150 A Prayer for one troubled in mind. forrow and dejection of mind. Thou of thy juftice and wisdom doft write bitter things againft me thy wrath lies hard upon me, and my foul is brought low, even unto the duft. I confefs with hearty forrow, that my fins are many and very great; but greater is thy mercy to penitent finners. I confefs my fins have deferved much more grievous punishments than I feel; but fhouldst thou be extreme to mark what I have done amifs, I fhall not be able to abide it. Great is the malice of the power of darkness, and great is my own weakness; but much greater is thy power and goodness. O then! give me a right understanding of myself, and of thy threats and promifes, that I who travail and am heavy laden with my fins, may, at thy call, come unto thee only for fuccour, and put my whole truft always in thee. O receive me, and relieve me, and revive me, take pity upon my forrowful foul; fhut not up thy tender mercies in difpleasure, but make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice. Break not the bruifed reed, and quench not the fmoaking flax. Deliver me from the fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of thy countenance upon me, and give me peace of confcience, and joy in the holy ghoft. Make Make me to wait with patience, for thy good appointed time, to comfort me, and make me know affuredly, that it is good for me that I have been in trouble. In the mean time, O Lord, give me the fhield of faith, whereby I may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil, that, trufting in thee, and in thy promifes, I may at laft be more than conqueror, looking unto Jefus, the great captain of my falvation. Therefore when my fears prefs hard upon me, I will hope in thy mercy, and put my truft and confidence in thee. For which end therefore I humbly pray thee to infufe thy grace into my heart; purify my foul; difpel thofe black irregular thoughts and apprehenfions, which terrify and difcompofe my mind: and be thou my mighty defence in all my wants and diftreffes, and my ready helper in this time of need. To thee, therefore, who art able to keep me from falling, and to prefent me faultlefs before the prefence of thy glory, with exceeding joy, be afcribed all honour, glory, might, majefty and dominion, both now and for ever, Amen, A prayer for all ftates and conditions of men. God, the creator and preferver of all mankind, I humbly befeech thee to receive these my prayers which I offer unto thy divine majefty, majefty, for all forts and conditions of men, that thou wouldst be pleafed to make thy ways known unto them, thy faving health unto all nations, More especially I pray that thou wilt infpire the univerfal church with the fpirit of truth, unity, and concord, that all who profefs and call themselves chriftians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of fpirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteoufnefs of life. Finally, I most humbly befeech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and fuccour all them who in this tranfitory life are in trouble, forrow, need, fickness, or under any other affliction or diftrefs, in mind, body, or eftate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their feveral neceffities, giving them patience unto their fufferings, and a happy iffue out of all their afflictions; and this I beg for Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen. A Thanksgiving. ALmighty God, father of all mercies, I thy un worthy fervant do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodnefs and loving-kindnefs to me and to all mankind. I blefs thee for my creation, prefervation, and all the bleflings of this life; and for all thy fervants departed this life in thy faith and fear; befeeching thee to give me grace fo to follow their good example, that with them I may be partaker of thy kingdom; but above all, I blefs thee for thine ineftimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jefus Chrift; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And I beseech thee, thee, give me that due fenfe of all thy mercies, that my heart may be unfeignedly thankful, and that I may fhew forth thy praife, not only with my lips, but in my life, by giving up myfelf to thy fervice, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteoufnefs all my days, thro' Jefus Chrift our Lord; to whom with thee and the holy ghoft, be all ho nour and glory world without end. Amen. The EN D. REASONS For preferring the NEW Whole Duty of Man, which treats of the FAITH as well as PRACTICE of a Chrifian, to the OLD Whole Duty of Man, which treats of the moral DUTIES only. By the following Specimen of 150 Defeats in the OLD Whole Duty of Man, and which are fupplied in the New Whole Duty of Man; It may be obferved, That thofe with a [*] before them, the Church of England has declared, and maintains to be effentially necessary to falvation; and of these Defects, there are no iefs than feventeen in the following specimens only. No. 1. For farther fatisfaction, fee the PREFACE to the NEW Whole Duty of Man; and at the end of it the TESTIMONIES from Scripture, the Liturgy, Articles, Homilies, and Writings of feveral of the most learned and pious BISHOPS, and eminent DIVINES of the CHURCH of ENGLAND, PROVING, That the OLD Whole Duty of Man was very improperly fo called, and dangerously received under that title; because the ARTICLES of the chriftian faith are entirely omitted in that Book; and without faith in thofe Articles, the moft diligent practice of the DUTIES there treated of, is not fufficient to fecure to a chriftian his eternal falvation. The SPECIMEN of 156 DEFECTS. of a divine revelation. F the reasonableness, cer- neceffity of believing a divine reve lation. racles, and by internal and exter- [25. Of its infallibility and members. I nal evidences. 26. Of the communion of faints. and when its forgiveectual thro' Chrift, Of the refurrection of our bodies, proved by reafon and facts in the Old and New Teftament. 29. Of its certainty, univerfality, of the reward to the good, and nifhment to the wicked. 30. Of the folly of atheifm; and the cafe of atheists. 31. * Of the life everlafting. pu 7. Why Jefus Chrift is called our 32. Of the felf-condemnation of the Lord. 17. 16. Of his afcenfion; fhewing why it was in the fight of his difciples, and not of all the Jews. *Of his being our advocate and interceffor. 18. Of his coming again, and appointment by the father to be the judge of both men and angels. 19. Of a particular and general judgment. 20. Of the reasonableness of a laft judgment. 21. Of the degrees of rewards and punishments. 22. * Of faith in the holy ghost. 23. Of his peculiar office, and manner of working in us. wicked; and of their eternal punishment. 33. God's juftice vindicated in pu nishing the wicked eternally. 34. There can be no excufe for fin, 35. Of the truth and excellency of the doctrines of chriftianity. 36. The truth of the chriftian religion not affected by religious difputes. 37. Religion, originally, neither the effect of fear, education, or state policy 38. Why the Lord's fupper was or dained by Chrift. 39. Of the fatisfaction that is neceffary to find acceptance of our repentance before God. 40. The obligation of an oath. 41. Of curfing. 42. Of making vows. 43. Of the object of our prayers; and of their power and efficacy. 44. The common objections against prayer anfwered. 45. Of repentance, and when it is effectual. 46. The danger of delaying repen tance. 47. Of purgatory. 48. Of works of fupererogation, 49. Of the faft of lent. Of à facrament. The cafe of unbaptized perfons. 24. Of the holy catholic, or uni-50. verfal church, and its being a ftate vation. 51. In |