CHAPTER VIII.

_Shewing the excellency and greatness of a devout spirit, and proving that a contrary spirit, is an indication of great ignorance and stupidity._

I HAVE now finished what was intended; I have explained the nature of _christian devotion_, and shewn that it belongs to all orders, and more especially to those whose fortunes set them above the common level of mankind. I have endeavoured to point out to you, the _chief causes_ of the general indevotion of the professing christian world; and have shewn in _various characters_, how poor, how miserable they live, who are strangers to a life wholly devoted to GOD. I shall only add a word or two by way of conclusion, to prove that fervent devotion is the noblest temper of the greatest and noblest souls; and that a want of devotion, wherever it is, either amongst the learned or unlearned, is founded in gross ignorance, and in the greatest blindness and insensibility that can happen to a rational creature.

And here, I suppose it will be granted on all hands, that it is a sign of a great and noble mind for a man to be full of reverence and duty to his parents, to have the truest love and honour for his friend, and to excel in the highest instances of gratitude to his benefactor. Are not these tempers, in the highest degree, signs of the most exalted and perfect minds?

And yet what is _devotion_, but the highest exercise of these tempers, of _duty_, _reverence_, _love_, _honour_, and _gratitude_, to the amiable, glorious _parent_, _friend_ and _benefactor_ of all mankind? So long, therefore, as duty to parents, love to friends, and gratitude to benefactors, are thought great and honourable tempers; devotion, which is nothing else but duty, love, and gratitude to GOD, must have the chief place amongst our highest virtues.

Again; we know how our blessed LORD acted in a human body; it was “his meat and drink to do the will of his Father which is in heaven.” And if any number of heavenly spirits were to leave their habitations in the light of GOD, and be for a while united to human bodies, they would certainly tend towards GOD in all their actions, and be as heavenly as they could, in a state of flesh and blood.

They would act in this manner, because they know that GOD is the only good of all spirits; and that whether they were in the body or out of the body, in heaven or on earth, they must have every degree of their greatness and happiness from GOD alone. All human spirits therefore, the more exalted they are, and the more they know their divine original, and the nearer they come to heavenly spirits, by so much the more will they live to GOD in all their actions, and make their whole life a state of devotion.

A _devout man_ makes a true use of his reason; he sees through the vanity of the world, discovers the corruption of his nature, and the blindness of his passions. He lives by a _law_ which is not visible to vulgar eyes; he enters into the world of _spirits_, he compares the greatest things, sets eternity against time; and chuses rather to be forever great in the presence of GOD when he dies, than to have the greatest share of worldly pleasures whilst he lives. There is nothing, therefore, that shews so great a genius, nothing that so raises us above vulgar spirits, nothing that so plainly declares an _heroic_ greatness of mind, as great and fervent devotion.

When you suppose a man to be a _saint_, or all devotion, you have raised him as much above all other conditions of life, as a _philosopher_ is above an _animal_.

The greatest spirits of the heathen world, such as, _Pythagoras_, _Socrates_, _Plato_, _Epictetus_, and _Marcus Antoninus_, owed all their greatness to something they possessed, that resembled devotion. Their wisdom and deep contemplations, tended only to deliver men from the vanity of the world, and the slavery of bodily passions; and had they been endowed with the revelation of JESUS CHRIST, they might have justly been stiled great and devout men. For their main end of living, seemed to be, that they might act as spirits that came from GOD, and were soon to return to him.

But to proceed: Courage and bravery are words of a great sound, and seem to signify an heroic spirit; but yet humility, which seems to be the lowest, meanest part of devotion, is a more certain argument of a noble and courageous mind. A man that dares be poor and contemptible in the eyes of the world, to approve himself to JESUS CHRIST; that resists and rejects all human glory, that opposes the clamour of his passions, that meekly puts up all injuries and wrongs, and dares stay for his reward, till the invisible hand of GOD gives to every one their proper places, endures a much greater trial, and exerts a nobler fortitude, than he that is bold and daring in the fire of battle. For the boldness of a soldier, if he is a stranger to devotion, is rather weakness than fortitude; it is at best but mad passion, and heated spirits, and has no more true valour in it, than the fury of a tyger. For as we cannot lift up a hand, or stir a foot, but by a power that is lent us from GOD; so bold actions that are not directed by the laws of GOD, and done with a regard to his glory, are no more true bravery, than sedate malice is christian patience.

Farther; That part of devotion which expresses itself in sorrowful confessions, and penitential tears of a broken and contrite heart, which with some seems likewise another of the poorest and meanest things; is notwithstanding an indication of the most great and noble mind. For who does not acknowledge it an instance of an ingenuous, generous and brave mind, to acknowledge a fault, and ask pardon for any offence? Are not the finest and most improved minds the most remarkable for this excellent temper? Is it not also allowed, that the ingenuity and excellency of a man’s spirit is much shewn, when his sorrow and indignation at himself, rises in proportion to the folly of his crime, and the goodness and greatness of the person he has offended? Now if these things are so, then the greater any man’s mind is, the more he will be disposed to prostrate himself, and confess his faults before GOD, in all the humblest acts and expressions of repentance. And the greater the ingenuity, the generosity, judgment, and penetration of his mind is, the more will he exercise and indulge a passionate, tender sense of GOD’s just displeasure; and the more he knows of the greatness, the goodness, and perfection of the divine nature, the fuller of shame and confusion he will be at his own sins and ingratitude.

From all which considerations, it plainly appears, that devotion is a true elevation of the soul, and that a lively sense of honour, and great knowledge of ourselves, are the best natural helps that devotion hath. And if this does not prove, that _great devotion_ is the _noblest temper_ of the greatest and _noblest souls_, we have not an argument to prove, that there is any such thing as a wise man or a fool.

On the other hand, it will as evidently appear that a want of devotion, wherever it is, among the learned or unlearned, is founded on gross ignorance, and the greatest blindness and insensibility that can happen to a rational creature.

People indeed of fine parts and learning, or of great knowledge in worldly matters, may perhaps think it hard to have their want of devotion charged upon their ignorance; but if they will be content to be tried by reason and scripture, it may soon be made appear. For were not our LORD and his apostles, eminent instances of great and exalted devotion? And if we will grant, (as all professed christians must grant) that their devotion was founded on a true knowledge of the nature of devotion, the nature of GOD, and the nature of man; then it is plain, that all those who are insensible of devotion, neither know GOD, themselves, nor devotion.

Pray how comes it to pass, that most people have recourse to devotion, when they are under sickness, distress, or in fear of death? Is it not, because this state shews them more the want of GOD, and their own weakness, than they perceive at other times? And if devotion at these seasons, is the effect of a better knowledge of GOD, and ourselves, then the neglect and want of it at other times must be always owing to ignorance. Ignorance did I say? Yes, undoubtedly, and that the most _shameful ignorance_: for it is an ignorance of those things, which are most essential to us as rational creatures; I mean our relation to GOD, and the obligations we lie under to live wholly to his glory.

If a Judge had fine skill in painting, architecture, and music, but at the same time had gross and confused notions of equity, and a poor, dull apprehension of the value of justice, who would scruple to reckon him a poor ignorant Judge? If a Bishop should be a man of great address and skill in the art of preferment, and of a quick understanding how to raise and enrich his family in the world, but should have no taste or sense of the maxims and principles of the saints and fathers of the church; if he did not conceive the holy nature, and great obligations of his calling, and judge it better to be crucified to the world, than to live idly in pomp and splendor; who would scruple to charge such a Bishop with want of understanding?

But now, if a Judge is to be reckoned ignorant, nay shamefully so, if he does not feel and perceive the value and worth of justice; if a Bishop is to be looked upon as void of understanding, if he is more experienced in other things, than in the exalted virtues of his apostolical calling; then all common christians are to be looked upon as more or less shamefully ignorant, as they are more or less ignorant of those great things, which are the common, and ought to be the greatest concern of all christians.

If a man had eyes that could see beyond the stars, or pierce into the heart of the earth, but could not see the things that were before him, or discern any thing that was serviceable to him, we should reckon that he had but a very bad sight. And if another had ears that received sounds from the world in the moon, but could hear nothing that was said or done upon earth, we should look upon him to be as bad as deaf. In like manner, if a man has a memory that can retain a great many things; if he has a wit that is sharp and acute in arts and sciences, or an imagination that can wander agreeably in fictions; but has a dull, poor apprehension of his duty and relation to GOD, of the value of piety, or the worth of an interest in the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, he may very justly be reckoned to have a very bad understanding. He is but like the man that can only see or hear such things as are of no benefit to him.

If an human spirit should imagine some mighty Prince to be greater than GOD, we should take it for a poor, ignorant creature; all people would acknowledge such an imagination to be the height of stupidity: But if this same human spirit should think it better to be devoted to some mighty Prince, than to be devoted to GOD, would not this be a greater proof of a poor, ignorant, and blinded nature?

Yet this is what all people do, who think any thing greater, better, or wiser, than a devout life. So that which way soever we consider this matter, it plainly appears, that devotion is an instance of great judgment, and of an elevated nature; and the want of devotion is a certain proof of the most shameful ignorance, and want of understanding.

Would you therefore not incur the imputation of the highest folly, and most shameful ignorance; would you be possessed of the noblest and most exalted judgment; would you avoid the senseless and vexatious miseries that attend a vain, sensual, and indevout life; would you act like a rational and redeemed creature; would you enjoy solid peace and happiness here, and have a well grounded hope and assurance of being invested with eternal joy and comfort in the blissful fruition of the glorious and ever-blessed GOD hereafter; let it be your highest concern henceforward, to ask, seek, and knock at the door of divine grace, till you obtain a true living faith in the righteousness of the once humbled but now exalted Redeemer, and as a proof of that, to devote yourself entirely, without reserve, to his honour, and do all the good you possibly can to all your fellow-creatures, for his great name’s sake.

PREFACE To a NEW EDITION of the HOMILIES; As intended to have been published by Mr. WHITEFIELD.

PREFACE To a NEW EDITION of the HOMILIES, As intended to have been published by Mr. WHITEFIELD.

THE word _Homily_ signifies a sermon. Consequently the book of homilies, implies a book of sermons. Particularly that book, which was composed by those great reformers, _Cranmer_, _Ridley_, _Latimer_, _Hooper_, and others, in the beginning of the reign of that _Josiah_ of his age, _Edward the sixth_. It was again republished, after the short interval of bloody _Mary_’s government, in the reign of Queen _Elizabeth_, and continued interwoven with our ecclesiastical constitution, under her immediate successor King _James_ the first. Even to this very day, the thirty-ninth article of our church runs thus: “The second book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined under this article, doth contain a godly and wholesome doctrine, and necessary for these times; as doth the former book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of _Edward_ the sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in churches by the ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of by the people.”

