A HOLY RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT OF LIFE.

O MOST just and most merciful Lord God, I humbly beg of thee that this my sickness may serve the ends of health in the Spirit, and be a messenger of spiritual life. If I recover, I will live by thy grace, and strive to do the work of God, and passionately pursue my interest in heaven, and serve thee in the labor of love, with the diligence of a firm and humble obedience. Lord, I will dwell in thy temple, and in thy service; religion shall be my employment, and alms shall be my recreation, and patience shall be my rest, and to do thy will shall be my meat and drink, and to live shall be Christ, and then to die shall be gain. O spare me a little that I may recover my strength, before I go hence and be no more seen. For Jesus' sake, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER SAD ACCIDENTS AND DISASTERS
FALLING ON THE BODY.

O LORD, the most high God, who hast taught us,
that affliction rises not out of the dust, nor comes
by chance, and without thy appointment; but is
the messenger despatched on thy errands, who hast
an overruling hand in all the disasters that befal
us, I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right,
and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Great God, I humbly submit to thy hand, and will
bear the effects of thy displeasure, which I have

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drawn down upon myself. O my Lord, give me patience, and strength, and grace, proportionable to this great and sudden trial; and enable me so to demean myself under it, that after the affliction I may find cause to say, it was good for me to be afflicted. Thou that hast torn and smitten, thou alone art able to heal, and bind up. O wilt thou remember me in my low estate, out of that mercy of thine which endureth for ever; that I may search and try my ways, and turn to the Lord, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance. For his sake who was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, Lord forgive, and heal my soul that has sinned against thee; and in good time, repair the breaches made upon my body too, if it seem good in thy sight, and make me to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

If thou wilt, Lord, thou canst make me whole. O may it be thy gracious pleasure to glorify thy power and mercy in my help and recovery; or however thou shalt dispose of this vile body, grant me, O my God, an humble resignation to thy will, and satisfaction with thy dealings, and make this sad dispensation, which is so grievous for the time, gracious in the issue. O make it the messenger of thy love to my soul, and the means of converting and sanctifying it, and preparing it for the Lord, and fitting it to receive all the saving mercies of God, in Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR A BLIND MAN.

O LORD our God, who art light, and in whom is no darkness at all; thy servant desires with meekness and patience, to submit to thy heavy stroke, and confesses that thou art just in quenching that light of his eyes, which he did not use to thy glory. But wilt thou, O gracious Lord, bless to him this thy afflicting hand upon him, that it may promote his peace with God; and may cut off all the occasions of worse falling, than any to which his present darkness may expose him; that so many temptations, which enter in at the eyes, being taken away, he, freed from those distractions, may be more intent upon the concerns of the soul. Lord, as thou hast shown thy sovereignty and justice, in taking away his sight, so let thy work of power and mercy be made manifest, in enlightening the eyes of his understanding, that he may see what is the hope of thy calling, and what the mighty power of thy Spirit in them that believe. May he be more earnest in looking to Jesus, and studying the mysteries of salvation, the wonders of thy love, and the glories of thy kingdom. Reveal thy Son in him, and teach, and guide, and entertain him with thoughts and considerations pertinent to his condition. And let thy good Spirit as an unseen counsellor and comforter, still abide in him, and bring to his mind, all things that shall make for his encouragement in thy holy ways. O Lord,

lead him on continually, till in thy light he shall see light, and have his eyes opened at the last to see the splendor of thy kingdom, and all the joy of thy salvation; yea, to see thee as thou art, in that heavenly presence where is fulness of joy, and life for evermore, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER UNDER GRIEVOUS PAINS.

O LORD, who art a merciful God, who knowest our frame, and how little it is that we can endure, though it be so much that we deserve; be pleased to remember me in mercy, and make my sufferings less, or thy grace in me, and my patience and spiritual strength, greater than all. Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee. O regard my affliction when thou hearest my cry; and enter not into judgment with me according to the desert of my sins; but according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness' sake in Jesus Christ. I acknowledge, O Lord, the justice of thy dealings towards me. Suffer not the extremity of my pains to transport me into any rash or unbecoming expressions, nor cause me to entertain hard thoughts of thy providence; but whatever evils or sorrows I may feel, let me still love thee, and believe thee to be a kind and merciful Father, even whilst thou art smiting and correcting me.

And, O blessed Lord, that I may be enabled so

to do, be pleased in thy great mercy to strengthen and support me with the consolations of thy Holy Spirit, and lay not more upon me than thou wilt enable me to bear. I know thou art able to deliver me, and therefore in thee do I put my trust. O stretch forth thine almighty arm to help and relieve And sanctify this affliction to me, that it may produce in me the fruits of a true and sincere. repentance, purifying, invigorating, exalting my character. O Lord, hear me; O Lord, help me, for thy mercy's sake in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

me.

A PRAYER FOR THE STUPIFIED OR DELIRIOUS.

O THOU great maker and preserver of men, who knowest our frame and our frailty, let thy mercy, we beseech thee, be showed to thy poor distempered servant, according to the exigence of his case. Thou, Lord Almighty, who didst command the light to shine out of darkness, and bringest order and beauty even out of confusion and deformity, canst lighten the darkest mind, and regulate the wildest imagination; and speaking immediately to the heart, thou canst incline and secure it to thyself, conveying instruction, and all suitable relief, where the doors are closed against us. O God of all power and love, wilt thou thus speak to the soul of thy servant, so that it may observe thy voice. Lord, direct and quicken, help and assist him,