and be Thou my defence, when in the works of my calling for the sick I am in danger on every side. Strengthen me, O Lord, with Thy Spirit, lest my heart should fail for fear, and so I should forsake those who have need of mine aid; and grant unto me, O Lord, Thy help in all the works of my hand. Let me not go to the gates of the grave in the cutting off of my days, and be deprived of the residue of my yearst; but spare me a little", that I may learn to die, and to meditate beforehand on my latter end; and suffer me not to fall by a sudden death, without true penitence and faith in Christ. Be graciously pleased also, O Lord, to protect all those who are the Ministers of Thy word in Thy holy Church, that we may not be without their consolation, when chastened by Thy heavy hand. Finally, O Father of mercy, look down in pity upon the sick; heal them, O Lord, of their affliction, and save them from the hand of death, if it be Thy gracious will. But if, in Thy good providence, Thou shouldest otherwise think fit, forgive their sins, O Lord, and by Thy Holy Spirit strengthen their faith in the merits and passion of Thy Son; grant unto them a departure hence in Thy peace and love, and open unto them the gates of Heaven and an entrance into everlasting life. Grant this

Isai. xxxviii. 10.

u Ps. xxxix. 15.

we beseech Thee, O merciful Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. (150.)

(96.) Another.

O LORD GOD, Heavenly Father, who of Thy good pleasure dost lay upon us for our profit the cross and the afflictions of the body; and dost also promise everlasting consolation and joy to those who believe in Thee: Bestow upon us, we pray Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, that we may recognise this Thy fatherly kindness, and may not faint in our minds when Thou dost visit us with affliction, with tribulation, and with the plague. But let us wait with patience for Thy most merciful help, and in full assurance of faith comfort ourselves with the hope of those good things which Thou hast promised to them that love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy well-beloved Son, our Lord. Amen. (151.)

(97.) That the Plague may be stayed.

O EVERLASTING GOD, who in all Thy ways art just and right; who in the time of old, for the sin of the Prophet David, didst afflict Thy people

2 Sam. xxiv.

with a grievous pestilence, and yet when he repented and turned unto Thee, didst hearken unto his supplication, and so the plague was stayed: We confess, O Lord, that we have most righteously deserved this dreadful sickness at Thy hands by our innumerable sins, and have provoked most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. But, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech Thee to pardon our iniquities, and to make Thine anger cease from us; and so to turn away the punishment of our sins, that while we are strong in bodily health, we may more truly repent us of all that is past, and may give the greater diligence to make our calling and election sure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (152.)

(98.) For Wisdom.

GRANT unto me, I beseech Thee, O Lord God Almighty, that my soul may watch early in the morning for Thee, who hast made the heavens, and that my prayer may come into Thy presence. Make me, O Lord, to lift up my voice, and cry unto Thee, and earnestly to entreat for the forgiveness of my sins, and the sins of those committed to my care. Grant that in all my ways I may look for Thy saving health, and the word of Thy truth; for

y 2 Pet. i. 10.

if Thou wilt, O Lord, Thou canst fill me with knowledge by Thy Spirit, and then shall I send forth, as the drops of rain, the counsels of wisdom which Thou hast granted unto me; and in all my works of healing shall give thanks unto Thee, O God, among the people. O Lord, vouchsafe to direct me in all my counsels and my deeds, and so enlighten me in Thy secret things, that through Thee I may make known the wonders of our art, and the powers of healthful medicine; in the name and for the sake of Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (153.)

(99.) A Morning Prayer.

(S. Augustine".)

O LORD GOD Almighty, three Persons, and one God, who art always every where, who art from everlasting, before all things were made, and who wilt be over all, God blessed for ever, world without enda: I offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, this day and for evermore, myself, my soul and body, my sight, my hearing, my taste, my smelling, and my feeling, all my thoughts, affections, words, and actions, all that is within me, and all that I have without, my reason also and mine intellect, my

Meditationes, Soliloquia, et Manuale. c. xl. (12mo. Ant. 1557.)

a Rom. ix. 5.

memory, my faith, and my belief; into the hand of Thy power, O Lord, I give them, that Thou mayst guard them every day and night, every hour and minute. O holy Trinity, hear my prayer, and preserve me from all evil and offence, from all deadly sin, from all enemies seen and unseen, from all the crafts and assaults of men and devils; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (158.)

(100.) An Evening Prayer.

O LORD Jesu Christ, Almighty and everlasting God, I give Thee most humble and hearty thanks, for that Thou hast vouchsafed of Thy favour to guard me through the day that is past; and I beseech Thee, O Lord, in whatsoever I have sinned this day, in thought, word, or deed, in the labour of my hands, and the sight of mine eyes, by the deceit of the world, the flesh, or the devil, that Thou wouldest mercifully vouchsafe to pardon me, through Thy cross and passion. Be pleased to keep me this night from all dangers both of body and soul, that I may arise in health and safety to praise Thy glorious name, O Lord, and to serve Thee, with a good will, with a pure heart, with a chaste body, and with continual thanks; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy