It is God that girdeth us with strength, and mak- | thy truth," that we may sanctify thee in our hearts, eth our way perfect." and make thee our fear and our dread.' x 7. On the evening before the Lord's day. We come together to give glory to the great JeNow give us to remember that to-morrow is thehovah, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sabbath of the Lord," and that it is a high day, holy sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh of the Lord and honourable, and give us grace so day, and therefore blessed a sabbath-day, and halto sanctify ourselves, that to-morrow the Lord may lowed it. Our help stands in the name of the Lord, do wonders among us: and to mind the work of who made heaven and earth.* our preparation now the sabbath draws on." When thou sawedst every thing that thou hadst made in six days, behold all was very good, but in many things we have all offended. O that by repentance, and faith in Christ's blood, we may wash not our feet only, but also our hands and our head," and our heart, and so may compass thine altar, O Lord. Now give us to rest from all our own works, and to leave all our worldly cares at the bottom of the hill, while we go up into the mount to worship God, and return again to them." 8. On the morning of the Lord's day. We bless thee, Lord, who hath showed us light, and that the light we see is the Lord's; that we see one more of the days of the Son of man, a day to be spent in thy courts, which is better than a thousand elsewhere. We thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, | that the things which were hid from the wise and prudent are revealed unto us babes, even so, Father, because it seemed good in thine eyes; that our eyes see, and our ears hear, that which many prophets and kings desired to see, desired to hear, and might not; that life and immortality are brought to light by the gospel." And now, O that we may be in the Spirit on the Lord's day! That we may call the sabbath a delight, and may honour the Son of man, who is Lord also of the sabbath-day, not doing our own ways, or finding our own pleasure, or speaking our own words. 9. At the entrance upon the public worship on the Lord's day, by the masters of the assemblies. Thou, O God, art greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about thee. O give us grace to worship thee with reverence and godly fear, because thou our God art a consuming fire." This is that which thou hast said, That thou wilt be sanctified in them which come nigh unto thee, and before all the people thou wilt be glorified." Thou art the Lord that sanctified us; sanctify us by W O let us be new creatures, thy workmanship, created in Jesus Christ unto good works: and let that God, who on the first day of the world commanded the light to shine out of darkness, on this first day of the week shine in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We come together to give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to sanctify this sabbath to his honour, who was the stone that the builders refused, but is now become the head-stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." He is the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive. O that we may this day experience the power of Christ's resurrection, and may be planted together in the likeness of it, that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life, and may sit with him in heavenly places; and by seeking the things that are above,s may make it to appear that we are risen with him. We come together to give glory to the blessed Spirit of grace, and to celebrate the memorial of the giving of that promise of the Father, in whom the apostles received power on the first day of the week,i as on that day Christ arose. O that we may this day be filled with the Holy Ghost, and that the fruit of the Spirit in us may be in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth.* We come together to testify our communion with the universal church; that though we are many, yet we are one; that we worship one and the same God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, in the name of one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him;" under the conduct of the same Spirit, one and the self-same Spirit, who divideth to every man severally as he will;" walking by the same rule, looking for the same blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour." 10. In our preparation for the Lord's supper. Now we are invited to come eat of Wisdom's bread, and drink of the wine that she has mingled," give us to hunger and thirst after righteousness; and being called to the marriage supper of the Lamb," give us the wedding garment. Awake, O north wind, and come, thou south, and blow upon our garden, that the spices thereof may flow forth; and then let our beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." Draw us, and we will run after thee; bring us into thy chambers, that there we may be glad and rejoice in thee, and may remember thy love more than wine. And when the King sits at his table, let our spikenard send forth the smell thereof." And the good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purifica- | tion of the sanctuary." Hear our prayers, and heal the people. 