148 A Prayer to be ufed under Affliction. thy service in this world, and to reign with thee in glory in the world to come.

I acknowledge the juftice of thy fentence, when thou faid unto the woman, I will greatly multiply thy forrow in conception, in forrow shalt thou bring forth children: ftrengthen me therefore, and enable me to go thro' all the pains and uneafinefs of child-bearing with patience and fubmiffion to thy will; confidering that they are the juft punishment of fin: give me an humble truft and dependence on thy fatherly care and good providence; and make me, in thy good time, a joyful mother of a hopeful child, which may live to be an inftrument of thy glory, and by ferving thee faithfully, and doing good in its generation, may be received into the mansions of eternal blifs, thro' Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

A prayer to be used by a person under affliction.

God of all mercy, and father of all com

fort, fupport me under the troubles thou haft most righteoufly laid upon me. I confefs that mine iniquities are many, and that my fins have deserved more grievous punishments than I now fuffer under thy justice, which leaves none of the events of this life to chance or uncertainty, but difpofes of all things, by thy

A Prayer for one troubled in mind. 149

good providence, for the benefit of thy creatures. Therefore extend thy mercy, and have pity upon me; and confidering the infirmities of my nature, deal with me, not according to my fins; but after thine own great mercy, pardon all my fins, and after thou haft brought me to a true sense of my own unworthiness, and to a fincere repentance, reftore me to thy love, peace and favour. But if for reasons, best known to thy infinite wisdom, thou shalt fee fit to continue my present troubles, thy bleffed will be done, befeeching thee only to enable me patiently to bear, and contentedly to fubmit to the difpenfations of thy good providence, how contrary foever to flesh and blood, and to direct me to use all proper and honeft means to bring them to an end, without murmuring and repining; all which I most humbly request, through the merits, and in the name of Jefus Chrift, my dear redeemer, who, in his own flesh, bore my infirmities, and all my forrows. Amen. :

A prayer to be used by a perfon troubled in mind.

Bleffed Lord, the father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, look down, I; humbly befeech thee, with pity and compaffion upon a miserable creature, under great

for

forrow and dejection of mind. Thou of thy juftice and wisdom doft write bitter things againft me: thy wrath lies hard upon me, and my foul is brought low, even unto the duftr confess with hearty forrow, that my fins are many and very great; but greater is thy mercy to penitent finners. I confefs my fins have deserved much more grievous punishments than I feel; but shouldst thou be extreme to mark what I have done amifs, I fhall not be able to abide it. Great is the malice of the power of darkness, and great is my own weakness; but much greater is thy power and goodness. O then! give me a right understanding of myself, and of thy threats and promises, that I who travail and am heavy laden with my fins, may, at thy call, come unto thee only for fuccour, and put my whole trust always in thee. O receive me, and relieve me, and revive me, take pity upon my forrowful foul; fhut not up thy tender mercies in difpleasure, but make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice. Break not the bruised reed, and quench not the fmoaking flax. Deliver me from the fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of thy countenance upon me, and give me peace of confcience, and joy in the holy ghost.

Make

C

Make me to wait with patience, for thy good appointed time, to comfort me, and make me know affuredly, that it is good for me that I have been in trouble. In the mean time, O Lord, give me the shield of faith, whereby I may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil; that, trufting in thee, and in thy promises, I may at last be more than conqueror, looking unto Jefus, the great captain of my falvation. Therefore when my fears prefs hard upon me, I will hope in thy mercy, and put my truft and confidence in thee. For which end therefore I humbly pray thee to infuse thy grace into my heart; purify my foul; difpel thofe black irregular thoughts and apprehenfions, which terrify and difcompofe my mind; and be thou my mighty defence in all my wants and diftreffes, and my ready helper in this time of need. To thee, therefore, who art able to keep me from falling, and to prefent me faultlefs before the prefence of thy glory, with exceeding joy, be afcribed all honour, glory, might, majefty and dominion, both now and forever, Amen.

O

Aprayer for all states and conditions of men. God, the creator and preferver of all mankind, I humbly befeech thee to receive these my prayers which I offer unto thy divine

majefty,

majefty, for all forts and conditions of men, that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy faving health unto all nations. More efpecially I pray that thou wilt infpire the us niverfal church with the fpirit of truth, unity, and concord, that all who profefs and call themselves chriftians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteoufnefs of life. Finally, I most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and fuccour all them who in this tranfitory life are in trouble, forrow, need, sickness, or under any other affliction or diftrefs, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their feveral neceffities, giving them patience unto their fufferings, and a happy iffue out of all their afflictions; and this I beg for Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen.

A Thanksgiving.

Almighty God, father of all mercies, I thy un

worthy fervant do give thee moft humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodnefs and loving-kindnefs to me and to all mankind. I blefs thee for my creation, prefervation, and all the bleflings of this life; and for all thy fervants departed this life in thy faith and fear; befeeching thee to give me grace fa to follow their good example, that with them I may be partaker of thy kingdom; but above all, I bless thee for thine ineftimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jefus Chrift; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And I beseech

thee,