O EVER blessed and most compassionate Redeemer, who wast in all things tempted like as we are, sin only excepted. O thou lover of souls, who in the days of thy flesh didst offer up strong cries and tears, and wast heard in that thou fearedst. O thou restorer of mankind, who wast in such an agony in the garden, that thou didst sweat great drops of blood, falling to the ground. O thou Almighty High-Priest, who, when through the eternal Spirit thou wast about to make thy soul an offering for sin, wast deserted of thy Father, and didst cry out, in the bitterness of thy soul, “My GOD, my GOD, why hast thou forsaken me.” O thou, who now sittest at the right-hand of the Father, continually to make intercession for us, look down, I beseech thee, upon me, thy unworthy servant; for thou hast turned away thy face, and lo! I am troubled; thou hast taken off my chariot-wheels, and I drive heavily; thou hast permitted a cloud to overshadow me, and an horrible darkness, fearfulness, and dread to overwhelm me, so that my spirit would utterly sink within me, did I not believe thou wouldst yet turn again and visit me.
Father, if it be possible, remove this horrible darkness; but if my soul cannot be made perfect without it, thy holy, thy blessed will be done.
Lo here I am! Deal with me as it seemeth good in thy sight. Only let thy grace be sufficient for me; and in the midst of my agonies send down, I beseech thee, an angel from heaven to strengthen me.
LORD, thou knowest that Satan hath desired to have me, that he may sift me as wheat: O grant that my faith fail not.
Suffer, O suffer him not to get an advantage over me, for thou art not ignorant of his devices. O let him not so prevail against me, as to make me entertain hard thoughts of thee, my most loving Master; and compassionate Redeemer. For I know, thou of very faithfulness hast caused me thus to be troubled, and dost afflict me for no other reason, but to make me partaker of thy holiness.
Give me, O give me the shield of faith, and enable me to repel all the fiery blasphemous thoughts, which that wicked one shall, at any time, dart into my mind. Let me drive them off, as carefully as _Abraham_ did the birds that came to devour his sacrifice. And oh! let him never tempt me to think, thou wilt impute them to me for sin.
LORD, thou only knowest the present dryness and barrenness of my soul, and how liable I am to be tempted to fret against thee, and to seek pleasure in the creature when I can find no sensible satisfaction in thee, my great Redeemer, who art GOD, blessed for ever.
But, I beseech thee, keep my soul quiet and composed, and for thy mercy’s sake, enable me only to take pleasure in thee, and to sit down solitary in the bitterness of my soul, and patiently wait till I can draw comfort from thee, the fountain of living waters, rather than hew out to myself broken cisterns, that will hold no water.
Never, never let me fall out with any of thy ordinances; or think I do not please thee in my holy duties, because I have no inward sensible pleasure in them myself.
Enable me to walk by faith, and not by sight, and to seek thee in the use of all appointed means, though it be sorrowing; being assured, that after three days I shall find thee in the temple; or that thou wilt make thyself known unto me, by breaking of bread, or in some other way.
LORD, I believe (help thou my unbelief) that I am now talking with thee, as certainly as _Mary_ was, when thou didst converse with her at the sepulchre; though she knew it not. In thy due time reveal thyself again to me, as thou didst to her, and let me hear the voice of my beloved.
Thou hast promised, thou wilt not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but wilt, with the temptation, make a way for us to escape, that we may be able to bear it. Fulfil, O LORD, this thy promise! And after I have suffered a while, strengthen, establish, settle, and visit me, as thou didst thy servant _Abraham_, when he returned from the slaughter of the five Kings.
LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me; restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and when my heart is duly prepared, and humbled by these inward trials, grant me a feeling possession of thee, my GOD, for the sake of thy dear Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD. _Amen_, _Amen_.
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_A Prayer for one under the Displeasure of Relations, for being Religious._
BLESSED LORD, who hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, and thou wilt deliver us; and hast always shewn thyself to be a GOD hearing prayer, mighty and willing to save; hear me now, I pray thee, when I call upon thee, for trouble is at hand.
Thou seest, O LORD, how many of my brethren, according to the flesh, persecute me for thy name’s sake; so that I must renounce them, or decline openly professing thee before men.