out my salvation, enable me to drive from me all such unquiet and perplexing thoughts as may mislead, or hinder me in the practice of those duties which thou hast required. When I behold the works of thy hands, and consider the course of thy providence, give me grace always to remember that thy thoughts are not my thoughts, nor thy ways my ways. And while it shall please thee to continue me in this world, where much is to be done and little to be known, teach me by thy Holy Spirit to withdraw my mind from unprofitable and dangerous inquiries, from difficulties vainly curious, and doubts impossible to be solved. Let me rejoice in the light which thou hast imparted; let me serve thee with active zeal and humble confidence, and wait with patient expectation for the time, in which the soul which thou receivest shall be satisfied with knowledge. Grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. JOHNSON, AGAINST TEMPTATION. O HEAVENLY and most merciful Father, I most humbly beseech thee, for thy Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord, have mercy upon me, and succour me in these terrible assaults and temptations of the devil. Deliver my soul from all his power and craft; send me strength from above, that I may retain my integrity, may resist the enemy, and stand stedfast in the day of trial. Be thou my strong rock and castle of defence; that, being preserved through thy grace and assistance, I may continue thy faithful soldier and servant unto my life's end. Nourish all the seeds of grace that are sown in my heart, and make them fruitful unto every good word and work. Give me the increase of faith, hope, charity, and all other Christian graces; and that I may obtain that which thou dost promise, make me ever to love that which thou dost command: and this I beg through the merits and for the sake of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. SPINCKES. AGAINST WANDERING THOUGHTS IN DEVOTION. ALMIGHTY God, who hast commanded us to pray unto thee without ceasing, and hast added many glorious promises for our encouragement, let thy Holy Spirit teach us how to pray; give me just apprehensions of my wants, zeal for thy glory, great thankfulness for thy mercies, and love of all spiritual employments that are pleasing unto thee; and do thou help my infirmities, that the devil may not abuse my fancy with illusions, nor distract my mind with cares. nor alienate my thoughts with impertinencies; but do thou, Lord, give me a present mind, great devotion, a heart fixed upon thy divine perfections, and an actual intention and perseverance in my prayers, that I may glorify thy name, do unto thee true and laudable service, and obtain relief for all my necessities. Hear me, O King of heaven, when I call upon thee, for thou hast promised mercy to them that pray in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. BISHOP TAYLOR. IN SORROW AND DESPONDENCY. O ETERNAL God, Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, with much mercy look upon the sorrows of thy servant. The waters are gone over me, and I stick fast in the deep mire; and my miseries are without comfort, because they are the punishments of my sin. Lord, pity me; Lord, let thy grace refresh my spirit; let thy comfort support me, thy mercy pardon me, and never let my portion be among hopeless and accursed spirits for thou art good and gracious; and upon thy mercies do I humbly cast myself. Grant that I may never let my hold go; and do thou with me what seemeth good in thine eyes. I cannot suffer more than I have deserved, and yet I can need no relief so great as thy mercy is; for thou art infinitely more merciful than I can be miserable; and thy mercy, which is above all thine own works, is transcendently above all my sin and all my misery. Holy Jesus, let me trust in thee for ever, and let me never be confounded. Amen. BISHOP TAYLOR. THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM O MERCIFUL Lord, thou hast caused the light to shine out of the midst of darkness, and given me order and clearness for my former confusedness of thoughts, and settled my trembling and troubled spirit in rest and peace. Thy grace has comfortably resolved and enlightened me about thy ways, and set me free from my entangling scruples, and rid me of my dejecting and disquieting fears, by comfortable hopes of thy free mercies in Christ Jesus. Blessed be thy love, O gracious Father, for sending me such seasonable helps and suitable instructors, who, by clear representations of things, have happily removed my fears and ignorance. And blessed be thy grace for opening my heart and eyes, and enlightening and quieting my spirit by their means. But, above all, blessed be thy good ness for giving us such sweet promises of favour and mercy in Jesus Christ, as may give poor sinners ease of heart and humble confidence in thee. And O, do thou, who hast now most graciously spoken peace unto my soul, maintain and keep up clear knowledge and unswerving righteousness in the same, that it relapse not into guilt and fear, nor be clogged and disquieted by doubts and scruples any more. Make me satisfied and settled in a right understanding of all good things, and careful in the observance of them. And let not any busy workings of the adversary, or of my own melancholy, make me unnecessarily mistrustful, or suspicious, or unduly jealous, either of thee or of myself. Let me not be fickle and soon altered in my persuasions of thy love, or in my purposes of thy service. But fix my heart in thoughts of righteousness, and in the blessings and comforts of joy and peace, for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. KETTLEWELL. FOR A UNIFORM OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL. O HOLY Jesu, who camest down from heaven, and wast pleased to pay that dear ransom on the cross for us, that thou mightest redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto thyself a peculiar people, zealous of good |