Death Made Comfortable, Prayers 4
Prayers.
I. For Recovery of Hearing.
O! Righteous Lord, mine Ears have been too much inclined, and delighted to hear things, which dishonour thee, and corrupt me. And where they were less bent upon evil, yet however they were t…o easie and complying with it. And therefore thou art just in stopping them, because I have misused them; and I must clear and glorifie thee in taking away my Hearing from me, both in deserved Punishment of my having provoked thee, and in careful Prevention of my further corruption of my self thereby.
But, Lord, in thy just Displeasure, remember Mercy, and open mine Ears again if it may seem good to thee. For I acknowledge my former Errors, and am resolved by thy Grace, to keep them always open to good words, and averse to evil. Do thou open them, good Lord, for to thee alone do I look for the same, and I know it is as easie for thee to open them, as it was to shut them. And consider no longer my Sins, which deserve to be punished, but mine affliction which calls to be pityed.
For by this Deafness, O! my God, I am deprived very much of the Comforts of Conversation, and of the chief means of Instruction. For Discourse teacheth Wisdom and understanding. And†Rom. 10. 17. Faith it self cometh and groweth up by Hearing. And in the midst of Discourse, I am in great measure as if all kept silence, and the World is as if all were dumb to me, because I am deaf to them, and can seldom let in any Voice, that might bring Counsel or Comfort, to my Soul or to my Body.
Oh! therefore, Holy Father, do thou once more restore me to the benefit and comfort of Company, and give me an Ear that can distinguish good from ill, and that will be both fit and glad to hear, whatsoever may Honour thee, or any ways edifie or advantage me, thro' Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
II. For Patience under the Want of Hearing.
1.
AND whilst thou seest fit to continue me under this Deafness, O! Almighty Lord, Give me Patience Contentedly to want the Conversation of others. I know, alass! and do lament, that I am hereby Debarr'd from Hearing Good Words. But I will reckon it some Compensation to me, that it keeps me from Hearing Evil too; and in this naughty world, there is much more Evil spoke than Good.
For if my Ears were open, O! God, I should Dayly hear much more than I Desire to hear, or than I ought to bear Silently: And should hear Evil more often, than I should find the Heart and Courage to Reprove it; or than I should be able to Cure, or perhaps to check or any ways hinder it by my Reproof. And where I can neither prevent, nor Cure Evil Speeches, I will account it as a piece of Favour to me to be deaf to them.
And therefore thy Will be Done, O! Holy Father. I receive my Deafness Patiently and thankfully, as being sent by thee, and as Dayly keeping out much, that would either Corrupt, or trouble and afflict me. And am Content whilst thou pleasest, to be Deaf to the voice of Sinners, till thou shalt either restore that Sense to me again here on Earth, or take me hence to hear the Heavenly Halleluiahs and charming voices of Angels and Beatifyed Spirits in thy Presence, for the sake of my Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
2.
ANd Blessed be thy Mercy, O! Lord, that I was not born Deaf, but had mine Ears Open, till Faith was ingender'd in me by Hearing. For I injoy'd my Sense of Hearing, till I had learnt to know thee, and the way of my own Salvation: Yea, and till I had learnt to know much of this World too, enough to teach me that I must keep always on my Guard against the Snares, and constantly expect to meet, and stand prepared to bear the troubles of it.
And Graunt, O! Father, that Having lived to hear much before, I may now set my self, to meditate on what I have heard formerly, and to live by memory, and still have Recourse to past instructions, to Guide and Comfort me.
And make me Consider, Lord, that if mine ears were still open'd, since†Eccl. 1. 9. there is little new under the Sun, I should dayly hear much of the same, both Good and Evil over again. And that I may profit my self abundantly by thy Grace, in fixing those things u…on my mind, which I have heard already: yea, that I may likely profit more, in recollecting and meditateing thus upon old instructions, than by haveing an ear never fill'd with Hearing, but dayly hearkning after new ones. And that without such Reflection on the knowledge which has allready come by Hearing, to make my self Master thereof, I shall be allmost as if I wanted it, even whilst I have it, and shall be loseing it dayly more or less.
And besides this, O! Gracious God, thou art still pleased most mercyfully to continue to me the use of my Eyes, to supply the want of mine Ears; and I can read whatsoever is fit for me to know, in Relation to this Life or the next, tho I can no longer hear it.
