A Prayer for a Person in the Small-Pox, or any such-like raging infectious Disease. O GRACIOUS and merciful Father, the only giver of health, look down, we beseech thee, with an eye of compassion, upon thy miserable and disconsolate servant, from whom thou hast taken this great and valuable blessing; and, instead of it, hast filled every part of his body with a sore disease. Teach him, O Lord, and teach us all from hence, to consider how soon the beauty of life is blasted, like a flower, and our "strength dried up like a potsherd," that we may not put our trust in any of these transitory things, but in thee only, the living God, who art able to save and to destroy, to kill and to make alive. Our brother, whom we now behold a spectacle of misery, was lately like one of us, in perfect health. But now "thou makest his beauty to consume away," as it were a moth fretting a garment. Thine arrows stick fast in him, and thy hand presseth him sore; so that there is no soundness in his flesh, because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in his bones by reason of his sin. "O, reject him not utterly, but take thy plague away from him. Return, O Lord, and that speedily; for his spirit faileth. O leave him not in his distress; for though the world may forsake him, his sure trust is in thee. To thee, O Lord, does he cry; to thee does he stretch forth his hands; his soul thirsteth after thee as a barren and dry land. Lord, all his desire is before thee, and his groaning is not hid from thee. Comfort him therefore again now after the time that thou hast afflicted him, and for the days wherein he hath suffered adversity." Put a stop, O Lord, we beseech thee, to this raging infection, and say to the destroying angel, "It is enough." Protect us under the shadow of thy wings, that we may not "be afraid of any terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day;" but that, with ease in our minds, and health in our bodies, we may serve thee cheerfully all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for a Person in a Consumption, or any lingering Disease. O MERCIFUL God, thou hast long kept thy servant under thy chastening hand; thou hast made him acquainted with grief; and his sickness is even become his familiar companion: yet, O blessed Lord, grant that he may not be impatient under thy chastisement, who art pleased to wait so long for the return of a sinner: but let him remember that thou hast kind intentions, even in thy bitterest dispensations; that thou "chastenest him whom thou lovest, and scourgest every son whom thou receivest." Teach him, O gracious Father, to see love in thy rod, and justice in all thy dealings; that he may humble himself under thy mighty hand; that he may think it good for him to have been afflicted, and patiently wait for thy loving-kindness. Yet, that his faith may not fail, nor his patience be overcome, give him ease and relaxation from his pain, and a happy conclusion of this long visitation. In the mean time, grant that he may neither despise thy chastening, nor faint under thy rebukes; but employ the time which thou lendest, and improve the affliction which thou continuest, as a gracious opportunity for his spiritual advantage; that under the decays of the body, the inner man may be renewed day by day; and that whatever appertains to his everlasting salvation may be promoted and perfected through the riches of thy grace, and the multitude of thy mercies in Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer for a Person who is lame in his Sickness. (FROM MR. LEWIS.) O ALMIGHTY God, who "art eyes to the blind and feet to the lame," have pity, we entreat thee, on thy servant: help him in his distress, and bless, we pray thee, the means made use of for his cure. Make him sensible of thy design in visiting him with this affliction; cause him to remember, how in his strength and health he followed his own devices, and the desire of his own heart; and let him see, that thou hast lifted up thy hand against him, for this very purpose, that he may learn to walk more humbly with thee, and turn his feet to thy testimonies. Deliver him from the painful confinement under which he labours, and grant him again the happiness of enjoying the comforts of life, and of worshipping thee in thy sanctuary, with the "voice of joy and praise." But, O Lord, not our will, but thine be done. Thou knowest better what is good for us, than we ourselves; and it is in wisdom that thou afflictest us. Give thy servant patience, that he may bear his pains without murmuring, and wait the time of his deliverance from them without uneasiness; satisfy him of thy care over him, and thy tender regard to him: and in thy good time restore him to his former strength and vigour, that he may give thanks to thee in the great congregation; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. A prayer for one that is bed-ridden. O LORD our God, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, have compassion, we entreat thee, on the helpless condition of thy servant : support his spirits, which are ready to droop under affliction: refresh his mind, which is apt to be uneasy and melancholy at the thought of perpetual confinement. Give sleep to his eyes, and rest to his weary thoughts. Cause him to meditate on thee in the night watches; to commune with his own heart;" and, in his solitude, "to search and try his ways," that he may see wherein he hath erred, and may turn unto thee with all his soul, and with all his strength. Let this affliction be the means of preparing him for the enjoyment of thy presence, in which is fulness of joy ; and let him be the more patient under it for that reason. Make him thankful that thou hast by this expedient preserved him from the company of those whose evil communication might have corrupted his heart, and hast taken him out of a world, by the snares and temptations of which he might have been prevailed upon to forsake thee, and turn from the way of thy commandments. Grant, O Lord, that he may not render himself unworthy of thy favour, by murmuring and repining; but that he may use the leisure and