A Help Unto Devotion, Prayer 16 – Prayer 23
16. A Prayer more ſpecially fitted to the ſtate and occaſions of a ſicke perſon.
O Moſt mercifull and gratious God, thou, whoſe prouidence reacheth into the moſt withdrawne and ſolitarie places, and which cauſeſt the beames of thy fauour to ſhine euen vponupon chiefe ſinners, vouchſafe to caſt thy cōpaſſionate ey vponupon thine afflicted creature, whō thou haſt laid vponupon his bed of ſicknes. Iuſt (O Lord) it is with thee thus to chaſten me: nay, if thou ſhouldeſt cruſh my body into many pieces, and ſuddenly plunge mee into hell, it were no more then my due deſert. What a ſtayned ſinner am I by nature, ſtript of al goodnes, and eaſie to be wrought vntounto any, euen the vileſt euill? What a world of treſpaſſes hauehave béene ſince committed by mee, notwithſtanding the greatnes of thy patience, and the varietie of good meanes which thou haſt vſed both to informe and to guide me vntounto godlineſſe? I will not therefore (O Lorde) I dare not, I cannot plead againſt thée; It is my duety rather to magnifie thy mercy, who art pleaſed ſo mildly & ſo fatherly to correct me; it being free to thy iuſtice, to cut me off as an eare of Corne, and to giuegive mée ouer to the prince of darkneſſe, & to leaue me for euer to that woefull kingdome of eternall miſerie. Vnworthy I am (I moſt willingly confeſſe) becauſe of my former ſlackenes and coldnes in this duety of calling vponupon thy Name, to hauehave any ſmall acceſſe into thy preſence: Yet ſeeing thou art wont euer more to reſpect the trueth of thine owne promiſe, then the deſert of thoſe which pray vntounto thee, therefore I beſeech thee, which art pleaſed to call thy ſelfe The hearer of Prayers; to hearken vntounto the hearty and vnfained deſire of my ſoule. Sanctifie vntounto mee (O Lord) this preſent ſickneſſe, let it bee as thy ſchoole, in which I may truely learne to know my ſelfe more effectually then heretofore. Make me to conſider ſeriouſly that al paine and griefe is but the fruite of ſinne, and that as all ſickneſſe naturally makes way for death, ſo death (in it ſelf) is the fore-runner of eternall condemnation. Bleſſe this thought and this meditation ſo vntounto mee, that I may make it my firſt care (now in this viſitation) to ſéeke peace and aſſurance of reconcilement with thy Maieſtie. To this ende giuegive mee a deepe touch and a ſenſible vnderſtanding of my ſinnes by paſt, take from mee all guile of ſpirit, all diſpoſition to flatter or to ſooth vppe my ſelfe, or to leſſen eyther the number or qualitie of mine iniquities; Cauſe mee euen to breake and plough vppe my heart, to ſearch and to try my wayes, that ſo out of the abundance of my féeling, I may powre out a moſt plentifull and ſincere confeſſion before thee. Let mee remember it to bée in vaine to ſéeke to hide that from thée, which thou (before whom all things are naked and open) doeſt know more fully and more directly then my ſelfe; and that the diſcouery and laying open of my ſins, is the next way to finde thy mercy in forgiuing them.
Adde withall that ſtrength vntounto my ſcant and ſmoking fayth, that I may, amidde the ſight of mine owne tranſgreſſions, lay holde vponupon the merite and fulnes of my Sauior. Make me hartily to diſclaime all hope of help by my ſelfe, or any other creature in Heauen or Earth whomſoeuer, and to caſt all my burthen vponupon him, who by himſelfe hath purged ſinne, and whoſe death is an abſolute and an alſufficient ſacrifice for the guilt of all belieuers. Oh that I may féele my ſelfe knit and vnited vntounto him: ſo ſhall I, in and by him, be preſented blameles to thy Maieſtie. And becauſe (O Lord) I am full of imperfections, and there is in my nature much weaknes, and a great deale of frowardnes and readines to repine and rebell againſt thy ordinance, therefore furniſh mee with neceſſary graces, & with all ſuch giftes as thou knoweſt to be fitte for my preſent caſe: Endue mée with patience, to beare whatſoeuer it ſhall bee thy pleaſure to lay vponupon me, and méekly to ſubmit my ſelfe to thy moſt wiſe appointments: Aſſure mee that thou which knoweſt whereof I am made, and that I am but duſt, wilt not oppreſſe me with more then thou ſhalt giuegive me ſtrength & power to endure. Let mee not deſire life, otherwiſe then for the further aduancement of thy glory. Subdue in me all louelove & liking of this preſent world, grant that the hope of the glorie which ſhalbe ſhewed hereafter, may be ſo ſtrong within me, that all things may ſeeme vile vntounto mee in compariſon thereof. Make me comfortably capable of the aduiſe and counſell of my Chriſtian friends, which in their louelove ſhall goe about to refreſh my Soule. Make mee able alſo to ſpeake profitably and for good to thoſe that belong vntounto mee; Put vponupon mée and in mee charitable affections and thoughts, to, and concerning others, being ready to ſatiſfie where I hauehave fayled, and to remit euen where I hauehave receiued the greateſt wrong.
