(90.) In behalf of those afflicted with Madness. O MOST merciful Father, Almighty and everlasting God, unto Thee we confess our sins, and before Thee we acknowledge the transgressions of this sick man, for the waters are come in even unto his soul. For Thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, we beseech Thee to have pity upon him, to make his bitter anguish cease, and to still the raging of his disease. O Lord, we pray Thee, that Thou wouldest restore him unto health both of body and mind, that he may praise Thy name for ever, and that we may rejoice to see the operation of Thy hands, and to magnify Thy grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (140.) Amen. (91.) Another in behalf of the same, that they may not destroy themselves. O EVERLASTING and merciful Lord God, we beseech Thee of Thine infinite mercy that Thou wouldest send Thy holy Angels to guard all those who are disquieted with madness. Their reason, O Lord, is departed, and they find no rest; grant, we beseech Thee, that the malice of the devil i Ps. lxix. 1. may not make their affliction greater, and drive them to despair. Suffer them not to be wearied with impatience, and so make haste to take away their life; but save them, O Lord, by Thy goodness, preserve them from this evil, and protect Thy faithful servants for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (141.) (92.) For Protection from God, against the Violence of the same. O LORD, my God, Thou knowest that our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devourk; and that this affliction may most easily be increased by him, unless Thou forbid it; and at last may be so turned into fury, that the sick man shall set his hand against us, who attempt his cure, and shall in a moment take away our lives. Defend me, O Lord, by Thy holy Angels, that his anger may not rage against me; be present with me in the works of my calling, and guide me by Thy Holy Spirit, that my foot may never slip; and fulfil now, O Lord, the promise which Thou hast made to those who walk in Thy ways; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (142.) 1 Peter v. 8. (93.) For Patience with the same. O JESU CHRIST, the Lord of life and death, of Thy mercy I beseech Thee that Thou wouldest grant unto me the power of healing this sick man, whose mind wandereth in darkness, and who will not hearken unto the advice which we give. Do Thou, O Lord, shew unto us an occasion of offering the medicines which he refuseth; do Thou help our reason, that it may not be confounded through his madness, and err from Thy truth; and do Thou keep us steadfast in our calling, that we may not be weary in well-doing, and so cease from our labours, in behalf of one who is thus visited by Thee. Grant this, O Lord, we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ, His sake. Amen. (143.) (94.) In any common Plague or Sickness. O ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, who knowest what is needful for the health both of our bodies and our souls; and who hast mercifully said unto us, "Call upon Me in the time of trouble, so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise Me1:" In this Thy gracious promise, O Lord, we put our trust, and beseech Thee with our whole heart, mercifully to 1 Ps. 1. 15. protect us in this time of peril, from the noisome pestilence and from deadly fear. If it be to Thine honour and praise in our welfare of others and of calling, and to the ourselves, that we should continue in the flesh, (which yet in our blindness we cannot tell;) spare us, good Lord, spare us; defend us under the shadow of Thy wings, from the great destruction which is in the land; and so vouchsafe to lengthen our days, and to strengthen and direct us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be puffed up with pride, but may lowly and reverently acknowledge Thy gifts, and give, as we are most bounden, continual thanks, evermore praising Thee, for these Thy mercies towards us. But if in Thy good pleasure, O Lord, Thou shouldest think fit to visit us with this sickness, we humbly beseech Thee, most merciful Father, to make us steadfast in Christian patience, and in the true knowledge and faith of Thy wellbeloved Son, Jesus Christ, even unto the end of our life; for Thou art He that took us out of our mother's womb, Thou wast our hope when we hanged yet upon our mother's breasts m. Remember Thy merciful goodness, O Lord, which endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear Thee"; and remember not the sins and offences of our youth, but according to Thy mercy think Thou m Ps. xxii, 9. Ps. ciii. 17. upon us, O Lord, for Thy goodness. Turn Thee unto us and have mercy upon us, for we are desolate and in misery. The sorrows of our heart are enlarged, O bring Thou us out of our troubles. Look upon our adversity and misery, and forgive us all our sin. O keep our souls, and deliver us, let us not be confounded, for we have put our trust in Thee. Into Thy hands we commend our spirits P; and do Thou, O Lord, we pray Thee, graciously receive us into the joys of everlasting life; through Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (149.) (95.) Another of the same. O MOST gracious and merciful Father, we have sinned against Thee, and have done wickedly, because we have despised Thy word, and have not kept Thy great goodness in remembrance 9, neither have we repented us of our iniquities. Thou art just, O Lord, and doest righteously, who hast plagued us with this great plague; but have mercy upon us, O heavenly Father, for Thy dear Son's sake, cast us not away from Thy presence, and give not our life over to the pestilence. Preserve me, O Lord, in my going out and my coming in $, Ps. xxv. 6. 15. &c. P Ps. xxxi. 6. Ps. cvi. 7. |