sea; be pleased to receive into thine almighty and most gracious protection the person of thy servant, for whom our prayers are desired. Preserve him

from the dangers of the sea, from sickness, from the violence of enemies, and from every evil to which he may be exposed. Conduct him in safety to the desired haven, with a grateful sense of thy mercies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O

FOR MALEFACTORS AFTER CONDEMNATION.

MOST gracious and merciful God, we earnestly beseech thee to look down upon those persons recommended to our prayers, who now lie under the sentence of the law, and are appointed to die. Visit them, O Lord, with thy compassion; make them sensible of the miserable condition to which their wickedness has reduced them, and give them true and unfeigned repentance. O God, in judgment remember mercy, and whatever sufferings they are to endure in this world, deliver them from the bitter pains of eternal death. Pardon their sins, and save their souls, for the sake of thine infinite goodness, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE GENERAL COURT,

TO BE READ DURING THEIR SESSION.

MOST

OST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, for the Legislature of this Commonwealth, at this time assembled, that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, and the

safety, honor, and welfare of thy people; that all things may be so ordered and settled, by their endeavors, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries for them, and for us, we humbly beg, in the name of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

A COLLECT FOR SPRING.

LORD, the Creator and Preserver of all things, who with unerring wisdom maintainest the beauty and order of thy works; we look up with joy and confidence unto thy gracious power, which causes the returning seasons to know their place. Bless, we beseech thee, the springing of the year, and enrich the earth with the rain of heaven. May grass grow for the cattle, and herbs and fruits for the service of man. May our pastures be clothed with flocks, our valleys covered with corn, and the year crowned with thy goodness; and may we so improve the various blessings of thy providence in this world, as to be prepared for the unchangeable felicities of thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

FOR SEASONABLE WEATHER.

GOD, our heavenly Father, whose gift it is that the earth is fruitful and bringeth forth its increase for our sustenance and comfort; we hum

bly beseech thee to send us in this our necessity such seasonable weather, that we may receive the fruits thereof in due time; and grant that we may show forth our thankfulness to thee for all thy mercies, by a sincere obedience to thy holy laws, which thou hast taught us by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IN TIME OF GREAT SCARCITY.

GOD, our heavenly Father, who hast merci

fully given us life, and on whom we depend for its support and preservation; mercifully behold, we beseech thee, the present afflictions of thy people; alleviate the distresses of the miser able, and may the cries of the poor come unto thee; increase the fruits of the earth by thy heavenly benediction; may our scarcity be turned into plenty, and grant that we may improve the boun ties of thy providence to thy praise, by relieving the distresses of others, and by thankfully ac knowledging thee the giver of every good and per... fect gift, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IN TIME OF SICKNESS.

ALMIGHTY and most wise God, whose never

failing providence ordereth all things both in

heaven and on earth; we humbly direct our addresses unto thee, in this time of our calamity, beseeching thee in behalf of our fellow-creatures and friends, who are suffering under the grievous sickness with which thou art pleased to visit us. the everlasting arm of thy mercy support them,

May

this time of their distress. Sanctify this general affliction to the reformation of our manners, and the improvement of our virtue; and cause us to rejoice in the humble hope that everything shall work together for good. In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for succor, but of thee, O God. Restrain the progress of this disorder, if it be agreeable to thy blessed will. May those lives which are yet spared be devoted to thy service, and may we, and all thy servants, be prepared for every event of thy providence, that whether we live, we may live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we may die unto the Lord, and whether living or dying, may have an interest in thy mercies unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

IN TIME OF WAR.

ALMIGHTY God, who art a strong tower of defence unto all who do put their trust in thee, we humbly beseech thee in this time of our danger to be the defender of our country. Give us not up into the hands of our enemies, and preserve our land from the desolations of war. Have mercy upon us, O God; have mercy upon thy people. Avert the evils we have deserved; continue thy favor and protection to us; and grant that these present sufferings may work within us a spirit of loyalty, and reformation, and obedience to thy will.

In all our battles, trials, and dangers, support us with heavenly help, and give unto us such victory

as shall hasten the coming of honorable and abid

ing peace.

And this we humbly beg for thy mercy's sake, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

TOr this.

GOD, whose loving mercies are over all thy children, we humbly commend to thy tender care and sure protection thy servants who have gone forth to defend us. Let thy fatherly hand be over them; let thy holy Spirit be with them day by day; with thy loving-kindness defend them as with a shield. Grant that in the perils that beset them they may gain a steadfast hope in thee, and if it be thy merciful will, we beseech thee, bring them out of their trial in safety, with hearts to love thee and to show forth thy praises forever.

Strengthen with the comforts of thy Spirit all who are sick, or wounded, or in prison for our sakes; and sustain them with that glorious hope by which alone thy servants can have victory in suffering and death.

O Thou who art our refuge and our stay, comfort all whom thou hast stricken; let their sighing come before thee; uphold them with thy patience in anxiety and sorrow; and cause them to look to thee with childlike trust; which we ask in the name of thy dear Son the Prince of Peace. Amen.