stubble before thee, our God, who art to the wicked a consuming fire. And bring down their high looks, subdue their stiff necks, and break their hardened hearts, to make them to submit unto thee, that they may not be slain before thee.

And such as think they are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; O Lord, discover them to themselves, and shew them the true state of their souls; that they may be sorrowfully concerned for their sins, and apprehend the peril they are in, and timely seek out for help, and flee from the wrath to come.

Such as are ignorant and out of the way, and, to do their souls good, have no knowledge, Lord, have compassion on them; and call them out of darkness, into thy marvellous light, that they may not perish for lack of knowledge. O let them be taught of God to know thee and themselves, and the things belonging to their peace, before they be hid from their eyes. O thou that commandest the light to shine out of darkness, be pleased to shine into their hearts; shew them thy ways, and lead them in thy truth, that they may not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Such as are in pernicious errors, and damnable heresies, departed from the faith once delivered to the saints; having their minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ; perverting the truth, as it is in Jesus; and not only swerving from the pure doctrine of the gospel themselves, but also lying in wait to seduce and deceive others. O Father of lights, take away the evil which is upon their hearts, that they may see wherein they have erred, and come to receive the truth in the love of it, and earnestly contend for the faith, which they once destroyed.

The prosperous worldlings and secure sinners, settled upon their lees, that are at ease in their possessions, and admire and doat upon the worldly good, as if it were the chief and only good; applauding themselves in their portion that they have in this life, as if they had no need of God, nor to take care for any other heaven; O dear Father, shew them how base is their choice, so to go astray from the Lord; and how r ten the foundation, on which at present they stand. O make them to know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God; and that all this world can never either satisfy the desire, or recompense for the loss of a soul: yea, open their eyes, O Lord, to see how the fashion of this world passeth away; and how soon all that wherein they trust and delight will be utterly gone, as if it had never been! and what multitudes, by forsaking of God to cleave unto mammon, miscarry, and are lost for ever; drowned in that destruction and perdition, from whence there is no redemption: that they may be checked and cooled in their pursuit and love of the world, and flee from its snares, for the life of their souls; and so leave all for Christ, and the everlasting glory to come; that they may not be condemned with the world, but saved in the great day of the Lord.

And such as the loose and profane, and scandalous in their lives, making bold to rebel against Heaven, and committing all uncleanness with greediness; scoffing at the followers of Jesus, and deriding all that is serious and holy, and needful to the saving of the soul; refusing to be ashamed, and hating to be reformed; how dangerous and desperate soever seems their case; yet, Lord, it is not past thy help and cure, who callest those things that are not, as if they were; who canst change the leopard's spots, and the Ethiopian's

A Prayer for all that desire our Prayers. 273

skin; yea, and bring not only something out of nothing, but the greatest good even out of the worst evil. O! where sin has abounded, may thy grace much more abound. Thou, Lord God Almighty, do the great work of thy grace, to heal such wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores; and to recover the ruinous sinners so far gone, under such deadly distempers, that the prodigals may come to themselves, and arise, and go to their Father; that such as were dead may be alive again, and such as were lost may be found; that they may yet turn from their evil ways and come to see the beauties of holiness, and delight to do thy blessed will, O God, and obtain an inheritance among them that are sanctified, through faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer for all that desire our Prayers.

LORD God of the spirits of all flesh! thy word requires us to pray for others, as well as for ourselves; and to call upon thee as our common Father in Jesus Christ. And though I am unworthy to speak to thy heavenly Majesty, O most High, either for myself, or others; yet, in the sense of thy mercy, and the obligation of my duty and charity, I take upon me to become an humble petitioner to thee, my Lord, in behalf of all such as desire to be partakers of my prayers. O that they may share in thy rich mercies, according to their several wants and necessities. They are known to thee by name: 0 let them be known of thee in the number of thy children. Thou knowest what they most need, and chiefly desire; O thou gracious Giver of good, answer them in the desires of their hearts, as far as they desire the things that are meet and good; and where they desire what is unfitting and hurtful, convince

them of their error, that they may not perish in it. And where they see not the things of their peace, cr are cald to that which is most for their good, O Lord, shew them the saving way, and grant them a great love for it, and true zeal to follow it. Bless them, gracious Father, with so much of the world's good, as thou knowest to be good for them; but especially remember them with the favour which thou bearest to thy people. Instruct them, Lord, in the knowledge of thy will, and what they must do to be saved; and make them faithful to practise according to the light which thou art pleased to give them; yea, incline their hearts to take pleasure in the performance of their duty. Bless them, O God of all grace, with that grace and favour of thine, in which is life, and with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus.

A Prayer for the Blessing of our intended Marriage.

MY God, thy bountiful favours have exceed

ed all my expectaions, as well as my deserv ings and though I have wretchedly abused thy kindness and love, yet still thou waitest to be gracious; and art not weary to shew mercy. Now thy good providence, Lord, hast set the fruition before me, which looks hopeful upon me, and for good to me. If thou knowest it to be so indeed, O Lord of love, promote and bring it to pass. And, that thou mayest bless and prosper my designs, grant that I may proceed in thy fear and favour; so as shall be for the glory of thy name, and the eternal welfare of myself, and thy servant, whom my thoughts and affections are set upon. O give me such a partner of my fortunes as may be a blessing

to me, for this life and a better.

And make us

truly beneficial and comfortable to one another in all the best respects pertaining to our chiefest good. Grant, Lord, that we may be helps meet for each other in reference to both worlds; and that our love may be sincere without guile; pure without lust; and lasting without decay. O thou that fashionest all hearts, unite our affections upon such just and worthy accounts, as may make them firm and durable to the end. Wed us both to thy blessed self, as well as to one another, that our marriage may be in the Lord; and not separate us from, but bring us nearer to our God. O grant us new sup

plies of thy grace for this new estate of our lives, that we may fill up the relation into which we are entering with all suitable duty; that we may not only be faithful, in still keeping the marriage bed undefiled, but be mutual helps and comforts, both in the temporal and spiritual concerns; and even conspire together, to pleasure, and honour, and benefit one another; and, above all, to glorify and praise thee our God, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A

The Husband's Prayer.

CCEPT my humble thanks to thee, Lord my God, who has provided a help-meet for me, that is thy gift; and such an one as thy good providence hast appointed to be my partner in the nearest relation. O teach and enable me, in all things, to carry myself towards her as behoves and becomes me in this station :to love and cherish rhe as my own flesh; and not to despise her, not to be bitter against her; but to bear with her infirmities, and forbear her in love, and all gentleness. Nor let me insult over her as an inferior; but mildly use