposing me to seek refreshment to my own bowels in gladdening the hearts of thy poor. And O that we may all approve ourselves the dis ciples of our Lord, by the love we have one to another; and show that we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. May we ever esteem them above all: and regard those as dearest unto us, who most distinguish themselves in performing thy blessed will. Ŏ let our love be without dissimulation; not only in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth. May we love one another with a pure heart fervently: may we seek the good of all, however undeserving they may be in themselves, or however hostile us: and let our delight be in the saints, and in the righteous, that are more excellent than their neighbours. Make us to love them for thy holy image appearing in them; and to set our hearts upon them, because thou art with them, and hast a favour unto them, and hast loved them with an everlasting love. O Lord of love, keep me from censoriousness, and rash judging of any; that I may think and hope the best of all, which their case will admit; and love every one for his sake, who has showed the greatest love to us all, even our dearest Lord, and only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. A PRAYER FOR CHASTITY. O GOD of infinite purity: thou hast called us, not to uncleanness, but to holiness. Thou hast commanded us to be holy, as thou art holy: and hast promised to none but the pure in heart, that they shall see thee here in the beauties of holiness, and partake of thy joys above. O how shall I, a polluted wretch, show myself before thee, who art perfect purity; and in whose sight even heaven it self is not clean! O most gracious Lord! look not upon me, as I am in myself; for through my sins I have made myself so vile, that, unless thou hide thy face from my sins, thou canst not but abhor my soul and pour out all thy wrath upon me. In thy tender mercy wash me thoroughly from my iniquity: cleanse me from all my sin and guilt, in that fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, even in the precious blood of the Lamb of God, who was slain to take away the sins of the world. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean: O create in me a clean heart; and say to my defiled soul as thou didst to the leper, "I will, be thou clean." O my God! cast the unclean spirit out of thy temple: and if he will not go out, but by prayer, and fasting, let me add such abstinence to my prayers, as may help to mortify the fleshly lusts that war against my soul. And by any means, help me, O my Strength and my Redeemer, to possess my vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lusts of concupiscence, as those that know not God. Holy Lord; chase away the birds of prey, that would devour thy sacrifice; and drive out these unclean beasts, that would trample down the plantation of thy grace in my soul. O let me not live after the flesh, lest I die eternally: but enable me by thy Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body, that I may live forever. Instead of doing the works of the flesh, let me hate the very garment spotted with it; and not, without utter detestation, so much as name the things which are practised by many without remorse. Help me, my God, to avoid every occasion of falling; and to abstain from all appearance of evil: help me so to delight in purity, and to keep myself from my iniquity, that I may walk as becomes a child of my heavenly Fa ther; not grieving thy holy Spirit, but doing the things which are pleasing in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR MEEKNESS AND PEACEABLENESS. O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men! wilt thou be pleased to subdue my exhorbitant passions, and suppress in me that pride from whence cometh contention; and root out every thought that is inconsistent with gentleness and meekness of spirit. O help me to put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, with all malice. And however I am tempted and provoked, O that I may possess my soul in patience: and not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. And enable us, O God of patience, to bear one another's burdens, and to forbear one another in love: that we may not contend, but for the faith of Christ; nor strive but to enter in at the strait gate; nor provoke one another, but unto love and to good works. If thou the great God shouldst enter into judgement with me, and break out into fury upon me, as I have been ready to take fire at affronts, and to fall with rage upon my antagonists, how soon should I be consumed, and sink under the load of my numerous transgressions! O may I ever dread to be rigid towards others, knowing how much I myself stand in need of mercy! And do thou the God of peace and love, forgive me, I beseech thee, all the sins that ever I have committed against peace and love. O let the peace of God rule in my heart; and thy wonderful long-suffering towards me be ever an |