the changing circumstances of my sickness, that I may perceive and feel the blessing and loving kindness of the Lord, in the relief of my pain and the recovery of my health; that being restored to the society of the living and to the assemblies of the saints, I may praise thee for thy goodness among the faithful in the outer courts of the Lord, and hereafter in thy heavenly Temple for ever and ever. Amen.

A

Upon the Appearance of Recovery.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom are the issues of life and death, who killest and makest alive, who bringest down to the grave and bringest back again; receive the offering of thy humble servant, who with a grateful heart return unto thee my unfeigned thanks for the relief of my sufferings and the abatement of my disease. I praise thee for the happy consequences of thy seasonable correction to me, in putting me in mind of my frailty and mortality, in weaning my affections from this vain and transitory world, and in exciting me to a more diligent preparation for that which is to come. Blessed be thy name that thou didst not cut me off immediately without warning in the midst of my sins, but that thou hast now in appearance allowed me a longer space for reflection and repentance, and hast given me hopes of bringing my holy resolutions

to good effect. May it seem good in thy sight O Lord, to perfect the recovery which thou hast begun in me, and to grant me a longer continuance on earth, not for the gratification of my worldly inclinations and sensual desires, but that I may redeem the time which I have hitherto misspent, that I may pass the residue of my days in thy love and fear, and more effectually advance thy honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thanksgiving for the Beginning of a Recovery from Sickness. REAT and mighty God, who bringest down

to the grave, and bringest up again; I bless thy wonderful goodness for having turned my heaviness into joy, and my mourning into gladness, by restoring me to some degree of my former health. Blessed be thy name, that thou didst not forsake me in my sickness; but didst visit me with comforts from above; didst support me in patience and submission to thy will; and, at last didst send me seasonable relief. Perfect I beseech thee, this thy mercy towards me and prosper the means which shall be made use of for my cure; that being restored to health of body, vigour of mind, and cheerfulness of spirit, I may be able to go to thine house, to offer thee an oblation with great gladness, and to bless thy holy name for all thy goodness towards me through Jesus Christ my Saviour, to whom with thee and the holy

Spirit, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

It is very meet, right, and my bounden duty, that I should at all times, and in all places give thanks and praise, honour and adoration, love and duty to thee, O Lord, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who hast known my soul in adversity and delivered me from the evils which I most justly have deserved. I confess, O God, that I am less than the least of all thy mercies; but thy unbounded love rejoices in doing me good, and in preserving me from evil. Thou art gracious even when thou smitest me; but I cannot express thy loving kindness to me, when thou sustainest me in my sorrows, when thou hearest my prayers, when thou relievest my necessities, when thou deliverest me from thy wrath, and snatchest me from the power of the grave. O give unto thy servant a thankful heart, an obedient mind, carefulness in my duty, zeal for thy glory, submission to thy divine will and pleasure; that serving thee with all my powers, loving thee with all my heart and strength, obeying thee in all thy commandments, and delighting in thee in all thy dispensations, I may be conducted in safety through the various changes of thy providence, defended in the temptations of my enemies, relieved in all my necessities, assisted in all my du

ties; that so I may pass through this valley of tears in peace and quietness, in faith and charity, in the confidence of a holy hope, and in the strength of thy righteous promises, to the fruition of those mercies which are the portion of obedience, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thanksgiving for a Recovery from Sickness.

GOD, who art the giver of life, of health, and

of safety; I bless thy name, that thou hast been pleased to deliver me from my bodily sickness. Gracious art thou, O Lord, and full of compassion to the children of men. May my heart be duly impressed with a sense of thy merciful goodness, and may I devote the residue of my days to an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee.

Thou, O Lord, didst revoke the sentence which appeared to have gone out against me.

Unto thee

May I be

may I ascribe the honour and praise. glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast considered my trouble, and hast known my soul in adversity. As thou hast spread thy hand upon me for a covering, so also enlarge my heart with thankfulness and fill my mouth with praise. And let thy favour and loving kindness endure for ever and ever upon thy servant, and grant that what thou hast sown in mercy, may spring up in duty. O let thy grace so strengthen my purposes, that I

may sin no more. thy countenance and in the way of thy commandments, that living here to the glory of thy name, I may at last enter into the glory of thy kingdom and spend eternity in thy praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let me walk in the light of

When there is no Hope of Recovery.

GOD, whose days are without end and whose mercies cannot be numbered, now that I am hastening to the end of my life, give me stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus and unfeigned repentance for all my sins, that my pardon may be sealed in heaven before I go hence and be no more seen. Let me come to my great change without guilt, and foresee its approaches without impatience or fear. May I always be ready with humble confidence in thy mercy for the hour of my departure. May I be enabled to fight the good fight of faith with constancy, and to finish my course with joy. May I never sleep in carelessness and sin, nor lie down in misery and sorrow. And since I am now summoned to meet the Bridegroom, dress me O Lord, in a wedding garment, that I may be fit to appear in thy train. Give me oil in my lamp, that it may burn with perpetual brightness, and that when the door opens I may be ready to enter in with thee at whatever hour thou shalt come. Strip my soul of all earthly affections before it