For our own land and nation, which we ought in a special manner to seek the welfare of, that in the peace thereof we may have peace. › We must pray earnestly for national mercies.

3. For the continuance of our outward peace and tranquillity, our liberty and plenty, for the prosperity of our trade, and a blessing upon the fruits of the earth.

Let God himself be a wall of fire round about us, and the glory in the midst of us; yea, let his gospel be our glory, and upon all that glory let there be a defence ; and create upon every dwellingplace of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Zech 2:5. Isa 4:5.

Peace be within our borders, and prosperity within our palaces, the prosperity both of merchandise, and husbandry; that Zebulun may rejoice in his going out, and Issachar in his tents. Ps 122:7. Deut 33:18.

Appoint salvation to us for walls and bulwarks, and in order to that, let the gates be opened, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Isa 26:1, 2.

Make our officers peace, and our exactors righteousness ; let violence never be heard in our gates, wasting or destruction in our borders, but let our walls be called Salvation, and our gates Praise. Isa 60:17–18

Never let our land be termed forsaken and desolate, and let the Lord delight in us, and let our land be married to him. Isa 60:17, 18; Isii.

Let our peace be as a river, and in order to that, our righteousness as the waves of the sea. Let that righteousness abound among us, which exalteth a nation, and deliver us from sin, which is a reproach to any people. Isa 48:18. Prov 14:34.

Never make our heaven as brass, and our earth as iron, nor take away thy corn in the season thereof, and thy wine in the season thereof, but give us rain moderately, the former and the latter — rain in due season, and reserve unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest, giving us fair weather also in its season. Let our land yield her increase, and the trees their fruit, that we may eat bread and be full and dwell in our land safely. Deut 28:23. Hos 2:9. Joel 2:22–23Jer 5:24, Lev 26:4, 5.

Abundantly bless our provision, and satisfy our poor with bread; that they which have gathered it may eat and praise the Lord. Blow not thou upon it, for then when we look for much it will come to little ; but bless our blessings, that all nations may call us blessed, and a delightsome land. Ps 132:15. Isa 11:9. Hag 1:9. Mal 3:10, 12.

‹ For the continuance of the gospel among us, and the means… · For the success of all endeavours for the reformation of… ›

Pray now: a guided prayer in six parts, with the next heads each day.

Henry’s text is in the public domain. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, No. 265 Chestnut Street. Undated, about 1840 to 1860. The preface is dated Chester, March 25, 1710. From the Internet Archive scan. The KJV text is in the public domain.