And, Lord, make me sensible, that this way I can converse with the best Company, and in their best and most Studyed thoughts and Discourses. And moreover, that I can come to them when I need, and leave them when I please. For at any time, without tedious waiting or troublesome Caeremony, I may have their Wisdom to Counsell and Comfort me, in any Exigence either of my Soul or Body. And without upbraiding me with my Dullness or my Troublesomeness, or growing impatient thereat, they stand always ready to tell me as often as I need or Desire, what way I may be most easy to my self, or usefull to my Friends, or acceptable unto thee, thro Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
3. For Good Use of Deafness.
ANd whilst I remain Deaf to the Conversation of others, O! Blessed Father, give me Grace to converse more with thee and with my self, in calling thy Laws, and mine own ways to Remembrance.
And altho the Ears of my Body are shut to others, yet, Lord, let those of my Spirit be always open to thy voice. Give me*1 King. 3. 9. an Hearing Heart, that is never Deaf to thy call: and if thy Spirit do but whisper to me, let mine instantly perceive and embrace the same, and carefully and obediently attend to thy suggestion. And deliver me from having any Portion among them, who have lost their Hearing towards thee, tho they still keep it to the world, and who †Mat. 13. 15.having Ears hear not with them.
And under my Bodily Deafness, O! Gracious God, Preserve me from being jealous and mistrustful of those who are Discoursing in my Company, as if they were Discoursing against me, or made themselves sport with mine infirmity. And whilst their Discourses can do me no good, let not my own evil surmises and suspicions, do either my self or them any Hurt. But keep me always easy towards them, and truly Patient and thankfull towards thee, thro Jesus Christ my Blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.
A Thanksgiveing on Recovery from Blindness, or from Deafness.
BLessed be thy mercy, O! Gracious Lord, for Restoreing to me the use of my [†Or Ears. Eyes.] Thou hast given me them anew, for the Comfort and Convenience of my Life, and for the carrying on of thy Service.
And oh! that they may never more be used, for Vice, or Vanity: nor ever willingly open to let in ill, much less stay upon it, and Delight in it. But keep me allways mindfull, that to misuse them is the way to lose them again. That†Jo. 5. 14. being made whole once, it nearly concerns me to sin noe more, lest I fall under something worse. And that as I have now received them again from thee, I ought above all things to Devote them to thee; and that whilst they are in the way of pleasing thee, they are surely in the best way of Benefitting and Comforting me.
And, Lord, have Pity upon others, who are uncomfortable*Or Deaf. [blinde,] as I was. Hear their Cryes, and†Or open their Ears. [Lighten their Darkness] as thou hast Done mine. Oh! that seeing what thou hast now done for me, they may hold fast their hope and trust in thee. And that all thy Servants may Praise and Magnifye thy Goodness, which gives [†Or hearing to the Deaf. Sight to the Blind] and raiseth the Poor out of Misery, to be a Liveing monument of thy mercy, and to Give thanks and Praise to thee, thro our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
IV. Prayers for a Sick Child.
1. Out of the Office of Visitation of the Sick.
O! Allmighty God, and most Mercyful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of Life and Death; look Down from Heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the Eyes of Mercy, upon this Child now lyeing upon the Bed of Sickness. Visit him, O! Lord, with thy Salvation; Deliver him in thy good appointed time from his Bodily Pain, and save his Soul for thy Mercyes Sake. That if it shall be thy good Pleasure to prolong his Days here on Earth, he may live to thee, and be an instrument of thy Glory, by Serveing thee Faithfully, and Doing Good in his Generation: or else Receive him into those Heavenly Habitations, where the Souls of them that Sleep in the Lord Jesus, enjoy Perpetual Rest and Felicity. Graunt this, O! Lord, for thy mercyes sake, in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth aud reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
2. Another Prayer for the same.
LOrd, Pity the troubles and weakness of this Poor Child, and Pity our Sorrows who are afflicted with it and for it. Ease it of its Pains, and strengthen it when it lyes struggling for Life: and raise it up again if it may please thee, to grow in years and stature, and in Wisdom and thy Fear, and thereby to comfort us, and Glorifye thee.
