self, in speaking evil of my neighbours; using them in my words, as I would ill resent to be used: slandering and reviling, dissembling, or rash judging: and often wronging the truth, to avenge, to exalt, or excuse myself. O what a nursery of covetous and carnal desires has been this corrupt and wicked heart of mine! cherishing and delighting in evil motions repining at others' welfare; coveting all for my self, and catering only for the flesh to fulfil its lusts. Such sins I have committed against thy holy lav; and I have also sinned against thy gracious gospel, O Lord, not acquainting myself with the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, but neglecting so great salvation; and disregarding the only Saviour, whom to know and win, I should have accounted all things else but loss and dung. I have not been awed by thy threatenings, nor taken with thy promise; nor listened to the calls of thy word, nor yielded to the motions of thy spirit: nor believed the truths, nor loved the days, nor applied the means, nor improved the opportunities which thou hast graciously set before me; but have shut my eyes against the things of my peace: and made light of all my Saviour's doings and sufferings, and various methods, for the salvation of my soul: taking pleasure in the enemies of his cross; little concerned for the success of his gospel; nor laying to heart my own, or other's sins; nor seriously repenting, nor fervently praying; but doing all these things, as if I did them not. Such is my heavy charge; this is my heinous guilt. O that I may not only confess it, but be duly humbled for it! and lay my mouth in the dust, if so that yet there may be hope; and is there hope for such a great and provoking sinner? Lord of love, thou hast helped many poor miserable souls in a low dangerous case: and many, I believe, are now triumphing, and praising thee in glory, who much and long rebelled against thee here below. Such are the wonders of thy grace, to get thee glory in seeking and saving that which was lost. And thy hand is not shortened, nor thy mercy abated; but still thou art as able and as ready to help and save as ever thou wast. O put me in the way where all thy goodness may pass before me, and help me to exercise such humiliation and repentance in thy sight, that thou mayest exercise thy pardoning and saving mercy upon my soul; and never lay my sins to my charge, but upon his account who was made sin for us, though he knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. That I Nor do I only beg for pardon of sin, but also for power against it. That thy preventing may dash and break temptations in the first approach and thy assisting grace enable me to resist in the assault, and to overcome in the issue. may never fall a miserable prey to the cruel adversary, who walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour. And turn my feet, O Lord, to thy testimonies, and help me, with an enlarged heart, to run the way of thy commands. O give me grace to take and choose thee for my God; and to know, and trust, and fear, and love, and serve, and worship thee as God. Give me a true reverence for thy name, zeal for thy glory, serious devotion and constancy in all the duties of thy holy religion: conscientious care of the sanctification of thy day, and due veneration and affection for thy holy things. Help me also, my God, rightly to discharge all relative duties, that I owe to my superiors, equals, inferiors, and all with whom I have my conversation in the world; that I may give no just offence to any, but so carry to every one, as to credit my holy profession, and win others to the love of it. O make me careful of my own, and other's souls; peaceable and patient, merciful and kind; desirous of, and, what in me lies, endeavouring to promote, the good of all: so loving my neighbour as myself. O make me chaste and continent; pure in heart, sober and modest in speech and carriage; temperate in the use of thy good creatures; given to prayer, and all the exercises of godliness, that tend to mortify the sinful lusts of the flesh. Make me also faithful in the unrighteousness of Mammon, contented with my portion, industrious in my calling, upright in my dealing, honouring thee with my substance; and doing good, and not hurt, with what thou hast given me of this world's good. Help me, O righteous God, still to love and own, to confess and maintain the truth; candidly to interpret the sayings and doings of others; not delighting in their shame, but being as tender of their reputation, as I would desire they should be of mine. And 4 help me, O Lord, to resist the beginnings and first risings of evil notions in my mind, and to keep my heart with all diligence from giving any harbour there, to coveteous and unclean desires. O let me not give my mind to earthly things, nor be carnally minded, which is death: but spiritually minded, which is life and peace. And incline my heart, O good God, to meditate, and love, and keep thy holy laws. O make me resolved for, and in love with, a life of holiness, according to thy will and word. And let me not only think and purpose to live godly in Christ Jesus, but bring my purposes into actions, my actions into habits, and my habits into a holy lasting perseverance; enduring to the end, that may be saved. And through the ways of thy holy commandments, O Lord, lead me to the joys of thy heavenly kingdom; that having my fruit unto holiness, I may find the end everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer before the Sacrament of the Lord's WHAT am I, poor unworthy sinful wretch, that I should go to the table of the Lord, and put myself on for the portion of his saints! Great God! my guilt, and shame, and fear, do pull me back, and make me ready to conclude it presumptuous and vain for me ever to expect such high honour and favour from thee, after I have so foully misbehaved myself towards thee. I durst not think of making so near approaches to thy holy Majesty, but that thou art pleased to invite and command us so to do. Nor could I hope for such heavenly blessings at thy hands, O Lord, but that thou art so infinitely good and kind, even to such as deserve nothing from thee, but to be forsaken and abhorred by thee. Instead of stretching forth a sceptre of mercy to invite me to thy ta ble, thou mightest with the rod of thy wrath dash me in pieces as a potter's vessel and instead of entertaining me with the bread of life, and the cup of blessing, mightest give me the bread and water of affliction; and throw me down, where I should in vain cry out for a drop to cool my tongue. But seeing thou art pleased to call even sinners that have undone themselves, to come unto thee for help; and hast appointed this sacrament as a means of conveyance, to help them to pardon and grace that stand in need of the same; therefore, seeing I do extremely need thy pardoning mercy, and thy sanctifying grace; I come Lord, though poiluted and unfit to appear before thee: and I dare not but come; as knowing that I shall be undone, keeping away from thee. I come not Lord, because I am worthy; but because thou art rich in mercy. I come as the poor starved wretch to the fire: I come as the hungry to be fed; and as the sick and maimed to be recovered and healed: that I may wash in the blood of thy Son, and and be cleansed: that I may receive of thy in finite fulness, all that is wanting in my wretched self: and that I may so touch my Saviour, as to receive virtue from him; and to heal my |