42. Mr. Cradocott's Prayer at St. Sepulchres

42. Mr. Cradocott's Prayer at St. Sepulchres
Most glorious, and most gracious Lord God, who art God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hast put thine own Name and stamp upon this Day, wilt thou be pleased to appear now, and prepare, and dispose our unprepared and indisposed souls for holy. Observation of this thine holy day. Will the Lord vouchsafe us the incomes of his spirit, and influences of his Grace, whereby we may be inabled to offer up spiritual Sacrifice, which may be acceptable to Jesus Christ; Lord thou requirest, praying hearts, but thou hast not commanded us to use Prayer-books; and if thou wilt give us the Spirit of Prayer, we shall not need them, Lord, give us praying hearts at this time; let us find by, experience that the Sabbath is a day of Souls opportunity, that thine Ordinances are full of marrow, that thou hast not said unto thy Children, the seed of Jacob, seek my face in vain.
We acknowledge we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to heaven, we have cause enough to cry out. God be merciful to us sinners, undeserving, ill-deserving men and women; we acknowledge our natures are blots of all wickednesses; we are by nature enemies to thy Majesty, heirs of death, children of darkness, slaves to sin captives to lust, dead to sins and trespasses; how are our understandings darkned, and our hearts-hardened? what are our hearts but a store house of malicious thoughts? a brothel house of adultery? a palace of pride? we are by nature wholly flesh, totally opposite to the holy Laws of thy Majesty, and were it not for thy renewing and restraining grace we should break forth into as vile abominations as the vilest of men: our lives have been a continual piece of rebellion against God, who did make us, and doth feed and cloath us; all thy paths have been paths of mercy to us, but we have requited thee evil for thy good, and hatted for thy love: Oh foolish men and women that we have been I we acknowledge our Gospel-sins are of a deep dye: Thou hast not been a Wilderness or Land of darkness to us; we have been exalted to heaven in the means of salvation: but, Oh! how short do we come of knowledge to the time and means we have enjoyed; and our obedience comes short of our knowledge, we have not walked up to that light which thou hast given us.
We desire to lay ourselves low before thee, Oh do thou open our eyes, and present us to ourselves; show us the vilenss of our lives: Blessed be thy Name that thou hast laid help upon one that is mighty to save all that come to thy Majesty by him; and thou hast promised all that beleeve on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Oh help us to receive him in all his Offices in our hearts; help us to give him the keys of our hearts; and help us to live and die to him that died for us; and let our souls be united to thee by him, that his death may be ours, and his life ours, and his intercession ours: Oh let our unity to Christ be demonstrated to us by our communion with, and conformity to him in grace and holiness.
And we pray thee, dearest Lord, pardon our sins in the Court of heaven, and in the Court of our own consciences; besprinkle our conscienees in the blood of Christ, and say to all before thee at this time, that desire to fear thee more, and serve thee better, Sons and Daughters be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.
And do not only justifie us, but sanctifie us, purge our consciences from dead works; inform our understanding: conform our wills to thy holy Will; let our hearts and lives be comformed to the Image of thy Son, that beholding thereof, we may be changed from glory to glory; and let us have more knowledge of thy will, that we may do thy will und suffer thy will with more patience, and be filled with the fruits of Righteousness, which are to the glory of God. Let us not be empty Vines that bring forth fruit to themselves, but let us bring forth fruit to God; whereby thou mayest be glorified: Oh plant that great grace of Self-denial in our souls, and let us take the Cross of Jesus Christ and follow him wheresoever he goes.
Remember all thine; extend thy favour to those thou hast cast on beds of sickness and let there be a saving change wrought in them, before that change by death shall come, and they that are drawing nigh their time of Travel, let the arms of the All-sufficient God be under them, and be better to them than their Faith or our prayers: and look graciously upon poor children entitle them to an inheritance that fadeth not away, make them a blessing in themselves. and a blessing to their Parents: And those that deare the conversion of Relations, that walk in wayes of perdition, do not let them find peace in any way against thy Majesty, and let them know that sin will be bitter in the latter end.
Look upon us that are before thee at this time, before we go hence, and shall be here no more: make thy face to shine upon us: let our coming together be for the better and not for the worse to any of us; let thy poor Servant be able to deliver thy Message plainly and powerfull and give thy People hearing ears and obedient hearts, and let us rejoyce that we did wait upon thee in thy Worship this day; and all For Christ his sake, in whose Name and Words we call upon thee.
Our Father' which art in Heaven, &c.