ment by an habitual readiness to comply with their directions, and to acknowledge the good offices done to him.

Impress on his mind such a grateful sense of the service of those who endeavour to assist him, as may make their services more comfortable to him, and less uncomfortable to themselves. Teach him to suppress the first motions of groundless resentment; to suspect the infirmities of a painful body, and wearied spirits, and gratefully to accept and use the friendly offers of attendance and support.

Pardon every faulty degree of impatience, which may have appeared in him; and dispose and enable him to correct it for the future, Incline us likewise on our part to make allowance for infirmities which we may soon feel; to be as unwilling to take as to give just cause of exception, that by mutual benevolence and tenderness we may relieve and lighten those sorrows, which we cannot prevent or remove.

And accept, we beseech thee, our sincere and united prayers for thy assistance in relieving and removing that sickness which now occasions them. Hear us, O Lord, hear us for the sake, and through the merits, of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

A prayer with one who is wilfully ignorant, and negligent of religious duties. See p. 22.

BLESSED Lord, who hast not only given us the faculty of reason, but the higher blessing of revelation, and by both to bring us to the knowledge of thy will, and our duty, look down with compassion on this our unhappy fellow-creature, who appears hitherto to have been insensible to the highest privilege of his nature, and the most important concern of his life. Convince him of the great sin of his past neglect of so many means and

opportunities of instruction, with which thou hast blessed all in this nation, however poor or illiterate. Awaken him to a desire of improving the remainder of life thou mayest allot him, to a further acquaintance with what thou hast done for him. Make him sensible of his many transgressions against thee his Maker, that he may see the necessity of repentance, and of the atonement made by our Lord for his offences. Open his and eyes, soften his heart, that he may discern and receive him, whom thou hast set forth to be a propitiation, even Jesus Christ; that he may know him and the power of his resurrection; and may learn, that his sufferings were designed to make room for our ac ceptance, on our sincere repentance; not to justify or excuse us in the voluntary ignorance, or continued violation, or neglect of our duty.

Teach him to acknowledge the sacrifice of his Redeemer, as the meritorious cause of all his hopes, and to testify this acknowledgment not in words only, but in a sincere conversion of heart, and amendment of life, as the only condition of these hopes; and do thou, O Lord, in mercy, we humbly beseech thee, accept of his imperfect knowledge of thee, and late return to thee, for the sake of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A prayer for one in old age, especially in his sickness; which may be used by the sick himself, or any other for him. See p. 62.

66

66

CAST me not off, O Lord, in the time of old

age: forsake me not when my strength faileth "me." (Ps. lxxi. 9.) Assist me by thy grace to repent of all my transgressions, and to reform every thing in my past conduct, which has been displeasing to thee, my God, and inconsistent with my Christian profession, privileges, and hopes.

Support me, O Lord, under the decline of na

ture, and while my outward man decays, may the inner man be renewed day by day. Help me to be an amiable example of piety; to glorify thee, O my God, and thy Son Jesus Christ, my Lord; to be a credit to religion; and by frequent declarations of what thou hast done for me, encourage my successors, and the rising generation, (so far as my influence may extend,) to follow those who "through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb. vi. 12.)

Make me ever mindful of my own frailty, of the shortness and uncertainty of this life, and of the certainty and eternity of the next. May neither sickness nor death ever surprise me unawares, and find me unprepared. O thou God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, and make me to abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Rom. xv. 13.)

My remaining days I am sensible are but very few in the course of nature; and probably fewer, as I have now so many and increasing bodily infirmities. May these last days be my best days; and though I may wholly be laid aside from active services, may I still in a small degree be glorifying thee, and benefiting some of my fellow-creatures, by my passive duties and suffering piety. "Lord, "increase my faith;" and may that faith be evidenced by a cheerful resignation, humble patience, amiable contentment, daily thanksgiving, and earnest supplications for mercy.

Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask,
This is the total sum;

For mercy, Lord, is all my suit;
O let that mercy come.

May I shew in my whole behaviour the peculiar power and consolations of Christianity, even in the most trying and awful seasons. May I renounce all self-confidence; and "when my heart and flesh

"shall fail, be thou, O God, the strength of my "heart, and my portion for ever." (Ps. Ixxiii. 26.) When this world, and all that inhabit it, shall be dissolved, may I then be found to have been a true believer in Christ, and may a residence be allotted me (free from pain, diseases, old age, and death) in those mansions of bliss promised to all his faithful followers by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A prayer with one in sickness, who has lived religiously, and is prepared for death. See p. 39.

O THOU great Lord of life and death, of earth and heaven, the Giver of all spiritual grace, we kneel down before thee, humbly to petition thee for the support of this thy faithful servant now on the confines of death. Thy mercy brought him into the world, kept him from a thousand dangers, and gave him innumerable blessings of life and "godliness. Thy mercy convinced and converted him, renewed and sanctified his heart, and formed Christ in him. O amazing mercy, that he is not dying in an impenitent and unconverted state!

He thanks thee for the means of grace, and the hope of glory. He thanks thee for the fruits of Canaan through the wilderness, and now on the brink of Jordan. He thanks thee for the cordials of thy great and precious promises, and that they are now as precious as ever.

He covenanted with thee for eternal life, as the gift of thy free grace, through Jesus Christ his Lord. In his name he claims it. To thine hand he commits his departing spirit. He is thine, save him: he has fled to thy Son's cross: he has renounced all dependence on any worthiness of his own he comes to thee as a sinner, believing in Christ for pardon and salvation. Let him have his lot among the followers of Christ. He knows

in whom he has believed; he rejoices, that he is in the hands of the good Shepherd: he thanks thee, that, after this long absence, thou art calling him to his glorious eternal* home: but forsake not, O Lord, the world he is leaving: defend thy church universal, from which he is removing. Having purchased it at an inestimable price, still guard it, purify it, and unite it more and more, till all flesh shall see thy salvation.

Let his few remaining moments on earth be spent for thy glory. Whatever his body may suffer, let his soul be rising" to the general assembly and "church of the first-born, to the innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." Let faith be strong in the last hour. Let him ascend in the chariot of love and praise, and for ever"sing the song of Moses "and the Lamb." Even so, come Lord Jesus, come surely, and come quickly. Amen.

A prayer with one in sickness, who has lived irreligiously, and is unprepared for death. See p. 40.

MOST merciful God, who permittest us to approach thy throne of grace, to express our wants, and to implore thine assistance, hear our prayers, we humbly beseech thee, for this our distressed ellow-creature. O reject him not while in pain ind sorrow, and when with anguish of mind for in and guilt he flies to thy grace in Christ. Though he has trifled away the day of his salvaion, say not, it is now too late. Thy promises re large and free. Pity his misery and forgive

* See a very useful little treatise by Dr. Watts, entitled, "Death, Heaven, and the Happiness of separate Spirits ;" in which he has pened such a view of the heavenly employments, as has a tenency to reconcile us to death, and to create in us a willingness depart out of this world into the next; consequently it well derves the notice of every sincere Christian.