the same by healing the sick: Thou knowest, O Lord, the weakness of my knowledge and the greatness of mine art and the difficulty of healing, for, unless Thou speak the word, all our remedies will be in vain. I therefore beseech Thee that Thou wouldest send Thy Holy Spirit unto me, and that Thou wouldest make me a vessel of Thy mercy now and all the days of my life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (116.)

(72.) Another for the Use of the same.

O LORD Jesu Christ, who art the Way, the Truth, and the Life1; that which Thou didst say unto Thy disciples, that they should take no thought how or what thing they should answer, or what they should say, before the judgment-seat to which they might be brought, and didst likewise add that Thou wouldest Thyself, by Thy Holy Spirit, supply all things in their time of need: That same word of promise do Thou at this present graciously fulfil unto Thy servant; and now when I am about to submit myself to the questions of the learned in an art so vast and so difficult, for the due study of which a man's whole life is not sufficient, I beseech Thee to be present with me, by Thy Holy Spirit, and those things which I

1 John xiv. 6.

Luke xii. 11, 12.

ought to answer in modesty and truth, do Thou, O Lord, vouchsafe to put into my mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (118.)

the

(73.) For Divine Aid.

O LORD God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, of Thy good pleasure, canst give into my hands many sick men, not to be brought down unto grave, O Lord, but to be restored to health for Thy glory, that Thy name may be magnified in all my works: Look down upon me in this my calling from Thy holy dwelling, increase my skill, assist the works of mine art by Thy word, and let me not seem unworthy of the art of healing. And this, O Father Almighty, I humbly pray that Thou wouldest vouchsafe to grant unto me, by Thy Holy Spirit; in and through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (119.)

(74.) For the Use of those who do not practise
their Profession.

O ETERNAL Lord God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who knowest that the wonderful works of nature have been my delight even from my youth, but that now I am so let and hindered with other things, that I am not able to

perfect the art of healing, and therefore hide myself at home; who seest also that both by day and night I love to recognise Thy power, and to meditate upon Thee in the works of Thy hand, and in the changes of sickness and of health: Increase, O Lord, that which Thou hast begun in me, and strengthen that which Thou hast established. Grant that I may never fail to admire Thy wonders in the art of medicine; let me not be satisfied with the study of the works of nature and of their power, unless in all these very things I acknowledge and worship Thee, O God. Let me never forget Thee in my reading and meditation, but be Thou present, O Lord, and assist me in mine endeavours by Thy Holy Spirit; for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen. (120.)

(75.) Prayer against Excess, with Thanksgiving for past Mercies.

I GIVE Thee thanks, O King of glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, because that Thou hast nourished and brought me, and the sick whom I have in charge, through the whole course of our lives, from our youth up until now, and hast provided for us both meat and drink and clothing, and dost abundantly furnish all things that are necessary for our daily life. For behold, naked

came I out of my mother's womb", and poor and wretched; but Thou hast given unto me every thing that I need. I beseech Thee, O Lord, that Thou wilt not leave me, nor forsake me, but that Thou wilt bless me in my food and drink and raiment; for Thou knowest, O Lord, that meat doth not strengthen us without Thy blessing, and that we are not able to obtain it by ourselves alone without Thy help, but when Thou givest it us we gather it, and when Thou openest Thy hand we are filled with good°. Grant also, I pray Thee, that we may not misuse these Thy gifts, O Lord, for sin; that our hearts may not be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this lifep; that we may not fall in time of temptation into the snare of the devil, and be led captive by him according to his will; and that we may be saved from those evil lusts which plunge men into death and perdition. Keep us, O Lord, from all excess, so that we may not, when we have eaten and are filled, deserve an enfeebled body, and an untimely death; and let us not, like the children of Israel in the wilderness, feel the punishment of these offences, but of Thy great mercy keep us from all evil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (123.)

# Job i. 21.

Ps. civ. 28.

P Luke xxi. 34.

(76.) For the Use of younger Physicians, for a Serious Mind.

O LORD God, merciful and gracious, who didst place our father Adam in the garden of Eden, most pure and innocent, that even in the smallest things he might recognise and praise Thee from day to day; and wouldest also have me to acknowledge and worship and call upon Thee even in the very lightest sicknesses, and dost threaten me with Thy displeasure if I think not seriously of all Thy doings : Create within me, O Lord, an earnest and a serious spirit, and make me in all my ways to look unto Thee alone; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (124.)

(77). For Help from God in slighter Diseases.

O LORD God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, without whose will there is nothing in man; how often do slight affections increase, and so turn to the great disgrace of our art. Did not King Asa die of a disease which in itself was not so dangerous, even because the physicians to whom he sought, trusted too much in themselves, and did not acknowledge Thy power? I beseech Thee therefore so to govern me and all mine actions in these

92 Chron. xvi. 12.