Chapter XXXIX: Preface (2)

I know, O LORD, that this is impossible with man, and that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into thy kingdom. But, Abba, Father, all things are possible with thee! Enable me, therefore, by the all-sufficiency of thy grace, to sell all things in affection, to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow thee every day. Give me that faith which overcometh the world. Grant that I may not indulge myself in the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, or make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lust thereof. LORD, let me be given to hospitality. When thy disciples are sick, incline me, O LORD, to go to see them; when they are in prison, grant I may not be ashamed to visit them; when they are strangers, may I take them in; when naked, may I cloath them; when hungry, may I feed them; when thirsty, may I give them drink; may I be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, a father to the fatherless, and cause the widow’s heart to leap for joy. May I be a follower of thee, O lowly JESUS, who though thou wast rich, yet for our sakes didst become poor, and camest not to be ministered unto, but to minister. O let me ever remember thy words, and count it more blessed to give than to receive. And, as I am like a city built upon a hill, grant that my light may so shine before men, that they seeing my good works, may glorify my Father which is in heaven. Let my affections, O LORD, be set on things above, and not on things of the earth. Let my conversation be in heaven, and grant I may use the world, as though I used it not. Make me a faithful steward of thy manifold gifts, O GOD, and grant I may not make friends of the accursed mammon of unrighteousness, that when my natural life fails, thy blessed angels may carry me into everlasting habitations, and I may receive that blessed sentence, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy LORD.” Or, if thou pleasest, O LORD, for my trial, to order that my riches should take themselves wings, and fly away, grant I may learn how to want, as well as how to abound, and say, with thy servant _Job_, “The LORD hath given, the LORD hath taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD.” Having nothing, may I learn to possess all things in thee; and in whatsoever state I am, make me therewith content. May I always behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, and when my appointed time is come, may I not need, like the rich fool in the gospel, to have my soul required of me, but chearfully give up the ghost, and be translated to join with _Abraham_, _Isaac_, and _Jacob_, and all the other spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee for ever and ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake JESUS CHRIST our LORD. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Servant._

O THOU high and lofty one, who inhabitest eternity, yet art pleased to dwell with the humble heart: O blessed JESUS, who hast made of one blood, all nations under heaven, with whom there is no respect of persons, and who in the days of thy flesh didst go down to heal a centurion’s sick servant; have mercy, I beseech thee, on me, even me, also a poor servant. Stretch forth the right hand of thy power, to heal all the diseases of my sin-sick soul, and enable me by thy Holy Spirit, faithfully to discharge the several duties of that vocation, whereto I am called by thee. Give me grace, I most humbly beseech thee, to obey my master, according to the flesh, in all things; not with eye-service, as a man-pleaser, but with singleness of heart, as unto CHRIST; knowing, that whatsoever any man doth, the same he shall receive of the LORD, whether he be bond or free.

Make my obedience to my master on earth, like that which the holy angels pay to thee in heaven. When I am commanded to go, may I go; when I am required to come, may I come; whatsoever I am bid to do agreeable to thy will, may I do it heartily, as unto the LORD, and not unto men. But if at any time, O LORD, to try what is in my heart, thou shouldst permit me to be tempted to do any wickedness, O give me grace, as thou didst _Joseph_, patiently to submit to a prison, and to death itself, rather than sin against thee, my GOD; knowing that it is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards GOD, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Enable me, O LORD, to shew good fidelity in all things committed to my charge. Do thou, who blessedst _Abraham_’s servant, when he went to take a wife for his master’s son _Isaac_, so bless me in all my master’s business, that he may see, as _Potiphar_ did, that the LORD maketh all that I do to prosper in my hands.

Keep, O LORD, also the door of my lips, that I offend at no time with my tongue; let a false tongue be far from me, and let me never lie unto my master, as _Gehazi_ did. O let no such unfaithfulness cleave unto me; lest by being a partaker with him in his crime, I partake also in his punishment. Bridle also my tongue from ever answering again: may all sullenness and peevishness of temper be put away from me, with all passion: may I learn of thee, O holy JESUS, to be meek and lowly in heart; O make me patient of reproof, willing to be taught, and subject with all fear and godly reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Or if ever, through the weakness of the flesh, I should offend in this point, as _Hagar_ did against _Sarah_, enable me, I beseech thee, immediately to repent and to return again to my obedience. Grant also, O LORD, I may behave holily and unblameably to my fellow servants: let no corrupt communication, nor foolish talking or jesting, which is not convenient, at any time come out of my mouth, but rather giving of thanks: may our conversation be always seasoned with the salt of thy holy word, and such as may tend to the edifying one another.

