Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 10.djvu/170

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[ 162 ]




A


PRAYER


USED BY THE DEAN FOR


MRS. JOHNSON IN HER LAST SICKNESS.


WRITTEN OCTOBER 17, 1727.


MOST merciful Father, accept our humblest prayers in behalf of this thy languishing servant: forgive the sins, the frailties and infirmities of her life past. Accept the good deeds she hath done in such a manner, that at whatever time thou shalt please to call her, she may be received into everlasting habitations. Give her grace to continue sincerely thankful to thee for the many favours thou hast bestowed upon her, the ability and inclination and practice to do good, and those virtues, which have procured the esteem and love of her friends, and a most unspotted name in the world. O God, thou dispensest thy blessings and thy punishments as it becometh infinite justice and mercy: and since it was thy pleasure to afflict her with a long, constant, weakly state of health, make her truly sensible, that it was for very wise ends, and was largely made up to her in other blessings more valuable and less common. Continue to her, O Lord, that firmness and constancy of mind, wherewith thou hast most graciously endowed her,

together