opportunity now given him, to make his peace with thee, and be fitted for the enjoyment of an inheritance among the saints in light; through thy mercy in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. A Prayer for a Person troubled in Mind, or in Conscience. (VISITATION Office.) O BLESSED Lord, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts, we beseech thee, look down in pity and compassion upon this thine afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things against him, and makest him to possess his former iniquities: thy wrath lieth hard upon him, and his soul is full of trouble. But, O merciful God, who hast given us thy holy word for our learning, that we through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope give him a right understanding of himself, and of thy threatenings and promises; that he may neither cast away his confidence in thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Give him strength against all temptations, and heal all his infirmities. Break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure, but make him hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from the fear of the enemy; lift up the light of thy countenance upon him, and give him peace, through the mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Another for the same, or for one under deep Melancholy and Dejection of Spirit. (FROM MR. JENKS.) ́O MOST gracious Lord, thou knowest our frame, and art full of compassion to thy servants under their trouble and oppression; look down upon us, we humbly beseech thee, with thy wonted pity, and remember the work of thy hands, our disconsolate brother. Thy wrath lies hard upon him, and all thy waves are gone over him; thy terrors oppress his mind, and disturb his reason. O thou that speakest the winds and waves into obedience and calmness, settle and quiet his discomposed thoughts; speak peace and satisfaction to his troubled mind, and give him comfort and sure confidence in the sense of thy pardon and love. Lord, help his unbelief, and increase his faith. Though he walk in the valley and shadow of death, let "thy rod and thy staff support and protect him." In the multitude of the thoughts and sorrows that he hath in his heart, let thy comfort refresh his soul. Let in a beam of thy heavenly light, to dispel the clouds and darkness in which his mind is involved. O direct to the means most proper for his help, and so bless and prosper them, that they may effectually promote his recovery out of this deplorable state. Incline his ears to wholesome counsels, and dispose his heart to receive due impressions. O gracious Father, pity his frailty, forgive his sin, and rebuke his distemper, that his disquieted soul may return to its rest. O, raise him up, and show thy mercy upon him, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. For the same. PRESERVE this thy servant, O gracious Father, from dishonouring thee and his religion, by distrusting thy power, or thy goodness. Remove all troublesome imaginations from him, and give him a clear understanding of thee, and of himself, that no causeless fears and jealousies may overwhelm him, nor his heart sink within him from any sadness and dejection of spirit. Compose, we beseech thee, his disturbed thoughts; quiet his disordered mind, and appease all the tumults of his soul, by a sweet sense of thy tender mercies, and of the love of thy Son Jesus Christ to mankind. Keep him from forming any rash conclusions concerning thy providence; and give him so much light and judgment amid all the darkness and confusion of his thoughts, that he may not think himself forsaken by thee; but may firmly believe, that if he does the best he can, thou requirest no more. And enable him, O Lord, to look forwards to that region of light and glory, whither our Saviour is gone before, to prepare a place for all thy faithful servants. Strengthen his weak and feeble endeavours. Support his fainting spirit, and cause it humbly to hope in thee. Confirm and establish every good thought, desire, and purpose, which thou hast wrought in him. Make him to grow in wisdom, faith, love, and willing obedience. Conduct him hereafter so easily and steadily, peaceably and quietly, so cheerfuly and securely, in thy ways, that he may glorify thee whilst he lives, and when he leaves this troublesome world, may resign his soul into thy merciful hands, with a pious confidence and a hope of a joyful resurrection; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for one under Fears and Doubts concerning his spiritual Condition, or under perplexing Thoughts and Scruples about his Duty. (FROM MR. KETTLEWELL.) O LORD our God, we offer up our humble supplication to thee in behalf of this thy servant, whose soul is disquieted within him by his fears and anxiety respecting the safety of his condition. Remove from him, we entreat thee, all frightful apprehensions, all perplexing doubts and scruples about his duty. Make him satisfied and settled in a right understanding of all thy precepts, and careful in the observance of them; and dispel, by the light of thy countenance, all that darkness which obscures his soul, that he may not be unnecessarily dejected, and distrustful of himself, or dishonourably jealous of thee. Deliver him from all those offences which make him so much a stranger to peace and comfort; and cause him to place his chief satisfaction and delight in obeying thy commandments, and in meditating on thy mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Prayer for one who is disturbed with wicked and blasphemous Thoughts. (FROM MR. LEWIS.) O LORD GOD, the Father of our spirits, to whom all hearts are open, and all desires known; we humbly entreat thee to succour and relieve this thy servant, who labours under the burden of wicked thoughts. Let thy power and goodness be shown in healing his disordered mind. Cleanse the thoughts of his heart by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit. Suffer them not to be defiled by any profane or blasphemous suggestions, but heal the soul of thy servant, by enabling him to stifle and suppress all such thoughts