A Prayer for One before he goes to his Labour.
O ALL-GRACIOUS, and ever-blessed Lord God; who, when thou hadst placed the first man in the garden of Eden, didst command him to dress it, and after he had eaten the forbidden fruit, didst impose this as a part of the divine curse upon him, that he should eat his bread by the sweat of his brows: O most adorable Jesus, who thyself didst work at the trade of a carpenter, and hast by an Apostle, commanded all to abide in the vocation wherewith they are called by thee, O prosper thou my handy-work.
Behold, in obedience to thy command, I now go forth to labour for the meat which perisheth. O let me do it with a single eye to thy glory, and suffer me never to forget to secure that meat which endureth to everlasting life. Let me not be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. O let me walk with thee all the day long; and though my body be on earth, Lord let my heart and affections be fixed on thee in heaven, and preserve me, I most humbly beseech thee, in my going out and coming in, from this time forth and for evermore. Do thou, who didst appear to the disciples when they were fishing and mending their nets, manifest thyself unto me, when employed in the business of my lawful calling. Do thou, who calledst Matthew from the receipt of custom, call me effectually by thy grace. Grant, O Lord, that I may not stand any of my time idle, but be continually improving my talent, that whether I live, I may live unto thee, or whether I die, I may die unto thee, O Lord; so that whether living or dying, I may be thine. O never let me be like the unjust steward, ashamed to dig. Suffer me not to be slothful in business, but grant I may be always fervent in spirit, serving thee, O Lord. Lift up my hands when they hang down; strengthen, O strengthen my feeble knees, let not the sun burn me by day, nor the moon hurt me by night. Provide for me to-day, and keep me from being solicitously careful for the morrow: and after the labour of this troublesome world is over, translate me, O Lord, together with all thy faithful servants, to that happy place, where we shall enjoy an everlasting rest, with thee O Father, with thee O Son, and with thee O Holy Ghost; to whom, as three persons, but one God, be ascribed, as is most due, by angels, and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, by things on heaven, and things on earth, all honour, power, might, majesty and dominion, now and for evermore. Amen and Amen.
A Prayer for a Rich Man.
O SOVEREIGN and all-bountiful Lord God, who makest poor, and makest rich, and dost govern all things both in heaven and earth, accept my unfeigned sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for giving me all things richly to enjoy. What am I, O Lord, what is in me, that I should have bread enough and to spare, whilst so many are ready to perish with hunger? Not my merit, O Lord, but thy mercy; not my foresight, but thy sovereign good-will and pleasure has made me thus to differ from, and hath exalted me above my brethren. O let not my prosperity destroy me; but as thou hast made me rich in this world’s goods, for thy infinite mercy’s sake, make me rich towards thee, rich in faith and good works. Suffer me not, O Lord, to say unto gold, thou art my hope, or unto the fine gold, thou art my confidence. Let me not trust in uncertain riches, but in thee, the ever-living God. Let me not lay up for myself treasures on earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but grant I may lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust do corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal.
I know, O Lord, that this is impossible with man, and that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into thy kingdom. But, Abba, Father, all things are possible with thee! Enable me, therefore, by the all-sufficiency of thy grace, to sell all things in affection, to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow thee every day. Give me that faith which overcometh the world. Grant that I may not indulge myself in the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, or make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lust thereof. Lord, let me be given to hospitality. When thy disciples are sick, incline me, O Lord, to go to see them; when they are in prison, grant I may not be ashamed to visit them; when they are strangers, may I take them in; when naked, may I cloath them; when hungry, may I feed them; when thirsty, may I give them drink; may I be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, a father to the fatherless, and cause the widow’s heart to leap for joy. May I be a follower of thee, O lowly Jesus, who though thou wast rich, yet for our sakes didst become poor, and camest not to be ministered unto, but to minister. O let me ever remember thy words, and count it more blessed to give than to receive. And, as I am like a city built upon a hill, grant that my light may so shine before men, that they seeing my good works, may glorify my Father which is in heaven. Let my affections, O Lord, be set on things above, and not on things of the earth. Let my conversation be in heaven, and grant I may use the world, as though I used it not. Make me a faithful steward of thy manifold gifts, O God, and grant I may not make friends of the accursed mammon of unrighteousness, that when my natural life fails, thy blessed angels may carry me into everlasting habitations, and I may receive that blessed sentence, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Or, if thou pleasest, O Lord, for my trial, to order that my riches should take themselves wings, and fly away, grant I may learn how to want, as well as how to abound, and say, with thy servant Job, “The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord.” Having nothing, may I learn to possess all things in thee; and in whatsoever state I am, make me therewith content. May I always behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, and when my appointed time is come, may I not need, like the rich fool in the gospel, to have my soul required of me, but chearfully give up the ghost, and be translated to join with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the other spirits of just men made perfect, to praise thee for ever and ever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, and Amen.
A Prayer for a Servant.
O THOU high and lofty one, who inhabitest eternity, yet art pleased to dwell with the humble heart: O blessed Jesus, who hast made of one blood, all nations under heaven, with whom there is no respect of persons, and who in the days of thy flesh didst go down to heal a centurion’s sick servant; have mercy, I beseech thee, on me, even me, also a poor servant. Stretch forth the right hand of thy power, to heal all the diseases of my sin-sick soul, and enable me by thy Holy Spirit, faithfully to discharge the several duties of that vocation, whereto I am called by thee. Give me grace, I most humbly beseech thee, to obey my master, according to the flesh, in all things; not with eye-service, as a man-pleaser, but with singleness of heart, as unto Christ; knowing, that whatsoever any man doth, the same he shall receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.