pities my infirmities; and how far that will extend I know not, but that it will reach so far as to satisfy my needs, is the matter of my hope. But this I am sure of, that God hath heard my prayers, and verified his promises in temporal instances, for he ever gave me sufficient for my life; and although he promised such supplies, and grounded the confidences of them upon our first seeking the Kingdom of Heaven, and its righteousness, yet he hath verified it to me, who have not sought it as I ought. Sometimes I have had cheerful visitations of God's Spirit, and my cup hath been crowned with comfort; and, therefore, I hope this cloud may pass for that which was then a real cause of comfort, is so still, if I could discern it, and I shall discern it when the veil is taken from mine eyes. It is, I trust, a disease of judgment, not an intolerable condition, that I am falling into, because I have been told so concerning others, who, therefore, have been afflicted, because they see not their pardon sealed after the manner of this world, and the affairs of the Spirit are transacted by spiritual discourses, by promises which are to be verified hereafter. My hope is in God, and I will trust him with the event, which, I am sure, will be just, and, I hope, full of mercy.

These considerations may be useful to persons who have lived without infamy, or begun their repentance so late, that it is very imperfect, and yet so early, that it was before the arrest of death. But if the man be a vicious person, and hath persevered in a vicious life till his death-bed; these considerations are not proper. Let him enquire in

the

When an Accident befals one of the Family. 421 the words of the first disciples after Pentecost, Men and Brethren, What shall we do to be saved And if such can but entertain so much hope as to enable them to do so much of their duty as they can for the present, it is all that can be provided for them an enquiry in their case can have no other purposes of Religion or prudence.

When any Accident has befallen one of the Family.

O MOST gracious Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, Judge of the living and the dead, behold thy servants running to Thee for pity and mercy in behalf of ourselves and this thy servant, whom thou hast smitten with thy hasty rod, and a swift Angel; if it be thy will, preserve his life, that there may be place for his repentance and restitution. O spare him a little, that he may recover his strength before he

go hence and be no more seen. But if thou hast, otherwise, decreed, let the miracles of thy compassion and thy wonderful mercy supply to him the want of the usual measures of time, and the periods of repentance, and the trimining of his lamp: and let the greatness of the calamity be accepted by thee as an instrument to procure pardon for those defects and degrees of unreadiness which may have caused this accident upon thy servant. Lord, stir up in him a great and effectual contrition; that the greatness of the sorrow, and hatred against sin, and the zeal of his love to Thee, may, in a short time,

6

do

do the work of many days. And Thou, who regardest the heart and the measures of the mind, more than the delay and the measures of time, let it be thy pleasure to rescue the soul of thy servant from all the evils he hath deserved, and all the evils that he fears; that, in the glories of eternity, and the songs which, to eternal ages, thy saints and holy Angels shall sing to the honor of thy mighty name, and invaluable mercies, it may be reckoned among thy glories, that Thou has redeemed this soul from the dangers of an eternal death, and made him partaker of the gift of God, ETERNAL LIFE, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Meditations and Prayers to be used with the Sick.

OUT of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord.

Lord, hear my voice; let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications,

If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who should stand?

But there is forgiveness with Thee, that thou mayst be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait; and in his word do I hope,

My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning.

Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord

there

there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemp

tion.

And he shall redeem his servants from all their iniquities.

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the wickedness of iny heels shall compass me about?

No man can by any means redeem his brother,

nor give to God a ransom for him;

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever.)

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

But wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to

others:

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.

As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness.

Thou shalt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is the fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

O ALMIGHTY and most gracious Father, who art the fountain of life, and health, and pardon, hear the prayers of thy servants in behalf of our brother, the miserable for the afflicted, of sinners, for him, whom thou hast smitten. Lord, lay no more upon

him than thou shalt enable him to bear, but give him patience; and do thou thyself open a door for his escape, even by a holy and a reformed life, and a speedy recovery, or else by a blessed death, as thou, in thy infinite loving-kindness, shalt choose for thy glory, and his eternal interest.

Lord, give unto thy servant a perfect repentance, and a perfect pardon of all his sins. Remember not the errors of his youth, the weakness of his spirit, the surprises of his life, and the crimes of his choice but join his present sufferings to the passion, his prayers to the intercession, and his repentance to the merits, of our Saviour Jesus, that he may be pardoned and pitied, comforted and supported, sanctified and saved in the day of recompences.

Blessed Jesus, who hast overcome all the powers of sin, of hell, and the grave, take from thy servant all inordinate fear of death, give him a perfect resignation of his will, and conformity to thine; restrain the power of the enemy, that he may not prevail against the soul which thou hast redeemed. If it be thy will, give him a speedy restitution of his health, and a holy use of the affliction: or if thou hast, otherwise, decreed, preserve him in thy fear and favor, and receive his soul to merey, to pardon, and eternal life. through thy mercies and for thy compassion's sake, O blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus. Amen.

Let