comes, shall we have time to think of our neighbours? Shall we be able to shelter ourselves under their neglects? Will it profit us to say "My neighbours did not partake of the Lord's Supper, therefore I neglected it." Surely we shall be judged! JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON. A FORM OF THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DANGEROUS. ¶ Find a quiet time and a quiet place, so as to be alone, and safe from interruption. Then kneel down as reverently as if you saw our Lord standing before you, fix your thoughts on what you are going to do, ana say (out loud if possible) as follows: IN N the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Lord, have mercy upon me. Christ, have mercy upon me. Lord, have mercy upon me. OUR UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil: For Thine is the king dom, The power, and the glory, For ever and O Lord, open Thou my lips: And my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. O LORD, Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant according to Thy word. : O learn me true understanding and knowledge for I have believed Thy commandments. Before I was troubled I went wrong: but now will I keep Thy word. Thou art good and gracious: O teach me Thy statutes. It is good for me that I have been in trouble: that I may learn Thy statutes. The law of Thy mouth is dearer unto me: than thousands of gold and silver. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen. ¶ Then read these texts thoughtfully. THE Lord is long-suffering to us-ward; not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 St. Pet. iii. 9.) He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. (Lam. iii. 33.) God is a righteous judge, strong and patient; and God is provoked every day. If a man will not turn He will whet His sword: He hath bent His bow, and made it ready. (Ps. vii. 12, 13.) Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (St. John v. 14.) ¶ Then kneel down again, and say: ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, I give Thee humble thanks that Thou hast taken away the sickness which Thou didst send me for my good. I confess that I have not served Thee as I ought to have done, and that my neglect and my sins have deserved a great punishment from Thee. O Lord, I resolve to serve Thee better in future: I resolve, by the assistance of Thy grace, to be More attentive in my prayers, More regular in going to church, More quiet in my temper, More pure in my thoughts, More watchful over my words, More kind and upright in my actions. Give me Thy help, O Lord, to do these things, and whatever else is pleasing in Thy sight, for without Thy help I cannot please Thee: and grant that I may try more and more to live a godly, righteous, and sober life, so that, when my last hour comes, I may die in hope and peace; through the merits of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Saviour. Amen. Holy is our God: Holy is the Almighty: Holy is the Immortal. Glory be to Thee, O Lord, most high. ¶ Remain a little while on your knees after you have finished your prayer, and think what you have been doing. You will do well if you repeat this thanksgiving three separate times, after the examples of our Lord Christ and St. Paul. (St. Matt. xxvi. 44; 2 Cor. xii. 8.) Three things to be remembered. REMEMBER that little sicknesses are sent from God in order to make us better Christians. REMEMBER that if you are not a better Christian after a slight sickness, it is likely that He will send a sharper one. REMEMBER that the worst case of all is, when a person who is careless about God, and religion, and death, escapes sickness and trouble altogether. JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON. |