49. Mr. Caryl's Prayer at Magnus-Bridgefoot

49. Mr. Caryl's Prayer at Magnus-Bridgefoot
Oh our Father, what a priviledge is this that we may draw near to thee! all our springs are in thee: the Creature is but a dry heap a barren wilderness, 'tis but a Cistern, and a broken Cistern, It hath no water of its own, nor can it hold that which is poured into it: Oh that our hearts were taken off and dis-engaged from all things on this side thy self, that we could say with thy Servant, Whom have we in heaven but thee? and on earth there is none that we desire in comparison of thee: Then, though our flesh and hearts fail us, yet God would be our portion forever.
We pray thee manifest thy Grace to us at all time, and especially at this time, that we may come before God in this publick worship as we should: Let us see thy goings out in thy Sanctury, and let us be satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and drink of those pleasures that are for evermore,
Lord, we have given thee cause to withdraw from us; for we have not laboured to be fruitful under means: and therefore thou in judgement mightest make them hereafter to be fruitless unto us: and because we have taken no pains to get good by them, thou mightest justly say, they shall do you no good. We have heard much of thee, but we know thee but little: we acknowledge thou mightest judge us because we know so little: and thou mightest punish us, because we do so little of what we know, according as that faithless Servant was punished, which knew his Masters will, and did it not.
Oh where be those manifestations of God that we have had? Have we had not the light of the knowledge of God shining to us in the face of Jesus Christ? But we have not rejoyced in this light, but have compassed ourselves about with sparks of our own kindling and therefore it is just we should down in sorrow; and yet thou lengthenest out thy patience to us, and yet we have one opportunity more to come unto thee. Oh, we pray thee, let us understand the things belonging to our peace, before they be hid from our eyes: let our souls be bound in the bundle of life with Christ Jesus: We pray thee, that that Spirit of thine may strengthen us, that the Spirit may guide us, and lead us into all truth: leave us not to our own strength, nor to our own councel, but shew us the secrets of thy Word and Works: Thou hast promised, Thy secret shall be with them that fear thee, and thou wilt shew them thy covenant.
And as thou dost give us thy Sabbaths, so give us to thrive by them; and help us to grow as the Herb, and sent forth our fruit as Lebanon.
Let thy Word come with power one every one of us, that it may not be as the beating of the air, but let it fit us for Duty that we may honor our God in the midst of these changes, until we come to that place where there is no change; and all for the sake of our dear Lord Jesus, to whom, with Thee and the blessed Spirit: be Glory and Honour now and forever.