A prayer with one who is sick, and in great need of sleep.

upon us.

MOST gracious God, thy mercies in Christ Jesus surpass all our thoughts; nor are we able to number the blessings thou art continually bestowing How much do we owe to thee for the quiet sleep of one night! and how thankful ought we to be for this single blessing, so constantly imparted to us! Praised be thy name, that, when we would close our eyes in sleep, we are not held waking! Pardon, good Lord, our ingratitude for this, and our many other undeserved and unimproved mercies. Look down with tender concern on this our afflicted brother, whose case we would bear on our hearts at thy mercy-seat. Renew his wasted spirits with comfortable sleep. Compose him to a sweet and undisturbed rest. Refresh him so sensibly, as to enable him affectionately to acknowledge thy goodness to him in this respect. O may he again enjoy the comfort of rest and balmy sleep.

But, O Lord, if thou see fit to deny or delay the blessing, give him patience; and grant, that in the multitude of his thoughts within him thy comforts may delight his soul. If he be still tossed on a wearisome bed, O that his mind may repose itself in thy love, and feel sensible consolation from heaven; not only quieting, but greatly rejoicing his heart.

Preserve, good Lord, the use of his understanding. Let the enemy have no advantage against him, but enable him to say, "I will wait patiently "for the Lord, till he incline his ear unto me, and hear my cry. "O spare him, that he may re"cover strength before he go hence, and be no 66 more seen!" All which we humbly ask in the name and for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer with one who is sick, for a right use of his afflictions.

MOST merciful God, help us to consider, that, in all the dispensations of thy providence, thou art infinitely wise and good. May this thy servant be supported and comforted in his sickness. Preserve him from the sin of unbelief in thy promises, and let him ever remember them to his great and endless comfort; for this is the promise that thou hast promised us, even eternal life to all who believe in thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Help him to consider, that afflictions are common to all men. May he be resigned to thy will, and remember the mercies attending him, whilst he feels the afflictions may he remember what is the desert of his sin, and compare that with the pains which he now suffers. May he remember, that these strokes of thine hand are fewer than his transgressions, and lighter than his sins, that, "a living man should "not complain, a man for the punishment of his "sins," though greatly afflicted. May he be comforted with the thought, that "these afflictions, "which are but for a moment, work out for all "who love God a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

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Grant, O Lord, that he may hope in thee, as his Father, and his God. And, if it should be thy pleasure to spare him, and restore him to health, may he find the good effect of this sickness in his future life, and say, when he reflects on it, "It "has been good for me that I have been afflicted." Thus may he become more exemplary in life, be prepared for death, and at length be received into thy kingdom of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

An important prayer under apprehensions of God's displeasure, yet with resolutions to persevere in soliciting his favour and help. This may be used by the sick himself with more propriety than by any other for him.

O LORD God Almighty, my sins are many, my danger great, and my fears are proportionable to both. What will become of me to all eternity, thou only knowest. Salvation is indeed promised to penitent sinners, through the blood of a crucified Redeemer; yet I am terribly afraid I shall never be able to get an interest in it. I have many doubts and many discouragements, which one after another break in upon me.

I am greatly distressed, and have scarcely faith and hope enough, O Lord, to put up a prayer to thine awful Majesty. I cannot however forbear to solicit thy compassion, "God be merciful to me a "sinner. I see, alas, too frequent cause to question whether I have ever known the grace of God in truth, and whether I do not deceive myself in reckoning upon that, which I neither am, nor have. "Forsake me not, O my God, be not far from "me." "I am afflicted, tossed with tempest, and "not comforted." (Isai. liv. 11.) I am assured there is a safe and desirable harbour before me; but, alas! at how great a distance am I from it. I had for many years no thoughts about it. I much doubt and fear whether I shall ever reach it ; for I see methinks the waves swell; and they will forcibly prevail against me. "Lord, save me, or "I perish."

When I reflect on the innumerable sins of my heart and life, "I tremble for fear of thee, and am "afraid of thy judgments." (Psalm cxix. 120.) Yet I must and will try what divine grace will do for me. I will cast myself at the feet of infinite mercy. If thou, O Lord, shouldest spurn me away, I cannot but die then; and die I must eternally

if I do not apply to thee. Thou mayest perhaps * stretch out the golden sceptre of thy grace, and then I shall live. But, whether I live or die, I will acknowledge my transgressions, and plead the promises and intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ, that I may obtain mercy. Mercy, O Lord, mercy I ask, O let thy mercy come!" O God, "the Father of heaven, have mercy upon me as a "miserable sinner," and "from thy wrath and "everlasting damnation, good Lord, deliver me.”

O thou blessed Saviour of the world, save me from my sins, and all their dismal effects, and reconcile me to God. If ever help comes, I know it must come from thee. O revive my soul with a sense of thy love, the hope of thy full absolution and everlasting sabbath.

Gracious Father, pardon my heinous provocations: enable me to live in a continual fear of offending thee, and in a strenuous endeavour to please thee; O keep me from the evils I deserve, or fear. Above all things leave me not to myself, to the power of pernicious habits, or strong temptations to sin. Hear me, O Lord, hear me ! and deliver me from the bondage of Satan, for thy mercy's sake in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

A prayer for obtaining the inestimable blessings revealed in the Gospel.

This is an important prayer, intended for frequent use either by itself, or in conjunction with other prayers.

From Dr. Dodwell.

O LORD, who hast not only taught me by the doctrine of thy blessed Son, but hast purchased me by his blood, and by the efficacy of his merits hast reconciled me to thyself, assisting my fallen

*See Esther iv. 7.

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nature, and enabling me by thy Holy Spirit to perform the conditions which thou hast required of me, grant that I may ever look on myself in this light in which thou hast revealed me to myself; and may I neither pray to thee in the form of uninstructed heathens, nor in the style of self-sufficient moralists. I come to thee in the name of Jesus Christ, through his intercession, whom thou hast appointed to be our Mediator, and I come to pray, that I may be "strengthened with might, "by thy Spirit in the inner man ;" (Eph. iii. 16.) and that I may not, by an unholy life, unsuitable to my Christian profession, "grieve that Holy "Spirit, whereby I am sealed unto the day of re"demption." (Eph. iv. 30.) I desire on all occasions to address thee thus by thy Son and Spirit, and to pay the duty and allegiance which I vowed to all the divine persons in form of my admission by baptism into thy holy religion. I desire to trust my body, as well as soul, to the same almighty protection; and under the infirmities of either to implore and expect that gracious assistance.

In thy holy word I am taught that I was made, and preserved, as well as redeemed, not only by thy power, but by the agency of thy Son, and the operation of the Holy Spirit. By their interposition I'read, that diseases of the body, as well as the mind, were instantly healed; and after the separation of these, I am instructed to hope, that they will be again united through the same almighty power. I pray therefore," that the Spirit

of him that raised up Jesus from the dead may "dwell in me, that he that raised up Christ from "the dead may also quicken my mortal body by his "Spirit that dwelleth in me." (Rom. viii. 11.) Grant, "that I may possess this vessel of my body "in sanctification and honour;" (1 Thess. iv. 4.) and that I may enjoy it in security and comfort. Preserve me by the atonement of thy Son, and as