That he would be pleased, so far to afford us his assistance and direction, that we may glorifie his name, both in our Thoughts, Words, & Actions; and to this end, that he would put good meditations into our mindes, and holy desires into our hearts, truth into our inward parts: That he would set a watch before our mouths, (Psal. 51.6) and keep the door of our lips, (Ps. 141.3·) that we offend not with our tongues: That no corrupt communication may proceed from us, (Eph. 4.29) but such as is good to the use of edifying, and may administer grace to the hearers: That amongst our other businesses and employments, we may not forget that one thing which is most necessary: But may be more especially careful about all such matters as may prepare us for our appearance before him, and farther us in that reckoning which we are to make at the great day of accounts.
That we may walk circumspectly, not as fools, (Eph. 5.15) but as wise. Considering that God is about our paths, and is acquainted with all our wayes;6 Every thing being naked and open unto the eyes of that dreadful Majesty, before whom all the world must be judged at the last day. That we may redeem the time, because the dayes are evill;7 improving the present opportunity of our health, peace and prosperity, unto the best advantage of our spiritual wel-being. In this our day considering the things that belong unto our peace.
That we may be wise and modest in our carriages, humble and moderate in our passions, temperate and sober in our diet, diligent and cheerful in our businesse.
That he would give us successe in all our honest undertakings, making us wise and prosperous in them. That the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God may be upon us, prospering the work of our hand,8 So Abrahams servant, O Lord my God, I beseech thee send me good speed this day, and shew kindnes unto me, &c. It is he alone, that must work all our works in us, and for us: The way of man being not in himself,9 neither is it in him that walketh to direct his steps; that he would therefore lead us in the way that we should go; teaching us to make straight paths to our feet, and the rather because we are now fallen under a crooked and perverse generation; that he would counsel and guide us in all our doubts and difficulties.
That he would enable us every day to poceed somewhat forward in our spiritual growth, to get the mastery over our own evil hearts and affections: To renue and practise all those holy purposes and resolutions which we have formerly made, that proceeding from grace to grace, we may at length come to be perfect in Christ Jesus.
- In our evening prayers we should likewise petition him for his particular protection over us the night following. Because he hath commanded his loving kindnesse in the day time, (Ps. 42.8) therefore in the night shall our song be with him, and our prayer unto the God of our life.
It is the frailty of our natures to need a continual reparation of our strength by sleep. But God is the Keeper of Israel, (Ps. 122.4) who neither slumbreth nor sleepeth, and therefore we should beseech him that he would wake for us, watch over us for good. Commanding his Angels to incamp round about us, that we may not be afraid of any terrors by night,10 but may lie down in peace, and sleep, and that he would make us to dwell in safety: That he who gives his beloved sleep, would refresh us with quiet rest: That we may hear of his loving kindness betimes in the morning, (Ps. 143.8) for in him is our trust
That in the time of our waking he would fill our souls with the meditations of himself, that he would teach us to commune with our own hearts upon our beds, and be still: To remember his all-seeing eyes, that the darknesse hideth not from him, but the night shineth as the day, (Ps. 139.12) the darknes and light to him are both alike.
That though perhaps we have foolishly wasted the day past amongst the many other dayes of our lives which he hath alotted for our repentance and amendment; yet that he would still be graciously pleased out of his free bouty to continue his former protection and care over us, to refresh us with sufficient rest, that therby we may be enabled to do him better service in the duties of the following day: (Psal. 31.5) Expressing our desires of commending our spirits and bodies into his hands who hath redeemed us, and is the Lord God of truth.
That by our sleep this night we may be put in mind of our last sleep by death, of the days of darkness, which shall be many; (Eccl. 11.8) of that time which will shortly come, when these our bodies shall be stretched on a bed of earth; That when a few days are come, (Job 16.2) we shall go into the place whence we shall not return: That many go well to bed and never rise again till the day of judgement: That every day which passeth over us does bring us neerer to our last day, our dissolution; and that dreadful judgement, when we must give a strict account of all our actions, and receive an eternal doom, according to the works which we have done: That these considerations may make us walk warily, as being in continual expectation of the time of our departure: That we may labour to grow better, as we grow older; that the neerer we come to our latter ends, the neerer we may approach to him and his glory.
That if he hath determined to take us out of the world, before we have another opportunity of approaching unto him in this holy duty, that then he would be pleased to pardon our sins, and save our souls.
← Chapter 22. Of the graces that are more particularly required in the Gospel · Contents · Chapter 24. Concerning Intercession, more General, both Ordinary and Occasional →