Make my obedience to my master on earth, like that which the holy angels pay to thee in heaven. When I am commanded to go, may I go; when I am required to come, may I come; whatsoever I am bid to do agreeable to thy will, may I do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men. But if at any time, O Lord, to try what is in my heart, thou shouldst permit me to be tempted to do any wickedness, O give me grace, as thou didst Joseph, patiently to submit to a prison, and to death itself, rather than sin against thee, my God; knowing that it is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Enable me, O Lord, to shew good fidelity in all things committed to my charge. Do thou, who blessedst Abraham’s servant, when he went to take a wife for his master’s son Isaac, so bless me in all my master’s business, that he may see, as Potiphar did, that the Lord maketh all that I do to prosper in my hands.
Keep, O Lord, also the door of my lips, that I offend at no time with my tongue; let a false tongue be far from me, and let me never lie unto my master, as Gehazi did. O let no such unfaithfulness cleave unto me; lest by being a partaker with him in his crime, I partake also in his punishment. Bridle also my tongue from ever answering again: may all sullenness and peevishness of temper be put away from me, with all passion: may I learn of thee, O holy Jesus, to be meek and lowly in heart; O make me patient of reproof, willing to be taught, and subject with all fear and godly reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Or if ever, through the weakness of the flesh, I should offend in this point, as Hagar did against Sarah, enable me, I beseech thee, immediately to repent and to return again to my obedience. Grant also, O Lord, I may behave holily and unblameably to my fellow servants: let no corrupt communication, nor foolish talking or jesting, which is not convenient, at any time come out of my mouth, but rather giving of thanks: may our conversation be always seasoned with the salt of thy holy word, and such as may tend to the edifying one another.
Endue us all with that charity, which hideth a multitude of faults; and if ever, O Lord, thy glory should call me to bring up an ill report to my master against any of my fellow-servants, which, I beseech thee, of thy mercies, I may never have occasion to do; grant it may be done with gentleness and compassion, not to insinuate myself into my master’s favour, but to prevent them sinning against thee, and thereby ruining their own souls. Keep us, we beseech thee, from striving among ourselves, as Abraham’s and Lot’s herdsmen did, about any of the concerns of this life; but grant we may be always provoking each other to love and to good works. Preserve us, we beseech thee, from envying one another, either the favour of our master, or any blessing whatsoever. Let us not seek our own, but each our brother’s welfare, as members of the same body, as disciples of the same Lord. When one of us suffers, let all suffer; when one rejoices, let all of us rejoice with him. Make us pitiful and tender-hearted to each other; and if at any time we should have a quarrel, enable us, O Lord, immediately to forgive one another, even as thou, God, for Christ’s sake, hast forgiven us.
Finally, O Lord, endue us with a deep humility, that we may in brotherly love prefer one another, and in lowliness of mind each of us esteem his brother better than himself. O hear all our prayers for our master, and grant that he and his houshold may faithfully serve thee, our Lord. O make him as devout as Cornelius, and us, like the soldiers that waited upon him, devout also. That thus adorning thy holy gospel in all things, we may, at thy second coming to judge the world, be rewarded according as we have improved the different talents which we have received from thee, O glorious Redeemer, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen, Amen.
A Prayer for a poor Negroe.
O RIGHTEOUS Father, who hast made of one blood all nations under heaven, and with whom there is no respect of persons, look down from heaven on me a miserable sinner. And as thou hadst once compassion on the eunuch of the Queen of Candace, a negroe like myself, O Lord, let thy mercy be shewn in like manner upon me. O send some one to teach me the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Behold I am foolish; Lord, make me wise unto salvation. Lord, I am poor, do thou enrich me by thy Spirit. Lord, I am miserable in myself, O make me happy in thee. Lord, I am naked, O cloath my poor soul with the righteousness of thy beloved son Jesus. Blessed be thy name, for bringing me over into a christian country. O Lord, let me not come in vain. Make me willing in the day of thy power, and for thy mercy’s sake, reveal thy dear Son in me. Shew me what it is to be born again of thy Spirit, and let Jesus be my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Let me know, O Father of lights, how I have died in Adam, and how I must be made alive in Christ. Make me contented with my condition, knowing, O Lord, that thou hast placed me in it. Let me never be tempted to rebel against my master or mistress; and enable me to be obedient not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Lord, keep the door of my lips, that I may not offend with my tongue. Keep my hands from picking and stealing, and suffer me not to behave unseemly on the Lord’s-day. Bless my master and mistress, and my labours for their sake. Bless the Governor, and all that bear rule in this province, and grant that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty. Have mercy on my poor countrymen: Lord, suffer them no longer to sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Arise, thou Son of Righteousness, arise with healing under thy wings. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and let us know the truth as it is in Jesus. Grant I may be truly converted myself, and then, if it be thy blessed will, enable me, O Lord, to strengthen my poor brethren. O take us poor negroes for thine inheritance, and bless all those who endeavour to teach us thy will. Prosper, O Lord, the work of their hands upon them, O prosper thou their handy-work. Grant they may turn thousands and ten thousands of us to righteousness, and shine as the stars in the firmament for ever and ever. May we be their joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus, and join with them for ever and ever in singing praises to thee, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom, as three persons, but one God, I desire to give all praise, now and for evermore. Even so Lord Jesus, Amen, and Amen.
A Prayer for a Person before he goes a Journey.
GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, who leddest the people through a wilderness by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night; and didst guide the wise men, on their journey to Jerusalem, by a star in the east; give thy angels charge concerning me thy unworthy servant, that I may not so much as hurt my foot against a stone. Keep me, O God, keep me on my journey, and suffer me not to fall among robbers. Jesus, thou good Samaritan, take care of, support, defend, and provide for me. Behold, I go out by the direction of thy providence; Lord, therefore, let thy presence go along with me, and thy Spirit speak to my soul, when I am journeying alone by the way-side. O let me know that I am not alone, because my heavenly Father is with me. Keep me from evil company, or, if it be thy will I should meet with any, give me courage and freedom, O Lord, to discourse of the things concerning the kingdom of God. And O that thou wouldst let me meet with some of thy own dear children! O that thou wouldst be with us, as with the disciples at Emmaus, and cause our hearts mutually to burn with love towards thee, and one another! Provide for me proper refreshment, and wherever I lodge, be thou constrained, O God, for thy own name’s sake, to lodge with me. Teach me, whether at home or abroad, to behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth. Preserve my houshold and friends in my absence, and grant that I may return to them again in peace. Enable me patiently to take up every cross that may be put in my way. Let me not be weary and faint in my mind. Make, O Lord, right paths for my feet, enable me to hold out to the end of the race set before me, and, after the journey of this life, translate me to that blessed place, where the wicked one will cease from troubling, and my weary soul enjoy an everlasting rest with thee, O Father, Son, and blessed Spirit; to whom, as three persons, but one God, be ascribed all possible power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore. Amen.