11. In the celebrating of the Lord's supper. O let this cup of blessing, which we bless, be the communion of the blood of Christ; let this bread, which we break, be the communion of the body of Christ, and enable us herein to show the Lord's death till he come." Now let us be joined to the Lord in an everlasting | covenant; so joined to the Lord, as to become one spirit with him. Now let us be made partakers of Christ, by holding fast the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end." Let Christ's flesh be meat indeed to us, and his blood drink indeed; and give us so by faith to eat his flesh and drink his blood, that he may dwell in us, and we in him, and we may live by him. Let the cross of Christ, which is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness, be to us the wisdom of God, and the power of God.d Seal to us the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the promise of eternal life, and enable us to take this cup of salvation, and to call on the name of the Lord.s 12. After the celebrating of the Lord's supper. And now, Lord, give us to hold fast that which we have received, that no man take our crown: and keep it always in the imagination of the thoughts of our hearts, and prepare our hearts unto thee.i Give us grace, as we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so to walk in him, that our conversation may be in every thing as becomes his gospel.1 O that we may now bear about with us continually the dying of the Lord Jesus, so as that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body, that to us to live may be Christ." Thy vows are upon us, O God," O that we may be daily performing our vows.P 13. Upon occasion of the baptism of a child. To thee, O God, whose all souls are, the souls of the parents, and the souls of the children, we present this child a living sacrifice, which we desire may be holy and acceptable, and that it may be given up and dedicated to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." It is conceived in sin, but there is a fountain opened ;" O wash the soul of this child in that fountain, now it is by thine appointment washed with pure water.▾ Thou hast encouraged us to bring little children to thee; for thou hast said, that of such is the kingdom of God. Blessed Jesus, take up this child in the arms of thy power and grace, put thy hands upon it, and bless it; let it be a vessel of honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and owned as one of thine in that day when thou makest up thy jewels. O pour thy Spirit upon our seed, thy blessing upon our offspring, that they may spring up as willows by the water-courses, and may come to subscribe with their own hands unto the Lord, and to surname themselves by the name of Israel.' 14. Upon occasion of a funeral. Lord, give us to find it good for us to go to the house of mourning," that we may be reminded thereby of the end of all men, and may lay it to our heart, and may be so wise as to consider our latter end; h for we also must be gathered to our people, as our neighbours and brethren are gathered; and though whither those who are dead in Christ are gone we cannot follow them now, yet grant that we may follow them afterwards, every one in his own order.' We know that thou wilt bring us to death, and to the house appointed for all living; but let us not see death, till by faith we have seen the Lord Christ, and then let us depart in peace according to the word." And when the earthly house of this tabernacle shall be dissolved, let us have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." And give us to know that our Redeemer liveth, and that though after our skin, worms destroy these bodies, yet in our flesh we shall see God, whom we shall see for ourselves, and our eyes shall behold, and not another.p 15. Upon occasion of marriage. Let the rain thou sendest be in mercy to our land, and not for correction; not a sweeping rain, which leaveth no food." Thou hast sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more return to cover the earth; let fair weather therefore come out of the north, for with thee is ter Give to those who marry to marry in the Lord," and let the Lord Jesus by his grace come to the mar-rible majesty.P riage, and turn the water into wine." Make them helps meet for each other, and instrumental to promote one another's salvation; and give them to live in holy love, that they may dwell in God, and God in them." Let the wife be as a fruitful vine by the side of the house, and the husband dwell with the wife as a man of knowledge; and let them dwell together as joint-heirs of the grace of life, that their prayers be not hindered. And make us all meet for that world where they neither marry nor are given in marriage.x 19. Upon occasion of infectious diseases. Take sickness away from the midst of us, and deliver us from the noisome pestilence. Appoint the destroying angel to put up his sword into the sheath, and to stay his hand. 20. Upon occasion of fire. Thou callest to contend by fire,' we bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled :" O Lord God, cease, we beseech thee, and let the fire be quenched, as that kindled in Israel was at the prayer of Moses.* 21. Upon occasion of great storms. Lord, thou hast the winds in thy hands, and 16. Upon occasion of the ordaining of minis- bringest them out of thy treasures, even stormy ters. Let the things of God be committed to faithful men, who may be able also to teach others, and make others such burning and shining lights,' that it may appear it was Christ Jesus who put them into the ministry; and let not hands be suddenly laid on any.b Give to those who are ordained to take heed to the ministry which they have received of the Lord, that they fulfil it, and to make full proof of it by watching in all things.d Let those who in Christ's name are to preach repentance and remission of sins, be endued with power from on high;e give them another Spirit, and make them good ministers of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine. 17. Upon occasion of the want of rain. Thou hast kept back the rain from us, and caused it to rain upon one city, and not upon another, yet have we not returned unto thee h But thou hast said, When heaven is shut up that there is no rain, because we have sinned against thee, if we confess thy name, and turn from our sins, thou wilt hear from heaven, and forgive our sin, and give rain upon our land. We ask of thee the former and latter rain, and depend upon thee for it; for there are not any of the vanities of the heathen that can give rain, nor can the heavens give showers, but we wait on thee, for thou hast made all these things.' 