Prayers and Meditations. n
assistance and comfort of thy Holy Spirit, that I may remember with thankfulness the blessings so long enjoyed by me in the society of my departed wife ; make me so to think on her precepts and example, that I may imitate whatever was in her life acceptable in thy sight, and avoid all by which she offended Thee. Forgive me, O merciful Lord, all my sins, and enable me to begin and perfect that reformation which I promised her, and to persevere in that resolution, which she implored Thee to continue, in the purposes which I recorded in thy sight, when she lay dead before me z , in obedience to thy laws, and faith in thy word. And now, O Lord, release me from my sorrow, fill me with just hopes, true faith, and holy consolations, and enable me to do my duty in that state of life to which Thou hast been pleased to call me, without disturbance from fruitless grief, or tumultuous imaginations ; that in all my thoughts, words, and actions, I may glorify thy Holy Name, and finally obtain, what I hope Thou hast granted to thy departed servant, everlasting joy and felicity, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
14.
April 26, 1752, being after 12 at Night of the 25th.
O Lord ! Governour of heaven and earth, in whose hands are embodied and departed Spirits, if thou hast ordained the Souls of the Dead to minister to the Living, and appointed my departed Wife to have care of me, grant that I may enjoy the good effects of her attention and ministration, whether exercised by appearance, impulses, dreams or in any other manner agreeable to thy Government. Forgive my presumption, enlighten my ignorance, and however meaner agents are em ployed, grant me the blessed influences of thy holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2 .
1 See post, p. 25, for his resolution been paid to dreams in all ages, 'to consult the resolves on Tetty's proves that the superstition is natu- coffin.' 'Tetty or Tetsey is pro- ral ; and I have heard too many vincially used as a contraction for well-attested facts (facts to which Elisabeth.' Life, i. 98. belief could not be refused upon any
2 Life, i. 235. known laws of evidence) not to
- The universal attention which has believe that impressions are some-
O Lord
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