Merits and Mediation of Jesus Chrift, thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour;

Who hath taught us thus to

Pray

UR Father, which art in Heaven; Hallowed be thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven; Give us this Day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us: And lead us not into Temptation: but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. A

men.

:

At Night let him again repeat the fame) Prayer, after his ufual Evening Prayers.

If the Sick Man cannot conveniently read this Prayer himself, then let some of his Attendants read it for him. And let it be read in the First Perfon; and let the Sick Man Repeat it after him that Reads it, as he doth the Confeffion in the Publick

lick Congregation. Whereby this Prayer, tho' pronounced by another, will be offered up to God as his own Prayer.

I defire my Parishioners to get this Prayer by heart, in the time of their Health: That so they may repeat it, with less Disturbance, upon a Sick Bed.

B

Efides these constant stated Prayers, the Sick Man must often, at other times of the Day, make his Prayer to God, as his Strength and Circumstances will permit, and as the State of his Soul may require.

:

And herein I shall defire such Persons, as are pleased to accept of my Help, to observe the Directions in this little Book.

If the Sick Man's Pain, or his Confinement doth tempt him to Impatience; let him then read, or cause to be read, the Scriptures and Prayers concerning Patience; from Pag. 49. to P. 58.

When When he doth exercise his Repentance, let him read from P.66. to P. 86.

**If he doubts the Pardon of his Sins, and is Tempted to DeSpair; let him read from P. 214. to P. 228.

If he is troubled for his Relatives, his Wife and Children, bécause he leaves them poor and unprovided for; let him read from P. 241. to P. 247.

1

If he is afraid to Die; let him read from P. 247. to P. 282.

When any of the Visitants do Pray with the Sick Person, or for him; the Office for the Visitation of the Sick, in the Service Book, will be most proper for them. And much better than their own private Ex

;

tempore Effusions.

For to express my Self with Freedom; long continued Prayers are not so suitable for languishing decaying Persons: Whose Weakness is much better complied with; and whose Devotion is more effectually cherished; by the short, but Pathetick

Collects and Responsals of our Church.

of

A

:

Of the Sick Man's Reading the

..

H. Scriptures.As

THE Sick Man having

done with this World, (having Settled and Disposed all. his Temporal Concerns ;) is now in Prudence to apply him felf entirely to his Devotions, and the great Concerns of the World to come.in

And to his Prayers, he should add the conftant Reading of the H. Scriptures: Which were written, that we thro patience and comfort of them, might have hope. Rom. 15.4.

This Word of God (as the Pfalmist speaks) is perfect and pure, converting the Soul, rejoycing the Heart, and enlightening the Eyes : 'tis sweeter than honey, and more desirable than the finest Gold. Pfal. 19. 7, 8, 9.

१७.

The

The Bible therefore is the best Companion, and the best Comforter for a Sick Christian. Who may fay of this Book, in the words of David, This is my Comfort in my Affliction. Pfal. 119. 50.

Particularly, the Book of Psalms (as the late Judicious and Pious Dr. * Isham doth ex-* His daily press it) is such an Admirable Office for

the Sick

Entertainment for a Sick Chri- which I

recom

stian, that Sleep it felf (when heartily 'most wanted) cannot be more mend. ' refreshing to him.

In Chronical Diseases, which are lingring and gentle, the Sick Man may read the Pfalms in Order, as Directed by the Church. But in violent acute Distempers, he must be content to do as he can; and as the Circumstances he is under, will permit.

In such a Cafe, let him read fome of the following Pfalms, as he shall have strength to attend them.