ther, and thy Holy Spirit, O Lord, call to mind his sins, that he may truly repent of them, and humbly confess them; and let thy powerful grace remove every root of bitterness, and in the love of thee, his God, in the union of Christ, and in the communion of saints, let his soul be presented to thee blameless, entirely pardoned, and thoroughly washed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

6. Most gracious Lord, our only Saviour, in whose hands the souls of all faithful people are = lodged till the day of judgment, have mercy on the body and soul of this our suffering fellow-creature; refresh him with the aid of the Spirit of grace and comfort, and supply all his necessities, which can be known only to thee. Let him dwell in peace, assured of thy pardon, supported by thy goodness, absolved by thy sentence, and saved by thy mercy; that, whenever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be received by ministering angels, preserved from evil spirits, and committed to thy custody; and that, in the day of thy coming to judge the world, his body may be raised up with power, to behold for ever the face of God himself in the glories of thee, his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Short Prayers to be used by a sick person, either in one prayer, or separately.

Submission and ALMIGHTY God, the Father confession. of our Lord Jesus Christ, I adore thee as the wise and gracious Governor of all thy creatures, and the sovereign Disposer of all events. I acknowledge thy hand in the afflictions under which I now labour; and confess, that they are far less than mine iniquities have deserved. May I have wisdom and grace to improve the afflicting stroke of thy rod, and discern him who has appointed it; and though this calamity is not

joyous, but grievous*, may it hereafter bring forth in me the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Amen.

Thanksgiving.] I thank thee, O Lord, for all the accommodations, refreshment, comfort, and help I enjoy. May thy blessing attend all my friends for their good offices to me in my present afflictive circumstances, and mayest thou direct and prosper all their endeavours for my good. Amen.

Prayer for improvement of sickness.] Grant, O Lord, that I may search and try my ways, and again turn unto thee. May I improve the leisure of such a state, to examine my own heart; and may I be led to form a right judgment of myself. IfI am not yet a true penitent, discover to me, I beseech thee, my danger and my misery; and give me by thy renewing Spirit an unfeigned repentance towards God, and a true faith in Christ, that I may turn from every sin, and devote myself for ever to thy service. If I am already in a state of acceptance with thee, strengthen, I beseech thee, all

my graces more and more, and subdue all the remainders of sin in my heart; and particularly, teach me righteousness, by those things which I now suffer. Amen.

Prayer for improvement of present advantages.] Graciously assist me, O God, that I may religiously improve all the advantages I enjoy: may I carefully read thy word, thankfully receive the admonitions of the minister who visits me, heartily join in his petitions, and devoutly remember my Saviour's death, especially at the sacramental table; and may all I now suffer lead me to reflect on the evil of sin, and on the love of Christ, manifested in those sufferings, which he endured for my sake, He went about doing good: may I, when

Isaiah Ixi. 19.

I have such an opportunity, embrace the occasion with readiness and thanksgiving. Amen.

Prayer for success and support.] Lord, if it be thy heavenly will, (for without thy concurrence vain is the skill of the most judicious physician,) give success to the means employed for my recovery, and restore me to health, comfort, and usefulness again; nevertheless, if thou seest fit, in thine unerring wisdom, to deny my request, "thy "will be done." Support me under the most incurable evils; and grant, that I may not think it long to wait thy leisure, who has condescended so long to wait for the return of a sinner. Let me see love in thy rod, as well as justice in all thy dealings; and, while my outward man decays, may the inner man be renewed day by day. Amen.

*

For an easy and happy death.] O Lord, if thou be pleased that this visitation shall be a sickness unto death, and that now I must die, prepare me for the important hour; give me an easy and comfortable passage out of this life, and take me into thy heavenly presence, where sin and sorrow shall be no more. This, and whatever else thou seest necessary or expedient for me, I beseech thee to grant, for the sake of Jesus Christ my Lord; into whose hands I desire daily to commit my spirit, and to whom, with thyself and the Holy Ghost, I would ascribe everlasting praises. Amen.

N. B. The petitions in this prayer are all independent one of another; so that (were it to be learnt by heart) the sick person might repeat any one of them separately, and by adding to it his hearty Amen, make it a short and distinct prayer, without wearying himself, or distressing exhausted nature by attending to the whole at once.

2 Cor. iv. 16.

A prayer, which may be used by one who is sick, and very penitent for his sin. See p. 87.

MOST glorious and holy Lord, my God, with reverence and holy fear I would come into thy presence to pay my homage to thee my Creator. O that my worship may never be the mere form of worship. Help me to engage in religious exercises with understanding, inward devotion, and genuine piety of heart; knowing that religious worship can only be acceptable to God, and beneficial to myself, as it is the exercise and contributes to the improvement of good dispositions in my mind. Establish my heart in thy fear; and may this restrain me from every criminal pursuit, as well as engage me to the sincere and habitual practice of universal righteousness.

Remember not, O Lord, against me past of fences, which have been enormous, aggravated, and highly provoking, for the punishment of which, so justly merited, my conscience is sorely afraid: yet suffer not the horrible suggestions of the Devil to sink my spirits into a despair of thy mercy. I am indeed under great fears; O let my hope in the Redeemer's merits and intercession be still greater. The more I have offended thee, the more am I grieved, but the more will thy glorious attributes be displayed, if thou wilt be reconciled to me.

Overrule the influence of my former pernicious example. Prevent the ill effects of all my present transgressions and imprudences; and whatever injuries I have done either to the bodies, souls, or reputation of any of my fellow-creatures, do thou, O Lord, repair; and avert from me the evils, both temporal and eternal, which I have justly deserved. "I have destroyed myself; but in thee is my help." (Hosea xiii. 9.) "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst “make me clean." O raise me up when I fall. Strengthen me that I may stand; and finally beat

down Satan under my feet. May the thoughts of thy justice and knowledge preserve me from spiritual pride. May the thoughts of thy mercy and power preserve me from spiritual dejection. May I ever retain, assert, and adorn religion both in my life, and in my death. Raise me up, I earnestly entreat thee, from this bed of sickness. Use me, O Lord, (notwithstanding my unworthiness,) as an instrument of good to my fellow-creatures; magnifying thy power in my weakness, and preserving me from vanity and self-dependence. "Thou art "the God of hope; O fill me with all joy and peace "in believing on thee." (Rom. xv. 13.) Increase my faith, and enable me to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A prayer with one who is in a bad state.

See page 6.

ALMIGHTY God, source of all beings, and centre of all good, look down for Christ's sake on this our sick brother, who acknowledges that he is a miserable sinner. Whither shall he fly? Even darkness detects him, and flight brings him nigh. Let him not deceive himself: may his repentance be sincere, that so he may be thine. Send down thy Spirit to sanctify his corrupt soul.

Most merciful Jesus, what refuge can he have but in thee! What a sinner has he been a son of Satan! He has looked upon the multitude of sinners around him as an apology for his sinning; and the sinful fashion of the world as a repeal of thy holy laws. Thy blessings he has turned into poison, and made arrows of them to fight against thee. The time that thou gavest him for repentance he has turned into folly, "quenched thy "spirit," stifled the voice of conscience, and the voice of thy word. How long hast thou forborne

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