support and stay of his hope, and rock of salvation. Whereinsoever he hath neglected thee, or committed any offence against thee, make him deeply sensible of it, and heartily sorrowful for all his transgressions. And as he earnestly desires pardon and forgiveness of thee, so work in him a serious resolution to live more circumspectly and righteously for the time to come. Assist him graciously, O Lord, that he may give a proof of his sincere intentions hereafter to submit himself in all things to thy will, by his patient submission to thy fatherly correction. O, that he may so quietly, so meekly, so humbly, and cheerfully, resign his will unto thee, to suffer what thou inflictest, that he may be the more disposed to do readily whatsoever thou commandest. For which end, make him thoroughly apprehensive of thy sovereign power and authority over all creatures. Possess him with a great reverence of thy wisdom and justice, with an entire confidence in thy goodness and love, with a thankful remembrance of all thy past mercies to him, that so he may the better endure what thou layest upon him at present, and may ever follow thy directions, and submit to thy orders, and delight to do thy will, O God. Bless the remedies which are used for restoring him to his former health, that he may live to perform his duty with greater care; or, if thou hast otherwise appointed, accept graciously of his purposes of amendment, and dispose him to return back his spirit willingly unto thee who gavest it; and with great humility and deep sense of his own undeservings, to expect thy mercy declared in Christ Jesus. Fix his mind steadfastly upon him, who hath led the way through the grave unto heaven, that he may not be affrighted with the approaches of death, but, looking beyond it to that high and holy place, where the Lord Jesus is, may rejoice in hope of eternal glory. And grant that every one of us, in our best state of health, may consider perpetually how frail and weak we are: that so we may not abuse ourselves by an intemperate use of any sensual pleasures, nor load our minds with the cares of this life, nor spend our days in a vain pursuit of the honour and glory of this world; but may pass all the time of our sojourning here, in fear; and may live so righteously and soberly in this present world, as becomes those who expect shortly to give an account to thee, who wilt judge all men according to their works. Hear us, O Lord, we most humbly beseech thee, through Christ Jesus our merciful and compassionate Redeemer. Amen. ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (FROM DR. HAMMOND.) O LORD, bless, keep, and defend, this thy servant with thy heavenly grace and benediction, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he comes to thy everlasting kingdom. Let thy mighty hand and outstretched arm, O Lord, be ever his defence; thy mercy and loving-kindness in Jesus Christ thy dear son, his salvation; thy true and holy word, his instruction; thy grace and Holy Spirit, his comfort and consolation, both now and at the hour of death. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever *. Amen. *Heb. xiii. 20, 21. PROPER PSALMS FOR THE SICK. I. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation: neither chasten me in thy displeasure. Psalm, vi. 1. 2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. Psalm, vi. 2. 3. My soul also is sore troubled: but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me? Psalm, vi. 3. 4. Thine arrows stick fast in me: and thy hand presseth me sore. Psalm, xxxviii. 2. 5. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure: neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin. Psalm, xxxviii. 3. 6. For my wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden too heavy for me to bear. Psalm, xxxviii. 4. 7. I am feeble and sore smitten: I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart. Psalm, xxxviii. 8. me. 8. My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me, and the sight of mine eyes is gone from Psalm, xxxviii. 10. 9. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me ; my heart within me is desolate. Psalm, cxliii. 4. 10. Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O, save me for thy mercies' sake. Psalm, vi. 4. 11. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine ears unto me when I call: O, hear me, and that right soon. Psalm, cii. 2. 12. For my days are consumed away like smoke: my heart is smitten down and withered like grass. Psalm, cii. 3, 4. 13. And that because of thine indignation and wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. Psalm, cii. 10. 14. But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my age: forsake me not when my strength faileth me. Psalm, cii. 24. 15. Wherefore in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Psalm, lxxi. 1. II. PSALM LI. HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies, do away mine offences. 2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. : 3. For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me. 4. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged. 5. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me. 6. But, lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and thou shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. 7. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9. Turn thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds. 10. Make me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. : 11. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. 