PRAYER

IN BEHALF OF THE IRISH CHURCH, SUFFERING AFFLICTION AND PERSECUTION.

O THOU, the God of all grace, who hast called us to thine eternal glory by Christ Jesus, forewarning us that we shall have to suffer for well-doing, and instructing us to sympathize with those that suffer as fellow-members of one body; we desire now, especially, to commend unto thee our brethren in Ireland, made to endure afflictions, because they belong to a church, which holds and confesses the truth as it is in Jesus. O Lord, guide, strengthen, comfort, and uphold them by thy faithful promises, the light of thy countenance, and the continual aid of the Holy Spirit; and grant such grace to them, that they may boldly and constantly testify the word of thy grace, and that all their sufferings may work for thy glory, their good, and the furtherance of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Seeing, also that thou hast commanded us not to render evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrarywise blessing; knowing that we are thereunto called, that we should inherit a blessing, we pray for those who have injured us, that thou wilt have mercy upon them also; and turning them from the error of their ways, bring them to see and rejoice in the light of thy truth, that with one accord we may together praise thy holy name.

Deliver, O thou chief Shepherd of the sheep, thy flock every where, from its many enemies. O thou God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, enable us to glorify thy name in all our afflictions, and after we have suffered, make us perfect; stablish, strengthen, and settle us through Jest Christ, to whom with thee O Father, and thee OF Spirit, three persons in One God, be glor dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER SUITED TO THESE TIMES.

ALMIGHTY Father, whose name is love, and who hast so shewn thy love to the world, that thou gavest thy only begotten Son for our salvation; we come to thee in the name of Him, who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

O Lord, we have been most unbelieving in thy word, and most unthankful for that great benefitthe good tidings of thy grace in Christ Jesus; and now we see thine enemies and ours, endeavouring to darken that glorious light, and keep far from us all the comforts of thy great salvation. We deserve to lose that blessing which we have so greatly neglected. But, O God of all grace, pity us, spare us, and help us in our necessities. Pardon our sins, which are many and great, and for thine own name's sake, turn us again O God of Hosts, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

And, O Lord, seeing all things around us are disquieted and troubled, and there is no sure standing for our feet but on that word which endureth for ever; we pray thee to set our feet upon that rock. O let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all spiritual wisdom and understanding; and grant, that we may meditate therein day and night. Guard us thereby from all error, and guide us thereby into all truth; and may we shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.

O Lord, deliver us from all false doctrine, heresy and schism; take away from us all unbelief, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word. Raise up every where faithful ministers, revealing thy love in Christ Jesus to them, and enabling them, boldly, freely, and constantly, to proclaim the gospel of thy grace.

Bless all societies formed for this end, Give grace to all who conduct them, that nothing may be dearer and more precious to them than thy truth,

and that they may ever have wisdom to discern, faith to receive, love to embrace, and steadfast courage to maintain that truth, against all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. Unite their hearts together as the heart of one man. May the enemy no longer prevail over us, to lead us to envy, vex, or harrass each other; but whereunto we have already attained, may we walk by the same rule, and mind the same thing.

O Lord, bring thy people out of Babylon, before thy judgments descend upon it. May the warnings which thou hast given in thy holy word, be more distinctly and loudly proclaimed, till all thy people separate themselves from that Man of Sin, whom thou wilt destroy with the brightness of thy coming.

Every where may thy church be like the wise virgins, ready and prepared for the return of their Lord. May we take heed lest our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon us unawares. Give us grace to watch and pray always, that we may be accounted worthy to escape those things which shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Lord, gather in thy people Israel from every land; take away their sins, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob, that the receiving of them may be as life from the dead, and their fulness be far more the riches of the world than their casting away was; and so every where the Gentiles may fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

Thus may all the rich promises of thine own word be speedily accomplished, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ; and the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hear us, O hear us, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

PRAYER FOR INFIDELS.

O THOU who hast called thy people to make supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings for all men, for thou wouldest have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, I come unto thee in behalf of those who are denying the Lord that bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction,-who are treading under foot the Son of God, and counting the blood of the covenant, wherewith they were sanctified an unholy thing, and doing despite to the spirit of grace. O thou Father of mercies and God of love, forgive them for they know not what they do. Thou hast opened my eyes to see thy love towards me when an enemy to thee, and a rebel against thee, thou hast led me to see in the death of thine own Son, that thou lovest me a sinner with intense love, whilst thou hatest sin with unutterable abhorrence, and so I see thy glory in the face of Jesus, and return unto thee who hast redeemed me, and delight in thee my most holy and most loving Father; O open their eyes to see thy love to them in Christ Jesus, for thou so loved the world that thou gavest thine only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. In this day of rich, free, abounding grace, where sin abounds, O let grace more abound, and reign in their salvation unto eternal life through Jesus Christ, that multitudes may be snatched as brands from destruction, and become everlasting monuments of thy loving kindness to the chief of sinners. Hear, O hear me for Jesus' sake. Amen,

PRAYER FOR PAPISTS.

O LORD, known unto thee are all thy works from the beginning of the world. Thou, hast foretold that the day of Christ should not come, except there came a falling away first, and the man of sin were revealed. We have seen that falling away, and we now behold millions calling themselves by the name of Christ, partaking of the sins of Babylon, and in fearful danger of receiving of her swiftly coming plagues. I now earnestly then call upon thee to have mercy upon them. Long hast thou delayed thy threatened judgments, by thy goodness leading men to repentance; O exalted Prince and Saviour, bestow repentance and remission of sins on the papists. Open their eyes, O heavenly Father, to see the wrong which they do to him, who is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and, having been once offered, hath put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Open their eyes to see the speedy ruin coming upon all who belong to Babylon, who shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. Open their ears, in this day of grace, to hear thy loving invitation to them, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. O Lord, may multitudes every where in this accepted time hear thy word and flee out of Babylon. May thy people every where lift up their voice as a trumpet, and point them to the only Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, and may all the ends of the earth look unto thee and be saved. And speedily come, O Divine Redeemer, and put an end to the days of sin and sinning, and reign triumphantly King of kings, and Lord of Lords over the whole earth. Hear and answer, O heavenly Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

THE END.