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help, and of thy sweet comfort in all miseries and necessities, pray Thee for JESUS CHRIST's sake, thy Son our Lord, to help and assist thy servant, the mistress of this family, that by thy Almighty power she may safely bring forth. Be present with her in her trouble, according to thy merciful promise help her and deliver her. Give her strength, and perfect that which Thou hast so graciously begun. Let thy power be showed no less in the safe bringing forth, than in the wonderful forming and fashioning of her offspring. Make her a glad and a joyful mother, that she, through thy goodness being safely delivered, and restored to health and strength again, may live and praise thy blessed name for ever; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

THANKSGIVING AFTER A SAFE

DELIVERY.

BLESSED for ever be thy name, O Lord, our gracious GOD, who rememberest us in our low estate, and dost not abhor the affliction of the afflicted: but hearest thy servants, crying to Thee in their distress, and sendest relief and help in time of need: O that we may praise Thee, Lord, as we ought, for such thy goodness and wonderful works to the children

of men! Thou bringest down and raisest up; Thou givest trouble and sendest comfort with it; Thou afflictest us with fears and griefs, and again revivest us with hopes and joys. Thou, O GOD, art good in all, and worthy to be admired and praised in every dispensation of thy providence. But chiefly we are affected with thy seasonable aids in time of trial; when Thou givest us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Thou hast now (for ever blessed

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be thy name!) refreshed thine afflicted handmaid, and rejoiced the souls of thy servants. We desire, therefore, to offer unto Thee, O gracious Lord, our devoutest acknowledgments, and to present unto Thee the sacrifice of our unfeigned thanks and praise. O that thine handmaid, and all of us, may be duly sensible of this favour, which has been to us as life from the dead. May thy great goodness lead us to repentance: and may this fresh instance of thy love constrain us to love Thee with all our hearts, and to render to Thee the service of our lives, and to give Thee all possible glory, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

If the child be living the following may be added.

PRESERVE likewise her tender infant, O Father of mercies, and let his own weakness, and our cries, commend him to thy care.

Keep him also afterward in health and safety, and as he increases in years and sta

ture, may he also grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. To this end, we hope he will speedily be dedicated to Thee in holy baptism, and afterwards be faithfully trained up in thy service. For, O Lord, we do not desire life, either for ourselves or our children, but that we may live to Thee, and grow daily in love and thankfulness for all thy mercies, and in faith and patience, and all holy obedience, which may fit and prepare us for the happiness which Thou hast promised; through JESUS CHRIST our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.

PRAYER BEFORE BAPTISM OF A
CHILD.

(From "Family Prayers," by Rev. E. Bickersteth.*)

O LORD, our GOD and Saviour, to whom all power in heaven and earth is given, who didst command thy apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, according to the direction of thy word and thine own gracious invitation, to suffer little children to come unto Thee, for of such is the kingdom of heaven-we would bring our child to thy holy baptism. O Lord, give thou thy blessing with the means of thine own appointment. Baptize our child with the Holy Ghost. Give both the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.

* Published by R. B. Seeley, Fleet Street, London.

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