Such are the express words of our 39th article; and yet, though we subscribe this article, which enjoins these Homilies to be read in our churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly, this is so far from being our practice, that almost for time immemorial, at least in our days, they are seldom if ever read at all. What reason can be assigned for such neglect, I will not take upon me to determine: surely it cannot be, that our clergy look upon this book, as containing ungodly or unwholsome doctrine; for why then do they subscribe to the diligent and frequent reading of it? Neither can it be supposed that they so much as imagine, that this godly and wholesome doctrine is less necessary for the present age, than for that in which it was first published. But however it is, if we act consistently, the subscribers to our articles seem not to be left at their liberty to use or disuse them; they being judged to be read, as much now as formerly, in churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly. For if I may be suffered to give my opinion, the dreadful ignorance, as to the fundamentals of our holy religion, that almost every where abounds amongst the members of our established church, is chiefly owing to our neglect of preaching and putting into their hands the grand doctrines of the Reformation, contained in these Homilies and our other doctrinal articles. And hence undoubtedly it is, that they become such an easy prey to popish emissaries, who lie in wait to deceive. For these reasons, in order to contribute my poor mite towards putting a stop to the growth of this common and almost epidemical evil, I have selected a few of the most essential Homilies, with a suitable collect and a hymn to each, at a very small price, on purpose for the instruction and edification of the poorer sort, who are generally chiefly attacked by the partizans of the _Romish_ communion.

The church of _Scotland_, called our sister church, hath herein set us an example; and I could wish, that in this particular we would endeavour to copy after it. Her confessions of faith, and directory, are printed so frequently and so cheap, that they are almost in every hand; and so constantly explained and insisted upon in the ministers stated parochial visitations, that perhaps (tho’ no doubt even _there_, there is an awful degeneracy) their commonalty, in respect to doctrinal points, are some of the most knowing in the world. Would to GOD the same could be said of the Church of _England_ professors, either at home or abroad! The darkness, the gross and thick darkness of those at home, is so notorious, that it is every where seen, felt, and complained of, by those that have eyes to see and ears to ♦hear. What a pity is it therefore, that this book of Homilies is not judged proper, and insisted on to be read in churches, by ministers diligently and distinctly, that they may be understood by the people now, as well as at the first dawnings of the Reformation. And what a further pity is it, that among the various books recommended and given away by the worthy societies for promoting christian knowledge, and propagating the gospel in foreign parts, the book of Homilies, containing such godly and wholesome doctrine diligently and distinctly to be read, should never find a place in their catalogue; though both these societies have been established so long as soon after the glorious and happy revolution.

♦ “ear” replaced with “hear”

If our societies at home, or missionaries abroad, should urge in excuse for their not reading or dispersing this book of Homilies, that its language and diction is too antique and obsolete; I humbly apprehend, they might with equal propriety make the same objection against the use of, and dispersing the book of _Common Prayer_. For both were compiled by the same great luminaries of our Church, and that too at the very self same important æra of the Reformation. Both contain the same godly and wholesome doctrine, and both are equally adapted to instruct the ignorant, and at the same time to raise and elevate the devout and simple heart. And therefore since the one is constantly to be read in the desk, why should not the other be diligently and distinctly read and enforced from the pulpit? Would to GOD that this was our universal practice: for then our daily or weekly worshippers and hearers, would not only be taught the first principles and doctrines of CHRIST, in a language suitable to their capacities; but, which alas! alas! hath been too too long the case of the desk and pulpit, these would not so frequently and so wretchedly oppose and contradict each other. Heterodoxy and mere heathen morality would then be no longer our famous declamatory topics, or those be deemed and cast out as enthusiasts, madmen, troublers of _Israel_, setters forth of strange doctrines, and turners of the world and church upside down, who after the strictest and most impartial examination, must be confessed to adhere most steadily to the Homilies, Articles, and Liturgy of the Church of _England_; and who at the same time endeavour to adorn her godly and wholesome doctrines therein contained, (as being in their judgments the doctrines of their Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST) with a suitable life and conversation.

If this is to be vile, GOD grant they may be more vile! If this be enthusiasm, GOD grant it an universal flow! For the consequence I know will be, that not only our own, but every protestant reformed church, would then not only be a common barrier against popery and prophaneness, but would shine as bright as the sun, be as fair as the moon, and terrible like an army with banners. That this may be our happy case, is the hearty prayer of,

Christian reader, Thy, &c.

GEORGE WHITEFIELD.

I.

BLESSED LORD, who hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Amen!

The Homily on the Holy Scriptures.¹

¹ A separate edition, with the Homilies here selected, is intended to be published.

Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire, Let us thy influence prove; Source of the old prophetic fire, Fountain of life and love.

Come, Holy Ghost (for mov’d by Thee, Thy holy prophets spoke) Unlock the truth, thyself the key, Unseal the sacred book.

Expand thy wings, prolific dove, Brood o’er our nature’s night; On our disorder’d spirits move, And let there now be light.

GOD through Himself we then shall know, If thou within us shine; And sound with all thy saints below, The depths of love divine.

II.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee the GOD of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

* * * * *

TURN thou us, O good LORD, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable, O LORD, be favourable to thy people, who turn to thee in weeping, fasting and praying; for thou art a merciful GOD, full of compassion, long-suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest, when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare thy people, good LORD, spare them, and let not thine heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us, O LORD, for thy mercy is great, and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us, through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

The Homily on the Misery of Mankind.

LORD, we are vile, conceiv’d in sin, And born unholy and unclean; Sprung from the man, whose guilty fall Corrupts the race, and taints us all.

Soon as we draw our infant breath, The seeds of sin grow up for death; Thy law demands a perfect heart, But we’re defil’d in ev’ry part.

Behold, we fall before thy face, Our only refuge is thy grace; No outward forms can make us clean, The leprosy lies deep within.

JESUS, our GOD, thy blood alone Hath power sufficient to atone; LORD, let us hear thy pard’ning voice, And make our downcast hearts rejoice.

III.

ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, maker of all things, judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, against thy divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for thy Son our LORD JESUS CHRIST’s sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy name, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

The Homily on the Salvation of Mankind.

Bury’d in shadows of the night, We lie, ’till CHRIST restores the light; Wisdom descends to heal the blind, And chace the darkness of the mind.

Lost guilty souls are drown’d in tears, ’Till the atoning blood appears; Then they awake from deep distress, And sing the LORD our righteousness.

JESUS beholds where Satan reigns, Binding his slaves in heavy chains; He sets the pris’ner free, and breaks The iron bondage from our necks.

Poor helpless worms in Thee possess Grace, wisdom, power and righteousness: Thou art our mighty All; may we Give our whole selves, O LORD, to Thee!

IV.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, who hast given unto us thy servants, grace, by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine Majesty to worship the Unity; we beseech thee, that thou wouldst keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest one GOD, world without end. Amen!

The Homily on Faith.

Not all the blood of beasts, On _Jewish_ altars slain, Could give the guilty conscience peace, Or wash away the stain.

But CHRIST, the heav’nly Lamb, Takes all our sins away; A sacrifice of nobler name, And richer blood than they.

My faith would lay her hand On that dear head of thine, While like a penitent I stand, And there confess my sin.

My soul looks back to see The burdens thou didst bear, When hanging on the cursed tree, And hopes her guilt was there.

Believing, we rejoice To see the curse remove; We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice, And sing his bleeding love.

V.

LORD, we pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent and follow us; and make us continually to be given to all good works, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty GOD, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise of thy name, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

The Homily on Good Works.

_Zion_’s a garden wall’d around, Chosen, and made peculiar ground; A little spot enclos’d by grace, Out of the world’s wide wilderness.

Like spicy trees, believers stand Planted by an Almighty hand; And all the springs in _Zion_ flow, To make the rich plantation grow.

Awake, O heav’nly wind, and come, Blow on thy garden of perfume; Spirit divine, descend, and breathe A gracious gale on plants beneath.

Make thou our spices flow abroad, A grateful incense to our GOD; Let faith and love and joy appear; And every grace be active here.

VI.

ALMIGHTY GOD, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name, through CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

O LORD, who hast taught us, that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which, whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this, for thy only Son JESUS CHRIST’s sake. Amen!

The Homily on Charity.

Come, dearest LORD, descend and dwell By faith and love, in ev’ry breast; Then shall we know, and taste, and feel, The joys that cannot be express’d.

Come, fill our hearts with inward strength, Make our enlarged souls possess And learn the height, and breadth and length Of thine unmeasurable grace.

Now to the GOD whose power can do More than our thoughts or wishes know, Be everlasting honours done, By all the church, through CHRIST his Son!

VII.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; grant that we being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one GOD, world without end. Amen!

The Homily for the Nativity, &c.

Father, our hearts we lift Up to thy gracious throne, And bless thee for the precious gift Of thine incarnate Son. The gift unspeakable We thankfully receive, And to the world thy goodness tell: Oh may we to thee live!

JESUS, the Holy Child, Doth by his birth declare, That GOD and man are reconcil’d, And one in Him we are. Salvation, through his name, To lost mankind is giv’n, And loud his infant cries proclaim, A peace ’twixt earth and heav’n.

A peace on earth he brings, Which never more shall end; The LORD of hosts, the King of kings, Declares himself our friend; Assumes our flesh and blood, Angels the wonder scan, The everlasting Son of GOD, The mortal Son of man.

O may we all receive The new-born Prince of Peace, And meekly in his Spirit live, And in his love increase! Till He convey us home, Cry ev’ry soul aloud, Come, thou desire of nations, come, And take us all to GOD.

VIII.

WE are chiefly bound to praise thee for thy Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD: for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again, hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee and saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD GOD of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O LORD most high. Amen!

The Homily for _Good Friday_.

Ye that pass by, behold the Man, The man of griefs condemn’d for you; The Lamb of GOD for sinners slain, Weeping to _Calvary_ pursue.

His sacred Limbs they stretch, they tear; With nails they fasten to the wood His sacred Limbs, expos’d and bare, Or only cover’d with his blood.

See there! his temples crown’d with thorns, His bleeding hands extended wide, His streaming feet transfixt and torn, The fountain gushing from his side.

Oh thou dear suffering Son of GOD, How doth thy heart to sinners move! Help us to catch thy precious blood, Help us to taste thy dying love.

The earth could to her centre quake, Convuls’d whilst her creator dy’d; O may our inmost nature shake, And bow, with JESUS crucify’d!

At thy last gasp, the graves display’d Their horrors to the upper skies; O that our souls might burst the shade, And, quicken’d by thy death, arise!

The rocks could feel thy pow’rful death, And tremble, and asunder part; O rend with thy expiring breath The harder marble of our heart!

IX.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who through thine only begotten Son JESUS CHRIST, hath overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; we humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires; so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one GOD, world without end. Amen!

