The Whole Duty of Man, Part 11 – Part 12
Directions for the time of Sickness.
WHEN thou findest thy self visited with Sickness thou art immediately to remember that it is God which, with rebukes doth chasten man for sin. And therefore let thy first care be to find out what it is that provokes him to smite thee, and to that purpose Examine thine own heart, search diligently what guilts lie there, confess them humbly and penitently to God, and for the greater security renew thy Repentance for all the old sins of thy former life, beg most earnestly and importunately his mercy and pardon in Christ Jesus, and put on sincere and zealous resolutions of forsaking every evil way for the rest of that time which God shall spare thee. And that thy own heart deceive thee not in this so weighty a business, it will be wisdome to send for some godly Divine, not only to assist thee with his prayers but with his counsel also. And to that purpose open thy heart so freely to him that he may be able to judge whether thy Repentance be such as may give thee confidence to appear before Gods dreadful Tribunal, and that if it be not, he may help thee what he can towards the making it so. And when thou hast thus provided for thy better part, thy Soul, then consider thy Body also, and as the Wise man saith, Ecclu…. 38. 12. Give place to the Physician, for the Lord hath created him: Use such means as may be most likely to recover thy health, but always remember that the success of them must come from God; and beware of Asa's sin, who sought to the Physicians, and not to the Lord, 2 Chro. 6. 12. Dispose also betimes of thy temporal affairs, by making thy Will, and setting all things in such order as thou meanest finally to leave them in, and defer it not till thy sickness grow more violent, for then perhaps thou shalt not have such use of thy Reason as may fit thee for it, or if thou have, it will be then much more seasonable to imploy thy thoughts on higher things, on the world thou art going to, rather then that thou art about to leave; we cannot carry the things of this world with us when we go hence, and it is not fit we should carry the thoughts of them. Therefore let those be early dispatched that they may not disturb thee at last.
A Prayer for a sick Person.
O MERCIFUL and Righteous Lord, the God of health and of sickness, of life, and of death, I most unfeignedly acknowledg that my great abuse of those many days of strength and welfare, which thou hast afforded me, hath most justly deserved thy present visitation. I desire, O Lord, humbly to accept of this punishment of mine iniquity, and to bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him. And, O thou merciful Father, who designest not the ruine but the amendment of those whom thou scourgest, I beseech thee by thy grace so to sanctifie this correction of thine to me, that this sickness of my body may be a means of health to my soul, make me diligent to search my heart, and do thou O Lord, enable me to discover every accursed thing, how closely soever concealed there, that by the removal thereof, I may make way for the removal of this punishment. Heal my soul, O Lord, which hath sinned against thee, and then if it be thy blessed will, heal my body also, restore the voice of joy & health unto my dwelling, that I may live to praise thee, and to bring forth fruits of repentance. But if in thy wisdom thou hast otherwise disposed, if thou have determined that this sickness shall be unto death, I beseech thee to fit & prepare me for it, give me that sincere and earnest repentance, to which thou hast promised mercy and pardon; wean my heart from the world, and all its fading vanities, and make me to gasp and pant after those more excellent and durable joys which are at thy right hand for ever. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me, and in all the pains of my body, in all the agonies of my spirit, let thy comforts refresh my soul, and enable me patiently to wait till my change come. And grant, O Lord, that when my earthly house of this Tabernacle is dissolved I may have a building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. And that for his sake who by his precious blood hath purchased it for me, even Jesus Christ.
A THANKSGIVING for RECOVERY.
O GRACIOUS Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, in whose hand my time is, I praise and magnifie thee that thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption, and restored me to health again; it is thou alone, O Lord, that hast preserved my life from destruction, thou hast chastned and corrected me, but thou hast not given me over unto death; O let this life which thou hast thus graciously spared be wholy consecrated to thee. Behold, O Lord, I am by thy mercy made whole, O make me strictly careful to sin no more least a worse thing come unto me. Lord, let not this reprieve thou hast now given me, make me secure, as thinking that my Lord delayeth his coming, but grant me I beseech thee to make a right use of this long suffering of thine, and so to imploy every minute of that time thou shalt allow me, that when thou shalt appear I may have confidence and not be ashamed before thee at thy coming. Lord, I have found by this approach towards death, how dreadful a thing it is to be taken unprepared. O let it be a perpetual admonition to me to watch for my Masters Coming. And when the pleasures of sin shall present themselves to entice me, O make me to remember how bitter they will be at the last. O Lord hear me, and as thou hast in much mercy afforded me time, so grant me also grace to work out my own salvation, to provide oil in my lamp, that when the Bridegroom cometh I may go in with him to the marriage. Grant this I beseech thee for thy dear Sons sake.
A Prayer at the approach of Death.