Prepare mee to my laſt conflict, and ſtrengthen me againſt ſathans aſſaults, that in deſpite of his malice, yet I may ſtill holde mee faſt by thee, and reſolue, though thou ſlay me, yet to truſt vponupon thee. And becauſe (ſuch is thy great goodneſſe to vsus thy poore creatures) ſickeneſſe doth not alwayes exerciſe his full ſtrength vpō our bodies: therefore giuegive me (I beſéech thee) that wiſedome to make vſe of eueryevery breathing, and of eueryevery little time of eaſe which thou doeſt afforde mee, that in it I may gather ſtrength againſt the times of greater anguiſh. Bring ſtill into my minde, thoſe things which I hauehave frō time to time learned by thy word, that thereby I may bée quickned and find comfort in my greateſt neede. And alwayes (O Lorde) as the time of departure ſhall approache, ſo let my ſoule draw neerer vntounto thee, my heart powerfully crying, when ſickneſſe ſhall take away ye vſe of my tongue, Into thy hands I commend my Spirit: Come Lord Ieſu, come quickly. And when death hath parted my Soule from my body, let thy Angels (which do alwayes by thy appointment pitch their tents about thy ſeruants) conuey it into that place of reſt, which the blood of thy Sonne hath prouided and purchaſed for thy choſen. To which thy Sonne with thy ſelfe and thy bleſſed Spirit be prayſe and thankeſgiuing now & euermore. Amē.
17. A direction for thoſe who deſire to performe the Chriſtian duety of prayer on the behalfe of a ſick friend or neighbor whom they come to viſite.
WEe are vnworthy (O Lorde) to ſpeake vntounto thy Maieſtie either for our ſelues or others: yet this duty lying vponupon vsus by commaund, & hauing a promiſe of hearing annexed thereunto, wee are bold in Ieſus Chriſt to commend vntounto thee the weake eſtate of this thy ſeruant. All ſicknes is from thee, & to thee belong ye iſſues of death. Thou killeſt and yu makeſt aliue thou bringeſt downe to the graue & thou rayſeſt vp; to whom ſhall we go in this and other our neceſſities, but onelyonly vntounto thee? Wee could wiſh (O gracious God) the continuance of his Chriſtian fellowſhip, the lengthening and enlarging of his dayes, but wee willingly ſubiect our wils to thy determining; Thou (Lord) knoweſt what is the beſt, & therunto make vsus (we beſéech thée) willingly and readily to ſubſcribe, & to deſire both his life & our own, onelyonly ſo far forth as may be for his and our further good in the more diligēt & zealous aduancement of thy glory. Frame him alſo (we pray thee) vntounto the like yéelding, and ſo bleſſe vntounto him this viſitation, that by it he may be more and more hūbled in the ſight of his owne ſinnes & may encreaſe withall in an vnfayned and longing deſire after Chriſt: Enlighten his eyes, that hee may know what is the hope of his calling, & what is ye excéeding greatnes of thy mercy and power towards all belieuers. Strengthen his faith, that hee may with it (vtterly renouncing himſelfe) lay faſt holde vponupon the merites of our onelyonly Sauiour. Protect him againſt ſathan, blunt the edge of his aſſaults, that they may neuer wound him to deſpaire. Remooue from him a dull ſpirit, and all ſecure and hardned thoughts, all worldly deſires, al lingring after the deceiuing ſwéetneſſe of theſe earthly things. GiueGive him patience to beare, & conſtancy to endure whatſoeuer it ſhalbe thy pleaſure to inflict. Vouchſafe him comfort in conſcience, ioy in the ſpirit, peace in belieuing, together with a ſetled and wel grounded exſpectation of eternall life and ſaluation by thy Sonne. Graunt to vsus tender and féeling hearts, that both his ſorrowes and the griefes of other of thy ſeruāts may be apprehended, by vsus as if they were our owne: Let thy word of grace bee in our lips, that we may be able to ſpeak holily, ſoundly and chéerefully to ye comfort of his ſoule. Teach vsus in him and in this houſe of mourning to ſée the ende of vsus all, and to lay it to our hearts, that ſo wee may labour to bee prepared for our laſt departure. All theſe graces both for him and for our ſelues, we begge in all humilitie at thy mercifull hands, in the name and worthines of thy beloued Sonne, calling further on thee, as hee hath taught vsus in his word; Our Father, &c.
