Certain devout prayers of Mr. Bolton upon solemn occasions. PublishedCertaine devout prayers of Mr. Bolton upon solemne occasions. Published

Above all things fill my heart with the joyful feeling of thy mercies in the pardon of my sins▪ that so my quieted soul may sweetly sleep, and solace it self everlastingly in that peace which passeth all understanding, and in the bosom of thy compassions. And for the time to come, I pray thee, to help ⟨p. 274⟩me more and more to renew & increase my repentance, to better & enlarge my obedience: and put to thine own holy hand to strengthen every grace thou hast given me. O Lord my God, I could never yet get near that hand & hatred over my sins, as I have infinitely desired. I beseech thee now at length let me feel thy special comfortable power mightily assisting me in this holy business. The sins of my youth have been most hateful, execrable and abominable, both to God ⟨p. 275⟩and man, nay and I have been guilty of many horrible villainies, which have been only known to thy All-seeing eye and mine own corrupt conscience. I pray thee blessed Lord, for thy Christ his sake, to work in my heart godly sorrow, true loathing, sound repentance and humiliation for them all, in some good measure answerable and proportionable to their heinousness and excess. Oh grant me that happiness, that I may look back upon all those foul pollutions, and sinful ⟨p. 276⟩vanities of my unregenerate time without either sensual delight, or slavish horror; even with a sincere hatred and heavy mourning. Let me see them without any despairful fear, being assured they are done away with the blood of thy Son, as though they had never been: & without any secret delight, lest I renew and multiply their guilt & grievousness upon my poor soul, which they have too fearfully wounded already. And Lord I pray thee also, put quickening ⟨p. 277⟩life, power and feeling into my heart and affections in the performance of every holy duty, which is the very heart and soul of a pleasing sacrifice and service unto thee. Increase in me an holy fear, reverence & respect to all thy Commandments. Cause and continue in me a sincere, universal, and constant obedience unto them all, & that not from any slavish fear, private end or by-respect, but for conscience sake, a soul-like fear of thee and love of thy glory.