A VERSIFICATION OF A PRAYER OF MANASSEH. A prayer with one who is sick, for consolation under his sickness. GOD of the world, at length thy rule I own, 2. O what a blessing has that love assigned, More than th' unnumber'd sands that shore the sea, 3. O eye, unworthy of the light of heaven; 4. But O, I bend my heart's obedient knee, 5. Friend of the contrite, thou wilt pardon give; Thus by affliction's deep correction taught, A prayer with one who is a mere formalist, especially in his disregard to the spirituality and extent of the Ten Commandments. See p. 19, 20. LORD, to whom the hearts of all men are open, thou art a witness to all our actions, and acquainted with the motives of our conduct. Hear our prayer for this our sick brother. Grant, O Lord, that he may not be satisfied with having attended to the form of godliness without the power of religion on his heart. May he see the spiritual nature and wide extent of thy law, which directs the thoughts of the heart, as well as the actions of life. May he remember, that thou searchest the heart, and that they are the acceptable worshippers, who not only present their bodies before thee as a reasonable sacrifice, but who worship thee in spirit and in truth. Suffer him not to rest in any external forms, to which he has attended, but may he now see, that vital religion affects the heart, regulates all the thoughts, fixes the soul on thyself, as the centre of happiness; and, whenever he may depart out of this world, may he be made fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to be used by one who is sick, for resignation to the will of God. ALMIGHTY God, who triest me by various methods, as thy wise providence seest fittest for me, I desire neither to be insensible of affliction, nor impatient under it. I desire to receive it as thy just and fatherly correction; to bear it with patience, till thou shalt think fit to remove it from me; and to improve it to the end for which thou hast sent it on me. I know not what is good and proper for me; but I know enough to see the danger of uninterrupted prosperity, and to be thankful for such warnings of the insignificancy of all temporal advantages, which must shortly end for ever. I desire not only to be resigned to whatever thou shalt allot me, but to rejoice in thy choice for me; and to make in all instances thy will my own. Under thy favour and protection distress and sufferings yield their comforts; and health and plenty are but curses when attended with thy displeasure. Enable me thus to consider, and apply every event, which thy wisdom shall appoint to me; that (whilst, as a creature, I can claim no privileges, and, as a sinner, I have justly merited sufferings) I may, "looking to Jesus," learn to bear my lot contentedly; to enjoy gratefully each comfort yet afforded me; and to sustain, through Christ strengthening me, patiently and resignedly each calamity inflicted on me. "Not my will, but thine be done." May I be prepared at all times to practise this important lesson, and give me grace to practise it at this time, now that sickness has overtaken me. Make it an happy preparative for the more innocent enjoyment of future health, if thou in mercy intendest me this farther blessing: or, if it be thy will to call me to thyself by the progress of this distemper, make it the means of "purifying my heart by faith," (Acts xv. 9.) for the enjoyment of thy glorious presence, through the merits and mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A prayer with one who is sick, for consolation under his sickness. See p. 57. From Bp. Patrick. MOST gracious God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast knit us altogether in one body, that we should love one another; and that if one member suffer, all the members should suffer with it, we humbly implore thy tender mercies towards this our sick brother, of whose afflicted condition we desire to have a compassionate sense and feeling. Look graciously upon him, O Lord, and visit him with thy salvation. Vouchsafe him such consolation from above, as we should desire for ourselves, were we in his circumstances. Give him a truly penitent heart for all the offences he has at any time committed, together with a lively faith in thy Son Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners. Give him the comfort of an holy hope, that thou acceptest his repentance, and hast heard his prayers. Support him by this hope under all his pain,[or under this distemper,] and enable him patiently to submit to thy fatherly correction. Send him help now in the time of need, both for his soul and body. Bless the means of his recovery; and, if it be thy good pleasure, restore him speedily to his former health,together with a serious resolution in his heart to serve thee more zealously all his days. Or, if thou hast otherwise resolved in thy wise counsels, deliver him from the fear of death, assist him in his last agony, give him an easy and cheer ful passage out of this life, and bring him safely into thy kingdom of rest and peace, for the sake and through the mediation of our Lord and Sayiour Jesus Christ. Amen. A general prayer for preparation and readiness to die. See p. 111. From Mr. Jenks. LORD, "what is life but a vapour, which ap "peareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away?" Even at the longest how short! and at the strongest how frail! When we even think ourselves most secure, yet we know not what a day may bring forth, to turn us out of all, nor how soon thou mayest come, before we are aware, to call us to our last account. Quickly shall we be as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Quickly shall we be snatched away from hence, and our place here shall know us no more for ever. Our bodies shall soon lie down in the grave, and our souls be summoned before the tribunal of Christ, to receive our everlasting doom, either to bliss or woe; and yet, O Lord, how do the generality of mankind live in this world, as though they were never to leave it! How unmindful are we all of our latter end! How improvident of our time! How careless of our souls, and negligent in our preparations for eternity! So that thou mightest justly cut us off in the midst of our sins. But, O God of all comfort and mercy, remember not our sins against thee, but remember thine own love to us, in Jesus Christ, and thy tender mercies, which have been ever of old. O remember how short our time is, and ❝so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto solid wisdom." Lord, what have we to do in this world, but to devote ourselves wholly to thy service, and to |