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Lord, we are not in things of this kind as we are in the works of our hands, for we can begin at these in the morning, and continue in our own strength till night; but in things of this kind thou must be with us every moment, and that both in grace naturally and supernaturally. We have great need of thy hand and help always, and of refreshment from thee, through Christ; and we stand in need of thy sanctifying presence now. If there were no more but the outward work to be done, then we must go on into our own strength; but when the outward work is done, then is our sorrow great that we have found nothing from thee and thy Spirit all the time. Therefore, we standing in need of thy help and supply, for the Lord the mediator’s sake who looks upon us, and is present with thy people at all times, do good unto us now, and speak a word in season to our wearied souls—a word that may be fit for us now, and for our present disposition, and the case wherein we stand—a word meet for stirring us up to do our duty. Lord, if we desired that one thing, to dwell in thy house, and considered that there were only one thing necessary, and desired to know Christ, and him crucified, we would be willing to fear thee, and serve thee, and to turn to thee with the whole heart. This is a strange thing, that we come to thy house to serve thee, and yet, for all that, has not thy fear in our hearts; and alas shall we come even to the highest point of thy service, and yet shall we not fear thee, and turn to thee with our heart? Indeed, for that thou may justly display the banner of thy majesty against us, that so we may fear thee because of that, even as fathers deal with their rebellious children. Lord, because we have committed great wickedness in thy worship, and in our callings, and in following the ways of the world, we beseech thee to pardon us of them all, through Christ: for so long as we know not that our sins are pardoned, we may justly fear that thy wrath shall fall upon us, and therefore we beseech thee to pardon us, through Jesus Christ. And, Lord, forgive us that guiltiness which we have drawn upon ourselves this day. The hypocrite, he contents himself with the outward part in thy worship, but the child of God, he looks principally to the inward man, and how the heart is disposed. God be merciful unto us, for our hearts has not been so near unto thee as they ought to have been this day; but, Lord, bring them nearer to thee at this time, and hold them with thee: Lord, give us grace still to wait upon thee till the seventh day, and the last time of the seventh day. We know that thou canst give somewhat of the first fruits and sheaves to thine own here, and then at last thou wilt give them the full harvest: Lord, do so to us. And give us grace to consider of the great things that thou hast done for us: thou hast made us and not we ourselves, and thou upholdest us daily; but that is the greatest favor, that thou hast sent thy Son for our redemption, and sent down the Holy Ghost when he ascended, and thy Holy Spirit since that time upon us, and that thou hast given us a seal of our redemption this day. If we be spiritual, we will think these to be great things indeed. These are not great things, which the world counts great things; they are over great for us to receive, but thou countest them not great to bestow upon thy people: but these, O Lord, are the great things, which bring us to an everlasting inheritance, and whereby we are made free from thy vengeance and curse. Lord, therefore give us grace, as we would be free of thy vengeance and curse, to walk in thy ways; and Lord, assist thou us by thy Spirit at this time, and let us know that thou hast been with us, by helping us forward some step or degree; that so from the sense of thy presence we may close this day’s exercise, and so may go home with peace and joy into our souls, through Jesus Christ, In whose, etc.