as tend to rob him of his peace, or deprive him of the comforts of religion. Enable him to be of an equal and steady temper, to be mild and gentle in his behaviour, and to keep his hopes and fears within due bounds. Make him sensible of the wise and kind reasons of these afflictions; that if they are duly improved, they may be powerful preservatives of his soul against the prevailing sins of a licentious age; may lessen his inclinations to the enjoyments of this life, and deaden his appetite to sensual pleasure, and the perishing goods of this world; that these afflictions may dispose him to compassionate the sufferings of others, and make him more thoroughly feel his own infirmities, and the want of divine assistance. Open his eyes, that he may see and know the wise and gracious dispensations of thy providence; and, by humbling himself under them, may at length be lifted up and made a partaker of that peace and joy which thou bestowest on all thy faithful servants. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Redeemer. A Prayer for one who is afflicted with a profane Mistrust of divine Truths, and blasphemous Thoughts. (FROM MR. KETTLEWELL.) O Most gracious God, in whose hand is the soul of every living creature; protect this thy servant, we humbly and earnestly entreat thee, against all doubts and mistrusts of thy truth, against all irreligious thoughts and suggestions. Never suffer them, O Lord, to weaken his faith, or to hinder him from performing his duty. Preserve him not only from the sin, but if it seem good to thine infinite wisdom, from the temptation and the sorrow which may attend them. But, if it be thy blessed will to continue these terrifying thoughts for his trial and humiliation, Lord, make him sensible that they will not be imputed to him as sin, if, as soon as he perceives them, he rejects them with horror and indignation. During this trial, let him learn to depend upon thee, that, as often as these profane thoughts arise in his mind, he may find grace to overcome them, and without the least indulgence or delay to cast them out; and that he may learn to show patience under them, as under every other affliction and trial of thy appointment, trusting to thy grace to assist him, and to thy goodness to deliver him; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. A Prayer for one under the dread of God's Wrath and everlasting Damnation. O ALMIGHTY GOD, the aid of all that need, and the helper of all that flee to thee for succour, accept, we beseech thee, our humble supplications for this thy servant, labouring under the dismal apprehensions of thy wrath. O Lord, enter not into judgment with him; make him sensible that, though the wages of sin are death, the gift of God is eternal life; that thou hatest the death of a sinner, and art not willing that any should perish; that thou always punishest less than we deserve, and in the midst of judgment rememberest mercy. Revive his soul with a sense of thy love, and the hopes of obtaining thy pardon, and the joy of thy salvation; that he may be raised from this dejection, and show with gladness what thou hast done for his soul. All this we humbly beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. A Prayer for a Lunatic. (FROM MR. JENKS.) O LORD, the only wise God, from whom we have received all the faculties of our souls; thou art holy and righteous in all thy dispensations, though the reason of them is frequently unknown to us. Dispel, we humbly beseech thee, if it be agreeable to thine infinite wisdom, the clouds in which the soul of thy servant is now involved; that he may regain his understanding, and the right use of his faculties. Heal his disordered mind; settle and quiet his passions; pacify and compose his imagination. O prosper the means which are used for his recovery. Make him tractable in the use of remedies, and willing to comply with the advice of his friends. But if no means can effect his cure, let him possess his soul in peace and composure, and in every interval of reason address his prayer to thee: that, when his earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved, he may rejoice in his former inability to pursue the pleasures of the world, and be presented unto thee pure and undefiled, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for natural Fools or Madmen. (FROM MR. KETTLEWELL.) O ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, pity, we entreat thee, this thy unhappy creature, who knows not his own wants, nor how to ask for thy mercies. Compassionate, O Lord, his infirmities, and supply his necessities. Let thy wisdom prevent those evils which he cannot foresee, or wants understanding to remove; but especially keep him from doing any thing that may be hurtful either to himself or others. Let his mind, on all occasions, be quiet and peaceable; and, as far as his faculties extend, exercised in piety and devout meditations. O hear our cry when we call upon thee: hear us for him who is not able to pray for himself; grant him thy fatherly care at present, and thy peace at the last; through the mediation of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. PROPER PSALMS FOR A SICK PERSON AT SEA. I.—1. SAVE me, O God, for the waters are come in, even unto my soul. 2. I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me. Psalm, lxix. 1, 2. Amen. 3. The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4. The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly: but yet the Lord who dwelleth in heaven is mightier. Psalm, xciii. 4, 5. 5. He maketh the storm to cease, so that the waves thereof are still. 6. Wherefore, unto thee, O Lord, do I cry in my trouble: deliver me out of my distress. Psalm cvii. 29, 28. 7. Thou shalt shew us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation: thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad Psalm, lxv. 5. sea. 8. Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born; thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall always be of thee. Psalm, lxxi. 5, 6. 9. I will cry unto thee, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Psalm lxxxix. 26. |