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They, to whom it is given, should use to the honour of the giver, the gift he bestows; but if we make not the trial, we cannot tell what our gifts are.

As every gift improves by exercise, so does the gift of prayer particularly. We know not what we can do till we try, and it is a certain fact that persons of very slender abilities, and who could scarce express themselves clearly on any other subject, having obtained, by exercise in prayer, not only method, but propriety; and many a heart hath been warmed with the prayers of those whom the world hath accounted weak as well as illiterate. Every person therefore should make the attempt.

There is a shame and diffidence which usually attends the first essays, which may for a little while distract the attention, and make us too solicitous about the persons with whom we are, instead of being wholly taken up with the consideration of him to whom we speak ; but this in general is soon got over by use. Mean time, I

suppose it would be very profitable for such as begin the worship of God in their houses, or with their friends, to have before them some evangelical book of devotions, that if they found themselves confused, or barren of thought, they might recur to it, till they had attained greater case, and overcome that bashfulness which hurried them.

Where there is really not a gift of prayer; where persons are conscious that they cannot so profitably perform the exercise of devotion without the help of a composed prayer, there it would be sinful in them not to make use of it. I have heard of some, that because they could not pray extempore in their families, would not pray at all with them; which seems as absurd as to say,

because I cannot feed my family with delicacies of my own providing, they shall starve; though I might have made use of my neighbour's offers, who had broken his bread on purpose for my use.

It must be observed that there are persons who have much of the gift of prayer, who have not the spirit of prayer; these, like the ravens who fed Elijah, bring good food to those who join with them, whilst their own pride and vanity of their abilities is the carrion on which they feed themselves. Their prayers may be blessed unto others, but they are an abomination to God, and bring a curse upon their own souls.

It will be needless to say many things in commendation of prayer, either respecting its necessity or excellence. The soul, who is brought to a sensibility about his real state, feels both with an evidence which is beyond all that we can speak, and the soul who is yet dead in trespasses and sins cannot pray, though we should write volumes to persuade him to it. For he that cometh to God must first believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. All the miscalled prayers of unbelievers have no more of a spiritual service in them, than howling hath of harmony.

For the sake of those who have need of assistance, I have subjoined some few helps to prayer which may be enlarged upon, and made particularly applicable to the case of those who use them; intimating by the way, that the more we unbosom the very thoughts and secrets of our souls to God, the more profitable will be the sexvice.

Praying that a spirit of prayer and supplication may be poured out upon every soul into whose bands this book may fall, I commend them and it to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As no communicant can live without daily application to a throne of grace, the hints about prayer above given have an evident connection with the subject of the foregoing chapters. I have only to observe farther, that in the specimen of a prayer which follows, I have descended from general confession to particular. from general wants to particular ones.Persons must examine themselves where their bosom sin lies, what graces they most need, what temptations they most labour under, and adapt any portion of what follows to their own state and circumstances; it being designed not so much as a form, as to assist the infirmities of the weak.

¶ If the following be used as an assistance for social worship, then the alteration of we for I, us for me, our for my or mine, is easily made; and in this case all the mention of particulars should be omitted, and the prayer confined to the general confessions and requests, omitting the particular ones where the blank spaces stand within hooks thus [].

[

You may observe several breaks, which may be considered as containing so many new heads of prayer. Thus you are to connect any parts of it, or omit as you see occasion.

Tame is Joht vall, the all-sosing a whose THOU most High and most Holy, whose name is Jehovah, the all-seeing and heartsearching God over all blessed for ever; look down in mercy on a poor unworthy sinner, desiring to draw near the throne of grace in the name of the incarnate Saviour, and making mention of his righteousness only. * [No other hope hath my sinful soul, no other help I find but in him;

* Whatever is between hooks thus [] may be cmitted without any hurt of the sense or connection; or if you chuse to use any part of it, you may, as shall appear proper to your case.

for his dear sake regard my cries, and let my prayer enter into thine ears, O Lord my God.]

[I come before thee acknowledging my sin; and my iniquities, Lord, would I not hide from thee. Indeed they cannot be hid, for from thee nothing is hid, nothing is secret. Yet, Lord, I have too long and too often covered myself with thick darkness, and neither saw nor desired to see the evil which was in me. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast caused the light to shine into my beart, and hast given me any knowledge of the hidden mystery of iniquity there.]

Behold, Lord, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin did my mother conceive me; yet how little did I know of the evil of such a corrupted nature, and its exceeding sinfulness? It was hid from my eyes; but now I acknowledge I am vile, and abhor myself: I am altogether become abominable, there is no health in me; evil, and that continually and universally, hath reigned in me my transgressions are many, mine iniquities testifying also against me: when I reflect upon the days that are past, confusion covereth me; the flagrant violations of thy holy law in many instances witness against me; my sins in number exceed the hairs of my head; and yet, Lord, how small a part of them do I see? whilst in thy book they have been written, and not a word hath been in my tongue, but thou, Lord, knowest it altogether, [I remember, Lord, with particular condemnation my-*. And O that I might go down mourning to my grave under it, and abhor myself ever for it, even when thou art pacified towards me for it.]

Enter not into judgment with me, lest I be

* Here any particular sin which afflicts your conscience, or which you de sire may more affect it, should be mentioned, and the particulars opened, that your heart may be more struck with the mention.

utterly confounded. Shouldst thou try me, I must plead guilty before thee, and acknowledge my just desert to be the worm which dieth not, and the fire which is not quenched. Yea, Lord, thou wouldst be'clear in thy uttermost condemnation, for thou dost righteously, but I have rebelled against thee.

Yet glorify thy name in mercy upon me, and according to those gracious promises in which thou hast caused me to put my trust, glorify thy Son in pardoning and saving such a wretch as I am. [Let it now appear, Lord, that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin by its cleansing me; and, sprinkled therewith, may my poor soul be presented before thy throne with kind acceptance! This is all my salvation; I plead nothing but this, that Jesus died for me. In his blood, in his righteousness only dare I approach uuto thee, O thou most worthy Judge eternal.]

[Blessed be the name of my God for his unspeakable gift. Blessed be God for Jesus Christ! O strengthen my faith in his all sufficiency, and let not the number or aggravations of my sins discourage me; but, Lord, make his glory, his obedience unto death, his cross, his crown, to pass before me, that I may without all doubt believe in the satisfaction of my Saviour, and find redemption in him.]

And thou, Lord of life and glory, come and take possession of my heart, take the purchase of thy blood, set up within me thy kingdom, and turn thou me, that so I may be turned. An helpless worm, the servant of sin, the sport of temptation, the bond slave of corruption, thou seest me. O break this yoke from off my neck, and bring me, Lord, into the liberty of the children of God. [Hast thou not redeemed us from all iniquity, to purify to thyself a peculiar peo

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