Prayers for the Use of the Medical Profession

PREFACE.

Ir is not necessary here to dwell on the Apostle's command to pray at all times and in all places, and to shew how it applies to the Medical Profession; for those, who do not feel how great is the privilege of being allowed thus to draw near unto God, are not likely to take up this little book. These few words of Preface will be better employed in explaining its history and object.

The greater part of the Prayers are freely translated, with some alterations, from a collection entitled Precationes Medicorum Piae, published by James Horsta,

a James Horst, or Horstius, was born at Torgau in Prussian Saxony, May 1, 1537. He took his degree of M.A. in 1556, and that of Doctor of Medicine in 1562, at the University of Frankfort on the Oder. He held in various places the office of Public Physician till the year 1580, when he received a similar appointment for the Archduchy of Austria, which he held for four years. He was then made Professor of Medicine at Helmstadt, where he afterwards became Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Vice-Rector of the University. He was twice married, and died May 21, 1600. He was a good and religious man, and is said to have been accustomed to implore God's blessing upon the remedies he prescribed. He wrote several medical works, which are not of much value, the greatest literary service that he rendered to his profession being the accompanying Prayers. Biograph. Medic.; Bayle, Dict. Hist. et Crit.

when he first entered upon his duties as professor of Medicine at Helmstadt. To these have been added a few others adapted from various sources, and two or three have never before appeared in print.

The apparent want of order in the arrangement is occasioned by all of these latter prayers being placed together at the end, as they were not collected till after most of the others were printed off.

It may be as well to say that should any profits arise from the sale of this little work, they will be given to some Medical Charity; but the raising money for any charitable purpose is not the aim of the editors in this publication. Their sole object in thus "casting their bread upon the waters,” (as it is their most earnest prayer,) is that it may tend to promote God's glory by supplying the Medical Profession with a manual of devotion such as does not (as far as they are aware,) at present exist.

They have only to add that "if" (in the words of the pious Nelson,) "there be any such readers as shall be prevailed upon by [their] weak

endeavours to become more careful and solicitous about the One Thing Necessary;

let

God's Holy Name have the glory, who was pleased to bless the meanest [instruments] in so great a work. Let [them] only beg the favour of their prayers, that, when . . . . . . . they prostrate themselves at the throne of grace, and approach the Holy Altars of God, they would, in the fervour of their devotions, offer up a petition for the unworthy [authors;] that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, [their hearts] may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; and that, while [they are] solicitous about the salvation of others, [they] may not fall short in securing [their] own.'