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 let not these poor souls, so blind, so dead in sin, perish in the everlasting fires. O shew forth Thy great mercy; those who are in such great need of repentance and forgiveness do Thou waken out of their most fearful sleep.

For the sick whom Thou chastenest in Thy love I offer up my prayers; heal their sickness if it be expedient for them. May it do Thy work in their souls, that they be not chastened in vain. May they look up to Thee, and turn to Thee with a new heart, and repent upon their beds, and in their patience shew forth the fruits of repentance. May their sickness be received as an angel into their house; may they entertain it as an angel and minister of grace; when it shall depart may they remember that they have had an angel, and consider the message wherewith it was sent unto their souls. I beseech Thee, Saviour, restore unto them their health. Spare them a little, that they may recover their strength; that if they be moved to repentance, they may have time to perfect their resolves, and to walk in newness of life. Above all, save them from falling back; let not their sickness pass as a dream of the night, lest their "last state be worse than the first," and lest a worse thing happen unto them. How fearful a thing it must be to be chastened without bearing