Endue us all with that charity, which hideth a multitude of faults; and if ever, O LORD, thy glory should call me to bring up an ill report to my master against any of my fellow-servants, which, I beseech thee, of thy mercies, I may never have occasion to do; grant it may be done with gentleness and compassion, not to insinuate myself into my master’s favour, but to prevent them sinning against thee, and thereby ruining their own souls. Keep us, we beseech thee, from striving among ourselves, as _Abraham_’s and _Lot_’s herdsmen did, about any of the concerns of this life; but grant we may be always provoking each other to love and to good works. Preserve us, we beseech thee, from envying one another, either the favour of our master, or any blessing whatsoever. Let us not seek our own, but each our brother’s welfare, as members of the same body, as disciples of the same LORD. When one of us suffers, let all suffer; when one rejoices, let all of us rejoice with him. Make us pitiful and tender-hearted to each other; and if at any time we should have a quarrel, enable us, O LORD, immediately to forgive one another, even as thou, GOD, for CHRIST’s sake, hast forgiven us.

Finally, O LORD, endue us with a deep humility, that we may in brotherly love prefer one another, and in lowliness of mind each of us esteem his brother better than himself. O hear all our prayers for our master, and grant that he and his houshold may faithfully serve thee, our LORD. O make him as devout as _Cornelius_, and us, like the soldiers that waited upon him, devout also. That thus adorning thy holy gospel in all things, we may, at thy second coming to judge the world, be rewarded according as we have improved the different talents which we have received from thee, O glorious Redeemer, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one GOD, world without end. _Amen_, _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a poor Negroe._

O RIGHTEOUS Father, who hast made of one blood all nations under heaven, and with whom there is no respect of persons, look down from heaven on me a miserable sinner. And as thou hadst once compassion on the eunuch of the Queen of _Candace_, a negroe like myself, O LORD, let thy mercy be shewn in like manner upon me. O send some one to teach me the saving knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. Behold I am foolish; LORD, make me wise unto salvation. LORD, I am poor, do thou enrich me by thy Spirit. LORD, I am miserable in myself, O make me happy in thee. LORD, I am naked, O cloath my poor soul with the righteousness of thy beloved son JESUS. Blessed be thy name, for bringing me over into a christian country. O LORD, let me not come in vain. Make me willing in the day of thy power, and for thy mercy’s sake, reveal thy dear Son in me. Shew me what it is to be born again of thy Spirit, and let JESUS be my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Let me know, O Father of lights, how I have died in _Adam_, and how I must be made alive in CHRIST. Make me contented with my condition, knowing, O LORD, that thou hast placed me in it. Let me never be tempted to rebel against my master or mistress; and enable me to be obedient not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. LORD, keep the door of my lips, that I may not offend with my tongue. Keep my hands from picking and stealing, and suffer me not to behave unseemly on the LORD’s-day. Bless my master and mistress, and my labours for their sake. Bless the Governor, and all that bear rule in this province, and grant that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. Have mercy on my poor countrymen: LORD, suffer them no longer to sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Arise, thou Son of Righteousness, arise with healing under thy wings. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O LORD, and let us know the truth as it is in JESUS. Grant I may be truly converted myself, and then, if it be thy blessed will, enable me, O LORD, to strengthen my poor brethren. O take us poor negroes for thine inheritance, and bless all those who endeavour to teach us thy will. Prosper, O LORD, the work of their hands upon them, O prosper thou their handy-work. Grant they may turn thousands and ten thousands of us to righteousness, and shine as the stars in the firmament for ever and ever. May we be their joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the LORD JESUS, and join with them for ever and ever in singing praises to thee, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom, as three persons, but one GOD, I desire to give all praise, now and for evermore. Even so LORD JESUS, _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Person before he goes a Journey._

GOD of _Abraham_, GOD of _Isaac_, and GOD of _Jacob_, who leddest the people through a wilderness by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night; and didst guide the wise men, on their journey to _Jerusalem_, by a star in the east; give thy angels charge concerning me thy unworthy servant, that I may not so much as hurt my foot against a stone. Keep me, O GOD, keep me on my journey, and suffer me not to fall among robbers. JESUS, thou good Samaritan, take care of, support, defend, and provide for me. Behold, I go out by the direction of thy providence; LORD, therefore, let thy presence go along with me, and thy Spirit speak to my soul, when I am journeying alone by the way-side. O let me know that I am not alone, because my heavenly Father is with me. Keep me from evil company, or, if it be thy will I should meet with any, give me courage and freedom, O LORD, to discourse of the things concerning the kingdom of GOD. And O that thou wouldst let me meet with some of thy own dear children! O that thou wouldst be with us, as with the disciples at _Emmaus_, and cause our hearts mutually to burn with love towards thee, and one another! Provide for me proper refreshment, and wherever I lodge, be thou constrained, O GOD, for thy own name’s sake, to lodge with me. Teach me, whether at home or abroad, to behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth. Preserve my houshold and friends in my absence, and grant that I may return to them again in peace. Enable me patiently to take up every cross that may be put in my way. Let me not be weary and faint in my mind. Make, O LORD, right paths for my feet, enable me to hold out to the end of the race set before me, and, after the journey of this life, translate me to that blessed place, where the wicked one will cease from troubling, and my weary soul enjoy an everlasting rest with thee, O Father, Son, and blessed Spirit; to whom, as three persons, but one GOD, be ascribed all possible power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore. _Amen._

