nor faint under thy rebukes; but employ the reason. Make him thankful that thou hast by time which thou lendest, and improve the af- this expedient preserved him from the company fliction which thou continuest, as a gracious of those whose evil communication might have opportunity for his spiritual advantage; that corrupted his heart, and hast taken him out of under the decays of the body, the inner man a world, by the snares and temptations of which may be renewed day by day; and that what- he might have been prevailed upon to forsake ever appertains tohis everlasting salvation may thee, and turn from the way of thy commandbe promoted and perfected through the riches ments. Grant, O Lord, that he may not renof thy grace, and the multitude of thy mercies in Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer for a Person who is lame in his (From Mr. Lewis.) der 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. Conscience. (Visitation Office.) O ALMIGHTY God, who " art eyes to the blind and feet to the lame," have pity, we en- A Prayer for a Person troubled in Mind, or in treat 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 afflic O BLESSED Lord, the Father of mercies, tion; cause him to remember, how in his and the God of all comforts, we beseech thee, strength and health he followed his own de- look down in pity and compassion upon this vices, and the desire of his own heart; and thine afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter let him see, that thou hast lifted up thy hand things against him, and makest him to possess against him, for this very purpose, that he may his former iniquities: thy wrath lieth hard uplearn to walk more humbly with thee, and on him, and his soul is full of trouble. But, turn his feet to thy testimonies. Deliver him O merciful God, who hast given us thy holy from the painful confinement under which he word for our learning, that we through palabours, and grant him again the happiness of tience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might enjoying the comforts of life, and of worship- have hope; give him a right understanding of ping thee in thy sanctuary, with the "voice himself, and of thy threatenings and promises; of joy and praise." But, O Lord, not our will, that he may neither cast away his confidence in but thine be done. Thou knowest better what thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Give is good for us, than we ourselves; and it is in him strength against all temptations, and heal wisdom that thou afflictest us. Give thy ser- all his infirmities. Break not the bruised reed, vant patience, that he may bear his pains with- nor quench the smoking flax. out murmuring, and wait the time of his de- thy tender mercies in displeasure, but make liverance from them without uneasiness; sa- him hear of joy and gladness, that the bones tisfy him of thy care over him, and thy tender which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver regard to him; and in thy good time restore him from the fear of the enemy; lift up the him to his former strength and vigour, that light of thy countenance upon him, and give he may give thanks to thee in the great con-him peace, through the mediation of Jesus gregation; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen. A Prayer for one that is bed-ridden. (From Mr. Lewis.) Shut not up Another for the same, or for one under deep (From Mr. Jenks.) O LORD our God, the Father of mercies, O MOST gracious Lord, thou knowest our and the God of all comfort, have compassion, frame, and art full of compassion to thy serwe entreat thee, on the helpless condition of thy vants under their trouble and oppression; look servant: support his spirits, which are ready down upon us, we humbly beseech thee, with to droop under affliction: refresh his mind, thy wonted pity, and remember the work of which is apt to be uneasy and melancholy at thy hands, our disconsolate brother. Thy wrath the thought of perpetual confinement. Give lies hard upon him; and all thy waves are sleep to his eyes, and rest to his weary thoughts. gone over him; thy terrors oppress his mind, Cause him to meditate on thee in the night and disturb his reason. O thou that speakest watches; to "commune with his own heart;" the winds and waves into obedience and calmand, in his solitude, "to search and try his ness, settle and quiet his discomposed thoughts; ways," that he may see wherein he hath erred, speak peace and satisfaction to his troubled and may turn unto thee with all his soul, and mind, and give him comfort and sure confiwith all his strength. Let this affliction be dence in the sense of thy pardon and love. the means of preparing him for the enjoyment Lord, help his unbelief, and increase his faith. of thy presence, in which is fulness of joy; and Though he walk in the valley and shadow of let him be the more patient under it for that death, let "thy rod and thy staff support and protect him." In the multitude of the thoughts | vant, whose soul is disquieted within him by and sorrows that he hath