more love, more zeal for thy glory, and the good of my fellow-creatures. May I be daily more and more acquainted with thee, my God, and be at peace, that thereby good may come unto me, (Job xxii. 21.) and that so I may obtain that solid peace, which the world can neither give, nor take away. 11. May I consider my daily devotion as the most delightful as well as the most needful part of my daily business, and the privilege of prayer as my greatest comfort. 12. Enable me, O Lord, to "continue in tr prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Col. iv. 2.) watch especially against a formal manner of prayer, or an unjustifiable omission of it. 13. May I watch and pray, as my Lord and Master has enjoined me, that I enter not into temptation of any kind; and particularly that I may never be tempted to leave off prayer; but that I may so pray, as to pray Christianity into my heart. 14. May I delight in the law of the Lord, and meditate in it day and night. (Ps. 1. 2.) 15. "Let the words of my mouth, and the "meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy "sight, O Lord my strength, and my redeemer. (Ps. xix. 14.) 16. May I carry the thought of death with me (especially as I may possibly die this year) whereever I go. May I carry it into my closet, into my family, into my business, and into the house of God; and endeavour to hear, pray, and receive the Lord's supper, as a dying creature. May I encourage this thought when I lie down at night, and awake in the morning. May I live in the constant practice of this, lest that day come upon me unawares; (Luke xxi. 34.) and may God be my helper ! 17. Enable me, O Lord, to discern the true state of my soul. Prepare me to meet thee, my God. (Amos iv. 12.) Remove from me the slavish fear of death; and so strengthen me and dispose my heart, that I may die glorifying thee, and benefiting those who may then be about me. 18. May my soul be nourished by those truths, which I have committed to memory, or to writing. 19. I beseech thee to hear me, good Lord, to forgive the iniquities (or imperfections) of my holy things, (Exod. xxviii. 30.) and finally to receive me into thine heavenly kingdom, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. A short prayer to be used by one who is sick, for a blessing on the medicines he is taking.* LORD, as my help and trust are in thee, and as without thee all man's endeavours are vain, give thy blessing to this medicine, and all the other means which I am now using for my ease and recovery; and (if it be thy blessed will) make whatever I take or do so essential for that end, that I may live, be an instrument of thy glory, and better prepared, than I now am, for the coming of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. * It is said of Asa, king of Judah," that in his disease "he sought not the Lord, but the physicians only." 2 Chron. xvi. 12. He is not censured for having recourse to the skill of the physicians, but for placing his sole dependance on them, whom he should have considered as instruments in God's hands, who alone can give success to any means employed for a recovery of the sick. This prayer therefore is of great importance, and any minister, or others, who attend a sick person, should exhort him to a conscientious observance of it: especially in these degenerate times, when, alas! it is so much neglected. A night prayer to be committed to memory, and used by the sick (or others) who are apt to continue long awake. GREAT God, "the darkness hideth not from "thee, but the night shineth as the day." "Thou art about my path, and my bed, and art acquainted with all my ways and thoughts. (Ps. cxxxix. 2, 3.) When thou keepest mine eyes waking, I desire to lift them up to thee, the Father of light; to remember thee on my bed, and to meditate on thee in the night-watches. I beseech thee to make thy face shine on thy servant, to gild the present dark scene, to compose my mind, and to banish every fear from it: and may 66 my "thoughts and reflections on myself instruct "me in the night season,' when others are asleep. the I desire to recollect and acknowledge thy con stant care and goodness to me by day and night. I would commune with my own heart on my bed, and renew my sincere repentance for all my sins; for which I might justly have been banished to eternal darkness and misery. I desire to look unto Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, who endured the cross for my sake, and trust in him, who is able to save to the uttermost. I solemnly give up myself to thy service and disposal, and desire humbly to acquiesce in every painful and disagreeable circumstance. I lift up my heart in grateful acknowledgment for all thy patience with me, and goodness to me. Support me, gracious Father, under every burden and infirmity: when I walk in darkness, be thou a light about me: animate and comfort me with the views of that better world, where there is no night or darkness, but "the Lord "shall be an everlasting light to his faithful "servants, and the days of their mourning shall "be ended." Isaiah Ix. 20. And O that I may learn from my own feelings how to pity the sick and afflicted; those who have painful days and sleepless nights; those whose age and infirmities cause their days and nights to pass heavily on; and those who are under any kind of distress or trial: and may all the sufferings of the present life work out for them, and for me, the most solid, substantial, and lasting happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour. Amen. Night meditations for those who may then As wearisome nights are appointed to many, (Job vii. 4.) especially in sickness, they may profitably and comfortably beguile the tedious hours, like David, who, during the darkness and silence of the night, was frequently employed in devout meditation, and in communing with God and his own heart. [See Psalms iv. 4. xvi. 7. lxiii. 6. cxix. 55.] The proper subjects of nocturnal meditation, which present to those who have been accustomed to it, are innumerable. But as many are incapable of suggesting to themselves suitable materials for so important a purpose, the following meditations may be acceptable and useful, if they wish to employ their night thoughts religiously, when they cannot compose themselves to sleep. 1. Meditation when laid down in bed. Creating darkness, and forming light, are the effects of God's power and goodness. The sable curtains of the night are now drawn; and nature seems hushed in silence, whilst many retire from labour to sleep. Often have I experienced this blessing. I have laid down in safety, slept, awakened, and beheld the light of the morning, for God has preserved me. But, because I have frequently been indulged with this blessing, shall I conclude this succession of the morning to the night will always continue? This night may possibly (though not very probably) be my last: I may never behold another morning: I may open my eyes in a world of endless day, or of perpetual night. What is my true state? Am I a Christian indeed? Grant, O Lord, that, if I awake no more in this world, I may awake in thy likeness, and be for ever with thee! 2. Meditation on waking out of sleep. Sleep is undoubtedly a blessing. The senses seem overwhelmed, and the powers of reason suspended. I am like one raised from a state of death. "Each night we die, each morn are born anew." Death therefore is justly compared to sleep. Blessed are they who sleep in Jesus. (1 Thess. iv. 14.) I now behold the morning light. What are the duties which I should (if able) attend this day? The business of the world calls for my attendance. Man is formed for action. Our first parents in Paradise were placed there not to live in idleness, but to cultivate that beautiful garden, in which they resided. May I then attend with cheerfulness and diligence to the business of the advancing day. May God, amidst all the dangers of it, defend me; may integrity and uprightness preserve me; and may I, whilst I am diligent in business, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 3. Meditation on waking in pain or sickness. How uncertain is this world, and all the enjoyments of it! I laid myself down to rest free from pain or sickness. But how different is it with me now I awake! I am now exercised with great pain. Think, O my soul, of that dreadful state, in which all those will be, who from the |