The Homily for the Resurrection.

Bless’d morning, whose first dawning rays Beheld our rising GOD; That saw him triumph o’er the dust, And leave his last abode!

In the cold prison of a tomb, The dead Redeemer lay; ’Till the revolving skies had brought The third, th’ appointed day.

Hell and the grave unite their force To hold our GOD in vain; The sleeping conqueror arose, And burst their feeble chain.

To thy great name, Almighty LORD, These sacred hours we pay; And loud Hosannas shall proclaim, The triumph of the day.

Salvation and immortal praise To our victorious King; Let heav’n, and earth, and rocks, and seas, With glad Hosannas ring.

X.

GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort, through the merits of CHRIST JESUS our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one GOD, world without end. Amen!

Homily on _Whitsunday_.

IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O LORD, Holy Father, Almighty, everlasting GOD, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, according to whose most true promise, the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from heaven with a sudden great sound, as it had been a mighty wind, in the likeness of fiery tongues, lighting upon the Apostles, to teach them, and to lead them into all truth, giving them both the gift of divers languages, and also boldness with fervent zeal, constantly to preach the gospel to all nations, whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Son JESUS CHRIST. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee and saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD GOD of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O LORD most high. Amen!

Creator Spirit, by whose aid, The world’s foundations first were laid; Come, visit ev’ry waiting mind, Come pour thy joys on human-kind; From sin and sorrow set us free, And make us temples worthy thee.

O source of uncreated heat, The Father’s promis’d paraclete! Thrice holy fount, immortal fire, Our hearts with heavenly love inspire; Come and thy sacred unction bring, To sanctify us, while we sing.

Create all new, our wills controul, Subdue the rebel in our soul; Chase from our minds th’ infernal foe, And peace, the fruit of faith, bestow; And lest again we go astray, Protect and guide us in thy way.

Immortal honours, endless fame, Attend th’ Almighty Father’s name; The Saviour Son be glorified, Who for lost Man’s redemption dy’d; And equal adoration be, Eternal Comforter, to thee!

PRAYERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

PRAYERS.

_A Prayer for one desiring and seeking after the New-Birth._

BLESSED JESUS, thou hast told us in thy gospel, that unless a man be born again of the Spirit, and his righteousness exceed the outward righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, he cannot in anywise enter into the kingdom of GOD. Grant me therefore, I beseech thee, this true circumcision of the heart; and send down thy blessed Spirit to work in me that inward holiness, which alone can make me meet to partake of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light.

Create in me, I beseech thee, a new heart, and renew a right spirit within me. For of whom shall I seek for succour but of thee, O LORD, with whom alone this is possible? LORD, if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole! O say unto my soul, as thou didst once unto the poor leper, I will, be thou renewed. Have compassion on me, O LORD, as thou once hadst on blind _Bartimeus_, who sat by the way-side begging.

LORD, thou knowest all things, thou knowest what I would have thee to do. Grant, LORD, that I may receive my sight; for I am conceived and born in Sin; my whole head is sick, my whole heart is faint; from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, I am full of wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores; and yet I see it not. O awaken me, though it be with thunder, to a sensible feeling of the corruptions of my fallen nature; and for thy mercies sake, suffer me no longer to sit in darkness, and the shadow of death.

O prick me, prick me to the heart! Dart down a ray of that all-quickening light, which struck thy servant _Saul_ to the ground; and make me cry out with the trembling jailor, “What shall I do to be saved?”

LORD, behold I pray, and blush, and am confounded that I never prayed on this wise before.

But I have looked upon myself as rich, not considering that I was poor, and blind, and naked. I have trusted to my own righteousness. I flattered myself I was whole, and therefore blindly thought I had no need of thee, O great physician of souls, to heal my sickness.

But being now convinced by thy free mercy, that my own righteousness is as filthy rags; and that he is only a true christian who is one inwardly; behold with strong cryings and tears, and groanings that cannot be uttered, I beseech thee to visit me with thy free Spirit, and say unto these dry bones, Live.

I confess, O LORD, that thy grace is thy own, and that thy Spirit bloweth where he listeth. And wast thou to deal with me after my deserts, and reward me according to my wickednesses, I had long since been given over to a reprobate mind, and bad my conscience seared as with a red-hot iron.

But, O LORD, since, by sparing me so long, thou hast shewn that thou wouldst not the death of a sinner; and since thou hast promised, that thou wilt give thy holy Spirit to those that ask, I hope thy goodness and long-suffering is intended to lead me to repentance, and that thou wilt not turn away thy face from me.

Thou seest, O LORD, thou seest, that with the utmost earnestness and humility of soul, I ask thy holy Spirit of thee, and am resolved in confidence of thy promise, who canst not lye, to seek and knock, till I find a door of mercy opened unto me.

LORD, save me, or I perish; visit, O visit me with thy salvation. Lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death. O let me no longer continue a stranger to myself, but quicken me, quicken me with thy free Spirit, that I may know myself, even as I am known.

Behold, here I am. Let me do or suffer what seemeth good in thy sight, only renew me by thy Spirit in my mind, and make me a partaker of the divine nature. So shall I praise thee all the days of my life, and give thee thanks for ever in the glories of thy kingdom, O most adorable Redeemer; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all honour and praise, now and for evermore. _Amen._

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_A Prayer for one newly awakened to a Sense of the Divine Life._

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting Father, who in the beginning spake and it was done, saying, “Let there be light, and there was light;” O most adorable Redeemer, who, when _Adam_ had eaten the forbidden fruit, wast revealed as the seed of the woman, and didst in the fulness of time die an accursed death to save us from the guilt and power of our sins, and thereby break the serpent’s head; O blessed and eternal Spirit, who didst once move upon the face of the great deep, who didst overshadow the blessed virgin, who didst descend on the Son of GOD at his baptism, and didst come down after his ascension in fiery tongues upon the heads of each of his apostles; O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one GOD, by whose joint consultation we were first made, and into whose name we have been again baptized; Accept my humble and hearty sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for calling me out of darkness into thy marvelous light; for quickening me when dead in trespasses and sins, and moving on the face of my polluted and disordered soul.

Thou hast promised, O LORD, that thou wilt not quench the smoaking flax, or break the bruised reed. And thou hast told us, that thy Holy Spirit should be in us as a well of water springing up unto eternal life. Finish therefore, I beseech thee, the good work begun in my soul, and now thou hast called me, never let me lie down again in sin.

Thou seest, O LORD, the good seed sown in my heart, is but as yet as a very small grain of mustard-seed. O continue to water, with the dew of thy heavenly blessing, what thy own right-hand hath planted, and it shall become a great tree.

Thou hast touched the eye of my mind by thy divine power, and I see men as trees walking. Let thy holy Spirit, by his blessed influences, more and more remove the remaining scales, ’till I at length see all things clearly.

With shame and confusion of face, O LORD, I confess, I am unworthy of this and all other thy mercies. For I have long since done despite to the Spirit of grace, crucified the Son of GOD afresh, and put him to open shame. But do thou, who art rich in mercy to all that call upon thee, in faithfulness forgive me what is past, and grant I may from henceforward work out my salvation with fear and trembling, since thou hast so graciously wrought in me both to will and to do, after thy good pleasure.

I know, O LORD, that now thou hast begun to deliver me out of my natural, and worse than _Egyptian_ bondage, I must expect to pass through a barren and dry wilderness, that there are lions in the way, that the sons of _Anak_ are to be grappled with, before I attain to the true sabbath of the soul.

But thou, angel of the everlasting covenant, who didst send thy ministring spirits to rescue righteous _Lot_, who ♦leddest thy sheep by the hands of _Moses_ and _Aaron_, and didst appear in a vision to _Ananias_, commanding him to go and lay his hands upon thy servant _Saul_; send me always a faithful and experienced pastor, who may lead me by the hand, and keep me from lingring in my spiritual _Sodom_, by his prudent directions under thee; and preserve me from the snares and fury of my spiritual adversaries, which otherwise may overtake and destroy my soul.

♦ “ledest” replaced with “leddest”

O make me teachable like a little child. Convert my soul and bring it low. Grant I may be willing to learn what things I ought to do, and also may have power faithfully to fulfil the same.

Strengthen me, I beseech thee, by the holy Spirit, to cut off a right-hand, to pluck out a right-eye, to lay aside every weight, especially the sin that doth most easily beset me; to forsake father and mother, brethren and sisters, yea, and my own life also, rather than not be thy disciple.

O suffer me not to deceive my own soul by a partial reformation. Search me and try me, and examine my heart, and let no secret unmortified lust or passion ever keep me from life everlasting.

LORD, I am not my own: Thou hast bought me with the price of thy Son’s most precious blood.

Thou hast often required, and lo! I now give thee my heart, to the best of my knowledge, without secretly keeping back the least part. For whom have I in heaven but thee, and what is there on earth that I can desire in comparison of thee!

O mould me into thy own most blessed image, my LORD and my GOD. Fill me with thy grace here, fit me for thy glory hereafter. Even so, LORD JESUS. Amen, and Amen.

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_A Prayer for one under Spiritual Desertion._

O EVER blessed and most compassionate Redeemer, who wast in all things tempted like as we are, sin only excepted. O thou lover of souls, who in the days of thy flesh didst offer up strong cries and tears, and wast heard in that thou fearedst. O thou restorer of mankind, who wast in such an agony in the garden, that thou didst sweat great drops of blood, falling to the ground. O thou Almighty High-Priest, who, when through the eternal Spirit thou wast about to make thy soul an offering for sin, wast deserted of thy Father, and didst cry out, in the bitterness of thy soul, “My GOD, my GOD, why hast thou forsaken me.” O thou, who now sittest at the right-hand of the Father, continually to make intercession for us, look down, I beseech thee, upon me, thy unworthy servant; for thou hast turned away thy face, and lo! I am troubled; thou hast taken off my chariot-wheels, and I drive heavily; thou hast permitted a cloud to overshadow me, and an horrible darkness, fearfulness, and dread to overwhelm me, so that my spirit would utterly sink within me, did I not believe thou wouldst yet turn again and visit me.

Father, if it be possible, remove this horrible darkness; but if my soul cannot be made perfect without it, thy holy, thy blessed will be done.

Lo here I am! Deal with me as it seemeth good in thy sight. Only let thy grace be sufficient for me; and in the midst of my agonies send down, I beseech thee, an angel from heaven to strengthen me.

LORD, thou knowest that Satan hath desired to have me, that he may sift me as wheat: O grant that my faith fail not.

Suffer, O suffer him not to get an advantage over me, for thou art not ignorant of his devices. O let him not so prevail against me, as to make me entertain hard thoughts of thee, my most loving Master; and compassionate Redeemer. For I know, thou of very faithfulness hast caused me thus to be troubled, and dost afflict me for no other reason, but to make me partaker of thy holiness.

