A Method of Devotion FOR Sick and Dying Perfons. IN the beginning of your Sickness, and when Prayers in the Beginning of Heavenly Father, who in From thy Wisdom knoweft what BP. Ken, is best for me. Glory be to Thee. Lord, if it feem good in thy fight, divert this Diftemper from me, which I now feel seizing on B me me; that I may employ my Health to thy Glory, and praise thy Name. But if thou art pleased it fhould grow on me, I willingly fubmit to thy afflicting hand: for thou art wont to chastise those whom thou doft love; and I am fure, thou wilt lay no more on me, than thou wilt enable me to bear. . I know, O my God, thou fendeft this Sickness for my Good: even to humble and re form me. O grant it may work that faving effect in me. Lord, Create in me a true penitent Sorrow for all my Sins past; A ftedfaft Faith in thee, and fincere Refolutions of Amendment for the time to come. Deliver me from all frowardnefs and impatience; and give me an entire Refignation to thy Divine Will. O fuffer not the Difeafe to take take away my Senfes; and do thou continually fupply my Thoughts with holy Ejaculati ons. Lord, Blefs all Means that are used for my Recovery; and reftore me to my Health in thy good time. But if otherwife thou hast appointed for me Thy bleffed Will be done. Lord, fit me for thy felf, and then take me out of this finful troublesome World, when thou pleasest. My hope is wholly in thy Mercy, and in the Merits and Sufferings of my Blessed Saviour. O for his fake forgive and fave me; that I may be found blameless at the Coming of the Lord Jefus. Amen. O Merciful, and Righteous From the Lord, the God of Health, Whole DRand of Sickness, of Life, and ofty of Man. Death. I most humbly acknowledge, that my great abufe of those many Days of Strength and Welfare, which thou haft afforded hath most justly deserved me, thy prefent Vifitation. I defire, O Lord, humbly to accept of this Punishment of mine Iniquity; and to bear the Indignation of the Lord; becaufe I have finned against him. And, O thou Merciful Father, who defigneft not the Ruin, but the Amendment of those whom thou fcourgeft; I befeech thee by thy Grace, fo to fantify this Correction to me, that this Sicknefs of my Body, may be a Means of Health to my Soul. Make me diligent to fearch my Heart, and enable me to dif cover every accursed thing, how clofely foever concealed there that by the removal thereof, I may make way for the removal of this Punishment. Heal Heal my Soul, O Lord, which hath finned against thee. And then, if it be thy bleffed Will, heal my Body also. Reftore the voice of Joy and Health unto my Dwelling; That I may live to Praife Thee, and to bring forth fruits of Repen tance. But if in thy Wisdom thou haft otherwife Difpofed; if thou haft Determined, that this Sicknefs fhall be unto Death; I befeech thee to fit and prepare me for it. Give me that fincere and earnest Repentance, to which thou haft promised Mercy and Pardon. Wean my Heart from the World, and all the fading Vanities of it. And make me to breathe after those more excellent and durable Joys, which. are at thy Right Hand for ever more. B 3 Lord, |