12. O, give me the comfort of thy help again; and stablish me with thy free Spirit. 13. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto thee. III. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire: hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake. Psalm, cxliii. 1. 2. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Psalm, cxliii. 2. 3. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm, li. 17. 4. Lord, thou knowest all my desire: and my groaning is not hid from thee. Psalm, xxxviii. 9. 5. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul gaspeth unto thee, as a thirsty land. Psalm, cxliii. 6. 6. Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Psalm, cxliii. 7. 7. Haste thee to help me, O Lord God of my salvation. Psalm, xxxviii. 22. 8. For thou art a place to hide me in: thou shalt preserve me from trouble: thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Psalm, xxxii. 8. 9. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Psalm, xxxi. 5. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. A Declaration of Forgiveness. (FROM BISHOP COSINS.) I Do most humbly desire all, and every one, whom I have offended, that they would vouchsafe to forgive me and I do freely and heartily forgive all the world, whereinsoever any hath offended me, or done me any manner of injury whatsoever, even as I desire to be forgiven of God, and to be absolved from my sins, for the merits of my blessed Redeemer. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. A Prayer for a Person in the Beginning of his Sickness. O ALMIGHTY God, merciful and gracious, who in thy justice didst send sorrow and tears, sickness and death, into the world, as a punishment for man's sins, and hast comprehended all under sin, and this sad covenant of sufferings,-not to destroy us, but that thou mightest have mercy upon all, making thy justice to minister to mercy, short afflictions to an eternal weight of glory; as thou hast been pleased to turn the sins of this thy servant into sickness, so turn, we beseech thee, his sickness to the advantage of holiness and religion, of mercy and pardon, of faith and hope, of grace and glory. Thou hast now called him to suffer. Lord, relieve his sorrow and support his spirit, direct his thoughts and sanctify his sickness, that the punishment of his sin may be to him a school of virtue. Make him behave as a son under discipline, humbly and obediently, evenly and patiently, that he may be brought by this means nearer to thee; that if he shall recover his former health, he may return to the world with greater strength of spirit, to run a new race of stricter holiness, and more severe religion; or if he shall pass hence through the gates of death, he may rejoice in the hope of being admitted into that heavenly society, in which all thy saints and servants shall be comprehended to eternal ages. Grant this, for Jesus Christ's sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. A Prayer for Thankfulness in Sickness. O God, wonderful both in thy mercies and judgments, grant that the sense of thy servant's present afflictions may not cause him to forget thy former mercies, which thou hast bestowed upon him: O, therefore, let the remembrance of those many and great blessings that he hath so long enjoyed at thy hand, be now the proper motives and incentives to the virtues of patience and humility, causing him cheerfully to resign himself to thy blessed will under all the dispensations of thy providence, though ever so hard; and patiently to wait for the return of thy loving kindness in Jesus, which is better than life. Amen. A Prayer for a Blessing on the Means used for a sick Person's Recovery. (FROM MR. KETTLEWELL.) O GRACIOUS Lord, by whose word man lives, and not by any human means alone; direct, we pray thee, the counsels of those who prescribe to this thy servant, and prosper the medicines which are used to procure him ease and strength; but let not his confidence in them lessen anything of his dependence on thee, but make him sensible that every good gift is from thee, and that it is thou that givest us help in time of need. To whom therefore, but to thee, should we flee in the day of our visitation? since it is thy blessing only that maketh the means we use effectual; and, however vain the use of them is without thee, if thou biddest them, the things or accidents which we do not think of, or regard, shall recover us. 0, therefore, as their part, who administer to him, is the care, so let thine, O God, be the blessing, and his the comfort and as he regards them as thy instruments, so let him own thee for the Author of his mercies, and to thee give thanks, and pay his vows and services: through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer for a sick Person when there appears some Hope of Recovery. (FROM BISHOP PATRICK.) WE thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast heard our prayers for thine afflicted servant, and given him some respite and hopes of recovery from this great illness. Blessed be thy goodness, that he hath not made his bed in the dust, but is likely to continue still among us, in the land of the living. Blessed be thy goodness for so great (and lately unexpected) mercy to him. And, O thou Preserver of man! who hast begun to revive and quicken him again; go on to perfect his cure, and forsake not the work of thy own hands. Repair all the decays in his outward man, that his mind may also recover its former strength, to praise and bless thy goodness to him. And visit him, in the mean time, with