Give me, O give me the shield of faith, and enable me to repel all the fiery blasphemous thoughts, which that wicked one shall, at any time, dart into my mind. Let me drive them off, as carefully as _Abraham_ did the birds that came to devour his sacrifice. And oh! let him never tempt me to think, thou wilt impute them to me for sin.

LORD, thou only knowest the present dryness and barrenness of my soul, and how liable I am to be tempted to fret against thee, and to seek pleasure in the creature when I can find no sensible satisfaction in thee, my great Redeemer, who art GOD, blessed for ever.

But, I beseech thee, keep my soul quiet and composed, and for thy mercy’s sake, enable me only to take pleasure in thee, and to sit down solitary in the bitterness of my soul, and patiently wait till I can draw comfort from thee, the fountain of living waters, rather than hew out to myself broken cisterns, that will hold no water.

Never, never let me fall out with any of thy ordinances; or think I do not please thee in my holy duties, because I have no inward sensible pleasure in them myself.

Enable me to walk by faith, and not by sight, and to seek thee in the use of all appointed means, though it be sorrowing; being assured, that after three days I shall find thee in the temple; or that thou wilt make thyself known unto me, by breaking of bread, or in some other way.

LORD, I believe (help thou my unbelief) that I am now talking with thee, as certainly as _Mary_ was, when thou didst converse with her at the sepulchre; though she knew it not. In thy due time reveal thyself again to me, as thou didst to her, and let me hear the voice of my beloved.

Thou hast promised, thou wilt not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but wilt, with the temptation, make a way for us to escape, that we may be able to bear it. Fulfil, O LORD, this thy promise! And after I have suffered a while, strengthen, establish, settle, and visit me, as thou didst thy servant _Abraham_, when he returned from the slaughter of the five Kings.

LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me; restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and when my heart is duly prepared, and humbled by these inward trials, grant me a feeling possession of thee, my GOD, for the sake of thy dear Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD. _Amen_, _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for one under the Displeasure of Relations, for being Religious._

BLESSED LORD, who hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us; and hast always shewn thyself to be a GOD hearing prayer, mighty and willing to save; hear me now, I pray thee, when I call upon thee, for trouble is at hand.

Thou seest, O LORD, how many of my brethren, according to the flesh, persecute me for thy name’s sake; so that I must renounce them, or decline openly professing thee before men.

But GOD forbid I should love father or mother, brethren or sisters, more than thee, and thereby prove myself not worthy of thee. No! I have long since given thee my soul and my body; so, lo! I now freely give thee my friends also.

I now find by experience, that as it was formerly, so it is now. They that are born after the flesh, do persecute those that are born after the spirit. Thou camest not to send peace on earth, but a sword. And unless a man forsake all that he hath, he cannot be thy disciple.

Lo! I come to perform this part of thy will, O my GOD; being assured, that whosoever forsaketh father or mother, brethren or sisters, houses or lands, for thy sake, or the gospel, shall receive a hundred-fold in this present life, with persecution, and in the world to come life everlasting.

I trust, O LORD, it is for thy sake alone, that I now make an offering of the favour of my friends to thee; for thou knowest, O LORD, how continually they cry out against me, though I am doing no more than thy holy word strictly requires me to do.

But do thou, O blessed Saviour, who saidst unto _Peter_, “Get thee behind me Satan,” enable me to stop my ears to their false insinuations, charm they never so sweetly; for they favour not the things that be of GOD, but the things that be of men. And unless, O LORD, thou dost help, they will be an offence unto me, and cause me to deny the LORD that bought me.

Far be it from me, O LORD, to be surprized, because of those offences; for thou hast long since denounced woe against the world because of offences; and I find it is needful for my soul, that such offences should come, to try what is in my heart; and to try whether I love thee in deed and in truth.

Blessed, therefore, for ever blessed be thy holy name, that I am accounted worthy to suffer for thy name’s sake. O let me rejoice, and be exceeding glad, that my reward shall be great in heaven.

O let me never regard any of their threatnings; for when my father and mother forsake me, thou, O LORD, I am assured, wilt take me up.

Take me, O take me into the arms of thy mercy; for henceforward know I no man after the flesh; and whosoever doth the will of my heavenly Father, the same shall be my brother, and sister, and mother.

I know, O LORD, I know that this will expose me to the derision and persecution of those that are round about me. But do thou, who didst seek for the poor beggar, after he was cast out by the _Jewish_ council, and didst reveal thyself unto him, reveal thyself to me also, when my name is cast out as evil by my friends and the world. Though they curse, yet bless thou me, O LORD, and enable me, I most humbly beseech thee, to pray for them, even when they most despitefully use me, and persecute me. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

It is owing, O LORD, to thy free mercy alone, that I have in any measure been enlightened to know thee and the power of thy resurrection. O let the same grace be sufficient for them also, and make thy almighty power to be known in their conversion.

Thou didst once, O blessed Saviour, magnify thy goodness in turning thy servant _Paul_, from a bitter persecutor, to be a zealous preacher of thy gospel; and madest the trembling jailor cry out, even to those whose feet he had hurt in the stocks, “Sirs, what shall I do to be saved?”

Look down, therefore, I beseech thee, in pity and compassion, on those of my own houshold; and after I am converted myself, make me or some other person instrumental to strengthen these my weak brethren; that though we are now divided amongst ourselves, two against three, and three against two, yet we may at last, all with one heart and one mouth, glorify thee, O LORD; that thou mayest come and abide with us, and love us as thou didst _Lazarus_, _Mary_, and her sister _Martha_. Grant this, O Saviour, for thy infinite merits sake! _Amen_ and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for one entrusted with the Education of Children._

O DEAREST JESUS, who gatherest thy lambs into thy bosom, and didst solemnly command thy servant _Peter_, to feed them; grant I may shew that I love thee more than all things, by doing as thou hast commanded him.

LORD, who am I, or what is in me, that thou should thus put honour upon me, in making me any way instrumental to the preparing souls for thee? O thou blessed Saviour, I have sinned against heaven, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, much less to be employed in the service of thy children.

But since thou hast been pleased in me, to shew forth all thy mercy, and hast called me by thy good providence to this blessed work, grant I may always remember, that the little flock committed to my charge, are bought with the price of thy own most precious blood. And let it, therefore, be my meat and drink, to feed them with the sincere milk of thy word, that they may grow thereby.

To this end, I beseech thee of thy free grace, first to convert my own soul, and cause me to become like a little child, that from an experimental knowledge of my own corruptions, I may have my spiritual senses exercised, to discern the first emotions of evil that may at any time arise in their hearts.

O give me, I beseech thee, a discerning spirit, that I may search, and try, and examine the different tempers of their sin-sick souls; and, like a skilful physician, apply healing or corrosive medicines, as their respective maladies may require.

Gracious JESUS, let punishing be always my strange work; and, if it be possible, grant that they may be all drawn to their duty, as I would be drawn myself, by the cords of love. And when I am obliged to correct them, grant it may not be to shew my authority, or gratify a corrupt passion, but purely out of the same motive from which thou dost correct us, to make them partakers of thy holiness.

O! keep me, I beseech thee, from being angry without a cause: Permit me not rashly to be provoked by the infirmities and perverseness of their infant years; but grant I may shew all long-suffering towards them: And by exercising such frequent acts of patience and forbearance, grant I myself may learn the meekness and gentleness of CHRIST.

O thou, who didst teach thy disciples how to pray, pour down, I beseech thee, the Spirit of grace and supplication into their hearts, that at all times, and in all places, they may both desire and know how to call upon thee by fervent prayer.

Father, into thy hands I commend my own and their spirits: Look down from heaven, the habitation of thy holiness, and bless them from thy holy hill.

Keep them, O keep them unspotted from the world; grant they may fly youthful lusts, and remember thee, their Creator, in the days of their youth. Train them up, I beseech thee, in the way wherein they should go; and when they are old, let them not depart from it.

O thou, who didst sanctify _Jeremiah_ from the womb, and calledst young _Samuel_ betimes, to wear a linnen ephod before thee, sanctify their whole spirits, souls and bodies, and preserve them blameless, till the second coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

O thou, who didst endue _Solomon_ with grace, to chuse wisdom before riches and honour; incline their hearts to make the same choice of thee, their only good; and may they always renounce and triumph over the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.

Finally, do thou, O blessed JESUS, who at twelve years old wast found in the temple, sitting among the Doctors, both hearing and asking them questions, grant, that these children may love to tread the courts of thy house, and have their ears opened betimes, to receive the discipline of wisdom, that so, if it be thy good pleasure, to prolong the time of their pilgrimage, here on earth, they may shine as lights in the world; or, if thou seest it best, to bring down their strength in their journey, and to shorten their days, they may be early fitted by purity of heart, to sing eternal _Hallelujah_’s to thee, the Father, and the Holy Ghost, in the kingdom of heaven for ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake, JESUS CHRIST our LORD. _Amen_, _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Person in Want._

O ALL-POWERFUL and gracious GOD, who didst bring water out of a rock for the children of _Israel_, and water out of a jaw-bone to sustain a thirsty _Samson_; who hadst compassion upon _Hagar_ when she was ready to perish, who sentest ravens to feed _Elijah_, and dost feed the young ravens who daily call upon thee, behold me, O LORD, who now cry unto thee in great distress.

I confess, O LORD, I am unworthy of the crumbs which fall from any rich man’s table. Wast thou to deal with me according to my deserts, I should now be lifting up my eyes in torments. But in the midst of judgment, remember mercy. Thou, O LORD, art the preserver of the body. Thou hast declared, that godliness has the promise of the life that now is, and that if we seek first the kingdom of GOD and his righteousness, food and raiment shall be added unto us. Fulfil these promises in me thy unworthy servant.

I behold the lillies of the field, they toil not, neither do they spin; wilt thou not feed me? LORD, I believe; O help my unbelief! I am ashamed that I have so little faith. LORD JESUS, thou Son of _David_, I believe that thou wilt help me. Only give me patience to wait till the hour appointed for helping me, is fully come. I know, in thy due time, thou wilt turn my water into wine, and richly supply all my wants. Patiently let me tarry thy leisure. Never let me fret against thee, my LORD. Though I am poor, let me not be tempted to steal; but strengthen me, I beseech thee, against Satan’s assaults. Let me know, that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of thee, my GOD. Though poor as _Lazarus_, yet, when I die, let me be carried by angels into _Abraham_’s bosom. And however thou mayest be pleased to deal with my body, LORD, feed my soul, I beseech thee, with that bread which cometh down from heaven. Though poor in this world, O let me be rich in faith. Suffer me not to stagger at thy promises through unbelief. Let the poverty of my body be a means of humbling my proud heart. O let me not be ashamed of my low estate, since thou, O LORD, didst not disdain to let women minister to thee of their substance, and hadst not where to lay thy head. Help me to sanctify thee my LORD GOD in my heart, and bring me safe at last to thy heavenly kingdom, through JESUS CHRIST, my only Advocate and Redeemer. _Amen._

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_A Prayer before Singing of Psalms._

O ALMIGHTY GOD who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast perfected praise, open our mouths, that our lips may shew forth thy praise. Let our souls be filled as with marrow and fatness, and out of the abundance of our hearts, let our mouths speak. Enable us to sing with the spirit, as well as with the understanding, and to make melody in our hearts unto thee, O LORD. O let us rejoice in thee evermore, and help us to shew forth our thankfulness not only with our lips, but in our lives; and from praising thee here, LORD grant we may, at the hour of death, be translated to join with angels and archangels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee eternally hereafter. Even so, LORD JESUS, _Amen_ and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for One before he goes to his Labour._

O ALL-GRACIOUS, and ever-blessed LORD GOD; who, when thou hadst placed the first man in the garden of _Eden_, didst command him to dress it, and after he had eaten the forbidden fruit, didst impose this as a part of the divine curse upon him, that he should eat his bread by the sweat of his brows: O most adorable JESUS, who thyself didst work at the trade of a carpenter, and hast by an Apostle, commanded all to abide in the vocation wherewith they are called by thee, O prosper thou my handy-work.

Behold, in obedience to thy command, I now go forth to labour for the meat which perisheth. O let me do it with a single eye to thy glory, and suffer me never to forget to secure that meat which endureth to everlasting life. Let me not be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. O let me walk with thee all the day long; and though my body be on earth, LORD let my heart and affections be fixed on thee in heaven, and preserve me, I most humbly beseech thee, in my going out and coming in, from this time forth and for evermore. Do thou, who didst appear to the disciples when they were fishing and mending their nets, manifest thyself unto me, when employed in the business of my lawful calling. Do thou, who calledst _Matthew_ from the receipt of custom, call me effectually by thy grace. Grant, O LORD, that I may not stand any of my time idle, but be continually improving my talent, that whether I live, I may live unto thee, or whether I die, I may die unto thee, O LORD; so that whether living or dying, I may be thine. O never let me be like the unjust steward, ashamed to dig. Suffer me not to be slothful in business, but grant I may be always fervent in spirit, serving thee, O LORD. Lift up my hands when they hang down; strengthen, O strengthen my feeble knees, let not the sun burn me by day, nor the moon hurt me by night. Provide for me to-day, and keep me from being solicitously careful for the morrow: and after the labour of this troublesome world is over, translate me, O LORD, together with all thy faithful servants, to that happy place, where we shall enjoy an everlasting rest, with thee O Father, with thee O Son, and with thee O Holy Ghost; to whom, as three persons, but one GOD, be ascribed, as is most due, by angels, and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, by things on heaven, and things on earth, all honour, power, might, majesty and dominion, now and for evermore. _Amen_ and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Rich Man._

O SOVEREIGN and all-bountiful LORD GOD, who makest poor, and makest rich, and dost govern all things both in heaven and earth, accept my unfeigned sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for giving me all things richly to enjoy. What am I, O LORD, what is in me, that I should have bread enough and to spare, whilst so many are ready to perish with hunger? Not my merit, O LORD, but thy mercy; not my foresight, but thy sovereign good-will and pleasure has made me thus to differ from, and hath exalted me above my brethren. O let not my prosperity destroy me; but as thou hast made me rich in this world’s goods, for thy infinite mercy’s sake, make me rich towards thee, rich in faith and good works. Suffer me not, O LORD, to say unto gold, thou art my hope, or unto the fine gold, thou art my confidence. Let me not trust in uncertain riches, but in thee, the ever-living GOD. Let me not lay up for myself treasures on earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but grant I may lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust do corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal.

I know, O LORD, that this is impossible with man, and that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into thy kingdom. But, Abba, Father, all things are possible with thee! Enable me, therefore, by the all-sufficiency of thy grace, to sell all things in affection, to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow thee every day. Give me that faith which overcometh the world. Grant that I may not indulge myself in the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, or make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lust thereof. LORD, let me be given to hospitality. When thy disciples are sick, incline me, O LORD, to go to see them; when they are in prison, grant I may not be ashamed to visit them; when they are strangers, may I take them in; when naked, may I cloath them; when hungry, may I feed them; when thirsty, may I give them drink; may I be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, a father to the fatherless, and cause the widow’s heart to leap for joy. May I be a follower of thee, O lowly JESUS, who though thou wast rich, yet for our sakes didst become poor, and camest not to be ministered unto, but to minister. O let me ever remember thy words, and count it more blessed to give than to receive. And, as I am like a city built upon a hill, grant that my light may so shine before men, that they seeing my good works, may glorify my Father which is in heaven. Let my affections, O LORD, be set on things above, and not on things of the earth. Let my conversation be in heaven, and grant I may use the world, as though I used it not. Make me a faithful steward of thy manifold gifts, O GOD, and grant I may not make friends of the accursed mammon of unrighteousness, that when my natural life fails, thy blessed angels may carry me into everlasting habitations, and I may receive that blessed sentence, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy LORD.” Or, if thou pleasest, O LORD, for my trial, to order that my riches should take themselves wings, and fly away, grant I may learn how to want, as well as how to abound, and say, with thy servant _Job_, “The LORD hath given, the LORD hath taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD.” Having nothing, may I learn to possess all things in thee; and in whatsoever state I am, make me therewith content. May I always behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, and when my appointed time is come, may I not need, like the rich fool in the gospel, to have my soul required of me, but chearfully give up the ghost, and be translated to join with _Abraham_, _Isaac_, and _Jacob_, and all the other spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee for ever and ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake JESUS CHRIST our LORD. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Servant._

O THOU high and lofty one, who inhabitest eternity, yet art pleased to dwell with the humble heart: O blessed JESUS, who hast made of one blood, all nations under heaven, with whom there is no respect of persons, and who in the days of thy flesh didst go down to heal a centurion’s sick servant; have mercy, I beseech thee, on me, even me, also a poor servant. Stretch forth the right hand of thy power, to heal all the diseases of my sin-sick soul, and enable me by thy Holy Spirit, faithfully to discharge the several duties of that vocation, whereto I am called by thee. Give me grace, I most humbly beseech thee, to obey my master, according to the flesh, in all things; not with eye-service, as a man-pleaser, but with singleness of heart, as unto CHRIST; knowing, that whatsoever any man doth, the same he shall receive of the LORD, whether he be bond or free.

Make my obedience to my master on earth, like that which the holy angels pay to thee in heaven. When I am commanded to go, may I go; when I am required to come, may I come; whatsoever I am bid to do agreeable to thy will, may I do it heartily, as unto the LORD, and not unto men. But if at any time, O LORD, to try what is in my heart, thou shouldst permit me to be tempted to do any wickedness, O give me grace, as thou didst _Joseph_, patiently to submit to a prison, and to death itself, rather than sin against thee, my GOD; knowing that it is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards GOD, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Enable me, O LORD, to shew good fidelity in all things committed to my charge. Do thou, who blessedst _Abraham_’s servant, when he went to take a wife for his master’s son _Isaac_, so bless me in all my master’s business, that he may see, as _Potiphar_ did, that the LORD maketh all that I do to prosper in my hands.

Keep, O LORD, also the door of my lips, that I offend at no time with my tongue; let a false tongue be far from me, and let me never lie unto my master, as _Gehazi_ did. O let no such unfaithfulness cleave unto me; lest by being a partaker with him in his crime, I partake also in his punishment. Bridle also my tongue from ever answering again: may all sullenness and peevishness of temper be put away from me, with all passion: may I learn of thee, O holy JESUS, to be meek and lowly in heart; O make me patient of reproof, willing to be taught, and subject with all fear and godly reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Or if ever, through the weakness of the flesh, I should offend in this point, as _Hagar_ did against _Sarah_, enable me, I beseech thee, immediately to repent and to return again to my obedience. Grant also, O LORD, I may behave holily and unblameably to my fellow servants: let no corrupt communication, nor foolish talking or jesting, which is not convenient, at any time come out of my mouth, but rather giving of thanks: may our conversation be always seasoned with the salt of thy holy word, and such as may tend to the edifying one another.

Endue us all with that charity, which hideth a multitude of faults; and if ever, O LORD, thy glory should call me to bring up an ill report to my master against any of my fellow-servants, which, I beseech thee, of thy mercies, I may never have occasion to do; grant it may be done with gentleness and compassion, not to insinuate myself into my master’s favour, but to prevent them sinning against thee, and thereby ruining their own souls. Keep us, we beseech thee, from striving among ourselves, as _Abraham_’s and _Lot_’s herdsmen did, about any of the concerns of this life; but grant we may be always provoking each other to love and to good works. Preserve us, we beseech thee, from envying one another, either the favour of our master, or any blessing whatsoever. Let us not seek our own, but each our brother’s welfare, as members of the same body, as disciples of the same LORD. When one of us suffers, let all suffer; when one rejoices, let all of us rejoice with him. Make us pitiful and tender-hearted to each other; and if at any time we should have a quarrel, enable us, O LORD, immediately to forgive one another, even as thou, GOD, for CHRIST’s sake, hast forgiven us.

