are used for the removal of his disease, and speedily restore him to health and usefulness. Enable him "in patience to possess his soul," and to resign himself to thine all-wise disposal. And may every disease which we feel in ourselves, or observe in others, make us more sensible of the frailty of our nature, and engage us to apply our hearts with greater diligence to that wisdom, which will prepare us for death and eternity. Amen.

An addition to any other prayer (or it may be used separately) for one who is aged and infirm.

BE thou, O Lord, the strength of the heart of this our brother, who is labouring under the infirmities of age and declining nature. May the principles of faith and hope give that firmness and vigour of mind, which shall enable it through thy grace to sustain the decays of bodily strength. And, while the outward man perisheth, may the "inward man be renewed day by day."

Amen.

A prayer which may be used by one who has been sick, after a recovery. See p. 146.

Has God mercifully restored you to health? Surely you cannot doubt the obligations you lie under to be thankful for it. Shocking indeed, that out of ten lepers cleansed, only one should return to give glory to God. See Luke xvii. 17. But take care that you follow not the example of the nine; for instances of such ingratitude are too common. After recovery therefore, use the following or the like

prayer.

MOST gracious and merciful God, the fountain of life, I return thee humble and hearty thanks for having spared me, when I deserved no mercy. I adore thee as the Author of my cure, and praise thee for the success thou hast given to those applications, which were the means of effecting it.

May I remember the chastisements, the instructions, and the deliverance I have received; and may I be enabled to perform the good resolutions I made in my sickness.

As thou hast condescended to hearken to the prayer of so sinful a creature, may I call upon thee as long as I live. Being made whole, may I go "and sin no more, lest a worse thing come "unto me." Having known the bitterness of affliction, may I pity and endeavour to relieve those who labour under it: and may I never forget my obligations to thee, and all the kindness of those about me, whom I humbly recommend to thy continual protection and everlasting favour, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Saviour. Amen.

Another prayer, which may be used with one after a recovery. See page 151.

O MERCIFUL Preserver of men, who healest all our diseases, and savest us from the power of death, we bless thy name for thy great goodness vouchsafed to this our fellow-creature, in his recovery from the distemper with which thou hast been pleased to afflict him. Give him a deep and lasting sense of this instance of thy sparing mercy, and enable him and us so to improve the blessing of health whilst thou continuest it with us, that we may become every day better fitted to sustain the infirmities which thou shalt be pleased to lay on us; and may we both living and dying be accepted by thee.

O thou heavenly Physician, who hast healed his body, heal his soul also: recover it from every sinful disorder; "comfort him, and stablish him in "every good word and work." (2 Thess. ii. 17.). As thou hast given him space to repent, and to make himself more ready for the coming of Christ, incline his heart to improve his prolonged time

well, that this reprieve may end in pardon and eternal life.

God forbid that he should now live as if he should never see death; but may he possess his soul with such serious thoughts of another world, as shall excite him to love the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength; (Mark xii. 30.) making God the end of all his actions, wishes, and pursuits and thus giving all diligence in the great work of salvation, that he may at last be found of the Lord in peace, and may die filled with the lively hopes of more durable enjoyments than those he shall leave at his departure from this transitory scene of things. Hear, O Lord, hear these our humble petitions, answer them, own and accept us in thy Son Jesus Christ, through whom we offer up all our worship. . Amen.

The proper method of using this Book profitably.

As many of these Prayers are to be considered rather as suggesting materials for prayer, than as set forms always to be used without any alteration, variations may sometimes be necessary according to the capacity, disposition, and state of the person for whose benefit they are proposed.

The Helps for Conversation and Examination are likewise to be considered as suggesting materials, and not always to be used exactly as they here stand: for they are designed as sketches, on which the minister who visits the sick (or any one else) may enlarge, add some things, or omit others, according to circumstances; of which he will judge for himself. I have therefore considered this publication chiefly as helps for conversation; and that by these helps some might occasionally be assisted in their religious discourse with the sick or others, and benefited themselves in their retirements by a serious meditation on the subjects most suitable to their present state.

It is not in its own nature a work merely to be once read, and then laid aside, but to be frequently referred to, well considered, and weighed with great care; so that the readers may become thoroughly masters of its contents, especially of those parts of it which relate to particular circumstances:

Nocturna versate manu versate diurna.

It is indeed principally intended (as I have before observed) for the benefit of the sick; yet I presume it may be an assistant to many others; and I should hope, that no reader will be so deficient in candour as to discard the whole, because some

particulars perhaps may not be executed to his satisfaction, or be agreeable to his ideas.

Whoever thinks a faultless book to see,

Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be.

Pope's Essay on Criticism.

Few, it is presumed, can have the vanity to think themselves exempted from imperfections, errors, and mistakes.