We beleive, O! Allmighty Father, that thou knowest best what is fit both for it and us, and wi…t Doe what is best for both. And therefore we leave it to thee, to dispose of as thou pleasest. But whether it be to Life or Death, let it be thine in both, and either preserve it to be thy true and Faithfull Servant here on Earth, or take it to the Blessedness of thy Children in the Kingdom of Heaven, thro our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
A Thanksgiving for its Recovery.
BLessed be thy Name, O! Father of mercyes, for that thou hast heard us concerning this Child, and raised him up for thy Service and our Comfort.
And, Lord, fill†Or her▪ his Heart with Grace, as thou hast done ours with joy. Let Wisdom and Goodness still grow up with him, and as fast as he grows capable thereof, make him willing and carefull to Honor and obey thee. Let not Company corrupt him, nor youthfull Lusts as they come on prevail against his Soul. But as now thou art the Preserver of his Life, be ever henceforward the Keeper of his Innocence; that whensoever thou shall call him again in thy Due time to meet Death, he may have Comfort in the Remembrance of a Godly and well spent Life, and sweetly fall asleep in thy Peace, thro the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father which art, &c.
V. Prayers in times of common Infection.
Scriptures.
THe Lord killeth, and he maketh alive; he bringeth Down to the Grave, and he bringeth up, 1 Sam. 2. 6.
And is there any†Lam. 3. 38. Evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? Amos 3. 6.
But in his Wrath, he remembreth mercy, Hab. 3. 2.
Oh! then, let us come, and return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal as; he hath smitten, and he will binde us up. Hos. 6. 1.
And make thy Dwelling in the secret Place of the most High, and thou shalt abide under the Shadow of the Almighty.
He shall cover thee with his Feathers, and his Truth shall be thy Shield and Buckler.
And then, thou shall not be afraid for the Terror by night, nor for the Arrow that flyeth by Day.
Nor for the Pestilence that walketh in Darkness; nor for the Destruction that wasteth at Noon Day.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy Right Hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
There shall noe Evil befall thee, nor shall any Plague come nigh thy Dwelling.
For he shall give his Angells charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
And that because thou hast made the Lord, which is my Refuge, even the most High, thy Habitation. Ps. 91. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
Prayers.
I.
O! Almighty God, just art thou in visiting us of this place with this infectious Disease, which takes away not only the injoyments of Health, but alsoe the sweetest earthly Comforts and Supports of Sickness, and Deprives us whilst we Live of the Help and Company of our Friends. We justifye thee, and thy judgements; and confess that our miseryes are still far less than our Sins.
But whilst it comes to chastize our wickedness, let it cure it too, O! Lord. Take from us the Plague of an Hard Heart, and make us tremble at thy word. And purge away all our Sins, for I fear them more, and am more Desirous of their Cure, than of the Cure of any Bodily Maladyes. And they are truly our Plague, which has infected our whole Nature, and wherewith we Dayly infect one another. And when they have showd us our wickedness, let thy judgements cease from us, and be intreated from this miserable†Or Place. Land, for thy Dear Son our Saviour Jesus Christs sake. Amen.
2.
O! Righteous Lord, thou hast showed thy People terrible things, and*Ps. 60. 3. Given them a Drink of Deadly Wine. Thou terrifyest us with †Ps. 91. 5, 6.thine Arrows, which wound secretly and Walk in Darkness; And with a Destruction, which wasts at Noon Day▪
But this deadly infection, tho it be very spreading, can invade none, O! God, without thy Commission. Nor kill those whom it doth invade, till thou biddest it. Soe that our Life and Health, is not left at the mercy of raging infection, but is still bound up in thy Hand. And they who have thee for their Sanctuarye in the most Contagious time, may Dwell in Safety. For†Ps. 91: 11. thou givest thy Angells charge over them, that noe infection can touch, or Destroy them.
And under thy wings, O! Lord, doe I seek for shelter, for my self, [and for my Family.] We have noe Preservation against these Dangers, but thy Good Providence. And the Chief Antidotes whereon we relye, are our Prayers to thee, and our Faith in thy Mercy.
