my authority, in treating her as my dear yoke fellow and companion. Not rigid in opposing of her; but comply with her, and condescending to her in all her reasonable desires and expectations. O make me meek and patient with her; faithful and kind to her; respectful and tender of her, and well pleased and satisfied in her: that she may find the refreshment and benefit of my fellowship, and not bewail but rejoice in her choice; to forsake all other for my sake. O blessed Lord, espouse my dear friend to thyself, in loving kindness and faithfulness, and tender mercies. Bless her and love her, and make her lovely to thyself, and to all; especially make her like the king's daughter, glorious within, that she may not only appear well here, but be most blessed for ever; and grant, O Lord our God, that we may be lovers of one another's souls, and promoters of each other's salvation; so that after a short conversation here, we may meet again with rejoicing there, where we shall never part, even in that fulness of joy which is in thy presence; where, though there be no marrying, nor giving in marriage, yet is there greater festivity and gladness, than in any day of espousals; and all heavenly sweets, and the highest pleasures for evermore.Amen.

The Wife's Prayer.

MY God, thou hast called me to this state of life; and it is the disposal of thy providence, that I should be joined in wedlock with thy servant. I bless thee, Lord, that thou hast dealt well with me, and provided graciously for me. O continue thy goodness to me, in giving me knowledge and grace to demean myself aright in this relation, that

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may honour and obey the Lord in reverencing and obeying my husband; submitting to him in all things not forbidden by thee; speaking of him, and to him, with such words, to signify the high esteem and dear love that I have for him and so comporting myself, as to give him content, and increase his delight; that he may not only be satisfied with me, but take pleasure in me: and in any occasions of offence, with silence, or soft obliging words, let me quench the flames; so preserving peace. O give me the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit; such as may not only make me sweet and amiable at present, but also prevent all shameful and mischievous effects. O make me humble and modest, discreet and considerate, careful and diligent, faithful and constant, mild and patient; remembering not only the duties and comforts, but also the temptations and crosses of the married condition; and taking the worse with the better, as a part of my portion; still shewing myself a follower of wise and pious matrons in all things that are of good report, however I am tried with prosperity or adversity. Bless my dear partner, O Lord, with the best of thy blessings; and love him, and keep him in thy continual care, till thou bring him to thy heavenly kingdom. O bind us both in faithfulness unto thee, as well as to one another: and as we are one flesh, so make us of one heart, and of one soul, that nothing but death may ever make a separation between us. And let us not hold together only upon the worldly account, but also, and especially upon the religious and godly; to admire, and love, and serve, and glorify, and please thee our God, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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A Prayer for a Woman in Travail.

ALMIGHTY Lord God, who bringest to the birth, and givest strength to bring forth; shew favour, we beseech thee, to thy servant in the time of her need and distress; and be not far from her when trouble is nigh to her, and lies sore and heavy upon her; but let her experience thy help at hand, according to the necessity of her case.

mitigate the pangs, and make them tolerable to her; and support and relieve her under the pain and pressure that are so grievous to be borne by her. And grant her, Lord, a timely, safe, and happy deliverance of the offspring wherewith she travails, that she may see the fruits of her womb with such comfort and joy, as may make her forget the past anguish and sorrow; and with a truly thankful heart give thee the glory of such thy mercy, who dost things worthy of God, and makest thy servants a way to escape out of the dangers that threaten to destroy them. Or shouldst thou turn things contrary to these our desires, which we humbly present before thee; shouldst thou refuse to hear us begging for the life of thy handmaid, and make this unexpected birth prove the cause of her death; yet hear us, 0 Lord, we earnestly pray thee, for her soul, that it may be safe in thy blessed hands; that she may be prepared for a better life; and find the best deliverance of all from sin and misery, into the perfection of holiness, and the fulness of joy; there to live in thy love, and to sing thy praise for evermore. Amen.

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A Thanksgiving after a safe Delivery.

LESSED for ever be thy name, O Lord, our gracious God, who rememberest us in our low

estate, and dost not abhor the affliction of the afflicted; but hearest thy servants crying to thee in their distress, and sendest relief and help in time of need. O that we may praise thee, Lord, as we ought, for such thy goodness and wonderful works to the children of men! Thou bringest down, and raisest up; thou givest trouble and sendest comfort; throwest down under fears and griefs, and again revivest our hopes and joys. Thou, O God, art good in all, and worthy to be admired and praised in every dispensation of thy providence ; but chiefly are we affected with thy seasonable aids of our misery, when thou givest us beauty for ashes, the oil of gladness for mourning, and the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness; so thou hast now, blessed be thy name! refreshed thy afflicted handmaid, and rejoiced the souls of thy servants. And here we offer up unto thee, O gracious Lord, all our devout acknowledgments of thy loving kindness; and the sacrifice of our unfeigned thanks and praise for this sweet reviving mercy, which is as life from the dead. O that thy handmaid, and all of us, may be duly sensible of such favour from the Lord; and for all the great goodness and these continual obligations from above, may we give thee all the love of our hearts, and the service of our lives, and the glory due to thy blessed name, now and for evermore. Amen.

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A Prayer for our Children.

HE children, O Lord my God, which thou hast given me, I return, and surrender them up to thee. O that they may know thee, and be owned by thee, every one from the greatest to the least. Pour out thy Spirit upon my seed, and thy blessing upon my offspring: make them, Lord, thy

children by adoption and spiritual regeneration. O take possession of their hearts, and season their tender years with thy heavenly grace: and teach those who have the teaching of them, that they may be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and trained up in the way that they should go. I have helped to bring them into the world, children of wrath: O that thou wouldst make me instrumental to set them up in thy church the children of grace. Lord have mercy upon them, and speak life to their souls, and whatsoever else they want: O let them have thy grace and the portion of thy children. My God! be thou a gracious Father to them, and a merciful Provider for them in all estates, and all affairs and events of their lives. Dispose of them, and whatever concerns them, to thy glory and to the promoting of their everlasting salvation.

Shouldst thou take them from hence before me, O fit them for thee; and make me willing to resign them to thee; or if thou take me from them, O my Lord, take them up, and be an infinitely better Father to them when I am gone. O keep them from the evil of this world; and conduct and being them safe through it to a better; take thou care even of their temporal concerns, and choose their inheritance for them, that they may find it to be convenient here, and an easy passage through the present life; but especially, my God, take care of their souls, and give them the blessed treasure in heaven, that when they shall be deprived of all here, they may be taken into thy glorious kingdom above: to live with thee, and all the heavenly host, world without end. Amen.