O ETERNAL and everliving God, who first breathedst into man the breath of life, and when thou takest away that breath he dies and is turned again to his dust, look with compassion on me thy poor creature who am now drawing near the gates of death, and which is infinitely more terrible, the bar of Judgement. Lord my own heart condemns me, and thou art infinitely greater then my heart, and knowest all things. The sins I know and remember, fill me with horrour; but there are also multitudes of others, which I either observed not at the time, or have since carelesly forgot, which are all present to thee. Thou settest my misdeeds before thee, and my secret sins in the light of thy countenance; and to what a mountainous heap must the minutely provocations of so many years arise? How shall one so ungodly stand in thy Judgement, or such a sinner in the Congregation of the Righteous? And to adde yet more to my terrour, my very repentance I fear will not abide the trial; my frequent relapses heretofore have sufficiently witnessed the unsincerity of my past resolutions. And then, O Lord, what can secure me that my present dislikes of my sins are not rather the effects of my amazing danger then of any real change? And, O Lord, I know thou art not mocked, nor wilt accept of any thing that is not perfectly sincere. O Lord, when I consider this, fearfulness and trembling comes upon me, and an horrible dread overwhelmeth me, my flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and my heart is wounded within me. But, O Lord, one deep calleth upon another, the depth of my misery upon the depth of thy mercy; Lord, save now or I perish eternally. O thou who willest not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, bring me, I beseech thee, though thus late, to a sincere Repentance, such as thou wilt accept, who triest the heart. Create in me, O God, a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me: Lord, one day is with thee as a thousand years, O let thy mighty Spirit work in me now in this my last day, whatsoever thou seest wanting to fit me for thy mercy and acceptation. Give me a perfect and entire hatred of my sins, and enable me to present thee with that sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart, which thou hast promised not to despise; that by this I may be made capable of that attonement which thy dear Son hath by the more excellent oblation of himself made for all repenting sinners. He is the propitiation for our sins, he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was on him, O heal me by his stripes, and let the cry of his blood drown the clamour of my sins. I am indeed a childe of wrath, but he is the Son of thy louelove, for his sake spare me, O Lord, spare thy creature whom he hath redeemed with his most precious blood, and be not angry with me for ever. In his wounds O Lord, I take Sanctuary, O let not thy vengeance pursue me to this city of refuge: my Soul hangeth upon him, O let me not perish with a Jesus, with a Saviour in my arms. But by his Agony and bloody Sweat, by his Cross and Passion, by all that he did and suffered for sinners, good Lord deliver me; deliver me, I beseech thee, from the wages of my sins, thy wrath and everlasting damnation, in this time of my tribulation, in the hour of death, and in the day of Judgement. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, and do not now repay my former neglects of thy calls, by refusing to answer me in this time of my greatest need. Lord, there is but a step between me and death, O let not my sun go down upon thy wrath, but seal my pard on before I go hence and be no more seen. Thy loving kindness is better then the life it self, O let me have that in exchange, and I shall most gladly lay down this mortal life. Lord thou knowest all my desire, and my groaning is not hid from thee; deal thou with me, O Lord, according to thy Name, for sweet is thy mercy; take away the sting of death, the guilt of my sins, and then though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, I will lay me down in peace, and Lord when I awake up, let me be satisfied with thy presence in thy glory. Grant this merciful God for his sake who is both the Redeemer and Mediator of sinners, even Jesus Christ.
PSALMS.
PUT me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.
There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure, neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sins.
For my wickednesses are gone over my head, and are a sore burden too heavy for me to bear.
My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishness.
Therefore is my spirit vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate.
My sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up, yea, they are more in number then the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.
But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and in misery.
If thou Lord shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it?
O remember not the sins and offences of my youth, but according to thy mercy think thou upon me for thy goodness.
Look upon my adversity and misery, and forgive me all my sin.
Hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble, O haste thee and hear me.
Out of the deep do I call unto thee, Lord hear my voice.
Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my Soul, O save me for thy mercies sake.
O go not from me, for trouble is hard at hand, and there is none to help.
I stretch forth my hands unto thee, my Soul gaspeth unto thee, as a thirsty land
Draw nigh unto my soul and save it, O deliver me, because of my enemies.
For my Soul is full of trouble, and my life draweth nigh unto hell.
Save me from the Lions mouth, hear me from among the horns of the Unicorns.
O set me up upon the rock that is higher then I, for thou art my hope, and a strong Tower for me against the enemy.
Why art thou so heavy, O my Soul, and why art thou so disquieted within me?
Put thy trust in God for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance.
The Lord shall make good his loving kindness towards me, yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever, despise not then the work of thine own hands.
O GOD, thou art my God, early will I seek thee. My Soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee, in a barren and drie land where no water is.
Like as the hart desireth the water brooks, so longeth my Soul after thee O God.
My Soul is a thirst for God, even for the living God, when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
How amiable are thy dwellings, O Lord of Hosts?
My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord, my flesh and my heart rejoyce in the living God.
O that I had wings like a Dove, for then would I flye away and be at rest.
O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy Holy Hill, and to thy dwelling.
For one day in thy Courts is better then a thousand:
I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
I should utterly have fainted, but that I believed verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Thou art my helper and my redeemer, O Lord, make no long tarrying.