Prayer and Praise upon the occasion of our Blessed Saviour's coming into the World, A Prayer on the occasion of his Death, Prayer and Praise on the occasion of his Resurrection, on the occasion of his Ascension, A Prayer on the Coming of the Holy Ghost, - A Prayer for Devotion, and a right Frame of Spirit in the Worship of God. MOST High and Holy, Blessed and Glorious Lord my God! Thou wilt be sanctified in them that come nigh thee; and thou art greatly to be feared, and to be had in continual reverence of all that are about thee. Be pleased to sanctify my heart with thy grace, that I may sanctify the Lord God in my heart; and so draw nigh unto thee, that thou mayest draw nigh unto me: and in such manner pour out my heart before thee, that thou mayest pour down thy heavenly blessings and favours upon me. I desire, O my God, to meet thee in thy way: and, in compliance with thy gracious appointment, I fall down and worship here at thy footstool, in the name and mediation of thy dear Son. For how unworthy am I to come into thy holy presence! And how unable, of myself, to perform any duties of service meet to be rendered unto thy heavenly Majesty! Olet thy great mercy overlook my unworthiness; and by thy powerful grace, keep me from every offensive B thing that would make my prayers sin and abomination to the Lord. And as thou hast made made me sensible of my duty, and of my own insufficiency to discharge it as I ought, so may thy good spirit help my infirmities, and increase my abilities for thy service; that without sinful dulness or distractions, I may worship thee in spirit and in truth, and serve thee with reverence and godly fear; yea, with all readiness and love, and delight in approaching unto God, Instruct me, gracious Lord, in the knowledge of thy will, and assist me in the way of my duty; that I may both understand what is thy pleasure concerning me, and also may find grace sufficient to perform it. O make me such a spiritual worshiper as thou dost seek; and my service such a spiritual sacrifice as thou wilt accept. Help me, my Strength and my Redeemer, to offer my heart and myself, together with my prayers and addresses unto thee: that I may not be rash with my mouth, nor hasty in my heart, to utter any thing rudely before thee; nor draw nigh to thee, with lips and body, when my heart is far from thee; but that heart and soul, and all that is within me, may be taken up in a devout, faithful, and affectionate attendance upon thee. And thou that hearest prayers, O quicken mé that I may call upon thy name. And let me receive such grace from thee as may enable me to perfom acceptable service unto thee through the beloved of my soul, my only Saviour and prevailing Advocate Jesus Christ. Amen. A Family Prayer, in the Order of our Lord's GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by eternal generation: the Father of all things, by temporal creation: and the Father of thy people, by adoption and spiritual regeneration! what manner of love is this, that we, of rebels against heaven, slaves of Satan, and children of wrath, shall be made the children of the Most High, and heirs of everlasting glory! We are thine, O Lord, for thou hast made us out of nothing, and looked upon us in our blood, to set us up again, after we had destroyed ourselves. Thou art in heaven] O that we may in heart and mind thither ascend; and with all lowliness worship at the footstool of thy glorious Majesty. Thou art our Father:] that we may with trust and delight, as children, draw nigh unto thee; who hast all fulness both of power and mercy to do for us. And may we also love as brethren, and still hold together as dear children of the same heavenly Father. And, O that all the world may give thee our God the glory due to thy great hame!] that thou mayest be more known,and feared, and loved, and honoured, by us, and by all men as our supreme Lord, and as our chiefest good': that we may glorify thee as we ought, in our thoughts and desires, and in our words and ways. O that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be still more and more weakened, till they be utterly destroyed! That all the powers on earth may use for thee the authority which they have received from thee! That all the kingdoms of the world may become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and Jerusalem be made the joy and praise of the whole earth! O that Christ may dwell and rule in our hearts by his spirit and grace; and make us a willing people, the faithful subjects of his holy kingdom: and still reign over us here, till we are made fit to live and reign with him and all his redeemed, in the heavenly glory for ever. O thou blessed and only Potentate! let thy, kingdom come] so powerfully unto us, that thy will may be done, still faithfully and cheerfully by us. And may thy will and word, O Lord, and the eway of salvation, be every where known upon the earth. Let the light of thy gospel shine and prevail, and win more proselytes daily throughout the world. O send the means of grace where they are not; and make them prosperous and successful where they are. Let the will of the word, and the will of our God, be the rule of our lives, to guide and sway us in all our ways. Make us more conformable to thy will, in all that thou requirest of us; and more submissive to thy will, in all that thou layest upon us. Yea, make us pleased with whatever is thy pleasure; and greatly to love thy word, and delight to do thy will, joyfully and cheerfully to to serve thee, as thy glorious angels and saints above, whose heaven is to please and enjoy the Lord. And till we are fitted for the better glorious life to come, give us, O Father, (of thy graci |