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_A Prayer for a Person at the Beginning of a Sickness._

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, with whom alone are the issues of life and death, who dost wound and dost heal, who killest and makest alive, who bringest down to the grave, and liftest up again, and hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us, stretch forth, I beseech thee, the right hand of thy majesty on high, and save me from the power of this present sickness, which otherwise will destroy my life. Have compassion on me, as thou hadst on _Peter_’s wife’s mother, when she lay sick of a fever. Rebuke my distemper, and grant it may leave me. Speak the word, O LORD, and thy servant shall be whole. It is but for thee to say, Go, and it shall go: for I believe, LORD, that thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. JESUS, thou son of _David_, have mercy upon me. By thine agony and bloody sweat, by thy cross and passion, by thy precious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, good LORD deliver me from my present approaching illness. Behold, to thee I fly for succour. In obedience to thee, do I give place to the physician. But I know that I may waste all my substance, and shall not grow better, but rather the worse, unless thou, O great Physician, who, in the days of thy flesh, didst give sight to the blind, and restore strength to the lame, and didst cure the woman of the bloody issue, dost also recover me from my sickness. Do thou, therefore, who didst bless a bunch of figs to the recovery of _Hezekiah_, sanctify the means that shall be made use of to my recovery. O let me not, like _Asa_, seek only to the physician, but depend on thee, O LORD, for a blessing. Or, if the decree be gone forth that I must die, grant, O LORD, I may set my house and heart in order, and though thou killest me, let me put my trust in thee. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: though worms destroy my body, yet grant, that in my flesh I may see thee my GOD.

If it be thy will, let this sickness not be unto death, but spare me yet a little longer, that I may recover my spiritual strength before I go hence, and am no more seen. If thou seest it best, let this affliction immediately pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but thy will be done. Only sweeten it, O LORD, with a sense of thy love, and strengthen me with thy mighty power in the inner man. Let thy grace be sufficient for me. Magnify thy strength in my weakness, and under the shadow of thy almighty wings, let my soul take refuge till this day of thy visitation be overpast. Shew me, O LORD, wherefore thou contended with me. For I know of very faithfulness thou hast caused me to be thus troubled. Make thou my bed in my sickness, and let thy rod as well as thy staff, comfort me. In patience, grant I may possess my soul. And though this affliction at present be not joyous, but grievous; yet grant, O LORD, I may be so exercised thereby, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Let tribulation, O LORD, work patience, patience experience, experience hope, even that hope which maketh not ashamed, and whereby thy love, O GOD, may be shed abroad in my heart. Give me, O LORD, in this, and in every thing to give thanks, and enable me to suffer, as well as to do thy will, even like the angels in heaven. O! for thine infinite mercy’s sake, let not Satan get any advantage over me, by tempting me to charge thee foolishly. Let not such a wretch as I am, ever complain for this punishment of my sin, knowing that I receive the due reward of my crimes. O suffer me not to cry out with wicked _Cain_, “My punishment is greater than I can bear;” but let me sanctify thee the LORD GOD in my heart, and rejoice in this tribulation, knowing that whom thou lovest thou chastenest, and scourgest every son whom thou receivest. Blessed be thy name O LORD, that thou hast not yet given me over to a reprobate mind. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast not cursed me, as I most justly deserve, as thou didst the barren fig-tree. Blessed be thy name, that thou still dost condescend to dig and dung round me. O purge, purge me for thy mercy’s sake, and grant that I may henceforward bring forth fruit unto thee. O let me not forget this day of my visitation: and if it be thy good pleasure, that I shall not die, but live, grant that I may constantly declare thy works, O LORD. Whenever I am cleansed, let me immediately return and give thanks. With thy servant _Hezekiah_, may I go up into thy house, O LORD, and pay thee my vows, which I now make whilst I am in trouble. Suffer me to sin no more, lest a worse evil befal me: and as thou wast pleased to reveal thyself in the temple to the poor man, whom thou didst cure in the days of thy flesh, be pleased, for thy mercy’s sake, to reveal thyself to me. Then shall I shew forth my thankfulness, not only with my lips, but with my life, by giving myself up to thy service, who didst die for our sins, and rise again for our justification; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. _Amen._

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_A Prayer for a Woman lately married to a believing Husband._