18. A thankeſgiuing for a ſicke man, if God be pleaſed to ſend recouery.
SVffer me not (O Lord) to be in the number of thoſe, who are forward to aſke in the time of neede, but careleſſe to ſhew themſelues thankefull when mercy is beſtowed. Make me as deſirous to come vntounto thee with this ſacrifice of prayſe, as I was ready to beg eaſe and refreſhing in the day of my great neceſſitie. Thou haſt chaſtened me (O gratious God) and corrected me, but thou haſt not giuen mee ouer vntounto death. I looked to hauehave beene cleane depriued of the reſidue of my yeares and thought I ſhould hauehave ſéene man no more among the inhabitants of the world: but it was thy pleaſure to deliuer my Soule from the pit of corruptiō. Oh what ſhal I render vntounto thee for this and all other thy benefits towards mee! Oh how and by what meanes ſhal I ſhew my ſelfe thankefull to thy Maieſtie! I hauehave nothing (O Lord) to render thee but the calues of my lips; accept my ſeruice (I beſéech thée) in Ieſus Chriſt: and let not the memory of this thy kindneſſe dye within me, but graunt that I may often recount thy mercy, working there-with vponupon mine owne heart, and applying it as an effectuall motiue to obedience. Make me euer mindfull of the vowes & promiſes which I made in my ſickneſſe, to ſerue thee more faithfully then heretofore, that I may make conſcience to performe them, knowing that thou delighteſt not in fooles; & that by my neglect herein, I ſhall lay my ſelfe open vntounto a greater iudgement. Teach me alſo to remember this, that albeit thou haſt now giuen me ſome little reſpite, yet I muſt not deceiue my ſelfe in putting far off the day of my death, but that I ought rather to vſe my health & ſtrength to the better fitting and more effectuall preparing my ſelfe thereunto. Together with the encreaſe of bodily and outward ſtrength, encreaſe in me ſtrength of care to walk with thee, and to approoue my ſelfe vntounto thee in al holy cōuerſation and godlineſſe, being more zealous in Religion, more watchfull ouer my wayes, more earneſt in Prayer, more feruent in Spirit, more carefull to profite by thy Word, more faithful in my place and calling then heretofore, alwayes looking for the bleſſed hope and appearing of Ieſus Chriſt my Sauiour: to whom with thee & the holy Ghoſt, let my heart féelingly & effectually giuegive all honour, prayſe, might, maieſtie and dominion both now and for euer, Amen.
19. A Prayer for a woman in the time of her trauaile.
O Lord, I now finde by experience the trueth & certaintie of thy word, & the ſmart of that puniſhment which yu laidſt vponupon me being in the loynes of my Grād-mother Eue, for my diſobediēce towards thee: Thou haſt greatly encreaſed the ſorowes of our ſex, & our bearing of children is ful of paine. Teach me by this, to ſée the deſert of ſinne, and to grow into the hatred of yt which hath brought into the world ſuch ſtore of miſerie. GiueGive mee true repentance & pardon for my ſinnes paſt, that they may not ſtand at this time & in this my néed, betwixt me & thy mercy: GiueGive mee a comfortable féeling of thy louelove in Chriſt, which may ſwéeten all other pangs, thogh neuer ſo violent or extreame: Make mee ſtill to lift vp my Soule vntounto thee in my greateſt anguiſh, knowing that thou alone muſt giuegive a bleſſing to the ordinarie meanes for my ſafe deliuery. Strengthen my weake body to the bearing of what ſorrow ſoeuer, by which it ſhall ſéeme good vntounto thee to take triall of me. Make mee to remember, that howſoeuer it be with me, yet I am alwayes in thy hād, whoſe mercyes fayle not, and which canſt giuegive iſſue to the greateſt paine. And when thou haſt ſafely giuen mee the exſpected fruite of my wombe, make mee with a thankefull heart to conſecrate both it and the reſidue of my life to thy ſeruice, through Ieſus Chriſt my Sauiour and Redeemer. Amen.
