they are upon my soul in multitudes, they are a burthen too heavy for me to bear; they already bring sorrow and sickness, shame, guilt and a decaying spirit, a sense of Thy present displeasure and fear of worse, of infinitely worse. But it is to Thee so essential, so desired by Thee to shew mercy, that although my sin be very great, and my fear proportionable; yet Thy mercy is infinitely greater than all the world, and my hope and my comforts rise up in proportions towards it, that I trust none shall be ever able to reprove it, nor my own weakness discompose it. Lord, Thou hast given Thy Son to die for the pardon of my sins; Thou hast given me Thy Holy Spirit to consign their remission by the seal of adoption : Thou hast, notwithstanding all my sins, still continued to invite me to conditions of life by Thy ministers and prophets; and Thou hast with variety of holy acts softened my spirit, and possessed my fancy, and instructed my understanding, and bended and inclined my will, and directed or over-ruled my passions in order to repentance and pardon and why should not Thy servant beg passionately, and humbly hope for the effects of all these Thy strange and miraculous acts of long-suffering mercy and loving-kindness? Lord, I deserve it not, but I will hope for Thy pardon of all my sins, and beg it of Thee for Jesus Christ's sake, Whom Thou hast made the great endearment of Thy promises, and the foundation of our hopes, and the mighty instrument whereby we may obtain of Thee whatsoever we need and can receive. : O my God, how shall Thy servant be disposed to receive such a favour, which is so great that the everblessed Jesus did die to purchase it for us.-Lord, I do from my soul forgive all that have sinned against me: O forgive me my sins, as I forgive them that have sinned against me. Lord, I confess my sins unto Thee daily, by the accusations and secret acts of conscience; and if we confess our sins, Thou hast called it a part of Thy justice to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.-Lord, in Thee do I put my trust; and Thou art ever gracious to them that put their trust in Thee.-I call upon my God for mercy; and Thou art always more ready to hear than we to pray. But all that I can do, and all that I am, and all that I know of myself, is nothing but sin, and infirmity, and misery: therefore I go forth of myself, and throw myself wholly into the arms of Thy mercy through Jesus Christ, and beg of Thee for His death and passion's sake, by His resurrection and ascension, by all the parts of our redemption, and Thine infinite mercy, in which Thou pleasest Thyself above all the works of the creation, to be pitiful and compassionate to Thy servant in the abolition of all my sins: so shall I praise Thy glories with a tongue undefiled, and a heart purged by Thy grace, acquitted by Thy mercy, and absolved by Thy sentence, from generation to generation. Amen. On engaging in a new pursuit. From Dr. Johnson. O GOD, Who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired should be sought by labour, and Who by Thy blessing bringest honest labour to good effect, look with mercy upon my studies and endeavours. Grant me, O Lord, by Thy Holy Spirit, to design only what is lawful and right; enable me to shun sloth and negligence, that every day may discharge part of the task which Thou hast allotted me; and so further with Thy help that labour, which without Thy help must be ineffectual, that I may obtain in my undertaking such success as will most promote Thy glory, and the salvation of my own soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ Thine only Son, our Lord. Amen. On undertaking a journey. From Bishop Taylor. O ALMIGHTY God, Who fillest all things with Thy presence, and art a God afar off as well as near at hand, be pleased to guide me in my journey, preserving me from all perils and dangers, from sudden and sad accidents. Prosper my journey to Thy glory and to all my innocent purposes, and preserve me from all sin, that I may return in peace and holiness, with Thy favour and Thy blessing, and may serve Thee with thankfulness and obedience all the days of my pilgrimage: and at last bring me to Thy heavenly kingdom, to dwell in Thy presence, and to sing Thy praises to all eternity, through Jesus Christ. Amen. For a blessing on the use of medicine. From Bishop Taylor. O MOST blessed and eternal Jesus, the great physician of our souls, the sun of righteousness arising with healing in Thy wings, Who disposest every great and little accident to the glory of God, and to the comfort of them that love and serve Him, be pleased to bless the ministry of Thy servant the physician inorder to my ease and health, direct his judgment, prosper the medicines, and dispose the chances of my sickness fortunately, that I may feel the blessing and. loving-kindness of the Lord in the ease or prevention of pain, and the restitution or preservation of health, and being restored to the society of the living and to Thy solemn assemblies, I may praise Thee and Thy goodness secretly, among the faithful, and in the congregation of Thy redeemed ones, here in the outer courts of the Lord, and hereafter in Thine eternal temple. Amen. Against wandering thoughts in our devotions. From Bishop Taylor, 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. Against unquiet and perplexing thoughts. From Dr. Johnson. O LORD, my Maker and Protector, Who hast graciously sent me into this world to work 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 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. Deprecation of a particular evil. From the New Manual. O GOD, our refuge and strength, Who art a present help in trouble, look with pity upon me, I most humbly beseech Thee. Thou dost not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men ; to Thee therefore, O my God, do I direct my supplication, and look up. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou of very faithfulness dost cause us to be troubled; upon Thee, therefore, and the multitude of Thy mercies in Christ Jesus my Lord, do I rest all my hopes and all my fears. O let it be Thy good pleasure, blessed Lord, I humbly and earnestly pray Thee, to turn from me the evils most justly due unto my sins: nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt: Thou, Lord, correctest in mercy and for my profit, let Thy blessed will therefore be my choice and satisfaction; and in all the dispensations of Thy providence give me the consolations and support of Thy Holy Spirit; and if Thou rather seest fit to visit me with the evil I so justly fear, grant me to feel and know, that in improving Thy fatherly corrections to the gracious ends for which only they are sent, these light afflictions which are but for a moment shall work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal |