And when anon, I shall with the rest of the holy Assembly, appear before thy presence in thy house; to offer unto thee our morning sacrifice of praise and Prayer: and to hear what thy Spirit, by the preaching of thy Word, shall speak unto thy Servant: Oh let not my sins stand as a Cloud to stop my Prayers▪ from ascending unto thee; or to keep back thy Grace from descending, by thy Word, into my heart. I know O Lord, and tremble ⟨p. 586⟩to think, that three parts of the good Seed falls upon bad ground. O let not my heart be like the High-way, 1which through hardness, and want of true understanding, receives not the Seed, till the evil one cometh, and catcheth it away: nor like to the stony ground, which hearing with joy for a time, falleth away as soon as persecution ariseth for thy Gospels sake: nor like to the thorny ground, which by the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choketh the Word which it heareth, and makes it altogether unfruitful: but that like unto the good ground, I may hear thy Word, with an honest and good heart; understand ⟨p. 587⟩it, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, in that measure that thy Wisdom shall think meet for thy glory, and mine everlasting comfort.2 Open likewise I beseech thee O Lord, the door of utterance unto thy faithful Servant, whom thou hast sent unto us to open our eyes that we may turn from darkness to light, 3and from the power of Satan, unto God; that we may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith in Christ. And give me grace to submit my self unto his Ministry, as well when he terrifieth me with judgements; as when he comforteth me with thy Mercies. And that I may ⟨p. 588⟩have him in singular love for his works sake; because he watcheth for my soul as he that must give an account for the same unto his Master.4 And give me grace to behave my self in the holy Congregation, with comeliness and reverence, as in thy presence, and in the sight of thy holy Angels. Keep me from drowsiness and sleeping, and from all wandering thoughts, and worldly imaginations: sanctify my Memory, that it may be apt to receive and firm to remember those good and profitable doctrines, which shall be taught unto us out of thy Word.
And when anon, I shall with the rest of the holy Assembly, appeare before thy presence in thy house; to offer vnto thee our morning sacrifice of praise and Prayer: and to heare what thy Spirit, by the preaching of thy Word, shall speake vnto thy Seruant: Oh let not my sinnes stand as a Cloud to stoppe my Prayers▪ from ascending vnto thee; or to keepe backe thy Grace from descending, by thy Word, into my heart. I know O Lord, and tremble ⟨p. 586⟩to thinke, that three parts of the good Seede falles vpon bad ground. O let not my heart be like the High-way, 1which through hardnesse, and want of true vnderstanding, receiues not the Seede, till the euill one commeth, and catcheth it away: nor like to the stony ground, which hearing with ioy for a time, falleth away as soone as persecution ariseth for thy Gospels sake: nor like to the thorny ground, which by the cares of this world, and the deceitfulnesse of riches, choaketh the Word which it heareth, and makes it altogether vnfruitfull: but that like vnto the good ground, I may heare thy Word, with an honest and good heart; vnderstand ⟨p. 587⟩it, and keepe it, and bring forth fruit with patience, in that measure that thy Wisedome shall thinke meete for thy glory, and mine euerlasting comfort.2 Open likewise I beseech thee O Lord, the doore of vtterance vnto thy faithfull Seruant, whom thou hast sent vnto vs to open our eyes that wee may turne from darkenesse to light, 3and from the power of Sathan, vnto God; that wee may receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith in Christ. And giue me grace to submit my selfe vnto his Ministerie, as well when hee terrifieth mee with iudgements; as when hee comforteth mee with thy Mercies. And that I may ⟨p. 588⟩haue him in singular loue for his workes sake; because hee watcheth for my soule as he that must giue an account for the same vnto his Master.4 And giue mee grace to behaue my selfe in the holy Congregation, with comelinesse and reuerence, as in thy presence, and in the sight of thy holy Angels. Keepe mee from drowsinesse and sleeping, and from all vvandering thoughts, and worldly imaginations: sanctifie my Memorie, that it may be apt to receiue and firme to remember those good and profitable doctrines, which shall be taught vnto vs out of thy Word.
- 1Mat. 13.1. & Luke 8.25.
- 2Col. 4.3.
- 3Act. 26.18.
- 41 Thes. 5.13 Heb. 13.17. 1 Cor. 11.10 Eph. 3.10. 1 Pet. 1.12.