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. weak and helpless creature, but much more so now in her present condition, when thou hast added weakness to weakness, and made her to travail with much sickness, together with the burden of child-bearing. Let her not be disquieted with the fear of any evil, since none can happen unto her without thy permission; but give her grace patiently to resign herself to thy blessed will in all things, who knowest what is best for her, and wilt lay no more upon her, we trust, than thou wilt enable her to bear. LORD God Almighty, who art the "Father of tion thy strength to her weakness, and as pains O Lord, be thou graciously pleased to proporour spirits," and who "turnest the hearts of men and sorrow take hold upon her, inspire her with as thou pleasest; who hast mercy on whom thou fresh vigour and courage to rely upon thee, her wilt have mercy, and whom thou wilt thou hard-only support in time of need, and the rock of her enest; let thy merciful ears be open, we pray thee, salvation. 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 entreat 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." Show thy mercy upon him, and grant him thy salvation. Convince him of the vanity and madness, as well as danger, of his past ways. health out of sickness; and make her, in thy good A Prayer for a Woman in the Time of her [From Bishop Patrick.] His understanding, we fear, is now darkened, and his heart hardened through the deceitfulness of sin: O, do thou enlighten his dark mind, and O MOST Mighty Lord, who hast given us innulet him at last see the beauties of holiness, which merable pledges of thy love, and encouraged us to have so long been hidden from his eyes. Take trust in thee for ever, and to expect with quiet and from him this " stony heart, and give him a heart patient minds the issue of thy wise and good proof flesh." Awaken his slumbering and inatten-vidence; we most humbly commend thy servant, tive soul, that it may delight in things agreeable to its nature, and be employed in things that make for its everlasting peace. O give him understanding, and he shall yet live. Thou that canst revive souls which are dead in sin and trespasses, and make even such as lie in the grave of corruption to become glorious saints and even martyrs for religion, hear our prayers for our brother, who seems to be on the brink of destruction; and pity poor sinners that have not pity on themselves. It is the unhappiness of being long accustomed to sin, that we are not soon made sensible of our errors, nor easily made to know them. It is the pride of our nature to be unwilling to acknowledge our faults, and to confess our sins: but let thy grace, O God, teach us to deny this ungodly lust. Do thou humble in us all high and vain imaginations; suppress all proud thoughts and haughty opinions of ourselves. Give us all (and particularly thy servant, for whom we are now interceding) a sense of our own vileness; give us unfeigned repentance for all the errors of our life past; that, being cast down, thou mayest raise us up, and become merciful to us, miserable sinners. Let us all find, by blessed experience, that "we in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," and that his commandments" are not "grievous" to us, but rather the delight and desire of our souls; that so at last we may be presented to him "holy and unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight." Amen. A Prayer for a sick Woman that is with Child. O GOD, the help of all that put their trust in thee, the support of the weak, and the relief of the needy; look with pity upon this woman thy servant, who at best acknowledgeth herself but a in this her extremity, to thy care and blessing; beseeching thee to give her a gracious deliverance, and to ease her of the burden wherewith she labours. We ourselves are monuments of that mercy which we beg of thee. Thou didst preserve our weak and imperfect frame, before we were born. Thou hast succoured and supported us ever since, many times beyond our hopes, and always beyond our deservings. We commit ourselves, and every thing belonging unto us, most heartily unto thy hands; remembering that thou hast the same power and goodness still, by which we came into the light of the living. We cannot desire to be better provided for, than as thy infinite wisdom judgeth most convenient for us; unto that we refer ourselves, beseeching thee, if it be thy good pleasure, that her deliverance may be as speedy as her cries unto thee; or her patience as great and long as her pains. Thou who ripenest the fruits of the earth, and then givest us the gathering of them to our comfort, blast not, we beseech thee, the fruit of the womb; but bring it to maturity, and deliver it safe into thy servant's hand as a new pledge of thy goodness to her, to be an instrument of thy glory, and a future comfort and blessing to thy servant, who travails in so much pain with it now. Or if thou hast otherwise determined, Lord, give her grace to submit to thy holy will, and to rest satisfied in thy wise appointments, and never to distrust thy goodness and care over her. Hear us, O Father of mercies, and pardon hers and all our offences, and pity our infirmities: make us more thankful for what we have received, and more fit for the blessing which we now request; and prepare us for all thy future mercies, either in this life, or in the next, through thy infinite love and compassion declared to us, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for a Woman who cannot be delivered shut itself upon her: but thou hast graciously without Difficulty and Hazard. assuaged her pains, and turned her sorrows into joy. O LORD God of all comfort and consolation, who art the refuge of the distressed, and the help of all that depend upon thee; we thy unworthy servants do now offer up our supplications at the throne of thy majesty, in the behalf of this thy servant, who is in great pain and misery. Thou hast been pleased to bring the child to the birth, but there is not strength to bring forth. On this account, thy servant is in violent agonies, crying out in her pangs, and pouring out her soul to thee in prayer. O grant that "it may be in an acceptable time." Lord, we will ever adore and magnify thy mercy, which has dealt so lovingly with her, and praise thy truth and faithfulness, which have not suffered her hopes to fail. We will never forget how mindful thou hast been of the low estate of thy handmaid; for she has been supported by thy power, O blessed God, in her greatest weakness. She has tasted thy goodness in the midst of all her pangs and sorrows. Perfect, O Lord, that deliverance to her which thou hast most graciously begun, and let her not be lost, after the wonders which thou hast already done for her. Continue her patience, and her humble dependence on thee, under the pains and accidents to which she is still exposed. Support her spirits, and raise her up again in thy due time. Thy "Thou art our salvation; thou shalt preserve us from trouble; thou shalt compass us about with songs of deliverance." O let thy servant feel these blessed effects of thy goodness; and as thou hast brought to the birth, enable her, we beseech thee, to bring forth, that she may rejoice in the work-mercy and power are still the same, and will be manship of thy hands, and tell of all thy wondrous the same for ever. O let them still be shown for works. her recovery, as they have been already for her delivery; let them be shown upon her, that she may praise thee more and more. Consider the low estate of thine handmaid, and deliver her soul from death, her eyes from tears, and her feet from falling. "Gracious art thou, O But if, in thy paternal providence, whereunto Lord, and righteous; thou preservest the simple, we pray she may willingly commit herself, thou and helpest those that are in misery." Help thy hast determined otherwise concerning her, thy servant therefore now, we humbly entreat thee, blessed will be done. Dispose her either to life or who stands in so much need of it. Accept her death, as thou pleasest, only in both to thy mercy : tears, and assuage her pain, as shall seen most and whether living or dying, let her still please expedient for her.-And forasmuch as she putteth thee, and be thou her portion. O perfect her reher whole trust in thee, give her strength and pa-pentance, and give her patience whilst she lives, tience proportionable to all her pains and agonies. and peace when she dies, and after that, the hapSupport her spirits under them, and, if thou pleas-piness of a blessed eternity, which thou hast preest, carry her safely through the same, and "make pared for all that truly fear thee; through Jesus her to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones Christ our Lord. Amen. which thou hast broken may rejoice." "Restore unto her, O Lord, the joy of thy salvation, and uphold her with thy free Spirit; then shall she teach transgressors thy way, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver her" from this great affliction, "O God, thou God of her salvation, and her tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness." Thy mercies and power are still the same, and will be the same for ever. Olet them now be shown in this thy servant's delivery, as they have been formerly on the like occasion; that so, by having fresh instances of thy loving kindness, she may still praise thee more and more. O perfect her repentance, and pardon her sins. Give her patience whilst she lives, and peace when she dies, and after death, the happiness of a blessed eternity, which thou hast promised and prepared for all that love and fear thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for Grace and Assistance for a Woman after Delivery, but still in Danger. [From Mr. Kettlewell.] O FATHER of mercies, what thanks can we worthily give unto thee for thine anspeakable goodness to this thy servant and her helpless infant, and for the wondrous things which thou hast done for her! The pangs of death compassed her, and she found trouble and sorrow. The mouth of the pit was opened, and ready to * This is to be omitted, if it be the first child. If the Child be living, this may be added: PRESERVE likewise her tender infant, O Father of mercies, and let its own weakness, and our cries, commend it to thy care. and as it increases in years and stature, let it inKeep it also afterwards in health and safety, crease in wisdom, and in thy fear. We beg not for it wealth or greatness, but wisdom to know and to serve thee. For, O Lord, we do not desire life, either for ourselves or it, but that we may live to thee, and grow daily in love and thankfulness for all thy mercies, and in faith and patience, and all holy obedience, which may fit us for the happiness which thou hast promised; through Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. Prayers for a Sick Child. [Visitation Office.] O ALMIGHTY God and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death; look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy upon this child, now lying upon the bed of sickness: visit him, O Lord, with thy salvation; deliver him in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and save his soul for thy mercy's sake; that if it shall be thy good plealive to thee, and be an instrument of thy glory, by sure to prolong his days here on earth, he may serving thee faithfully, and doing good in his generation; or else receive him into those heavenly habitations, where the souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity. Grant this, for thy mercy's sake; through | cies, that thou hast redeemed his soul from death, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen., and made him partaker of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [From Mr. Kettlewell.] small hope of Recovery. [Visitation Office.] LORD, pity the troubles and weakness of this A Prayer for a sick Person, when there appeareth infant, and pity our sorrows, who are afflicted with it, and for it. Ease it of its pains, and strengthen it when it lies struggling for life. Raise it up again, if it shall please thee, to grow in years and stature, in wisdom and virtue; and thereby to comfort us, and glorify thee. We believe, O Almighty Father, that thou knowest best what is fit, both for it and us, and wilt do what is fit for both, and therefore we leave it to thee, to dispose of it as thou pleasest. But whether it be to life or death, let it be thine in both, and either preserve it to be thy true and faithful servant here on earth, or take it to the blessedness of thy children in the kingdom of heaven; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer for a Person who, from a state of of Death. O MOST gracious Father, Lord of heaven and earth, Judge of the living and of the dead, behold thy servants turning to thee for pity and mercy, in behalf of ourselves and this thy servant. It was but lately that we beheld him in as promising a state of health and life, as any one of us seems to be in at present, and therefore our concern is so much the greater to behold so sudden a change, and so unlooked for an instance of our mortality. We know, O Lord, thou canst bring back from the brink of the grave, and as suddenly raise thy servant again as thou hast cast him down, and therefore we think it not too late to implore thy mercy upon him for his recovery; at least we beg of thee to spare him a little, that he may recover his strength, and have time to make his peace with thee, "before he go hence, and be no more seen." But if it be thy will to remove him at this time into another world, O let the miracles of thy compassion, and thy wonderful mercy, supply to him the want of the usual measures of time, that he may fit himself for eternity. And let the greatness of his calamity be a means to procure his pardon for those defects and degrees of unreadiness which this sudden stroke hath caused. And teach us all, we beseech thee, from this unexpected fate of our brother, to be continually upon our guard, and to watch and pray, since we know not the hour when the "Master of the house cometh," whether "in the evening, or at midnight, or in the morning." O FATHER of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need; we fly unto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, here lying under thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, O Lord, and, the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and steadfast faith in thy Son Jesus, that his sins may be forgiven, and his pardon sealed in heaven, before he go hence, and be no more seen. We know, O Lord, that there is no work impossible with thee, and that, if thou wilt, thou canst even yet raise him up, and grant him a in all appearance the time of his dissolution drawlonger continuance among us. Yet forasmuch as eth near, so fit and prepare him, we beseech thee, against the hour of death, that after his departure hence in peace, and in thy favour, his soul may be received into thine everlasting kingdom; through the mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son, our Saviour. Amen. A general Prayer for Preparation and Readi ness to die. LORD, "what is our life, but a vapour which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away?" Even at the longest, how short and transitory! and when we think ourselves most secure, yet we know not what a day may bring forth; 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 hence, and our place here shall know us no more. Our bodies shall soon lie down in the grave, and our souls be summoned to appear before the tribunal of Christ, to receive our everlasting doom; and yet, O Lord, how do the generality of mankind live in this world, as if they were never to leave it! How unmindful are we all of our departure! 