forms of prayer: but this I will venture to assert, (though I admit the justness of the Bishop's remark,) that it is better to pray by a form than not

to

pray at all; and that, if it were not for forms of prayer, many persons would not pray at all. They pray indeed in the words of others, yet they make them their own, by thoroughly understanding and conscientiously using them, as expressing their own wants; and when such forms do not express their wants so particularly and fully as they could wish, it is much easier for them to add a few sentences, expressive of these wants, than to frame whole prayers: though even this may be done in time, after they have been accustomed to add some occasional sentences.

I shall conclude the whole of this tenth section with some important resolutions: but I would previously observe, that if a principle of faith in Christ, productive of love to God and delight in all his will, be wanting in any man, such a man's prayers and religion, till this be added, are vain. Were we to look on a corpse, which was not torn in pieces, nor any ways disfigured, and to say, Here is the entire body of a man: here are hands, feet, eyes, ears, and lips! what can be wanting? It may be answered, The soul is wanting, which should give life to all; and for want of which even these members, complete as they may seem, will soon moulder into dust. Depend on it, religion is never sincere till it becomes a pleasure. To endeavour to compound for as little of it as possible, is a sure proof of an insincere heart. He who thinks himself a Christian, and yet is afraid of going too far in religion, is a stranger to the first principles of it. There may indeed, and there ought to be a caution against the extremes of enthusiasm and of superstition; but these are not religion; and I must repeat it again, that for any one to guard against the most eminent heights and attainments

in the Christian religion, as what he would gladly omit and avoid, is a sad sign of an insincere heart.

RESOLUTIONS.

A conscientious attention to the practical use of these resolutions, and to a dependence on divine assistance, will certainly be productive of beneficial effects, and shew the power and grace of Christ to support and comfort his faithful followers.

1. I am resolved by the grace of God never to neglect morning and evening prayer, either in secret, or in my family; and to be immediately and deeply humbled in the presence of God for any tendency towards such a neglect, and still more should I ever be guilty of so heinous, so ungrateful an omission.

2. I am resolved by the grace of God (whether in sickness or in health) neither to say nor to do any thing through pride, vain-glory, or indiscretion; but to be serious and faithful, endeavouring to edify others; especially those who may be about me when I am sick.

3. I am resolved by the grace of God to search the Scriptures daily, in a devotional and practical view; and when any passage shall occur suitable to the state of my own mind, I will endeavour to turn it into prayer while reading it. If any text impresses me as pregnant with instruction for a night text, I will treasure it up in my memory for further consideration.

4. I am resolved by the grace of God to habituate myself to frequent ejaculations, and to keep up in my heart (especially in the times of sickness) a comfortable communion with God, as much as in me lies, and a steady reliance on the promises of the great Redeemer.

PRAYERS,

SUITABLE TO SEVERAL CIRCUMSTANCES* OF THE SICK, AND OTHERS.

An introductory (or preparatory) prayer, which may be used occasionally before any other.

This prayer, which is designed for general use, may occasionally be used by or with a sick person; and will, it is to be hoped, excite seriousness, and keep up an holy watchfulness, lest prayer (that important duty) should be rendered a mere form of no real use. Such an introductory prayer may probably be the means of preventing us from shamefully contradicting in our tempers through the day the prayers we offer up in the morning, either secretly, or in our families. Such an inconsistency has, I fear, greatly contributed to the banishment of family worship from many families, as if it were a practice which produced no beneficial effects, or were not a duty incumbent on every family.

I WHO am dust, and to the dust must soon return, adore thee, O Lord God Almighty; for thou deservest all possible adoration. May an awful sense of thy majesty and my meanness, of thy holiness and my guilt, restrain me from "drawing nigh to "thee with my lips, whilst my heart is far from "thee." Isai. xxix. 13. Enable me to lift it up to thee with sincerity, reverence, humility, faith,

*N. B. Many of the following prayers are suited to the circumstances of the persons mentioned in the foregoing sections. As for instance, there is a prayer with one in a bad, in a doubtful, and in a good state; also with a formalist, &c. and such of these prayers as are intended to be used in the presence of the sick, may by a little alteration (as by changing the first person into the third, and he, him, and his, into she and her) be used by the sick themselves: and those which are intended to be used by the sick themselves, may easily be so altered, as to be proper for a minister, or any other person, to use when he prays with them.

and hope. May my worship be acceptable to thee, my God, comfortable to myself, render me patient under every trial, exemplary to all about me, and fitter for thy kingdom of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A concluding prayer, which may be used occasionally after any other.

as

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to answer the petitions I have now presented, in the time and manner may best promote thy glory and my own final good. Pardon the imperfection of my devotions, and help mine infirmities. Keep me through the remainder of my uncertain life in thy faith, fear, and love; and in every day may the first and last of my thoughts be of thee my God. I commit myself this day [or night] to thy protection and blessing. May I ever retain a grateful sense of the privilege of making my requests known unto thee (unworthy as I am) through the mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son and our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for the blessing of God on the endeavours of a minister or others to assist the sick, which may be used just before such an intended visit.

MAKE me, O Lord, ever ready to do to others whatsoever, in like circumstances, I should wish them to do to me; particularly to visit me in my sickness, and assist me under it by their spiritual advice. May I now be enabled so to speak to him, with whom I am going to converse, as to excite in him "repentance towards God, and faith towards "our Lord Jesus Christ." Give me a considerate mind to weigh what is fit to be said, and make me wise and serious, pious and charitable in what I speak, that it may be edifying, and give no just cause of offence. How shall I so apply myself, as to be useful to him? Lord, direct me! Assist, and bless me in the means and endeavours I shall use

to attain this desirable end. Open thou, O Lord, his eyes, soften his heart, strengthen his weakness, restore him to health, and give him growth in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A prayer for God's acceptance of the prayers which may be offered up for the sick by a minister, or others.

From Dr. Dodwell.

O LORD, we address thee, in pursuance of thine own gracious permission and command, in behalf of this our afflicted brother. We are truly sensible of our unworthiness to ask any thing for ourselves, and presume to no merit in recommending a sinner, like ourselves, to thy mercy. But thy direction is, that "we should pray for the sick "members of thy church," (James v. 14.) and 66 mourn with them that mourn." (Rom. xii. 15.) In discharge therefore of our duty to thee, in a just compassion to his sufferings, and under a sense of our own perilous and uncertain state of life, we implore thy mercy and relief for this suffering partaker of our nature, and our religion. We desire to pray for him, and for ourselves; for whether in sickness or in health, we all stand in need of thy protection and grace. Continue us in a sound state of mind and body, or restore us to it; and may it be our constant and sincere desire to serve thee with all our faculties. Confirm us in the Christian faith, and Christian practice. Pardon our sins, that we may become acceptable petitioners to thee. Hear and accept the petitions, which we now offer in his favour, for the sake, and through the merits, of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A morning prayer, which may be used by the sick, or others. Confession of sin, and O LORD, my God and petition for pardon. S Father, I come before thy presence this morning to adore thy majesty; to