EVERLASTING Father, who didst make _Eve_ out of the rib of _Adam_, and didst give her to him to wife, accept my thanks for calling me to the marriage-state, and blessing me with a husband fearing thee. O, for thy mercy’s sake, make me a help meet for him. Grant, as _Sarah_ called _Abraham_, so I may call and honour him as my lord. Let me always remember, I am the weaker vessel, that man was first made, and not woman, and suffer me not at any time to usurp authority over him. O let me always take heed to reverence, and be in subjection to my husband; and let not my adorning be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or of wearing of gold, or of putting on fine apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of thee, my GOD, of great price. O let me be grave, discreet, chaste, a keeper at home. Suffer me not to be a busy-body, or to wander about from house to house. Keep me from being a tatler, speaking the things which I ought not. And if thou dost bless me with children, LORD, teach me to guide them in the right way, and manage my house with such meekness and wisdom, that I may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Though in the marriage-state, enable me, O LORD, to serve thee without distraction, and let me never be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. May I with _Mary_, continually sit at thy feet, and learn of thee, O JESUS, to be meek and lowly in heart. Keep me from being a snare to my husband. Make me willing to part with him whensoever thou shalt call him from me. Into thy hands, O LORD, I commend both our spirits, souls and bodies. O sanctify us throughout, and let our seed be blessed. O let our marriage-bed be undefiled, and give us to live together as heirs of the grace of GOD, that our prayers be not hindered. Help us to love one another, like thee and thy church. Give us freedom to pray with and for each other, and grant I may be the glory of my husband, as the church is the glory of thee my Saviour. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, according to the multitude of thy mercies in JESUS my Redeemer; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, I desire here and hereafter to ascribe all power, might, majesty, and dominion, for ever and ever. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Man, convinced that it is his Duty to marry,
for Direction in the Choice of a Wife._

O ALMIGHTY, ever-living GOD, who, after thou hadst made all things out of nothing, and man after thy own divine image, didst say, “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him;” look down, O LORD, on the work of thine own hands, and hearken to the voice of my humble request. O LORD, chuse a help meet for me. Thou LORD, art acquainted with my wants. Thou didst once chuse a _Rebecca_ for _Isaac_. Thou art the same to-day as thou wast yesterday. Bless me, even me also, in like manner, O my Saviour. Suffer me not, O LORD, to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. O let me not be in the number of the sons of GOD, who saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them wives of all which they chose. LORD, do thou chuse for me, and direct me to a child of thine own, adorned with a meek and quiet spirit. O suffer me not to fall by the hand of a woman. For, LORD, thou knowest I desire to take a wife, not for lust, but uprightly; therefore, mercifully ordain, that I may have one after thy own heart. When I marry, let it be only in and for thee, O LORD. Let not lust or passion pervert or blind my eyes; but, LORD, give me to watch unto prayer, and let thy providence point out the person thou hast appointed for me. Thou didst direct _Abraham_’s servant; LORD, for thy mercy’s sake, direct me. Behold, I call thee, O blessed JESUS, to my marriage. Direct me also, when I consult my friends, thy disciples. O bless their advice unto me in this important change of my life, and let all know my marriage is of thee, my GOD. All which I humbly beg in thy name, and through thy merits, O blessed Lamb of GOD, thou heavenly bridegroom of thy church, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Woman, desiring Direction of GOD,
after an Offer of Marriage is made to her._

FOUNTAIN of light and life, who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy dear Son’s name, look down on me thy poor handmaid, and answer my request, for thy infinite mercy’s sake. LORD JESUS, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee, and desire only to live unto thee. Shew me, O LORD, shew me, for thy mercy’s sake, what thou wouldest have me to do. I see, O LORD, the advantages of a single life, and that I can now care only for the things of the LORD, and serve thee without distraction. If thou seest this state best for my soul, O give me power over my own will, and never suffer me to know man. But since thou hast declared that “Marriage is honourable in all;” if thou seest that state best for me, LORD, shew me whom thou hast chosen for me. Behold, thy handmaid is now invited to the marriage-state, and thou alone knowest the heart of him who offers to be my husband. O suffer me not to deceive my own soul; watch, O LORD, watch over and influence my deceitful heart. O let me see the tokens of thy will, before I give a determinate answer. Suffer me not to say, I will go with him, until I plainly see this proposal is of thee, my GOD. Influence my relations hearts, as thou didst influence the hearts of _Rebecca_’s friends; and if it be thy will I should be joined with this thy servant, O let me love him only in thee, and for thee, to the glory of thy great name, and the salvation of both our immortal souls, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Even so, LORD JESUS, _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for Persons in a Storm at Sea._

DEAREST LORD, and all-powerful Redeemer, who wast praying on the mountain, whilst thy disciples were toiling and rowing all night, and the wind was contrary; who didst also appear by night to thy servant _Paul_ in a ship-wreck, saying, “Fear not, _Paul_, for GOD has given thee all the souls that sail with thee;” mercifully look upon us, who are now exposed to the same danger. Say unto our souls, “It is I; be not afraid:” and to the winds, “Peace, be still;” and immediately there shall be a great calm.

Save, LORD, or we perish; for the waves rage horribly. Thou hast sent forth thy word, and the waters flow. O let not the deep shut her mouth upon us, and suffer not the water-floods to swallow us up!

We know, O LORD, for what cause this evil is come upon us. We have not feared thee, the GOD of heaven, who madest the sea and dry land, as we ought. Therefore we are exceedingly afraid, lest thou shouldst not deliver us in this needful time of trouble.

