whither our Saviour is gone before, to prepare a | himself under them, may at length be lifted up place for all thy faithful servants. and made a partaker of that peace and joy which thou bestowest on all thy faithful servants. Grant this, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Redeemer. Strengthen his weak and feeble endeavours. Support his fainting spirit, and cause it humbly to hope in thee. Confirm and establish every good thought, desire, and purpose, which thou hast wrought in him. Make him to grow in wisdom, faith, love, and willing obedience. Conduct him hereafter so easily and steadily, peaceably and quietly, so cheerfully and securely, in thy ways, that he may glorify thee whilst he lives, and when he leaves this troublesome world, may resign his soul into thy merciful hands, with a pious confidence and a hope of a joyful resurrection; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for One under Fears and Doubts concerning his spiritual Condition, or under perplexing Thoughts and Scruples about his Duty. [From Mr. Kettlewell.] O LORD our God, we offer up our humble supplication to thee in behalf of this thy servant, whose soul is disquieted within him by his fears and anxiety respecting the safety of his condition. Remove from him, we entreat thee, all frightful apprehensions, all perplexing doubts and scruples about his duty. Make him satisfied and settled in a right understanding of all thy precepts, and careful in the observance of them; and dispel, by the light of thy countenance, all that darkness which obscures his soul, that he may not be unnecessarily dejected, and distrustful of himself, or dishonourably jealous of thee. Deliver him from all those offences which make him so much a stranger to peace and comfort; and cause him to place his chief satisfaction and delight in obeying thy commandments, and in meditating on thy mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Prayer for One who is disturbed with wicked and blasphemous Thoughts. [From Mr. Lewis.] O LORD GOD, the Father of our spirits, to whom all hearts are open, and all desires known; we humbly entreat thee to succour and relieve this thy servant, who labours under the burden of wicked thoughts. Let thy power and goodness be shown in healing his disordered mind. Cleanse the thoughts of his heart by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit. Suffer them not to be defiled by any profane or blasphemous suggestions, but heal the soul of thy servant, by enabling him to stifle and suppress all such thoughts as tend to rob him of his peace, or deprive him of the comforts of religion. Enable him to be of an equal and steady temper, to be mild and gentle in his behaviour, and to keep his hopes and fears within due bounds. Make him sensible of the wise and kind reasons of these afflictions; that, if they are duly improved, they may be powerful preservatives of his soul against the prevailing sins of a licentious age; may lessen his inclinations to the enjoyments of this life, and deaden his appetite to sensual pleasure, and the perishing goods of this world; that these afflictions may dispose him to compassionate the sufferings of others, and make him more thoroughly feel his own infirmities, and the want of divine assistance. Open his eyes, that he may see and know the wise and gracious dispensations of thy providence; and, by humbling A Prayer for One who is afflicted with a profane Mistrust of Divine Truths, and blasphemous Thoughts. [From Mr. Kettlewell.] soul of every living creature; protect this thy O MOST gracious God, in whose hand is the servant, we humbly and earnestly entreat thee, against all doubts and mistrusts of thy truth, against all irreligious thoughts and suggestions. Never suffer them, O Lord, to weaken his faith, or to hinder him from performing his duty. Preserve him not only from the sin, but if it seem good to thine infinite wisdom, from the temptation and the sorrow, which may attend them. But, if it be thy blessed will to continue these Lord, make him sensible that they will not be terrifying thoughts for his trial and humiliation, imputed to him as sin, if, as soon as he perceives them, he rejects them with horror and indignation. thee, that, as often as these profane thoughts arise During this trial, let him learn to depend upon in his mind, he may find grace to overcome them, and without the least indulgence or delay to cast them out; and that he may learn to show patience under them, as under every other affliction and trial of thy appointment, trusting to thy grace to assist him, and to thy goodness to deliver him ; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. A Prayer for One under the dread of God's Wrath and everlasting Damnation. [From Mr. Lewis.] O ALMIGHTY God, the aid of all that need, and the helper of all that flee to thee for succour, accept, we beseech thee, our humble supplications for this thy servant, labouring under the dismal apprehensions of thy wrath. O Lord, enter not into judgment with him; make him sensible that, though the wages of sin are death, the gift of God is eternal life; that thou hatest the death of a sinner, and art not willing that any should perish; that thou always punishest less than we deserve, and in the midst of judgment rememberest mercy. Revive his soul with a sense of thy love, and the hopes of obtaining thy pardon, and the joy of thy salvation; that he may be raised from this dejection, and show with gladness what thou hast done for his soul. All this we humbly beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. A Prayer