to "the waters of comfort," and let "thy rod" and "thy staff support" him, now that he is obliged to "walk in the valley and shadow of death."

Let him consider thee, O blessed Jesus, in all thy weary pilgrimage and sufferings here upon earth, before thou enteredst into thy glory, "that he be not weary and faint in his

mind."

If relief does not come from thee so soon as he expects or desires, enable him still to hold out with long-suffering, and to wait with patience for it. And whatsoever thou doest with him, O Lord, let him be " dumb, and not open his mouth" to murmur or repine, because it is "thy doing." Make him acquiesce and rest satisfied, even in the bitterest dispensations of thy providence; and let no pains or sufferings ever drive him from thee, considering that no temptation hath befallen him" but "what is common to men."

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And, together with this patience towards thee, give him patience, O merciful Lord, towards all those who kindly and charitably minister to him, and attend about him.

Keep him from being humoursome, and showing crossness to their good counsels, or from being causelessly angry and exceptious against their kind endeavours. If any evil accidents or indiscretions happen, let him not presently be outrageous to aggravate them, or break out into any reproachful or unseemly behaviour against them; but let him be pleased with the least expression of their kindness, and interpret everything favourably; and on all occasions let him make it his study to oblige those who are obliging to him in this time of necessity, receiving with thankfulness their good offices, and praying God to reward them, for his Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

A Prayer for spiritual Improvement by Sickness.

(FROM DR. INET.)

O MERCIFUL Father, who scourgest those whom thou lovest, and chastisest those whom thou wilt receive; let thy loving correction purify thy servant, and make him great in thy favour by his present humiliation. O let him learn " thy statutes" in this school of "affliction:" let him "seek thee early" in it; and when his "heart is overwhelmed, lead him to the rock of salvation."

Let thy"rod" awaken him from his former security in sin, and let him sensibly find that thou"chastisest him for his profit, that he may be partaker of thy holiness."

Teach him, by this proof of thy fatherly correction, to be more dutiful for the time to come; to repent of his former offences, and to " redeem the time past," by a double diligence for the future, if thou shalt in mercy raise him up again. Let the remainder of his life be thine, and let nothing separate him from thy love and service, but let it be his whole care and study to provide oil for his lamp, and prepare for eternity; that so "all the days of his appointed time he may wait till his change come," and be ready whensoever his Lord shall call him. Amen.

For a sick Person who is about to make his Will.

O LORD, who puttest into our hearts good desires, and hast inclined thy servant to set his house in order," as well in relation to his temporal, as his spiritual, concerns, grant that he may do it with exact justice, according to the rules of our own religion, and the dictates of right reason. He unfeignedly thanks thee for thy great mercies, in having so liberally provided for him, that he may be rather helpful than chargeable to any, and die a benefactor, and not in debt.

We charitably hope, that what he is now about to dispose of, was all procured by fair and righteous dealings, that he may comfortably feel, that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

Let him be ready, with good Zaccheus, to make restitution in the best manner he is able, and to say with Samuel:

"Behold here I am: witness against me before the Lord; whose ox have I taken, or

whose ass have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed, or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it."

Lord, give him strength to order all things in as due and regular a manner as if he were well. Let his memory be perfect, and his judgment sound, and his heart so rightly disposed, that he may do nothing amiss, or through partiality, but that justice and integrity may be seen through the whole conduct of his will.

(If rich, add this :)

Let the light of his charity likewise shine gloriously before men, that out of the abundance thou hast been pleased to bless him with, he may plentifully give to the poor and distressed, though no otherwise related to him but as they are members of Jesus Christ, and brethren and sisters of the same communion.

Let him, O let him, now, O Lord, and at all times, if thou shouldst graciously continue him here any longer, make to " himself such friends of the unrighteous mammon, that when these fail, they may receive him into everlasting habitations." Amen.

A Prayer for a sick Penitent.

(FROM MR. KETTLEWELL.)

