Antiquitates christianæ, or, The history of the life and death of the holy Jesus as also the lives acts and martyrdoms of his Apostles : in two parts.

The PRAYER.

O Holy and eternal God, who hast commanded us to pray unto thee in all our necessities, and to give thanks unto thee for all our instances of joy and blessing, and to adore thee in all thy Attributes and communications, thy own glories and thy eternal mercies; give unto me thy servant the spirit of Prayer and Supplication, that I may understand what is good for me, that I may desire regularly, and chuse the best things, that I may conform to thy will, and sub∣mit to thy disposing, relinquishing my own affections and imperfect choice. Sanctifie my heart and spirit, that I may sanctifie thy Name, and that I may be gracious and accepted in thine eyes. Give me the humility and obedience of a Servant, that I may also have the hope and confidence of a Son, making humble and confident addresses to the Throne of grace; that in all my necessities I may come to thee for aids, and may trust in thee for a gracious answer, and may receive satisfaction and supply.

II.

GIve me a sober, diligent and recollected spirit in my Prayers, neither choaked with cares, nor scattered by levity, nor discomposed by passion, nor estranged from thee by inadver∣tency, but fixed fast to thee by the indissolvible bands of a great love and a pregnant Devotion:

And let the beams of thy holy Spirit descending from above enlighten and enkindle it with great servours, and holy importunity, and unwearied industry; that I may serve thee, and obtain thy blessing by the assiduity and Zeal of perpetual religious offices. Let my Prayers come before thy presence, and the lifting up of my hands be a daily sacrifice, and let the fires of zeal not go out by night or day; but unite my Prayers to the intercession of thy Holy Jesus, and to a com∣munion of those offices which Angels and beatified Souls do pay before the throne of the Lamb, and at the celestial Altar; that my Prayers being hallowed by the Merits of Christ, and be∣ing presented in the phial of the Saints, may ascend thither where thy glory dwells, and from whence mercy and eternal benediction descends upon the Church.

III.

LOrd, change my sins into penitential sorrow, my sorrow to petition, my petition to 〈◊〉〈◊〉; that my Prayers may be consummate in the adorations of eternity, and the glo∣rious participation of the end of our hopes and prayers, the fulness of never-failing Charity, and fruition of thee, O Holy and Eternal God, Blessed Trinity and mysterious Unity, to whom all honour, and worship, and thanks, and confession, and glory, be ascribed for ever and ever.

Amen.