either to turn them to repentance, or to punish them in the present
life in order to reward them in a better; take pity, we beseech
Thee, upon this Thy poor afflicted servant, languishing so long and
so grievously under the weight of Thy hand. Give her strength, O
Lord, to support her weakness, and patience to endure her pains
without repining at Thy correction. Forgive every rash and
inconsiderate expression which her anguish may at any time force
from her tongue, while her heart continueth in an entire submission
to Thy will. Suppress in her, O Lord, all eager desires of life,
and lessen her fears of death by inspiring into her an humble yet
assured hope of Thy mercy. Give her a sincere repentance for all
her transgressions and omissions, and a firm resolution to pass the
remainder of her life in endeavouring to her utmost to observe all
Thy precepts. We beseech Thee likewise to compose her thoughts, and
preserve to her the use of her memory and reason during the course
of her sickness. Give her a true conception of the vanity, folly,
and insignificance of all human things, and strengthen her so as to
beget in her a sincere love of Thee in the midst of her sufferings.
Accept and impute all her good deeds, and forgive her all those
offences against Thee which she hath sincerely repented of or
through the frailty of memory hath forgot. And now, O Lord, we turn
to Thee in behalf of ourselves and the rest of her sorrowful
friends. Let not our grief afflict her mind, and thereby have an
ill effect on her present distemper. Forgive the sorrow and
weakness of those among us who sink under the grief and terror of
losing so dear and useful a friend. Accept and pardon our most
earnest prayers and wishes for her longer continuance in this evil
world, to do what Thou art pleased to call Thy service, and is only
her bounden duty, that she may be still a comfort to us and to all
others who will want the benefit of her conversation, her advice,