This

RIGHTEOUS art thou, O God, in all the pains and sorrows which punish our sins and try our patience, and we have none to accuse and complain of for the same but ourselves. is the acknowledgement which thy servant makes, whom thou hast now afflicted. He receives it as the chastisement of a sinner, and is willing to bear chastisement for his sins, that he may thereby be reclaimed from them. Correct him, O Lord, that thou mayest not condemn him; and let him be judged by thee for his sins, and judge himself for them here, that he may have nothing but mercy without judgment to receive at thine hands hereafter. But judge him, O God, with mercy and not in thine anger. Judge him not according as his sins have deserved, but according as his weakness can bear, and according as thy compassions are wont to mitigate thy judgments: and let his afflictions work in him a true repentance, "not to be repented of," and prove a happy means, in the hand of thy mercy, to reclaim him perfectly from all the errors into which he hath fallen; and to confer that rest and peace upon his soul, which is denied to his body; for our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake.

THOU smitest him, O gracious God, that thou mayest cure him; and punishest his sin, that thou mayest thereby amend and reclaim the sinner; and he is weary of his sins, which have brought upon him all these sorrows, and which, as he seems now deeply sensible, will bring infinitely worse, unless he prevent the same by his timely and sincere repentance. Help him, therefore, to search them out; and when he sees them, let him not stop any one, but steadfastly resolve to renounce and amend all: Let thy love make him hate every evil way, and render his purposes against them strong and resolute, and his care in fulfilling the same, vigilant and patient; and grant that the remainder of his days may be one continual amendment of his former errors, and dedication of himself to thy service. He desires life, only that he may serve thee; Lord, continue and confirm him in this purpose. Lord, cure his folly by his misery; and teach him, by the loss of his ease, to purchase the blessing of true repentance, and the comfortable hopes of thy merciful acceptance thereof; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer for a sick Person who intends to receive the blessed Sacrament.

O THOU infinite and eternal Spirit, from whom every good motion of our hearts proceedeth; who both quickenest the dead, and after thou hast given life, givest the increase: increase, we beseech thee, the good seeds of thy grace, which thou hast sown in the heart of thy servant, by inclining him to receive the sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord, in

which thou art more immediately present, to illuminate the faithful, and to comfort and refresh all that are 66 weary and heavy-laden with their sins." O, cause thy face thus comfortably to shine upon thy distressed servant, who now intends to draw near to thee in this sacrament, as thou hast commanded him.

Help him, in the mean time, O Lord, to fit and prepare himself for this holy communion : fill his soul with reverence and godly fear; with earnest desires and longings after divine life; with serious repentance for all his past offences, and hearty resolutions of living for ever after unto Jesus, who died for him. O, let him meditate upon his bleeding Saviour with a "broken and a contrite heart," which thou hast promised "not to despise:" forgive him all that is past, and give him grace for the future, to "live more soberly, righteously, and piously, in this present world," if it shall be thy good pleasure to continue him in it.

A Prayer for a sick Person that wants Sleep.

(FROM BISHOP PATRICK.)

ADORED be thy love, thy wonderful love, O most gracious God, who hast so many ways expressed thy bounty towards us. Thy mercies in Christ Jesus surpass all our thoughts; we are not able to number all the other blessings thou hast bestowed upon us. How much do we owe thee for the quiet sleep of but one night! We see, in this thy poor afflicted servant, how much we ought to thank thee for this single blessing, that our eyes, when we would close them, are not held waking.

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Pardon, good Lord, our ingratitude for this and all the rest of thy undeserved mercies : and be pleased graciously also to visit him, who still languishes on his sick-bed, looking up to thee from whom cometh our help. Renew his wasted spirits with comfortable sleep; compose him to a sweet and undisturbed rest; refresh him thereby so sensibly, that he may be restored to such a degree of strength, as may make him able, in some measure, affectionately to acknowledge thy goodness, when thou hast dealt so bountifully with him or if thou delayest to bestow that blessing on him, in the multitude of his thoughts within him, let thy comforts delight his soul. If he still continues without any rest, grant that his mind may rest, and repose itself in the bosom of thy dearest love, and may feel the most sensible consolations from heaven, not only quieting, but greatly rejoicing his heart. Preserve the use of his understanding, and let the enemy have no advantage of him; but make him able to say, "I will wait patiently for the Lord, till he incline his ear unto me, and hear my cry."-O, hear his prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto his cry: O, spare him, that he may recover strength before he go hence*; for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

A Prayer to be said when the sick person grows light-headed.

(FROM BISHOP PATRICK.)

O LORD, look down from heaven in pity and compassion, upon this thine afflicted servant, who is not able now to look up to thee: the more sorrowful his condition grows, the fitter object he is of thine infinite mercies; who acceptest, we humbly hope, of the submission he made of himself, in the beginning of his sickness, to thine almighty wisdom and goodness. And therefore, since it is thy pleasure to suffer his distemper to proceed to this dangerous extremity, do thou no less graciously love him, and delight in him, than if he could still give up himself to thy blessed will.

And hear, O most merciful Father, our prayers, in his behalf, when he can no longer commend himself to thy mercies. Pardon, good Lord, pardon all his sins; impute not to him any of his former follies; lay not to his charge his not improving, or misusing, his reason and understanding, which we earnestly, but humbly, entreat thee to restore to him, together with such a measure of thy divine grace, as may quicken and assist him to employ his thoughts to the best purposes, especially in meditating on thy mercies, in studying

Psalm xl. 1, and xxxix. 12, 13.

thy praise, and in exhorting all others to love thee, to trust in thee, and sincerely obey thee.

And while he remains thus deprived of his reason, be pleased to quiet and compose his spirits, or to prevent all furious motions there, or quickly to abate such violent passions, if any arise for which end, be pleased to remove all frightful imaginations far from him, and suffer not the evil one to approach him; preserve him from doing any harm, either to himself or to any others. "Forsake him not, O Lord our God, be not far from him. Make haste to help him, O Lord our salvation *."

"So will we give thanks unto thee for ever."

"We will be still praising thee, and shewing forth thy loving kindness to those who succeed us:"

That they may set their hope in thee our God, and not forget thy works, but keep thy commandments." Amen.

A Prayer for a Person when Danger is apprehended by excessive Sleep.

(FROM MR. KETTLEWELL.)

O MERCIFUL God, let not this deep sleep, which is fallen on thy servant, prove the sleep of death; make it the sleep of a recovering person, to relieve and revive him: and awake him out of it in thy due time, to offer thee praise, and to labour still among us in doing thee honour and service.

But if thou art pleased to take him to thyself, Lord, remember and accept of all his former prayers and repentance, faith and patience.

Look not upon his sins, but to pardon them; nor on his weaknesses, but to pity them: and when he awakes in the next world, let him find himself surrounded with light and bliss, instead of gloominess and sorrow, and awake to eternal life.

Lord, hear us for this thy weak servant in distress. Hear our prayers for him, who seems not able now to offer up any prayers to thee for himself. And accept both him and us to the blessed enjoyment of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for a Person lying insensible on a Sick-bed.

O THOU Preserver of men, who knowest the frailty of our constitutions; how soon our senses may fail us, and our understanding depart from us; to what accidents, distempers, and decays, our weak nature is subject; even such as may make the most acute and judicious quickly become as fools; and the ablest and strongest, weak and insensible; O look down, we beseech thee, upon thy servant, who now lies in such a weak and insensible condition.

The less able he is to assist himself, the more need hath he of our prayers, and of thy tender mercy to him. O thou great Creator of the world, who broughtest light out of darkness, and madest all things out of nothing, and canst restore our dead bodies again after they are mouldered into dust, be pleased to repel the clouds of darkness which now have taken away the light of our brother's understanding, and rendered him a companion for the dead.

