that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy per petual rest and felicity. Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercies' sake, in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end, Amen. A commendatory Prayer for a Sick Per son at the point of departure. From the Vi O Almighty God, with sitation Office. whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons: We humbly commend the soul of this thy servant, our dear Brother, into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, and most merciful Saviour; most humbly beseeching thee, that it may be precious in thy sight. Wash it, we pray thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that whatsoever defilements it may have contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of the flesh, or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may be presented pure and without spot before thee. And teach us, who survive, in this and öther other like daily spectacles of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is; and so to number our days, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, whilst we live here, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, thine only Son our Lord. Amen. TA Prayer for Persons troubled in mind, From the Vi sitation Office. or in conscience. O blessed Lord, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts; we beseech thee, look down in pity and compassion upon this thy 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 written thy holy word for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of thy holy Scriptures, might have hope; give him a right understanding of himself, and of thy threats 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 his temptations, and heal heal all his distempers. Break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flax. Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure; but make him to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of thy countenance upon him, and give him peace through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ A Prayer to be used by a Person who has been dangerously ill, and is now in a state of recovery. well's Edit. 1788. From Dr. Dod- O gracious God, who 66 Sick joinest mercies to thy judgMan's Companion:" Page 229. ments, and hast heard and in some measure granted the petitions which have been offered to thee in behalf of me thine unworthy servant, let me now join my praises to my prayers, beseeching thee to hear and ac cept them. Thou hast already graciously delivered me from the extremity of that illness, of which lately so great apprehen sions were entertained, and I desire now to bless thy holy name for this thy great goodness to me. Fill my heart, O Lord, I beseech thee, with a due sense of this thine thine unexpected blessing, and let me shew forth thy praise not only with my lips, but in my life. But let not this exaltation of my hopes heighten into any presumptuous confidence of my security, and suffer not the thought of my lessened danger to lessen the warmth of my devotion to thee. Grant that the state of my mind may continue the same in the expectation of health as in the apprehension of dissolution, and that thy will may be mine in every state and condition of my being. Yet with this resignation to thy wisdom, I humbly pray thee to perfect my recovery, and to restore me to my former enjoyment of health and comfort. Grant this mercy speedily, or grant me patience to wait thy good time, and bless me securely with it in the end. Let no impiety of thought, word, or deed, in me, prevent or delay the blessing, but t me for the reception of every divine favour by a holy resolution to make a right use of it. Confirm these good purposes in me for the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer which may be used by a Person who is recovered from sickness. Has From Dr. Ston"Sick house's Man's Friend," Has God mercifully restored you to health? Surely you cannot doubt the obligations you lie under to be thankful for it. Shocking indeed that out of ten lepers cleansed, only one should return to give glory to God. Luke xvii. 17. But take care that you follow not the example of the nine; for instances of such ingratitude are too common. After recovery therefore use the following or some such Prayer. Most gracious and merciful God, the fountain of life, I return thee humble and hearty thanks for having spared the life of thy servant. I adore thee, as the author of my cure, and praise thee for the success thou hast given to those applications which were the means of effecting it. May I remember the chastisements, the instructions, and the deliverance I have received; and may I be enabled to perform the good resolutions I made in my sickness. As thou hast condescended to hearken to the prayer of so sinful a creature, may I call upon thee as long as I live. Being made whole, may I go away and sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto me. Having known the bitterness of affliction, may I pity, and endeavour to relieve those who labour under it: |