But GOD forbid I should love father or mother, brethren or sisters, more than thee, and thereby prove myself not worthy of thee. No! I have long since given thee my soul and my body; so, lo! I now freely give thee my friends also.
I now find by experience, that as it was formerly, so it is now. They that are born after the flesh, do persecute those that are born after the spirit. Thou camest not to send peace on earth, but a sword. And unless a man forsake all that he hath, he cannot be thy disciple.
Lo! I come to perform this part of thy will, O my GOD; being assured, that whosoever forsaketh father or mother, brethren or sisters, houses or lands, for thy sake, or the gospel, shall receive a hundred-fold in this present life, with persecution, and in the world to come life everlasting.
I trust, O LORD, it is for thy sake alone, that I now make an offering of the favour of my friends to thee; for thou knowest, O LORD, how continually they cry out against me, though I am doing no more than thy holy word strictly requires me to do.
But do thou, O blessed Saviour, who saidst unto _Peter_, “Get thee behind me Satan,” enable me to stop my ears to their false insinuations, charm they never so sweetly; for they favour not the things that be of GOD, but the things that be of men. And unless, O LORD, thou dost help, they will be an offence unto me, and cause me to deny the LORD that bought me.
Far be it from me, O LORD, to be surprized, because of those offences; for thou hast long since denounced woe against the world because of offences; and I find it is needful for my soul, that such offences should come, to try what is in my heart; and to try whether I love thee in deed and in truth.
Blessed, therefore, for ever blessed be thy holy name, that I am accounted worthy to suffer for thy name’s sake. O let me rejoice, and be exceeding glad, that my reward shall be great in heaven.
O let me never regard any of their threatnings; for when my father and mother forsake me, thou, O LORD, I am assured, wilt take me up.
Take me, O take me into the arms of thy mercy; for henceforward know I no man after the flesh; and whosoever doth the will of my heavenly Father, the same shall be my brother, and sister, and mother.
I know, O LORD, I know that this will expose me to the derision and persecution of those that are round about me. But do thou, who didst seek for the poor beggar, after he was cast out by the _Jewish_ council, and didst reveal thyself unto him, reveal thyself to me also, when my name is cast out as evil by my friends and the world. Though they curse, yet bless thou me, O LORD, and enable me, I most humbly beseech thee, to pray for them, even when they most despitefully use me, and persecute me. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
It is owing, O LORD, to thy free mercy alone, that I have in any measure been enlightened to know thee and the power of thy resurrection. O let the same grace be sufficient for them also, and make thy almighty power to be known in their conversion.
Thou didst once, O blessed Saviour, magnify thy goodness in turning thy servant _Paul_, from a bitter persecutor, to be a zealous preacher of thy gospel; and madest the trembling jailor cry out, even to those whose feet he had hurt in the stocks, “Sirs, what shall I do to be saved?”
Look down, therefore, I beseech thee, in pity and compassion, on those of my own houshold; and after I am converted myself, make me or some other person instrumental to strengthen these my weak brethren; that though we are now divided amongst ourselves, two against three, and three against two, yet we may at last, all with one heart and one mouth, glorify thee, O LORD; that thou mayest come and abide with us, and love us as thou didst _Lazarus_, _Mary_, and her sister _Martha_. Grant this, O Saviour, for thy infinite merits sake! _Amen_ and _Amen_.
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_A Prayer for one entrusted with the Education of Children._
O DEAREST JESUS, who gatherest thy lambs into thy bosom, and didst solemnly command thy servant _Peter_, to feed them; grant I may shew that I love thee more than all things, by doing as thou hast commanded him.
LORD, who am I, or what is in me, that thou should thus put honour upon me, in making me any way instrumental to the preparing souls for thee? O thou blessed Saviour, I have sinned against heaven, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, much less to be employed in the service of thy children.
But since thou hast been pleased in me, to shew forth all thy mercy, and hast called me by thy good providence to this blessed work, grant I may always remember, that the little flock committed to my charge, are bought with the price of thy own most precious blood. And let it, therefore, be my meat and drink, to feed them with the sincere milk of thy word, that they may grow thereby.