ition of thy glories hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Prayer to be said by Merchants, Tradesmen, and

Handicraftsmen.

O ETERNAL God, thou fountain of justice, mercy, and benediction, who by my education and other effects of thy Providence hast called me to this profession, that by my industry I may in my small proportion work together for the good of myself and others; I humbly beg thy grace to guide me in my intention, and in the transaction of my affairs, that I may be diligent, just, and faithful. Give me thy favour, that this my labour may be accepted by thee as a part of my necessary duty: and give me thy blessing to assist and prosper me in my calling, in such measures as thou shalt in mercy choose for me: and be pleased to let thy Holy Spirit be for ever present with me, that I may never be given to covetousness and sordid appetites, to lying and falsehood, or any other base, indirect, and beggarly arts; but give me prudence, honesty, and Christian sincerity, that my trade may be sanctified by my religion, my labour by my intention and thy blessing; that when I have done the portion of work thou hast allotted me, and improved the talent thou hast intrusted to me, and served my country in my capacity, I may receive the prize of my high calling, which I expect and beg, in the portion and inheritance of the ever-blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus. Amen.

A Prayer to be said by Debtors, and all Persons obliged whether by Crime or Contract.

O ALMIGHTY God, who art rich unto all, the treasury and fountain of all good, of all justice, and all mercy, and all bounty, to whom we owe all that we are, and all that we have, being thy debtors by reason of our sins, and by thy own gracious contract made with us in Jesus Christ; teach me in the first place to

perform all my obligations to thee, both of duty and thankfulness; and next enable me to pay my duty to all my friends, and my debts to all my creditors, that none be made miserable or lessened in his estate by his kindness to me, or traffic with me. Forgive me all those sins and irregular actions by which I entered into debt farther than my necessity required, or by which such necessity was brought upon me: but let not others suffer by occasion of my sin. Lord, reward all their kindness into their bosoms, and make them recompence where I cannot, that if it seem good in thine eyes to afflict me by the continuance of this condition, the prayer of thy servant may obtain of thee at least to pay my debt in blessings. Amen.

II.

LORD, sanctify and forgive all that I have tempted to evil by my discourse or my example: instruct in the right way those whom I have led to error, and let me never run farther on the score of sin; but do thou blot out all the evils I have done by the blood of thy cross; and give me a deep and an excellent repentance, and a free and a gracious pardon; that thou mayest answer for me, O Lord, and enable me to stand upright in judgment: for in thee, O Lord, have I trusted, let me never be confounded. Pity me and instruct me, guide me and support me, pardon me and save me, for my sweet Saviour Jesus Christ his sake. Amen.

A Prayer for Patron and Benefactors.

O ALMIGHTY God, thou fountain of all good, and of all excellency both to men and angels, extend thine abundant favour and loving-kindness to my patron, to all my friends and benefactors: reward them and make them plentiful recompence for all the good which from thy merciful providence they have conveyed unto me. Let the light of thy countenance shine upon them, and let them never come into any

affliction or sadness, but such as may be an instrument of thy glory and their eternal comfort. Forgive them all their sins; let thy divinest Spirit preserve them from all deeds of darkness. Let thy ministering angels guard their persons from the violence of the spirits of darkness. And thou who knowest every degree of their necessity by thy infinite wisdom, give supply to all their needs by thy glorious mercy, preserving their persons, sanctifying their hearts, and leading them in the ways of righteousness, by the waters of comfort, to the land of eternal rest and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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CHAPTER IV.

OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

RELIGION in a large sense doth signify the whole duty of man, comprehending in it justice, charity, and sobriety because all these being commanded by God, they become a part of that honour and worship which we are bound to pay to him. And thus the word is used in St. James, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep himself unspotted from the world'." But in a more restrained sense, it is taken for that part of duty, which particularly relates to God in our worshippings and adoration of him, in confessing his excellencies, loving his person, admiring his goodness, believing his Word, and doing all that, which may in a proper and direct manner do him honour. It contains the duties of the first table only, and so it is called godliness, and is by St. Paul' distinguished from justice and sobriety. In this sense I am now to explicate the parts of it.

Of the internal Actions of Religion.

Those I call the internal actions of religion, in which the soul only is employed, and ministers to God in the special actions of faith, hope, and charity. Faith believes the revelations of God: hope expects

1 James 1. 27.

2 Tit. 2. 12.

his promises and charity loves his excellencies and mercies. Faith gives our understanding to God: hope gives up all the passions and affections to heaven and heavenly things: and charity gives the will to the service of God. Faith is opposed to infidelity, hope to despair, charity to enmity and hostility: and these three sanctify the whole man, and make our duty to God and obedience to his commandments to be chosen, reasonable, and delightful, and therefore to be entire, persevering, and universal.

SECTION I.

OF FAITH.

The Acts and Offices of Faith are

1. To believe every thing which God hath revealed to us and when once we are convinced that God hath spoken it, to make no farther enquiry, but humbly to submit, ever remembering, that there are some things, which our understanding cannot fathom, nor search out their depth.

2. To believe nothing concerning God, but what is honourable and excellent, as knowing that belief to be no honouring of God, which entertains of him any dishonourable thoughts. Faith is the parent of charity, and whatsoever faith entertains must be apt to produce love to God: but he that believes God to be cruel or unmerciful, or a rejoicer in the unavoidable damnation of the greatest part of mankind, or that he speaks one thing and privately means another, thinks evil thoughts concerning God, and such as for which we should hate a man, and therefore are great enemies of faith, being apt to destroy charity. Our faith concerning God must be as himself hath revealed and described his own excellencies: and in our discourses