Finally, O LORD, endue us with a deep humility, that we may in brotherly love prefer one another, and in lowliness of mind each of us esteem his brother better than himself. O hear all our prayers for our master, and grant that he and his houshold may faithfully serve thee, our LORD. O make him as devout as _Cornelius_, and us, like the soldiers that waited upon him, devout also. That thus adorning thy holy gospel in all things, we may, at thy second coming to judge the world, be rewarded according as we have improved the different talents which we have received from thee, O glorious Redeemer, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one GOD, world without end. _Amen_, _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a poor Negroe._

O RIGHTEOUS Father, who hast made of one blood all nations under heaven, and with whom there is no respect of persons, look down from heaven on me a miserable sinner. And as thou hadst once compassion on the eunuch of the Queen of _Candace_, a negroe like myself, O LORD, let thy mercy be shewn in like manner upon me. O send some one to teach me the saving knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. Behold I am foolish; LORD, make me wise unto salvation. LORD, I am poor, do thou enrich me by thy Spirit. LORD, I am miserable in myself, O make me happy in thee. LORD, I am naked, O cloath my poor soul with the righteousness of thy beloved son JESUS. Blessed be thy name, for bringing me over into a christian country. O LORD, let me not come in vain. Make me willing in the day of thy power, and for thy mercy’s sake, reveal thy dear Son in me. Shew me what it is to be born again of thy Spirit, and let JESUS be my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Let me know, O Father of lights, how I have died in _Adam_, and how I must be made alive in CHRIST. Make me contented with my condition, knowing, O LORD, that thou hast placed me in it. Let me never be tempted to rebel against my master or mistress; and enable me to be obedient not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. LORD, keep the door of my lips, that I may not offend with my tongue. Keep my hands from picking and stealing, and suffer me not to behave unseemly on the LORD’s-day. Bless my master and mistress, and my labours for their sake. Bless the Governor, and all that bear rule in this province, and grant that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. Have mercy on my poor countrymen: LORD, suffer them no longer to sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Arise, thou Son of Righteousness, arise with healing under thy wings. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O LORD, and let us know the truth as it is in JESUS. Grant I may be truly converted myself, and then, if it be thy blessed will, enable me, O LORD, to strengthen my poor brethren. O take us poor negroes for thine inheritance, and bless all those who endeavour to teach us thy will. Prosper, O LORD, the work of their hands upon them, O prosper thou their handy-work. Grant they may turn thousands and ten thousands of us to righteousness, and shine as the stars in the firmament for ever and ever. May we be their joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the LORD JESUS, and join with them for ever and ever in singing praises to thee, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom, as three persons, but one GOD, I desire to give all praise, now and for evermore. Even so LORD JESUS, _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Person before he goes a Journey._

GOD of _Abraham_, GOD of _Isaac_, and GOD of _Jacob_, who leddest the people through a wilderness by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night; and didst guide the wise men, on their journey to _Jerusalem_, by a star in the east; give thy angels charge concerning me thy unworthy servant, that I may not so much as hurt my foot against a stone. Keep me, O GOD, keep me on my journey, and suffer me not to fall among robbers. JESUS, thou good Samaritan, take care of, support, defend, and provide for me. Behold, I go out by the direction of thy providence; LORD, therefore, let thy presence go along with me, and thy Spirit speak to my soul, when I am journeying alone by the way-side. O let me know that I am not alone, because my heavenly Father is with me. Keep me from evil company, or, if it be thy will I should meet with any, give me courage and freedom, O LORD, to discourse of the things concerning the kingdom of GOD. And O that thou wouldst let me meet with some of thy own dear children! O that thou wouldst be with us, as with the disciples at _Emmaus_, and cause our hearts mutually to burn with love towards thee, and one another! Provide for me proper refreshment, and wherever I lodge, be thou constrained, O GOD, for thy own name’s sake, to lodge with me. Teach me, whether at home or abroad, to behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth. Preserve my houshold and friends in my absence, and grant that I may return to them again in peace. Enable me patiently to take up every cross that may be put in my way. Let me not be weary and faint in my mind. Make, O LORD, right paths for my feet, enable me to hold out to the end of the race set before me, and, after the journey of this life, translate me to that blessed place, where the wicked one will cease from troubling, and my weary soul enjoy an everlasting rest with thee, O Father, Son, and blessed Spirit; to whom, as three persons, but one GOD, be ascribed all possible power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore. _Amen._

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_A Prayer for a Person at the Beginning of a Sickness._

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, with whom alone are the issues of life and death, who dost wound and dost heal, who killest and makest alive, who bringest down to the grave, and liftest up again, and hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us, stretch forth, I beseech thee, the right hand of thy majesty on high, and save me from the power of this present sickness, which otherwise will destroy my life. Have compassion on me, as thou hadst on _Peter_’s wife’s mother, when she lay sick of a fever. Rebuke my distemper, and grant it may leave me. Speak the word, O LORD, and thy servant shall be whole. It is but for thee to say, Go, and it shall go: for I believe, LORD, that thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. JESUS, thou son of _David_, have mercy upon me. By thine agony and bloody sweat, by thy cross and passion, by thy precious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, good LORD deliver me from my present approaching illness. Behold, to thee I fly for succour. In obedience to thee, do I give place to the physician. But I know that I may waste all my substance, and shall not grow better, but rather the worse, unless thou, O great Physician, who, in the days of thy flesh, didst give sight to the blind, and restore strength to the lame, and didst cure the woman of the bloody issue, dost also recover me from my sickness. Do thou, therefore, who didst bless a bunch of figs to the recovery of _Hezekiah_, sanctify the means that shall be made use of to my recovery. O let me not, like _Asa_, seek only to the physician, but depend on thee, O LORD, for a blessing. Or, if the decree be gone forth that I must die, grant, O LORD, I may set my house and heart in order, and though thou killest me, let me put my trust in thee. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: though worms destroy my body, yet grant, that in my flesh I may see thee my GOD.

If it be thy will, let this sickness not be unto death, but spare me yet a little longer, that I may recover my spiritual strength before I go hence, and am no more seen. If thou seest it best, let this affliction immediately pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but thy will be done. Only sweeten it, O LORD, with a sense of thy love, and strengthen me with thy mighty power in the inner man. Let thy grace be sufficient for me. Magnify thy strength in my weakness, and under the shadow of thy almighty wings, let my soul take refuge till this day of thy visitation be overpast. Shew me, O LORD, wherefore thou contended with me. For I know of very faithfulness thou hast caused me to be thus troubled. Make thou my bed in my sickness, and let thy rod as well as thy staff, comfort me. In patience, grant I may possess my soul. And though this affliction at present be not joyous, but grievous; yet grant, O LORD, I may be so exercised thereby, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Let tribulation, O LORD, work patience, patience experience, experience hope, even that hope which maketh not ashamed, and whereby thy love, O GOD, may be shed abroad in my heart. Give me, O LORD, in this, and in every thing to give thanks, and enable me to suffer, as well as to do thy will, even like the angels in heaven. O! for thine infinite mercy’s sake, let not Satan get any advantage over me, by tempting me to charge thee foolishly. Let not such a wretch as I am, ever complain for this punishment of my sin, knowing that I receive the due reward of my crimes. O suffer me not to cry out with wicked _Cain_, “My punishment is greater than I can bear;” but let me sanctify thee the LORD GOD in my heart, and rejoice in this tribulation, knowing that whom thou lovest thou chastenest, and scourgest every son whom thou receivest. Blessed be thy name O LORD, that thou hast not yet given me over to a reprobate mind. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast not cursed me, as I most justly deserve, as thou didst the barren fig-tree. Blessed be thy name, that thou still dost condescend to dig and dung round me. O purge, purge me for thy mercy’s sake, and grant that I may henceforward bring forth fruit unto thee. O let me not forget this day of my visitation: and if it be thy good pleasure, that I shall not die, but live, grant that I may constantly declare thy works, O LORD. Whenever I am cleansed, let me immediately return and give thanks. With thy servant _Hezekiah_, may I go up into thy house, O LORD, and pay thee my vows, which I now make whilst I am in trouble. Suffer me to sin no more, lest a worse evil befal me: and as thou wast pleased to reveal thyself in the temple to the poor man, whom thou didst cure in the days of thy flesh, be pleased, for thy mercy’s sake, to reveal thyself to me. Then shall I shew forth my thankfulness, not only with my lips, but with my life, by giving myself up to thy service, who didst die for our sins, and rise again for our justification; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. _Amen._

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_A Prayer for a Woman lately married to a believing Husband._

EVERLASTING Father, who didst make _Eve_ out of the rib of _Adam_, and didst give her to him to wife, accept my thanks for calling me to the marriage-state, and blessing me with a husband fearing thee. O, for thy mercy’s sake, make me a help meet for him. Grant, as _Sarah_ called _Abraham_, so I may call and honour him as my lord. Let me always remember, I am the weaker vessel, that man was first made, and not woman, and suffer me not at any time to usurp authority over him. O let me always take heed to reverence, and be in subjection to my husband; and let not my adorning be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or of wearing of gold, or of putting on fine apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of thee, my GOD, of great price. O let me be grave, discreet, chaste, a keeper at home. Suffer me not to be a busy-body, or to wander about from house to house. Keep me from being a tatler, speaking the things which I ought not. And if thou dost bless me with children, LORD, teach me to guide them in the right way, and manage my house with such meekness and wisdom, that I may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Though in the marriage-state, enable me, O LORD, to serve thee without distraction, and let me never be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. May I with _Mary_, continually sit at thy feet, and learn of thee, O JESUS, to be meek and lowly in heart. Keep me from being a snare to my husband. Make me willing to part with him whensoever thou shalt call him from me. Into thy hands, O LORD, I commend both our spirits, souls and bodies. O sanctify us throughout, and let our seed be blessed. O let our marriage-bed be undefiled, and give us to live together as heirs of the grace of GOD, that our prayers be not hindered. Help us to love one another, like thee and thy church. Give us freedom to pray with and for each other, and grant I may be the glory of my husband, as the church is the glory of thee my Saviour. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, according to the multitude of thy mercies in JESUS my Redeemer; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, I desire here and hereafter to ascribe all power, might, majesty, and dominion, for ever and ever. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Man, convinced that it is his Duty to marry, for Direction in the Choice of a Wife._

O ALMIGHTY, ever-living GOD, who, after thou hadst made all things out of nothing, and man after thy own divine image, didst say, “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him;” look down, O LORD, on the work of thine own hands, and hearken to the voice of my humble request. O LORD, chuse a help meet for me. Thou LORD, art acquainted with my wants. Thou didst once chuse a _Rebecca_ for _Isaac_. Thou art the same to-day as thou wast yesterday. Bless me, even me also, in like manner, O my Saviour. Suffer me not, O LORD, to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. O let me not be in the number of the sons of GOD, who saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them wives of all which they chose. LORD, do thou chuse for me, and direct me to a child of thine own, adorned with a meek and quiet spirit. O suffer me not to fall by the hand of a woman. For, LORD, thou knowest I desire to take a wife, not for lust, but uprightly; therefore, mercifully ordain, that I may have one after thy own heart. When I marry, let it be only in and for thee, O LORD. Let not lust or passion pervert or blind my eyes; but, LORD, give me to watch unto prayer, and let thy providence point out the person thou hast appointed for me. Thou didst direct _Abraham_’s servant; LORD, for thy mercy’s sake, direct me. Behold, I call thee, O blessed JESUS, to my marriage. Direct me also, when I consult my friends, thy disciples. O bless their advice unto me in this important change of my life, and let all know my marriage is of thee, my GOD. All which I humbly beg in thy name, and through thy merits, O blessed Lamb of GOD, thou heavenly bridegroom of thy church, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Woman, desiring Direction of GOD, after an Offer of Marriage is made to her._

FOUNTAIN of light and life, who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy dear Son’s name, look down on me thy poor handmaid, and answer my request, for thy infinite mercy’s sake. LORD JESUS, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee, and desire only to live unto thee. Shew me, O LORD, shew me, for thy mercy’s sake, what thou wouldest have me to do. I see, O LORD, the advantages of a single life, and that I can now care only for the things of the LORD, and serve thee without distraction. If thou seest this state best for my soul, O give me power over my own will, and never suffer me to know man. But since thou hast declared that “Marriage is honourable in all;” if thou seest that state best for me, LORD, shew me whom thou hast chosen for me. Behold, thy handmaid is now invited to the marriage-state, and thou alone knowest the heart of him who offers to be my husband. O suffer me not to deceive my own soul; watch, O LORD, watch over and influence my deceitful heart. O let me see the tokens of thy will, before I give a determinate answer. Suffer me not to say, I will go with him, until I plainly see this proposal is of thee, my GOD. Influence my relations hearts, as thou didst influence the hearts of _Rebecca_’s friends; and if it be thy will I should be joined with this thy servant, O let me love him only in thee, and for thee, to the glory of thy great name, and the salvation of both our immortal souls, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Even so, LORD JESUS, _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for Persons in a Storm at Sea._

DEAREST LORD, and all-powerful Redeemer, who wast praying on the mountain, whilst thy disciples were toiling and rowing all night, and the wind was contrary; who didst also appear by night to thy servant _Paul_ in a ship-wreck, saying, “Fear not, _Paul_, for GOD has given thee all the souls that sail with thee;” mercifully look upon us, who are now exposed to the same danger. Say unto our souls, “It is I; be not afraid:” and to the winds, “Peace, be still;” and immediately there shall be a great calm.