for a Lunatic. [From Mr. Jenks.] O LORD, the only wise God, from whom we have received all the faculties of our souls: thou art holy and righteous in all thy dispensations, though the reason of them is frequently unknown to us. Dispel, we humbly beseech thee, if it be agreeable to thine infinite wisdom, the clouds in which the soul of thy servant is now involved; that he may regain his understanding, and the right use of his faculties. Heal his disordered mind: settle and quiet his passions; pacify and compose his imagination. II. O prosper the means which are used for his recovery. Make him tractable in the use of remedies, and willing to comply with the advice of his friends. But if no means can effect his cure, let him possess his soul in peace and composure, and in every interval of reason address his prayer to thee; that, when his earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved, he may rejoice in his former inability to pursue the pleasures of the world, and be pre-fear of death is fallen upon me. sented unto thee pure and undefiled, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1. OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. 2. O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint.-Psalm cxxx. 1, 2. A Prayer for natural Fools, or Madmen. [From Mr. Kettlewell.] O ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, pity, we entreat thee, this thy unhappy creature, who knows not his own wants, nor how to ask for thy mercies. Compassionate, O Lord, his infirmities, and supply his necessities. Let thy wisdom prevent those evils which he cannot foresee, or wants understanding to remove; but especially keep him from doing any thing that may be hurtful either to himself or others. 3. For I am helpless and poor, and my heart is wounded within me.-Psalm cix. 21. 4. My heart is disquieted within me, and the 5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. -Psalm lv. 4, 5. 6. I go hence like the shadow that departeth, and am driven away like a grasshopper.-Psalm cix. 22. 7. O God, thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hidden from thee.-Psalm lxix. 5. 8. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit; in a place of darkness, and in the deep. 9. Thine indignation lieth hard upon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms.-Psalm lxxxviii. 5, 6. ix. 17. Let his mind, on all occasions, be quiet and 10. Thou breakest me with a tempest, and my peaceable; and as far as his faculties extend, ex-roarings are poured out like waters.-Job iii. 24; ercised in piety and devout meditations. O hear our cry when we call upon thee: hear us for him who is not able to pray for himself; grant him thy fatherly care at present, and thy peace at the last; through the mediation of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. PROPER PSALMS FOR A SICK PER- 1. SAVE me, O God, for the waters are come in, even unto my soul. 2. I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.-Psalm lxix. 1, 2. 3. The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4. The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly but yet the Lord, who dwelleth in heaven, is mightier.-Psalm xciii. 4, 5. 5. He maketh the storm to cease, so that the waves thereof are still. 6. Wherefore unto thee, O Lord, do I cry in my trouble: deliver me out of my distress.Psalm cvii. 28. 7. Thou shalt show us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation: thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea.-Psalm lxv. 5. 8. Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born; thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall always be of thee.-Psalm lxxi. 5, 6. 9. I will cry unto thee, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.-Psalm lxxxix. 26. 10. Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord; let thy loving-kindness and truth always preserve me. 11. For innumerable troubles are come about me: my sins have taken such hold upon me, that I am not able to look up; yea, they are more in my head, and my heart number than the hairs 11. O reject me not utterly, and be not exceed ing wroth against thy servant.-Lament. v. 22. 12. For my soul is full of trouble, and draweth nigh unto hell.-Psalm lxxxviii. 2. my life 13. I am brought into so great trouble and misery, that I go mourning all the day long. 14. For my loins are filled with a sore disease, and there is no whole part in my body.-Psalm xxxviii. 6, 7. 15. My wounds stink and are corrupt, through my foolishness.-Psalm xxxviii. 5. 16. Behold, O Lord, I am in distress; my me, for I have grievously transgressed.—Lament. bowels are troubled, my heart is turned within i. 20. 17. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth; but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness.-Psalm xxv. 6. sake me not, when my strength faileth me.-Psalm consumed by the means of thy heavy hand. 21. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine 22. For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen. 23. O spare me a little, that I may recover my -Psalm xxxix. 