But O thou who didst once hear _Jonah_, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of the fish, though he was fleeing from thy presence, hear us also for thy mercy’s sake. For thou hast cast us into the deep, into the midst of the seas, the floods are compassing us about, and thy billows and waves are passing over us. Save our lives from destruction, O LORD our GOD, and let us yet lift up our hands unto thee in thy holy temple.

But if the decree be gone forth, that our bodies must now perish and see corruption, thy blessed will be done. Only grant, O LORD, that our souls may be precious in thy sight, and that we may be preserved from the storm of thy everlasting anger; so that when the voice of the archangel shall sound, and the trump of GOD command the sea to give up its dead, we may rise to life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one GOD, now and for ever. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Thanksgiving for a safe Arrival after a Voyage._

ALMIGHTY and gracious LORD GOD, who art good, and doest good, who sendest thy rain on the just and on the unjust, and causest thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good; we thy unworthy servants humbly beseech thee, that thou wouldst open our lips, and enlarge our hearts, to shew forth thy praise, for letting us see thy wonders in the deep, and for leading us through the sea, as on dry land, and bringing us to the haven where we would be.

O do thou, who didst inspire _Moses_ and the children of _Israel_ to sing a song unto thee, when thou broughtest them up out of the Red-sea, open our lips, O LORD, that our mouths may shew forth thy praise: for thou art our strength and our song, and art become our salvation. Thy right hand is become glorious in power. Who is like unto thee, O GOD, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Praise the LORD, O our souls, and may all that is within us praise his holy name.

We have seen thy paths in the great waters, and thy providence and power hath alone preserved us, otherwise the deep had long since overwhelmed us, and the waters gone over our souls. It is thy arm, O LORD, alone hath brought us this salvation. O that we may therefore praise thee for thy goodness, and declare the wonders that thou hast shewn to us, the unworthiest of the children of men.

LORD, let us never be unmindful of thy manifold mercies, but enable us to pay thee the vows we made thee when we were in trouble. O keep us, keep us, we beseech thee, unspotted from the world into which thou art sending us. Grant we may not turn thy grace into wantonness, but henceforward walk so holy, and unblameably in all manner of conversation and godliness, that after we have passed the waves of this troublesome world, we may arrive at the haven of eternal rest, which thou hast prepared for all that love our LORD JESUS in sincerity. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake JESUS CHRIST our Saviour. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

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_A Prayer for a Sailor._

O THOU GOD of the sea and dry land, who in thy strength settest fast the mountains, and art girded about with power, who claspest the winds in thy fist, and holdest the waters in the hollow of thy hand, who deckest thyself with light, as with a garment, who spreadest out the heavens like a curtain, who tellest the number of the stars, and callest them all by their names, who hast set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass, and hast said, Hitherto shall ye come and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed: O thou, who hast made _Pleiades_, _Orion_, and _Arcturus_, who layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters, who makest the clouds thy chariot, and walkest on the wings of the wind: O thou almighty JEHOVAH, who hast called me by thy providence to go down to the sea in ships, and to occupy my business in the great waters; grant, that as I daily see, so I may daily admire thy wonders in the deep, and learn from storms and winds to obey thy word. They go, O LORD, when thou biddest them go; they come, when thou commandest them to come. But I have broken all thy commands: thou hast commanded me to go often, but alas! I go not. Thou requirest me to come and draw near unto thee in prayer, but alas! I come not. Or if I do pray unto thee at such time as a storm comes upon me, yet my devotion ceases with the storm, it is but like a morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away.

LORD, I blush and am confounded, when I consider how often thou hast magnified thy power in my preservation, and yet that I could continue so ungrateful. Thou hast often heard me when I have cried unto thee, when I have been staggering to and fro, and been at my wit’s end, when the waves went up to the heavens, and down to the hell beneath, and my soul hath fainted for very trouble: but I have forgotten to praise thee, O LORD, for thy goodness, and to thank thee for the wonders thou hast shewn to me, the unworthiest of the sons of men.

Thou wast with _Noah_ in the ark, and his little family; O do thou vouchsafe to guide and protect me. Thou wast with _Jonah_, when he cried unto thee out of the belly of hell; hear me also, now I cry unto thee out of the great deep. I would not behave more wisely in the things of this life, than in the things which belong to my everlasting peace. Let me not be so careful to shun a shipwreck, and never fear making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Let me not be so careful to eye my compass, and yet seldom eye thy most holy word, which alone can guide me through this world to the haven of everlasting rest. Let me not every day be solicitous to be at my wished-for port, and never desire to see and enjoy thee. Let me not daily improve every wind, and continually neglect those glorious opportunities, which I enjoy of fitting myself for thee. Let me not fear a storm, and yet never fear that fiery tempest, which will ere long come upon the wicked, from thy presence.

Keep me, O GOD, from impatience, when the winds and seas are contrary. Grant me a lively persuasion, that thy providence ruleth all things; that thou intendest every thing for my good, and enable me therefore patiently to tarry thy leisure, and to give thee thanks for all things that befal me, since it is thy will in CHRIST JESUS concerning me. Let me not complain of the weather, since that is tacitly complaining of thee, my GOD.

