A Prayer

A Prayer.

AND now, O most gracious God, Father and Fountain of mercy and goodness, who has blessed us with the knowledge of our happiness, and the way that leads to it, excite in our souls such ardent desires after the one, as may put us forth to the diligent prosecution of the other. Let us neither presume of our own strength, nor distrust your divine assistance; but while we are doing our utmost endeavors, teach us still to depend on You for the success. Open our eyes, O God, and teach us out of your law. Bless us with an exact and tender sense of our duty, and a taste to discern perverse things. O that our ways were directed to keep your statutes, then shall we not be ashamed when we have respect to all your commandments. Possess our hearts with a generous and holy disdain of all those poor enjoyments which this world holds out to allure us, that they may never be able to inveigle our affections, or betray us to any sin. Turn away our eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken you us in your law. Fill our souls with such a deep sense and full persuasion of those great truths which You have revealed in the Gospel, as may influence and regulate our whole conversation, and that the life which we henceforth live in the flesh, we may live through faith in the Son of God. O that the infinite perfections of your blessed nature, and the astonishing expressions of your goodness and love, may conquer and overpower our hearts, that they may be constantly arising towards You in flames of devoutest affection, and enlarging themselves in sincere and cordial love towards all the world for your sake; and that we may cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in your fear, without which we can never hope to behold and enjoy You. Finally, O God, grant that the consideration of what you are, and what we ourselves are, may both humble and lay us low before You, and also stir up in us the strongest and most ardent aspirations towards You. We desire to resign and give up ourselves to the conduct of your Holy Spirit. Lead us in your truth and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation. Guide us with your counsel, and afterwards receive us to glory, for the merits and intercession of your blessed Son our Savior. Amen.