(From Bishop Taylor.)

I.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of mercies, the God of peace and comfort, of rest and pardon, we thy servants in duty to thee, and charity to our brother, humbly beg mercy of thee for him, to descend upon his body and his soul. We come to thee in the name of Jesus, praying thee to pardon the sins of this thy servant, and to bury them in the grave of him that died for us, that they may never rise up in judgment against him, nor bring him, in the day of trial, to shame and confusion of face. Amen.

II.

GIVE thy servant, O Lord, patience in his sorrows, comfort in his sickness, and restore him to health, if it seem good to thee. And, however thou shalt determine concerning him, yet make his repentance perfect, and his faith strong, and his hope steadfast, and his passage safe; that when thou shalt call his soul from the body, it may enter into the rest of the sons of God, and the bosom of blessedness, and be with the holy Jesus. Amen.

III.

O LORD, thou knowest all the necessities, and all the infirmities of thy servant: fortify his soul with spiritual joys, and perfect resignation; and take from him all inordinate affections to this world; and enlarge his heart with desires of being with thee, in thy heavenly kingdom.

IV.

LORD, let not any pain or passion discompose the order of his thoughts, or his duty; and lay no more upon thy servant than thou wilt make him able to bear and together with the temptation, do thou provide a way to escape; even by the mercies of a longer and more holy life, or by the mercies of a blessed death; even as it pleaseth thee, O Lord, so let it be. Amen.

V.

LORD, let the tenderness of his conscience and

the Spirit of God, call to mind his sins, that they may be confessed and repented of; and let thy powerful grace remove from his soul every root of bitterness; and in the union of the holy Jesus, and in the love of God, and in the communion of all the saints, let his soul be presented to thee blameless, and entirely pardoned, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A larger form of prayer for the sick.

(From Bishop Patrick.)

O LORD, the Father of our spirits, who givest us life and breath, and all things, and hast not thought a crown of everlasting life too much to promise us; we believe that thou wilt not deny us what is needful and fit for us, both for our souls and our bodies, in our passage through this world, to that of ho nour, glory, and immortality. In this confidence, we more particularly recommend this thy sick servant to thy infinite and most compassionate mercy. Settle in his soul a steadfast faith, that thou dost not willingly grieve the children of men, but intendest good to him by this thy fatherly correction.And now since all other pleasures and enjoyments fail him, represent thyself more effectually unto him, as the only support and stay of his hope, and rock of salvation. Wherein soever he hath neglected thee, or committed any offence against thee, make him deeply sensible of it, and heartily sorrowful for all his transgressions. And as he earestly desires pa rdon and forgiveness of thee, so nork in him a serious resolution to live more circumspectly and righteously for the time to come.

Assist him graciously, O Lord, that he may give a proof of his sincere intentions hereafter to submit himself in all things to thy will, by his patient submission to thy fatherly correction. O, that he may so quietly, so meekly, so humbly, and cheerfully, resign his will unto thee, to suffer what thou inflictest, that he may be the more disposed to do readily whatsoever thou commandest. For which end, make him thoroughly apprehensive of thy sovereign power and authority over all creatures. Possess him with a great reverence of thy wisdom

and justice, with an entire confidence in thy good. ness and love, with a thankful remembrance of all thy past mercies to him, that so he may the better endure what thou layest upon him at present, and may ever follow thy directions, and submit to thy orders, and delight to do thy will, O God.

Bless the remedies which are used for restoring him to his former health, that he may live to per form his duty with greater care: or, if thou hast otherwise appointed, accept graciously of his pur poses of amendment, and dispose him to return back his spirit willingly unto thee who gavest it; and with great humility and deep sense of his own undeservings, to expect thy mercy declared in Christ Jesus. Fix his mind steadily upon him who led the way through the grave into heaven, that he may not be affrighted with the approaches of death, but looking beyond it to that high and holy place where the Lord Jesus is, may rejoice in hope of eternal glory.

And grant that every one of us, in our best state of health, may consider perpetually how frail and weak we are; that so we may not abuse ourselves by an intemperate use of any sensual pleasures, nor load our minds with the cares of this life, nor spend our days in a vain pursuit of the honour and glory of this world but may pass all the time of our sojourning here, in fear; and may live so righteously and soberly in this present world, as becomes those who expect shortly to give an account to thee, who wilt judge all men according to their works. Hear us, O Lord, we most humbly beseech thee, through Christ Jesus our merciful and compassionate Redeemer. Amen.

ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation, that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From Dr. Hammond.)

O LORD, bless, keep, and defend, this thy servant with thy heavenly grace and benediction, that

he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he comes to thy everlasting kingdom.

Let thy mighty hand and outstretched arm, O Lord, be ever his defence; thy mercy and loving kindness in Jesus Christ thy dear Son, his salvation; thy true and holy word, his instruction; thy grace and Holy Spirit, his comfort and consolation, both now, and at the hour of death.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.* Amen.

PROPER PSALMS FOR THE SICK..

I.

O LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation: neither chasten me in thy displeasure. Psalm vi. 1. 2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. Psalm vi. 2.

3. My soul also is sore troubled; but Lord, how long wilt thou punish me? Psalm vi. 3.

4. Thine arrows stick fast in me: and thy hand presseth me sore. Psalm xxxviii. 2.

5. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin. Psalm. xxxviii. 3.

6. For my wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden too heavy for me to bear. Psalm xxxviii. 4.

7. I am feeble and sore smitten: I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart. Psalm xxxviii. 8.

8. My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me, and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me. Psalm xxxviii. 10.

*Heb. xiii. 20, 21.

9. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me; my heart within me is desolate. Psalm cxliii. 4.

10. Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul; O, save me for thy mercies' sake. Psalm vi. 4.

11. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine ears unto me when I call, O, hear me, and that right soon. Psalm cii. 2.

12. For my days are consumed away like smoke my heart is smitten down and withered like grass. Psalm cii. 34.

13. And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. Psalm cii. 10.

14. But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my age; forsake me not when my strength faileth me. Psalm cii. 24.

15. Wherefore in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion. Psalin ixxi. 1.

II.

PSALM LI.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies, do away mine offences.

2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity · and cleanse me from my sin.

3. For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

4. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

5. Behold I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

6. But, lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts and thou shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

7. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whitet than snow.

8. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9. Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeeds.