A PRAYER, &c. Fears and Terrors; encompaffed about with thick Clouds of Sadnefs! But yet I hope to fee the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living.-Lord, fanctify this great Affliction to me! And let not any of the Devil's Temptations prevail with me, to let go my hope in Chrift. Grant me, I beseech thee, Trust and Affiance in thy Mercy; and let me not make Sin my Refuge, or feek Comfort and Redress from any indirect Means: But patiently wait on thee, O God, who alone bringeft down, and raifeft up; who killeft, and makeft alive. O Lord, be pleas'd to pardon, and forgive me all my Sins; and to heal all my Bodily Weakneffes and Infirmities, and to quiet and compofe my Spirits. O Lord, speak Peace unto me thy Servant; give thy Servant the Bleffing of Peace. Thou fearcheft me out, and knoweft me: Thou understandeft my Thoughts long before, Thou art about my Path, and about my Bed; and feeft in what Sadnefs I pafs the Day and the Night. O Lord, fend down the Holy Ghost the Comforter, to enlighten and comfort my poor Soul, and to fanctify and hallow all the Faculties and Powers thereof. Cleanfe it of all prophane, impure, revengeful, wandring, or defponding Thoughts, and all other evil Imaginations; and let not my Heart bé inclined to any evil Thing. Vouchsafe, T I beseech thee, O Lord, to direct, fanctify, and govern both my Heart and Body in the Ways of thy Laws, and in the Works of thy Commandments; that among all the Changes and Chances of this mortal Life, I may ever be defended by thy moft gracious and ready Help. And, O Lord God Almighty, unto whom all Hearts are open, all Detires known, and from whom no Secrets are hid, cleanfe the Thoughts of my Heart by the Infpiration of thy Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name. Thou feeft, O Lord, that I have no Power of myfelf; keep me therefore, both outwardly in my Body, and inwardly in my Soul; that I may be defended from all Adverfities, which may happen to the Body, and from all Evil Thoughts, which may affault and hurt the Soul: And at last bring me to that bleffed State, where I fhall ferve, love, and worship thee, without Fear or Diftraction; and be out of the reach of all my Spiritual Enemies, and enjoy confummate Tranquillity, and Blifs. And all I most humbly and earnestly beg, in and through the meritorious Agonies and Death of Jefus Chrift, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen. Our Father, &c. FINI S. |