Keep, O LORD, I beseech thee, the door of my lips, that I may not offend thee with my tongue. O put away swearing far from me, and let me no longer, as I have done, cloath myself with cursing as with raiment, lest, as I delight in cursing, it should happen unto me, and as I loved not blessing, so it may be far from me.

O let me no longer deceive my own soul, by thinking it impossible thus to offend thee with my tongue. All things are possible with thee, my GOD! Purify, therefore, I beseech thee, my heart: create in me a new heart; renew a right spirit within me: for out of the abundant wickedness contained therein, my mouth hath so often uttered profane things.

Keep me, O LORD, I beseech thee, unspotted in my conversation, and let not the evil communications, to which I am daily exposed, corrupt my good manners. O let me never have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather give me courage to reprove them; and, as my life is always in thy hand, O let me not forget thy law.

Grant, O LORD, that the crosses I meet with, may not increase, but rather break my passions. Let me, in the hours of watching, watch unto prayer, and teach me to endure hardness like a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST.

Keep me, O LORD, from loving unrighteous gain, and grant I may render unto _Cæsar_ the things that are _Cæsar_’s, and pay tribute to whom tribute is due: knowing that money unjustly gotten, is but laid up to the owner’s hurt, and that hereafter it will pierce me through with many sorrows, and eat my flesh as doth fire. May my one business be to lay up treasures in heaven, and to secure an interest in thee, O blessed JESUS, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one GOD, blessed for evermore. _Amen_, and _Amen_.

* * * * *

_The Pious Soul longing for Heaven._

LORD! how have I loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. O glorious seat; the residence and the workmanship of the great, the mighty GOD: let me continue, let me increase in this love of thee more and more.

Let this weary pilgrimage be spent in advancing daily toward thee, and may the breathing of my soul after thee, sanctify and comfort the labours of each day, and refresh my waking thoughts by night.

Let my heart be always where my treasure is already; and in this dry and desolate wilderness, may I feel no other thirst, than that of arriving at my heavenly _Canaan_, and partaking in the society and the joys of that happy people, who have the LORD for their GOD.

O may that GOD who made me, possess me in his holy temple! Not that I dare presume to hope for thy beauty and bliss upon the account of any deserts of my own; but yet, the humblest sense of my own unworthiness will not sink me into despair of it, when I reflect upon the blood of Him who died to purchase this mansion for me. Let but his merits be applied to me; let his intercessions assist my want of worth, and then I am safe; for those merits cannot be overbalanced by my sins, nor were, or can those prayers be ever offered up to GOD in vain.

For my own part, I confess with shame and sorrow, that I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost, drawn out my wandrings and my miseries to a great length, and am cast out of the sight of my GOD, into the blindness and darkness of a spiritual banishment. In this forlorn estate I sadly bewail the wretchedness of my captivity, and sing mournful songs when I remember thee, O _Jerusalem_. As yet I am at an uncomfortable distance, and at best my feet stand only in the outer courts of _Sion_. The beauties of the sanctuary are behind the veil, and kept hid from my longing eyes; but I am full of hope, that the builder of this sanctuary, and the gracious shepherd of souls, will carry me in upon his shoulders, that I may there rejoice with that gladness unspeakable, which all those happy saints feel, who are already admitted into the presence of their GOD and Saviour; the Saviour who hath opened his royal palace to all believers, by abolishing the enmity in his flesh, and reconciling all things in heaven and earth by his own blood.

He is our peace, who hath made both one, and broken down the middle wall of partition, promising to give us the same degree of happiness in his own due time, which is already enjoyed in thee. For thus he hath declared, that they who are worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, shall be equal unto the angels. O _Jerusalem_, the eternal habitation of the eternal GOD! may’st thou be the second darling of my soul, and only he be preferred before thee in my affection, who shed his blood to make me worthy of thee. Be thou the joy and comfort of my languishing mind, my great support in hardships and distresses; may the remembrance of thee be ever sweet, and the mention of thy name a holy means to drive away all sorrow from my soul.

* * * * *

_An Act of Praise._

BLESS the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. O praise the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominions; praise the LORD, O my soul.

Let us magnify that great GOD, whom angels praise, whom dominions adore, whom powers fall down and tremble before; whose excellent glory cherubim and seraphim proclaim with loud incessant voices: let us bear a part in this heavenly song, and together with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, laud and magnify that glorious name; let us tune our voices with theirs, and though we cannot reach their pitch, yet will we exert the utmost of our skill and power, in this tribute to the same common LORD; and say with them, as poor mortals are able, Holy, holy, holy, LORD GOD of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of thy glory; glory be to thee, O LORD most high.

For these are the happy spirits, who offer a sacrifice of pure praise before the throne of GOD continually, who are ever wrapt in the contemplations of his perfections; and see them, not like us through a glass darkly, but near at hand, and face to face.

