begun and sowed in our hearts the seeds of eternal life, may the same blest hand go on to finish its own work, and hasten the days of its harvest! So shall Thy saints, O Lord, sing with joyfulness to Thy sacred name, evermore praising Thee and saying, He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation; God is the Lord, by whom we escape death. Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever! Amen. A PRAYER TO BE USED BY AN AFFLICTED WIFE IN BEHALF OF A VICIOUS HUSBAND. O ETERNAL FATHER, Thou preserver of men, Thou great lover of souls, who didst send Thy holy Son to die, that mankind might be redeemed and sin might be destroyed: Thou knowest how intolerable a thing it is that a soul should, to eternal ages, be encircled with Thy wrath and the indignation of a mighty and angry God, and therefore dost love to do miracles of mercy, because Thou willest not that a sinner should perish be pleased to give Thy handmaid leave to present her humble desires in behalf of a sinner one sinner for another the miserable for him that is ready to perish. Lord, look down in mercy upon my husband, snatch him from the jaws of hell, suffer him not to perish in his sin: but open his eyes with the light of Thy word and Thy Spirit, that he may espy his danger, that he may behold the deformity of his sins.. Cleanse his hand and heart from all unrighteousness, O God, and his soul and body from all impurity. Give him a perfect repentance and a perfect pardon and, if it be Thy will, let me also be a fellow helper towards the recovery of his soul; and be pleased to remember the sufferings of Thy handmaid, not that he may receive evil, but that I may find good from Thy gracious hands in the day of recompense; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR HOLY INTENTION IN THE BEGINNING AND O ETERNAL GOD, who hast made so many things for man, and man for Thy glory, sanc tify my body and soul, my thoughts and intentions, my words and actions, that whatsoever I shall think, or speak, or do, I may design to glorify Thy name, and by Thy blessing it may be effective and successful in the work of God. Let no pride nor self-seeking, no covetousness nor revenge, no impure mixture nor unworthy purposes, no little ends nor low imaginations, pollute my spirit and unhallow my words and actions; but let my body be a servant of my spirit, and both body and spirit servants of Christ; that doing all things for Thy glory here, I may be partaker of Thy glory hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR A SINNER RETURNING AFTER A LONG IMPIETY AND FORGETFULNESS OF GOD. O ETERNAL JUDGE of men and angels, Father of mercies, and great lover of souls, I humbly acknowledge that the state of my soul is sad and deplorable, and by my own grievous fault I am in an evil condition: and if Thou shouldst now enter into judgment with me, I have nothing of my own to abate the stroke of Thy severe infliction. But, O my God, though I deserve evil, yet Thou art gracious and holy, and lovest more to behold Thy glory reflected from the floods and springs of mercy, than from the troubled waters of Thy severe displeasure: and because Thou lovest so highly to show mercy, let me hope that Thou hast mercy in store for him to whom Thou hast given grace to ask it. O my God, pity me even for Thy goodness' sake, and because I am miserable and need it. And since I have nothing of my own to be a ground of confidence, cause me to place my hopes on Thee, through Jesus Christ. I come to the throne of Thy grace to find mercy, and for that Holy Spirit which Thou hast promised to those that ask it. O God, give me pardon, and give me Thy Spirit; then shall I be safe and healed, and all that I desire to be, all that I ought to be. I have spent my time in vanity, enable me to redeem that time: my understanding hath been abused by vain confidences, let that faculty now be brought to the obedience of Christ. My will hath been peevish and perverse; let it now be subdued to Thine. My heart was a fountain of evil thoughts; now, O God, do Thou sanctify it, and make it Thine for ever. O refuse not Thy returning son; I have the sorrow of a humble penitent; the hope of one that feels Thy present goodness, and longs for more. Reject me not, O my God, but do Thou work within me a true repentance, a humble fear, a religious hope, a growing charity. Then shall I be what Thou wouldest have me to be, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE END. ERRATUM. P. 62, after a surety for, insert a LONDON: PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, Dorset Street, Fleet Street. |