in his heart, let thy his fears and anxiety respecting the safety of comfort refresh his soul. Let in a beam of thy his condition. Remove from him, we entreat heavenly light, to dispel the clouds and dark- thee, all frightful apprehensions, all perplexness in which his mind is involved. O direct ing doubts and scruples about his duty. Make to the means most proper for his help, and so him satisfied and settled in a right understandbless and prosper them, that they may effec-ing of all thy precepts, and careful in the obtually promote his recovery out of this deplor-servance of them; and dispel, by the light of able state. Incline his ears to wholesome counsels, and dispose his heart to receive due impressions. Ogracious 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. (From Bishop Patrick.) PRESERVE this thy servant, O gracious Father, from dishonouring thee and his religion, by distrusting thy power, or thy goodness. 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 meditat ing 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 unLet thy der the burden of wicked thoughts. power and goodness be shown in healing his disordered mind. Cleanse the thoughts of his Suffer them not to be defiled by any profane heart by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit. 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 steady temper, to be mild and gentle in his bereligion. Enable him to be of an equal and haviour, and to keep his hopes and fears within due bounds. Make him sensible of the wise and kind reasons of these affictions; that, if 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 they are duly improved, they may be powerand glory, whither our Saviour is gone before, ful preservatives of his soul against the prevailto prepare a place for all thy faithful servants. Strengthen his weak and feeble endeavours. ing sins of a licentious age; may lessen his inSupport his fainting spirit, and cause it hum-clinations to the enjoyments of this life, and bly to hope in thee. Confirm and establish deaden his appetite to sensual pleasure, and every good thought, desire, and purpose, which the perishing goods of this world; that these thou hast wrought in him. Make him to grow the sufferings of others, and make him more afflictions may dispose him to compassionate in wisdom, faith, love, and willing obedience. Conduct him hereafter so easily and steadily, thoroughly feel his own infirmities, and the peaceably and quietly, so cheerfully and secure- want of divine assistance. Open his eyes, that ly, in thy ways, that he may glorify thee whilst he may see and know the wise and gracious 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 ser 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 (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. O prosper the means which are used for his recovery. Make him tractable in the use of remedies, and willing to comply with the ad vice 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.) During this trial, let him learn to depend O ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, upon thee, that, as often as these profane pity, we entreat thee, this thy unhappy creathoughts arise in his mind, he may find grace ture, who knows not his own wants, nor how to overcome them, and without the least in- to ask for thy mercies. Compassionate, O dulgence or delay to cast them out; and that Lord, his infirmities, and supply his necessihe may learn to show patience under them, as Let thy wisdom prevent those evils under every other affliction and trial of thy which he cannot foresee, or wants understandappointment, trusting to thy grace to assisting to remove; but especially keep him from him, and to thy goodness to deliver him; doing any thing that may be hurtful either to through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. himself or others. A Prayer for one under the dread of God's (From Mr. Lewis.) 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.) ties. 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 of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. thy peace at the last; through the mediation PROPER PSALMS FOR A SICK PERSON AT SEA. 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. 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. 28. 7. Thou shalt show 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. 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 frequent-sea. ly unknown to us. Dispel, we humbly beseech 8. Through thee have I been holden up ever thee, if it be agreeable to thine infinite wisdom, since I was born; thou art he that took me out the clouds in which the soul of thy servant is of my mother's womb; my praise shall always now involved; that he may regain his under-be of thee Psalm lxxi. 5, 6. standing, and the right use of his faculties. 9. I will cry unto thee, Thou art my father, Heal his disordered mind: settle and quiet his my God, and the rock of my salvation. Psalm passions; pacify and compose his imagination. [lxxxix. 26. 10. Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord; let thy loving-kindness and truth always preserve me. 11. For innumerable troubles are come about me: my sins have taken such hold upon me, that I am not able to look up; yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me. 12. O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me: make haste, O Lord, to help me. Psalm xl. 11, 12, 13. II. 1. OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. 2. O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. Psalm cxxx. 1, 2. 3. For I am helpless and poor, and my heart is wounded within me. Psalm cix. 21. 4. My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death is fallen upon me. 5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed Psalm lv. 4, 5. me. 6. I go hence like the shadow that departeth, and am driven away like a grasshopper. Psalm cix. 22. 7. O God, thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hidden from thee. Psalm lxix. 5. 8. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit; in a place of darkness, and in the deep. 9. Thine indignation lieth hard upon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms. Psalm lxxxviii. 5, 6. 10. Thou breakest me with a tempest, and my roarings are poured out like waters. Job ix. 17. iii. 24. 20. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to con sume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment: every man therefore is but vanity. 21. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling; hold not thy peace at my tears. 22. For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 23. O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more Psalm xxxix. 11-13. seen. A Prayer for a sick Seaman. O MOST great and glorious Lord, the "salvation of all that dwell on the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea;" under whose powerful protection we are alike secure in every place, and without whose providence over us we can no where be in safety; look down, we beseech thee, upon us, thy unworthy servants, who are called to "behold thy wonders in the deep," and to perform our several duties in the great waters. "Thou art our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; and therefore we fly unto thee for succour in all our necessities. Extend thy accustomed goodness to our distressed brother, whom thou hast been pleased to visit with the rod of affliction. "The waves of death encompass him about, and the sorrows of hell take hold upon him." O leave him not to himself, nor let him be given over "to a spirit of slumber" and darkness; but " open his eyes, that he may see the wondrous things of thy law," and the necessity of a speedy and sincere repentance; so that from the sickness of his body, he may de 11. O reject me not utterly, and be not ex-rive health and salvation to his soul, which is ceeding wroth against thy servant. Lament. the great end of all thy righteous judgments, v. 22. and of all our afflictions. 12. For my soul is full of trouble, and my Let him seriously consider and reflect withlife draweth nigh unto hell. Psalm lxxxviii. 2. in himself, from this visitation," what a dread13. I am brought into so great trouble and ful thing it is to fall into the hands of the livmisery, that I go mourning all the day long.ing God;" and let him hence learn, if it shall 14. For my loins are filled with a sore disease, and there is no whole part in my body. Psalm xxxviii. 6, 7. 15. My wounds stink and are corrupt, through my foolishness. Psalm xxxviii. 5. 16. Behold, O Lord, I am in distress; my bowels are troubled, my heart is turned within me, for I have grievously transgressed. Lament. i. 20. 17. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth; but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness. Psalm xxv. 6. 18. Cast me not away in the time of age; forsake me not, when my strength faileth me. Psalm lxxi. 8. 19. Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand, please thee to raise him up again, to preserve a more awful sense of thy divine majesty upon his spirit," and to live more soberly, righteously, and piously, in this present world." We know, O Lord, that "many are the enemies of peace," and that "the whole world lieth in wickedness:" but let him not" follow a multitude to do evil," nor "give his consent to the enticement of sinners;" but being perfectly" redeemed from all vain conversation, and renewed in the spirit of his mind," let him "walk before thee with a perfect heart," and spend the residue of his days in thy faith and fear. Or if thou hast determined otherwise concerning him, be pleased to give him sufficient grace, and strength, and time, to "make his calling and election sure, before he go hence and be no more seen :" revive his drooping spirits, fortify his heart, and as he decays in have fought a good fight, I have finished my the outer, strengthen him in the inner man, course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there by setting before him the hopes of a blessed is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, immortality as an anchor of the soul, both which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall sure and steadfast." Amen. give unto all those that love and fear him, and put their trust in his mercy." Amen. 66 A Prayer for a sick Soldier or Seaman. a Distemper of long Continuance. (By Dr. Stonehouse.) O MOST mighty Lord, the fountain of health A Prayer to be used by a Person afflicted with and life, strength and courage, the aid and support of all that fly unto thee for succour, with whom is no respect of persons, but every one that feareth thee (whether he be rich or poor, learned or unlearned) is accepted by thee; we beseech thee mercifully to look down upon our brother, who is now fallen under the rod of thy displeasure. O LORD GOD Almighty, I am wonderfully made, and all my powers of body and mind were produced and are supported by thee. "Thou killest, and makest alive: thou woundest, and makest whole." We know, O Lord, that all thy judgments are principally intended for our good in the end, I own and reverence thine hand in my preby the reformation of our lives and manners; sent affliction. I acknowledge that thou art and therefore we most humbly beseech thee to righteous in all that befalls me; for I have sinlet thy present judgment have that good effect ned; and thou chastenest me less than my iniupon our brother, that he may lead the rest of quities deserve. In punishment thou showest his life as a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, and mercy, continuest to me many comforts, pronot continue to harden his heart against all the longest my opportunities of reflection and ampowerful and repeated instances of thy mer-endment, and givest hope of that pardon which cies and judgments towards him. I so much want, and at this time earnestly en If thou hast designed this sickness shall ter-treat. minate in his death, O be pleased to fit and I desire in this poor condition of my health, prepare him for it; or if otherwise in mercy to search and try my ways, and turn unto thou hast determined to spare him, O let him thee, O Lord, by deep humility, sincere repentnot return to any of his former sinful courses, ance, and faith in the great Redeemer: and but let him always keep in mind the promise may the fruit of this and every affliction be to which he made to thee in baptism, of renounc- take away sin, and make my heart better. ing the world, the flesh, and the devil; and which, we hope, he now again heartily renews in this his day of visitation. O God, if it be thy merciful will, direct me to, and prosper, some means for the removal of my disorder, that I may yet be capable of glorifying thee in my station, and, by farther endeavours for thy service upon earth, be fitter for immortality. Support me, gracious Lord, that my soul may not be quite cast down, and too much disAssist me to cherish peniquieted within me. We know, O Lord, that many temptations will unavoidably assault him in the state of life wherein he is engaged, and therefore we most humbly beseech thee to give him such a portion of thy blessed Spirit, as may enable him to fight with as much resolution and courage against his spiritual enemies, as the nature of tent, believing, serious thoughts and affections. his post obliges him to do, upon just occasions, Grant me such resignation to thy will, such against his temporal; ever remembering, that patience and meekness towards men, as my the greatest of conquests is that which is made Divine Master requireth, and as he himself upon ourselves; and that no victory is so truly manifested while he was a sufferer on earth. honourable, as that which is obtained over our vicious inclinations. Forgive all the harshness and sinfulness of my temper, and keep it from increasing upon me. May I learn from what I now feel to pity all who are sick, in pain, or otherwise afflicted, and do all in my power to assist and relieve them. Wherefore give him grace, we beseech thee, O Lord," to abhor that which is evil, and to cleave to that which is good." Let him religiously avoid all blasphemy and prophaneness, all drunkenness, riot, and lasciviousness; and If by this affliction thou intendest to bring let him carefully follow the rule our Saviour me down to the grave, prepare me, by thy grace, hath set him, "of doing violence to no man, for my removal hence, and entrance on the accusing no man falsely, and being content unseen eternal state: and may all the sufferwith his own wages;" so that, having "put ings of the present life work out for me a far on the whole armour of God, he may be able more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. to stand against the wiles of the devil; and I am thankful for any degree of ease and whenever thou shalt be pleased to put an end comfort which I have this day enjoyed. Grant to his warfare (either now or hereafter,) he me, this night, such refreshing rest, that I may cheerfully resign his soul into thy hauds, may be better able to discharge the duties and in these comfortable words of the apostle: "Ibear the burden of another day, if thou art |