Quicken him again, O Lord, and restore him to his former senses, that his soul may bless and praise thy holy name.

Hear our petitions, O Lord, and receive our prayers for our brother, that this image of death may not be converted into death itself, but that he may live to proclaim thy power, and to celebrate thy praises longer upon earth.

But if it be thy will to remove him hence in this insensible condition, O pardon, we beseech thee, all his offences, and accept of the preparation and repentance that he was able to make before the distemper prevailed upon him in so deadly a manner. Receive him, O Lord, into the arms of thy mercy, and accept him, for thy well-beloved Son's sake; that so

Psalm xxxviii. 21, 22.

this short night may quickly be turned into everlasting day; and, after these dark shadows are removed, he may find himself in a heaven of happiness, where, "in thy light, he may see light" for ever. Amen.

A Prayer for one who hath been a notoriously wicked Liver.

O LORD God, of infinite goodness and compassion, whose mercies are over all thy works; who makest the sun to shine, and the rain to descend, upon the " unjust" as well as the "just," and art kind even to the most unthankful; we humbly beseech thee to look down in mercy upon this thy unworthy servant, who hath so long "trampled upon the riches of thy goodness, not knowing that it should lead to repentance."

Let thy rod, therefore, awaken him now to a sense of his condition, whom thy goodness hath not reclaimed, and let him still find mercy at thy hands, notwithstanding his continual abuse of it.

Thou hast promised, O Lord, that "when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness which he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive." O make good this thy promise to thy servant here, who stands in so much need of it.

“ Hide thy face from his sins, and blot out all his iniquities:" though they be “red as scarlet," yet do thou make them "white as snow," by repentance, which we beg of thee to give him, and to accept, though late, through thine infinite mercies.

Simon Magus, though in the "gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity," was exhorted to repent, and to pray for pardon: and therefore we hope the gate of life is still open for our brother, though he hath so long shut himself out of it, by going on in a course that leadeth to the "chambers of death."

Blessed Lord, let thy terrors at length awaken him out of this lethargical condition, before he is overtaken by thy judgments. Afflict him here, that thou mayest spare him hereafter. Soften his heart, that he may bewail his ill-spent life, like Mary_Magdalen, with tears of

contrition.

O quicken him to a sense of his duty, and of his danger, before it be too late and when thou hast brought him to his right mind, receive him, we beseech thee, as the compassionate father did his prodigal son, or the shepherd his lost sheep.

Thou, O Lord, who didst pardon the thief upon the cross, hear our prayers for our brother, in these his great, and, for anything we know, his last agonies.

And as the forementioned instances are lively significations of thine unbounded goodness, and were written for our comfort and instruction, that none should despair of pardon; so with the greatest confidence we now recommend this our distressed brother to thy divine protection, beseeching thee to forgive all that is past, and to receive him at last into thine "everlasting habitation." Amen.

A Prayer for one who is hardened and impenitent.

LORD God Almighty, who art the "Father of our spirits," and who "turnest the hearts of men as thou pleasest; who hast mercy on whom thou wilt have mercy, and whom thou wilt thou hardenest;" let thy merciful ears be open, we pray thee, to the supplications which we now offer to thy Divine Majesty, in the behalf of this thy servant, who appears insensible of his sin and folly, and on whom all means to lead him to repentance have hitherto seemed vain and ineffectual. Take from him, we humbly intreat thee, all ignorance and hardness of heart remove from him all prejudice against, and contempt of, thy sacred word and ministry: let him no longer "make a mock of sin," but be sensible that the wisdom he has hitherto gloried in, is the greatest and most dangerous folly. Open thou his eyes, that he may "see the wonderful things of thy law." Shew thy mercy upon him, and grant him thy salvation. Convince him of the vanity and madness, as well as danger, of his past

ways.

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His understanding, we fear, is now darkened, and his heart hardened through the deceit