thy heavenly consolation from above. Fill him with comfortable thoughts of thy love, and of the tender compassionate care which our Lord Jesus takes of all his afflicted servants. Endue him still with more patient submission to thy will, and enable him both quietly to wait upon thee, till thou hast finished his recovery, and also to continue steadfastly resolved to serve thee more faithfully with his restored strength, through Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. Another, in Behalf of the sick Person, when he finds any Abatement of his Distemper. ACCEPT, O Lord, of the unfeigned thanks of thy servant for abating the fury of his present distemper, and giving him some hopes of raising him up again to praise thee in the great congregation. It is a great mercy, O Lord, and owing to thy goodness only, that his senses are preserved entire, and that he hath some respite, after so much uneasiness and pain, through the violence of his illness. O perfect, if it be thy blessed will, what thou hast begun in him, and say to the distemper, "It is enough." Teach him hence to look up to thee continually, as the rock of his salvation, whence only he is to expect comfort and support: and give him grace always to make such a right use of thy favours, that he may daily find himself surrounded by the light of thy countenance, and enjoy the blessings of thy heavenly benediction in all his ways, whether in adversity or prosperity, in sickness or in health. Even so, blessed Lord, continue to assist, strengthen, comfort, and bless him, both now and for evermore, through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Prayer for one who is dangerously ill. O ALMIGHTY God, "gracious, and merciful, and long-suffering, whose compassions fail not;" look down, we beseech thee, upon the low and distressed state of thy servant, now lying in the extremity of sickness. The harder his illness presses upon him, the louder does it call upon thee for help. O be merciful therefore unto him, according to the necessity of his case, and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies in Jesus Christ. Rebuke the distemper, that it prevail not over him to death; but turn its malevolent aspect into a joyous expectation of life. In as great danger as he is, yet if thou wilt, O Lord, we know thou canst make him whole; if thou speakest the word, it shall be done. In submission, therefore, to thy most wise and good disposal of all things, we beg this mercy at thy hauds, that thou wouldest let "this" bitter cup pass away" from thy servant, and cause for" him "to escape" out of this dangerous condition. "O spare him a little, and his soul shall live." Amen. A Prayer for a sick Person when Sickness continues long upon him. (FROM BISHOP PATRICK.) a way Look down, O Lord, we humbly beseech thee, with an eye of compassion on thy poor distressed servant who hath lain so long under this severe affliction; and by how much the outward man is decayed and brought low by the tediousness of the distemper's continuing on him, by so much the more do thou be pleased to support him in the inner man by the gracious assistance of thy Holy Spirit. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his past life, and steadfast faith in thy Son Jesus Christ: a comfortable assurance of the truth of all his precious promises, a lively hope of that immortal bliss in which he reigns for evermore, and a strong sense of thy fatherly love to him, and care over him, which may make him heartily love thee, and entirely confide in thee, and absolutely resign both soul and body to thy wise disposal. We know there is nothing too hard for thee; but that, if thou wilt, thou canst bring him up even from the gates of death, and grant him a longer continuance among us. May it be thy good pleasure, O most gracious God, still to continue him here; spare him, O Lord, and deliver him also speedily from this misery, under which he hath so long groaned. Bless all the means that are used for his recovery and for the support of his spirits, and give him refreshment during this tedious sickness. Release him from his pain, or grant him some ease, or else increase and strengthen his patience. Help him, in remembrance of thy past lovingkindness, to trust in thy goodness and submit to thy wisdom, and bear with an equal mind what thou thinkest fit to lay upon him; so that approving himself to thee in these and all other virtues, while thou triest him by so sore an affliction, he may say at the last, with the holy Psalmist," It was good for me that I was in trouble." Unto thy infinite mercies we recommend him, and to the compassionate kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who we hope will hear all the prayers of his friends for him, everywhere, and send his Holy Spirit to be his comforter, and his good angels to be his guardians, and direct those who are to advise and prescribe the means of his restoration, and bring him to praise thee again in the assemblies of thy saints upon earth; or (if thou hast otherwise disposed in thy wise counsels) to praise thee in the great assembly of saints and angels in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour, to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit, be all praise, love, and obedience, world without end. Prayer for the Grace of Patience, and a suitable Behaviour in a sick Person to HELP thy servant, O thou merciful Redeemer and lover of souls, to undergo this load of affliction, which thou hast laid upon him, with patience. "Lead him" gently by the hand |