him only, but others also, by his example, to love thee more fervently, to serve thee more faithfully, to trust in thee more assuredly;-in thee, O Lord, who hast shown us thy goodness so plenteously, and daily poureth thy benefits upon us:-in thee who never failest nor forsakest them that seek thee; in thee, whose mercies are sweet, whose loving kindness is better than life itself, whose service is perfect freedom, and in keeping whose commandments, there is exceeding great reward— for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

THANKSGIVING AFTER RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS.

O MOST mighty God and merciful Father, gracious in all thy dispensations toward the children of men ; I, thy unworthy servant, prostrate myself before thee, with the fervent affections of a grateful breast, acknowledging it of thy goodness, that I was not long ago consumed. Thou, Lord, hast chastened and corrected me, but thou hast not given me over unto death. Blessed, therefore, be that divine wisdom, which saw this late affliction seasonable, and would not suffer me to perish in my folly, for want of such necessary warning. Blessed be that tender compassion, which, in the midst of wrath, remembered mercy; which made all my bed in my sickness; which passed by my impatience, and many infirmities, and inclined a willing ear, to the wandering and discomposed supplications of a poor

feeble wretch, when he cried unto thee in his extreme anguish and distress. Blessed be the powerful influences of that grace, which disposed my heart to consideration and repentance. But, above all, blessed for ever be that power and goodness, which, by sparing me, when I had deserved to be utterly cut off, hath given me an opportunity to make good those holy resolutions, which thy grace inspired, when I was in trouble. Lord, let this goodness of thine, and my own serious purposes of amendment, never escape from my mind; but preserve in me a constant sense of the indispensable obligations I lie under to better obedience. Make me every day more and more zealous in promoting thy glory, and the good of my brethren; as a person saved from destruction for this very end, that the remainder of my life should be employed in the service of my gracious deliverer. In this sense, O my God, I humbly offer and present unto thee this soul and body, rescued from hell and the grave, beseeching thee to keep them thine for ever. let not the return of my health produce a relapse into my former sins, but may it become an instrument of thy greater honor, of my own stricter and more steadfast virtue here, and my more exalted and perfect happiness hereafter.

To this end sanctify, I beseech thee, all the methods of thy providence to the salvation of my immortal soul. And especially, let not thy abused mercies, and my broken vows, ever rise up in

judgment against me. O may my past sufferings work in me great humility and godly fear. Bring back frequently to my remembrance, the promises and supplications poured out in the bitterness of my soul; that those successful addresses to the throne of grace, may stir me up effectually, to the paying what I then so solemnly vowed. Open thou my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may declare thy mercy and truth as long as I live, and praise my God, while I have my being. And, for as much as this recovery is only the lengthening out a little that span of life, which must shortly have an end, suffer me not, I pray thee, to forget that I am a stranger upon earth; but help me so to disengage my heart from these things here below, which my own late experience hath taught me, cannot profit in the day of wrath, that my hopes and affections may be unalterably fixed upon those better and eternal treasures, which thou hast prepared for them that love thee. All which I beg for thy own merit's sake, my only Mediator and Redeemer: to whom, with the Father and Holy Spirit, be ascribed, as is most due, from me, and every creature, all honor and dominion, thanksgiving and praise, henceforth and for evermore. Amen.

A THANKSGIVING TO BE USED BY A WOMAN AFTER TRAVAIL.

O ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, in whom I live, and move, and have my being; by thee, I

have been preserved ever since I was born, and to thy infinite goodness I acknowledge it to be owing that I am now alive. I desire, O Lord, to adore and praise thy glorious Majesty, for the many mercies and favors which thou hast bestowed on me during my whole life. And in a more particular manner, I present myself before thee at this time, to bless and praise thy holy name for thy late mercies in sustaining me in the pains and perils which I have experienced. It was thy power that preserved, thy goodness that delivered me, and thy hand that supported me, when pain and sorrow laid hold upon me. Praised therefore be that infinite love which moved thee to deal so graciously with thy servant, and to enable a feeble creature to go through so much sorrow and anguish. O Lord, give me such a sense of thy goodness, that I may make it the great study and business of my life to serve and please thee in all things; that so my returns of duty and obedience may, in some measure, be answerable to those many mercies I have received. Mortify and subdue in me all sinful affections, and whatever might tend to alienate my love from thee, and to slacken my endeavors after the pursuit of heavenly things.

I commend likewise, O Lord, to thy mercy, that tender infant which thou hast given me. Sanctify it, I humbly pray thee, and so fill it with the graces of thy Holy Spirit, that it may ever be in the number of thy faithful servants. Grant, O

merciful Father, that I may never be wanting in my duty towards it; but enable me, by thy grace, to bring it up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; that as it grows in years, it may increase in grace and thy favor, and be a comfort to me all my days, and a blessing to the Christian community.

All which I humbly beg, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed, as is most due, all honor, power, thanksgiving, and praise, both now and for ever. Amen.

THAGKSGIVING FOR TEMPORAL BLESSINGS.

GRACIOUS GOD, the bountiful provider for all the world's family, the eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Year after year thou renewest the face, and the fruits of the earth, and givest rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, to fill the hungry with good things, and to fill all our hearts with. food and gladness. Thou art not weary to do us good; yea, thou delightest in mercy, and hast pleasure in the prosperity of thy servants, and makest us now to find, by our happy experience, how abundantly good and kind thou art, even to the unthankful and the evil.