20. A Thankeſgiuing after deliuery.
BLeſſed bee thy great Name, (O my moſt deare & louing Father) for thy large mercy to me moſt weake & ſinfull woman. Thou haſt ſhewed thy power in my frailtie, and thy louing kindneſſe hath preuailed againſt my vnworthineſſe. Thou mighteſt, for my ſinnes, hauehave left mee to periſh in my great extremitie: but thou haſt compaſſed me about with ioyfull deliuerance. Maruailous (O Lord) are thy workes, infinite are thy mercyes, and my Soule by preſent experience knoweth it well. O my Soule, prayſe thou the Lord, and all that is within mee praiſe his holy Name. My Soule, prayſe thou the Lorde and forget not all his benefits: hee hath heard thy Prayers, hee hath looked vponupon thy ſorrowe, hee hath forgiuen thine iniquities, he hath healed thine infirmities, hee hath redéemed thy life from the graue, hée hath euen crowned thée with compaſſions. Oh giuegive mee (I beſéech thee) a thankefull heart, not only now, while the memorie & ſenſe of thy fauor is freſh before me, but cōtinually, euē ſo lōg as I hauehave my being Graunt that I may learne by this euidence of thy mercy and might, for euer hereafter to depend vponupon thee: Quicken me vp to all holy dutyes, that my thankefulneſſe may appeare in my pure and Chriſtian cariage. Make me a kinde and carefull Mother, willing to vnderunder-goe the paines and troubles of education: let no niceneſſe or curioſitie hinder me frō thoſe ſeruices to which both Nature & Religion hauehave appointed mee. Let mee alſo bee carefull heereafter, when time ſhall require, to ſeaſon that which thou haſt giuen mee, with the knowledge of thee, and of thy Sonne; that my deſire may manifeſtly appeare to bee ſet for the encreaſing of thy kingdom. Vouchſafe ſo to order my affections, & to bring them into obedience vnderunder thee, that if it ſhould bée thy pleaſure either now or hereafter to take this infant from mee, I may patiently ſubmit my ſelf to thy appointment. And now (O good God) perfite in mee that ſtrength which yu haſt begun, make me to growe in care to ſerue thée faithfully both in the duetyes of piety, & in other buſineſſes of my place and calling; that I may be a comfort to my huſbād, an example to my neighbours, a grace to my profeſſion, & a means of glory to thy Name, through Ieſus Chriſt my Lord and Sauiour. Amen.
21. A Prayer for thoſe which are employed in the aſſiſtance & helpe of a trauailing woman.
IT is not our diligence (O Lord) or paines which can do any thing without thy bleſſing, & our ſins are ſufficient to bring thy curſe vponupon whatſoeuer we vndertake. Be pleaſed (we pray thée) to be reconciled to vsus in ye blood of thy Sonne: Make vsus to remēber yt we are here in thy preſence, & yt all our thoughts, words & actions are open to thy ſight: proſper ye buſines for which wee are come together: put far frō vsus all ſuperſticious cōceits, & idle fancies, & teach vsus to ſéek help only frō thy grace. Enable vsus to ſpeak comfortably to this pained woman, yt we may further her dependance vponupon thy holy Maieſtie, and may be a means vnderunder thee of her true refreſhing in her ſharpeſt fits. Furniſh vsus with ſkill, and her with ſtrength, patiently to awaite ye appointed time of her deliuerance: & knit al our hearts vntounto thee, that we may feare thy Name, noting & obſeruing thy mercy and power in all thy works, & ſtudying to giuegive thee prayſe and glory for the ſame, through Ieſus Chriſt our only Lord & Sauiour. Amen.
22. A Thankeſgiuing after, when God hath bleſſed their paines in the womans deliuerie.
O Lorde, wee hauehave ſéene thy goodnes, and hauehave receiued an apparant token of thy readines to heare the Prayers of thoſe which call vponupon thée, and to ſuccour thoſe which flye vntounto thee for thy helpe. Thou haſt giuen eaſe and deliuerance to the woman, light and life to the infant, ioy and gladneſſe to vsus all. The glory and prayſe is thine alone; Fill our hearts with thankefulneſſe, & make vsus forward both now & hereafter to prouoke and ſtirre vp one another thereunto. And And let not our thankefulnes ſtand in words onelyonly or outward ſhewes, but cauſe it to appeare in our whole courſe; that the obedience, the ſobrietie, the modeſtie, the vertue of our liues may witnes ye thankfull féeling of our hearts. Goe on in thy mercy, (wee pray thee) both to the Mother and her babe, continue & encreaſe their ſtrength, ſo as may ſerue beſt for thy glory. And as thou haſt added one vntounto the number of mankind, ſhewing thy wonderful wiſedome & power both in the framing of him in the wombe, & in bringing him foorth into this light: ſo in thy time adde him alſo to thy Church, and beget him again vntounto a liuely hope, by the immortall ſéed of thy holy word, deliuering him from the power of darkeneſſe, (in which by nature we are al) into the glorious libertie of thy choſen. And if it ſhall ſo ſéeme good to thee, to lay any further triall eyther of ſickenes or death vponupon this thy ſeruant, or vponupon the fruite of her wombe, prepare vsus all to a patient and quiet bearing of thy hand, and to a contented & cōfortable reſting vponupon thy gracious prouidence, aſſuring our ſelues, that all things ſhall turne to the good and benefit of thy choſen. Heare vsus (O Lord) and accept vsus, and forgiuing the weakenes of our Prayers, graunt vsus all néedfull graces out of the rich ſtore-houſe of thy bottomleſſe bounty, and that for Ieſus Chriſt our gracious Redéemer. Amen.
23. A Prayer for a Souldier, fighting for his Countrey, or the confederates thereof.
O Lord, it is thy glorie to bee called (The Lord of hoſtes) and it is thou alone, from whom, when men hauehave made their moſt politicke and puiſſant preparations, ye victorie muſt be looked for. Drawe my heart, I beſéech thee, from all relying vponupon my own valor, or vponupon the ſtrength of the battaile in which I ſtand; and teach me to looke vpward, and to waite and truſt onelyonly vponupon thee. Thou giueſt conqueſt, and thou giueſt courage; thou deliuereſt from the perill of the ſword, or elſe makeſt death a meanes of happineſſe to thy ſeruants. Forgiue my ſinnes, I pray thee, and aſſure mee of pardon by the witneſſe of thy ſpirit, that the guilt thereof make not my heart to tremble in me, and to behold death as a meſſenger to conuey me into hell. If thou (O Lord) bée on my ſide, peace being made betwixt thée and my Soule through Chriſt, what can bee againſt mee, what hazard can befall my Soule! Nothing ſhall be able to depriue mee of thy louelove. Let not ſpoyle, or blood, or mine owne aduancement be the ends of mine attempts, but make me to ayme onelyonly at thy glory in the defence of thy trueth, and in the good and ſafety of the State wherein I liue. The iſſue of all things to thee (O Lorde) is knowen, but to man it is hidden, prepare me therefore indifferently to whatſoeuer ſhall befall me. If I dye, giuegive mee comfort in my laſt breathing, and take my Soule into thy gracious hands: If I bee taken captiue, giuegive mee patience, giuegive mee wiſedome and godly courage to doe nothing contrary to the honour of my countrey, or preiudiciall to the profeſſion of a faithful Chriſtian. If I returne with life and victorie, make me thankefull; kéepe mee from taking frō thee any part of thy glory. Preſerue mee from thoſe riotous, laſciuious and blaſpheming courſes, which are the vſuall fruits of good ſucceſſe; Let me not thinke deuotion to be an enemie to reſolution, or that a religious feare of thy Maieſtie doeth abate the ſpirit that ſhould bee in a Souldier: but ſettle me in this, that the aſſurance of a lawfull cauſe, the hope and confidence of a better life by the merites of Chriſt, the care to pleaſe thee and to depend vpō thy power, are the onelyonly true grounds of valour, which can giuegive a man boldneſſe and life in the day of battaile. Vouchſafe me theſe and all other needfull fauours in and for Chriſt Ieſus ſake. Amen.