Though of yourself you cannot maintain these religious resolutions, but would soon fall before temptations, if left to your own strength; yet, through Christ strengthening you, you can do all things. It is of infinite concern to you then, that you offer up your constant and earnest prayers to heaven. If you continue instant in this duty, and ask help from God, he has assured you, that you shall receive it: but if you fall into a neglect, or disuse of daily prayer, you shall certainly soon fall by renewed temptations, turn back into a worldly and sensual course of life, and forget the solemn vows and purposes you have lately made.

Remember, that, though you are now raised from a sick bed, you must very soon lie down upon it again; lie down to rise no more till the resurrection of the dead.

Helps for conversing with the relations of one, who has lately been recovered from sickness.

1. As it has pleased God to recover your sick and dying relation [be it husband or wife, brother or sister] it is a great mercy to you; and by this he has honoured your earnest intercession for him, [or her.]

2. It is a mercy to you, as by this you may reap further pleasure and benefit by your desirable intercourses with him, and by his friendly offices for you.

3. When such an one is restored to us, we are "to receive him with all gladness in the Lord." (Phil. ii. 29.) that is, temper our joy with devotion, and receive him as the gift of God.

4. Should you find that he is improved by this visitation of sickness in his christian course, it would sweeten the mercy, and increase your gratitude.

5. You should frequently recollect such an interposition of providence with thankfulness.

6. Such a recollection of his goodness may promote your own spiritual health and welfare. 7. You may frequently and usefully reflect, that if it be such a mercy to be recovered from sickness and death, what a mercy it is to be recovered from sin and everlasting condemnation; to have our transgressions pardoned, and the vices of the mind healed by the influential and sanctifying grace of God; to be interested in Christ Jesus; restored to a new and divine life; and disposed to the faithful service of God. How thankful should they be, who are recovered from ignorance and vice; "whose souls prosper and 66 are in health;" who are healed by Christ's stripes; and restored to the joy of his salvation. How thankful should they be, whose dearest relations, in the bonds of nature and friendship, are recovered from the paths of sin, have had their backslidings healed, and are "walking in 66 the truth.' This, as the greatest blessing of all, we should desire for ourselves and for others, (especially those for whom we are sincerely concerned) that above all our souls may be healthy and flourishing; that we may die to sin, and live to righteousness; and if this be the situation of our minds, we may well say, "The Lord "hath done great things for us, whereof we are "glad." (Ps. cxxvi.3.) Is it not our duty then to shew our gratitude for our near escapes from temporal, and more especially from eternal death "by serving the Lord without fear in holiness "and righteousness before him all the days of 66 our lives." Luke i. 75. Then we shall be preparing for that happy state, and at length received into it, where God (Rev. xxi. 4.) shall "wipe away all tears from our eyes; and where "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, 66 nor crying; neither shall there be any more "pain; for the former things are passed away.".

A Thanksgiving after recovery from sickness, being a Paraphrase of the hundred and sixteenth Psalm.

1. I prayed earnestly in my late dangerous sickness and I am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer.

2. I could scarcely speak I was so faint, but am very thankful, that he hath inclined his ear unto me, heard my inward and secret groans, and delivered me as I desired, therefore will I learn by this act of his goodness to call upon him as long as I live.

3. I see that is the way to get relief, for the snares of death, like a net, compassed me round about, so that there seemed no way open to escape, and the pains, the most terrible agonies, like those of hell, violently gat hold upon me.

4. And when I found this outward trouble of body and inward heaviness of mind sieze on me, and I called upon the name of the Lord, I prayed saying, O Lord, I beseech thee, free me from my bodily pain, if thou seest fit, and, however that may be, deliver my soul; not only spare my life, but deliver me from sin, and from eternal pains, whatever I endure here.

5. And he was pleased to hear me, an unworthy sinner, therefore I here openly declare, gracious is the Lord, and unwilling to afflict us, if our sins do not provoke him to it, and righteous, yea, our God is merciful, exceedingly merciful. He was righteous in laying this punishment upon me, and merciful in supporting me under it, and at length in removing it from me.

6. I myself am a witness and an instance that the Lord preserveth the simple, the meanest of his servants: for I was in misery, who had no worth in me to deserve his favour, and yet he helped me.

7. Wherefore despair no more: turn again then out of the path of despair unto thy former rest and satisfaction, in God's mercy through Christ, O my soul, for the Lord hath rewarded thee well for trusting in him, having done thee good, and delivered thee, who neither didst deserve nor canst requite this favour.

8. And why should I ever distrust thee again? Thou hast delivered my soul from eternal and my body from temporal death; and, by removing my fears and my pains, hast freed mine eyes from tears, those which my anguish and fear extorted from me, and kept my feet from falling into the pit of despair, or the snares of the devil, restoring to me both my life and my hope.

9. And since he has given me a new life, I will spend it holily, and always walk, as it were, before the Lord, who sees all my ways, and knows all my actions, and in this course will I persist while I am in the land of the living, among whom by his mercy, I now am, who was lately more likely to be numbered among the dead.

10. I believe always, that he was able to help me, and therefore will I speak of his praise, declare his power, and own myself his servant; but I was sore troubled in my extremity, for fear he should not be willing to deliver me: and when all about me gave me hopes, I spoke rashly, and 1 said in my haste, being impatient of longer sufferings, that all men, even those that assured me God would help me, are liars, and do but deceive me, as I feared they had done: so low was then my faith.

11. But now he has exceeded my hopes, and fully confuted my unbelief what reward shall I give unto the Lord for my ease, life, health, and for all the benefits that he hath done unto me, and the comforts to which he hath restored me?

12. I cannot requite him, but I would do what I can. As the Jews had their cup of thanksgiving upon all great deliverances so I will on the first opportunity go to the sacramental table, and receive the cup of salvation, a salvation purchased by the blood of Christ. And not only at the Sacrament, but on all other occasions, will I call on the name of the Lord, for help, having found such benefits by my prayers in this my late extremity, and I will beseech him for Christ's sake to continue his mercies to me, and grant me his further assistance.

13. Moreover, since I owe my life to his mercy, and resolved, if he spared it, to devote it to his service, I will (by my praises, prayers, and endeavours after holiness) pay my vows made in my danger and distress now, and am come hither in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the Lord's house, even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem, to bless his name, and to cause others to join with me. Wherefore let us, O let us all, praise the Lord.

SECTION X.

HELPS FOR DISCHARGING THE IMPORTANT DUTY OF PRAYER PROPERLY.

Helps in regard to the manner of praying with the sick.

1. PRAYERS with the sick should not be too long. Whenever you pray with one who is an eminent Christian, you may occasionally add a petition for the revival of religion in this degenerate age; as you may be assured he will heartily join with you in it; for good men have always a zeal for the increase of religion.