Holy Father, I seek to thee, let thy Care surround me. I†Ps. 91. 9. make thee my habitation, let me find it a safe one. I Trust thee with my self, and with my Friends, to Order what is most Desireable for us, and best agrees with the wise Ends of thy Good Providence. And tho I doe not absolutely promise my self, to be exempt from a Common Calamity: yet, Lord, being in thy Hands where I desire to be, I know that I shall be exempt, if 'tis fit I should be soe; and if not, that thou wilt turn even my falling sick of it to my Good. Soe that under thy Wings, O! my God, my Hope is allways to have a kind, and most thankworthy Ordering; and to receive from thee, either a Continuance of Health, or a beneficial and thankworthy Sickness; either the Blessing of a longer Life, or the Greater Blessing of an Happy Death, thro Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
VI. A Prayer to be said by Friends, for Natural Fools or Madmen.
SHall not I spare them, who can not discern between their Right Hand and their Left? Jon. 4. 11.
I was found of them, that sought me not. Is. 65. 1.
I was Eyes to the blind, and Feet to the lame. Job. 29. 15.
Bear ye one anothers Burdens, and soe fullfill the Law of Christ. Gal. 6. 2.
O! Allmighty and most mercyfull Father, Pity this thy Poor Creature, who knows not†Or her his own wants, nor how to ask for thy Mercyes. But as he is not capable of Doing things to please thee, so let nothing which he doth offend thee. He is still as an infant, O! God, not arrived to the use of Reason; Oh! Deal with him, as thou doest with them, and as*Mark 10. 14, 15. Mat. 19. 14. such admit him into the Kingdom of Heaven. [*Omit this Clause in case of Madmen, who have been mad since they came to the use of Reason. He has been received for thy Child in Baptism, and has done nothing since to forfeit the Claims of Mercy and Bliss made over to him therein, and belonging to that Relation; Oh! let them be fullfill'd and made good to him in their time.]
And as his want of understanding unfits him to doe any thing for thee, soe doth it likewise to Doe any thing for himself. And therefore he needs to have the more done for him by thee, and by the Good instruments of thy Providence. And let thy Care, O! Lord, supply the want of his. Give thy Holy Angells charge to look to him, as they Doe to Helpless Children. Give thy Saints, and those who are any ways Concerned with him, the Heart to be Understanding, and†Job. 29. 15. Eyes, and Feet and Hands to him, as to one who is as if he had nothing of these of his own, but wants to have them all supplyed out of thy Provision. And do thou in thy Wisdom prevent those Evils, which he can not foresee; and put those by, which he wants understanding to Remove.
Especially, O! Lord, keep him from Doing any thing that is mischeivous, either to others, or to himself.
Oh! thou,*Is. 65. 1. who art found of them who seek thee not, shew mercy to this thy Servant, who extremely needs thee tho he can not seek to thee. Thou knowest his wants, O! Lord, tho he is insensible and ignorant of them. And tho he can not speak for himself, yet his wants speak and Crye aloud for him. Oh! Hear their Crye, which calls to thee for Pity. And hear us for him, who is not able to ask for himself. And graunt him thy special Care at present, and thy Peace at the last, thro the merits and mediation of thy Dear Son, our only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
VII. A Prayer for those who attend about the Sick.
O! Blessed Lord, who callest us to minister and attend about this thy pained and afflicted Servant, make us truly compassionate and tenderly Sensible of▪ †Or herhis Sorrows, and studious how to ease them. Keep us Gentle and Officious towards him, and willing and Diligent to minister to him, and above all things to make and continue thee his Friend.
Oh! that it may be our Care, Friendly to admonish him of his Duty, and to call upon him to look up unto thee. To strenthen his Soul, and asswage his Sorrows, by Comfortable words; to read to him, and Pray for him, and study in all things to make his sick bed as Profitable to his Precious Soul, and as easy and tolerable to his pained and wearyed Body, as we can.
And let us not shew unwillingness, O! God, in any Services, nor be provoked by his impatience, or ill reception of our well meant Offices. But let us Pity the Disorders of his Spirit under his Anguish; and bear the same, with that Gentleness, and Continued Care to minister Comfort or Relief, which his Sorrows call for, and which we all Desire may be shew'd towards us, when we come, as we must expect to come, to be tryed with the like weaknesses and Troubles our selves.