1Ï—13. A Prayer for a sick Seaman. of all that dwell on the earth, and of them that reO MOST great and glorious Lord, the "salvation main in the broad sea;" under whose powerful pro tection we are alike secure in every place, and without whose providence over us we can no upon us, thy unworthy servants, who are called to where be in safety; look down, we beseech thee, "behold thy wonders in the deep," and to perform our several duties in the great waters. of affliction. "Thou art our refuge and strength, a very pre- | will unavoidably assault him in the state of life sent help in trouble; and therefore we fly unto wherein he is engaged, and therefore we most thee for succour in all our necessities. Extend humbly beseech thee to give him such a portion of thy accustomed goodness to our distressed brother, thy blessed Spirit, as may enable him to fight with whom thou hast been pleased to visit with the rod as much resolution and courage against his spiritual enemies, as the nature of his post obliges him to do, upon just occasions, against his temporal; ever remembering, that the greatest of conquests is that which is made upon ourselves; and that no victory is so truly honourable, as that which is obtained over our vicious inclinations. "The waves of death encompass him about, and the sorrows of hell take hold upon him." O leave him not to himself, nor let him be given over "to a spirit of slumber" and darkness; but "open his eyes, that he may see the wondrous things of thy law," and the necessity of a speedy and sincere repentance; so that from the sickness of his body, he may derive health and salvation to his soul, which is the great end of all thy righteous judgments, and of all our afflictions. Wherefore give him grace, we beseech thee, O Lord, "to abhor that which is evil, and to cleave to that which is good." Let him religiously avoid all blasphemy and profaneness, all drunkenness, riot, and lasciviousness; and let him carefully follow the rule our Saviour hath set him, "of doing violence to no man, accusing no man falsely, and being content with his own wages;" so that, having "put on the whole armour of God, he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; and whenever thou shalt be pleased to put an end to Let him seriously consider and reflect within himself, from this visitation, "what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God;" and let him hence learn, if it shall please thee to raise him up again, to preserve a more awful sense of thy divine majesty upon his spirit, "and to live more soberly, righteously, and piously, in this pre-his warfare, (either now or hereafter,) he may sent world." We know, O Lord, that "many are the enemies of peace," and that "the whole world lieth in wickedness:" but let him not "follow a multitude to do evil," nor "give his consent to the enticement of sinners;" but being perfectly "redeemed from all vain conversation, and renewed in the spirit of his mind," let him "walk before thee with a perfect heart," and spend the residue of his days in thy faith and fear. cheerfully resign his soul into thy hands, in these A Prayer to be used by a Person afflicted with a [By Dr. Stonehouse.] Or if thou hast determined otherwise concerning him, be pleased to give him sufficient grace, and strength, and time, to "make his calling and election sure, before he go hence and be no more O LORD GOD Almighty, I am wonderfully made, seen:" revive his drooping spirits, fortify his heart, and all my powers of body and mind were pro"Thou killest, and as he decays in the outer, strengthen him induced and are supported by thee. the inner man, by setting before him the hopes of and makest alive: thou woundest, and makest a blessed immortality "as an anchor of the soul, whole." both sure and steadfast." Amen. I own and reverence thine hand in my present affliction. I acknowledge that thou art righteous in all that befalls me; for I have sinned; and thou chastenest me less than my iniquities deserve. In punishment thou showest mercy, continuest to me many comforts, prolongest my opportunities of reflection and amendment, and givest hope of that pardon which I so much want, and at this time A Prayer for a sick Soldier or Seaman. O MOST mighty Lord, the fountain of health and life, strength and courage, the aid and support of all that fly unto thee for succour, with whom is no respect of persons, but every one that feareth thee (whether he be rich or poor, learned or unlearned) is accepted by thee; we beseech thee mer-earnestly entreat. cifully to look down upon our brother, who is now fallen under the rod of thy displeasure. We know, O Lord, that all thy judgments are principally intended for our good in the end, by the reformation of our lives and manners: and therefore we most humbly beseech thee to let thy present judgment have that good effect upon our brother, that he may lead the rest of his life as a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, and not continue to harden his heart against all the powerful and repeated instances of thy mercies and judgments towards him. I desire in this poor condition of my health, to search and try my ways, and turn unto thee, O Lord, by deep humility, sincere repentance, and faith in the great Redeemer: and may the fruit of this and every affliction be to take away sin, and make my heart better. O God, if it be thy merciful will, direct me to, and prosper, some means for the removal of my disorder, that I may yet be capable of glorifying thee in my station, and, by farther endeavours for thy service upon earth, be fitter for immortality. Support me, gracious Lord, that my soul may If thou hast designed this sickness shall termi- not be quite cast down, and too much disquieted nate in his death, O be pleased to fit and prepare within me. Assist me to cherish penitent, believhim for it; or if otherwise in mercy thou hast de-ing, serious thoughts and affections. Grant me termined to spare him, O let him not return to any of his former sinful courses, but let him always keep in mind the promise which he made to thee in baptism, of renouncing the world, the flesh, and the devil; and which, we hope, he now again heartily renews in this his day of visitation. We know, O Lord, that many temptations such resignation to thy will, such patience and meekness towards men, as my Divine Master requireth, and as he himself manifested while he was a sufferer on earth. Forgive all the harshness and sinfulness of my temper, and keep it from increasing upon me. May I learn from what I now feel to pity all who are sick, in pain, or otherwise afflicted, and do all in my power to as- | patience and resignation. Let thine Holy Spirit sist and relieve them. If by this affliction thou intendest to bring me down to the grave, prepare me, by thy grace, for my removal hence, and entrance on the unseen eternal state and may all the sufferings of the present life work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I am thankful for any degree of ease and comfort which I have this day enjoyed. Grant me, this night, such refreshing rest, that I may be better able to discharge the duties and bear the burden of another day, if thou art pleased to indulge me with it. If my eyes are kept waking, may my meditations be comfortable and useful to me. direct and support me under every trial, and enable me so to walk in thy faith and fear, that I may at last be received into thy heavenly kingdoin, through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. A Prayer to be used by an Old Person. O GRACIOUS Lord, my maker and my preserver, I give thee thanks for the long continuance which thou hast granted me in this world, in order that I may be the better prepared for another. Enable me by thy grace to make a right use of the time afforded me, and give me a true and deep repentance of the sins which I have committed. Supkeep me from covetousness, and fretfulness, and from all unreasonable fears, and cares. Give me that degree of ease and health which thou seest most convenient for me; wean my affections and desires from the things of this life, and keep me continually prepared for death; through Jesus Christ. Amen. Pity my weakness, merciful and heavenly Fa-port me by thy help under the infirmities of age, ther, and hear my imperfect petitions, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who was once a man of sorrow, and is still touched with the feeling of our infirmities; to whom, as our merciful High Priest and powerful Intercessor, be glory for evermore. Amen. A Prayer to be used on the Death of a Friend. [By Mr. Merrick.] A Prayer for a Person condemned to die. [From Dr. Inet.] O ALMIGHTY GOD, who dost not willingly grieve the children of men, but in thy visitations O MOST just and holy Lord God, who bringest rememberest mercy, teach me by thy grace to bear to light the hidden things of darkness, and by thy the loss of that dear person whom thou hast taken just and wise providence dost bring sin to shame from me with patience and resignation, and to and punishment; disappointing the hopes of wickmake a right use of the affliction which thy fa-ed men; visiting their sins upon them in this pretherly hand hath laid upon me. Thou hast given, and thou hast taken away: blessed be thy holy name. Make me thankful, O Lord, for the coinforts and blessings which I still enjoy; and sanctify to my soul all the sufferings, which in the course of this mortal life thou shalt appoint for me. Let the death of friends and relations help to keep me always mindful of my own mortality. And grant, that by thy grace I may here apply my heart to wisdom, and may hereafter by thy mercy be received into that everlasting kingdom, where all tears shall be wiped from all faces, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. O merciful Father, for the sake of thy Son Jesus Hear me, Christ. Amen. A Prayer to be used by a Person troubled in ALMIGHTY GOD, who beholdest with compassion and mercy the weaknesses and frailties of us thy sinful creatures; look down on me, I beseech thee, and deliver me, if it be thy blessed will, from the distress of mind under which I labour. Strengthen my judgment, and inform my understanding, that I may rightly know my duty; and grant that I may act on all occasions, and in every circumstance of life, in the manner most acceptable to thee. Pardon my secret sins and infirmities, and preserve me from all wilful neglects and of fences. If thou seest it consistent with thy glory, and with the everlasting welfare of my soul, fill me with that fervency of affection towards thee, and with that measure of spiritual comfort and assurance, which may preserve my mind in a frame of cheerfulness and composure. But if trouble and bitterness of mind be more expedient for me, continue to me both this and all other afflictions which thou seest most conducive to my future happiness, and grant that I may bear them with sent life, that thou mayest deter others from the of judgment; O Lord, in mercy look down upon evil of their ways, and save their souls in the day this thy servant, who now is before thee to confess thy justice in making him a sad example to others. He with sorrow and shame confesseth it would be Just with thee, should death eternal be the wages of his sins, and everlasting sorrow the recompense despised thy mercy, and abused thy goodness, and of his iniquity. He has, we confess, O Lord, has therefore no reason to expect any other than to be made an everlasting sacrifice to thy justice. When thou hast, by the ministry of thy word, him to repentance, he has slighted thine admoniand the interposition of thy providence, called tions. O, how just therefore would it be now in thee to