Book III. ofjHSUS Chri s t. lij

€ H A p. XXVI.
A Prayer againjl Evil Thoughts.
Difciple.]A^O net far from me^ O Lord, my God make V T hnft to help me : For Conupc pj^^_ ^^^ Imaginations are perpetually riling in my Breall, and innumerable Fears and Horrors clofe my Soul in on every fide. The fenfe of my hazardous Condition overwhelms me with Torment and Dq'^p Diftrefs, while I fee the greatnefs of my Danger^ and the multitude of my Enemies, but know not how ro decline the one, or to fight my Way thro' the other, Cbrlfi.^ Remember, Son, my Promife ,• / will go hs- fore thee, arjd make the crooked T laces flreight ^ .r - I will break in pieces the Gates of Bra js, and cut in funder the Bars of Iron : And I will gi've thee the T'rea- fares of Darknefs, and hidde?j Riches of Jecret Places.
Difciple.lLordjfmcQ thou haft applied thole Myfti- cal Words to my Comfort, let me, I befeech thee, ex- perimentally find the gracious Accomplifhmenc of them in my ownPerfon : And Icatter all my dark and difmal, my vain and fmful Thoughts^ by fhedding the Light of thy Grace abroad into my Heart. For in the Extremity of Grief and Anguifh^ this is ray Hope and only Support, to take fanduary in thy Goodnefs^ to repoie all my Confidence, and caft the Burthen of my Cares upon thee , to pour out my whole Soul be- fore thee, and wait with Patience thy own good Time^ for fuccouring me in, and giving me a happy iffue out of all my Afflidions.
N 3 CHAP,
i86 ^g tl]t ^mtatitm Book III.
C K A p. XXVIL
A Prayer for Spiritual Rumination,
D(/67/?/e.] Q lioor forth, O BlelTed Jefus, the bright i3 Beams of thy Heavenly and Eternal Light, that it may enlighten all the Dark Corners of my Heart, and efFedually fcatter every Cloud of Igno- rance and Error, which now hang fo thick over me. Call home my Wand ring Thoughts, and repulfe the Temptations, which furioufly affaulc mc. Fight thou my Battels, and fubdue thofe fierce Wild Beaft:,thofe BrutirnLufts,which range in this Defart, and are ever ftriving to devour me ; that by thy Power the Wil- dernefs may be turned into a Palace , and inftead of the violent Cries and Hovvlings of rap:ing Paflicns.nQ Sounds may be heard there but Songs of Praife.lhou, Marki Lord, Who com7r,anc!eft thei''inds und the
Wa'vesy p.nd they obey thee^ filcHCe the Storms within my Breafl; j fay to that Troubled Sca,i?e Jlill^and immediately there (hail be Peace and a pre 'bund Calm. Send out thy Light a?2d thy Truths and warm ihis Barren Soil, foi luch am I, til' mellowed and impregnated by the Sun of Righteoufnefs. Pour down thy Grace upon me plentifully .and Vv'ater me with th} refreihing Moi- fture, which, like feafonable Show' rsand gentle Dew, may fatten my Soul, and enable it to bring forth gene- rousFruit in great abundance-Rdfc and rehnemyMind, pred down with the Drofs of earthly Dellres,and draw my Aifedior.s up to Heaven and heavenly Objeds • that the fweet relifli of that DJifs above may give me a djfgufl: and loathing to all the naufeous Pleafures here below,Deliver,or ratherfnatch me away with a holy Vi- olence from all the perifliing Comforts of tnis Mortal State y for my Thirit of Happinefs I find is greater
than