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 at the approach of death.

O ETERNAL and everliving God, who first breathedst into man the breath of life, and when thou takest away that breath, he dyes and is turned again to his dust, look with compassion on me thy poor creature, who am now drawing neer the gates of death, and which is infinitely more terrible, the bar of judgment. Lord my own heart condemns me, and thou art infinitely greater then my heart, and knowest all things. The sins I know and

remember, fill me with horrour; but there are also multitudes of others, which I either observed not at the time, or have since care∣lesly forgot, which are all present to thee. Thou settest my misdeeds before thee, and my secret sins in the light of thy countenance, and to what a mountainous heap must the mi∣nutely provocations of so many years arise? How shall one so ungodly stand in thy Judg∣ment, or such a sinner in the Congregation of the Righteous? And to add yet more to my terrour, my very repentance I fear will not abide the tryal, my frequent relapses hereto∣fore have sufficiently witnessed the unsincerity of my past resolutions. And then, O Lord, what can secure me that my present dislikes of my sins are not rather the effects of my ama∣zing danger, then of any reall change; and, O Lord, I know thou art not mo••ked, nor wilt accept of any thing that is not perfectly sincere. O Lord, when I consider this, fear∣fulness and trembling comes upon me, and an horrible dread overwhelmeth me, my flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and my heart is wounded within me. But, O Lord, one deep calleth upon another, the depth of my misery upon the depth of thy mercy. Lord, save now, or I perish eternally. O thou who willest not that any should perish, but that all should come to Repentance, bring me, I beseech thee, though thus late, to a sincere Repentance, such as thou wilt accept, who tryest the heart. Create in me, O God, a

clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me: Lord one day is with thee as a thousand years, O let thy mighty Spirit work in me now in this my last day, whatsoever thou seest wanting to fit me for thy mercy, and ac∣ceptation. Give me a perfect and entire ha∣tred of my sins, and enable me to present thee with that sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart, which thou hast promised not to de∣spise; that by this I may be made capable of that atonement, which thy dear Son hath by the more excellent oblation of himself made for all repenting sinners. He is the propitia∣tion for our sins, he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniqui∣ties, the chastisement of our peace was on him, O heal me by his stripes, and let the cry of his blood drown the clamour of my sins: I am indeed a child of wrath, but he is the Son of thy love, for his sake spare me▪ O Lord, spare thy creature, whom he hath redeemed with his most precious blood, and be not angry with me for ever. In his wounds, O Lord, I take Sanctuary, O let not thy vengeance pursue me to this city of refuge: my Soul hangeth upon him, O let me not pe∣rish with a Jesus, with a Saviour in my armes. But by his Agony and bloody Sweat, by his Cross and Passion, by all that he did and suf∣fered for sinners, good Lord deliver me, de∣liver me, I beseech thee▪ from the wages of my sins, thy wrath and everlasting damnation, in th••s time of my tribulation, in the hour of

death, and in the day of Judgment. Hea•• me O Lord, hear me; and do not now repay my former neglects of thy calls, by refusing to answer me in this time of my gr••atest need. Lord, there is but a step between me and death, O let not my sun go down upon thy wrath, but sea•• my pardon, before I go hence and be no more seen. Thy loving kindness is better then the life it self, O let me have that in exchange, and I shall most gladly lay down this mortal life; Lord thou knowest all my de∣sire, and my groaning is not hid from thee, Deal thou with me, O Lord, according to thy Name, for sweet is thy mercy take away the sting of death, the guilt of my sins, and then though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, I will lay me down in peace, and Lord when I a∣wake up, let me be satisfied with thy presence in thy glory. Grant this merciful God for his sake, who is both the Redeemer, and Media∣tor of sinners, even Jesus Christ.