disregard his cry, in this day of trouble, when distress and anguish are come upon him! He confesseth that he hath hardened his heart, notwithstanding all thy importunities to him to repent and live; that he has still gone on from one wickedness to another, eagerly repeating the works of darkness, and even hating to be reformed; that he has notoriously broken his baptismal vows, and given encouragement to others to blaspheme our holy faith, and that on these accounts he has nothing to expect but that thou shouldst deal with him according to his sins, and reward him according to the multitude of his offences. But thou, O God, hast been pleased to declare, that with thee is mercy and plenteous redemption; that thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent and live. Thou hast so loved the world, that thou gavest thy onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. O, let not him whom we are now commending to thy mercy, for ever perish and be lost. Have compassion upon a miserable sinner, who owns he deserves eternally to die; and let him find mercy in wards me, enable me to meet it with a mind fully prepared for it, and to pass through this great and awful trial in the manner most profitable for me. O let me not leave any thing undone which may help to make my departure safe and happy, or to qualify me for the highest degree of thy favour that I am capable of attaining. Pardon the sins which I have committed against thee by thought, word, and deed, and all my neglects of duty. Fardon the sins which I have committed against my neighbour; and if others have wronged or offended his distress. Pardon, we earnestly entreat thee, his wilful and his heedless follies, his errors, and his crying and notorious sins; particularly that for which he is now to die. O Lord, thou God of mercy, who art abundant in goodness, have pity on the work of thine own hands. Bury his sins in his grave, and, however they may rise up in this world to disgrace him, let them never rise up in the next to condemn him: and whatever he suffers here, let him hereafter be in the number of those whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. However men, in the exe-me, incline my heart freely and fully to forgive cution of justice, and to deter others from being guilty of the like wickedness, may kill his body; let neither his body nor his soul be destroyed in hell, but be delivered from eternal condemnation, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who died to save sin them. Cleanse my soul from all its corruptions, and transform it into the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ; that I may behold thy face in glory, and be made partaker of thy heavenly kingdom. And, O merciful Father, give me that supply of spiritual comfort, which thou seest needful for me in my present condition: and grant that, when my change comes, I may die with a quiet conscience, with a well-grounded assurance of thy favour, and a joyful hope of a blessed resurrection; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. THE MINISTRATION OF PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS. TO BE USED IN CHURCHES. THE people are to be admonished, that it is most conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour venient that baptism should not be administered but upon Sundays and other holy-days, when the most num ber of persons come together; as well for that the congregation there present, may testify the receiving of them that be newly baptised into the number of Christ's church; as also because, in the baptism of infants, every man present be put in remembrance of his own profession made to God in his baptism. For which cause also it is expedient that baptism be ministered in the vulgar tongue. Nevertheless (if necessity so require) children may be baptised on any other day. And note, That there shall be for every male child to be baptised, two godfathers and one godmother; and for every female, one godfather and two godmothers. Christ saith, none can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerated and born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant this child that thing which by nature he cannot have, that he may be baptised with water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy church, and be made a lively member of the same. Then shall the Priest say, When there are children to be baptised, the parent shall give knowledge thereof over night, or in the morning, before the beginning of morning prayer, to the ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy Curate. And then the godfathers and godmothers, and the people with the children, must be ready at the font, great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the either immediately after the last lesson at morning ark from perishing by water, and also didst safely prayer, or else immediately after the last lesson at even-lead the children of Israel thy people through the ing prayer, as the Curate by his discretion shall appoint. And the Priest coming to the font (which is then to be filled with pure water,) and standing there, shall say, Q. HATH this child been already baptized, or no? Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy baptism; and by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus the mystical washing away of sin: we beseech Christ in the river Jordan, didst sanctify water to thee for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon this child; wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, that he, being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the |