pel; as becomes one who professes godliness, and who has by solemn vows undertaken to live according to God's holy word and commandments, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts. Make him truly sensible and always to keep in mind that he can have no hope of that pardon and happiness, which Christ has purchased, but on the performance of the duties of a Christian, which is the condition prescribed in the Gospel, and which we are enabled to perform by the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, accompanying the means of grace, as declared and promised to all his faithful servants, by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

[If the sick person be too weak to attend to the whole of this prayer, it may be divided here; and after proper intervals, the minister (or any other) may proceed as follows.]

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Gracious God, may this our sick brother seriously consider, that the Christian life is a continual warfare, that he is beset with many and great dangers, and that the devil "goeth about, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour," that so he may give the more heed to make his calling and election to the privileges of the Gospel sure. Grant, that he may watch and pray, lest he enter into. temptations, or they get the advantage over him; and may he avoid all occasions of falling for the future, (especially by such shameful declensions in religion,) and keep at the greatest distance from these snares of Satan.

May he well consider likewise, that if, after he has escaped the pollutions of the world, and his relapse into sin be forgiven, he shall again be entangled therein, and overcome, that the latter end will be worse than the beginning, and that it would have been better for him not to have known the way, than after he had known it to turn aside "from the holy commandment."

O God, who didst send thy Son into the world to free us from sin, and to redeem us from all iniquity, grant, that on his prayers for thy grace, and his sincere endeavours, he may be kept from all presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over him; and that he may conquer and finally subdue all his corrupt affections and sinful dispositions, and may attain all those graces, which are necessary for his salvation; that in the exercise of them, and of all other Christian duties for the time to come, he may grow strong in the Lord, and never more backslide, or let go his holy profession, but may proceed from strength to strength, that so "an "entrance may be ministered to him abundantly "into thine everlasting kingdom," through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A general prayer, which may be used with one who is sick, in any stage of the disease.

From Bp. Patrick.

O LORD, the Father of our spirits, who givest us life and breath, and all things, and hast not thought

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a crown of life too much to promise to all them “who are faithful unto death*" we firmly believe, that thou wilt not deny us what is needful and fit for us, both for our souls and our bodies, in our passage through this world to that of honour, glory, and immortality.

In this confidence we more particularly recommend this our sick brother to thine infinite mercy, and boundless compassion. Settle in him a stedfast faith, that thou dost not willingly grieve the "children of men," but intendest good to him by this thy fatherly correction. And now, since all other pleasures and enjoyments fail him, represent thyself more effectually to him, as the only sup

*Rev. ii. 10.

port and stay of his hope, and as the rock of his salvation.

Whereinsoever he has neglected thee, or committed any offence against thee, make him deeply sensible of it, and heartily sorry for all his transgressions and as he earnestly desires forgiveness, so work in him a serious resolution to live more. circumspectly and righteously for the future.

Assist him graciously, O Lord, that he may give a proof of his sincere intentions hereafter to submit himself in all things to thy will by his patient submission to thy fatherly correction now. O that he may so quietly, meekly, humbly, and cheerfully resign his will to thine, to suffer what thou inflictest, that he may be the more disposed to do readily whatsoever thou commandest: and may Christ be the great object of his desire, prayer, and endeavours to obtain that salvation, which is promised to all his faithful followers by thy Son Jesus Christ, our Advocate, and the great propitiation for sin. Amen.

[If the sick person be much indisposed, and not able to attend properly to the whole of this prayer, it may be divided here; and after proper intervals, the remaining part as follows may be added.]

Make this our sick brother, O Lord, thoroughly apprehensive of thy sovereign power and authority over all thy creatures. Possess him with a great reverence of thy wisdom and justice, with an entire confidence in thy goodness and love, and with a thankful remembrance of all thy past mercies to him; that so he may better endure what thou layest upon him at present; may ever choose to follow thy directions; submit to thy orders; delight to do or suffer thy will, O God; and govern himself in the whole of his conduct by that excellent rule, which our Lord hath taught us, "to do unto others as we would they should do unto us."

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Bless the remedies, which are or may be used for restoring him to his former health, that he may live to discharge his duty with greater care. Or, if thou hast otherwise appointed, accept graciously his purposes of amendment, and dispose him to return his spirit willingly to thee, who gavest it; and with great humility, and a deep sense of his own undeservings, to expect thy mercy declared in Christ Jesus our Lord. Fix his mind stedfastly on the great Redeemer, who has led the way through the grave to heaven, that he may not be terrified at the approach of death; but, looking beyond it to that high and holy place, where the Lord Jesus is, he may rejoice in hope of eternal glory.

And grant, that every one of us in our best state of health may daily consider how frail and weak we are, that so we may not abuse ourselves by an intemperate use of any worldly pleasures, nor overload our minds with the cares of this life, nor spend our days in a vain pursuit after the riches or honours of this world; but may we pass all our time of, sojourning here in thy fear, and live so righteously and soberly in this present world, as those who must give an account to thee, O God, who wilt judge all men by thy Son Jesus Christ according to their works. Hear us, O Lord, we most humbly beseech thee, hear us in behalf of ourselves, and especially of this our distressed brother, through Jesus Christ our merciful and compassionate High Priest, who sits at thy right hand, and ever liveth to make intercession for us. Amen.

Short Prayers, which may be used either in one prayer, or separately, when the sick person is in a state of great weakness.

1. From Bp. Taylor.

LMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, the God of peace and comfort, of rest and pardon, we

thine unworthy creatures, in duty to thee and compassion to this our sick brother, humbly beg that thy mercy may descend on his soul and body. We come to thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, beseeching thee to pardon his sins, and through the blood of the cross* to bury them in the grave of him who died for us, that they, may never rise up in judgment against him, nor bring him in the day of trial to shame and confusion of face. Amen.

2. Give, O Lord, this our brother in distress patience in his sorrows, comfort in his sickness, and, if it seem good to thee, restoration to health. But, however thou shalt determine concerning him in this sickness, yet make his repentance perfect, his faith strong, his hope stedfast, and his passage safe; that, when thou shalt call his soul from the prison of the body, it may enter into the rest of the children of God, and be for ever with the Lord. Amen.

3. O Lord, thou knowest all the necessities and all the infirmities of this our afflicted brother. Fortify his soul with spiritual joys, and a cheerful resignation take from him all inordinate affections to this world, and enlarge his heart with desires of being with thee, of freedom from sin, and of the enjoyment of God. Amen.

4. Let not any pain, or other calamities, O Lord, discompose the order of the thoughts, or the duty of this pitiable sufferer. Lay no more on him than thou wilt enable him to bear; and, together with the temptation, do thou provide a way to escape, either by the mercies of a longer and more holy life, or by the mercies of a blessed death: even as it pleaseth thee, O Lord, so let it be. Amen.

5. Let the tender conscience of our afflicted bro

* Col. i. 20.