What tongue can express, what thought conceive, the admirable beauty, the exact order, the numberless multitude of this heavenly host? The inexhaustible source of joy springing from the beatific vision; the fervent love which ministers delight without torment; the ever-growing desire, which rises with their satisfactions, and the grateful satisfactions, which crown that desire; a desire always eager, and never uneasy, always full, and never cloyed: the blessedness derived down to them, by their inseparable union to the fountain of all bliss; the light communicated to them from the original light; the happy change into an immutable nature, by seeing the immutable GOD as he is, and being transformed into the likeness of him they see?

But, how, alas! should we hope to comprehend the divinity and bliss of angels so far above us, when we feel ourselves unable to find out the nature and perfection of our very soul within us? What sort of being must this be, which inspires a lump of dead flesh with life and activity, and yet, when most desirous so to do, cannot confine its thoughts to holy exercises? What a mixture of power and impotence is here? How great, and yet how poor and little is this principle, which dives into the secrets of the most high, searches the deep things of GOD, and expands itself to celestial objects, at the same time that it is forced to employ its talent in the invention of useful arts, and to serve the necessities of a mortal life? What sort of creature is this, that knows so much of other things, and so little of itself; so ingenious in matters abroad, so perfectly in the dark to what is done at home? Specious but very disputable notions have indeed been advanced concerning the origin of our soul; but all we know of it, amounts at last to this; that it is an intellectual Spirit, created by the Almighty power of its divine maker, endued with such an immortality as he was pleased to qualify it for; enlivening and sustaining a body subject to change, corruption, and death, and liable to all the unequal affections of fear and joy, and every turbulent passion, that in their turns exalt and depress, enlarge or contract its power.

And what an amazing thing is this now! The more we attend to it, the more we shall find ourselves lost in wonder. When we read, or speak, or write of GOD, the great creator of the universe, we can distinguish ourselves clearly and distinctly, though at the same time his perfections be too vast, for our words to express, or our minds to comprehend; the subject, not of an adequate conception, but of an awful astonishment.

But when we descend lower, and treat of angels and created spirits, of souls united to bodies, and beings of the same level with, or a condition inferior to our own; we are not able to support our ideas with proofs so incontestable; and find it impracticable to satisfy ourselves or others in the enquiries concerning them.

Why then should we, to so very little purpose, hover uncertainly about these lower regions, and spend our time and pains in groping in the dark? No, let our minds rather enlarge their thoughts, and take a nobler range; let them leave all created objects behind, and run, and mount, and fly aloft: and, taking faith to the assistance of reason, fix their eyes, with the utmost intenseness our nature will bear, upon the Creator, the Universal Cause.

Yes, I will make a ladder, like that of _Jacob_’s, reaching from earth to heaven, and as by rounds, go up from my body to my soul, from my own soul to that eternal Spirit that made it; who sustains, preserves it always with me, about me, above me; thus skipping over all the intermediate stages of beings, and re-uniting my own soul to Him from whom it came, and in whose image it was created.

Whatever bodily eyes can discern, whatever leaves impressions upon my imaginative faculty, shall be resolutely set out of the way, as a hinderance to that more abstracted contemplation, which my mind is desirous to indulge.

A pure and simple act of the understanding, is that which must carry me up, and boldly soar at once to the Creator of angels, and souls, and of all things.

And happy is that soul, which, refusing to be detained by low and viler objects, directs its flight to the noblest and most exalted, and, like the eagle, builds its nest in the top of the rocks, and keeps its eye steady upon the Sun of righteousness; for no beauty is so charming, no pleasure so transporting, as that with which our eyes and mind are feasted, when our greedy sight and eager affections are determined to our GOD and Saviour, as to their only proper center; when, by a wondrous mystical, but true and spiritual act of vision, we see him who is invisible; behold a light far different from this which chears our senses, and taste a pleasure infinitely sweeter than any this world and its joys can afford; for this is a short and insincere pleasure; this is a dim and feeble light, confined to a narrow space, always in motion from us, and in few hours put out by constant returns of darkness: these are enjoyments which the great Creator hath distributed to brutes, nay, to the vilest of insects, in common with mankind; and therefore let us thirst and aspire after such as are truly divine; for what even swine and worms share with us, cannot deserve the name of light and pleasure, but, in comparison of those more refined, are to be esteemed no better than pain and night.

Now to GOD the Father, &c.

INDEX
TO THE
TRACTS.

_ANSWER to the Bishop of |London|’s Last Pastoral
Letter._
page 5

_A Letter to the Religious Societies of |England|._
page 23

_A Letter to the Inhabitants of |Maryland|, |Virginia|,
|North| and |South-Carolina|._
page 37

_A Letter to some Church-Members of the Presbyterian
Persuasion, in Answer to certain Scruples lately
proposed, in proper Queries raised on each Remark._
page 45

_A Letter to the Rev. Mr. |John Wesley|: In Answer to
his Sermon, entitled, |Free-Grace|._
page 53

_A Vindication and Confirmation of the Remarkable Work
of GOD in |New-England|. Being some Remarks on a
late Pamphlet, entitled, “The State of Religion in
|New-England|, since the Rev. Mr. |George Whitefield|’s
Arrival there”. In a Letter to a Minister of the Church
of |Scotland|._
page 77

