Directions for Prayer. I know of the evil of such a corrupted nature, and its exceeding sinfulness! It was hid from my eyes; but now I acknowledge I am vile, and abhor myself: I am altogether become abominable-there is no health in me; evil, and that continually and universally, hath reigned in me; my transgressions are many, mine iniquities testify also against me. When I reflect upon the days that are past, confusion covereth me; the flagrant violations of thy holy law in many instances witness against me; my sins in number exceed the hairs of my head ; and yet, Lord, how small a part of them do I see? whilst in thy book they have been written, and not a word hath been in my tongue, but thou, Lord, knowest it altogether. I remember, Lord, with particular condemnation my-*. [And oh that I might go down mourning to my grave under it, and abhor myself ever for it, even when thou art pacified towards me!] Enter not into judgment with me, lest I be utterly confounded. Shouldest thou try me, I must plead guilty before thee, and acknowledge my just desert to be the worm which dieth not, and the "fire which is not quenched." Yea, Lord, thou wouldest be clear in thy uttermost condemnation of me; for thou doest righteously, but I have rebelled against thee. Yet glorify thy name in mercy upon me, and according to those gracious promises in which thou *Here any particular sin which afflicts your conscience, or which you desire may more affect it, should be mentioned, and the particulars opened, that your heart may be more struck with the mention. K Directions for Prayer. hast caused me to put my trust; glorify thy Son in pardoning and saving such a wretch as I am. [Let it now appear, Lord! that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, by its cleansing me; and, sprinkled therewith, may my poor soul be presented before thy throne with kind acceptance! This is all my salvation; I plead nothing but this, that Jesus died for me. In his blood, in his righteousness only dare I to approach unto thee, O thou most worthy Judge eternal!] [Blessed be the name of my God for his unspeakable gift! Blessed be God for Jesus Christ! Oh strengthen my faith in his all-sufficiency, and let not the number or aggravation of my sins discourage me; but, Lord! make his glory, his obedience unto death, his cross, his crown, to pass before me, that I may without all doubt believe in the satisfaction of my Saviour, and find redemption in him.] And thou, Lord of life and glory, come and take possession of my heart, take the purchase of thy blood, set up within me thy kingdom, and turn thou 'me, that so I may be turned. An helpless worm, the servant of sin, the sport of temptation, the bond-slave of corruption, thou seest me. Oh break this yoke from off my neck, and bring me, Lord, into the liberty of the children of God. [Hast thou not redeemed us from all iniquity, to purify to thyself a peculiar people? Art thou not come to bend our hearts in submission to thy will, as well as to ransom us from death and hell? Here is my heart, Lord! take and fashion it to thy holy will.] Directions for Prayer. Behold, Lord! I groan, being burdened. Since thou hast called, I want to follow thee. But, oh, I find that sin hangs heavy on my soul, my corruptions war against me, and trouble me; and my strength is as weakness before them. Help, Lord, or I perish! Come, exert thy power, and set the captive free! [Enable me to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth most easily beset me.] Here follow three of the great enemies of our souls, Pride, Lust, and Worldliness; no soul but hath need to cry mightily for power against them; though, according to our several tempers and states, some one of them will most especially endanger us; accordingly that part may be made use of, and others shortened or passed over. AGAINST PRIDE. My Pride thrusts hard against me, that I should fall. [I find within me such high imaginations, such a readiness to resent, such warmth and hastiness of temper.] [I found this day my spirit hurt by the reflection of, by the obstinacy of, by the conduct of-; I murmured as if my lot was hard. I regarded with envy- - greater success, abilities, and advancement * Lord, cast down every imagination which exalteth itself, and bring my thoughts into the obedience of Christ ; make me content to be the last and the least. Bow me * These are some of the particular, yet universal workings of Pride. The specifying the time, and place, and persons, brings the remembrance of it more lively upon us, begets deeper humility, and awakens greater earnestness. Directions for Prayer. to submission to every dispensation, and keep me quiet under every provocation. [Make me ever to know myself to be vile earth, and a miserable sinner; that I may find my temper really corresponding with my words, when I confess myself to be nothing, and less than nothing and vanity; content to be as low in other's eyes as I acknowledge myself to be in thine, and profess to be in my own.] AGAINST LUST. Subdue the hateful lusts which war against my soul. Thou seest, Lord, how this flesh striveth against the spirit, and how impotent I am to resist. [*Thou knowest how my heart departed from thee after-, how my eye wandered with unhallowed looks-, how my folly wrought in secret-, to bring forth fruit unto death.] Oh save me, Lord, from my sinful self; give me strength to restrain the wanderings of my desires; enable me to make a covenant with mine eyes; let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, rather than speak unhallowed words of lewdness, and my hand be cut off ere it be reached out to sin. [It were better for me to die, Lord! than to dishonour thee and my own body.] Oh make me a clean heart! [Purify my desires, teach me to possess my vessel in sanctification and honour; and may my body, as well as my soul, be for thee, O Lord! presented unto thee as a living sacrifice, which is my reasonable service.] * What follows between [ ] will afford place for any particularly humbling reflections. Directions for Prayer. AGAINST WORLDLINESS. Deliver me from the love of this present evil world. Lord, my heart is naturally earthly and sensual. [Thou knowest what a slave I have been to the unrighteous mammon. Oh wean me from the love of it; may I be crucified unto the world, and the world unto me.] [In my transactions with-, I found covetousness ready to make me unjust; in looking upon-, I felt the workings of concupiscence; my backwardness to give to, who needed, condemns my worldliness; in my bargain with, I did not enough consider him as myself.] Lord, enable nie daily to resist all anxious cares and disquieting fears; subdue every covetous desire in my soul; make me more circumspect and conscientious in all my dealings; and may my daily care be not to lay up my treasure upon earth, but in heaven; by such an improvement of the talent which thou hast entrusted me with, as may be most to thy glory, and the relief and comfort of my distressed fellow-creatures and fellow-Christians. O Lord! my strength as well as righteousness, enable me to walk before thee, and please thee; may I not only cease to do evil, but learn to do good; write thy laws in my mind, and put them into my heart. [Constrained by the views of thy amazing grace, may I cheerfully surrender my whole self to thee, to be employed in thy work, and devoted to thy service! Yea, Lord! I am thy servant, I am thy servant, since thou hast loosed my bands; as bought with a price, may I glorify thee in my body and in my spirit which are thine, and] |