safe by Thy grace, and then use what instrument Thy wisdom shall see most proper to bring me unto Thee.

LORD, I am not solicitous of the way that may lead unto Thyself. Only remember my infirmity, and let my soul rejoice in Thee always-feel, confess, and glory in Thy goodness.

Be Thou equally my delight in my sickness, as formerly in the dangers of my prosperity. Let me not refuse a pardon tendered in a severe discipline, but readily comply with Thy gracious purposes, cover mine eyes, and wait in silence for the time of my redemption, through Jesus Christ.

I

Praise in all things.

WILL praise Thee, O LORD, with all my heart: I will praise Thee while I have any being.

When Thou fillest our cup with blessings, and makest the voice of health and gladness to be heard in our dwellings when our way is pleasant and happiness is in all our borders,-then shall our souls come before Thee, extolling Thy loving-kindness.

And when months of vanity and wearisome nights are appointed unto us—when trials encompass our path, and sorrows are heavy upon our hearts,—even then will we praise Thee, by humble submission to Thy heavenly wisdom.

Amidst all the changes of life, in abundance and in want, in success and in losses, in health and in sickness,—in all things will we acknowledge and celebrate the goodness, which, through mystery and discipline, brings us into a higher and more trustful life.

And when we come to the hour of departure-when our lips can no longer express our thoughts, and all our bodily powers shall fail,—then shall this be the devout and grateful meditation of our souls: "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord

MOST

Long-continued Ill-health.

OST Merciful Father, in whose hand my breath is, and whose are all my ways: It has pleased Thee, in Thy wisdom, to appoint unto me wearisome and restless nights, and days of languor, weakness, and pain. Yet unto Thee, who dost bring us low and dost raise us up, I desire to refer myself entirely, and to leave with Thee all my hopes and fears.

If it be possible, according to Thy wise counsels, let this cup of sickness pass from me; yet do Thou mercifully enable me to bow in resignation to Thy holy will. May I derive support and comfort from the sure confidence, that, as Thou art the LORD of heaven and earth, so Thou wilt make all different lines to concentre in my highest welfare, how opposite soever in appearance now. Keep me, O LORD, keep me ever alive to this precious truth, and enable me constantly to feel that Thou makest all things work together for good unto all who love Thee.

FA

ATHER of Mercies! As a father pitieth his children, look with pity upon me, in the season of my afflictions and sufferings; and though Thou shouldst bring me to the grave, enable me to preserve my trust in Thee. Continually supply me with devout and holy thoughts, and give me a thankful sense of Thy compassion, and deep gratitude for the kind offices of sym pathy. Needy I am: how poor should I be without the enrichment of a Father's grace, and the tenderness of loving friends!

LORD, without whom nothing is strong and nothing

:

presence, that faith and patience may have their perfect work in me. May I be able to preserve meekness and gentleness of deportment to all around me. May I be effectually guarded against all fretfulness of temper, and all peevishness of behavior. And may I study to return

all the ministrations of love and kindness, with thankfulness and affection.

Be it my chief concern that this affliction may work in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness. May faith in Thy wise and righteous providence, O my GoD-may the testimony of a good conscience—may the consolations of the gospel-may the hope of Thy mercies in Jesus Christ-may the word of many great and precious promises,-cheer and strengthen my heart, and lift me above all depressing feelings and thoughts.

Α'

ID me, O eternal Father, aid me to raise my views and desires to the world in which there is no sickness, nor any more sorrow. Though I should never again recover my health and strength, still may Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me: Still may I look peacefully forward to the glorious morning, when I shall be made a partaker of celestial health, and magnify Thy mercy, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour, world without end.

Recovery from Sickness.

LESS the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His

BLESS

benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercy. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and let all that is within me bless His holy name.

MERCIFUL FATHER, my Friend and Deliverer: Thou hast brought me to see the vanity and uncertainty of the world: Graciously preserve me from placing too high a value upon its pleasures, honors, or possessions; and do Thou enable me to remember how rapidly it is passing away. When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Thou hast made me deeply sensible of the worth of friendship; and the services of skill and kindness have,

with Thy blessing, cheered, supported, and restored me. O may I never be forgetful of the love which ministered to me in my time of need. Let me be softened with humanity toward all who suffer; and may I never be hold the bed of sickness, without a heart of sympathy and a ready hand of help.

Thou hast shown me the value of Religion, in times of sorest distress; and from Thy holy gospel my chief consolation was derived, when the shadows of death appeared to be gathering around me. O give me grace to bear witness of Thy saving health, now that the way of active life is reopening before me. In the midst of all enjoyments, may I gratefully remember the Giver of all Good, and may my soul continually find strength and guidance and peace, in the faith and hope and charity of the Redeemer of the world.

By a Dying Person.

THOUGH I walk through the valley of the shadow of

death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me, O LORD. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

O Thou who dost plead the cause of the widow, and art the Helper of the fatherless: Forsake not those whom Thou hast intrusted to my charge. Be Thou to them, when I am gone, all that I should desire to be, and infinitely more than I could be, if I were permitted still to remain with them.

Enable them at all times to make Thee their trust, and faith, and joy. Keep them from distress in outward lot, but especially keep them from the pollutions of the world, and from doubting or denial of Thee.

Unto Thee, O LORD, do I commit them, together with all my dear relations and friends. Have them ever in Thy merciful keeping, and bring them at last to the blessedness of Thy heavenly kingdom.

Now, LORD, lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.

Burial of the Dead.

Funeral Service at the house, or in the Church. Selection 20 or 30 may be substituted for so much of the following as precedes the first prayer. There may be occasions when the Congregation might with propriety join the Minister in the sentences prefaced by [*] a star. The opening Address (and the Selections referred to) may be omittedalso the first prayer; and one or more of the Scripture Lessons may be read, at discretion. The circumstances of funeral occasions are so various, that much must be left to the judgment of the Minister.

DEAR

EAR BRETHREN, AND FRIENDS: From the beginning even until now, the mournful decree has gone forth into all the earth, Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and there are few who can hide themselves from the solemn thought, I, too, must die, and the places which know me, shall know me no more.

Wisest men have been bowed into sorrow when they considered how childhood, youth, maturity and old age, alike pass away into the mystery of death. They have seen the silver cord loosed, the pitcher marred at the fountain, the golden bowl perished, and the wheel broken at the cistern. And they said,

*Man goeth to his about the streets.

long home, and the mourners go

Verily man walketh in a vain show, and at his best state is altogether vanity. He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. As grass springeth up in the morning, so man in the morning flourisheth and groweth up:

*In the evening, he is cut down, and withereth. The days of our years are threescore years and ten, and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow. It vanisheth soon,and we pass away.-For what is our life?