18. Upon occasion of excessive rain. winds fulfil thy word : O preserve us and our habitations, that we be not buried in the ruins of them, as Job's children were." 22. Upon occasion of the cares, and burthens, and afflictions of particular persons; as, (1.) When we pray with or for those that are troubled in mind, and melancholy, and under doubts and fears about their spiritual state. Lord, enable those that fear thee, and obey the voice of thy servant, but walk in darkness, and have no light, to trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay themselves upon their God; and at eveningtime let it be light. O strengthen the weak hands, confirm the feeble knees, say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not. Answer them with good words, and comfortable words, saying unto them, Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you: Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid," I am your salvation : à and make them to hear this voice of joy and gladness, that broken bones may rejoice.1 Let those who now remember God, and are troubled, whose spirits are overwhelmed, and whose souls refuse to be comforted, be enabled to trust in thy mercy, so that at length they may rejoice in thy salvation; though thou slay them, yet to trust in thee.' Though deep calls unto deep, and all thy waves and thy billows go over them, yet do thou command thy loving-kindness for them in the day-time, and in the night let thy song be with them, and their prayer to the God of their life; though their souls are cast down and disquieted within them, give them to hope in God, that they shall yet praise him, and let them find him the health of their countenance, and their God.m O renew a right spirit within them, cast them not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from them, but restore unto them the joy of thy | salvation, and uphold them with thy free Spirit, that their tongues may sing aloud of thy righteousness," and show forth thy salvation." O bring them out of this horrible pit, and this miry clay, and set their feet upon a rock, establishing their goings, and put a new song in their mouth, even praises to our God: O comfort them again now after the time that thou hast afflicted them. Though for a small moment thou hast forsaken them, and hid thy face from them, yet gather them, and have mercy on them with everlasting kindness." O let thy Spirit witness with their spirits, that they are the children of God ; and by the blood of Christ let them be purged from an evil conscience.' Lord, rebuke the tempter, even the accuser of the brethren; the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke him, and let the poor, tempted, troubled souls, be as brands plucked out of the burning. (2.) Those who are under convictions of sin, and begin to be concerned about their souls, and their salvation, and to inquire after Christ. Those who are asking the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward," that are lamenting after the Lord, and are pricked to the heart for sin," O show them the good and the right way, and lead them in it. To those who are asking what they shall do to inherit eternal life, discover Christ as the way, the truth, and the life," the only true and living way. O do not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed, but bring forth judgment unto victory. Let the great Shepherd of the sheep gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead them, and help them against their unbelief. b Let not the red dragon devour the man child as soon as it is born, but let it be caught up to God, and to his throne.d (3.) When we pray with, or for, those who are sick and weak, and distempered in body; that those who are sick, and in sin, may be convinced; those who are sick, and in Christ, comforted. Lord, thou hast appointed those that are sick to be prayed for, and prayed with, and hast promised, that the prayer of faith shall save the sick; Lord, help us to pray in faith for the sick, and as being ourselves also in the body. | When our Lord Jesus was here upon earth, we find that they brought to him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and he healed all manner of sickness, and all manner of diseases among the people; and he has still the same power over bodily diseases that ever he had; he says to them, Go, and they go; Come, and they come; Do this, and they do it; and can speak the word, and they shall be healed. He is still touched with the feeling of our infirmities: and in the belief of this we do by prayer bring our friends that are sick, and lay them before him.1 Lord, grant those who are sick may neither despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when they are rebuked of him ; but that they may both hear the rod, and him that has appointed it,' and may kiss the rod, and accept of the punishment of their iniquity.m Give them to see, that affliction cometh not forth out of the dust, nor springs out of the ground;" that they may therefore seek unto God, to the Lord more than to the physicians, because unto God the Lord belong the issues of life and death.P Lord, show them wherefore thou contendest with them, and give them in their afflictions to humble themselves greatly before the God of their fathers," and to repent and turn from every evil way, and make their ways and their doings good, that being judged and chastened of the Lord, they may not be condemned with the world. By the sickness of the body, and the sadness of the countenance, let the heart be made better." O Lord, rebuke them not in thine anger, neither chasten them in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon them, O Lord, for they are weak. Lord, heai them, for their bones are vexed, their souls also are sore vexed. Return, O Lord, and deliver their souls, save them for thy mercy's sake;" and lay no more upon them than thou wilt enable them to bear, and enable them to bear what thou dost lay upon them." When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth. Surely every man is vanity. But remove thy stroke, we pray thee, from those that are even consumed by the blow of thine hand: O spare a little, that they may recover strength before they go hence, and be no more seen. Those who are chastened with pain upon their bed, and the multitude of their bones with strong pain, so that their life abhorreth bread, and their soul dainty meat, show them thine uprightness, be gracious to them. Deliver them from going down to the pit, for thou hast found a ransom.y v. 18. k Heb. xii. 5. 1 Mic. vi. 9.. m Lev. xxvi. 41. u Job v. 6. • 2 Chron xvi. 12. P Ps. lxviii. 20. 9 Job x. 2. r 2 Chron. xxxiîì. 12. t1 Cor. xi. 32. u Eccl. vii. 3. v Ps. vi. 1-4. x Ps. xxxix. 10, 11, 13. y Job xxxiii. 19, 20, 23, 24. s Jer. xviii. !!. w I Cor. x. 13. Let the eternal God be their refuge, and under- | thou the strength of the heart, and an everlasting neath them be the everlasting arms. Consider their frame, remember that they are but dust." O deliver those that are thine in the time of trouble, preserve them, and keep them alive: O strengthen them upon their bed of languishing, and make their bed in their sickness: be merciful to them, and heal their souls, for they have sinned." O turn to them, and have mercy upon them, bring them out of their distresses, look upon their affliction and their pain, but especially forgive all their sin.c Make thy face to shine upon them; save them for thy mercy's sake. The God that comforteth them that are cast down, comfort them; and let the soul dwell at ease in thee, when the body lies in pain. e If it be the beginning of a distemper,-Lord, set bounds to this sickness, and say, Hitherto shall it come, and no further; let it not prevail to extremity, but in measure, when it shooteth forth, do thou debate, and stay thy rough wind in the day of thine east wind; and by this let iniquity be purged, and let this be all the fruit, even the taking away of sin.h If it have continued long.-Lord, let patience have its perfect work, even unto long-suffering, that those who have been long in the furnace may continue hoping, and quietly waiting for the salvation of the Lord let tribulation work patience, and patience experience, and experience a hope that maketh not ashamed,' and enable them to call even this affliction light, and but for a moment, seeing it to work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." If there be hopes of recovery,-Lord, when thou hast tried them, let them come forth like gold; let their souls live, and they shall praise thee, let thy judgments help them: O deal bountifully with them, that they may live and keep thy word. In love to their souls deliver them from the pit of corruption, and cast all their sins behind thy back." Recover them and make them to live. Speak the word, and they shall be healed;a say unto them, Live, yea, say unto them, Live, and the time shall be a time of love. Father, if it be possible, let the cup pass away; however, not as we will, but as thou wilt. The will of the Lord be done." Perfect that which concerns them. Thy mercy, O Lord, endures for ever; forsake not the work of thine own hands, but whether they live or die let them be the 'Lord's." If they be in appearance at the point of death,Now the flesh and the heart are failing, Lord, be portion: in the valley of the shadow of death, Lord, be thou present, as the good Shepherd, with a guiding rod, and a supporting staff. O do not fail them nor forsake them now: be a very present help. Into thy hands we commit the departing spirit, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, by the hands of him who has redeemed it. Let it be carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. Let it be presented to thee without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Lord Jesus, receive this precious soul; let it come to the spirits of just men made perfect; when it is absent from the body, let it be present with the Lord! This day let it be with thee in paradise. Now let it be for ever comforted, and perfectly freed from sin. And prepare us to draw after, as there are innumerable before, that we may be together for ever with the Lord, there where there shall be no more death, and where all tears shall be wiped away.' (4.) When we pray with, or for, those that are deprived of the use of their reason. O look with pity upon those who are put out of the possession of their own souls," whose judgment is taken away," so that their soul chooseth strangling and death rather than life. O restore them to themselves, and their right mind. Deliver them from doing themselves any harm. And whatever aflictions thou layest upon any of us in this world, preserve to us the use of our reason, and the peace of our consciences. (5.) When we pray with, or for, sick children. Lord, we see death reigning even over them that have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression; but Jesus Christ hath abolished death, and admitted even little children into the kingdom of God." O let sick children be pitied by thee," as they are by their earthly parents. They are come forth like flowers, O let them not be cut down again." Turn from them, that they may rest till they shall have accomplished as a hireling their day. Be gracious to us, and let the children live. However, Father, thy will be done. O let their spirits be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (6.) When we pray with, or for, families where death is, especially such as have lost their head. Visit the houses of mourning, as our Saviour did, and comfort them, by assuring them that Christ is the resurrection and the life, that their relations which are removed from them, are not dead, but sleep; and that they shall rise again, that they may not sorrow as those that have no hope: and enable a |