I wish that my prayers may be ever presented upon the bended knees of my soul, 1and also in regard of my body in the lowest and most submissive posture; Ah how humble should dust and ashes be, when he takes upon him to speak to the most High God. 2I wish above all that I may never mock the most jealous God in this duty, by speaking Parrot like, what I neither mind nor mean, but whatsoever dish be wanting on the Table, to which I invite my God, my heart which I know he loveth above all, may be there, and that my prayer may be the travail of my soul, and not the labour of my lips. I wish that I may so feel my spiritual wants, that my bowels may so pinch me, that as the hungry and almost starved beggar, I may cry aloud for the bread of life, yet not so much, 3in regard of the extension of my voice, as the intension of my spirit. When I am petitioning for pardon and grace, I wish I might beg as earnestly and beseech God as importunately as if it were in the power of my prayer, to change his mind, and procure the blessing, but when I am asking ⟨p. 196⟩temporals; 4I would not as the dry earth, cry, and cleave, and gape, for corn and wine and oil, but willingly be at my fathers allowance, and desire no more then what his infinite wisdom seeth needful to hear my charges, till I come to my blessed and everlasting home. 5I wish that I might observe that standing law: according to which Heavens bounty is dispensed: In all things to make my requests known to God, and never expect, though the mercies of God be never so ripe, that any of them should fall down upon me in mercy, unless I shake the tree by prayer. I wish that every mercy may come flying to me upon the Wings of prayer, and may fly back to God upon the Wings of praise; that prayer may be the Mother to breed and bring forth all my blessings, that not one child of them but may be named Samuel asked of God, that when I first open my eyes in the morning, I may then in some ejaculatory prayer, open my heart to my God, that at night prayer may make my bed soft, and lay my pillow easy, that in the day time prayer may perfume my clothes, sweeten my food, oil the wheels of my particular vocation, keep me company upon all occasions, and guild over all my natural, civil and Religious actions.
I wish that my prayers may be ever presented upon the bended knees of my soul, 1and also in regard of my body in the lowest and most submissive posture; Ah how humble should dust and ashes be, when he takes upon him to speak to the most High God. 2I wish above all that I may never mock the most jealous God in this duty, by speaking Parrot like, what I neither mind nor mean, but whatsoever dish be wanting on the Table, to which I invite my God, my heart which I know he loveth above all, may be there, and that my prayer may be the travail of my soul, and not the labour of my lips. I wish that I may so feel my spiritual wants, that my bowels may so pinch me, that as the hungry and almost starved begger, I may cry aloud for the bread of life, yet not so much, 3in regard of the extension of my voice, as the intension of my spirit. When I am petitioning for pardon and grace, I wish I might beg as earnestly and beseech God as importunately as if it were in the power of my prayer, to change his mind, and procure the blessing, but when I am asking ⟨p. 196⟩temporals; 4I would not as the dry earth, cry, and cleave, and gape, for corn and wine and oyl, but willingly be at my fathers allowance, and desire no more then what his infinite wisdom seeth needful to hear my charges, till I come to my blessed and everlasting home. 5I wish that I might observe that standing law: according to which Heavens bounty is dispensed: In all things to make my requests known to God, and never expect, though the mercies of God be never so ripe, that any of them should fall down upon me in mercy, unless I shake the tree by prayer. I wish that every mercy may come flying to me upon the Wings of prayer, and may fly back to God upon the Wings of praise; that prayer may be the Mother to breed and bring forth all my blessings, that not one child of them but may be named Samuel asked of God, that when I first open my eyes in the morning, I may then in some ejaculatory prayer, open my heart to my God, that at night prayer may make my bed soft, and lay my pillow easie, that in the day time prayer may perfume my cloaths, sweeten my food, oyl the wheels of my particular vocation, keep me company upon all occasions, and guild over all my natural, civil and Religious actions.
- 1Humble
- 2Hearty
- 3Fervent
- 4Caution
- 5Constant
