Mind in us, it is accepted according to that which a Man hath, and not according to that a Man hath not, 2 Cor. viii. 12. So that your Infirmities ought to humble, but not difcourage you.

For Inftance, fuppofe you should not be able, after all your Endea vours and Prayers, to fhed any, or but few Tears for your Sins, be not too much caft down at it; for to be troubled for Want of Tears, is one Sign of Godly Sorrow; and 'tis certain, tho' Tears are very defirable, yet they are not always Signs of true Repentance; for Hypocrites may fhed them, and there may be true Godly Sorrow without them; and perhaps God will at laft give them to you, when his Wifdom fees your Heart in a fit Temper for them.

Whenfoever then you are troubled with an afflicted Senfe of your Infirmities, and for your many Fail ings, I advise you to fay this Prayer following, and to reft fatisfied, that he that died for you, will both hear, and accept, and fuccour you, F

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A Prayer against Failings. Thou compaffionate Saviour of finful Men, look down from Heaven, and have Mercy upon me wretched Sinner: O fave me, O help me; for without thee I can do nothing as Lought.

Miferable Man that I am, my very Prayers and Repentance are accompanied with fo many Failings, that I am fometimes afraid that thou, Lord, wilt not hear fuch Prayers, nor regard fuch Repentance.

But, O bleffed Saviour, my Lord, and my God, 'tis thy Promife, not to difcourage the leaft Measure of Grace: Thou wilt not quench the fmoaking Flax, or break the bruised Reed, Matth. xii. 20.

'Tis thy Practice, Lord, to comply with the Weaknefs of thy Servants: Thou art the good Shepherd, who carrieft the tender Lambs in thy very Bofom, and gently leadeft thofe that be with young, Ifa. xl. 11,

Nay, Lord, 'tis thy very Nature fo to do; for thou thy felf haft felt

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human Infirmities, and canft not but commiferate thofe that figh under them. Heb. ii. iv. 17, 18. 15.

Why art thou then fo heavy, O my Soul, and why art thou fo difquieted within me! O put thy Truft in thy Saviour, who is the Help of my Countenance, and my God. Pfal. xlii. 5.

O Gracious Lord, do thou pity me, and accept my weak and im perfect Performances, and fupply, by thy boundless Mercy, all the De fects in my Duty; and if it be thy Pleasure I should ferve thee better, O Lord God, increafe thy Succours of Grace, and I fhall then increafe my Obedience.

O thou Lover of Souls, for the fake of that infinite Compaffion of thine, which moved thee to die for Ime, hear me, and help me. Amen, Lord Jefus, Amen, Amen.

Directions in Time of Sickness.

F

AR be it from you, good Philotheus, to counterfeit your felf fick at any Time, to avoid the School, or the

like, left God fend you Sickness indeed, to punish your Idleness and Diffimulation.

But if it please God to vifit you with a real Difeafe, let it be your firft Care to make your Peace with Heaven; for God, by taking you off from your ufual Studies, does give you a Call to Repentance; and the Examination of your felf in the Beginning of your Sicknefs, is as feafonable and neceffary as before Communicating: Befides, if your Sickness proves dangerous, you will then, I doubt not, defire to communicate; fo that to fit you both for the Holy Sacrament, and for Heaven, Examination and Repentance ought to be firft in your Thoughts.

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Beware, Philotheus, of deferring

this

this Duty, because you are young, and think you may have Time enough to repent hereafter; for you fee, that Perfons younger than your felf die, and you are not fure to outlive this Diftemper; and if you fhould put it off till your Sickness grows more on you, it may perhaps take away your Senfes; or if it does not, be fure it will much more indifpofe you to Prayer and Recollection.

In the Beginning then of your Sickness begin your Repentance; and fay over this following Prayer, and not only fay, but practise it.

Prayer in the Beginning of Sickness.

O

Heavenly Father, who in thy Wisdom knoweft what is beft for me, Glory be to thee.

Lord, if it feem good in thy Sight, divert this Diftemper from me, which I now feel feizing on me, that I may employ my Health to thy Glory, and praife thy Name.

But if thou art pleased it should grow on me, I willingly submit to thy afflicting Hand; for thou art F 3

wont