meet together in the kingdom of our Father, to live in thy presence, and to enjoy thy love, and to glorify thy name world without end. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER ABUSES AND PROVOCATIONS.

O MOST high and wise, holy and righteous Judge of all the earth, the great Author and lover of peace and truth thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. How far I have been accessary to bring down these troubles upon my own head, and how much worse than these I deserve at thy hands, is all naked and open before thee. I submit, Lord, to thy correction, whomsoever thou shalt use as the instrument of thy displeasure. And O that the ill-will of men may quicken me the more to examine myself for that which is offensive in thy sight; and make me more careful to have my heart right with God, and to be approved in thy sight.

But seeing my heart condemns me not in the present case, for being the cause of all this wrath and clamour, and malice and vengeance, and that I apprehend myself now to suffer wrongfully; being slanderously reported, falsely accused, shamefully and despitefully used, and hated without a cause; I come with boldness to pour out my complaint before thee, O God, and to shelter myself under the shadow of thy wings. Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; and save me from those that rise up against me. Though, for my love, they are my adversaries, let me give myself unto prayer; and not avenge myself, but rather give place unto wrath, and commit my cause to thee, who judgest righteously. O convince my adversaries of the error of

proach that can make us happy or miserable: though we have their good opinion and commendation, what are we the better, if we have made thee our enemy? And though we are detested by them, what are we the worse, if only we have approved ourselves to thee our God? Thy word, O Lord, teaches us, that if we suffer as Christians, we should not be ashamed, but glorify thee on this behalf. And thine apostles, who were made as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things, rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. Though therefore I pass through evil report, as well as good, let me account it but a small thing to be judged of man's judgement. And if thou, my God, wilt have me to be low in the world, yea, even a hissing and proverb of reproach, let me not be so much concerned to avoid the disgrace, as to cut off all just occasion for it; and to be more careful and diligent in seeking the honour that cometh of God.

If men speak evil of what they understand not, if perverse scoffers, walking after their own lusts, oppose and deride me, O let not thy holy religion ever sink in my estimation on account of their hard speeches or cruel usage: but enable me to look unto Jesus the Lord of glory, who was depised and rejected by those whom he came to save: and let me little regard what indignities they cast on me, if only I may be thereby rendered more conformable to his blessed image. Enable me to follow him in meekness and patience: and let my eyes be ever towards him as the author and the finisher of my faith: who having himself despised and surmounted the shame, now sitteth on the right hand of the Majesty on high; from whence he shall quickly come, in all

the glory of his Father, to judge the world: to whose name be all blessing and praise, world without end. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER CROSSES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS IN OUR AFFAIRS.

O MY LORD! I live by thee: and on thee I continually depend for life and breath, and all things. Thy providence has appointed my station, and ordered whatever concerns me in the world. If not so much as a sparrow falls to the ground without thee, and the very hairs of our head are all numbered; thou canst not be unconcerned in the changes and accidents that befall thy servants: and the things that appear casual to us, are the appointments of thy good pleasure. Restrain me therefore, O Lord, from fretting myself in any wise to do evil. And help me to take up my cross, and follow my meek and lowly Saviour, in self-denial, and in quiet submission to the will of my heavenly Father.

O! who am I, sinful wretch, that I should never be crossed, nor have any thing to trouble me? Thy will be done, O Lord, how much soever my own corrupt will may be opposed and mortified. Let me desire nothing but the glory of thy name: and if thou seest it needful to try me in the furnace of affliction, enable me to kiss thy rod, and to learn obedience by the things which I suffer. And O grant that the things which disappoint my carnal wishes, may indeed be over-ruled for the glory of thy name, and for the furtherance of my own welfare in the great day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

L

UNDER ANY GREAT DIFFICULTIES AND ARDUOUS

AFFAIRS.

O LORD, thou art a God of knowledge; thine understanding is infinite; nor art thou ever at a loss to effect what is best for us. But thou knowest our thoughts, O Lord, that they are vain. Our wisdom is often at a stand, so that we know not what to do for ourselves. At this time especially our affairs are entangled; we are perplexed in our counsels; nor can we find how to extricate ourselves from the difficulties in which we are involved, But a man's goings are of the Lord; how then can man understand his own way? his heart may advise his way, but the Lord directs his steps: there may be many devices in his heart, but the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. If we lean not to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge thee, thou hast promised, O Lord, to direct our paths: and when we commit our way to thee, and trust in thee, we have thy word, that thou wilt bring it to pass. But thou hast pronounced woe to them that take counsel, but not of thee; that cover thee with a covering, but not of thy Spirit, and that have not asked at thy mouth.

Our eyes therefore are unto thee, O God; and to thee we seek now for wisdom; that we may be able to discern the path of duty. Without thee, O Lord, our wisdom is folly be thou therefore graciously present in our councils: and let us now be taught of God, which way to take, and how to act most agreeably to thy blessed will, and most for our present and eternal welfare: we ask it for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER LOSSES AND DAMAGE IN OUR GOODS AND ESTATE.

BLESSED Lord! thou art the great Proprietor and Owner of all that we possess: the world is thine, and the fulness thereof. And whether thou givest, or takest away, it becomes us to bless thy name in all. Thou hast made me to abound with many things of which others are destitute; and if thou also makest me to want what others abound with, yet teach me, O my God, how to suffer need, as well as to abound; and in whatsoever estate I am, therewith to be content. And seeing that all things come alike to all, and that no one knows love or hatred by all that is before him, let me not hastily conclude, that thou art my enemy; but rather hope, that thy chastisements are tokens and expressions of thy love. Whatever I may lose, let me never grieve, as one that has no hope of better things; but cheerfully commit myself to thee, to choose my inheritance for me; and not be anxious about my worldly portion; so that I may but see the joy of thy salvation. And, Lord, repair to me these losses, in an infinitely better way, out of thine own fulness, with the more precious things that accompany salvation. Let me imitate thy servants of old, who took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance. O make me now the more solicitous and industrious to lay up treasure in heaven. And since I see how little any thing is to be confided in here on earth, O let me look less upon these temporal things that are seen; and be most of all concerned about the things that are unseen and eternal.