And Grant, O! Father, that the Sight of his sickness, may be a warning to us to prepare for our own. Make our Hearts†Eccles. 7. 2. wiser and better, by Conversing in the House of Mourning; and let it teach us the end of all men, and the vanity of all earthly things, and put us upon Zele and Diligence in all the ways of qualifying and Dressing of our Souls for a more blessed and everlasting Life, thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
XIII. A Thanksgiving for Recovery from Sickness.
I.
BLessed be thy Name, O! God of all Power and Mercy, for that†Ps. 31. 7. thou hast Consider'd my Trouble, and known my Soul in my Adversity. Thou sentest me all those Helps whereby I was supported, and all the intervals of ease wherewith I was releived under my Sickness. And now thou hast brought me up again from the Grave, and Deliver'd me of my pains and weakness, and art become my Health and my Salvation.
Yea, thy Mercy, O! Blessed Lord, has rectifyed my Spirit, and done it Good by my Sorrows, which is more to be valued than easing my Body of the… ▪ For†Ps. 119. 67. before I was troubled I went wrong, but thy Corrections have taught me to see my Folly, and this worlds vanity. And my Pains, which have been my Monitors Day and Night.†Ps. 51. 6. have Caused me to understand Wisdom secretly.
And for these, and all other thy most endearing Mercies,*Ps. 30. 12. I will sing Praise to thee, O! Lord my God, and Give thee Thanks for ever. †Ps. 40. 10.I will not Conceal thy Faithfullness and thy Salvation, but Declare and speak of them, that others allsoe may praise thy Name; [yea,*Ps. 116. 18. in the Presence of all thy People, When they had desired the Prayers of the Congregation in their Sickness, they must not forget to Desire them allso to return thankes for them on their Recovery.that they may give thee Thanks in the Great Congregation.] And oh! that I may never forget thy Mercyes, nor my own Promises of amendment and Holy obedience: but cheerfully and Faithfully†Ps. 66. 13, 14. pay thee my vows, and Perform all the Promises and Good Purposes, Which I made whilst I was in Trouble.
And Pity the Pains, Good Lord, and hear the Cryes of those, who are feeble and sore smitten, as I was. Help them, to Patience, Comfort, and sure Trust in thee. Be thou their Physitian, both of Soul and Body; and in thy Due time, ease them of their Pains, and restore them to Health and Strength, as in thine abundant Mercy thou hast restored me; and Give us all Hearts therewith Thankfully to adore, and Faithfully to serve thee, thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2.
BUt altho by thy Grace, I am now recover'd, O! Almighty Lord, from this Sickness; yet I know that at thy time, I must expect to be sick again, and shall surely Dye, and I know not how soon that time may come. And I have found how much need there is under the Terrors of Death, to be conscious to our selves of having lead a truly Religious and upright Life, and how unfit we are to begin it under the Weaknesses of that State. Oh! then that my chief Care may allways be to live with such Good Conscience, as I should be willing to Dye with; and to doe all those things in the time of my Health and Strength, which I shall surely wish I had Done when my last weakness and sickness comes.
And therefore, O! my Dear God, I humbly and earnestly Pray thee, that I may never fall to admire, or grow fond of any of the things of this world, by coming again to relish and enjoy them. Let me never envy the Wealth of the Covetous, nor the Honours and High Places of the ambitious, nor the Sensual Pleasures of Licentious men. For these things, O! Lord, can not profit me in the Days of Evil. They are vane Things, that pass off in the useing, and leave nothing but remorse and and Guilt behind them. And the Remembrance of them at the Approach of Death, instead of affording ease and Comfort, will be the greatest wound and weakning to my Spirit, and increase my pains and Terrors, instead of any ways asswaging them.
Nor suffer me, O! God, to trifle away this time of Respite in things of noe benefit, which doe thee noe Honor, and my poor Soul noe Good. For either to hide my Talents, or to misemploy them, will inflame the reckoning of my Sins: And that will turn this great Blessing, of lengthning out my Days, into a Curse; and make my latter end worse, than my beginning was.
But give me Grace, O! Father, to Redeem those Precious Hours, which I have formerly thrown away on vice or vanities, by employing all this small Remainder of my time, in seeking thy Glory, and in carefully preparing for my change, and Religiously and Reverently waiting for it, hopeing thereby to have entrance for ever into†Ps. 16. 11. thy Presence where is fullness of joy, thro the merits and mediation of my Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.