Save, LORD, or we perish; for the waves rage horribly. Thou hast sent forth thy word, and the waters flow. O let not the deep shut her mouth upon us, and suffer not the water-floods to swallow us up!

We know, O LORD, for what cause this evil is come upon us. We have not feared thee, the GOD of heaven, who madest the sea and dry land, as we ought. Therefore we are exceedingly afraid, lest thou shouldst not deliver us in this needful time of trouble.

But O thou who didst once hear _Jonah_, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of the fish, though he was fleeing from thy presence, hear us also for thy mercy’s sake. For thou hast cast us into the deep, into the midst of the seas, the floods are compassing us about, and thy billows and waves are passing over us. Save our lives from destruction, O LORD our GOD, and let us yet lift up our hands unto thee in thy holy temple.

But if the decree be gone forth, that our bodies must now perish and see corruption, thy blessed will be done. Only grant, O LORD, that our souls may be precious in thy sight, and that we may be preserved from the storm of thy everlasting anger; so that when the voice of the archangel shall sound, and the trump of GOD command the sea to give up its dead, we may rise to life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one GOD, now and for ever. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Thanksgiving for a safe Arrival after a Voyage._

ALMIGHTY and gracious LORD GOD, who art good, and doest good, who sendest thy rain on the just and on the unjust, and causest thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good; we thy unworthy servants humbly beseech thee, that thou wouldst open our lips, and enlarge our hearts, to shew forth thy praise, for letting us see thy wonders in the deep, and for leading us through the sea, as on dry land, and bringing us to the haven where we would be.

O do thou, who didst inspire _Moses_ and the children of _Israel_ to sing a song unto thee, when thou broughtest them up out of the Red-sea, open our lips, O LORD, that our mouths may shew forth thy praise: for thou art our strength and our song, and art become our salvation. Thy right hand is become glorious in power. Who is like unto thee, O GOD, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Praise the LORD, O our souls, and may all that is within us praise his holy name.

We have seen thy paths in the great waters, and thy providence and power hath alone preserved us, otherwise the deep had long since overwhelmed us, and the waters gone over our souls. It is thy arm, O LORD, alone hath brought us this salvation. O that we may therefore praise thee for thy goodness, and declare the wonders that thou hast shewn to us, the unworthiest of the children of men.

LORD, let us never be unmindful of thy manifold mercies, but enable us to pay thee the vows we made thee when we were in trouble. O keep us, keep us, we beseech thee, unspotted from the world into which thou art sending us. Grant we may not turn thy grace into wantonness, but henceforward walk so holy, and unblameably in all manner of conversation and godliness, that after we have passed the waves of this troublesome world, we may arrive at the haven of eternal rest, which thou hast prepared for all that love our LORD JESUS in sincerity. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake JESUS CHRIST our Saviour. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Sailor._

O THOU GOD of the sea and dry land, who in thy strength settest fast the mountains, and art girded about with power, who claspest the winds in thy fist, and holdest the waters in the hollow of thy hand, who deckest thyself with light, as with a garment, who spreadest out the heavens like a curtain, who tellest the number of the stars, and callest them all by their names, who hast set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass, and hast said, Hitherto shall ye come and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed: O thou, who hast made _Pleiades_, _Orion_, and _Arcturus_, who layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters, who makest the clouds thy chariot, and walkest on the wings of the wind: O thou almighty JEHOVAH, who hast called me by thy providence to go down to the sea in ships, and to occupy my business in the great waters; grant, that as I daily see, so I may daily admire thy wonders in the deep, and learn from storms and winds to obey thy word. They go, O LORD, when thou biddest them go; they come, when thou commandest them to come. But I have broken all thy commands: thou hast commanded me to go often, but alas! I go not. Thou requirest me to come and draw near unto thee in prayer, but alas! I come not. Or if I do pray unto thee at such time as a storm comes upon me, yet my devotion ceases with the storm, it is but like a morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away.

LORD, I blush and am confounded, when I consider how often thou hast magnified thy power in my preservation, and yet that I could continue so ungrateful. Thou hast often heard me when I have cried unto thee, when I have been staggering to and fro, and been at my wit’s end, when the waves went up to the heavens, and down to the hell beneath, and my soul hath fainted for very trouble: but I have forgotten to praise thee, O LORD, for thy goodness, and to thank thee for the wonders thou hast shewn to me, the unworthiest of the sons of men.

Thou wast with _Noah_ in the ark, and his little family; O do thou vouchsafe to guide and protect me. Thou wast with _Jonah_, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of hell; hear me also, now I cry unto thee out of the great deep. I would not behave more wisely in the things of this life, than in the things which belong to my everlasting peace. Let me not be so careful to shun a shipwreck, and never fear making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Let me not be so careful to eye my compass, and yet seldom eye thy most holy word, which alone can guide me through this world to the haven of everlasting rest. Let me not every day be solicitous to be at my wished-for port, and never desire to see and enjoy thee. Let me not daily improve every wind, and continually neglect those glorious opportunities, which I enjoy of fitting myself for thee. Let me not fear a storm, and yet never fear that fiery tempest, which will ere long come upon the wicked, from thy presence.

Keep me, O GOD, from impatience, when the winds and seas are contrary. Grant me a lively persuasion, that thy providence ruleth all things; that thou intendest every thing for my good, and enable me therefore patiently to tarry thy leisure, and to give thee thanks for all things that befal me, since it is thy will in CHRIST JESUS concerning me. Let me not complain of the weather, since that is tacitly complaining of thee, my GOD.

Keep, O LORD, I beseech thee, the door of my lips, that I may not offend thee with my tongue. O put away swearing far from me, and let me no longer, as I have done, cloath myself with cursing as with raiment, lest, as I delight in cursing, it should happen unto me, and as I loved not blessing, so it may be far from me.

O let me no longer deceive my own soul, by thinking it impossible thus to offend thee with my tongue. All things are possible with thee, my GOD! Purify, therefore, I beseech thee, my heart: create in me a new heart; renew a right spirit within me: for out of the abundant wickedness contained therein, my mouth hath so often uttered profane things.

Keep me, O LORD, I beseech thee, unspotted in my conversation, and let not the evil communications, to which I am daily exposed, corrupt my good manners. O let me never have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather give me courage to reprove them; and, as my life is always in thy hand, O let me not forget thy law.

Grant, O LORD, that the crosses I meet with, may not increase, but rather break my passions. Let me, in the hours of watching, watch unto prayer, and teach me to endure hardness like a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST.

Keep me, O LORD, from loving unrighteous gain, and grant I may render unto _Cæsar_ the things that are _Cæsar_’s, and pay tribute to whom tribute is due: knowing that money unjustly gotten, is but laid up to the owner’s hurt, and that hereafter it will pierce me through with many sorrows, and eat my flesh as doth fire. May my one business be to lay up treasures in heaven, and to secure an interest in thee, O blessed JESUS, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one GOD, blessed for evermore. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_The Pious Soul longing for Heaven._

LORD! how have I loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. O glorious seat; the residence and the workmanship of the great, the mighty GOD: let me continue, let me increase in this love of thee more and more.

Let this weary pilgrimage be spent in advancing daily toward thee, and may the breathing of my soul after thee, sanctify and comfort the labours of each day, and refresh my waking thoughts by night.

Let my heart be always where my treasure is already; and in this dry and desolate wilderness, may I feel no other thirst, than that of arriving at my heavenly _Canaan_, and partaking in the society and the joys of that happy people, who have the LORD for their GOD.

O may that GOD who made me, possess me in his holy temple! Not that I dare presume to hope for thy beauty and bliss upon the account of any deserts of my own; but yet, the humblest sense of my own unworthiness will not sink me into despair of it, when I reflect upon the blood of Him who died to purchase this mansion for me. Let but his merits be applied to me; let his intercessions assist my want of worth, and then I am safe; for those merits cannot be overbalanced by my sins, nor were, or can those prayers be ever offered up to GOD in vain.

For my own part, I confess with shame and sorrow, that I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost, drawn out my wandrings and my miseries to a great length, and am cast out of the sight of my GOD, into the blindness and darkness of a spiritual banishment. In this forlorn estate I sadly bewail the wretchedness of my captivity, and sing mournful songs when I remember thee, O _Jerusalem_. As yet I am at an uncomfortable distance, and at best my feet stand only in the outer courts of _Sion_. The beauties of the sanctuary are behind the veil, and kept hid from my longing eyes; but I am full of hope, that the builder of this sanctuary, and the gracious shepherd of souls, will carry me in upon his shoulders, that I may there rejoice with that gladness unspeakable, which all those happy saints feel, who are already admitted into the presence of their GOD and Saviour; the Saviour who hath opened his royal palace to all believers, by abolishing the enmity in his flesh, and reconciling all things in heaven and earth by his own blood.

He is our peace, who hath made both one, and broken down the middle wall of partition, promising to give us the same degree of happiness in his own due time, which is already enjoyed in thee. For thus he hath declared, that they who are worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, shall be equal unto the angels. O _Jerusalem_, the eternal habitation of the eternal GOD! may’st thou be the second darling of my soul, and only he be preferred before thee in my affection, who shed his blood to make me worthy of thee. Be thou the joy and comfort of my languishing mind, my great support in hardships and distresses; may the remembrance of thee be ever sweet, and the mention of thy name a holy means to drive away all sorrow from my soul.

* * * * *

_An Act of Praise._

BLESS the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. O praise the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominions; praise the LORD, O my soul.

Let us magnify that great GOD, whom angels praise, whom dominions adore, whom powers fall down and tremble before; whose excellent glory cherubim and seraphim proclaim with loud incessant voices: let us bear a part in this heavenly song, and together with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, laud and magnify that glorious name; let us tune our voices with theirs, and though we cannot reach their pitch, yet will we exert the utmost of our skill and power, in this tribute to the same common LORD; and say with them, as poor mortals are able, Holy, holy, holy, LORD GOD of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of thy glory; glory be to thee, O LORD most high.

For these are the happy spirits, who offer a sacrifice of pure praise before the throne of GOD continually, who are ever wrapt in the contemplations of his perfections; and see them, not like us through a glass darkly, but near at hand, and face to face.

What tongue can express, what thought conceive, the admirable beauty, the exact order, the numberless multitude of this heavenly host? The inexhaustible source of joy springing from the beatific vision; the fervent love which ministers delight without torment; the ever-growing desire, which rises with their satisfactions, and the grateful satisfactions, which crown that desire; a desire always eager, and never uneasy, always full, and never cloyed: the blessedness derived down to them, by their inseparable union to the fountain of all bliss; the light communicated to them from the original light; the happy change into an immutable nature, by seeing the immutable GOD as he is, and being transformed into the likeness of him they see?

But, how, alas! should we hope to comprehend the divinity and bliss of angels so far above us, when we feel ourselves unable to find out the nature and perfection of our very soul within us? What sort of being must this be, which inspires a lump of dead flesh with life and activity, and yet, when most desirous so to do, cannot confine its thoughts to holy exercises? What a mixture of power and impotence is here? How great, and yet how poor and little is this principle, which dives into the secrets of the most high, searches the deep things of GOD, and expands itself to celestial objects, at the same time that it is forced to employ its talent in the invention of useful arts, and to serve the necessities of a mortal life? What sort of creature is this, that knows so much of other things, and so little of itself; so ingenious in matters abroad, so perfectly in the dark to what is done at home? Specious but very disputable notions have indeed been advanced concerning the origin of our soul; but all we know of it, amounts at last to this; that it is an intellectual Spirit, created by the Almighty power of its divine maker, endued with such an immortality as he was pleased to qualify it for; enlivening and sustaining a body subject to change, corruption, and death, and liable to all the unequal affections of fear and joy, and every turbulent passion, that in their turns exalt and depress, enlarge or contract its power.

And what an amazing thing is this now! The more we attend to it, the more we shall find ourselves lost in wonder. When we read, or speak, or write of GOD, the great creator of the universe, we can distinguish ourselves clearly and distinctly, though at the same time his perfections be too vast, for our words to express, or our minds to comprehend; the subject, not of an adequate conception, but of an awful astonishment.

But when we descend lower, and treat of angels and created spirits, of souls united to bodies, and beings of the same level with, or a condition inferior to our own; we are not able to support our ideas with proofs so incontestable; and find it impracticable to satisfy ourselves or others in the enquiries concerning them.

Why then should we, to so very little purpose, hover uncertainly about these lower regions, and spend our time and pains in groping in the dark? No, let our minds rather enlarge their thoughts, and take a nobler range; let them leave all created objects behind, and run, and mount, and fly aloft: and, taking faith to the assistance of reason, fix their eyes, with the utmost intenseness our nature will bear, upon the Creator, the Universal Cause.

Yes, I will make a ladder, like that of _Jacob_’s, reaching from earth to heaven, and as by rounds, go up from my body to my soul, from my own soul to that eternal Spirit that made it; who sustains, preserves it always with me, about me, above me; thus skipping over all the intermediate stages of beings, and re-uniting my own soul to Him from whom it came, and in whose image it was created.

Whatever bodily eyes can discern, whatever leaves impressions upon my imaginative faculty, shall be resolutely set out of the way, as a hinderance to that more abstracted contemplation, which my mind is desirous to indulge.

A pure and simple act of the understanding, is that which must carry me up, and boldly soar at once to the Creator of angels, and souls, and of all things.

And happy is that soul, which, refusing to be detained by low and viler objects, directs its flight to the noblest and most exalted, and, like the eagle, builds its nest in the top of the rocks, and keeps its eye steady upon the Sun of righteousness; for no beauty is so charming, no pleasure so transporting, as that with which our eyes and mind are feasted, when our greedy sight and eager affections are determined to our GOD and Saviour, as to their only proper center; when, by a wondrous mystical, but true and spiritual act of vision, we see him who is invisible; behold a light far different from this which chears our senses, and taste a pleasure infinitely sweeter than any this world and its joys can afford; for this is a short and insincere pleasure; this is a dim and feeble light, confined to a narrow space, always in motion from us, and in few hours put out by constant returns of darkness: these are enjoyments which the great Creator hath distributed to brutes, nay, to the vilest of insects, in common with mankind; and therefore let us thirst and aspire after such as are truly divine; for what even swine and worms share with us, cannot deserve the name of light and pleasure, but, in comparison of those more refined, are to be esteemed no better than pain and night.

Now to GOD the Father, &c.

INDEX TO THE TRACTS.

_ANSWER to the Bishop of |London|’s Last Pastoral Letter._ page 5

_A Letter to the Religious Societies of |England|._ page 23

_A Letter to the Inhabitants of |Maryland|, |Virginia|, |North| and |South-Carolina|._ page 37

_A Letter to some Church-Members of the Presbyterian Persuasion, in Answer to certain Scruples lately proposed, in proper Queries raised on each Remark._ page 45

_A Letter to the Rev. Mr. |John Wesley|: In Answer to his Sermon, entitled, |Free-Grace|._ page 53

_A Vindication and Confirmation of the Remarkable Work of GOD in |New-England|. Being some Remarks on a late Pamphlet, entitled, “The State of Religion in |New-England|, since the Rev. Mr. |George Whitefield|’s Arrival there”. In a Letter to a Minister of the Church of |Scotland|._ page 77

_A brief Account of the Occasion, Process, and Issue, of a late Trial at the Assize held at |Gloucester, March 3, 1743.| between some of the People called Methodists, Plaintiffs, and certain Persons of the Town of |Minchin-Hampton|, in the said County, Defendants._ page 101

_An Answer to the First Part of an Anonymous Pamphlet, entitled, “Observations upon the Conduct and Behaviour of a certain Sect, usually distinguished by the Name of Methodists.” In a Letter to the Right Reverend the Bishop of |London|, and the other Right Reverend the Bishops concerned in the Publication thereof._ page 113

_A Letter to the Reverend |Thomas Church|, M.A. Vicar of |Battersea|, and Prebendary of St. |Paul’s|; in Answer to his Serious and Expostulatory Letter to the Rev. |George Whitefield|, on Occasion of his late Letter to the Bishop of |London|, and other Bishops._ page 125

_An Answer to the Second Part of an Anonymous Pamphlet, entitled, “Observations upon the Conduct and Behaviour of a certain Sect, usually distinguished by the Name of Methodists.” In a second Letter to the Right Reverend the Bishop of |London|, and the other the Right Reverend the Bishops concerned in the Publication thereof._ page 143

_Some Remarks upon a late Charge against Enthusiasm, delivered by the Right Reverend Father in GOD, |Richard|, Lord Bishop of |Litchfield| and |Coventry|, to the Reverend the Clergy in the several Parts of the Diocese of |Litchfield| and |Coventry|, in a Triennial Visitation of the same in 1741; and published at their Request in the present Year, 1744. In a Letter to the Reverend the Clergy of that Diocese._ page 173

_A Letter to the Reverend the President and Professors, Tutors and Hebrew-Instructor, of |Harvard-College|, in |Cambridge|. In Answer to a Testimony published by them against the Reverend Mr. |George Whitefield|, and his Conduct._ page 203

_Remarks on a Pamphlet, entitled, “The Enthusiasm of Methodists and Papists compared;” wherein several Mistakes in some Parts of my past Writings and Conduct are acknowledged, and my present Sentiments concerning the Methodists explained. In a Letter to the Author._ page 229

_An Expostulatory Letter, addressed to |Nicholas Lewis|, Count |Zinzendorff|, and Lord Advocate of the Unitas Fratrum._ page 253

_A Short Address to Persons of all Denominations; occasioned by the Alarm of an intended Invasion, in the Year 1756._ page 265

_A Preface to the Serious Reader, on Behalf of the Rev. |Samuel Clarke|’s Edition of the Bible._ page 277

_Observations on some fatal Mistakes, in a Book lately published and entitled, “The Doctrine of Grace; or, The Office and Operations of the Holy Spirit vindicated from the Insults of Infidelity, and the Abuses of Fanaticism.” By |William|, Lord Bishop of |Gloucester|._ page 285

_A Recommendatory Preface to the Works of Mr. |John Bunyan|._ page 305

_A Letter to the Rev. Dr. |Durell|, Vice-Chancellor of the University of |Oxford|. Occasioned by a late Expulsion of Six Students from |Edmund-Hall|._ page 311

_Observations on Select Passages of Scripture, turned into Catechetical Questions._ page 345

_|Law| Gospelized: or, An Address to all Christians, concerning Holiness of Heart and Life: Being an Attempt to render Mr. |Law|’s Serious Call more useful to the Children of GOD, by excluding whatever is not truly Evangelical, and illustrating the Subject more fully from the holy Scriptures._ page 377

_Preface to a New Edition of the Homilies; as intended to have been published by Mr. |Whitefield|._ page 441

PRAYERS,

_For one desiring and seeking after the New-Birth._ page 457

_For one newly awakened to a Sense of the Divine Life._ page 459

_For one under Spiritual Desertion._ page 461

_For one under the Displeasure of Relations for being Religious._ page 463

_For one entrusted with the Education of Children._ page 465

_For a Person in Want._ page 467

_Before Singing of Psalms._ page 468

_For one before he goes to his Labour._ page 468

_For a Rich Man._ page 470

_For a Servant._ page 471

_For a Poor Negroe._ page 473

_For a Person before he goes a Journey._ page 475

_For a Person at the Beginning of a Sickness._ page 476

_For a Woman lately married to a believing Husband._ page 478

_For a Man, convinced that it is his Duty to marry, for Direction in the Choice of a Wife._ page 479

_For a Woman desiring Direction of GOD, after an Offer of ♦Marriage is made to her._ page 480

♦ “Mar-” replaced with “Marriage”

_For Persons in a Storm at Sea._ page 481

_A Thanksgiving for a safe Arrival after a Voyage._ page 482

_A Prayer for a Sailor._ page 483

_The Pious Soul longing for Heaven._ page 486

_An Act of Praise._ page 487

END of the FOURTH VOLUME.