of the Lamb, before Thy throne; through the same, Thy dear SON JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen.

VI.

HOLY FATHER, look down upon Thy child [or servant]. For the precious merits of the spotless Lamb hear our cry, and let our prayer come unto Thee. It is written, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick." LORD, we believe: help Thou our unbelief. We are not worthy of the least of all Thy mercies. We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under Thy table. Yet we come to Thee in the name of Thy beloved SoN. If it might be, we would pray Thee for the longer stay of our dear brother [or of Thy servant] here amongst us. But, O FATHER, he is in Thy Hands; and we chiefly ask that Thou wouldst grant unto him peace of mind, unshaken trust, and joyful hope. Teach him to know that "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Lift his spirit from this world, that he may be weighed down by no pains, nor cares, nor fancies of earth. May Thy holy Angels watch by him and guard him. Helpless we fall before Thee: help us, holy FATHER, for Thy dear SON's sake. Amen.

VII.

"WE beseech Thee, O LORD, give strength to the weary, aid to the sufferers, comfort to the sad, help to those in tribulation."* Especially have mercy upon this Thy servant, upon whom Thou hast been pleased to lay Thy Fatherly * From Bright's Ancient Collects.

Hand in chastisement. Thou hast promised to make all things to work together for good to them that love Thee. Kindle in Thy servant a warmer love for Thee, that so this affliction may indeed work for his good. May this hot and fiery trial purify him as gold in the furnace, purging away all that is earthly and impure, and making him fitter to offer himself as an acceptable sacrifice unto Thee. May he know that it is good for him to have been in trouble, and that Thou of very faithfulness hast caused him to be troubled. And may he live to praise Thee for all Thy gracious dealings with him; through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen.

VIII.

MERCIFUL FATHER, look down upon Thy poor sinful child. I am so unworthy, and so weak and helpless, that I scarcely dare to come to Thee ; yet I have no other help to flee to, and Thou art a GOD of love. Oh, pity me, and forgive me all my miserable failures and infirmities. LORD, I cast myself on Thy mercies. I do long to do better. I do long to conquer my sins. I do long to make some progress in holiness. "LORD, Thou knowest all my desire." Oh, help me by Thy grace to conquer my besetting faults. Make me meek and gentle and patient and loving to all. Preserve me from thoughts of self, and selfseeking. Preserve me from all ill-temper and unkindliness. Make me bright and helpful and thoughtful towards others. Above all, give me a lowly childlike heart, that I may live as Thy child here, and may come to Thy glorious home hereafter, through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen.

IX.

FOR PARDON AND CLEANSING.

MERCIFUL FATHER, look down upon Thy poor sinful servant. I am so unworthy, and so weak and helpless, that I scarcely dare to come to Thee. Yet I have no other help to flee to, and Thou art a GoD of love. Oh, pity me and forgive me all my miserable sins and failures. LORD, I cast myself on Thy mercies. I do long to do better. I do long to conquer my sins. O Lord, give me true repentance for the past, and grant me forgiveness through the merits of Thy well-beloved SON. "LORD, Thou knowest all my desire, and my groaning is not hid from Thee." Oh, help me to conquer my besetting sins. Keep me pure and clean from every thought that can stain the soul. Preserve me from all selfishness, and selfseeking. Help me to grow in grace, and in knowledge of my LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. And when my earthly course is ended, oh, receive me, unworthy though I be, for the sake of Him who died for my salvation, Thy SON JESUS CHRIST.

Amen.

X.

FOR PATIENCE.

O GRACIOUS and merciful FATHER, whose grace is sufficient for all our needs, and whose strength is made perfect in our weakness; have mercy upon Thine afflicted servant, and bestow upon him the gift of patience in all his sufferings, that he may meekly bear whatsoever Thou art pleased to lay upon him, and resign his will to Thine; through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen.

XI.

FOR GROWTH IN GRACE

O HEAVENLY FATHER, who lovest Thy children, and chastenest those whom Thou lovest; bless, we humbly pray Thee, all the chastisements Thou art pleased to lay upon Thy children to their growth in grace and holiness. Lead them by Thy hand, that they may go from strength to strength, increasing in all holy tempers, and changed more and more into the likeness of CHRIST, that so they may at length appear before Thee in the heavenly Zion; through the same Thy SON JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.

XII.

FOR THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER.

:

O FATHER, have mercy upon Thy child, and teach him to pray. He asks of Thee the spirit of prayer and supplication. His bodily weakness hindereth his prayers, so that they are weak and cold and beset by wanderings of mind. Yet he longeth to pray and, LORD, Thou knowest all his desire, and his groaning is not hid from Thee. Send Thy Holy Spirit to help his infirmities, and to teach him how to pray. If he is weak through the infirmity of the flesh, Oh! may that Divine Comforter make intercession for him. Teach him at least to feel Thy presence with him, that he may look up to Thee often, as a child to its father. Let him rest in simple trust in Thy arms. And, even when he cannot pray to Thee as he would, may he bow beneath his cross as Thy will, and never doubt Thy love. Accept him, O FATHER, not for his own sake, or for the sake of such

prayer as he offereth, but for the sake only of the merits and intercession of Thy dear SON JESUS CHRIST Our LORD.

Amen.

XIII.

FOR THE SPECIAL BLESSINGS OF SICKNESS.

O GRACIOUS FATHER, who chastenest those whom Thou lovest, for their good, and who hast special blessings for those whom Thou callest to suffer, pour out these Thy blessings, we humbly beseech Thee, upon this Thy suffering servant. Give him a deeper knowledge of his own heart, and of Thy Fatherly love. Give him a larger portion of the spirit of prayer and supplication. Beget in him true patience, and submission to Thy holy will. May he be more and more conformed to the likeness of Him who suffered for us, leaving us an example. Ripen in him, O LORD, all holy graces, take out of his heart everything that is not after Thy will; and may this furnace of affliction so purify him from all evil that he may come forth at last as gold that has been tried in the fire; through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Amen.

XIV.

FOR MEEKNESS AND UNSELFISHNESS.

O HOLY JESUs, who didst bear cruel tortures, and bitter insult and mockery, with perfect meekness and long-suffering; have pity on Thy servants, and strengthen them to imitate Thy holy example. Oh grant, we pray Thee, that when we suffer, we may be saved from all ill tempers and impatience of spirit. Make us meek and lowly in heart. Teach us to be gentle and thoughtful towards all