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3 It is in vain for you to rise up early to labour, and to go late to rest, and to eat the bread of carefulness, unless JEHOVAH bless your endeavours: but he giveth to his beloved, even while they sleep.

4 Lo! children, the fruit of the womb, are an heritage and gift that cometh from JEHOVAH.

5 Like as arrows in the hand of the mighty man, even so are young children:

6 Happy is the man who hath his quiver filled with them: they shall not be put to shame, when they treat with their enemies. in the city gate.

Now unto JEHOVAH, immortal, invisible, the only GOD;

Be honour and glory, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, for ever. Amen.

Then the minister shall say ;

Let us pray.

OUR FATHER! who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us, day by day, our daily bread; and

forgive

forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those, who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Minister. O GOD! bless this woman thy servant;

Answer. Who putteth her trust in thee. Minister. O JEHOVAH! hear our petition; Answer. And let our prayer come unto thee.

Minister.

O ALMIGHTY GOD! the father of mercies! the GOD of all consolation! we present unto thee our unfeigned thanks, for having vouchsafed to deliver this woman, thy servant, from the great pain and danger of child-birth give her such a due sense, o GOD of thy kindness and gracious dealings with her, that a constant and grateful remembrance of thy goodness, may dispose her to a cheerful obedience to thy laws; that she, through thine assistance, may live

according

according to thy will in this present life; and may, finally, be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come, promised unto us by Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

MAY JEHOVAH bless us and preserve us; may he be merciful unto us, and look favourably upon us, now and for evermore. Amen.

THE

The minister shall begin with saying,

MAY the blessing of almighty GOD be upon this family.

And he shall exhort the sick person as follows;

DEARLY BELOVED, know this, that almighty GOD is the lord and giver of life and death, and all things appertaining to them, as youth and age, strength and weakness, health and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness be, assure yourself that it is GCD's dispensation towards you. And, for what cause soever this sickness be permitted, or sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience and trust in GOD, for the example of others; or, to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend your heavenly father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in GOD'S mercy, declared by Jesus Christ; and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly dispensation, submitting yourself wholly

H

wholly unto his will; it shall turn to your benefit, and assist and forward you in the way that leadeth unto everlasting life, as we are fully assured by the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.

¶ The minister may, if he think proper, proceed in bis exhortation.

TAKE, therefore, in good part, the chastisement of JEHOVAH, Our GOD, for (as the apostle Paul saith)" whom the LORD loveth, he chastiseth; and scourgeth every son, whom he receiveth. Bear your chas tisement with patience: GOD is dealing with you, as with sons; for, what son is there, whom his father chasteneth not? So then, if ye be without chastisement, of which all sons have partaken, then are ye a spurious race, and not lawful sons. Besides, have our natural fathers chastised us, and we paid them reverence; and shall we not much more submit ourselves to our spiritual father, and live for ever? For they indeed, with a view to a short life, and after their own humour, used to chastise us: but he, for our good; that we might be partakers of his holiness." [Heb. xii. 6—10.] These

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