My wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure, neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin. I am feeble, and sore smitten. I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart. My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me, and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me. My spirit is vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate. My days are consumed away like smoke; my heart is smitten down, and withered like grass. Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul; O save me for thy mercy's sake. Hide not thy face from me in the time of trouble. Incline thine ears to me when I call. O hear me, and that right soon. O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation; neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure. Correct me, but with judgment, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak. My soul also is sore troubled; but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me? Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. O give me the comfort of thy help again, and stablish me with thy free spirit. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire. Hearken unto me for thy truth and thy righteousness' sake. Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Thy sacrifice is a troubled spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise. Lord, thou knowest all my desire, and my groaning is not hid from thee. I stretch forth my hands unto thee. My soul panteth unto thee, as a thirsty land. Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint. Hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. In death no man remembereth thee; and who will give thee thanks in the pit ? Haste thee to help me, O Lord God of my salvation. In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust. Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God. For thou art a place to hide me in. Thou shalt preserve me from trouble. Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Into thy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth. A general prayer to be used with and for the sick, particularly such as are not well instructed in the principles of our holy religion. O most just and merciful God, a God of vengeance only to such as continue in sin; but of infinite pity and tenderness to all those, who turn from their sins in a deep and sincere repentance to thee; look down with mercy, we beseech thee, on this thy afflicted servant, whose body is loaded with sickness, and his soul with trouble. Lay not, gracious Lord, the burden on him more heavily than he is able to bear. Whilst thou art pleased to chastise with thy rod, support him at the same time with the staff of thy consolations. Be not extreme to mark what is done amiss, for who may abide it? Enter not into judgment with thy servant, who is but earth and ashes; with the offspring of dust; with the work of thy own gracious hands. Suffer not the angels of darkness to triumph in his destruction; but rather give joy to those of light in the conversion and salvation of this sinner. As we trust, he repents him truly of all his former sins, and by a lively faith throws himself entirely on thy mercy and the merits of his Redeemer, so we hope, he shews himself to be even yet thy child; O shew thyself to be his Father in mercifully accepting his repentance, and forgiving his sins. O blessed Jesus, the anchor of our hope, and the rock of our salvation, who came down from heaven, took our nature on thee, and suffered poverty, persecution, and at length the miserable death of a slave, for our redemption; arise and maintain thy right to this soul, for which thou hast laid down the price of thy own precious blood; wash it in that blood from guilt; cause thy intercessions to be heard above the accusations of its enemy, and turn away the just displeasure of thy Father from it. O blessed Spirit, the light of those who are in darkness, and the strength of the weak, come speedily, we beseech thee, to the assistance of this soul in its great distress and weakness. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the sins and errors of his life. Confirm his faith; and so sanctify this correction to him, that, joined with his tears, and the blood of Christ, it may help to purify his unclean affections, to rectify his sinful habits, and regenerate his whole nature. If, most gracious God, thou shalt be pleased to prolong his life (which, in compassion to the unprepared state of his soul, and to the fears of his family, we humbly beseech thee to grant) grant also, for thy tender mercy's sake, that he may dedicate it entirely to thy service, and glory; or if it should be thy will to remove him hence by this disorder, be graciously pleased to wean his affections from all the persons and things of this vain world, to fix them wholly on thyself, and to comfort him, in his last conflict, with well-grounded hopes of peace at the last; on which awful occasion, blessed Spirit, mightily comfort and support him under a deep sense of his own unworthiness; blessed Jesus, powerfully urge the merits of thy sufferings for him. Blessed Father, pity thou the extreme anxieties and fears of thy creature, honour thou the merits and intercessions of thy Son, and for his sake, turn thy face with a gracious smile to him, and speak peace to him; so shall his transported soul lift up a glad voice, and with a song of infinite joy, of gratitude, and love, magnify thee among thy blessed angels, to all eternity. This, O most gracious God, we most humbly and earnestly beseech thee to grant, not for our sakes, who are utterly unworthy to be heard for ourselves, but for the sake of Christ Jesus, thy Son, and our Saviour. Amen. |