Example of Jefus Chrift, who went about doing Good, for whofe Sake I beseech thee to hear me. Amen.

A Prayer for a Perfon engaged in a LawSuit, or like to be fo.

Thou Sovereign Lord and Governor of the World, to thee all Judgment belongs, and to thee I fubmit myfelf, in the Caufe wherein I am [likely to be] engaged. I have endeavoured, according to the best of my Power and Skill, faithfully to examine and confider the Justice of my Caufe, before I durft lay it at thy Tribunal: Convince me, O Lord, if I am under any Mistake; direct, and affift me under all the Difficulties and Incumbrances, which I am like to meet with; and in thy good Time, put a happy and peaceable End to the Bufinefs which I [am about to undertake, or] have undertaken.

To which End, give me that Wisdom from above, which is peaceable, gentle, and eafy to be entreated; that nothing may be wanting, on my Part, to bring this Matter to a speedy and friendly Conclufion; and difpofe the Heart of my contending Brother to the like peaceable Inclination: Teach

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us to lay afide all Fonduefs and Partiality, and enable us continually to practise that Christian and equitable Law, of doing as we would be done by.

But if this Matter be too hard for us, and if it be thy good Pleasure that I fhall be engaged in a Law-Suit; [or, fince it is thy good Pleasure, that I am engaged in Law] grant me the Help of thy Grace, that I may contend for Right more than Victory; that nothing may be done through Malice, Strife, Pride, or Vain-Glory; that no Profit or Advantage whatfoever may prevail upon me to tranfgrefs the Laws of Juftice and Charity; nor any illegal Practice or hard Ufage which I may meet with from my Adverfary, ever provoke me to the like Injuftice, or to any unchriftian Behaviour towards him; but that during the whole Course of Law, I may preserve a friendly, peaceable, and equitable Temper of Spirit; fubmitting the Event to thy Fatherly Wisdom and Difpofition, who knowest what is most necessary and convenient for me.

And, I beseech thee to keep me conftantly under fuch a Senfe of thy All-feeing Providence, and fuch a Dread of thy Juftice, that I may never offer, the leaft Wrong or

Injury to any Man; but, on the contrary, make me willing and ready, (according to thy Command) to fuffer fome Injuries, rather than expofe myself and Neighbour to thofe Evils and Temptations which we may be liable to in procuring a legal Satisfaction; especially, let me never dare to commit any Fraud or Oppreffion, under the Colour or Pretence of Law; nor venture to support myself in the most juft Cause, by any unlawful Means. Make me prudently to confider, that whatever Injuries may happen to me, by the Fraud or Injustice of Man, are by thy Permiffion; as a Trial of my Patience, or a Correction of my Offences, or for fome other wife and good End of thy Providence; and that thou, who art the Sovereign Difpofer of all Things, canft, and I hope wilt, make up whatever Lofs fhall befal me, when it hath effected the Ends for which thou waft pleased to inflict it; that fo in the mean Time I may be patient and fubmiffive to thy Will, confidering that thou haft an abfolute Right to all that I poffefs.

I beseech thee, alfo, let the Remembrance of thy Mercies and Forgivenefs towards me fill my Heart with fuch a Chriftian Love, and Compaffion, that I may never contend

with my Neighbour, to gratify my own corrupt Nature, nor take Delight in his Sufferings: But let the Senfe of what thou haft done and fuffered for me, banish all covetous Defires from my Soul, and excite in me a Compaffion towards thy diftreffed Members; for thy Sake, forgiving my Fellow-Servants, as I hope myself to be forgiven, when thou shalt come to judge the Quick and the Dead. Grant this, O merciful Father, for Jefus Chrift's Sake, our only Saviour and Redeemer.

Amen.

A Prayer for one that deliberates about Marriage.

God, the Creator and Preferver of Mankind, who haft inftituted the holy State of Matrimony, as the only Way to continue the World, and for the Comfort of Man's Life under the various Evils, Cares, and Labours of it, by the mutual Society and Help that married Perfons ought to have one for the other, both in Profperity and Adversity, and for the Good of human Society, by preventing many Confufions, and promoting Concord, therein: Grant that now I have Thoughts of entering into this State, I may fo feriously confider the

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chief End of its Inftitution, as not to enterprife the fame unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to fatisfy my carnal Luft or Appetites; but reverently, discreetly, advifedly, foberly, and in the Fear of God.

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Let me ferioufly weigh, and confider beforehand, the folemn Vow and Promise I fhall then make, fo as never to entertain any Thoughts of it, without a fincere Purpofe of Heart, and a firm Refolution of Mind to perform the fame.

Let me confider, that if I marry, my future Happiness or Mifery in Life will very much depend on the Choice I make; that with whomfoever I marry, I venture' the being happy or unhappy all my Days; and that I fhall be obliged, by thy holy Laws, to love my Partner, and no other, till Death.

Let not a wild and fenfual, a heedless This is to be and inconfiderate Spirit, rule used by a Perfon me in this momentous Change under the Care of. Parents or Guar- of my Life. [And fince I am young and under the Care and Direction of others, as I expect thy Bleffing, let me liften to their Advice and better Judgment in this Matter.]

dians.

Let Reafon and Religion, Prudence and Confideration, and above all, thy good Providence, direct my Choice; and let my