THE SECOND PRAYER WAS WRITTEN NOV. 6， 1727.
O MERCIFUL Father， who never afflictest Thy children but for their own good， and with justice， over which Thy mercy always prevaileth， 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 lesson 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 insignificancy 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 allothers， who will want the benefit of her conversation， her advice， her good offices， or her charity. And since Thou hast promised that where two or three are gathered together in Thy Name， Thou wilt be in the midst of them to grant their request， O Gracious Lord， grant to us who are here met in Thy Name， that those requests， which in the utmost sincerity and earnestness of our hearts we have now made in behalf of this Thy distressed servant， and of ourselves， may effectually be answered； through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN，第一章 XIII
THE BEASTS' CONFESSION (1732).
WHEN beasts could speak (the learned say They still can do so every day)， It seems， they had religion then， As much as now we find in men. It happened when a plague broke out (Which therefore made them more devout) The king of brutes (to make it plain， Of quadrupeds I only mean)， By proclamation gave command， That every subject in the land Should to the priest confess their sins； And thus the pious wolf begins： Good father， I must own with shame， That， often I have been to blame： I must confess， on Friday last， Wretch that I was， I broke my fast： But I defy the basest tongue To prove I did my neighbour wrong； Or ever went to seek my food By rapine， theft， or thirst of blood.
The ass approaching next， confessed， That in his heart he loved a jest： A wag he was， he needs must own， And could not let a dunce alone： Sometimes his friend he would not spare， And might perhaps be too severe： But yet， the worst that could be said， He was a wit both born and bred； And， if it be a sin or shame， Nature alone must bear the blame： One fault he hath， is sorry for't， His ears are half a foot too short； Which could he to the standard bring， He'd show his face before the king： Then， for his voice， there's none disputes That he's the nightingale of brutes.
The swine with contrite heart allowed， His shape and beauty made him proud： In diet was perhaps too nice， But gluttony was ne'er his vice： In every turn of life content， And meekly took what fortune sent： Enquire through all the parish round， A better neighbour ne'er was found： His vigilance might seine displease； 'Tis true， he hated sloth like pease.
The mimic ape began his chatter， How evil tongues his life bespatter： Much of the cens'ring world complained， Who said his gravity was feigned： Indeed， the strictness of his morals Engaged him in a hundred quarrels： He saw， and he was grieved to see't， His zeal was sometimes indiscreet： He found his virtues too severe For our corrupted times to bear： Yet， such a lewd licentious age Might well excuse a stoic's rage.
