The PRAYER.
I.
O Eternal GOD, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of all Truth and Holiness, in whom to believe is life eter∣nal; let thy Grace descend with a mighty power into my Soul, beating down every strong hold and vainer imagination, and bringing every proud thought and my confident and ignorant understanding into the obedience of Jesus: Take from me all disobdience and refra∣ctoriness of spirit, all ambition and private and baser interests; remove from me all prejudice and weakness of perswasion, that I may wholly resign my Understanding to the perswasions of Christianity, acknowledging Thee to be the principle of Truth, and thy Word the measure of Knowledge, and thy Laws the rule of my life, and thy Promises the satisfaction of my hopes, and an union with thee to be the consummation of Charity in the fruition of Glory. Amen.
II.
HOly JESUS, make me to acknowledge thee to be my Lord and Master, and my self a Servant and Disciple of thy holy Discipline and Institution; let me love to sit at thy feet, and suck in with my ears and heart the sweetness of thy holy Sermons. Let my Soul be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, with a peaceable and docile disposition. Give me great boldness in the publick Confession of thy Name and the Truth of thy Gospel, in despite of all hostilities and temptations. And grant I may always remember that thy Name is called upon me, and I may so behave my self, that I neither give scandal to others, nor cause disre∣putation to the honour of Religion; but that thou mayest be glorified in me, and I by thy mer∣cies after a strict observance of all the holy Laws of Christianity. Amen.
III.
O Holy and ever-Blessed SPIRIT, let thy gracious influences be the perpetual guide of my rational Faculties: Inspire me with Wisdom and Knowledge, spiritual Understand∣ing and a holy Faith; and sanctifie my Faith, that it may arise up to the confidence of Hope, and the adherencies of Charity, and be fruitful in a holy Conversation. Mortifie in me all peevishness and pride of spirit, all heretical dispositions, and whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine; that when the eternal Son of God, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, shall come to make scrutiny and an inquest for Faith, I may receive the Promises laid up for them that believe in the Lord Jesus, and wait for his coming in holiness and purity: to whom with the Father and thee, O Blessed Spirit, be all honour and eternal adoration payed with all san∣ctity and joy and Eucharist now and for ever.