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, and our unpreparedness to appear before thee. But, O God of all comfort and mercy, remember not our sins against thee, but remember thy own love to us in Jesus Christ, and thy tender mercies which have been ever of old. Ó, remember how short our time is, and so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Lord, thou hast now called thy servant before he was aware of it; O, give him such a great and effectual repentance in this exigence, that in a short time it may be sufficient to do the work of many days. Thou regardest, O Lord, the sincerity of our hearts more than the measures of time, in our conversion; accept therefore, we be- In the days of our health and prosperity, let us, seech thee, the few minutes of thy servant's un- from the example of our brother's weakness, refeigned tears and humiliation for his sins, as if member our own approaching fate; and let him, they were hours and days of a longer preparation; from the sudden change of health to sickness, conand let it be thy pleasure to rescue him from all sider how few and evil all his days have been, and the evils he deserves, and all the evils he fears, that there is no satisfaction in any thing, but in that in the songs of eternity which angels and knowing thee, O God. Lord, what have we to saints shall sing to the glory of thy name, this also do in this world, but to devote ourselves wholly to may be reckoned amongst thine invaluable mer-thy service, and to make ready for the world to 2 K 22* 1 come? O, that we may all of us be mindful of this "one thing necessary," that we may finish our "work," before we finish our course.. Quicken thy servant, O Lord, into a powerful and serious consideration of these things, now thou hast brought him into more intimate acquaintance with them. Instruct and assist him in this great work of preparation to die. Show him how to do it, and help him with good success to perform it; that when the time of his dissolution draweth near, he may have nothing else to do, but to resign himself willingly and cheerfully into thy hands, as into the hands of a merciful Creator, there to remain with thee for ever in that blessed place where sin and sickness and death shall be no more. Amen. We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; that it may please thee to be his defender A commendatory Prayer for a sick Person at the and keeper; to remember him with the favour point of Departure. thou bearest unto thy people, and to visit him with thy salvation: We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. That it may please thee to save and deliver his We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. That it may please thee to be merciful, and to forgive all the sins and offences, which at any time of his life he hath committed against thee: O ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spi-1 rits of just men made perfect; we humbly com-soul from the power of the enemy, to receive it to mend the soul of this thy servant our dear brother thy mercy, and to give him a quiet and joyful deinto thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful parture: Creator, and most merciful Saviour; humbly beseeching thee, that it may be acceptable in thy sight. And teach us, who survive, by this and other daily instances of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is, and so to number our days, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, which may bring us to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Amen. A Litany for a sick Person at the time of [From Bishop Andrews.] O God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy upon him: O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Save and deliver him. O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Have mercy upon him: O, holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, Remember not, Lord, his offences; call not to mind the offences of his forefathers; but spare him, good Lord, spare thy servant, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood, and be not angry with him for ever. From thy wrath and indignation; from the fear of death; from the guilt and burden of his sins, and from the dreadful sentence of the last judgment; Good Lord deliver him. We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. That it may please thee not to lay to his charge, what in the lust of the flesh, or in the lust of the eye, or in the pride of life, he hath committed against thee: We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. That it may please thee not to lay to his charge, what, in the fierceness of his wrath, or in vain and idle words, he hath committed against thee: We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. That it may please thee to make him partaker of all thy mercies, and promises, in Christ Jesus. We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. That it may please thee to grant his body rest and peace, and a part in the blessed resurrection of life and glory: We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. That it may please thee to vouchsafe his soul the enjoyment of everlasting happiness, with all the blessed saints in thy heavenly kingdom: We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord. Grant him thy peace. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; Have mercy upon him. } as follow, III. Form of recommending the Soul to God, in her [From Bishop Cosins.] INTO thy merciful hands, O Lord, we commend the soul of this thy servant, now departing from the body. Receive him, we humbly beseech thee, into the arms of thy mercy, into the glorious society of thy saints in heaven. Amen." God the Father, who hath created thee; God From all danger and distress; from all terrors the Son, who hath redeemed thee; God the Holy Ghost, who hath infused his grace into thee; be now and evermore thy defence, assist thee in this thy last trial, and bring thee to everlasting life. Amen. [From Bishop Taylor.] I. O HOLY and most gracious Jesus, we humbly recommend the soul of thy servant into thy hands, thy most merciful hands: let thy blessed angels stand in ministry about thy servant, and protect him in his departure. Amen. II. LORD, receive the soul of this thy servant: enter not into judgment with him; spare him whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and deliver him from all evil and mischief, from the crafts and assaults of the devil, from the fear of death, and from everlasting condemnation. Amen. III. LORD, impute not unto him the follies of his youth, nor any of the errors of his life; but strengthen him in his agony, and carry him safely through the last distress. Let not his faith waver, nor his hope fail, nor his charity be diminished; let him die in peace, and rest in hope, and rise in glory. Amen. O SAVIOUR of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us; save and help this thy departing servant, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen. UNTO thy gracious mercy and protection we commit him. O Lord, bless him, and keep him. Make thy face to shine upon him, and be gracious unto him. Lift up thy countenance upon him, and give him peace, both now and evermore. "SORROW not, brethren, for them which are asleep, even as others, who have no hope. "For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him."-1 Thess. iv. 13, 14. "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth good unto him."-1 Sam. iii. 18. "The righteous is taken away from the evil to come."-Isaiah lvii. 1. "Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. "The honourable age is not that which standeth in length of days, nor that which is measured by number of years. "But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age." -Wisd. iv. 7, 8, 9. "Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his saints."- Psalm cxvi. 15. "Yea, blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours."-Rev. xiv. 13. Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. OUR Father which art in heaven: hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. "Lord, thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, thou art God from everlasting, and world without end. sayest, Come again, ye children of men. Thou turnest man to destruction; again thou For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, seeing that is past as a watch in the night. As soon as thou scatterest them, they are even as a sleep, and fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green, and groweth up; but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. For we consume away in thy displeasure, and are afraid of thy wrathful indignation. Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee, and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For when thou art angry, all our days are gone; we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. thy Turn thee again at last, and be gracious to servants. Comfort them again, now after the time that thou hast afflicted them, and for the present occasion, wherein they suffer adversity. O satisfy them with thy mercy, and that soon; so shall they rejoice, and be glad all the days of their life." MOST just art thou, O God, in all thy dealings with us, "our punishment is less than our iniquities deserve;" and therefore we desire to submit with all humility and patience to this dispensation of thy divine providence. Be pleased so to sanctify it to this family, that thy grace and mercy may more abundantly flow upon thy servants. Thy property it is to bring good out of evil; O turn that evil, which is now befallen this house, to the benefit of every one of us, that so we may be able to say, from happy experience, that "the house of mourning is better than the house of feasting," while the death of our brother, through thy blessing, shall conduce and minister to our spiritual advantage. Let the sight of his change make us the more mindful of our own, and the sense of our loss make us cleave more steadfastly to thee, O God. Let the remembrance of his virtues make us follow his example, and the hope we have of his being blessed, cause us to "press," with the more earnestness, "towards the mark, for the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus." Thou knowest, O Lord, the weakness and frailty of our nature, and therefore we beseech thee to give thy servants, who are more nearly concerned in this visitation, a constant supply of thy good Spirit, to enable them to bear it with humility, patience, resignation, and submission to thy divine will, as becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ. O that no repining thoughts may arise in their hearts to discompose their duty towards thee, or towards their neighbour: but help |