_A brief Account of the Occasion, Process, and Issue,
of a late Trial at the Assize held at |Gloucester,
March 3, 1743.| between some of the People called
Methodists, Plaintiffs, and certain Persons of
the Town of |Minchin-Hampton|, in the said County,
Defendants._
page 101

_An Answer to the First Part of an Anonymous Pamphlet,
entitled, “Observations upon the Conduct and Behaviour
of a certain Sect, usually distinguished by the Name
of Methodists.” In a Letter to the Right Reverend the
Bishop of |London|, and the other Right Reverend the
Bishops concerned in the Publication thereof._
page 113

_A Letter to the Reverend |Thomas Church|, M.A. Vicar of
|Battersea|, and Prebendary of St. |Paul’s|; in Answer
to his Serious and Expostulatory Letter to the Rev.
|George Whitefield|, on Occasion of his late Letter to
the Bishop of |London|, and other Bishops._
page 125

_An Answer to the Second Part of an Anonymous Pamphlet,
entitled, “Observations upon the Conduct and Behaviour
of a certain Sect, usually distinguished by the
Name of Methodists.” In a second Letter to the
Right Reverend the Bishop of |London|, and the other
the Right Reverend the Bishops concerned in the
Publication thereof._
page 143

_Some Remarks upon a late Charge against Enthusiasm,
delivered by the Right Reverend Father in GOD,
|Richard|, Lord Bishop of |Litchfield| and |Coventry|,
to the Reverend the Clergy in the several Parts of the
Diocese of |Litchfield| and |Coventry|, in a Triennial
Visitation of the same in 1741; and published at their
Request in the present Year, 1744. In a Letter to the
Reverend the Clergy of that Diocese._
page 173

_A Letter to the Reverend the President and Professors,
Tutors and Hebrew-Instructor, of |Harvard-College|,
in |Cambridge|. In Answer to a Testimony published by
them against the Reverend Mr. |George Whitefield|, and
his Conduct._
page 203

_Remarks on a Pamphlet, entitled, “The Enthusiasm of
Methodists and Papists compared;” wherein several
Mistakes in some Parts of my past Writings and Conduct
are acknowledged, and my present Sentiments concerning
the Methodists explained. In a Letter to the Author._
page 229

_An Expostulatory Letter, addressed to |Nicholas Lewis|,
Count |Zinzendorff|, and Lord Advocate of the Unitas
Fratrum._
page 253

_A Short Address to Persons of all Denominations;
occasioned by the Alarm of an intended Invasion, in
the Year 1756._
page 265

_A Preface to the Serious Reader, on Behalf of the Rev.
|Samuel Clarke|’s Edition of the Bible._
page 277

_Observations on some fatal Mistakes, in a Book lately
published and entitled, “The Doctrine of Grace;
or, The Office and Operations of the Holy Spirit
vindicated from the Insults of Infidelity, and the
Abuses of Fanaticism.” By |William|, Lord Bishop of
|Gloucester|._
page 285

_A Recommendatory Preface to the Works of Mr. |John
Bunyan|._
page 305

_A Letter to the Rev. Dr. |Durell|, Vice-Chancellor
of the University of |Oxford|. Occasioned by a late
Expulsion of Six Students from |Edmund-Hall|._
page 311

_Observations on Select Passages of Scripture, turned
into Catechetical Questions._
page 345

_|Law| Gospelized: or, An Address to all Christians,
concerning Holiness of Heart and Life: Being an
Attempt to render Mr. |Law|’s Serious Call more useful
to the Children of GOD, by excluding whatever is not
truly Evangelical, and illustrating the Subject more
fully from the holy Scriptures._
page 377

_Preface to a New Edition of the Homilies; as intended
to have been published by Mr. |Whitefield|._
page 441

PRAYERS,

_For one desiring and seeking after the New-Birth._
page 457

_For one newly awakened to a Sense of the Divine Life._
page 459

_For one under Spiritual Desertion._
page 461

_For one under the Displeasure of Relations for being
Religious._
page 463

_For one entrusted with the Education of Children._
page 465

_For a Person in Want._
page 467

_Before Singing of Psalms._
page 468

_For one before he goes to his Labour._
page 468

_For a Rich Man._
page 470

_For a Servant._
page 471

_For a Poor Negroe._
page 473

_For a Person before he goes a Journey._
page 475

_For a Person at the Beginning of a Sickness._
page 476

_For a Woman lately married to a believing Husband._
page 478

_For a Man, convinced that it is his Duty to marry, for
Direction in the Choice of a Wife._
page 479

_For a Woman desiring Direction of GOD, after an Offer
of ♦Marriage is made to her._
page 480

♦ “Mar-” replaced with “Marriage”

_For Persons in a Storm at Sea._
page 481

_A Thanksgiving for a safe Arrival after a Voyage._
page 482

_A Prayer for a Sailor._
page 483

_The Pious Soul longing for Heaven._
page 486