Have mercy, Lord! O Lord, forgive.

Hide Thy face from his sins, and blot out all his iniquities. Create in him a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within him. Cast him not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from him,

"Have mercy, Lord: O Lord, forgive;

And let a repenting rebel live?"

Thou art our Father, who hast made us; Thou art our God, who hast saved us. In Thy dear Son, Christ Jesus, Thou hast reconciled sinners unto Thyself, not imputing their iniquities unto them.

In that Glorious Name, then,-a Name surpassing every name that's named in earth, or Heaven, we offer up our fervent prayers and entreaties (on behalf of a sick brother), on behalf of one who bewails the errors and the many sins of his past life; and who now earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness at the hands of a gracious and merciful God.

:

Lord! stretch forth Thy hand! Save and deliver our brother! (Spare further, if it be Thy will, for years to come, the life of this Thy servant.) Draw near to him, and bless him with Thy presence and grant him grace, blessed Lord, that, for the remainder of his days, he may cast off sin and Satan,-living in Christ,-trusting only in the blood of Jesus for the pardon of his sins,-looking for the coming of the Lord,-longing for the day, the glorious, happy day, when, with a robe of spotless white around him, a robe made white in the Blood of the Lamb, he and all the pardoned ones shall receive from the outstretched hands of a loving Saviour, a Crown of Righteousness. AMEN.

* Collect, 14.

Sinners, turn; why will ye die?
God, your Father, asks you why:
He, who calls you from above,
Wooes you to embrace His love!

Sinners, turn; why will ye die?
Christ, your Saviour, asks you why:
He, who loved you unto death,
Calls you with His dying breath!

Will you let Him die in vain ?
Crucify your Lord again?

Why, ye ransomed sinners, why

Will ye slight His grace, and die?"

Wesley.

PRAYER ON BEHALF OF A PERSON STRUCK DOWN WITH SUDDEN ILLNESS IN THE MIDST OF HIS SINS, BUT SHOWING, AS YET, NO CONTRITION.

O, Lord, our God!-"how excellent is Thy name in all the earth;-Who hast set Thy glory above the Heavens ;" Who never failest to help and hear all those who call upon Thee in sincerity and godly fear: we draw nigh to Thee in a time of sore distress, on behalf of our brother, (or, this person,) whom Thou hast been pleased to lay low with a sudden stroke of illness. We entreat that Thy compassionate mercy may be extended both to his body and his soul. We are encouraged to come unto Thee, for Thou, Lord, wilt not always be chiding; neither wilt Thou keep Thine anger for ever. Thou hast not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities: for look! how high the Heaven is in comparison of the earth! So great is Thy mercy towards them that fear Thee! Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children; even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear Him! Knowing, then, that Thou art a God of love; that in this was manifest Thy

*Suitable Collects,-9, 10, 11, and 12.

Prayer on behalf of a person struck down with sudden illness

love, that Thou didst send Thy Son to be the propitiation of our sins; that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; and that the vilest sinner can live through Him whose blood cleanseth from all sin,-we call upon Thee in faith, and beseech Thee to bestow upon this our brother (or, upon this sick person,) that measure of assistance and relief which he so greatly needs.

Consider, Lord, his helpless state, his desperate condition! Here he lies,-one who makes no boast of God! who knows not Thy will! approves not the things that are excellent! is ignorant of the way of salvation !— : one who has rejected the teachings of Thy Holy Word! despised the admonitions of Thy Holy Spirit! set at naught all Thy counsel, and would have none of Thy reproof! Forgetful of God all the days of the years of his pilgrimage, he is dead while he liveth! All is dark, Lord, both for body and soul !

In this state, who can bring him relief? Who can bring him help? None, Lord, but Thee! Thou, O God, art the Light. Of old, Thou spakest the word, "Let there be light-and there was light:" and all things in Heaven. and earth are made manifest in the light of Thy countenance. The darkest night becomes the brightest day at Thy good will and pleasure; and the evil heart of unbelief lights up with faith, and hope, and love at Thy command.

Lord! speak the word! Lift up the light of Thy countenance, and this sinner shall be whole! Thou art the Life! To know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent, is Life eternal! Without that knowledge, man is no better than a beast! With the Psalmist he must say, "So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee!" Grant, Lord, that this man (or, this our brother,) may learn to know Thee; for Heavenly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding alone come from Thee. Then, Lord, help him (or, our brother), in this extremity! An immortal soul lies in darkness on the confines of the grave,-dead in trespasses and sins! Eternity, and Oh! what an eternity! is ready to open its everlasting portals to receive him, while the sleeper fails to call upon God!

in the midst of his sins; but shewing, as yet, no contrition.

*

O Lord, have mercy upon our brother, and rouse him from this dreadful lethargy, this sleep of death! Have mercy upon him, O most merciful Father, though he has despised and neglected Thy great salvation. Let light shine into his dark understanding, and life into his benighted soul ! Awaken him to a full knowledge of the terrors of the Lord. Let this sudden illness, O Lord, this correction of the body,-prove a blessing to his soul; and cause him to comprehend the terrible peril of his situation; and that there is but a step between him and Eternal Death.

O Lord! hear us on behalf of our brother! Thou art the Author of all being, the Fountain of Eternal Life! Thou hast formed our bodies. Thou hast breathed into our nostrils the breath of life; and hast made us living souls. We are accountable to Thee, and responsible to Thee for the proper use and employment of all our faculties. Thou art our Father, and we owe Thee obedience. Thou art our Master, and we owe Thee a service. Thine injunction to each and all of us is," Occupy till I come!

Thou hast come to this servant with the message,. "The Master calleth!". "Thy soul is required of thee!' -and Thou hast found him sleeping! Rouse him, O Lord, that he may flee, if it be yet possible, from the wrath to come, and find refuge in the Ark of Safety. Reveal to him Thy dear Son, Thy Beloved, Thine Elect, in whom Thy soul delighteth. Let him hear Thy voice speaking in Thy Holy Word, and in accents of compassionate invitation, saying:-" Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and unto our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

**

O, Thou gracious Saviour of the world! bid our brother to come to Thee; and help him to cry, "Lord, remember

* Should there be a pause, Collect 10, may here be added. ** Collects, 2 and 4.

Prayer on behalf of a person struck down with sudden illness.

me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom!" And, O Lord, do Thou, who never breakest a bruised reed, nor quenchest smoking flax, vouchsafe to behold and to accept the faintest stirrings of faith and repentance in his soul. O Jesus, cleanse him from sin in Thy most precious blood. Grant him Thy Holy Spirit. Impute not unto him his past follies. Forgive all his iniquities, in thought, word, and deed; all the ungodly deeds which he has ungodly committed; and all the hard and unbelieving speeches which he has spoken against Thee. Thou hast chastened and corrected him, O Lord; but we pray Thee, give him not over unto death. Rebuke this disease! If it be Thy good pleasure, and for Thine own honour and glory, spare his life, that he may redeem the past, and prove a holy and useful servant unto Thee in the future.

And, O Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon this sick person (or, our sick brother), the abundance of Thy mercy; forgiving him those things whereof his conscience is afraid; and giving him those good things which he is not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. AMEN.