A Prayer for a Woman who has lost her

Husband.

O BLESSED Lord, whose providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; thou givest, and thou takest away; thou liftest up and thou castest down; whatever befalls us is by thy wise appointment; even the smallest as well as the greatest accidents of our lives are directed by thy hand: thou hast taken from me my dear husband, a blessing I was no longer worthy of: O, be thou merciful unto me, and for the sake of my dear Redeemer, pardon the unworthy returns I have made for the blessings thou hast been pleased to follow me with all my life long and give me grace, I beseech thee, patiently to submit to the af flictions which thou hast now brought upon me, and not murmur or repine under the stroke of thy chastening hand.

Suffer me not, O holy Father, to grieve like those that have no hope, nor to entertain any hard thoughts of thy providence, because thou hast taken from me the great comfort of my life I know thou canst abundantly make up this loss to me, by giving me blessings far greater and much more valuable, such as no

thy good providence, assuredly believing, that I can never be destitute whilst I have thee for my friend, nor miserable so long as thou art my portion.

O be thou then to me whatever I may want of outward helps: and though thou hast been pleased to take from me so great a temporal blessing, yet O let me never be deprived of thy spiritual mercies: whatever comforts thou deniest me, deny me not, I beseech thee, the comfort of thy love, but let that be my portion and inheritance, the support of my life, and the relief of my soul, under all the troubles and afflictions of this world.

Raise me up friends, O Lord, that may assist me in all my exigencies; but especially do thou teach and instruct me, 'that I may manage those affairs which are now devolved upon me, with prudence, justice, and integrity.

Let not my carriage and behaviour, O Lord, be vain and fantastic, light and foolish, but decent and modest, suitable to the condition thou hast been pleased to bring me to, and such as becomes a woman professing godliness.

Grant that I may educate

my children in a holy and This is to be omitted religious manner, and bring

them up in the fear and ad

where the woman has no children.

monition of thee the Lord: and oh! let thy blessing be always upon their heads: give them

grace to hearken to wise instruction, and defend them from the evils and temptations of this world. O Lord, they are now cast upon thy care, O be thou their Father, and never leave them nor forsake them, but let thy providence be their support, and thy Spirit their guide and counsellor.

And grant, O merciful Father, that both they and I may learn, from the instability of human comforts, to delight more in thyself, and less in earthly things. Let us never think ourselves unhappy while we can enjoy thee, nor murmur or repine at any losses, so long as we are the objects of thy love, and the care of thy good providence: and oh! give us grace so to live that we may comfortably look up to thee at all times, as our constant friend, and most tender father; as our life and our health, our rest and our joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AN OFFICE FOR WOMEN WITH CHILD.

A Prayer to be frequently used by a Woman with Child.

O GOD, who art the author of our being, the

drous things, thou art God alone; I adore thy glorious majesty, which has begun an excellent work in me, which no eye but thine sees, and no hand but thy almighty power can finish.

Be pleased, I beseech thee, in thy great goodness, to perfect and complete that which thou hast now begun in me; give it its due shape, and full growth, and preserve me from all frights, or evil accidents, which may cause me to miscarry.

And bless it, O God, in mind as well as in body; endue it with an understanding capable to know thee, with a heart strongly bent to fear thee, and with all those holy and good dispositions that may make it always amiable in thy sight. Oh! sanctify it, I beseech thee, from the womb, and receive and reckon it for thy child, as soon as it is mine; lent to me for my comfort, but created and reserved by thee for thy service and glory.

O Lord, I humbly commit both myself and this babe which is conceived in me, to thy mercy and goodness: strengthen and enable me, I beseech thee, to go through all the pains and uneasiness of child-bearing with patience and submission to thy will; considering that they are the just punishment of sin; give me an humble trust and dependence on thy fatherly care and good providence; and make

me, in thy good time, a good time, a joyful mother of a hopeful child, which may live to be an instrument of thy glory, and by serving thee faithfully, and doing good in its generation, may be received into thy everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour. Amen.

A Prayer when the Time of Travail draws

near.

O GOD, the help of all that put their trust in thee; the support of the weak, and the relief of the needy; look with pity upon me thy servant, who, in my best estate, am but a weak and helpless creature, and much more in the condition I am now in, which is attended with many pains and uneasinesses; under which nothing but thy power is able to support me. O Lord, in thee is my trust, who I know art able and willing to help me ; I repose myself therefore under the care and protection of thy fatherly goodness, desiring to rest upon thee alone for my support, who art the rock of ages, and the strength of all that put their trust in thee. Oh! let me not be disquieted with the fear of any evil, since none can happen unto me without thy leave; nor be frighted with