The practice of Christian graces, or, The whole duty of man laid down in a plaine and familiar way for the use of all, but especially the meanest reader : divided into XVII chapters, one whereof being read every Lords Day, the whole may be read over thrice in the year : with Private devotions for several occasions...

A Prayer in times of common Persecu∣tion.

O BLESSED Saviour, who hast made the crosse the badg of thy Disciples, enable me, I beseech thee, willingly and cheerfully to embrace it; thou seest, O Lord, I am fallen into dayes, wherein he that departeth from e∣vil maketh himself a Prey, O make me so readily to expose all my outward concern∣ments, when my obedience to thee requireth it, that what falls as a prey to men, may by thee be accepted as a sacrifice to God: Lord preserve me so by thy grace that I never suffer as an evil doer, and then, O Lord, if it be my lot to suffer as a Christian, let me not be asham∣ed, but rejoyce that I am counted worthy to suffer for thy name: O thou who for my sake enduredst the cross, and despisedst the shame, let the example of that love and pati∣ence prevail against all the tremblings of my corrupt heart, that no terrors may ever be able to shake my constancy, but that how long soe∣ver thou shalt permit the rod of the wicked to lye on my back, I may never put my hand un∣to wickedness: Lord, thou knowest whereof I am made, thou remembrest that I am but flesh, and flesh, O Lord, shrinks at the ap∣proach of any thing grievous. It is thy Spirit thy Spirit alone, that can uphold me, O stablish me with thy free Spirit, that I be not weary & faint in my mind. And by how much the grea∣ter

thou discernest my weakness, so much the more do thou shew forth thy power in me, and make me, O Lord, in all temptations sted∣fastly to look to thee, the author and finisher of my faith, that so I may run the race, which is set before me, and resist even unto blood, striving against sin: O dear Jesus, hear me, and though Satan desire to have me, that he may winnow me as wheat, yet do thou, O blessed Mediator, pray for me that my faith fail not, but that though it be tryed with fire, it may be found unto praise and glory and honour at thy appearing. And O Lord, I beseech thee, grant that I may preserve not only constancy towards God, but charity also towards men, even those whom thou shalt permit to be the instruments of my sufferings, Lord, let me not fail to imitate that admirable meekness of thine, in loving and praying for my greatest persecutors, and do thou, O Lord, overcome all their evil with thy infinite goodness, turn their hearts, and draw them powerfully to thy self▪ and at last receive both me and mine enemies into those mansions of peace and rest, where thou reign∣est with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever.