that I suffered but in my own fears of what I have so little felt. I cannot, without amazement, look back upon the perilous case that I was in, and the brink of ruin that I lay upon. And that I should escape, as I have done, O how marvellous is it in my eyes! and O what cause have I for thy praise, that I am here alive to praise thee! O my God, it is thy good hand that hast wrought so wonderfully for me, and thy fatherly kindness that has shewn such extraordinary favour to me: O! If I had been snatched away unprepared, how dreadful a change should I have found! But in mercy, and love to my soul, (I give thee glory) thou hast made a way for my escape and I am preserved the living monument of thy unspeakable goodness.

✪ what shall I say unto thee, whose name is exalted far above all blessings and praise! and what shall I do for thee, to whom my goodness will not extend! I can never answer the obligation which thy love, dear Lord, has laid upon me: but let me admire and love, and bless and praise thee, with all the capacities and abilities which thou hast given me. And O that thou wouldst imprint so deep upon my heart the sense of such seasonable relief, and wonderful mercy; that I may never forget, never slight or abuse the great goodness that thou hast shewed me, and the signal preservation, and recovery which thou hast wrought for me: but ever give thee thanks with all my heart and carry as one that is so highly obliged, all the days of my life: not secure and careless, because I have so escaped; but the more watchful and diligent, the more I have been engaged and favoured: approving my thankfulness in such a manner, as thou mayest graciously accept in my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer after Recovery out of a dangerous Sickness.

GOD of my life! in whose hand my breath is, and by whom all men do live, and have their days here prolonged or shortened, I was brought low, and ready to think that thou wouldst now determine, and make an end of my days upon earth; and counted myself so nigh unto death, that I expected every day, when that last enemy which lay in wait for me, would come and seize upon me.

But thou, Lord, hast graciously disappointed my fears, and rescued me from his hands; and raised me up to walk again before thee in the land of the living. Though thou broughtest me even to the mouth of the grave, yet hast thou brought me back, that the pit of corruption should not swallow me up. And thou that givest me life at first, has now given it to me afresh. And to thee, my God, I desire therefore, with all my soul, to give all the praise. O blessed be my great Preserver, the dear and only Saviour of my body, as well as soul; the God of my health, my heavenly Physician, my life, and the length of my days. O that I may live to declare the works of the Lord, and set forth the honour of his name! that I may not look upon my extended life, as an occasion to the flesh; to enjoy my liberty and pleasure upon earth: but an engagement on my heart, to abound in gratitude, and love and praise, and all faithful duty, and cheerful obedience to my gracious God.

For in mercy to my soul, the Lord has given me a further allowance of time in the world, to fill up what was wanting in my spiritual estate, and to make a better preparation for the heavenly kingdom. And

upon this account alone it is that our life is so valuable, and our time so precious here upon earth; that we may have space to repent! and the opportunity to correct the errors of our past life, and to secure the greatest of all our effects; to serve ou Lord to more well pleasing; and to dress up ourselves into a greater fitness to meet the eternal glorious Bridegroom. O that the life now renewed to myself, may also be a new life to the Lord. That I may not only say, I thought I should have died; but may carry myself henceforth as one restored even from the dead; and live with such dying thoughts, that when at last I come to die, I may depart with lively hopes of eternal blessedness.

For it is no total escape, but only a reprieve, that is now granted to me; and my death is a debt to nature, that must be paid; nor is there any avoiding it; but the hands of death, that have been catching at me, will yet certainly take hold of me; and Ï know not how soon I may be down again; and not only threatened but enclosed by the grave; for that is my house, where, after all, I must take up my abode, and return to dust. And when I least think of it, O how suddenly may I be cut off, and take my last leave of this world!

O let me not live then as if I should never see death; nor put it far from me, as if it should never be upon me; nor reckon upon any sure standing, or long abiding, in such a changeable transitory world, that is but the house of our pilgrimage, and none of our home, nor the place of our rest. But when dust I am, and to dust I must return, O help me, Lord, so to remember and consider my death, that I may be the better fitted for it, in all the course and conduct of my life; with such wise and holy circumspection, carrying myself and ordering all my

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conversation in the world: that when I must close my eyes upon this present scene of things, I may depart hence, full of peace, and hope, to enjoy far better and more durable goods than any are here to be found. And for my recovery, and such health as I enjoy at present, O let me pay my vows to the Lord and from the ground of the heart, ascribe to the God of my salvation, all glory, thanks, love, and service, throughout the whole remainder of my life, and for evermore. Amen.

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A Prayer for Blessing, Direction, Help and good Success, in any great Enterprize.

LORD God, infinitely wise and good, who teacheth man knowledge, and givest both the skill and power to accomplish our purposes; and also the blessings and success to bring things to pass according to our wishes! I know not what to do. But my eyes are upon thee; and all my expectation is from thee and still I desire to wait, and call, and depend upon thee. A great work now I have to do; But O how little strength to do it! All my sufficiency is of thee, who workest in us to will and to do, of thy good pleasure. Thou that hast been my help, leave me not, nor forsake me, O God of my salvation: but let me be taught of God what I have to do; and let the gracious Lord make me to understand what is thy pleasure concerning me. O that my ways were directed to please thee, that I may have the light of thy countenance shining upon

me.

My Lord and my God, leave me not in the hand of my own counsel, nor to the conduct of my own foolish and deceitful heart, but lead me by the way that I shall go, and guide me continually, that dis

cretion may preserve me, and understanding may keep me. O make my way prosperous, and give me thy blessing and good success. Bring all needful things to my remembrance; and where I have not the presence of mind nor power of performance, O magnify thy power in my weakness; and let me go forth in thy name and strength, and speed, and prosper by thy grace and blessing. Let thy good providence so be my defence and security, and thy holy Spirit my guide and counsellor, that I may wisely choose, and rightly manage, and successfully accomplish, the things wherein I have engaged.

Thy will be done, O Lord, however I am pleased or crossed; and let me ever design thy glory, whether it make for my gain or loss, in any respect in this present life. O be thou still a gracious Father to me, and a merciful Provider for me; and grant me now the comfortable sense of thy good acceptance of me, and thy designs of mercy toward me. Be thou pleased to take me to thy fatherly care, and conduct and preserve me from the evils into which I am prone to fall, and quicken me to the good which I am averse to perform. O establish thou the work of thy hands upon me! yea, the work of thy hands establish thou it. My God and Guide, my Help and Strength; if thou lead me not, I shall run into errors; if thou keep me not, I shall fall into dangers but hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. And let me experience thy power and presence with me, and all the goodness of the Lord passing before me, that I may so go through this and all the affairs of my life, that, at my last reflection upon what is past, my soul may have peace and give thy name the praise, through Jesus Christ. Amen.