The
Second Prayer Was Written Nov. 6, 1727
MERCIFUL
Father, who never afflictest Thy children but for their own good, and
with
justice, over which Thy mercy always prevaileth, either to turn them to
repentance, or to punish them in the present life, in order to reward
them in a
better; take pity, we beseech Thee, upon this Thy poor afflicted
servant,
languishing so long and so grievously under the weight of Thy Hand.
Give her
strength, O Lord, to support her weakness, and patience to endure her
pains,
without repining at Thy correction. Forgive every rash and inconsiderate
expression which her anguish may at any time force from her tongue,
while her
heart continueth in an entire submission to Thy Will. Suppress in her,
O Lord,
all eager desires of life, and lesson her fears of death, by inspiring
into her
an humble yet assured hope of Thy mercy. Give her a sincere repentance
for all
her transgressions and omissions, and a firm resolution to pass the
remainder of
her life in endeavouring to her utmost to observe all thy precepts. We
beseech
Thee likewise to compose her thoughts, and preserve to her the use of
her memory
and reason during the course of her sickness. Give her a true
conception of the
vanity, folly, and insignificancy of all human things; and strengthen
her so as
to beget in her a sincere love of Thee in the midst of her sufferings.
Accept
and impute all her good deeds, and forgive her all those offences
against Thee,
which she hath sincerely repented of, or through the frailty of memory
hath
forgot. And now, O Lord, we turn to Thee in behalf of ourselves, and
the rest of
her sorrowful friends. Let not our grief afflict her mind, and thereby
have an
ill effect on her present distemper. Forgive the sorrow and weakness of
those
among us who sink under the grief and terror of losing so dear and
useful a
friend. Accept and pardon our most earnest prayers and wishes for her
longer
continuance in this evil world, to do what Thou art pleased to call Thy
service,
and is only her bounden duty; that she may be still a comfort to us,
and to all
others, who will want the benefit of her conversation, her advice, her
good
offices, or her charity. And since Thou hast promised that where two or
three
are gathered together in Thy Name, Thou wilt be in the midst of them to
grant
their request, O Gracious Lord, grant to us who are here met in Thy
Name, that
those requests, which in the utmost sincerity and earnestness of our
hearts we
have now made in behalf of this Thy distressed servant, and of
ourselves, may
effectually be answered; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN,