INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS FOR THE Afflicted and Sick: With some Help for PRISONERS; Such especially as are to be tried for LIFE.  
Printed in the Year, 1697.   

To the Christian READER.  
BEing truly sensible, how easily we forget ourselves in time of Afflictions and Sickness, and that to suffer like a Christian, is one of the most difficult Tasks, that belongs to our Profession; I have therefore concluded, that a little Help will not at all be unwelcome to any under these Trials; and for that end, have made a short Collection of some Instructions and Devotions, which I hope, may be serviceable for the keeping up the Spirit of Christianity, under these Difficulties. The Holy Scriptures have furnished a great part of the Matter for this little Work; and besides this, I have made use of the Following of Christ. carded. Bona, Alphonsus Rodericus, Paradisus ainae, Arsdekin, &c. all most approved Authors, who have writ on this Subject. If it contributes any thing to the relief of my Neighbour in his Distresses, 'tis a Charity I owe him, and will be no less a Comfort to me than to him. If it helps him to prepare for a good End, 'tis what I wish him with all my Soul, having recommended nothing to him, but as I desire for myself; and so may I be found at my last Hour.  
I am sensible, the help I here offer him, is not such as I could desire, and for this reason, it has been laid by for some Years, in expectation of something more complete appearing from a better Hand; but since nothing comes forth to answer my Desires, and something seems wanting, I now Publish this, being persuaded, that such as are in Distress, will be contented with this help, till they are provided with better.   

INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS FOR THE Afflicted, &c.  
Q. WHat is a Christian to do, in time of Sadness and Afflicton?  
A. He ought to have recourse to God, and seek Comfort in him. For that being a time of Trial, what should he do, but beg for Strength from above, that so being called forth into the Field of Battle, he may not fall in the Combat. Tis God has promised to be the Comforter of the Afflicted, the Protector of the Widow, of the Orphan and the distressed: And where should a Christian in these streights, turn himself, but to him, who is the Fountain of all Mercy and Comfort? This is the Command God has given him by the Prophet David, Ps. 49. 18. Call upon me, says the Almighty, in the day of Tribulation, and I will deliver thee. And the good effect of this Expedient, the same Royal Prophet experienced; when having in these words laid open the excess of Grief, that then oppressed his Mind, Renuit consolari anima mea. My Soul was so dejected, that it refused all Comfort. He presently sets down the Cure; Memor fui Dei& delectatus sum. I cast my thoughts on God, and presently I was filled with Joy. Excessive Grief was his Distemper, and his Remedy, was in raising his Heart to God.  
Q. No Christian can doubt, but God is the most certain relief of an afflicted Spirit; but there's a great difficulty for a Soul, in time of Trouble and Sadness, to raise itself truly to God; because, at that time, 'tis depressed and kept down under a certain weight, that weakens the Spirits, and leaves it almost without Life: 'tis then in darkness; and such a black Cloud generally hangs over it, that God is not then in its sight: And how shall he then raise himself to his Lord for comfort; when the very trouble, that puts him into the necessity of seeking it, quiter indisposes him for the doing it, leaving him without Life, Motion and Sight?  
A. 'tis true, the Soul, in those circumstances, is something indisposed, and through the corruption of Nature, more inclined to lie down under the weight it feels, than raise itself up and seek for relief. But this is a weakness a Christian by no means ought to yield to, but instead of this, choose rather to use violence with himself, and force Nature and Inclination to yield to Duty: He is then to summon up all the Courage he has, quicken his sinking Spirits, and make head against the Enemy, who is then throwing him into Darkness and Chains. Such seasonable endeavours as these, will make an entire change in the Soul; so that whereas it seemed wholly indisposed, through disquiet and trouble, for the seeking its God, it shall now, being thus excited, run to him with greater life, and pour forth itself into Prayers with more than ordinary fervour.  
Q. I could gladly be informed, how this might be; since meeting with Troubles, Crosses and Disquiets so often, 'twould be some satisfaction, did I but know how to make them turn to so good account.  
A. There are few but know how to do it, but are unwilling to take the pains: It cannot be done without some struggling and resisting the bent of Nature; and this being difficult in that State, when the spirits are weakened and cast down, few have courage to attempt it; and so neglect to make use of those means, which otherwise they well know, would be beneficial to them. For this reason, a good Friend is very necessary at that time, who, by laying before them the true Motives of Christian Peace, Patience and Resignation, may help to give them new life, and encourage them to go on in their Duty. But because such a Help cannot be so often at hand, as our frequent Troubles and Disturbances of Mind require; therefore it is very fit, every Christian should be provided with some Book, which may be proper in these Circumstances, to suggest to him such good thoughts, as may contribute to his Peace and help at least to abate the Storm. A little Reading is very serviceable in this case, and a good preparative to dispose the heart for Prayer. And because nothig can be more effectual, than to understand the Nature of Tribulation, and the Reasons, why God is pleased to visit us with Afflictions, I'll here, in the first place, lay these before you, and then furnish you with some short Lessons out of the best Authors on this Subject, and Prayers, which you may make use of according as you find them to your purpose. And this method, I hope you'll find to be some relief in your Troubles.  

Of Tribulation, and the reason why God permits it.  
TO lay a good foundation in this affair, every Christian ought to imprint well in his mind, and often reflect on these great Truths, which Faith teaches us: viz. 1. That as God has created all things, so he at all times, and even at present, ordains, appoints and governs all. 2. That nothing happens, whether little or great, prosperous or afflicting, without his Providence. 3. That in whatever comes to pass, in the whole World, he exercises either his Justice or his Mercy. 4. That no Creature has any power, but what comes from him; so that they are all to be looked on, as the Instruments or Ministers of his Decrees, being, according to the expression of Scripture, as The Ax in the hand of him that cuts, or as a Staff of him that strikes.  
The due consideration of these truths by Christians, will lay a good ground for their receiving all troubles with a peaceable and resigned mind. For having considered God as the sovereign Lord and Governor of all, and his Will as the Supreme Justice, they will hence conclude; that it is fit he should Reign, and we obey; That it is his part to appoint, direct and guide, and ours to follow; That we ought in all things to comform ourselves to his Will, and not expect, that he should submit to ours; That his Will being always Just, always Holy, it is also always adorable, always worthy of our Submission and Love, however the effects thereof prove harsh and troublesone: For that only such Souls as are unjust, can find fault with what Justice itself does; whilst the Pious and Good, under all Extremities, and amid all the repugnancies of Nature, ever cry out with the Prophet: Nonne Deo subject a erit anima? My Soul, wilt thou not submit thyself to God? To whom art thou to be subject but to him?  
1st. This consideration of the Will of God acting in every Creature, will put Christians upon looking beyond Creatures in all their disappointments and across events of things; 'twill make them take notice, not only of the Rod, that strikes and chastises, but more particularly have regard to the Hand that manages, and the Will that directs it; and this will be a great step in order to a lasting inward Peace. For if Christians discerned God every where, and looked on him through all his Creatures; if they saw, it is he gives them all the force they have, that it is he who bushes them forward, to put in execution his eternal Decrees; the the sight of this Justice and Power would give a cheek to all their Complaints, their Murmurings and Impatience. For which of them, in his Presence, dares say, They deserve not what they suffer? Who could have any other sentiments, than those which made Holy David say, Obmutui& humiliatus sum, quoniam tu fecisti, I held my peace, and was humbled, because it was thou, Lord, that didst this. There's nothing of all that happens to us, but what our Lord does, and who can say, It is not well? We may humble ourselves under his Scourge; but if we complain, what is this, but for Dust and Ashes, to set itself up against the Almighty, and question, if not strive, to reverse his Decrees?  
Thus, if we kept our Eyes ever fixed on this first Cause of all Events, how would this help to moderate and compose all disquiets of our minds; how should we then see in all Evils, misfortunes and injustices, the just chastisements of mens Sins: That all is equitable and holy, both in regard of God ordaining all things, and in respect of Men, on whom his Decrees are executed; so that tho the Ministers of this over-ruling Will, through their own depravedness, may be guilty of Injustice; yet their Injustice hinders not what they do; from providing just and equitable to those that suffer it?  
In this manner, the discovering the Finger of God's Justice touching us in every Trouble, may be as a lenitive to take off the Sharpness of such Passions, as in those circumstances, are too apt to affect and disquiet the mind. For though Nature be then so uneasy, as to be inclined to rebel, yet upon discerning the Will of God and his Justice, even in the severest Trials, must it not then necessary be overawed by that Sovereign Power, and force itself to a compliance with those Orders, which cannot be controlled; and where it falls into murmurings, impatience and dejection, it soon experiences, that all this is only adding to that burden, which is already its aggrievance, but can be no remedy at all of the Evil?  
It may be a farther relief, if we reflect on some other reasons, why God is pleased to visit us with Afflictions. As first, that by these bitter Potions, we may be weaned from the things of this World, that our affections may be taken off from these fading Objects, and fixed on a more lasting Good; that we may be contented, if not Desire, to be dissolved, and released from this Banishment and vale of Tears. This was the Blessing accompanied that severe oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, who being tired and quiter b●●●●n with their slavery, began to cry aloud to God, and desire to be set at liberty, and were thus prepared for the Land of Promise. How much do we stand in need of burdens, that we may be thus tired with our slavery! The World, says St. Augustine, Bitter and uneasy as it is, is yet loved; what would it then be, did all things ever succeed to our wish? If thus we greedily catch at and embrace its Thorns, what should we do, did it every where abound with Flowers? May not there then be very great Blessings thus conveyed to us, under what we often complain of, as our greatest Misfortunes; while we are thus brought to be disgusted with the World, and made more willing to leave it: Of which God knows, how viciously fond we might be, how our heart and affections might be wholly possessed with it, did every thing prove favourable in it?  
2dly. If we consider, that Afflictions are an Exercise, by which God trys the Just, and makes proof of their Fidelity. 'tis an easy thing, in words, to make profession of serving and loving God; but the Sincerity of this Profession then appears, when Temptation or Tribulation begin to make their assaults; then it is the faithful Servant is discovered, when he continues steadfast under his Trial, when he stands firm and unmoved, notwithstanding all Disquiets and Opposition, and lets nothing, however troublesone, force him from his Duty, or, in the least, divide him from his Lord. For as Gold is tried in the Fire, so are the Just tried in Afflictions. This it was the Angel taught Toby: Because thou wast acceptable to God; says he, therefore it was necessary he should make proof of thy Fidelity. This was the reason why this holy Man was visited with Blindness. And under this trial may Christians esteem themselvrs, as often as they perceive tribulations to arise against them.  
3dly. We reflect, That the Rod and Correction give Wisdom. that these are often the Means, by which God opens the Eyes of Blind and perverse Sinners, softens the Obstinate, and quickens the stupid and Dull: 'twas by this expedient Nebuchednesor came to the knowledge of the ever living God; 'twas by the same the Prodigal Son became sensible of his misery, and first thought of returning to his Father. How many sinners have been reclaimed by this way; and how many are now Saints in Heaven, who must confess, Sickness, Poverty or Affliction to have been the happy occasion of their turning their Eyes that way; and that, had they not been thus awak'ned, they might have for ever slept on in Death!  
4thly. If we observe, that suffering Troubles with Patience, is a most effectual means for obtaining pardon of Sin. For God is full of Compassion and Mercy, and in the day of Tribulation he will forgive our Offences. And therefore David being conscious of his Guilt, and knowing, how beneficial Affliction might be to him, in order to the making his peace with God, and being discharged from his Sin, openly made this profession: Ego ad flagella paratus sum. I am waiting for Affliction; I am prepared for the Scourge; I know I have Offended, and am sensible, the Chastisements of God, are the most effectual means for restoring me to his Favour. What Christian is there, that lies not under the guilt of some sin; and if he any ways conceives how in urious this is to his Soul, ought not he ever be prepared, with David, for the Scourge; willingly accept of all Trouble, as the remedy of his Evil; and never complain of the cruelty of the Surgeon's hand, who Cuts, that he may Cure, and thus strives to prevent the Patient's greater Misery, and hinder his perishing under the filth of his Sores  
With these, and such other considerations, ought every Christian be well furnished, by the daily reading of good Books, that so they may be ever prepared for making a good use of all. Troubles, and turning them to the best advantage. How great a help would it be to us, if in all Disappointments, Injustices and Afflictions, we could ever behold the Severaign Will of God, and the decrees of his Justice? Who would not then strive to make Nature stoop, to his Orders, and go on, without complaint, in that way, where he leads? And if we could ever bear in mind, that the evils we suffer, are to preserve us from the snares of this World, for the increase of our Patience and Humility, for the trial of our Fidelity, to make us sensible of our weakness, understand ourselves, and to deliver us from those Sins which otherwise might be our eternal ruin; how should we preserve a cheerful Heart under all Sufferings, and from the prospect of so manifold a good, ever bear up under all Trials with courage and comfort? We are used to submit to many little Inconveniencies, when these are the price of a more valuable Good; and should not we then labour to arrive to that Christian temper, as to esteem all the Afflictions of this World, but as little inconveniencies, when beholding Eternal Misery and Happiness before us, we see these may be a means to rescue us from the one, and purchase the other? If we were so placed, as to have Hell-flames just behind us, and before us all those Troubles we now meet and complain of as grievous, how cheerfully should we run through all these, so to be at a greater distance from that devouring Fire, and secure us against its more important Terrors? If we had a more lively and constant apprehension of this place of Torments, our greatest Afflions we suffer here, would appear as nothing: Then should we esteem the Terms very easy and comfortable, if for the patient undergoing these our short-lived and passing Trials, we were to escape those, which are to endure for ever; especially too, if the goining Heaven be added to the Conditions; how should we then be more easy and contented under all Afflictions, submit to them with a more resigned Will, and never permit ourselves to be dejected and sink down as under a burden, or give way to melancholy and Sadness, but ever preserve an even and easy mind, as is indeed the great Duty of a Christian, from the assured hopes of the good effect of such Trials, and the happy fruit to be expected from them?   

Of Sadness.  
Q. ANd will not you allow a Christian then to be troubled at those Losses and Afflictions, that befall him, which some times are so very severe, as to make the greatest Courage and Resolution, yield and give way.  
A I'll tell you; I don't expect Christianity should destroy Nature, but rather moderate and govern it and by holding the Reins, prevent its running into Excesses, to which it violently bends. A tender Mother must be allowed to mourn and  shed some Tears at the Death of her Children; and as the stoutest Man must be allowed to be discomposed and cry out at any violent and sudden Blow that is given him; so in the best of Christians, there will be some uneasiness, disquiet and grief, at those many Misfortunes and strange Accidents, which often happen in the World: But then his care must be, so prudently to moderate these natural and sudden Passions, as not to let them get possession of his Heart, and seize him with Sadness and Melancholy, that he becomes no longer Master of him: For tho moderate Grief be natural and rational, yet the excess of it is vicious and by no means warrantable on any score, in a good Christian; but to be avoided as a most dangerous Evil.  
Q. Why is Sadness and excessive Grief, so dangerous?  
A. Because, when it comes to that degree, it is like other violent and vicious Passions, usurps upon Reason and Religion, takes the command out of their hands, and keeps a Man in a very uneasy Slavery. 2. Because it very much indisposes a Christian, renders him unfit for every Duty, makes him nauceate his Prayers, so that he either says them without relish, often leaves them unfinished, or quiter lays them by: And for other Exercies and obligations, how many delays and put-offs? Dormicavit anima mea prae taedio. His Soul is drowsy and asleep, thinks but little and does nothing; so that there's a kind of a stop put to the whole affair of his Soul. 3. Because it reposes him to evident shares of the Enemy, and many dangerous Temptations, and often draws him into Sin; so that, it may be, there's no other indisposition of the Soul so serviceable to the devil as this: Sub umbra dormit; when a Christian Soul is clouded with this sort of Darkness and confusion, 'tis in this Darkness the devil makes his nest; so that, while in other Temptations he makes some passes and attempts, and often goes by, here in this he takes up his rest, and pretends to it as a secure Possession. Sub umbra dormit. So that if at any time he invites into a Soul seven other Spirits worse than himself, there's danger of its being so here. For as the Psalmist says: Posuisti tenebras& facta est nox, in ipsa pertransibunt omnes bestiae silve. When the Night comes on and Darkness covers the Earth, then it is the Serpents and all the wild Beasts forsake their holes and go abroad for Prey: So here, when Grief and Sadness have brought Night upon a Soul and covered it with darkness, then the old Serpent with other Fiends come abroad and securely prey upon all that can be found of good in it. Hence it is that a Christian in these circumstances of Grief, is so easily moved to Passion, becomes peevish upon every slight provocation, and gives trouble to all about him. Hence joalousie arises, suspicion and Malice: Hence spring many vain and unreasonable Fears; Hence disorder and Confusion; and hence it is, he often acts so contrary to all the Rules of Reason and Discretion, that he seems to make good what the Scriptures says: Non est sensus, ubi est amaritudo; Where Melancholy and excess of Sadness have got possession, there Reason and judgement are much prejudiced, if not cast out of doors.  
And is it not this temper the Devil makes use of to drive Men into Despair, filling them with such dismal and terrifying thoughts, that they seem to think themselves excluded from all the Mercies of God, and that, as for them, there's no Hopes of Pardon: No body is so bad at they, ever runs in their mind; and beholding no Good in themselves, God's goodness is likewise hide from their Eyes? But where this game will not take, that he cannot force them to quit their Confidence in God; how does he then importune them to seek comfort in dangerous Diversions and Delights, and under the pretext of relieving the Spirits, turns their thoughts upon such Objects, which afterwards prove destructive to all Goodness, Piety and Christianity? How many temperate Men have hence run into all manner of Excess? How many into Licentiousness; and thus to cure Melancholy, have by degrees, laid aside both Religion and Reason? In this manner our spiritual Enemy takes advantage of this seemingly harmless indisposition of the mind, and from so inconsiderable a beginning, too often brings Ruin upon the whole.  
Q. If this be the case of Sadness and Melancholy, that it is the Root of so many Evils, 'tis a very dangerous Distemper indeed. But how shall a Christian secure himself against it, amid so many Misfortunes, which often come to his lot?  
A Christianity has no other defence against it, besides Prayer and laborious Endeavours, which it prescribes, as proper to be made use of against such an Enemy. And therefore, as often, as any Dispositions or Inclinations begin to appear on the mind, as tending towards Sadness, a good Christian ougt presently to be fearful and jealous, as of an approaching Enemy, and so take the alarm, as to excite in itself all possible courage to make head against and totally suppress him, before he gathers strength: He ouhgt then to stand careful on his guard, and make the same resistance as against the foulest of all Temptations; for tho nothing of sin appears, yet there's that which makes way for all sin; for as Christ had his Apostles, whom he sent before, promising he would follow after them: so the Devil has his Apostles, whom he sends to prepaare his way before him; and amongst these, Sadness must have its place, as being but too often his Fore-runner. What then should a Christian do, when it begins to show itself, but on the one side, stand up in his own defence, labour resist and fight against it, and have recourse to all those Motives, proper for the encouraging him to Patience, Submission, Resignation, look on the end of his Calling, the obligation of Christianity, the desert of his Sins, the examples of the Saints, and of their Leader, Christ our Lord, the reward of patient Suffering, and punishment of Impatience; and on the other side, have recourse to Heaven by Prayer, and by pious reading of good Books, so comfort and strengthen his Mind, that however he may have misfortunes enough, to disturb and put him into some disorder for the present, yet that he deliver not himself up to dejection and Melancholy, but ever struggle with the evil, and not omit to cast up some thoughts towards Heaven, even in the greatest extremity, till by degrees he so recover the dominion of himself, and command of his Passion, that he readily submit to the Decrees of God's Justice, and with cheerfulness embrace his Will.  
Q. Well, if yielding to Sadness, may not be allowed to the Unfortunate, may it not be permitted at least to those Pious Christians, who grieve not for this World, but for the next; not for themselves, but for God, whom they earnestly desire to Serve and Love above all things? there are many, whose business is the Salvation of their Souls, and whose Wishes are to Pray frequently, to Repent hearty, to forsake every thing that can possibly render them displeasing to God: And behold, while they are labouring to go on in this Course, they meet with so many Distractions, such frequent Temptations, and so often fall into those Weaknesses and Offences, which they purposed to avoid, that all things seem to go backward with them: And how can these choose but lament these their fruitless endeavours, while they see, in striving to come nearer God, they go farther from him? Sure, if they love God, they must needs be troubled at the many hindrances they find in his Service: And if they offend him, certainly it must be allowed them to grieve for their Sins.  
A. 'tis true, if ever Grief be allowable in a Christian, it must be for Sin: But this grief for Sin, is very different from that Sadness and Melancholy, of which we have hitherto spoken: For while we are commanded to repent of our Sins, and be hearty troubled for having offended God; see what kind of Trouble this is: This is a Holy Trouble, a Trouble that is Obedient, Affable, Humble, Meek, accompanied with Sweetness and Patience; a Trouble, which, instead of discouraging the Soul, cheers it up, and incites it seriously to apply such remedies as are most effective for the preventing all manner of relapse; that is, spurs it forward to Penance and Prayers, to Vigilancy and Labour. This is the trouble of a Contrite Heart, to which the Holy Scriptures and Church so often invite us; this is the true Christian Mourning, which Christ has promised to reward with Bliss. While Sadness and Melanchaly have quiter other effects; ever rendering the Soul stupid and dull, forward and harsh, taking off all relish from Prayer and other exercises of Penance, dissuading her from making use of them, as being likely to have no effect in her, whose evils are not to be remedied. Thus these betray themselves to be evil Passions of a distempered Mind, and no virtues, whilst they incline it so contrary to all the Principles of Reason and Religion, extinguish Hope, and are so injurious to the Goodness of God: And therefore, as often as a Christian observes these motions within him, with a sort of dullness and Dejection stealing on his Spirits, however it be pretended for his Unworthiness and the foulness of his Sins, he ought immediately use endeavours for the shaking it off, give no credit to all the fair colours and pretexts, under which it presents itself, but conclude it to be all Imposture● and tho there be a great trouble and disquiet on the Mind, and all pretended for Sin, yet still to suspect, that 'tis more Indisposition and Distemper, than true Repentance.  
For true Repentance takes another way; it first indeed represents the sins of the Penitent, as contrary to God's Goodness, to his Will and express Command; it shows them in God's Justice, to be condemned of Insolence, Ingratitude and Injustice: Hence it excites in his heart a Trouble and Sorrow for his Unworthiness to so Good a God: But then, Secondly, It never fails to point towards the infinite Mercy and Goodness of his Heavenly Father, which is ever ready to pardon those very Sins, upon his Repenting and Forsaking them; and here, upon this prospect and assurance, flows in a certain Comfort upon the Soul, not removing the Trouble for having Offended, but so sweating it, as to inspire the mind with new Life and Courage, and push it forward to a cheerful undertaking and performance of whatever is proper for making his Peace with God: So that this true Penitential sorrow for Sin, is ever accompanied with a certain spiritual Comfort and Joy, arising from the encouragement of God's Mercy: And therefore as those, who seem to repent of Sin, and have not that true Sorrow as they ought, are wanting in the consideration of God's Goodness, which they have abused, and of his Justice, which they have provoked; so likewise, they, who with the Trouble and Sorrow of having offended, have not this interior Comfort, are most certainly wanting in the consideration of his Mercy, and in the Confidence they ought to repose in him.  
Thus Comfort ever attends the Trouble of a true Penitent, and bearing up his Spirits, hinders him from falling into Dejection of mind: And a like Comfort he ever preserves, notwithstanding all the Snares, by which the Devil labours to cast him down and draw him into the Darkness of Melancholy. For if the thoughts of his frequent Failings, of his not being true to his good Purposes, &c. press on him and begin to seize him with terror; he forthwith endeavours not to lose his interior Peace, but seriously resolves to use the best of his care for the future to prevent the like; repents of them, as they are an Offence against God; but as they are troublesone to himself, resolves to bear them with Patience; knowing it his Duty to bear patiently with his own defects, as well as with those of others: Thus has he a Zeal for Justice, which makes him hate his Sins, and that Patience, which makes him suffer the Trouble of them: Thus he wages a continual War against his Imperfections, and nevertheless so bears with himself and them, as not to give himself up to Melancholy and discouragement; striving ever to be content with that measure of Grace, God is pleased to bestow on him: And concluding that anxiety and disquiet of Mind, to which he observes himself naturally inclined, on these occasions, to be nothing better than Passion, to be the effects of Impatience and Pride, because he is not so constant and regular as he would be.  
Again, If he preceives himself to be in a state of Coldness and Insensibility; or that he is so closely assaulted with all sorts of Temptations, and disquieting thoughts, that he cannot begin to Pray, red, or think of his Soul and Eternity, but presently a thousand idle fancies crowd about him quiter distracting his Mind, and that he cannot remedy this Indisposition: He notwithstanding all this, still labours to preserve his inward Peace, looks on this as a spiritual Affliction, sent him by the just hand of God; thinks it his great duty, with all Humility, to submit to these his appointments; and hopes, if he truly humbles himself and quietly submits to this his Will, he may draw as much profit thence, as if it had pleased his Divine Majesty to have filled him with more sensible devotion; because he considers, that tho fervent and quiet Prayer be very acceptable, yet that resisting Temptations with Constancy and Courage, and a patient submission to the state that God appoints, is the Exercise of very good Christians, and no less acceptable to Heaven. Hence it is, that though he often sends up his Sighs to God; saying, Domine usque quo! Lord, how long shall I live without comfort! Yet he still continues in Peace, resolves more and more to humble himself, and to admit no Impatience, in the Darkness wherein he is left.  
Q. In this manner, I see you'll not allow of Sadness or Melancholy in a good Christian, upon any account whatsoever; neither upon the account of Exterior Afflictions, or upon the consideration of his Imperfections, Inconstancy or Sin, or in time of Temptation, or Interior Desolation; but conclude it to be every where a Weakness and Indisposition of the Mind: And if this be so, may not I here conclude, that great numbers of well-meaning Christians deceive themselves in this Affair, while they indulge themselves in Sadness, and think they do no harm? But now, one question more, and I leave myself to your directions: What do you think of such, as being of a Melancholy disposition, are often overwhelmed with Sadness, and know not why: Would willingly be delivered from it, and know not how; And hence, are under great Oppressions, Disquiets and Terrors, and rendered unfit for every Christian duty?  
A. They are truly to be pitied, and must consult how much they stand in need of the Physicians help; for tho' they are under an Evil, that effects the Mind, yet the Cure of it depends much on the disposition of the Body. As to the Nature of it, as it falls here under my consideration; I think 'tis of itself, very prejudicial to all progress in virtue, 'tis injurious to Devotion, exposed to many Temptations, and is attended with most of those ill consequences set down in the beginning of this Chapter, as flowing from Sadness: And it being thus pernicious in itself, and fatal to all Christian, Family and Personal Duties, as those know too well, by their experience, who are subject to this Evil; I cannot here omit laying before them the strict obligation they are under, of using all endeavours to prevent at lest their falling into it: For tho, when they are in the height of this distemper, and are now oppressed with the violence of its terrors, they are then, it may be, so disabled, that they can make but very weak resistance against it; yet they have much more in their power when they observe it to begin to creep upon them; and then it is they ought to stir themselves up, and courageously make head against it, as knowing, that if they don't then suppress it, they are in evident danger of being made Captive by it. How then, are these bound in their intervals of quiet, to prepare and arm themselves with Patience, Humility and Resignation? How jealous and fearful ought they to be of every little disquieting thought? How ready to check all apprehensions of injury or contempt? How careful to put a stop to the earnest workings of their Imagination and Reasoning? How watchful to remove every little Heaviness or dullness, that begins to seize them? How ought they, in all these occasions, strive to deny themselves, stand up against the Temptation, seek some way to divert the Evil, either by innocent Company, Conversation, and above all, have recourse to a good Book, to Prayer and seek help from above? For, 'tis not to be questioned, but such timely endeavours would be very beneficial for the preventing the distempers growing to a head; and I am certain, that if upon the first perceiving any Trouble or Heaviness creeping on their Spirits, they would forthwith consider it, as an Affliction from the hand of God, and so strive to accept it as such, not only with Patience, but, as they are bound, with Comfort and Cheerfulness too: These endeavours would be blessed with good effects, and not only be an easy, but often a total removal of the burden.  
In this manner must these labour; and without it they discharge not a good Conscience: For tho in Christians of a more easy and cheerful Temper, a slight and passing Trouble, a little discontent, or other disorder may not be very criminal, because they easily cast it off, and are not in that evident danger of falling into the extremity of Passion; yet in these it is far otherwise; for since every little disquiet in them is but too often the way to a greater, and a small disturbance insensibly grows upon them, till 'tis above their power to master it, and so disables them, that they are not in a condition of performing well any Duty either to God or Man; hence are they bound to be more watchful over themselves, and upon the first appearance of any Disturbance and Heaviness, make a speedy opposition and labour to cast it off; as looking on it, not as it is inconsiderable in its first approach, but as it is terrible in all those Consequences, which are too likely to attend it, if not prevented by an early resistance.  
Q. There's too much reason for this, and I wish the persons concerned would duly consider it; 'twould be very advantageous to the health and quiet both of Body and Soul. But now you have laid before me the nature of this Distemper and method of the Cure; you must in the next place let me know something of the practise of it, and tell me what Devotions and Books are most proper for the working this good effect, which you propose.  
A. All spiritual Books are helpful for this end: However, since some parts of them may be more seasonable and effectual than others, I'll here give you a short Collection of Devotions and Lessons, which in time of Trouble, Disquiet and Sadness, may be proper for the affording some Relief. And tho a Person, in those Circumstances, finds himself indisposed for this Exercise; yet since God has promised to hear such as call upon him in time of Tribulation; since 'tis not only in time of Light and Comfort, but in Anguish and Darkness, we are commanded to bless him: Benedicite Lux& Tenebrae Dominum. Light and Darkness, Bless our Lord. Therefore a Christian, notwithstanding all his interior Desolation and Darkness, ought to have recourse to to God, in the Best manner he is able; for he that knows his Indisposition, has goodness to pardon his Defects and accept his Desires.   

An Exercise in time of Affliction and Sadness.  

I.  
IN thee, Lord, have I put my Trust, let me not be confounded for ever; but by thy Justice deliver me.  
Give ear to my Cry; and make hast to help me.  
Be to me a God and Protector; be to me a place of refuge, and save me.  
For thou art my Strength and Defence; and now for the glory of thy Name, thou wilt guide and support me.  
Thou wilt deliver me from the Snare, that is laid for me, because thou alone, art my Protector.  
Into thy hands I commend my Spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O God of Truth.  
Thou hatest those who follow Vanities, who vainly hope in them.  
But, as for me, I have placed my Trust in our Lord; and in his Mercy I will rejoice and be comforted.  
Have mercy therefore on me, O Lord, because my Affliction is great.  
My life is consumed in Sadness; and my years pass away in Sighs.  
I am become a Reproach among my Enemies and Neighbours, and my Friends fly from me.  
I hear the Abuses of many that dwell about me.  
Yet, Lord, in thee have I hoped; I have said, Thou art my God; and in thy hands is the disposal of all that belongs to me.  
Rescue me then from the hands of my Enemies, and from those that Persecute me.  
Let the light of thy Countenance shine upon thy Servant, and save me in thy Mercy: Lord, let me not be confounded, because I have called upon thee.  
O, how great is the treasure of thy Sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast reserved for those that fear thee:  
Which thou hast prepared for those that hope in thee!  
Thou wilt give them shelter in thy presence, from the Persecution of Men.  
Thou wilt protect them in thy Tabernacle, against the contradiction of ill Tongues.  
Why therefore art thou sad, my Soul? Why dost thou afflict me?  
Hope in thy God: For he is my Refuge and Strength; he is my Helper in all the Tribulations that have encompassed me on every side.  
Therefore I will not fear, tho the whole World be in disorder about me.   

II.  
To thee, Lord, have I lifted up my Soul; my God, in theee I put my Trust, let me not be confounded.  
Let me no longer be the scorn of my Enemies; for all those that hope in thee, shall not be confounded for ever.  
show me thy Ways, O Lord, and teach me thy Paths.  
led me in thy Truth, and instruct me; for thou art my God, my Saviour; and in thee have I hoped all the day.  
Be mindful of thy Mercies, and of the Goodness thou hast shown from the beginning of the World.  
Remember not the sins of my Youth; nor the failings of my Ignorance:  
But remember me according to thy Mercy; according to thy Goodness, O Lord.  
Our Lord is Sweet and Just; therefore will he be a Guide to those that are out of the way.  
He will led the Meek in the way of Justice, and teach them his Paths.  
All the ways of our Lord, are Mercy and Truth, to such as seek Peace with him and his Laws.  
Pardon, Lord, my Sins, for the glory of thy Name, because they are very great.  
Who is the Man that fears our Lord? To him is our Lord a Guide, in the way he has chosen.  
Our Lord is the support of all that fear him; and he has promised to manifest himself to them.  
My eyes are therefore always lifted up to God: Because he will deliver me from the Snare.  
Look then upon me, and have compassion on me, because I am left alone and in Distress.  
The afflictions of my heart are many: Deliver me from my Necessities.  
Have regard to my Weakness and my Trouble, and pardon all my Sins.  
Consider my Enemies, because they are many; and because with Injustice and Malice, they pursue me.  
Preserve my Soul, and deliver me; let me not be dejected, because I have placed my confidence in thee.  
The Innocent and Just have favoured me, because I trusted in thee.  
Deliver Israel, O God, from all its Afflictions.   

III.  
To thee I have lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in Heaven.  
As the eyes of Servants are in the hands of their Masters; so are my eyes upon thee, Lord, till thou hast Mercy on me.  
Have Mercy on me, Lord, have Mercy on me; for 'tis now a long time I am become a reproach.  
'tis a long time my Soul has been oppressed being the Scorn of the rich, and the Contempt of the proud.  
Hear, therefore, O God, my Prayers. and despise not my Petition: Be attentive to me, and graciously hear me: For, behold, I sink under my Trial; I am troubled at the words of my Enemy, and at the Unjust, that persecute me:  
Because they have laid crimes to my charge, and in their Anger, have been severe to me.  
Therefore is my heart disturbed within me, and the terror of Death has seized me.  
Fear and Trembling have surprised me, and I have been covered with Darkness.  
And I said; Who will give me the wings of a Dove, and I will fly away and be at Rest.  
I have waited however in him, who is my Saviour, who is my help against all dejection of Spirit and Trouble.  
I have cried to my God, and my Lord will be my Deliverer.  
At Evening and Morning, and at Noon, will I declare my cause before him, and he will hear my voice.  
He will rescue my Soul from those that approach against me, and settle me in Peace.  
My God will hear me, and he, that is Eternal, will humble my Enemies.  
Cast therefore all thy care upon thy Lord, and he will comfort thee; neither will he permit the Just to be Persecuted for ever.  
My God, I have now laid open my Cause before thee, and thou hast seen my Tears.  
And as thou hast promised, so shall my Adversaries be put to flight.  
In whatever day I call upon thee, behold, I find thou art my God.  
I have put my hope in my Lord, and I will not fear what Man can do to me.  
Have pity therefore on me, O God, and be merciful to me; for in thee have I put my Trust:  
And under the shadow of thy Wings will I hope, till this evil is passed away.  
Help me, O God, my Saviour.  
And for the Glory of thy Name, deliver me, O Lord.    


I. LESSON.  
WIth Patience let us run the race that is set before us; looking upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who for the Joy, that was set before him, endured the across, contemning the shane thereof, and is now seated at the right hand of the Throne of God. Think upon him, who suffered such contradiction from Sinners, that you be not discouraged, or dejected in Mind. For as yet you have not made resistance to Blood, in fighting against Sin. Have you forgot that Comfort, which is spoken to you, as to Children? My Son, despise not the Correction of thy Lord, and be not cast down, when thou art reproved by him: For our Lord Chastises him whom he loves, and Scourges every one, whom he receives as a Son Be courageous therefore under Sufferings; God treats you as his Children: For, what Son is there, whom the Father does not Correct? If you are without Suffering, in which all have had their share, then are you illegitimate, and not true Children. Besides, we have had Fathers of our Flesh, who have Corrected us, and yet we gave them respect. Shall we not be much more obedient to the Father of our Spirits, and live? For they chastised us as they thought good, and in order to this life, which is short: But God punishes us as it may be for our advantage; for our being made partakers of his Holiness. No punishment, while we are under it, seems comfortable, but troublesome; but afterwards it brings forth the peaceable Fruit of Justice, to such as have been Exercised by it.  
Blessed is he, that suffers Tribulation; for when he has been tried, he shall receive a Crown of Glory, which God has promised to those that love him. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us; so likewise through Christ, our comfort abounds: For if we suffer with him, we shall be glorified with him, and receive the crown of Glory, which God has promised to those that love him.   

II. LESSON.  
BRethren, be not surprised in the severity of Afflictions, which are sent you for your Trial, as if something extraordinary had happened to you; but rejoice in your having a part in the Sufferings of Christ, that you may be filled with joy in the manifestation of his Glory. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you; because the honour, glory and power of God and his Spirit rests on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or Thief, or a worker of Evil, or a designer of your Neighbours wrong. But if any one suffers, as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in this name. For the time is now come, that Jugdment begins in the House of God: And if it begins with us, what shall their end be, who believes not the Gospel of our Lord? And if the Just shall scarce be saved; where shall the wicked and sinners appear? Wherefore, let those that suffer according to the Will of God, commend their Souls in good Works to their faithful Creator.  
Let none return Evil for Evil, but overcome Evil with Good; Bless those that Curse you; for in this are you called, that you may inherit a Blessing: If you suffer for Justice. blessed are you. 'tis better be afflicted, if God so will, in doing our duty, than suffer for our wickedness: For thus may we inherit a blessing.   

III. LESSON.  
THink not that I came to bring Peace upon Earth: I came not to bring Peace, but the Sword. For I am come to separate the Son from his Father, and Daughter from her Mother, and the Daughter-in-law from the Mother-in-law; and a Man shall have for his Enemies those of his own House. He that loves Father or Mother more than me; is not worthy of me: And he that loves his Son or Daughter above me, is not worthy of me. And he that takes not up his across and follows me, is not worthy of me. He thnt will save his life, shall lose it, and that loses his life for my sake, shall save it.  
Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or affliction, or hunger, or danger, or persecution? These Evils I overcome through him, who has loved us. And I am assured, that neither Death nor Life. nor any things present nor to come, nor any creature shall ever separate me from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord; but that I shall overcome all Evils through him who has loved us.  

I.  
If it was necessary that thou Lord, shouldst suffer and so enter into glory, how can I expect to have part in that happiness, unless I walk in the Highway of the across?  
I confess, thy Judgments are just, and that according to truth and justice thou hast humbled me.  
I desire to fulfil the decrees of thy Justice, and rather suffer, than transgress thy Will.  
I will bear thy Anger, O Lord, because I have sinned against thee. And if I have received good things from thy hand, why shall I not with content, submit to the evil, with which thou art pleased to visit me?  
In all my trouble I will think of thee my Good Jesu, who hast suffered far greater things for me.  
I wish I could with thy Apostles, suffer Affronts, Reproaches and Poverty, with a joyful Heart.  
I will now endeavour at least to suffer with patience, whatever evils befall me, and this for the love of thee.  
If thou art pleased to exercise me with Temptations; if Sadness or Grief disturb me; if Sickness or Pains disorder me, I will bear all with courage through the assistance of thy Grace.  
Far be it from me, Lord, to sink in Spirit, or be dejected under these Trials, with which thou art pleased to exercise me, for my greater good.  
With thy help, I will endeavour to overcome all Difficulties, and in thee, my God, will I pass over this Trouble.  
Permit me not, Lord, either for love of Quiet or fear of Trouble, to forsake the way of virtue and Justice.  
No, my God, tho I were to suffer all the afflictions and miseries of the World, yet would I never forsake thee.  
But art thou not then ashamed, my Soul, to be thus disturbed, and to let trifles afflict me!  
Is it not a shane to thy Profession, that thou lettest Melancholy and Sadness take possession of thy Heart, usurp the place of thy God, and turn him out from thence:  
Inspire my Heart, O God of strength with new Courage; for behold, I desire now to follow thee in every affliction; I desire that no dryness, or desolation of Spirit, may any more divide me from thee.  
I am become as a Beast of burden before thee, O Lord my God; thou knowest the weight that is upon me: O grant I may go under it with Patience, that by the way of the across, I may approach to thee.   

II.  
I offer myself to thee, O Lord, and here earnestly beg thy Grace, that I may bear all my troubles pith patience with cheerfulness, and without any complaint.  
O, that I had the patience of thy Servant Job; the courage and censtancy of thy Martyrs, who have forsaken Friends, Goods, Liberty and Life for thee.  
I wish I were worthy and truly disposed to leave all for thee, and in the manner thou pleasest.  
Since therefore at present thou visitest me with Correction take not thy Mercy from me: Since thou punishest my Obstinacy and Wickdness, let me inherit thy Promises: Since thou art pleased to add to my Troubles, be pleased likewise to increase my Patience.  
I now know and confess, that I am a Sinner, that I am nothing; and as I deserve, so I desire to be esteemed as nothing.  
I now choose rather to be contemptible and little in thy House, than to live amid the greatness and pride of Sinners.  
Behold therefore, I now cast myself, for thy sake, beneath all Men, because I am the most unworthy of all.  
And what have I to desire, but to suffer and be contemned for thy sake, and for punishment of my Sins?  
For I confess, I have sinned against thee, my God, and am not worthy to look up towards Heaven, for the multitude and foulness of my Transgressions.  
All Creatures, in their several degrees, are obedient to thee, only I am rebellious, and by my Offences, run away from thee.  
But look on me again O thou good Shepherd of my Soul; call aloud after me, let me hear thy Voice, and bring me back.  
And since thou invitest all to come to thee, by the way of the across and Self-denial, give me thy Grace, that I cheerfully bear my across, and with courage follow after thee.  
For I desire to walk in no other way but thine; to learn no other Truth, but thine; to live no other life, but thine: For thou art the Way, the Truth and the Life.  
I beseech thee, therefore, dear Jesu, let me be ever mindful of thy Death and Passion, and in this, may I ever seek rest and comfort amid all my Troubles.  
Let the thoughts of thy Sorrows, ever fill my Breast, and then how little will mine be!  
O sweet Jesu, who with so much joy and triumph, wentest up to Jerusalem, there to suffer a most cruel Death for me, quicken now my Spirits, that with a cheerful Heart I may suffer all for thee.   

III.  
Alas, my suffering is but little, if compared to my Sins: And when I consider my Transgressions, I see thy Scourge is just; O Lord; but in me I find nothing, whereon to build the hopes of comfort.  
'tis on thy Mercy alone I can depend for my support and assistance: And in this I will ever trust; for thy Mercy is above all my Sins.  
I am glad, that in myself there is nothing, and that in thee alone is all the hopes of my Comfort; in thee, who art my Refuge and Strength.  
Thou hast said, Lord, Without me you can do nothing: And so it is: What therefore have I to do, but to lift up my Eyes to Heaven, and wait for my relief from thee, O infinite Goodness!  
Be now to me a God and Protector; forsake me not, despise me not, O God my Salvation: For tho I am neglected by many, yet thou art my Powerful helper.  
I fly to thee, Lord, that by thy heavenly Comfort I may increase in Patience, and that hoping in thee, I may not be confounded for ever.  
All my Trust is in thee, good Jesu, and all the ground of my Confidence, in thy precious Blood. Thou art my Life and my Hope.  
Tho I have many Troubles, and am encompassed with Afflictions, 'tis all what is appointed me by thy Providence, and all for my good; and therefore will I ever hope in thee.  
Thy Mercy is great; in this will I place my confidence; and thus only shall I find rest for my Soul, and never be disappointed.  
magnify thy Mercies, Lord, who savest all that trust in thee: Preserve me as the Apple of thy Eye, and under the shadow of thy Wings protect me.  
'tis better to trust in God, than to trust in Man: 'tis better to hope in our Lord, than in the great things of the Earth.  
O God of Power, happy is he who puts his trust in thee: By thy Grace I shall overcome all Temptations; by thy Comfort, I shall be born up amid all Evils.  
Behold therefore, I here renounce myself, and all that I have, or am. I give all into thy hands; I leave all to thy disposal.  
If thou takest comfort from me at present, thou canst give me far greater.  
If thou visitest me with Sadness, and lettest the darkness of Night overshadow me, I will wait for the return of thy Day: I will bless thee at all times.  
For thou art my God; and as I thank thee for thy Blessings, so in my Troubles, I will never forget thee.  
Afflictions and Temptations disturb me; but thou art my Salvation, my Rock and my Defence; nothing shall destroy that hope I have in thee.     


I. LESSON. S. Cyprian. ad Olymp. Ep. 7.  
SAdness is the rack of Souls, an Affliction not to be expressed, a judgement more prejudicial than the worst revenge from an Enemy's hand. 'tis like a venomous Worm, which not only consumes the Body, but eats into the very Soul; 'tis a Moth that feeds on the Marrow and Vitals; a perpetual Executioner, torturing the Soul, and exhausting her Spirits: 'tis a continual Night, a thick Darkness, a Storm and Whirl-wind, an inward Fever, preying upon Life; a Conflict without rest, a Distemper that puts out the Eyes of the Wise and Learned. The darkness of Night has no terror like the darkness of a dejected Mind, which is not according to the course of Nature, but is gathered from the disorder of unreasonable and unquiet Thoughts; 'tis more cruel than the face of a Tyrant, and is obstinate against all the endeavours of a Friendly hand.  
Enlighten my darkness, O Lord, arise and be my Deliverer. Command peace in my Soul, and by thy powerful hand, rescue thy Servant from the weight that oppresses me. sand me help from above, and deliver me from all my Enemies, for behold I am poor and needy. Thou art my God and my helper in the day of Battle, and besides thee, there's none can rescue thy Servant from the weight that oppresses me.   

II. LESSON. S. Bernard. ad Ab. S. Nicas. Ep. 32.  
WIth good reason we have compassion for such of our Friends, whom we see under any disturbance of Mind: Because tho we know not certainly what their end will be, yet we have reason to be very apprehensive on their behalf: For, as in those, that are Holy and virtuous, Tribulation works Patience, Patience a Trial, a Trial brings forth Hope, and Hope confounds not: So in the Wicked and Perverse, it is just contrary; for Tribulation causes dejection of Mind Dejection brings Disquiet, Disquiet brings Despair, and this overthrows all.  
Give not thyself to Sadness, but cast it far from thee, because there is no profit in it. Why art thou sad, my Soul, and why dost thou afflict me? Hope in thy Lord, and place thy Confidence in him, and thou shalt never be Confounded. Have Mercy on me, O God, and pardon this my Folly and Weakness; I will now strive to be patient in my Tribulation, and wait for thy Comfort; and thus I shall never be Confounded.   

III. LESSON. C. Bona, Princip. vit. Chr.  
IN this one point consists the sum of Christian Perfection, to receive whatever happens, with a peaceable Mind, as coming from the hand of God; to cast all our care on him, because he watches over us, and nothing befalls us, but according to his Appointment. In this Will of God, is grounded all the quiet and peace of a Christian. And tho sin be from ourselves, and not from him; yet in our Repentance ought we be very careful not to fall into any anxiety or disquiet of Mind. We are to be hearty sorry indeed, for having offended our God, and even with Tears strive to wash away our Guilt; but this Sorrow must not destroy our inward Peace; we must earnestly beg God's Mercy, who has permitted us to fall, that so we might be sensible of our Weakness, that so we may ever go on with fear, and not deceive ourselves, in taking that to be ours, which is only the gift of God. We must wait with patience and in a contrite Heart, the grace of Amendment; for he is our Lord, and will come when he pleases. The faithful and prudent Servant, desires, nothing, but the Will of his Master; and in every thing that happens, he says from his Heart, It is so, Father, because thus it has seemed good to thee: Thy Will be done. I am ready to submit to all thy Decrees: Wilt thou that I be in Health, or in Sickness? Wilt thou refresh me with thy Comforts, or cover me with Darkness? Wilt thou that I Abound, or be in Want? What thou wilt, that I will: Do with me as thou pleasest. This is the temper of a Mind indifferent to all the Appointments of God, that makes a Christian ever cheerful and constant, and secures him against all Disquiets.  
Let my Soul be subject to my God; for who is there that resists against him, and has peace within? If I am to keep peace with all, let me in the first place study to preserve my peace with God; for I am but Dust and Ashes, and what can be sufficient to make me rebel against my Maker? Be thou my help, O my God, and my strength: Support me in all Evils and give me Patience; direct me in my Repentance, and while I distrust in myself, let me ever conside in thee; for thus only can I preserve my Peace with God.  

I.  
Lord, I am not worthy of thy comfort, or that thou shouldst visit me with thy Presence.  
Therefore thou dealest justly with me, when thou leavest me poor and desolate.  
If I could  shed Tears to equal the Waters of the Sea, yet I should not be worthy of thy comfort.  
I deserve nothing, but to be scourged and punished, because I have grievously and very often offended thee.  
So that when I consider what is my due, I find myself unworthy of the least of thy Mercies.  
But thou, mildred and merciful God, who wilt not, that thy Works perish, but showest the riches of thy Goodness in the Vessels of Mercy, even beyond all desert, sand relief to thy Servant beyond all that is human.  
For thy comforts, my God, are not like the comforts of Men, which pass away in words and vain discourses.  
But what have I done, my Lord, that thou shouldst let me partake of thy heavenly sweetness?  
I remember not, that I have done any good, but have been ever forward to sin, and slow to amend.  
Tis true, I can't deny it; and if I say otherwise, thou wilt stand against me, and there will be none to pled for me.  
What is it I have deserved for my Sins, but Hell and everlasting Fire?  
And tho I can't say this without trouble, yet for truth sake I will lay open my Sins against myself, that so I may obtain thy Mercy.  
What shall I say, miserable Sinner that I am, covered over with confusion and shane?  
I can say no other word, but this: I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned; have mercy on me and pardon me.  
Suffer me a little, that I may weep and sigh out my Grief, before I go into the Land of Darkness, and be covered with the shadow of Death.  
And yet, my Lord, what cause have I to complain, if thou forsakest me?  
Or, if thou dost not that which I desire, what can I justly say against it?  
This with truth, I can think and say; Lord, I am nothing, I can do nothing: I have nothing that is good of myself, but in all things fail and am miserable.  
Thou, Lord, art always the same, always Good, Just and Holy, and disposing all things well.  
But I am more inclined to fall, than to go forward, and never continue long in one State.  
But all things will be better, if thou vouchsafest to stretch forth thy helping hand.  
For thou alone canst help me, and so strengthen me, that my countenance shall be no more changed, and my heart shall be converted and wholly rest in thee.   

II.  
Lord what have I to trust in, in all this World; or what is the comfort, that all things under Heaven afford me?  
Is it not thou, Lord, art my only relief, whose Mercies are without number?  
Where has my Soul been well, without thee; or where has it been sensible of Evil, when thou hast been with me?  
I had rather be Poor for love of thee, than Rich without thee.  
I had rather be a Pilgrim on Earth with thee, than possess Heaven without thee?  
For there is Heaven, wherever thou art; and there is Death and Hell, where thou art not.  
Thou art the only Good I desire, and therefore I must sand forth deep sighs from my heart, cry aloud and pray to thee.  
For I have none to trust in, none that can help me in my necessities, but only Thou, my God.  
Thou art my Hope and my Trust; thou art my Comforter and most faithful to me in all my distress.  
Thou seekest my Salvation and profit, and turnest all things to my good.  
Altho thou permittest many temptations to assault me, and many adversities to befall me; yet thou ordain'st all for my advantage, who art wont to prove thy beloved Servants a thousand ways.  
And therefore being under these Trials, I ought no less to love and praise thee, than if thou didst replenish my Soul with heavenly sweetness.  
In thee therefore, my Lord God, I place my whole hope and my refuge: On thee I cast all my Tribulation and anguish; for I find all to be weak and unconstant, that is out of thee.  
Neither Friends, nor Books, nor Riches, nor place of retreat can defend me, if thou thyself art not my Protector, and my Helper.  
For whatever seems to flatter me with the promises of Peace, affords me no joy or comfort at all, when thou art absent from me.  
Thou art the only true comfort of thy Servants: To thee therefore I lift up my Eyes, in thee I hope, my God, the Father of Mercies.  
Bless and sanctify my Soul with thy heavenly Grace, that it may become thy abode, and the Seat of thy eternal Glory.  
According to the greatness of thy Goodness and multitude of thy Mercies, have pitty on me, and hear the Prayers of thy poor Servant.  
Protect and keep my Soul, amid so many dangers of this corruptible life, and by thy assistance, direct it in the way of Peace.   

III.  
Lord God, holy Father, thy Name be blessed now and for ever, because every thing is done by thy appointment, and whatever thou appointest is good.  
Let thy servant rejoice not in himself, or in any other thing, but in thee alone; for thou art the only true joy, thou art my Hope and my Happiness.  
For, as for me, what has thy Servant, but what he has received, and that without any desert of his?  
All is thine, all is given and all made by thee.  
I am poor, and in troubles from my youth: My Soul is often heavy even unto tears; often disturbed, with those Passions, that rise against her.  
The thing I desire is the joy of Peace: What I earnestly beg, is the Peace of thy Children, fed by thee in the light of thy comfort.  
If thou giv'st me this Peace, the Soul of thy Servant shall be full of heavenly sweetness, and with joy sing praises to thy Name.  
But if thou withdraw'st thyself, as very often thou art wont, how shall he then run the ways of thy Commandments?  
O righteous Father, and ever to be praised, the hour is now come, that thy Servant is to be Tried.  
Behold, Father, it is fit, that in this hour, thy Servant suffer something for thee.  
Most adorable Father, now for a short time I am to be oppressed, afflicted, humbled and disquited with many Passions and Infirmities.  
So it has been appointed by thee; and nothing happens of all I suffer, but what is according to thy Will and Command.  
This is a mercy thou show'st thy Friends, that they be Afflicted and suffer something in this World for love of thee, in what manner and by whomsoever thou pleasest.  
Without thy Council and Providence, without a Cause in thee, nothing happens upon Earth.  
It is good for me, Lord, that thou hast humbled me, that so I may learn to obey thee, and cast from me all pride and presumption of heart.  
It is for my advantage that shane has covered my Face, that I may rather seek comfort from thee, than from Men.  
'tis hence I have learned to fear thy hidden Judgments, who afflictest the Just with the Wicked, but still with equity and Justice.  
I give thee thanks, my God, that thou hast not spared my Sins; but hast let me feel the severity of thy scourge, both within and without.  
There is none under Heaven can comfort me, but only thou, my God, the heavenly physician of Souls, who strikest and healest, who bringest me down even to Death, and raisest me up again.  
Thy Arm is stretched forth against me? and let this thy Rod be for my Instruction.  
Behold, beloved Father, I am in thy hands, behold I bow myself under the Rod of thy Correction.  
Strike me now, and make my proud neck and stubborn Will bend under the appointments of thy Will.  
Make me Devout and Humble, that I may be ready to follow every book of thy Divine pleasure.  
I recommend myself and all that belongs to me, into thy hands, to receive the correction thou shalt think fit: For 'tis better for me to be chastised here, than hereafter.  
Thou know'st, what is expedient for my good, and what tribulation is necessary to purge me from the filth of Sin.  
Do with me according to thy pleasure, and despise not the sighs of a sinful Soul.  
Thou art my God, and my deliverer.  
Help me in the day of Tribulation.     


I. LESSON. Imitat. Christi. T. 3. C. 25.  
CHrist said to his Disciples; I leave you my Peace, my Peace I give you; I give you Peace, not as the would gives it. All desire Peace, but few take care to do such things, as are proper for the obtaining it. My Peace is with the humble and meek of heart. Thou shalt enjoy an interior quiet, if thou hast much Patience: And if thou giv'st ear to me and follow'st my voice, Peace shall not be wanting to thee. For the purchase of so great a good, be very attentive to what thou sayst or dost: direct thy whole intention to this, that thou mayst please me alone, and seek nothing out of me Judge nothing rashly of the words or actions of others; and meddle not with things that belong not to thee, for thus shalt thou be little or seldom troubled. But never to feel any trouble at all, or to be sensible of no grief, either of mind or body, is not the condition of this life, but of everlasting Rest. Think not therefore thou hast found true Peace, if thou feelest no sorrow; or that all is well, if thou hast no adversary; or that all is perfect, if thou hast great Devotion and sweetness: No, Christian perfection consists not in this, but in offering thyself entirely to my Will, without seeking thy own Interest or Ease in great or little; accepting, whether Good or Evil, with an equal countenance, giving thanks alike for both, and being indifferent to all that comes from me. If thy Hope be so firm, and thy Courage so great, that when inward comfort is withdrawn from thee, thou preparest thyself to suffer yet more, and thinkest not of justifying thyself, as if thou deserv'st not to suffer so much; but ever striv'st to praise my Name in all whatever I appoint for thee, then art thou in the way of Peace.  
The days of this life are short and evil, full of sorrow and anguish, where man is disturbed with many Passions, distracted with vanities and defiled with Sin. O, when shall these Evils be at an end! When shall I be delivered from this miserable bondage, and perfectly rejoice in thee my Lord, where I shall no more be distracted with vanities, nor be defiled with Sin.   

II. LESSON. Id. l. 3. c. 57.  
SON, Humility and Patience in time of Adversity, are more pleasing to me, than much Comfort and Devotion in time of Prosperity. Why art thou then disquieted at every little trouble that befalls thee? Tho it had been much greater, yet thou oughtest not to have been moved. Thou art cheerful enough, as long as thou hast nothing to suffer; thou canst then give advice to others and encourage them by thy words: But when any Tribulation surprises thee, then thou art destitute of all Counsel, and without strength! Consider this thy weakness, which thou experiencest in every small occasion, which is yet permitted for thy greater good. chase away therefore all trouble from thy heart, as well as thou canst; and if it begins to make an impression, yet suffer it not to deject thee or seize thy Spirits: Bear it at least with Patience, if thou canst not with Joy. The Storm which is raised, will quickly be followed with a Calm; and thy inward grief shall be sweetened with the return of Grace. I still live, says our Lord, and am ready to help thee, and give thee greater comfort than before, if thou puttest thy trust in me, and devoutly call'st on me. Take courage therefore and arm thyself with Patience, to suffer yet more: All is not lost, if thou feelest thyself often Afficted, or violently Tempted. Thou art a Man, and not God; thou art Flesh and not an Angel: How canst thou expect to continue ever in the same state of virtue, when an Angel has fallen from Heaven, and the first Man lost his standing in Paradise? I am he who comforts those that Mourn, and raise up such as know their own weakness, every to the partaking of my Divinity.  
Blessed for ever be thy Sacred Word O Lord, sweeter to my Mouth than Honey. What should I do in my Tribulation and Anguish, if thou didst not vouchsafe to comfort me! What matter is it, how much or how long I suffer, so that I may but at length arrive at the Haven of Bliss? Be mindful of me and direct me, and now I am in the Narrow way, O God, vouchsafe to comfort me.   

III. LESSON. Ib. c. 35.  
THere is no Security in this Life; as long as it lasts, thou shalt ever have need of spiritual armor. Thou liv'st in the midst of Enemies; and if thou defendest not thyself with the shield of Patience, thou canst not escape long without hurt. If thou takest not care to fix thy Heart on God, and to suffer all for his sake, thou canst not sustain the heat of this Battle, nor obtain the Crown of Victory and Bliss: Thou oughtest therefore with courage, force thy Enemies, and make thy way through all that stands before thee; for the Manna is not given but to the Conquerors, whilst Misery is the portion of the Negligent. If thou seekest after the deceitful Comforts of this World, how wilt thou find true Rest in the other? be not solicitous for enjoying much Ease, but rather to obtain great Patience. Seek true Peace, not on Earth, but in Heaven: And for the love of God, be ready to suffer all manner of Troubles, Grief, Temptations, Anxieties, Necessities, Infirmities, Injuries, Detractions, Reprehensions, Humiliations, Corrections and Contempts: For these are so many steps to virtue: These are the Trials and Exercises of a Soldier of Christ: These are the Pearls that make up the Heavenly Crown. Expect not always to have Spiritual Comforts; my Saints had not so; but were tried with many Afflictions and Temptations, which they endured with great Patience, trusting not in themselves, but in God; and ever remembering that the Sufferings of this Life are a very easy Purchase of the Glory to come. Wilt thou have that in an Instant, which they obtained not but with many Tears and lasting Troubles? Wait for help from above; act with Courage and Constancy; Fear not; Fly not, but offer Body and Soul for the glory of God; and he will be thy Comfort in Tribulations, and afterwards thy plentiful Reward.  
This is a hard saying; Deny thyself, take up thy across and follow Jesus: But it will be much harder to hear that last word; Go ye Cursed, into everlasting Fire. How shall I bear everlasting Torments, who am so much disturbed with Trifles! Give me thy Grace, O God, that with patience I may submit to all thy Appointments; and let me suffer here whatever thou pleasest, so I may never hear those words recalled, Go, ye Cursed, into everlasting Fire.    

Prayers in time of Affliction.  

I.  
ENlighten me, O God Jesu, with the clearness of inward Light, and chase away all Darkness from my heart. Put a stop to all my wandering thoughts, and break the force of all those Temptations, which violently assault me. Stretch forth thy powerful Arm and fight for me. Put to flight the wild beasts my Passions, which seek to destroy me. Command the Winds and Tempests: Say to the Sea, Be still; And behold, a Calm will follow; there shall be a Peace by the power of thy Word.  
My Lord God, be not far from me; my God, have regard to help me; for afflicting thoughts have risen up against me, and great Fears darken and torment my Soul; and how shall I escape, being thus weak and frail in the midst of so many powerful Enemies? But hast not thou promised, Lord, to help those who call upon thee in Tribulation, and give relief to such as are in Distress? Do then Lord, as thou hast said, fulfil thy words, and let all evils now be put to flight. This is my hope and only comfort, to fly under the shadow of thy Wings; to trust in thee in all Trouble; to call on thee from my Heart, and wait with Patience, till thou shalt succour me.  
Blessed be thy Name, O Lord, for ever, since it has pleased thee to permit this Temptation and Affliction to fall upon me. I cannot escape it; all I can do, is to have recourse to thee, that thou mayst help me, and turn it to my good. Lord, my Soul is now afflicted, it is not well with me, being much disquieted with this present Grif, that torments me. And now, beloved Father, what shall I say; I am in great extremity; 'tis now the hour of Combat; save me, O Lord, in this hour. But 'tis thou hast permmitted it, for the manifestation of thy Glory, in delivering me from such Straits. Let it please thee then Lord, to succour me; for miserable wretch that I am, what can I do, and whither shall I go without thee! Grant me Patience Lord, even this time also. Help me, my God, and then, however Temptations press heavy upon me, yet I will not fear.  
And now, in this condition, what shall I say? Lord, thy will be done: I have truly deserved to be afflicted and grieved; and certainly I ought to bear it; and would to God, I could bear it with patience, till the Storm be over, and there succeed a Calm. But thy Almighty hand is able even now, to remove this Temptation from me, and abate its violence, that I sink not under it, as thou hast often already done, O God of Mercy: And the more unable I am to rescue myself from this evil, the more manifest will thy Power be, in working this Change by thy mighty Arm. O God be then to me a Jesus, and deliver me.   

II.  
O Merciful God, the only hope of my Soul, and my eternal Comfort, who visitest those with internal Sweetness, who for love of thee, despise the satisfactions of this World; so overrule my Will by thy Grace, that my Soul may find no relish in the Goods of this Life, but that thou being my only Comfort, every thing else may be no otherwise grateful, than as it comes from thee.  
Work that happy effect in my heart, as to take off all bitterness from the across and Suffering, and make them become delightful to me. 'twas by thy Grace, Stephen found Comfort, even in the Stones that were thrown against him, and laurence in the Fire, that consumed him: 'twas by thy help the Apostles found Sweetness in their Afflictions, and rejoiced in their Sufferings. O, grant me a large portion of this heavenly assistance, that I may now taste of that Sweetness thou hast prepared for those that serve thee; that I may not be dejected with the evils that encompass me; but that receiving all as from thy hand, I may with true submission, accept all thy Appointments, and rejoice in the accomplishment of thy Will.  
Behold, therefore, O Just God, I offer thee all the Troubles, Afflictions, Disquiets, I have hitherto suffered, and those which at present disturb me, in Union with the bitter Passion of thy only Son my dear Redeemer; and I beseech thee so to strengthen me by thy Grace, that I may never murmur at the Scourge, with which thou art pleased to visit me, but with a true resignation, submit to it, patiently suffer it for the good of my Soul, and cheerfully offer it to the glory of thy Name.   

III.  
HAve Mercy on me, O Lord, have Mercy on me a miserable Sinner, who have ungratefully rebelled against thee, and now suffer nothing but what I most justly deserve. My Iniquities are very great; and tho thy hand afflicts me, yet how light is thy Punishment, if compared to the multitude of my Offences! Thou art Just, O Lord, and thy judgement is right, and I confess, there is nothing befallen me, but what is according to the appointment of thy Will; for thou hast care of all thy Creatures, and with a Fatherly Providence, watchest over thy Servants, who put their Trust in thee.  
But, I most humbly beseech thee, not to Chastise me according to the measure of my Sins, by which I have most unworthily provoked thy Wrath; but according to the greatness of thy Mercy, which infinitely exceeds my Transgressions. Give me a true constancy of Mind, and an untir'd Patience under all my Afflictions, that I may bless thee at all times; that I may never cease to praise thy Name; but that under the weight of all my Oppressions, I may still raise up my heart to thee; and that while I humbly bend under thy Rod, I may still with cheerfulness rejoice in thee. Have Mercy on me, O Lord, have Mercy on me, and according to the greatness of my Necessity, so help me, Lord; for thou seest my Affliction, thou know'st my Weakness, and thou alone hast power to help me, who livest for ever.   

IV.  
O Merciful Redeemer, who ever show'st thy Goodness to us, as well in thy Punishments as in thy Blessings, who by outward Chastisements, endeavour'st to heal the Corruptions of the Inward Man, and by passing Troubles, preparest us for everlasting Joys, grant, that now with patience, I may receive the Cup thou hast put into my hand, and drink it in obedience to thy Will. Nature indeed is unwilling, and thinks it hard; but thou hast suffered much more for me, and my Sins deserve yet greater Punishment from thy Justice.  
But thou know'st my Weakness, and therefore like the good Samaritan, whilst thou pour'st Wine into our Wounds, which searches and bites, thou generally mixest it with oil, giving ease by thy interior Comforts, and thus enablest us to go through those evils, which otherwise we could not support. Since therefore at present, thou art pleased to sand me this Trial, grant me likewise the gift of Patience, that I may receive this Trouble with a true Humility, and so resigned a heart, that it may be available for the remission of all my Sins.  
Or, if in thy Fatherly Tenderness, thou shalt think this gentle Correction to be sufficient, let this affliction, I beseech thee, be followed with Quiet and Peace; that so, on this double account, I may render thee due thanks, for having with a merciful hand chastised my Wickedness, and for relieving my Sorrows with the sweetness of thy Comfort; for punishing me in thy Justice, and sparing me in compassion to my Weakness. To thee be Praise and thanksgiving for ever.   

V.  
O God, who resistest the Proud, and givest Grace to the Humble, deliver me, I beseech thee, from the Tribulation and Grief, which straighten me now on every side; for thou alone hast power to help me, and there's none that can resist thy Will: Help me, O Lord, and I shall be safe; look with compassion on my Weakness, and let not the Enemy have power over me.  
Strengthen me, O merciful Lord, by thy Grace, that in all my afflictions, I may keep close to thee, that I may Love thee, Fear thee, and Praise thee. Thy Will be done in me; for thy Judgments are Just, and what am I, but a miserable unworthy Sinner? Blessed be thy Name for ever, for thou only know'st what is good for me; and tho I beg of thee not to punish me according to my Sins, yet do that, I beseech thee, which is most expedient for my Salvation.  
O God, who despisest not the Sighs of a contrite heart, and hast promised to hear the Prayers of the afflicted Spirit, receive now my Petition, which I offer thee from under the weight of my Oppression, and be my defender against all my Adversaries, deliver me from their Snares, overthrow their Counsels, and stand thou Lord, against all their attempts; that being restored, to peace, I may for ever praise and bless thy holy Name.  
Without this thy help, how can I subsist in this miserable Life; how can I support myself, if I have not thy Mercy and Grace to comfort me? Turn not therefore, Lord, thy Face from me; delay not thy Heavenly Visitation; let me no longer want the assistance of thy Grace, lest my Soul become as Earth without Water Teach me, Lord, to do thy Will; teach me to live humbly in thy Sight? for thou art the only Wisdom, that canst instruct me; thou perfectly know'st me, and 'tis my desire truly to know and follow thee in all the ways where ever thou art pleased to led me.   

VI.  
I Praise thee, O heavenly Father, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for that thou art often pleased to remember me, a poor and miserable Creature O Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort, thanks be to thee, who refreshest me sometimes, tho unworthy of all Comfort: I ever bless and glorify thee, with thy Holy Ghost. O God, my Lord, when ever thou art pleased to come into my Heart, then all that is within me, is filled with Joy. Thou art my Glory, and the fullness of all Comfort. Thou art my Hope and my Refuge in the day of Tribulation.  
But because I am yet weak in thy Love, and imperfect in virtue, I have need of being comforted and strengthened by thee: Visit me therefore often and instruct me in thy holy Discipline Deliver me from my evil passions, and heal my heart of all its disordered affections; that being cured within, I may be prepared to Love, couregeous to Suffer, and constant in holding out to the end in thy Service: that so I may be no more disquieted with Fears, dejected with Sadness, terrified with Temptations, nor weakened with Grief.  
O, when will these evils be at an end! When shall I be delivered from this miserable Bondage! When shall I think, O Lord, of thee alone! When shall I be free from all impediments, in true liberty, without all disquiets, either of Body or Mind! Behold, I am here left as one poor and banished, in the land of Enemies, where there is continual War, and endless Misfortunes. Comfort Lord, this my Banishment, moderate my Sorrow, for all my desire ascends up in Sighs to thee. I profess, I would gladly fix my heart on the things of Heaven; but temporal Cares and unmortified Passions, weigh me down. In mind, I would be above all things; but I am forced to be subject to corrupt Nature, even against my will. Thus unhappy sinner that I am, I fight against myself, I am become grievous to myself, whilst my Spirit seeks after the things above, and Nature draws me to things below. Be not therefore far from me, my God; depart not in thy Wrath from thy Servant. Succour me, O everlasting Truth, that nothing may move me from my Duty. Come heavenly Sweetness, proclaim peace to my Soul, and abide with me in the midst of all my Tribulation.   

VII.  
O Merciful and dear Redeemer, behold here I an unworthy Sinner. redeemed by thy precious Blood, fly to thee my God and my Saviour, with an humble, but servant heat. Thou once offerdst thyself to the Eternal Father, on the across, for my Redemption; and now I, tho unworthy to appear in thy Presence, offer myself wholly to thee, with all that I have, or am, or shall be.  
Accept, I beseech thee, dear Jesus, this Offering I now make; and from this hour, take my Soul and Body, my Thoughts, my Words and Actions, into thy Mercy and Protection, that I may faithfully serve thee, my Redeemer; and that neither Life nor Death, Plenty, nor Want; neither Temptation nor Peace, Joy nor Sadness, Ease nor Disquiets, may be ever able to divide me from thee.  
For this end, I now desire with all my Soul, to renounce myself, and that my Will for the future be ever conformed to thine. I desire thee to dispose of me and whatever belongs to me, in the manner thou pleasest, and as it shall be most for thy glory. And I now desire to be content with whatever lot thou hast appointed for me, whether Good or Evil. And therefore, as to Sickness, Poverty, Contempt, Grief, Desolation, or what other Suffering; may they be all welcome to me, O God, as they come from thy hand: May I submit to all, be content with all, and even rejoice in all; because 'tis all the fulfilling of thy Will. In whatever condition I am, may I ever think 'tis well, and desire nothing to be otherwise than it is, because it is according to thy Will. Perfect, O God, this will in me by thy holy Grace, that thus my whole comfort may ever be in thee.   

VIII. In any public Calamity.  
ALmighty and Everlasting God, Father of Mercies and God of all comfort, have regard to us miserable and unworthy Sinners, who in our distress and necessities, with all humility, seek to thee for help. Thy hand is upon us, and we are severely Afflicted; Tribulation is on every side. And we, what shall we say to these things, O dreadful Lord! Thou art Just, O God, and thy Judgments are unquestionable: The evils with which thou visitest us, we confess to be the just Scourges of thy Anger, which we have provoked. For thou visitest our iniquities with thy Rod, and our Sins with thy Scourge, because we have so rebelliously offended against thy Divine Majesty: We have sinned, O Lord, against Heaven, and done Evil in thy sight; by our Iniquities we are become unworthy to appear in thy presence, or to lift up our Eyes to Heaven.  
But look not, O Lord, so much on our wickedness, as to forget thy Goodness; for as thou art Just, so thy Mercies are above all thy Works: And if thou only regardest our Iniquities, Lord, who shall be able to stand before thee? Moderate therefore, we beseech thee, O merciful God, the rigour of thy Justice, and deal not with us according to our Sins, nor punish us according to our Iniquities; but according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies turn away thy Anger from us.  
We are truly sorry for having so grievously offended against thee, and by our transgressions provoked thy Justice; and therefore in a Contrite and humble heart, we now fly to the Throne of thy Grace and Goodness; and there, prostrating ourselves, with our whole trust in thy infinite Mercies, beg thee to have compassion in our Misery, and not wholly abandon us to the fury of thy just Revenge.  
Look, we beseech thee, on the face of thy Christ, who has purchased us by his Death; be mindful of the Promise and Covenant thou hast made with thy People, and which has been sealed with the Blood of thy beloved Son, our Redeemer Jesus Christ: Have regard to the honour of thy Name, which is now invoked by thy Servants, but blasphemed by thy Enemies.  
And because we are unworthy, of ourselves, to be partakers of the effects of thy Goodness; at least for thy own sake, and for the glory of thy Holy Name, be merciful to us, deliver us, and forgive us our Sins: Let that thy unspeakable Love and Goodness move thee, which prevailed on thee to sand thy Only Son for our Redemption. And we beseech thee, by the same Lord Jesus our Redeemer, by his most bitter Passion and Death, have regard to our Prayers, hear our Cry, and consider the Affliction of thy People: For thou alone art our Protector and Deliverer.   

IX.  
O God, who by Sin art offended, and by Penance pacified, mercifully regard the Prayers of thy People, who make supplication to thee, and turn away the Scourges of thy Anger, which we deserve for our Sins.  
Despise not, O Lord, thy People calling upon thee in their Affliction; but for the glory of thy Name, sand us relief in our Necessities.  
Look upon us, O God our Protector, that we, who are appress'd under the weight of ever Miseries, may, by the effect of thy Mercy, be restored again to Peace, and serve thee with true freedom of Spirit.  
Mercifully hear our Prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we who justly suffer for our Offences, may, for thy Name sake, be graciously delivered.  
O God, who know'st our weakness, and that through the frailty of our Nature we cannot subsist amid such dangers and terrors; Strengthen us, we beseech thee, both in mind and body, that the Evils we suffer for our Sins, we may overcome through the assistance of thy Grace.   

X. In time of Thunder, Lightning, Storms.  
First say the long Litanies, repeating twice those words; From Thunder and Lightning: And the Our Father being ended, go on thus,  
V. OUR help is in the Name of our Lord. R. Who made the Heavens and the Earth. V. show us, O Lord, thy Mercy. R. And save us by thy Power. V. Help us, O God, our Salvation. R. And for the glory of thy Name deliver us. V. Let not the Enemy prevail against us. R. Nor the Son of Iniquity have power to hurt us. V. Have mercy on us, O Lord. R. As we have put our trust in thee. V. Lord save thy People. R. And bless thy Inheritance. V. Refuse not thy Assistance to those that keep thy Law. R. Lord, God of Power, blessed is the Man, that places his whole confidence in thee. V. O Lord, hear my Prayer. R. And let my Cry come unto thee.  
Let us Pray.  
O God, who by Sin art offended, and by Penance pacified, mercifully regard the Prayers of thy People, who make Supplication to thee, and turn away the Scourges of thy Anger, which we deserve for our Sins.  
Defend, O Lord, this thy House, from the Power of Evil Spirits, and by thy command abate the terrors of this Storm.  
Almighty and Everlasting God, have compassion on us, who justly now fear thy Judgments, and graciously hear our Prayers, that sparing us in this Storm, and removing the Tempest, we may hence have reason to magnify thy Mercy.  
Lord Jesus Christ, who didst once command the Winds and the Sea, and there followed a great Calm; give ear to the Prayers of this Family, and grant that by the Sign and Power of Christ crucified, the fury of this Storm may cease.  
Almighty and most merciful God, who heal'st us by thy Punishments, and by thy Mercy preserv'st us; grant to thy Servants, that we may be comforted in the return of the Peace we desire, and enjoy the gift of thy Bounty.  
King of Heaven and all-powerful God, who cover'st the Heaven with Clouds, and providest Rain for the Earth, who commandest the Storms above, and open'st the gates of Heaven, who chasest away Tempests, and makest the Calm return, who gav'st the Angel charge not to hurt the Earth or Sea or Trees, mercifully hear us, we beseech thee, have compassion on us in our Fears, and chastise us not in thy Anger.  
Command in thy power all these Terrors to cease; show thyself sovereign Lord of all, and make them obey thy Word. May thy Holy Spirit now descend amongst us and be our Comforter. May he protect us against all the designs of the Enemy; and let none of thy Creatures hurt us, while we hope in thee, and seek for shelter under thy Wings; through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, &c.  
Here may be added those Prayers at Num. VIII. IX. p. 82, &c.   

In time of Temptation.  
LOrd Jesus Christ, behold the Enemy makes violent Assaults against me, and if thou comest not in to my defence, how shall I be able to withstand his fury! Vouchsafe therefore, dear Lord, to take me into thy protection; that so, however weak and inconstant I am of myself, yet by the assistance of thy Power I may be secure.  
Deliver me, O God, from all my Enemies; for to thee I fly for shelter: Teach me do to thy Will, for thou art my God. Be to me a Protection and Place of Defence, and save me: For a violent Storm is risen against me; and being now ready to sink, behold, I cry to thee for help. Have compassion therefore on my weakness, and, as thou didst to Peter, so now mercifully stretch forth thy hand to me, and save me from the fury of the Waves. Preserve me, O God, from these Evils, which now cause disquiet in my Soul; confirm me at least, with strength from above, that so, neither flattery nor fears may be ever able to force me from my Duty, but that in all these Trials I may be ever faithful to thee.  
Most just Lord, I confess all is done by thy appointment, and if thou shalt please to carry me on in this Exercise, and that I be still assaulted against my will, what have I, miseralbe Creature, to say, but, thy Will be done? I know, I deserve no comfort from thee, having been ever faithless to thee, forsaking thee my God, and vainly seeking to satisfy my own corrupt Nature; therefore am I now justly delivered up to these Passions, to be buffeted by Satan, and to be punished with the trouble of these Trials.  
Wherefore beloved Jesus, in union of that true Resignation, wherewith thou offered'st thyself to the Death on the across, I now offer and resign myself to whatever thou hast appointed for me, either of Suffering or Temptation: But remember, O merciful Jesu, how infirm and weak I am: I have nothing of my own to trust to; and therefore distrusting wholly of myself, I repose all my confidence in thee.  
My Lord and my God, receive me in thy Mercy, protect me by thy power, and strengthen me by thy Grace, that I may so bear all Troubles and Temptations, whether within or without, go on with that Constancy, Resolution and Courage and be so true to my Duty, that even till Death I may never yield, never seek comfort out of thee; but that all may turn to my improvement in virtue and to the good of my Soul.   

XII. Upon a Child, Friend, &c. taking evil ways.  
LOrd Jesus Christ, who cam'st into this World to be the Shepherd of our Souls, to seek after the lost Sheep, and carry him back to the Fold, look on this thy Servant with the Eyes of compassion, and permit him no longer to run astray after Folly and Vanity, but, by the power of thy Grace, force his rebellious Will to submit to thy Law.  
I confess, Lord, for my own part, I deserve, for my Transgressions, the rigor of thy Justice; but spare me however, I beseech thee, in this point, and let not the loss of such a Soul, thus dear to me, be the punishment of my Offences. Thou hast said, thou hatest nothing of what thou hast made, but that thou wilt show Mercy and spare; let not then this thy Creature and Servant be excluded from thy Promise; let him not be cast off as a Reprobate; and tho he has forsaken thee, yet thou canst still manifest in him the power of thy Goodness, and by thy Grace reclaim him from his Evil.  
Remember, I beseech thee, that Mercy thou show'st to Mary Magdalen, to Peter and to the Publican; see, how all Christians daily bless and magnify thy Name for this thy Goodness; See how many Sinners have been hence encouraged to return to thee, in hopes of thy Pardon. Let now this thy Servant be one Instance more of thy infinite Mercy, and let it not be enough to forgive him, when he repents; but extend still thy Mercy farther, seek after him, call upon him and draw him to Repentance.  
Let thy Light shine forth upon him and remove his Blindness, that he may see the error of his ways, be sensible of his Offence against thee, of the Scandal he gives his Neighbour, of the eternal ruin of his own Soul, and of as many others, as are deluded by his Example. Rectify his Affections and over-rule his Will, that he may no longer find charms in the things of this World, but that being truly sensible of all his Follies, he may return to his Duty, and have Courage to deny himself and forsake all Sin for the love of thee.  
Hear me, O Jesus, and let not this thy Servant be lost, who has been redeemed by thy precious Blood.   

XIII. Upon any Reprehension, Reproach, or false Accusation.  
HOw miserable weak am I, who am thus easily disturbed! I cannot suffer a few Words, who ought to have courage even to endure Stripes. And, why am I thus infirm, but because my heart is yet carnal, and I regard Men more than I ought? If I were dead to the World, and the World were truly crucified to me, I should be content to be despised and humbled, I should not value what Men say of me, but wholly depend on thy judgement, O Lord, who judgest not according to the Face, but searchest the Heart and Reins.  
O Lord my God, the just Judge, Strong and Patient, thou know'st my perversity and weakness; be thou my Strength and the support of my Soul, for my own Conscience suffices me not. I ought in every Reproach and Reprehension, have hubmly submitted myself and born it patiently: But mercifully pardon me, I beseech thee, as often as I have failed herein; and give me now grace of greater Sufferance. For thy bountiful Mercy is more available to me, for the obtaining of Pardon, than my conceived Justice for the defence of my hidden Conscience. Although my Conscience accuses me not, yet in this I am not Justified. For if I deserve not this Severity on this score, yet I cannot pretend it is unjust O God, how many other ways have I deserved it from thy hands at least, who have so often offended thee; and if thou art now pleased to punish me in this way, why should I complain? O God, I desire to accept all as from thy appointment; and I now fall down prostrate under thy Scourge, and Bless thy Name.   

XIV. When a Friend, Child, Relation; &c. is seized with Sickness.  
TO thy infinite Goodness, dear Jesus, I recommend this thy Servant, whom thou art pleased to visit with this Distemper. Take him into thy care, I beseech thee, and be his Physician; give a Blessing to the Remedies that shall be used, and punish not my Sins in him; but spare him, if it be thy holy Will; I leave him wholly in thy hands, and hope, that as thou hast often comforted the Afflicted, in giving Health to the Sick so thou wilt at present, snew thy Mercy to thy Servant, and restore him again to us. Give him patience in this his Sickness, and sanctify it to him by thy Grace, that he may accept it as from thy hand; and as for me, grant me a true Christian Spirit, that I may be perfectly resigned to thy Will, and confess thee to be most Just and Adorable in all thy Decrees. Help us, O Lord, direct and comfort us under thy Scourge, for as thou art Just, so thou art Merciful: show us then thy Mercy, that we may rejoice in thee.   

XV. In any violence of Pain.  
HAve Mercy on me O Jesus, a miserable Sinner, and deliver me from this Pain, which disquiets me; or grant me Patience to bear it, as becomes my Duty. When I look on myself, I cannot but confess, I most justlyly deserve all this from thy hands: For what is there of Pain, that is not my due, if I were to be punished according to my Deserts? Are not there many now suffering in Hell, whose Sins exceed not mine? And is it not a Mercy then, that I am thus tenderly Visited, while so many others suffer under thy Justice, without hopes of Relief. See then my Soul, hast thou reason to murmur or complain of the weight of this Scourge: Or rather art thou not obliged with thanks, to bless the goodness of thy Lord? And if thou thinkest thou art severely dealt with, raise thy Thoughts a little, and hear that last sentence pronounced, of, Go you accursed, into Eternal Fire. O, if thou wert one of that wretched Number, and now in the moment of sinking into Hell, wouldst not thou esteem it a Mercy, to have that sad Doom exchanged into the Pain thou now endur'st? Give thanks then now, and remember that instead of this present uneasiness, thy lot might Justly have been with those, whose Pains shall never end? Thanks therefore be to thee O Lord, for all thy Mercies, and now withal my Soul, I bless thy Name, and blessed be it for ever.  
But still I want Patience, I am still uneasy. And is not this because thou art infirm and weak, and know'st not the ways of thy Lord? Thou hast taken thy time to offend, and he now takes his time to punish thee. Thou hast often sinfully indulged thy Will, and to please thyself, hast made light of displeasing him; therefore is his hand upon thee now; therefore he calls thee to Self-denials, and that's become now a Force upon thee, which should have been thy Choice. Neglect not then this opportunity put into thy hands, but accept of this Correction to satisfy for all those vicious liberties, whereby thou hast hitherto injured thy Soul and displeased thy God. Offer up every Pain thou feelest, for such particular Sins as are thy greatest burden; and as often as it returns, let it be still assigned to discharge some old Debt that lies upon thy hands. O God, 'tis thus I offer it now, and beg thee graciously thus to accept it from me: Accept in pardon of all my Sins: Upon this Score, I readily embrace the Rod, and think they are very easy Terms, if thus I may escape thy anger, and be again restored to Grace.  
But, why do I speak of Terms? Thou art my God, and 'tis thy right to Command and Order whatever thou wilt, and 'tis my duty to Obey. This Pain is what thou hast appointed for me; and am not I most miserable, if I withstand or dispute thy Will? I have many years been saying; Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven: And now the Trial is come, how uneasy am I in submitting to theee! Change, O God, I beseech thee? this my heart, and let me no longer rebel against thee; give me a heart ready to submit to all thy Orders, and willing to follow where ever thou commandest. Behold, I now desire to offer myself to thee; I confess thy Judgments are Just. And as to all I am to suffer, I accept it in union of all those Torments thou endur'dst for me. O, that I could bear all with such Patience, Humility and Resignation, that I might truly show myself to be thy Disciple.   

XVI. At the Death of a Friend, &c.  
'tis thou hast done this, O Lord, and what have I, miserable Sinner that I am, to say against thy Decrees? shall I call in question, or complain of what thou hast done? Shall I, poor Worm, lift up myself against the hand of the Almighty? He was mine, 'tis true, but he was more thine; and if thou hast disposed of what is thy own, according to thy good pleasure, what part of a Christian is it now to be disturbed at thy Appointments? In vain have I so many years repeated to thee my God, Thy Will be done, if now, when thou hast evidently manifested thy Will to me, I cannot submit to it; is not this a sign, I more admire thy Blessings than the hand that gave them; and that I more adore my own Satisfaction and Content, than the accomplishment of thy Will, which ought to be to us, above all, Adorable?  
'tis true, something is to be allowed to Nature and Decency, to mourn and grieve a little, at the loss of what was so dear; but if this becomes immoderate, 'tis then the Grief of Unbelievers, for Christianity allows of no Excess. This requires of me to moderate all my Passions, to deny myself, and not to leave that to be done by Time, which Reason and Religion ought to do.  
Ah, my Soul, show myself then a Christian now, and let not the loss of a Creature, put thee in danger of losing thy Creator too. Tho it be difficult to submit, yet beg assistance from above, force Nature to yield to the Lord of all; and now, even against thy Inclination, cry out, Thou art Just, O Lord, in all thy ways; thy Will be be done, thy Will be done now, and for ever.  
Thus, Lord, I leave myself, and all in thy hands, desiring truly to humble myself under thy Rod, and beg, that as it is for the punishment of my Sins, so it may be for the amendment of my Life. Help me, dear Jesus, in this, and be thou my Comforter, both now and to all Eternity. And see thou my Soul, thou strive to make him so to thee; for if he cannot supply this loss and relieve thy Soul, is it not because the Creature is greater to thee than thy God? O Jesu, be now to me my God, my Helper and my Deliverer.   

XVII In Trouble of Conscience.  
O Merciful Jesu, who hast promised to be found by those that seek thee, have compassion on this miserarable unworthy Sinner, and fulfil thy Word in me. For behold, I am truly sensible of my own Weakness and of the truth of what thou hast said, That without thee, I can do nothing; and therefore I now humbly make my address to thy Goodness, beseeching thee, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to be found by me, that thou wouldst give me the grace of seeking thee with a sincere heart, that the impressions of Education may not make me obstinate against thy Truth; that neither Interest or Compliance or any other human respect whatever may bias me in my choice; but that looking for thee, with all sincerity, I may be raised above all these Considerations, and suffer nothing of Earth to put me out of the way to Heaven.  
O God, what have I on Earth, and, besides thee, what have I'in Heaven! Was not I made for thee; and if I lose thee, is there any thing on Earth, can make me for ever happy! Is there any thing here can recompense the loss of my Soul? O Jesu, far be it from me, to run this hazard: Thou hast taught me in thy Passion the true worth of a Soul; and when I consider how much thou suffer'dst, to purchase happiness for me, do not I there see, how much I ought to suffer to prevent the ruin of my Soul? O God, permit me not, I beseech thee, to cast away upon this World, what has cost thee the Blood of thy only Son.  
No, my God, I desire ever to be thine, and here in thy presence I declare, thou art to me, above all the World, I renounce all for the sake of thee. Have regard to me therefore at present, and take me into thy Protection; defend me from all delusions, remove all darkness from my Soul, and mercifully led me into thy Truth. If it be thy way, in which I walk at present, preserve me for ever in it, and let me rather suffer a thousand deaths, than depart from it: But if I have been hitherto in error, deliver me, I beseech thee, from it; open then the way to me, show me thy paths and guide me into thy Truth, for where thou art, there I desire to be; I desire to be in thy way, that I may faithfully serve thee, and that I may find thee at the end of my Journey. Grant me, O God, this my request, for the love of thy only Son; for in thee I put my trust.    

HEre I have set down a Collection of some Lessons rnd Prayers, which may give some relief in time of Affliction and Sadness; I cannot promise they will be always said with this good effect, and yet I cannot but hope so far in the Promises of God, that such as use them for this end, will in good time find God their Comforter. He may, some time, for our greater Trial and Humiliation delay this interior relief, so that a Christian, while he earnestly seeks God in Prayer, to be his Comforter in the day of Tribulation, may still sink in Spirit and be covered with Darkness, and have reason with David, to cry out, Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea. Yet if he with constancy holds on, bearing his Trial with Patience, and continuing his Prayers with an assured Confidence in God, he will at length find all delays abundantly recompensed in the fullness of Grace, and have reason to give thanks for this method of Providence, which laying Thorns in the way, makes them all bring forth the Fruit of Glory  
I here add a Thanksgiving-Prayer for such as have experienced God's Goodness in being delivered from those Evils, with which they were oppressed; desiring all Christians, as they are very sensible of every Trouble that afflicts them, and solicitous for Relief, so they would be as careful in returning thanks in having obtained their Request. This being a Point, in which too many, and those esteemed Good too, are very deficient; so that I fear, 'tis with us, as with the Lepers in the Gospel, not above One in Ten, gives due Thanks for these Blessings received. All are earnest in Asking, but very few in Thanksgiving.  
In the first place ought to be said the Hymn Te Deum, We praise thee, O God, Then as occasion serves may be added, Psalm 65. or 80. or 95. 99. 102. 148. The Song of the three Children. Then,  

A Thanksgiving.  
V. BLessed be the Lord God of our Fathers. R. May he be praised and glorified for ever. V. Let us bless the Father, Son and holy Ghost. R. Let us adore and magnify him for ever. V. Blessed be our Lord in Heaven. R. Let Praise and Glory be given to him for ever. V. Bless our Lord, my Soul. R. And forget not thy Afflictions. V. Lord hear my Prayer. R. And let my Cry come unto thee.   

Let us pray.  
O God, whose Mercies are without number, and the treasure of whose Goodness is infinite, we render thee most homble, Thanks for thy Blessings at present bestowed on us, beseeching thy Divine Majesty, that as thou hast in this granted our requests, so thy Mercy may ever abide with us, and prepare us for everlasting Happiness.  
O God, who forsakes none that trust in thee, but favourably givest ear to such as call on thee in their Affliction, we offer thee our most hearty Thanks, for the grant of our Petition, and humbly pray thee, to be our Protector against all adversities, through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, &c.   

Instructions and Devotions for the Sick.  
Q. WHen a Person is seized with sickness, what ought to be his chief Concern?  
A. To consider the State of his Soul, and resolve upon using all the means proper for making his peace with God, and putring himself in that condition, that if Almighty God shall please to call him out of this World, he may not be found unprepared. No delays ought to be admitted in this Affair; because, to prepare for Dying well; is a great Work. They who have lived well, have made the surest preparation for it; and yet even these too will find enough to do in the time of their Sickness, for fitting their Souls for this last passage; how much more then will those have upon their hands, who in their Lives have forsaken God, and been wanting to many Christian duties? As for such, who have lived in wilful and known Sins, and on their Death-bed, seem to return to God and ask for mercy, I must say with many Fathers, Their case is very dangerous, if not Desperate; I can promise nothing to such late endeavours, which are very seldom sincere; however since none ought to despair, I wish all sorts would make the best use of their Sickness, which is a Call from Heaven to prepare for Eternity: Those who have lived best, will certainly go on with the greater Confidence in God; and as for the others, Who knows, but God may show mercy to them?  
1st. Then let the sick Person, whilst he sends for the Physian, or such as may take care of his Health, remember to call for his spiritual physician too, who may help to put his Soul in a good state.  
2dly. Let him engage his best Friends, to discover to him the danger of his Distemper, as soon as they apprehended any; and desire them not to flatter him with the hopes of recovery, when in reality there appears none; that so, he may dispose his Soul for what God has appointed for him, and not be surprised with sudden and unexpected Death. For 'tis most certainly a very unfriendly part, to delude a sick Person with these false hopes, and on pretext of not disturbing him, to take out of his hands the opportunity, never more to be recovered, of preparing his Soul to appear before his Lord; this is a sort of Friendship very barbarous and cruel, whilst for the preserving a short Peace, is ventured the loss of that which is Eternal.  
3dly If he has not his Will already made( as in Prudence he ought) let him be careful in the beginning of his Sickness, to call for such experienced Persons, as may help him to make it; that so having settled all Temporal Affairs, he may wholly apply his thoughts afterwards, without any disturbance, to the care of his Soul. This it is in which many, otherwise good People are very much overseen; neglecting to make their Wills in time of Health, as if they were afraid to think of dying, and then putting it off still in time of Sickness; So that, as it too often happens, they either die without a Will, or else make it in such disorder, that they Entail on their Friends and Relations lasting contentions and endless expenses, which might have been prevented by their timely care, and will most certainly be severely laid to their Charge, who by their affencted neglect have given the occasion of these Disorders and Scandals.  
4thly. If he be in Debt, or has any Restitution to make, let him take care for the satisfying these Obligations to the best of his power.  
5thly. Let him be mindful to forgive all those, who have any ways injured him, and beg pardon of as many, as he has wronged either in word or dead.  
6thly. If the Distemper be dangerous, let him admit but few visits, since the Discourses of most People, are only so many distractions, and help to bring the World in, to one who is going out of it.  
The reason why these things ought to be done in the beginning of Sickness, is, because many Distempers unexpectedly fly up into the Head, and deprive a Man of all Reason and judgement; and where the Disease spares the Brain, the Physician very often does not, prescribing Remedies, which lay him into such a dozing sleepiness, that, it may be, he never more comes truly to himself again; but goes sleeping and senseless out the World. Thus, whether from the Disease or the physic, an opportunity of settling these Affairs, lost in the beginning, proves but too often past all recovery; and therefore in Prudence ought not to be neglected.  
Q What method do you propose to be used in time of Sickness, as most proper to prepare a Christian for his last hour, and fit him to appear before his Judge?  
A. There can be no one Method fit for all, but a great deal must be left to Discretion, in compliance to particular Cases and Circumstances. But however, it being most certain, that a Soul without a True Faith in God, without Hope and Confidence in his Goodness, without Charity, without a sincere Repentance, without Resignation, Patience, &c. is very unfit to be presented before the judgement Seat, therefore it is absolutely necessary, in time of Sickness, care should be taken to establish a Soul in these virtues; that so being purified from all Sin, it may be found clothed in its Wedding Garments, and thus enter into Eternity. A good director and Pious Books will be helpful for this end: But for such as are not better provided, I'll here set down a short Collection of Devotions, by which it may be in the power of any charitable Friend, to assist his Neighbour for the doing this Great Work, which being once well done, will be an Everlasting Blessing.   

A Prayer in the beginning of any Sickness.  
LOrd Jesus Christ, behold I receive this Sickness, with which thou art pleased to visit me, as from thy Fatherly hand: 'tis thy Will it should be thus with me, and therefore I accept it; Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. May it be to the honour of thy Holy Name and good of my Soul: for this end I here offer myself, with an entire submission to all thy appointments; to suffer whatever thou pleasest, as long as thou pleasest, and in what manner thou pleasest. For I am thy Creature, O Lord, who have most ungratefully offended against thee, and since my Sins have a long time called aloud to Heaven for Justice; why shall I now complain, if I feel thy hand upon me? No, my God, thou art just in all thy ways; I have truly deserved thy Punishments; and therefore I have no reason to complain of thee, but only of my own Wickedness.  
But correct me not, O Lord, I beseech thee in thy Anger; but have regard to my Weakness. Thou know'st, how frail I am; that I am nothing but Dust and Ashes: deal not with me therefore according to my Sins, neither punish me according to my Iniquities; but according to the multitude of thy most tender Mercies have compassion on me. Let thy Mercy come mixed with thy Justice, and let thy Grace be my support in my Sickness Confirm my Soul with strength from above, that I may bear with Patience all the uneasiness, pains, disquiets and difficulties of my Illness; that I may cheerfully accept them, as the just punishment of my Offences: Preserve me from all Temptations, and be thou my Defence against all assaults of the Enemy; that in this Sickness I may no ways offend thee. And if this is to be my last, I beg of thee, so to direct me by thy Grace, that I may no ways neglect or be deprived of those Means, which thou hast, in thy Mercy ordained, for the good of my Soul, to prepare it for its passage into Eternity; that being perfectly cleansed from all my Iniquities, I may believe in thee, love thee, put my whole Trust in thee, and through the Merits of thy Death and Passion be admitted into the Company of the Blessed, where I may praise thee for ever, Amen  
This or such like Prayers ought to be said, at least in heart, not only in the beginning, but every day throughout the whole time of Sickness.    

Several Exercises, proper in long Sickness, to be red at times, leisurely and distinctly by any Friend, whom the Sick person may accompany, not in words, but in heart.  

Of FAITH.  
I Believe in God the Father, who has made me to his own Image and likeness.  
And in Jesus Christ my Saviour, who has redeemed me by his precious Blood.  
And in the Holy Ghost, who has sanctified me in my Baptism.  
I believe the Holy catholic Church and whatever she teaches, as received from Christ and his Apostles. Of this Church I profess myself a Member at present, and thus I desire to die.  
In profession of this Faith, I here recite the Apostles Creed. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven, &c.  
All which I understand in the Sense our holy Mother the Church has always understood it.  
Thus, O God, I believe; increase, I beseech thee, and confirm my Faith.  
With this I desire to appear before thy Tribunal, where I believe and hope, I shall see the good things, thou hast prepared in the Land of the living.  
For such as have any doubt, whether they are in the true Church, it may not be unprofitable to make the following short Profession.  
( I believe in God the Father Almighty, &c. I firmly hope I am a Member of the True catholic, apostolic Church, mentioned in this Creed: but, if thou seest, O Lord, that I have been deceived in the choice I have made, and that in reality I have taken part with False Teachers; behold here, in thy Presence, I renounce the Errors I have professed, whatever they are; I disown the Congegration, by which I have been missed; and now lay before thee my most sincere Desires of becoming a Member of thy True catholic Church: And did I but know; which in particular it is, I declare, I would this moment be a Member of it. Thou know'st, my God, the sincerity of my heart; and to Thee I profess, I believe all its doctrines; I now unite myself to it, and tho to the World I am not in union with it, yet before thee, O Searcher of Hearts, I hope I am. Supply now, I beseech thee, all that is wanting to me, through my own ignorance, and forgive me my Sins, for I detest them all for love of thee, and hope, through the Death and Passion of thy only Son, to be partaker of thy Mercy. Forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, for in thee alone I hope and put my trust)   

Of HOPE.  
THou hast prepared, O Lord everlasting Happiness, for those that love thee. But how can I expect a part in this reward, who am a most grievous Sinner, and from my Childhood, have ever done evil in thy sight! Ah, my God, while I look on myself, I am terrified with my Sins, and see there nothing but reasons of Despair; and from this sense of my own unworthiness, I here declare, I have nothing of my own to trust to. No, my God, nothing of my own; but all my Hope is in thee.  
I confess therefore my Sins are many and grievous; but still I trust in thy Mercy; that through the Merits and Passion of my Redeemer Jesus Christ, I shall obtain pardon of my Offences, and partake of the Glory of the Blessed. Thouhast said it, O Lord, that thou wilt cast off none that place their Hope in thee; behold, I hope in thee, let me not be confounded for ever. Tho I were guilty of many more Sins, yet still will I trust in thee, for thy Mercy is infinitely above all my Iniquity.  
Look therefore on me with the eyes of compassion, and reject not the Petition of one prostrate at thy Feet. I am Dust and Ashes, but, behold I offer to thee the Passion and Blood of thy only Son; in that I have an infinite treasure of Mercy stored up for me: He laid down his Life for Sinners, and became a Propitiation for my Offences; tis this I now present to thee; 'tis in this and thy Promises, I ground all my Hope: And since I have this to depend on, I will never despair, but ever preserve a firm and lively Trust in thee. Our Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? Our Lord is my Protector, and and nothing shall hurt me. Our Lord is Merciful and full of Compassion. As a tender Father has compassion on his Children, so will our Lord show Mercy to all that fear him; for he knows what we are, and of what we are made. He is sweet and tender to all, and his Mercies are above all his Works. He gives strength to the weak, raises up those that fall, comforts the Afflicted, and pardons Sinners. O God, all these good effects, I hope, thou wilt at present work in my Soul, and so watch over me, that nothing necessary for my Salvation be wanting to me.   

Of CHARITY.  
I Love thee, my Lord God, and 'tis my hearty desire to increase still more and more in thy love; that I may love thee as thou hast commanded, with all my Heart, with all my Soul, and with all my Strength. Thou art to me, all in all, and out of thee, there is nothing able to help me, or worthy of my Love. O infinite Goodness, when shall I perfectly love thee? When wilt thou wholly possess my Heart? When shall I be entirely thine? O let that happy hour come, when thou wilt take full possession of my Heart, that I may give myself wholly to thee. Lord Jesus Christ, thou hast bestowed infinite Blessings on me, throughout the whole course of my Life; add this one Blessing more, I beseech thee, to all the former, That I may here perfectly renounce all the unlawful, vain and unprofitable Affections of this World, and begin now to fix my heart on thee, with a pure and perfect Love, which may abide for all Eternity.  
I love thee, O Lord, my Strength; thou art my Defence and my Refuge, thou art my Deliverer. 'tis good for me to depend wholly on my God, and in him to put my Trust. For, what is there in Heaven besides thee; and out of thee, what have I to seek on Earth; As the Hart pants after the Fountains of Water, so does my Soul after thee, O Lord. My Soul thirsts after my Lord, the Fountain of Living Water; when shall I come and appear before the face of my God? Into thy hands I commend my Spirit? thou hast redeemed me, O God of Truth. Who shall separate me from this love of Christ? Shall Tribulation, or Necessity? Shall Sickness, or Anguish, or Pain? No; all these I hope to overcome, through him that has loved us. I hope in my Redeemer, that neither Life nor Death, neither Things present, nor Things to come, neither Flatteries nor Fears, nor any Creature whatever, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   

Of PATIENCE.  
I Will speak to our Lord, who am but Dust and Ashes, and as the Shadow that passes away. Remember, Lord, what I am, and what my Being is: Remember thou hast made me as day, and into Earth I shall return again. show not therefore thy Power against me for what strength have I to bear it; and how shall I, being so weak as I am, hold out with Patience? Why then has my Lord stretched forth his hand against me, let this disorder seize on my Spirits, and cast me on the Bed of Sickness? But why do I now lift up my head against Heaven, and appear uneasy under the Decrees of the Almighty? No, I will rather choose to say, 'tis our Lord has given Health and Strength; 'tis our Lord has taken it away; as it has seemed good to our Lord, so it is done, blessed be the Name of our Lord. Thus I say, my God, thus I think: Thou art Just, O Lord; thy judgement is right; I have deserved far greater Punishment than this: Were I to be my own Judge, and the punisher of my own Wickedness, I could take off nothing of the Evil I now suffer.  
I aclowledge, in what I feel, the hand of a tender Father Chastising a rebellious Child; it is not the Arm of a severe Judge punishing me in the justice of his Wrath: But however, this one thing, O merciful Father, I ask of thee, that thou wouldst remember what I am; that I am Frail and Weak; that of myself, I can do nothing, and how much I stand in need of thy Grace to support and comfort me. Grant me, therefore, I beseech thee, strength to suffer; give me Patience; for this is necessary for me: Grant this my request, and then behold, my heart is ready, O Lord, my heart is ready, to accept whatever thou art pleased to lay on me, and even to be comforted under thy Scourge. Let it be the effect of thy Mercy, that in Patience I may possess my Soul. For this end, I will often look on the face of thy Christ, that by considering him, who suffered so much for me, I may be encouraged to suffer. He became obedient to death, even the death of the across: But as for me, I have not yet resisted to Blood, I have yet suffered but little: But how much shall I then suffer, when the time shall come, that the pangs of Death seize upon me!  
O God, thou art my Strength and my Refuge? on thee I depend for help in the day of Battle: Thou wilt then try me, and thou must be then my Comforter thou wilt try me like Gold in the Furnace: stand thou ever by me, and forsake me not in my Necessities, that so I may be found worthy of thee. I know indeed, the sufferings of this Life, are nothing, if compared to that Glory, which shall be revealed in us. I know, as Christ was to suffer, and so enter into Glory; so if a Christian becomes not like his Head, if he pass not through great Tribulation, he shall never come into the place of Refreshment. Behold, my God, I am now under my Trial; thou art pleased at present to Visit me; preserve me, I beseech thee, that I may hold out with Patience, that I may submit to all with a cheerful heart; and that thus imitating my Lord and Redeemer, I may at length partake of his Glory.   

Of Resignation.  
LOrd Jesus Christ, thou art my Refuge, in thee I believe and put my trust; thou hast been my Protector from my Youth; and now I have none to trust to, none to depend on, but only thee my God. behold then the streights I am now in; I have Life and Death before me; but what to fear or what to hope, I know not; I know not what is expedient or best for me; thou know'st, O Jesus: Do with me therefore what thou pleasest; dispose of me as thou know'st best; for I am thine with all my heart, and into thy hands I surrender all that I have or am.  
In thy hands I leave the casting of my Lot, whether for Life or Death: If for Life, behold, I receive it with Thanksgiving, and resolve ever to aclowledge it thy Gift, in living to thee: If for Death, behold, I here bow down myself, in submission to the sentence thou passest; if it be so thy Will, then, O Lord, thy Will be done; Praise, Honour and Glory, be to thy Name for ever. In the mean time, I here recommend to thee, all the Affairs of my Soul and Body; protect me, I beseech thee, under the shadow of thy Wings, and preserve me as the Apple of thy Eye; and so direct me by thy Grace, that I omit no Duty that may be for the welfare of my Soul.   

Another.  
O Eternal Wisdom, who disposest all things, thou hast at present visited me with this Distemper; so order it, I beseech thee, that it may be to the honour of thy Name, and good of my Soul  
O Father of Heaven, from whom comes every good Gift, I receive this Sickness as from thy hands; nothing happens, but by thy appointment, before whom are numbered the very hairs of our Head; thou strikest and thou healest, 'tis thou givest Life, and thou order'st Death to seize us; but whether we live, or whether we die, we are thine, O Lord; we are thine or ought to be so; O God, make me thine from this moment; and let thy Will be now done in me; if I have received good things from thy hands, why shall I not with patience submit to the evil thou permittest; which too will not be evil, if I accept it as a just Correction of a Child from thy Fatherly hand; for then, even these very evils will co-operate to my good, and be for the advantage of my Soul.  
O Lord, I am thy Servant, do with me according to thy Will: Who am I, that I should stand out against thee? Who has ever resisted thee, and been in peace? Behold, I am as day in thy hands? turn and fashion me as thou pleasest, but then let this be the end of all my Sufferings, that I become a Vessel of Honour.  
O heavenly Physician, who by thy Word, healest all the distempers of the Soul, and of the Body too, when 'tis for our good, vouchsafe to command, and then my Soul shall be healed; give a Blessing to the remedies I take, and I shall be restored to Health; for my hope is in thee; and if thou build'st not up this ruined House of my Body, in vain do they labour who undertake to repair it. But if this be not thy Will, grant me then an humble Patience; for this is a remedy that never fails.  
In the mean time, if thou art pleased to afflict me, and by bitter and ungrateful Potions, try to cure my distempered Soul, why shall I refuse and be against this method? Have not I too often sinfully indulged myself, humoured my own corrupt Inclinations, and laboured to please my Senses, even with thy Displeasure? and if now thou judgest it proper to cure these evils by their Contraries, and to let Self-denial be the remedy of Self-love; be it so, O Lord; let the Flesh suffer and perish, so the Spirit be safe; 'twas to humour the Flesh, I have been drawn to Sin; let the punishing the Flesh, be now the way to Mercy and Pardon. For this end I am content to suffer; O God, whatever I endure, let it be now for the forgiveness of my Sins, only stand thou by me with thy supporting Grace, that I sink not under the Scourge, and then ordain what thou pleasest; here Burn me, here cut me, but spare me at my last hour, spare me for ever, this suffering is but for a moment; the next Life will be Eternal.    

Prayers in time of Sickness.  

I.  
LOrd, thou art so Merciful, that not only Health and Prosperity, but Sickness and Sufferings, are the effects of thy Love; give me Grace not to act as a Heathen in the State to which thy Justice has brought me; but that as a true Christian, I may own thee as my Father and my God, in whatever Condition I am: For thou art always the same, tho I am Subject to Change; thou art the same God, when thou Afflictest and Punishest, as when thou sendest Comfort and showest Compassion.   

II.  
THou hast given me Health to serve thee, and I have ungratefully converted it to a profane use; now thou sendest me Sickness to correct me; suffer me not to abuse it, nor to provoke thee by my Impatience I have not well employed my Health, and thou hast justly punished me; permit me not to slight thy Correction, nor rebel against thy Fatherly hand: I aclowledge the corruption of my Nature, and that it strongly inclines me to abuse thy Favours, and make them all fruitless to me. Grant, O my God, that thy powerful Grace may over-rule my Corruption, and make thy present Chastisements profitable to me. I confess, my heart has been full of the love of the World in time of Health; now I am uncapable of enjoying the World; I wish this had been the effect of my love of thee; but I am contented to be brought to this through Weakness of Body; since I know there is Mercy even in this, and hope it may be the means of bringing me to the love and enjoyment of thee.   

III.  
O God, before whom I must give an exact account of all my Actions, at the end of my Life: O God, who leavest impenitent Sinners in the delicious, but criminal use of Creatures. O God, who at the last moment of my Life wilt take me away from all those things in which I have delighted. O God, who at the last day, wilt consume Heaven and Earth, and all Creatures; that Men may see, 'tis only thou Subsistest; that therefore thou only deserv'st to be loved, because nothing is permanent but thou. O God, who wilt destroy all vain Idols, and all the wicked Objects of our Passions, I Praise thee, and will Bless thee all the remaining days of my Life, inasmuch as thou hast been pleased to prevent this dreadful day in my behalf, by destroying, as to me, all things, by the Weakness to which thou hast brought me. I Praise thee, and I will Bless thy Name as long as I live, for that thou hast been pleased to make me unable to enjoy the pleasures of Health and of the World; for that thou hast, in some sort, destroyed for my good, the deceitful Idols, which thou wilt absolutely destroy for the confusion of Sinners, in the great day of thy Wrath. Grant, Lord, I may Judge myself now, that thou mayst not Judge me, after the general destruction thou wilt make of my Life, and of all the World: For, Lord, as at the instant of my Death, I shall find myself separated from the World, stripped of all things, standing in thy Presence, to answer thy Justice for all the motions of my heart, grant I may look on myself in this Sickness, as in a kind of death, separate from the World, deprived of all the Objects wherein I have delighted, standing in thy Presence, to implore of thy Mercy the true conversion of my Heart; that so I may find Comfort, in that thou art pleased now to sand me a kind of Death to exercise thy Mercy, before thou sendest me Death effectively, to exercise thy judgement. Grant therefore, O my God, that as thou hast anticipated my Death, I may prevent the rigor of thy Sentence; and that examining myself before thy judgement, I may find Mercy in thy Presence.   

IV.  
GRant, O my God, that I may adore in silence the order of thy wonderful Providence in the conduct of my Life, that thy Chastisements may comfort me, and that having lived in the bitterness of my Sins, during the time of Peace, I may taste the heavenly sweetness of thy Grace, during the Afflictions, with which thou art pleased to visit me. But I aclowledge, my God, that my Heart is so hardened and full of Cares, Disquiets and Thoughts of this World, that neither Sickness nor Health, neither Discourse nor Books, neither the Gospel nor Works of Charity, neither Miralcles nor the use of the Sacraments, nor all my endeavours, nor those of the whole World put together, can contribute any thing towards my Conversion, except thou art pleased to accompany all these things with the assistance of thy Grace; therefore, my God, I come to thee, Omnipotent Lord, to demand that of thee, which all Creatures together cannot give me: I should not have the confidence to lift up my Voice to thee, if any body else could help me. But, O my God, the Conversion of my Heart being a Work, that surpasses the strength of Nature, I cannot but address myself to the Almighty Author and Master of Nature and of my Heart: To whom should I cry, Lord, to whom should I go, but to thee? Nothing but God can satisfy my expectation: It is God only that I seek for and desire; and 'tis to thee only I address myself, that my Soul may be prepared for the enjoyment of thee. Open my Heart, Lord, enter into this rebellious Place, which has been defiled with Sin, and Master that infernal Power, which has hitherto kept my Heart in subjection. Lord, take my Afflictions, which the World had stolen away: This is a Tribute, which belongs to thee, since thy Image is stamped on my Soul. Thou didst there engrave it, by thy Almighty Hand; but I fear 'tis disfigured, if not quiter blotted out. But as thou alone hadst power to make my Soul; so thou only art able to renew it: It was by thy power only my Soul was stamped with thy Image; thou alone art able to restore it and renew thy decayed Image, even Jesus Christ my Saviour, who is thy Image and the Character of thy Glory.   

V.  
O God, how happy is the Soul, that loves thee, in whom alone it is safe to trust! I find, I cannot love the World, without displeasing thee, without doing injury to myself; and nevertheless the World has been the object of my Delight. O my God, how happy is the Soul, that delights in thee! How firm and lasting is her happiness; since her expectation shall not be frustrated, and because neither Death nor Life shall ever separate her from the object of her delight; and that the same moment, which shall plunge the wicked with their Idols into endless Misery, shall unite the Just with thee in everlasting Glory; and as the one shall be destroyed, with the perishable objects, in which they delighted; so the others shall abide forever in the object, that eternally subsists of himself, to which they were before united.   

VI.  
ACcomplish, O my God, the good Desires, thou art pleased to give me; be thou the End, as thou art the Beginning. Crown thy own Gifts, for I confess they are from thee I cannot depend on the Prayers I offer thee, as if there were any thing in them to oblige thee to grant what I ask. I most humbly confess, that having given my Heart to Creatures, I can expect no Grace, but merely from thy Mercy, since there is nothing in me can invite thee to it, and that all the natural motions of my Heart being inclined to the World or to myself, cannot but displease thee. I therefore give thee Thanks, my God, for the good motions thou givest me, and even for that thou givest me, that I give thee Thanks.   

VII.  
TOuch my heart with Repentance of my Sins; for without this inward Grief, the outward Evils, thou layest on my body, will be a farther occasion of making me transgress: Make me fully understand, that bodily Evils are nothing else, but the punishment and figure of the Evils of my Soul. But, Lord, grant, that they may also prove the Remedy, in making me consider in the punishments I feel, those which I did not feel in my Soul, altho I was Sick and over-run with Ulcers: For, Lord, the greatest of these Evils, is this insensibleness and extreme weakness, that had deprived my Soul of all Sense and Feeling of its own Miseries: Make me now sensible of them, and that the residue of my Life may be a continual Repentance of the Offences I have committed.   

VIII.  
LOrd, I wish I could with truth say, my Life past has been exempt from heinous Crimes: Whatever there is of truth in it, I confess it the effect of thy Grace, which has preserved me in dangers. But however this be, I must yet aclowledge, that my whole Life has been very odious in thy sight, by my continual negligence in thy Service, by the ill use of thy Holy Sacraments, by despising thy Holy Word and the Motions of thy Spirit, by the Sloth and unprofitableness of my Thoughts and Words, by the loss of my Time, by indulging Self-love and all my Passions: Thus, Lord, have I been always contrary to thee.  
Yea, my God, even to this day I have been deaf to thy holy Inspirations; I have judged contrary to what thou judgest; I have opposed the Maxims, which thou didst bring into the World from the bosom of thy Eternal Father, and by which thou wilt Judge the World. Thou sayst, Blessed are those that weep; but I have said, Wretched are they, that are sorrowful. I have said, Happy are they, that enjoy a large Fortune, that have great Reputation, State and Health: And wherefore have I esteemed them happy; but only, because these advantages give them greater opportunity with ease to enjoy the things of this World, and be thus in danger of displeasing thee? Yes, Lord, I confess, I have accounted Health a Blessing, not because 'tis a means of better serving thee and doing good to my Neighbours; but because by means thereof I could with greater freedom give myself to the enjoyment of the things of this Life, and enjoy the dangerous Pleasures, which led to Sin. But show Mercy to me now, Lord, in rectifying my depraved Reason, and comforming my thoughts to thine; that they may no longer oppose thy Will; let me now understand the happiness of suffering, and being unable to act outwardly, let me feel thee within me: For, Lord, thy Kingdom is within thy Children, and I shall find it within me, if I there find thy Spirit and thy Will.   

IX.  
BUt, Lord, what shall I do to prevail with thee to pour forth thy Spirit on this miserable day? I have nothing in me, that can be acceptable in thy sight: I see nothing, Lord, but only my sorrows, that have any resemblance with thee; consider therefore, I beseech thee, the Evils I suffer, and those that hang over my head. Look with an Eye of pity on the wounds, thy hand has made in me. O my Saviour, who becamest Man, only to suffer, who didst take a Body the most oppressed with suffering, that ever was in the World; accept my Body, not for its own sake, nor for any thing it has, for there's nothing in it, but what deserves thy anger; but for the Pains it endures, which alone can be worthy of thy Compassion and Favour. Love my Sufferings, Lord, and let my Sorrows invite thee to come and visit me. But to finish the preparation of thy abode; Grant, O my Saviour, if my Body has that in common with thine, that it suffers for my Offences, that my Soul also may have that in common with thine too, that it may be in Sadness for the same Offences; and that so I may suffer with thee, and as thou didst, in my Body and Soul, for the Sins I have committed.   

X.  
I Beseech thee, Lord, to join thy Consolations to my Sufferings, that I may suffer as a Christian. I don't desire to be free from Sufferings, that's the privilege of the Saints; but I desire, not to be abandoned, to the sorrows of Nature, without the Comforts of thy Spirit, for that's the malediction of Jews and Infidels. I don't desire the fullness of Consolation without any Suffering, for that's the Life of Glory; neither do I desire to be in a fullness of Evils without Comfort, this is the State of Unbelievers But I desire, Lord, to feel the sadness of Nature for my Sins, and the Comforts of thy Spirit by thy Grace, for that's the true State of Christianity. Let me feel Sadness and Comfort both together, that I may at length come to that happy State of being filled with thy Consolations without any Grief. For, Lord, thou didst let the World langush without Consolation, before the coming of thy Only Son; now thou comfortest and soften'st the Sufferings of thy Children by the Grace of thy Beloved Son; and thou wilt fill with perfect happiness thy Saints in the participation of his Glory: These are the admirable steps, by which thou furnishest thy Works: Thou hast drawn me out of the First, make me pass through the Second, that so I may arrive at length at the Third, in which I may praise thee for ever. Lord, it is what I hearty beg of thee.   

XI.  
SUffer me not, O Lord, to be in that distance from thee, as to consider only my Sufferings, without rejoicing to suffer both in Soul and Body. 'tis a confusion to me to think that whilst thou didst sweat Blood to expiate my Offences, I should be bent on nothing but Quiet and Ease 'tis a greater reproach to me, that having renounced the World solemnly in the face of the Church, and believed. that thou becamest a Sacrifice for my Salvation; that the Pleasures and Sins of the World were the only subject of thy Sufferings; that the World itself was thy Executioner, that persecuted and crucified Thee: and yet, notwithstanding the Faith of these Truths: that I have all my life been fond of this same World, and indulged myself in these same Sins and Pleasures. Have not I in this embraced and cherished the murderer of my Father, the murderer of my God and Redeemer, that gave himself to Death to purchase Life for me, the bore in his Body the punishment due to my Sins? It is just, Lord, and I give thee thanks, that thou hast put a stop to such sinful Delights, wherein I restend under the shadow of Death.   

XII.  
TAke therefore from me, Lord, the sorrow, which Self-love might give me for my own Sufferings? But be pleased to cast me into that sorrow, which is comfortable to thine; let my Sufferings in some measure pacify thy Anger: make them the occasion of my Conversion and Salvation. Let me not henceforth desire health nor life, but that I may employ and end them for thee and in thee. I dont ask Health nor Sickness, nor Life nor Death, but that thou wouldst dispose of my Health and Sickness, of my Life and Death, for thy Glory and my Salvation. Thou only know'st what is expedient for me; thou art the absolute disposer of all things; do what seems good in thy Sight. Give to me, or take away from me, as thou pleasest; but comform my Will to thine, that in an humble Submission and holy Confidence, I may prepare myself to receive the Decrees of thy Providence, and equally adore all things that proceed from thee.   

XIII.  
GRant, O my God, that in a constant Uniformity of Mind, I may receive all sorts of Events, because I don't know what to ask or desire, one thing more than another, without a kind of Presumption, and being answerable for the Consequences, which thy Wisdom has justly hide from me. Lord, I know but one thing; That 'tis good to Serve thee, and ill to Offend thee; beyond this, I dont know; which is worst or best in any thing. I can't tell which is best for me, Health or Sickness, Riches, or Poverty, or any thing else in the World: These things neither Men nor Angels can discern, being all hide in the Secrets of thy Providence, which I humbly adore, but must not presume to search into.   

XIV.  
GRant therefore, Lord, that such as I am, I may comform myself to thy holy Will; and that being Sick as I am, I may glorify thee in my Sufferings: Without them I cannot attain to Glory; for thou thyself, my Blessed Saviour, wouldst not choose any other way. It was by the marks of thy Sufferings thou wast known to thy Disciples; and 'tis by Sufferings thou also know'st those, who are thy Disciples: aclowledge me therefore, I beseech thee, in the Pains I suffer, both in Body rnd Mind, for the Offences I have committed And because nothing is well-pleasing to God, but what is offered up by Thee, comform my Will to thy Will, and my Sufferings to those which thou hast suffered; grant that mine may become thine; unite me to thee, fill me with thyself and thy Holy Spirit. Enter into my Heart and Soul, to bring thither my Sufferings, and to continue to maintain in me, what is yet behind of thy Passion, which thou fulfillest in thy Members, until the full Consummation of thy Body; that so being filled with thee, it may be no longer I that Live and Suffer, but thou in me, O my Blessed Redeemer; and that so, having some little part of thy Sufferings, thou mayst fill me entirely with that Glory, to which they brought thee, and in which thou livest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, World without end. Amen, Amen.    

prayers to be said by such as assist the Sick Person.  

LOrd, look on thy Servant with the Eyes of Compassion, and enable him, by thy Grace, to bear whatever thou art pleased to lay on him. He acknowledges in thy Presence, his great Weakness, and that of himself he is able to do nothing: He therefore with all sincerity, addresses himself to thee, that being assisted with thy Heavenly Grace, he may be preserved from all the dangers of his own Infirmity. Lord, have regard to thy Servant, who calls upon thee in the day of Tribulation, and let him not be confounded, who desires to put his whole Trust in thee. Give him patience in his Sickness, with which thou art pleased to visit him, that he may receive it with all due submission from thy Fatherly Hand; that he may accept it as the punishment of his past Sins, and not add to the number of them by Murmuring and Impatience.  
Thou know'st, Lord, how frail this poor piece of day is, and how little able it is to bear its present Affliction: It can Sigh and Groan, and complain and be uneasy, it can offend thee by its Fretfulness and Impatience; but to bear it with a true Christian Submission, it cannot come to the least degree of this, but by the assistance of thy Grace. Help therefore, I beseech thee, this thy Servant, who seeks to thee for help; look upon the Desires of his Heart, and leave him not to himself who seeks relief from thee. Despise not the Sighs of the Afflicted, but succour him according to his Necessities: Give him inward strength, whereby to bear all the pains and inconveniencies of his Distemper; give him true Humility to bend under thy Correction; give him a perfect conformity to thy Heavenly Will, that all his Sufferings may tend to thy Glory and his own Salvation.   

BEhold, thy Servant now acknowledges, that thou art Lord of all; that thou art infinitely Just, and that thy Will is adorable in whatever thou appointest: He calls in question nothing that thou dost, but confesses, he deserves all this, and even more than thou now layest upon him; he knows 'tis his duty to submit and accept the Chastisements, with which thou art pleased to visit him; but Lord, thou know'st too the frailty of our Nature, and how uncapable it is to bear Sickness and Pain, except thou art pleased to strengthen it with thy Grace. Stengthen therefore, I beseech thee, this thy Servant, and let thy heavenly Comforts accompany thy Chastisements; sweeten his Pains with the visits of thy Grace, and let thy Mercy come with thy Justice; leave him not to his own Weakness, but be thou his support, that so thou mayst be glorified, and he find benefit in all he suffers.   

LOrd, thou hast often promised to help thy Servants, that call upon thee in the day of Affliction: Thou hast promised to heal that which is wounded, to raise up that which is dejected, and strengthen, that which is weak; Thou hast promised, that none shall be abandoned, that put their trust in thee: We now challenge thee of thy Promises, in behalf of this thy Servant; for we know thou art faithful to them: Behold then, we present before the Eyes of thy Mercy, this our Brother, who being sick, wounded, dejected, and oppressed both in Soul and Body, stands in need of thy help; he calls upon thee for it, and we join with him, in soliciting thy Goodness to come in to his assistance. Stretch forth thy hand and help him, let thy heavenly Power defend him, thy Goodness comfort him and thy Mercy pardon him. show thyself a tender Father, and have Compassion on his Infirmities.   

LOrd, chastise not thy Servant in thy Anger, but in thy Mercy forgive him: He acknowledges himself unworthy of all thy Favours; but because thou lovest to do good, and canst not reject the Sighs of those that sincerely seek thee, he has still a great Confidence in thee and assurance of thy help. He has nothing to fear but his own Sins, and 'tis for pardon of these he now calls upon thy Mercy. Grant him, Lord, a true Sense of all his Iniquities, by which he has offended thee, his loving Father and his God: show him the foulness of them, and how displeasing they have been in thy Sight: Teach him now sincerely to detest them and let an unseigned sorrow, the effect of thy Grace, so change his Heart, that his Soul being purified from all that Corruption, his Sins may be no longer a bar to thy Blessings: Create in him, Lord, a clean Heart, and renew a right Spirit within his Bowels.   

LEt thy Grace, O Lord, work his Soul into a holy disposition, such as may render him acceptable in thy sight. We know not what thou hast appointed for him, whether Life or Death: We beseech thee to restore his health, if it be thy holy Will; give a Blessing to the Remedies he takes, and be thou the Director to those, who prescribe them: without thee nothing can have its desired effect, and with thy Blessing, nothing can miscarry: Life and Health are thy Gifts; behold our Confidence is in thee; say but the word, and he shall be whole; Command, and all Creatures shall obey thee. Grant the Petition, we now offer thee in behalf of this thy Servant, and restore him to his former State, that by a new Life he may make reparation for all past abuses of his Time and Health; be a Comfort to his Friends, and in the Congregation of the Faithful give Thanks for the Blessings received from thy hands.   

BUt if in thy Providence thou hast otherwise appointed it, fit him, we beseech thee, for thy appointments: Make him sensible of his Condition, and mercifully deliver him from all the delusions of vain and deceitful Hopes: Take from him all solicitude and Disquiets for the things of this World; permit not these lesser concerns to be a hindrance to the greater, so as to lose the opportunity thou givest him, of preparing for Eternity. Let thy Grace now flow in upon him, and bring with it all those dispositions which are necessary for his State; remove all Obstinacy and Blindness, all evil Passion and Self-love; destroy all sinful Habits, and possess his Heart with true Charity both towards Thee and his Neighbour. sand thy holy Angels to watch over him, protect him under the shadow of thy Wings; be thou his Guard against all. Enemies, and mercifully preserve him from Presumption and Despair.   

LOrd turn not away thy face from thy Servant, but help him now in the time of distress; He has a great Work to do, who is to appear before thee: For how can Dust and Ashes; how can Misery and Sin stand in thy Presence? 'tis a difficult task for a poor Soul to be taken out of this World, from the midst of its Friends and Acquaintance, and to be translated to an unknown region of Spirits, there to give an account to an all-seeing Judge of his whole Life, both Thoughts, Words and Actions. O God, if thou regardest our Iniquities, who can stand before thee? And yet this must be; but then it must be thy Work, O Lord; to prepare a Soul for this great appearance. show this Mercy to thy Servant, and if now thou art pleased to call him, let him not go hence unprepared. Give him true Repentance of all his Sins, visit him with heavenly Comforts and by the power of Grace fix his heart entirely on thee.  
O God how poor and miserable is Man: How little can he do in the best of his strength! Much less can he do, when disabled by Sickness, disordered with pains and perplexed with the uncertainty of his future State. This is a time, in which he most stands in need of thy help, and if thou forsakest him, he must certainly perish. Come in therefore now, we beseech thee, to the assistance of thy Servant, he lays open his misery before thee, he confesses both his unworthiness and weakness, and begs thee to stretch forth to him thy helping hand. Is not he a Creature, whom thou hast made? Thou hast redeemed him with the Blood of thy only Son; thou hast encompassed hlm with many Blessings: Thy past Mercies encourage him to put his trust in thee: Leave him not therefore now in the time of his. Weakness, but as a loving farther and powerful Protector succour him in all his wants.  
And thou, Lord Jesus, who didst come into this World, to call Sinners to Repentance and to look for the lost Sheep, admit the Petition of thy Servant, who seeks to thee for help; undertake his Cause, and be thou his Advocate to the Eternal Father. Thou didst never, while on Earth, stop thy Ears against the Crys of the Miserable, and thou hast commanded all that labour and are heavy-loaden to come to thee for help and refreshment. Look therefore on thy Servant; he confesses himself a lost Sheep, who for many Years has gone astray, he labours under the burden of his Sins, and has many Miseries, whereon to Exercise thy Charity. Receive him now into thy Protection, and let him not perish, who has been redeemed by thy precious Blood. O Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort, have Mercy on thy Servant and support him with heavenly Comforts, direct his Thoughts and Heart to thee, and let no other Power take him out of thy hands.    

Other Prayers to be said by the sick Person, or in his Name.  

LOrd, thou art pleased to visit me with Sickness, visit me likewise with thy Grace, and give me Patience in all I am to suffer, that I may not increase the number of my Sins by my uneasy and rebellious temper, but by a peaceable submission to thy Chastisements, make some atonement for the Sins I have already committed. Lord, 'tis this I sincerely desire to do; but when I consider by great weakness and how subject I am to murmur at thy Correction, I see no hopes in myself, but all my Trust is in thee. Help me therefore according to thy great Mercy, and have compassion on me a miserable and sinful Creature, unworthy, I confess, of all thy Favours: But, Lord, I know thy Goodness is Infinite, and thou wilt not despise the Crys of those, who call upon thee in their Affliction. Look on this miserable Creature and have compassion on me.   

TEach me, O Lord, now to do thy Will, and give me a Heart to comply with all thy appointments. Self-love is unwilling to bend, and esteems itself unhappy in whatever it suffers: This is the Corruption of my Nature; but, Lord, I know 'tis all subject to thee, and thy Grace is able to remove these difficulties. Pour forth thy Grace therefore upon me at present, soften my rebellious Heart, and force it to a compliance to thy holy Will. 'tis but just, that a Creature should submit to its God: And whom should I obey, but my Lord and Redeemer? Thou know'st what is best for me; 'tis now thy Will, I should be sick; nothing of this happens to me, but by thy Order; thy hand is in all the Pain and Uneasiness I feel, Lord, behold, I now bow down in Spirit before thee, I accept of thy appointments; I am in thy hands; do with me as shall seem good in thy Eyes: Lord, thy Will be done.   

'tis reasonable I should submit to thee, whilst I cannot but aclowledge even Mercy in thy Correction, and discover the effects of thy Goodness in all thy Providence. For having abused the Blessing of Heath, as I have done, and made it almost wholly serviceable to Self-love, Pride and this World, 'tis an effect of thy Goodness now to visit me with Sickness, so to call my Thoughts home to thee and to the consideration of a better World, for which I was Created. O God, grant me now Grace I may make a true use of this Mercy and improve it wholly to that end, for which thou hast designed it. Give me Grace to aclowledge my Sickness to be the just punishment of my Sins: Let my Sickness teach me to know myself and thee, to know my own Misery and thy Power and Goodness: Let me now profoundly humble myself under thy hands and find Mercy under thy Fatherly Correction.   

O God, when I look back on my past Life and consider my manifold Iniquities, by which I have provoked thy Justice, I cannot but admire and praise thy Goodness, which has waited for me so long. How many have been cut off in the midst of their Sins, and perished everlastingly, without time to consider their Misery and repent! And why have not I been of that unhappy number! Lord, 'tis thy Mercy has spared me and given me now this opportunity of making my Peace with thee. Blessed be thy Name, O Jesus, for this Goodness to thy unworthy Servant; Blessed be thy Name for ever. Ear be it therefore from me to complain of any Uneasiness or Pain, whilst there is so much Mercy in them. Shall I complain of that, which is sent to draw me out of the way to Hell? Shall I complain of that, which is designed to separate me from the Mass of the damned? Lord, I have more reason to rejoice and thank thee for it.   

NAture, I confess, is unwilling to suffer, but I conclude my present Affliction to be most reasonable and just, especially when I reflect, that having been created to love and serve thee, I have hitherto made it my chief business to love and serve myself; my whole Life has been a Life of continual Injustice, whilst knowing myself to be a great Sinner, and that Self-denial and Punishment was due to my Offences, I have shut my Eyes against this Justice, and instead of Punshing, as I deserved, have indulged and favoured myself in all things: This I have all along sought in my Eating, Drinking and Clothing, and all other ways, throughout the whole course of my Life: All my design has been to make much of an Offender and traitor: I see now, I have been unjust in all I have done; 'tis but just therefore thou shouldst punish, whom I have spared so long.   

I Now offer myself to thy Scourge; all that is within me, has been displeasing to thee; let all now suffer, as thou shalt think fit; I can call nothing in question, that thou dost, 'tis all Just and Holy. But, Lord, thou know'st my weakness, and how little my Patience is: Chastise me not therefore in thy Anger, I beseech thee, nor rebuk me in thy Wrath; but as I aclowledge the Justice of my Suffering, so give me Grace to bear it: Give me a submissive Heart, that I may cheerfully comform my Will to thine; that having ungratefully abused thy Blessings, I may now adore and praise thee in my Affliction. Remember me, Lord, in all my weakness, and let thy heavenly Comforts support me, tho unworthy of all thy Favours. My trust is in thee, O God; come now to my help and visit my afflicted Soul; stand by me and be to me a merciful Protector.   

I Am sensible, how apt I am to forget, from whose hand my present Sickness comes, as likewise the justice of it, and therefore often fall into Impatience and Dejection, and am uneasy to those about me. But, Lord, I hope, thou, who know'st my weakness, wilt have compassion on me and forgive these my Sins. I sincerely desire to amend these failings, and hearty beseech thee to increase thy Grace in my Soul, whereby I may obtain still greater degrees of Patience and a more perfect submission to thy Holy Will. I am frail and weak, O God, help me: I am a poor and miserable sinner O God, have compassion on me. Thou delightest in doing good and relieving the Afflicted: See here, Lord, thy poor Creature, subject to many Miseries, whereon to Exercise thy Charity; shut not thy Bowels against me, but stretch forth thy hand and help me, that I may for ever bless thy Name.   

I Confess, Lord, I am too apt to be disturbed, and my Heart is distracted with many unprofitable thoughts; the concerns of this World press upon me; fears of Death disquiet me; and every thing hinders me from composing my Soul in a peaceable submission to thy blessed Will: Say the word; Lord, and command a Peace within me: Remove all interior disturbance, suppress all immoderate solicitude and Fears, that I may apply my Soul entirely to my present business, in bearing my Sickness with Patience and endeavouring to put my Soul in order for whatever thou hast appointed for me. Lord, this must be thy work, for whatever I propose, I see I can do nothing of myself Teach me now to make a right use of my Infirmity, direct my Thoughts and my Heart to do thy Will: Permit me not to lose this opportunity, lest in neglecting this I lose all.   

LOrd, I commit myself entirely into thy hands, desiring thy Will to be fulfilled in me, and I beseech thee, so strengthen me by thy Grace, that I may not only in words, but effectually and with true conformity, embrace whatever thou appointest for me. I desire Health and Ease, but can't tell whether these are best for me: Thou know'st it, O Lord, and therefore suspending my own desires, I leave myself to thy holy disposition, do with me as thou pleasest. Order every thing belonging to me, as thou pleasest. But remember, I beseech thee, my Weakness, and leave me not to myself. I am nothing but Misery and Sin; I find Impatience and Rebellion in me, but as for a peaceable submission and resignation of Mind, these are the Gifts, and must be the effects of thy Gaace: Pour forth this Grace plentifully upon me, and teach me to do thy Will.  
Thou, O Lord Jesus, who hast suffered so much, not only for my Redemption, but likewise for my Example, teach me now to follow thy Sacred Steps: Obtain for me an humble and submissive Heart, that whatever I am to suffer, I may suffer it in union with thee, with Patience and true conformity to thy Father's Will; and since thou hast experienced the Infirmity of our Nature, and what difficulty it has in suffering; be now mindful of this extreme Poverty and Weakness in me. Thou hadst an Angel sent to comfort thee in thy Anguish; if this was necessary for thee, how much more for me, a poor miserable and unhappy Sinner. What can I do, if left to myself? Lord, forsake me not in this day of trouble, but sand thy holy Angels to Direct Support and Comfort me: Come thou thyself and stand by me; for thou art the only Comforter in the time of Distress.    

A LITANY for the Sick.  
LOrd, have Mercy on us.  
Christ have Mercy on us.  
Lord, have Mercy on us.  
God the father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.  
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have mercy on us.  
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.  
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.  
O God, who destroying the Egyptians, didst save the Israelites, Have Mercy on thy Servant.  
O God, who didst heal the wounded Israelites, by looking on the Brazen Serpent, Have Mercy on thy Servant.  
O God, who having Compassion on thy People, dist'st command the destroying Angel to sheathe his Sword, Have Mercy, &c.  
O God, who by the Prophet Elisha, didst heal Naaman of his leprosy, Have Mercy, &c.  
O God, who by the Prayers of Elias, didst raise the dead Child to Life, Have Mercy, &c.  
O God, who didst hear the Prayers of King Hezechias, and delivered him from Sickness, Have Mercy, &c.  
O God, who didst exercise Job with many Trials, and strengthen him with wonderful Patience, Have Mercy, &c.  
O God, who striking Toby with Blindness, for an example of Patience, didst wonderfully heal him, Have, &c.  
O Jesus, who didst heal the Ruler's Son, sick at Capernaum; Have, &c.  
O Jesus, who by thy Word, didst cure the Man that had been Diseased, eight and thirty Years, Have, &c.  
O Jesus, who didst restore to health Peter's Mother-in-law sick of a violent Fever, Have Mercy, &c.  
O Jesus, who even absent, didst raise up the Cennturian's Servant, Have, &c.  
O Jesus, who didst give remedy to the Deaf, the Dum and the Blind, who didst deliver those who were possessed with Devils, and cured all Diseases, Have Mercy, &c:  
O Jesus, who didst restore Lazarus to Life and the Widow's Son, Have, &c. O Jesus, who in thy Agony, didst sweat Blood in the Garden of Gethsemani, Have Mercy, &c.  
O Jesus, who being to drink the Cup of the bitter Passion, didst submit thy Will to thy Father's, Have, &c. O Jesus, who for us, becamest obedient to Death, even the death of the across, Have Mercy, &c.  
O Jesus, who Expiring, didst commend thy Spirit into the hands of thy Eternal Father, Have Mercy, &c.  
O Jesus, who wast wounded for our Iniquities, and bruised for our Transgressions, that by thy Suffering we might be healed, Have Mercy, &c.  
O Jesus, who at the Right hand of the Father, art become an Advocate for Sinners, Have Mercy, &c.  
w Jesus, who art to come to Judge the Quick and the Dead, Have, &c.  
O Jesus, be Merciful; Spare thy Servant, O Lord.  
From all Murmuring and Impatience, Deliver thy Servant, O Lord.  
From all Dejection and Despair, Deliver thy Servant, O Lord.  
From all Temptations, Deliver, &c.  
From all Forgetfulness of thee, and from all unprofitable solicitude, Deliver, &c.  
From sudden and unprovided Death, Deliver, &c.  
By thy holy Incarnation, Deliver, &c.  
By that Love, with which thou didst undertake to be our Redeemer, Deliver, &c.  
By that anguish of Spirit, which seized thee in the Garden, and by all the Torments in thy Passion, Deliver, &c.  
We Sinners, We beseech thee, Hear us.  
That not having here a permanent City, thy Servant may more earnestly look for that to come. We beseech thee, hear us.  
That this momentary and light Tribulation, may work in him an eternal weight of Glory, We beseech thee, &c.  
That he may not despise the Chastisements of our Lord, nor be tired with his Correction, We beseech thee, &c.  
That he may receive all that comes from the hand of God, and have patience in pain, We beseech thee, &c.  
That in Sickness and Affliction, no foolish word may come out of his Mouth. We beseech thee, &c.  
That as he has received good things from the hand of our Lord, so he may with submission receive evil. We beseech thee, &c.  
That in proportion to his Trouble, the divine Comforts may now refresh his Soul. We beseech thee, &c.  
That as the Passion of Christ abounds in him, so thy Consolation through Christ, may abound in him. We beseech thee, &c.  
That looking on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of his Faith, who for the Joy set before him, endured the across, he may with Patience run the race set before him. We beseech thee, &c.  
That Christ having suffered for him, he may be armed with the same mind. We beseech thee, &c.  
That he may not lose this acceptable time, nor neglect this day of Salvation. We beseech thee, &c.  
That he may desire to be dissolved and be with Christ. We beseech thee, &c.  
That his Distemper and the pains he suffers, may co-operate to his good. We beseech thee, &c.  
That whether he lives, he may live to our Lord, or whether he dies, he may die to our Lord We beseech thee, &c.  
That neither Life nor Death, things present nor to come, nor any Creature, may separate him from Christ We beseech thee, &c.  
That his life may be for Christ, and his death be Gain We beseech thee, &c.  
That if he walks in the shadow of Death, he may fear no Evils, because thou art with him. We beseech thee, &c.  
That thou wouldst enlighten his Eyes, that he sleep not in Death, and that the Enemy may not prevail against him. We beseech thee, &c.  
That if he dies, thou wilt comfort him with the Promise made to the good Thief, in the expectation of thy Kingdom. We beseech thee, &c.  
That thou wilt not enter into judgement with thy Servant, for that no one living can be Justified in thy Sight. We beseech thee, &c.  
That thou wilt not deal with him according to his Sins, nor judge him according to his Iniquities. We beseech thee, &c.  
That this House of day being dissolved, he may be received into thy heavenly Tabernacle not made with hands. We beseech thee, &c.  
That he may dwell in the House of our Lord for ever. We beseech thee, &c.  
Lamb of God, that takest away the Sins of the World. Spare thy Servant.  
Lamb of God, that takest away the Sins of the World. Hear thy Servant.  
Lamb of God, that takest away the Sins of the World. Have Mercy on thy Servant.   

Let us Pray.  
LOrd Jesus Christ, I beseech thee, by that love, by which thou didst take upon thee all our Infirmities, that with Patience, this thy Servant may bear his present Sickness, and suffer all the trouble of it, as long as thou shalt please, with a perfect resignation to thy blessed Will; that his Will being united to thine, he may desire nothing, but that thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.   

In time of Pain.  
HAve Compassion on thy Servant, O Lord, and give him Patience in his Suffering; let thy Grace support him, that he offend thee not in this time of Trial; Remove, we beseech thee, his pain, if it be thy blessed Will; fail not at least to be his Comfort, if thou art still pleased to afflict him.  
Consider his weakness, and lay no more upon him, than he can bear: But what, Lord, can he bear, except thou art pleased to help him? Help him, we beseech thee, and let now thy poor Servant, find the comforts of thy Grace, that being delivered from all Impatience, he may in true Submission glorify thy Name.  
Grant him true conformity of heart, that he may comply with thy Appointments; that he may bow down under thy hand, that he may aclowledge the Justice of thy Conection: But Lord, what can he do of all this, if thy heavenly Comforts do not strengthen him in his Pain, and support Nature in all its weakness!  
Strengthen him, we beseech thee, to go through whatever thou hast appointed for him; stand by him, and be his powerful helper; forsake him not in the day of Affliction. Thou now leadest him in the way of the across, teach him to bear his across with Humility and Patience, that he may be a true Follower of his blessed Redeemer.  
Lord Jesus, hast not thou invited all those that Labour and are heavy Loaden, to come to thee for refreshment? Behold now thy Servant, Afflicted and oppressed, comes to thee for help; stretch forth thy hand and help him; either lighten his burden or increase his Patience. Relieve him we beseech thee; Thou who art infinite in Mercy, show Mercy on him.  
Thou, who hast comforted the Martyrs in their Torments, and refreshed them with Heavenly sweetness; on the Rack and the Fire; renew now thy ancient Mercies, and bring relief to thy Servant; Temper the Cup thou now givest him to drink, with the comforts of thy Grace, that with the patience of the Martyrs, he may submit and suffer as a Christian.  
Give him a lively sense of all he suffers coming from thy holy hand, that he may suffer with the perfect subjection of a Creature to his Lord and Creator: Give him a lively sense of his past Sins, that he may aclowledge all he suffers, to be a just Chasetisement: Give him a lively Faith of future happiness, that he may be supported by Hope.  
Lord, look upon thy Servant with Compassion, and have Mercy on him; moderate his Pains, and succour him in his Trouble; defend him against all Temptations, and permit not the Enemy to take any advantage of him in this time of Affliction. Lord, thou know'st all his Weakness and his present Danger, have Mercy on him.  
Lord, quiken his Spirit, whilst thou afflict'st his Body; and since thou permittest all for his good, teach him to make a good use of his Suffering; teach him to be Humble and Patient, teach him to submit. Lord help thy Servant in his Misery, and give him Grace so to bear it, that in Patience he may possess his Soul and obtain Pardon of all his Sins.   

Other thoughts to be suggested in violence of Pain.  
LOrd, I am an unworthy Sinner, accept of what I now suffer, in pardon of my Sins.  
I have often offended against thee; 'tis but Just, I shoulst suffer; Lord, thou art Just in all thy ways.  
The Lord his given me health and strength; the Lord has taken it away.  
As it has pleased our Lord, so it is done; blessed be the Name of our Lord.  
I have deserved yet greater Evils, than what I now suffer; thou art merciful to me even in thy Punishments.  
How many are now suffering in Hell for Sins less than mine. My pains are nothing in comparison of theirs.  
Lord, I am content to suffer here; but spare me hereafter.  
How many cruel Torments didst thou suffer for my Sins; and can I expect to live without suffering?  
Thou offered'st thyself a Sacrifice for me: Lord, I now offer myself a Sacrifice to thee.  
If Innocence was so severely treated for our Transgressions; what must the Sinner expect?  
I have hitherto followed my own ways; teach me now, Lord, to walk in thine.  
What a Chirstian am I, if I refuse to follow my Leader? Thou carried'st thy across, and must not I carry mine?  
How am I thy Creature, if I do not submit to thee? How can I call thee, Lord, if I abbey not thy Will?  
There's nothing of this is fallen upon me, but by thy appointment; Lord, thy Will be done.  
Lord, look on this poor piece of day, and help me in my distress.  
Thou hast promised to relieve those that call upon thee in Tribulation; O God, make hast to help me.  
Thou hast promised, that none shall be confounded, who put their trust in thee. O Lord, in thee I hope, let me not be confounded.  
O God, be a Comfort to me, grant me Patience to suffer; grant me, true submission to thy blessed Will.  
This is now the day of battle, I am called forth to Fight; help me, O Lord, that I be not overcome.  
Have not I undertaken to be thy Soldier? And must I not suffer in thy Cause?  
How much have the Martyrs suffered? In their greatest Torments they have blessed thy Name.  
Can I alone expect to be free from suffering? Am I better than all that have gone before me?  
Have not I enjoyed long Peace and Health, while others, far better than me, have been in great misery?  
Is not this Life a time of Trial; and must not I have my Trials too?  
Can I expect a Crown without Victory; and how can I obtain a Victory without Fighting?  
Where is my Humility, if I submit not to present Troubles? Where is my Patience, if I bear them not?  
Where is my Courage, if I lie down and yield in time of Trial?  
Now is the time to show myself a Christian: What have all my Professions been, if now I rebel, when thou touchest me?  
If I deserve thy Correction, O God, why should I not submit to it?  
But chastise me not, O Lord, in thy Anger, nor rebuk me in thy Wrath.  
Consider my weakness, I beseech thee, and have compassion on me, tho unworthy of all thy Favours.  
Thou know'st, I am but Dust and Ashes; of myself I can do nothing; support me by thy Grace.  
Forsake me not in my distress; be to me a God and Protector.  
What am I, but a poor, miserable Worm? show not thy Anger against me.  
I have no help but in thee; thou art my Sanctuary and my Refuge.  
Dispile not the Crys of the miserable, but shelter me under the shadow of thy Wings.  
Take from me all Murmuring and Impatience, suppress all the Corruption of Nature.  
Give me now a willing Heart to drink of the Cup, thou hast put into my hand.  
Give me patience to go under the across, which thou layest upon me.  
I know, 'tis by many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  
I know, those, who will be glorified with Jesus, must suffer with Jesus.  
Teach me now so to bear my present Sufferings, that they may be serviceable for my last End.  
All that I can suffer here must have an end; this Life is short, and so are all the Sufferings of it.  
The next Life is Everlasting: O, that I could so bear my present Pain, that by my Patience in this, I might escape that which is Eternal.  
If I think these passing Pains so intolerable; what must those of Hell be? O God; these and these again, rather than to be cast into Hell.  
O God, thou art witness of what I suffer, and thou hast prepared a Crown for those that suffer with Patience; give me Grace to make use of this opportunity thou puttest into my hands, that the Faith of those everlasting Goods to come, may suppress all the Corruption of Nature, and keep my Soul in a due Submission to thy Holy Will. Let my Heart be so possessed with the desire of Glory, as to embrace all that willingly, which may be serviceable to that end, and never to think myself unhappy, as long as I am in the way to Happiness. Welcome those Pains, whose Fruit is everlasting Rest.   

Acts of Repentance, which may be a preparation for Confession.  

I.  
MY Lord and my God, I am a most vile Sinner and unworthy to appear before thee; but have Mercy on me and Save me.  
O God, my chiefest Good, how far have I gone from thee by my Sins; how have I dwelled at a distance from thee, in the region of Misery, where I had quiter lost myself!  
Most loving Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy Child; make me as one of thy Servants, and let me now at lest, for every moment of my Life, be faithful to thee.  
It grives me, O God, that I have sinned against thee; I am hearty sorry for the many times I have transgressed thy Law: But wash me now I beseech thee, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin.  
I detest now my sins, O Lord, and abhor all my wickedness, I confess my Ingratitude, and seek refuge in thy Mercy.  
Wash me, Dear Jesu, with thy Blood, and purify my Heart from all the filth of Sin; heal my Soul, that lies maimed and wounded, and despise me not, tho most unworthy.  
I have wandered like a Sheep, that's gone astray; but I hear now thy sweet voice thus crying after me; thou hast gone after many lovers; but return now to me, and I will receive he yet again.  
My Soul is full of anguish and confusion, at the thoughts of my manifold Sins, whereby I have offended thee, my merciful Redeemer, whereby I have made myself a Slave to Hell, and provoked thy anger against me.  
O, that I had never transgressed thy Commandments, nor fallen into so great misery! O, that I had never find Happy those Souls, who have prefery'd their Innocence.  
Look on me however, O Lord, with the Eyes of Mercy, and blot out all my Sins; forgive me what is past, and through the Bowels of thy infinite Goodness, secure me by thy most efficacious Grace, against all my fallings for the time I have yet to come.  
Alas! How slothful and careless have I hitherto been! I have deferred my Repentance, rejected thy helps, contemned thy Visits, been deaf to thy Calls: And now, Lord, what shall I do in these streights? It grives me, that I have offended thee; Have mercy on me.  
Lord be merciful to me a Sinner: Jesu Son of the living God; have Mercy on me.  
Sovereign Lord of my Life, behold, thou seest there's nothing good in me, nor health in my Soul: I am miserable and blind, and without thee, O God, I can do nothing.   

II.  
My Sins exceed in number, the Sands of the Sea, and I am most unworthy, I confess, O Lord, of all thy Mercies; but thy Goodness however is infinite and above all my offences.  
Thou hast said, Lord, there is joy in Heaven for one Sinner that does Penance: Give me now Grace truly to repent, and let Heaven rejoice in my Amendment.  
It is not thou, my God, who wilt not the death of a Sinner, but that he be converted and live? Grant me then now that Spiritual Life, which I want; for behold, O my Lord, I sincerely desire to live.  
Thou cam'st, my dear Redeemer, not to call the Just, but Sinners to Repentance: Behold here a miserable Sinner before thee; draw me now, I beseech thee, most powerfully to thyself.  
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great Mercy, and according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Iniquity.  
Sprinkle me with thy Blood, O Jesus, and I shall be made whiter than Snow.  
Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right Spirit within my bowels.  
Dear Redeemer of my Soul, how long turnest thou thy Face away from me, and bringest no relief to my Sorrows.  
Behold the Prodigal Child, nay worse than the Prodigal: Have compassion on me, most loving Fathers cloth me with thy Grace, and receive me into the Arms of thy Mercy.  
Let not thy Blood be spilled in vain for me, my dear Redeemer, but now let it bring forth in me the fruit of a sincere Repentance, and open me a way to life everlasting.  
Thy Goodness, I confess, is great O Lord, who hast so long spared this unworthy sinner, and with so much Patience waited for his amendment.  
What return shall I make for this thy infinite Mercy; but ask this one Mercy to be added to the rest; that now from this moment I may never offend thee more!  
This one thing, I earnestly beg of thee; hear me Lord, I beseech thee; may I now, for what remains of my Life, be entirely thine  
Come, Lord, make hast into my heart, and cast out from thence whatever, thou know'st, profanes or defiles that thy Temple.  
Destroy and root out all that is displeasing to thee, and lay in me the foundation of a new Life, either for this World or that to come.  
I confess, I have fined; but if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole Heal thou my Soul, most loving Father, heal my Soul.    

Acts of Contrition, and of the Love of God above all things.  

UNhappy Sinner I am, who have often had more regard to Vanity and Folly, than to the infinite Goodness and Majesty of thee, my God. Wo to me, who being, on so many Titles, bound with all my Strength, to love, honour and obey thee, I have neglected my duty and choose rather to offend and break thy Commandments. Most loving Father, who hast prevented me with blessings of sweetness; who hast loved me, most unworthy of all thy Favours; what am I, after all, but a wretched and ungrateful Sinner, who have not loved, but most grievously offended such a Father, such a Benefactor! Lord Jesus, thou hast  shed thy Blood, for to cleanse and purify my Soul from the filth of so many Sins; and yet I have still again repeated my Crimes and defill'd that rob of Innocence thou purchasd'st for me. Wo again to me, who have made such vile returns, for thy infinite Charity and Blessings bestowed on me.  
What shall I do, miserable Sinner that I am? Whether shall I flee, but to thee my Lord, whom I have offended? Thou wilt not despise a contrite and humble heart. Behold then, my God, I here retract all I have hitherto done against thee. I am truly sorry for the many times I have slighted so great Goodness: My Sins now displease me, because they have been displeasing to thee: I am troubled for my offences; because they have been injurious to thee my God, whom I ought to have loved above all things. O, that I had never sinned, never committed any offence against thee. But still thou commandest me to have a confidence in thy Mercy, because thy Goodness far exceeds all my Wickedness. Have mercy therefore on me, tho a wretched and unworthy Sinner; accept of the Death and Passion of thy Only Son in satisfaction for my offences; and have compassion on one, that puts his trust and confidence in thee. Wash me yet more from my Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin; for I know my iniquity and my Sin is always against me. To thee only have I sinned and done Evil in thy sight. But turn now away thy Face from my Sins, and blot out all my Iniquities: Oreate in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within my bowels. Cast me not away from thy Face, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy Salvation and confirm me with a perfect Spirit.   

O Great God, I now desire to love thee above all things; I desire to love thee with all my Heart, with all my Soul and with all my Strength. I am hearty sorry, that I have ever departed from thy most holy Will, and offended thee in Thought, Word or dead. But now, tho late, I firmly resolve to use my best endeavours, for the observing thy Law, and through the help of thy Grace, to avoid all Sin. And this for no other motive, than of thy infinite Perfection. of thy Power, thy Wisdom, thy Goodness thy Mercy; that is, for thy own sake, because thou art most worthy of all love, O most Sacred Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, my God, and my all.   

LOrd Jesus Christ, true God and Man, my Creator and Redeemer; behold, 'tis now my great trouble, that I have sinned against thee, because thou art my God, and because I love thee above all things. I now purpose to offend no more, but to avoid every thing, that may be to me an occasion of sin. I design now to confess all my failings, to make restitution of what I owe; and for the love of thee, I here forgive all those, who have injured me, or any ways done me wrong; and I beg of thee, O Lord, to forgive them. And as I now with all humility, ask for pardon of all my sins, so I firmly hope through the Merits of thy Death and Pastion, thou wilt forgive me, and put out of thy sight all the Crimes I have ever committed against thee: I hope likewise, thou wilt assist me now with thy Grace, that, with patience, I may bear all my present troubles, that they may be for the amendment of my life, if thou shalt please to grant it me; or for the purifying my Soul from all guilt, and making it worthy to appear in thy sight, whenever thou shalt please to call me hence.   

I Tremble, my God, at the remembrance of my sins, and am now covered with shane and confusion, while I think of appearing before thee. But have compassion on me, O Lord, and when thou shalt come to Judge, cast me not off amongst the Reprobate. It repents me with all my heart, and I am now grieved, for the many times I have offended against thy infinite Goodness and Majesty. O God of my heart I now love thee with all the affection of my Soul, because thou art infinitely worthy of all Love: I love thee, not for my own sake, but for thee alone, my God, who art infinite in Goodness, in Power and Mercy. To thee I resign my heart; I desire to be united to thee, to Praise thee and glorify thee for ever.   

O Good Jesu, my God; I wish I had ever loved thee, and that at present my Soul were filled with the sincere love of thee. I wish I had never offended thee, and that from this moment I may never offend thee more. But alas! I have gone astray, like the lost Sheep; seek thy Servant, O Lord, the Shepherd of my Soul, look on me with the eyes of Compassion, and have mercy on me. For I confess my sins in thy sight, and am now hearty sorry for all I have ever committed against thee, because they are displeasing to thee, whom I love above all things. I desire now and seriously purpose to amend, for what remains of my life. I here make an Offering of myself to thy Holy Will to do or to suffer whatever thou pleasest, and in the manner thou pleasest. I beg pardon of all my sins, and Grace to presevere to the end; and I hope to obtain this my request, through thee my Jesus and Saviour, who by thy Tears and Suffering, by thy Passion, across and Death, hast been pleased to Redeem me. I flee to thee, my only Hope, I depend on thy Merits, I cast myself at thy Feet, and take shelter in thy Wounds. I beseech thee to supply all my Imperfections by thy infinite Love, consume all my sins in the Fire of thy Charity, and have Compassion on all my failings: Vouchsafe thou, my Creator and Saviour, to take full possession of my heart, be thou my Director and governor; deliver me from all my wonted imperfections and miseries, and unite me perfectly to thy Will, that I may now no more be separated from thee; but that, whether in Health or Sickness, in Pain or Ease, in Life or Death, I may still be entirely subject to thee, bless thee in all thou appointest and give Praise and Glory to thy Name for ever.    

Protestations to be made in time of Sickness, and may serve as a Preparation to Confession.  
I Protest, in the first place, that with all readiness of mind, I accept this sickness from the hand of my Heavenly Father, and it entirely resign myself to his blessed Will, that if he shall please to call me out of this World, the Sentence of death shall be welcome to me; for I desire to have no exceptions against his Will, and confess, that I deserve not only this Sickness and Death, but even Hell itself, the just Punishment of my Offences.  
I believe the Holy catholic Church, and the Faith she delivers: in that Faith I now live, in the same I desire to die: for that end I now repeat the Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, &c. All which Articles I understand in that Sense, in which the catholic Church has always understood them.  
I humbly desire and beg pardon of all the sins I have ever committed against the infinite Majesty of God, against my neighbour or myself, whether in Thought, Word or dead, or by any Omission in the neglect of God's Commandments or Precepts of the Church: of all my known and hidden sins, of the abuse of the Sacraments, of all the sins I have any ways occasioned in others. All these I humbly beseech Almighty God to pardon, by his own infinite Goodness and Mercy, by the Merits of Christ's most bitter Passion and Death, and by the Prayers of the B. V. M. and all the Angels and Saints, who join now with me, and are Petitioners before the Throne of God. From this infinite Treasure of Divine Mercy, I beseech the Heavenly Father to supply all the Defects of my former Confessions, all my defects in making a due Examen, all my want of true Sorrow and Repentance, and of the little Care I have taken to amend my life; and this one thing I most earnestly beg of him, that he will now at least grant me a true and sincere Contrition of all my sins.  
I now from my heart forgive all those who have any ways offended or injured me; I desire Almighty God to pardon them, and grant them the same Blessings I desire for my own Soul. I beg of my Heavenly Father, that he will imprint this deep in my Soul, that not only in words, but with all my heart, I may repeat this Petition; Forgive me my trespasses, as I forgive them that have trespassed against me.  
With all humility I hearty beg pardon of all those to whom I have given any offence, whether by my ill example, by Words or Deeds, or any other way, whether knowingly or unknowingly: and I here offer myself to make the best Satisfaction I am able; and beseech God, that he will now bring into my mind the remembrance of all such as I have any ways hurt or wronged, and give me a sincere desire and full power of making just satisfaction before my death.  
I am wholly uncapable of returning Thanks for all the infinite Blessings the Divine Goodness has bestowed on me; however, at thy feet, O Lord, I here aclowledge, in the best manner I am able, all the favours I have received, and withall the affection of my Soul, return thee thanks. I beg the blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels and Saints in Heaven, with their Praise and Thanksgiving, to supply my defects, and make some recompense for my ingratitude, for which I am hearty sorry, and beg thy pardon. I wish I had the hearts and tongues of all Creatures in the World, that so in some manner I might endeavour to declare thy Praise. All ye Works of our Lord bless our Lord, Praise and magnify him for ever. Give Praise to our Lord in Heaven, glorify his Name all you blessed Spirits above. Bless thy Lord, my Soul, let all that is within thee bless his holy Name. Bless thy Lord, my Soul, and forget not his Mercies. I will Praise our Lord at all times, his Praise shall be ever in my Mouth.  
Moreover I here give Thanks and pray for all my Benefactors, whether as to my Soul or Body; especially those, who have instructed, Corrected or  told me of Faults.  
I protest, that all my Confidence either of living or dying well, is grounded on the infinite Merits of the Passion and Death of my dear Redeemer, and the Blood he  shed for me; this I now offer to the Eternal Father, for the remission of all my sins, and in Thanksgiving for all his Benefits. And I beseech Almighty God, that I may be helped by the Prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my Angel Guardian and all the Saints, that as long as it shall be granted me to live, and most especially at the hour of my death, by their Charity and Assistance, may be preserved in me a firm Faith, and assured Hope, a lively Charity, a true Courage, a profound Humility, an untir'd Patience, and all other virtues, that are necessary for the remainder of my Life, and for the hour of my Departure. And therefore for that time I say now: All you blessed of God, be mindful of me before the Throne of God, and beseech him, through the Death of his only Son, that, whenever my hour comes, I may die in his Grace.  
If God shall so permit, that I be assaulted with Temptations in this my Sickness; or at the time of my departure, I will by no means give admittance or consent to them: and therefore I now at present, for that time declare my abhorrence of all whatever evil thoughts, the Devil shall then suggest to me: for 'tis my sincere desire to be true and faithful to my God, even to the end, and entirely to renounce from this moment, the Devil and all his Works.  
Lastly, I commend my Soul to God my Creator, who made me of nothing: to Christ my Saviour, who redeemed me with his precious Blood; to the Holy Ghost, who Sanctified me in the Water of Baptism. Into thy hands O Lord, I commend my Spirit: Be merciful, O God, to me a sinner.  
I likewise declare, that whenever the time comes, that I shall be labouring in my Agony, and shall be then able to speak no more, that I desire even then to be united to my God in my heart and mind and now, for then, offer to him, my Agony, my Sweats, my Pains and Distress, to be United to the Bloody Sweat, to the Grief and Torments of my dear Redeemer Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins, and the eternal Glory of his Name: and I desire all the Holy Angels, whom God has commanded to take care of me, to defend me from the power of darkness, and all evil Spirits at my last hour.  
Q. This Preparation for Confession and Exercise of Repentance, is very long: Is it all necessary for a Sick Person before he makes his Confession?  
A It may not be all necessary, because 'tis to be hoped, there are many live so well, and with Souls so truly disposed, that they stand not in need of so long a Preparation: and 'tis most certain, there are many others, who through the sharpness of their Distemper, or stupefying qualities of their physic, have not time to make use of it. But 'tis here set down for such as are under a more tedious Sickness, and are in a daily necessity of some Spiritual helps, to keep their Souls in a due disposition, and to be ever prepared for the last Summons.  
It may be likewiise very proper for those, who, having lived something irregularly, are surprised with sickness, when they are very unfit to die. For 'tis very necessary these should endeavour, by frequent and repeated Acts of the Detestation of Sin, of Repentance, of Contrition, of the love of God, &c. to change their hearts, and so by degrees remove that indisposition strengthened in them through the long habit of sin. For since their thoughts of making their Confession in time of Sickness, is only occasioned by their Distemper, there's great reason to be jealous of such Confessions, and to fear that 'tis only their present Circumstances, and not any detestation of Sin, or love of God, or any change of heart is the true motive of their present Devotion. And therefore tho' such Confessions may be a satisfaction to their Friends, yet God knows how much it will avail them. For this reason, as often as the Distempers will permit, 'tis not fit such Persons should be hastened to Confession, but all care used by those that assist them, first to prepare them well-to make them sensible, what true Repentance is, by often reading and praying, to stir up in their hearts a sincere abhorrence of their past life, quicken their Faith. strengthen their Hope, and bring them insensibly to the love of God, and true Spirit of Penance; by this Method their Repentance, tho' late, may be acceptable, and they may have reason to bless God for the well ordered Charity of such Friends; when otherwise, who knows, but they will have as great reason to curse those, who have accepted their hasty Confessions, and flattered them with false hopes upon an ill grounded and only superficial Repentance? Therefore I say, when the Distemper will give leave, great pains should be used for the preparing for, and making this last Confession at least a good one, on which Eternity so nearly depends.   

Before Receiving the Holy Communion or Viaticum.  

O Father of Mercy, and God of all Comfort, behold here thy Creature, made to thy Image, and redeemed by the Blood of thy only Son, desires to appear before thee. 'tis by thy Favour I have hitherto lived, and now, as for what time remains, I desire to live to thee; so as to my Death, I desire to die in thee and for thee. I profoundly adore thee, after whom my Soul sighs and thirsts; I cry out to thee, whom I love above all things, O my Rest, my Hope, my Love, my Desire, and all the good of my Heart.  
Most loving Father, although I am the least of thy Children, and unworthy to be called thy Child, because I have not honoured thee as a Father; yet I come with an humble Confidence, and cast myself into the Arms of thy most tender Goodness and Mercy; being now hearty grieved for having forsaken thee my God, the Fountain of all good, for having departed from thee, my loving Father, for having so often forgotten thee, who art ever mindful of me.  
O, that I had never offended thee, my God and my All! Accept at least this my hearty desire; and now, while it is the time of Mercy, look on me with Compassion, and have Mercy on me. For thou know'st, O Lord; that I love thee, or that I sincerely desire to love thee above all things. And I know in whom I place my trust, that thou art able to save me, and that thou wilt not despise a contrite and humble Heart.  
'tis likewise my Hope, that thou wilt not cast me away from thee, who with so much Love invitest all to thee: Thou hast said, Come to me all you that labour and are heavy loaden, and I will refresh you: Behold, Lord, I come; receive me according to thy Word, and I shall live, and not be disappointed in my Hope. Deliver my Soul from this Prison, that I may bless thy Name.  
O happy hour! When I shall be delivered from the Body of this Death: When shall I come to thee my God? When wilt thou come and comfort me? When shall thy Servant depart in Peace? But before I leave this Vale of Tears, I desire to offer thee a Sacrifice of Praise, that here after I may Praise thee for ever.  
Wherefore I here pour forth my Soul in Thanks to thee for all thy Blessings, for my Creation, for my Redemption by the Blood of thy only Son, for the infinite Mercies, whreby thou hast so often raised me out of sin, prevented me by thy Grace, and called me out of Darkness into thy admirable Light. But what return shall make thee, my Lord Jesus, the beloved Spouse of my Soul, for thy painful life and most bitter death? For the many times thou hast fed me with thy precious Body and Blood! Here, what shall I say? This nothing that I am, appeals to thy infinite Goodness and Love; and, through thy Sacred Wounds, and that Ocean of Mercy flowing from them, hopes to find acceptance, and be secure. I will drink the Cup thou giv'st me, I will take it ceerfully from thy hand, and drink it with thee, because thou hast first drank it for my Salvation.  
Accept, Lord, my Heart, which I offer thee, as a Thanksgiving offering for all thy Blessings; accept all that belongs to me; and thou, my Soul, bless thou thy Lord, and let thy Praise continue for ever. As for the World, renounce it all, because in thy God thou possessest all; renounce thyself, because thou art not thy own, but thine, O Lord; O, may I now no longer live, but thou in me: I love thee, O Jesus, with all my Heart, and with all my Soul.  
Place me therefore near thee; O God, stand take me into thy Protection; and then I will fear no evils, I will fear nothing my Enemy can do against me. And if, through the violence of my Distemper or suggestion of the Devil, I should either speak or think contrary to what I do at present; I now revoke and renounce all such Words and Thoughts, and protest before thee, my God, and in the presence of all the Blessed, that I will live and die in the Faith of the Catholic Church, that I place my whole Trust in God alone, in my Lord Jesus Christ and his Merits, and that I love him at present with all my heart, and in his Love desire to breath out my last. If any thing shall happen contrary to this my Profession, I here declare my abhorrence of it, I detest and abjure it: and this I desire may be acknowledged as my Last Will, which I am ready to seal even with my Blood; for 'tis my desire to die for thee, my God, that I may live to thee, to whom all things live; that I may die in thee, for whom thou hast been pleased to lay down thy life.   

O Jesu, Saviour of the World, who cam'st to save Sinners, who hast called all to thee that thou mayst refresh them; behold here a Sinner comes to thee for relief; Save me, O Lord, for with thee there's a plentiful Redemption. I come to thee, from whom I had run astray, like the lost Sheep; but thou, O good Shepherd, who hast given thy Life for thy Sheep, who cam'st to seek and save what was lost, look on thy Servant with Mercy; and receive me into thy Fold.  
I come to thee, with my Soul disordered with many Passions, and covered with sores; but thou, Lord, if thou wilt, canst make me whole; heal me then, O Lord, and I shall be healed; for thou art the good Samaritan, the true Physician of Souls, who hast born our Infirmities, and given thy blessed Body and Blood, for the cure of my Soul. And now, Lord, at this hour it is I stand in need of thy help. For of myself, what am I but Dust, Weakness and Nothing: and if thou confirm'st me not with this Divine Food, and strenthen'st me not from above, how can I hold out in the Combat, how shall I resist the Enemy, and with Patience bear the Trials of Sickness, the Agonies and Pangs of Death.  
Have mercy therefore on me, come now and show thy Power in my Soul; cure first, I beseech thee all my Wounds, in the forgiveness of my sins, then Comfort my Soul with Divine strength, that I may ever Believe and Hope in thee, that I may ever love thee, with true courage, fight against thy Enemies, and with a perfect submission resign myself into thy hands; this I desire may be the disposition of my Soul; Come then, Lord, work this good effect within me, that so, as thou hast Created and redeemed me, so I may be thine for ever.   

Dear Jesus, my Redeemer, I Adore thee with all my heart; I give thee thanks for that infinite Love, which thou shew'dst to poor Sinners, in shedding thy Blood for them on the across; and by thy ineffable Power leaving thy Body and Blood for the Food and Comfort of their Souls; To this Banquet thou art pleased now to call me; but woe to me! how shall I approach to it, who have so ungratefully offended thee, and lived so unworthy of my Profession!  
I aclowledge, O God, that I am a Sinner, that I am miserable, poor and needy, and therefore now humble myself under thy powerful hand I appeal to thee, my Jesus, who hast undertaken to be the Advocate and Mediator for Sinners; thou art rich in Mercy, and canst not refuse to appear in their behalf, who put their Cause into thy Hands. Help me therefore in my distress, and lay now before the Father, the price of thy Blood, and infinite Treasure of thy Merits, and supply hence all my Defects, and especially my want of preparation in coming to partake of this Holy Food. Thou know'st how unworthy I am, and how unfit, through my manifold and grievous sins, to appear before the judgement Seat of God; I tremble at the thought of that dreadful hour, when all my Sins and Ingratitudes shall be laid before me. What shall I then do, O keeper of Men! What will become of me, if the review of my Life be the casting of my eternal Lot! O Jesus, let me not go alone to that place of terror: come thou into my Soul, accompany it to the Tribunal of God, there let all thy Mercies pled for me; for tho', of myself, I have nothing to trust to, yet in thy Goodness I have comfort. Run, then, my Soul, to the Protection of thy Lord, take shelter under his Wings, hid thyself in his blessed Wounds, and there, tho' thy sins cry out for Justice, his precious Blood will cry much louder for Mercy; 'tis on this Mercy I depend, in this I hope, and in this Hope I desire to die; come, my Jesus, enter now into my Soul, and possess it for ever.  
Thou art the true Light, who enlightenest every one, that comes into this World; enlighten now my Eyes, I beseech thee, that the sleep of eternal Death may never be my Portion.  
Thou art a Fire ever burning, and I am tepid and could; inflame now my Heart and Reins with the Fire of thy Divine Love: for thou cam'st to bring Fire upon Earth, and why does it not burn?  
Thou art King of Heaven and Earth, abounding in Mercy; and I am poor and miserable: thou know'st what I want, and besides thee, there's none: that can help me: Help me then, my God, and out of the Treasures of thy Goodness relieve me in my necessities.  
Thou art my Lord and my God; behold I am thy Servant, give me understanding, and strengthen my Will; that I may know thy Will and do it.  
Thou art the Lamb of God, the Spotless Lamb, that takes away the Sins of the World; take from me all that is sinful, and give me what thou know'st will be pleasing to thee, and beneficial to my Soul.  
Thou art my Love and my Joy: Thou art my God and my All; Thou art my Lot and my Inheritance; and 'tis thou alone canst restore my Inheritance to me.  
O God and my All, let the powerful force of thy Love seize and consume all that is within me; and so entirely change my Heart, that for the love of thee, I may die to the World, who for love of me wast pleased to die on the across; my God and my All.    

After having received the Holy Communion, or Viaticum.  

I.  
GLory and Thanksgiving be to thee, O Lord, who, in thy sweetness has been pleased to visit and refresh my poor Soul. Now let thy Servant depart in peace, according to thy Word.  
Now thou art come to me, and I will not let thee go: Now I willingly bid farewell to the World, and with joy I come to thee, my God.  
Nothing more, O good Jesu, nothing more shall separate me from thee. Now I am united to thee; in thee I will live, in thee I will die, and in thee I hope to abide for ever.  
Now life seems uneasy to me; I desire to be dissolved and be with Christ; for Christ is my life, and to die will be my gain.  
Now I will fear no Evils, tho' I walk in the shadow of Death, because thou art with me, O Lord: As the Hart pants after the Fountains of Water, so my Soul thirsts after thee, O God: my Soul thirsts after the Fountain of living Water: O, when shall I come and appear before the Face of my God!  
Give me now thy Blessing, O loving Jesus, and establish my Soul in everlasting Peace, such Peace as only thou canst give, such Peace as it may not be in the power of my Enemy to destroy.  
O that I were once happily united to thee for ever; that I were wholly swallowed up and butted in thee: O, that my Soul were at rest in thy happiness, and in the enjoyment of thee, my God, for ever.  
What have I more to do with the World? And in Heaven what have I to desire, but only thee, my Lord?  
Into thy hands I commend my Spirit; receive me, sweet Jesus, in thee may I rest, and in thy Happiness rejoice without end.   

II.  
PRotect me, Lord, against all my Enemies; and in all dangers appear in my defence: make hast to help me, O God, and say to my Soul; I am thy health and thy salvation.  
Remember thou art my Father, and have compassion on my poor distressed Soul; cloth her with all virtues, and feed her with thy Grace; for it belongs to a Father to take this care of his Child.  
In thee I live, sweet Jesus, in thee I desire to die: both living and dying I will ever profess, that thou art good, and thy mercy endures for ever.  
O sweetness of my Heart, and love of my Soul, take off my Heart and Thoughts from this World, that all my comfort may be in thee.  
My God and only Hope; permit me no longer to run from thee: When wilt thou consume in me all that is corrupt and contrary to thy Will?  
Draw me after thee, I beseech thee, that I may cheerfully obey thy Call, and submit to thy blessed Will.  
Make me one according to thy own Heart, and let my Soul become now thy habitation for ever.  
My Soul without thee is dry, like Earth without Water, moisten it with the due of Heaven, and give me now a large Blessing from the land of the living.  
Wound my Heart with thy love, that it may relish nothing that is earthly, but entirely depend on thy Commands.  
Hail, dear redeemer, I now desire to adore thee with the Spirit and affection of all thy Elect; I commit to thy direction all the motions of my Soul.  
O my Love and my Joy, when will the day of Eternity appear, when laying down this weight of Flesh, I shall join with thy Saints in thy everlasting Praise!  
O sweet Light of Heaven, inflame my Heart with the Fire of Charity; I offer thee all that is within me; let that Divine flamme consume my Bowels.   

III.  
O, That I could now give thee, O Lord, all that Honour, Praise and Glory with which the Angels and blessed Spirits Praise and glorify thee in Heaven! But because I am unable to do this, accept this my desire at least, and good will.  
Deliver me, O God from every thing that is contrary to thy Will, and be pleased so to dispose my Soul, as may be for thy greater Glory.  
I surrender myself, O my Creator, into thy hands, and laying aside all private wishes, I desire to depend on thee, as to the whole state of my Body and Soul, in whatever thou shalt please to appoint for me.  
I ask nothing, but that thy Holy Name be glorified for ever: and if thou wilt please to admit me, tho' unworthy, to have a share in paying thee this homage, blessed be thy Name.  
If it be more for thy honour, that I suffer interior desolation, I accept it from thy hand, O God; because I know, 'tis for my good, whatever I suffer in my Soul for love of thee.  
O Divine Love, how little art thou known, how little art thou loved! Come to me, and if thou no where findest rest, infuse thyself wholly into my Soul May the Fire of thy Love, O God, ever burn in my heart, and grow up to such a flamme, that it may burn and consume, not only the Sacrifice, but the Altar too.  
Let nothing be now my comfort, but thou, my Lord Jesus, and nothing afflict me but my sins, and whatever is displeasing to thy Divine Majesty.  
O Blessed Jesu, Life eternal, by whom I live, and without whom I die, grant I may now be united to thee, and that in the embraces of thy holy Love and divine Will, I may rest for ever.  
When shall I see thee, O sweet Lord? When shall I appear before thy face. When shall I see thee in the land of the Living! Till then I sigh and bewail my Banishment, desiring to be dissolved and be with thee.  
How happy are they who eat and drink at thy Table in thy eternal Kingdom! They love thee and enjoy thee; but I perish here with hunger, lying in Dust and Darkness, and see not the light of Heaven.  
But remove this Veil, O God, and bring me to thy sight; fill my hungry Soul with good things, and grant me my Inheritance purchased for me by my Redeemer, and be thou my Possession for ever.    

Before extreme Unction.  
THou hast mercifully provided remedies, O Lord, for all our Necessities; grant me thy Grace so to make use of them, that my Soul may receive all those good effects which thou hast appointed in their Institution. Now I desire to be Anointed, as thou hast commanded me by thy Apostle; Grant, I beseech thee, that by this holy Unction and the Prayers of the Church, I may partake of that Spirit, with which Christ suffered on the across, for thy Glory, and for the destruction of Sin Give me true Patinece to support all the pains and trouble of my Distemper; Give me an inward strength to resist all the Temptations of the Enemy: Give me Grace for the pardon of all my Failings: Give me that true Light, by which I may be conducted through the shadows of Death to eternal Happiness; and if my Health be expedient for thy Glory, let this be the means to restore it. Behold, I approach to this holy Ordinance, with a firm Faith and Confidence in thy goodness, that thou wilt not forsake me in this time of my Distress, but that thou wilt stand by me with thy Grace, and defend me from all evil, and now prepare my Soul for a happy Passage.  
My eyes have seen Vanities, but now let them be shut to the World; and open to thee alone, my Jesus; pardon me all the sins I have committed by my Seeing.  
My Ears have been open to Detractions, Profaneness, and unprofitable Discourses; let me now give ear to thy Word, to thy Commands and thy Call; and pardon me, O Jesus, all the sins I have committed by my Hearing.  
I have taken delight in the perfumes of this World, which are all nothing but Corruption; let my Heart and Prayers ascend like Incense in thy sight, and pardon me all the sins I have commmitted by my Smelling.  
My Tongue has many ways offended both in Speaking and Tasting. Now let its whole business be to cry for Mercy: Pardon me, dear Jesus, all the sins I have committed by Word, or by any excess in Eating, or Drinking.  
My hands have offended in contributing to many Follies, injurious to myself and my Neighbour; Now let them be lifted up to Heaven, in testimony of a penitent Heart, and pardon me, O Lord, all the sins I have Committed in the ill use of my Hands.  
My Feet have gone astray in the paths of Vanity and Sin; now let me walk in thy ways, in the ways thou art pleased to led me, and forgive me, Lord, all the sins I have committed by my disordered Steps  
I have given admittance to impure delights in my heart, and for the pleasing my Senses, have transgressed thy Law: Let my heart be now the Temple of the Holy Ghost, and pardon me all the sins by which I have banished thee from my heart, and defiled my Soul.  
By this holy Anointing and the power of thy Grace, O God, forgive me all my Sins, and convert my heart wholly to thee, that I may cheerfully submit to death in punishment of my Offences, and so enter into thy eternal rest. Amen.   

After extreme Unction.  
HEar our Prayers, O God, in behalf of thy Servant, and since thou hast shown this Mercy to him, as to admit him to the helps of thy Church, grant he may partake of the Effects of them, even those, which thou hast appointed for the comfort of poor Souls in the day of their distress Grant him a full discharge of all his Sins, that whenever he shall appear before thee, the Enemy may find nothing against him. Stand thou by him, we beseech thee, and be his Protector against all Evils; let thy Grace comfort him, and heavenly Strength support him, that however he be weak of himself, yet through thy assistance, he may stand in this day of Trial, and cheerfully submit to whatever thou hast appointed for him. Restore him to Health, if thou know'st it expedient for him; but if thou hast ordained it otherwise, grant him a happy Passage, and admit him into the number of thy Blessed; through the Merits and Passion of thy dear Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, World without end. Amen.   

Short Prayers, to be said distinctly, and with some intervals, whilst Death seems to be approaching.  
I Adore thee, O Good Jesu, who by thy Sufferings, hast redeemed the World. Save me now, O my Jesus, who hast redeemed me by thy Blood. Draw me to thee, who hast promised to draw all things to thee: Hold me fast, and let no power of the Enemy take me out of thy hand: Let nothing any more divide me from thee.  
Merciful Jesu, I beseech thee, by thy precious Blood, which thou wast pleased to  shed for Sinners, wash me, purify me, and cleanse me from all my Iniquities.  
O Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Blood of Christ, purify me; Body of Christ, Save me: Water from the side of Christ, Wash me: Passion of Christ, Comfort and Strengthen me. O good Jesu, graciously hear me; hid me within thy Wounds; be ever with me; call me at the hour of Death; command me to come to thee, that I may take part with thy Blessed, and praise thee without end.  
My Lord and Creator; my Redeemer Jesus Christ, I deliver myself into thy hands, refuse not, I beseech thee, the offer I make; to thee I come, cast me not away from thee.  
Cast me not away, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me; let not my Wickedness destroy the work of thy infinite Goodness.  
Look on me with the Eyes of Mercy, my Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and Man, who wast Crucified for Man. Give ear to my Cry, because I put my Trust in thee: Have Mercy on me, who am covered over with Misery and Sin; Thou who art the Fountain of mercy, a Fountain ever flowing. Hail, Sacred Victim, who for me and the Sins of the whole World, wast offered on the across.  
Hail Generous and Precious blood, flowing from the Wounds of my crucified Lord, and washing away the sins of the World. Be mindful O Lord, of me thy poor Creature, whom thou hast redeemed with thy Blood.  
Far be it from me to glory, except in the across of our Lord Jesus Chrtst, by whom the World is crucified to me, and I to the World.  
I see thee, my dear Redeemer, fastened on the across with thy Armsstretcht forth, and thy Head bowing down, as ready to receive us into thy Embraces: I hear thee in words full of compassion, inviting all to come to thee: Come to me, all you that labour and are heavy loaden, and I will refresh you.  
Behold I come Lord, do with me according to thy Word, and mercifully refresh me: I come weary and tired under the weight of my sins; but deal mercifully with thy Servant, for thou hast born all our Infirmities on the across, and to obtain pardon for us, hast laid down thy Life.   

To our Lord Jesus Christ.  
JEsus Christ, fountain of Mercy, have compassion on thy poor Servant, and help me in his time of my distress. Let thy Death and Passion pled for me, and stand betwixt my Soul and thy Justice.  
I give myself wholly into thy hands, reject me not. Now, Lord, according to thy good will, show mermy to me; command my Soul to be received in Peace; for thou hast redeemed me, O God of Truth. Lord Jesus, let those sweet words sound in my Ears, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.  
Receive me my crucified Jesus, into thy loving Arms, which were streteh'd forth on the across for me receive me into those Embraces of thy infinite Charity, and draw my Soul to thee; receive me, good Jesu, in thy mercy receive my Soul in peace.  
Enlighten, O Jesus, my Eyes, that I sleep not in death; that my Enemy may never say, he has prevailed against me.  
Remember not, O Lord, my Iniquities; let thy Mercies make hast to prevent me; for, behold, I am poor and miserable.  
Lord Jesus, by the merits of thy Sufferings, command me to be received among the number of thy Chosen Servants.  
Enter not Lord, into judgement with thy Servant; for in thy sight no Man can be Justified.  
This one thing I ask of our Lord, that I may dwell in his House for ever.  
Receive me according to thy Promise, and I shall live and not be disappointed of my Hope.   

Other short Acts, to be repeated now and then one.  

Of FAITH.  
LOrd, I Believe, help my Unbelief.  
I believe thou art Christ the Son of the living God. Thou art my Lord and my God.  
I believe all thou hast taught me by thy Apostles and the Holy catholic Church.   

Of HOPE.  
THou art my Protector, O Lord, in thee have I put my Trust.  
My hope is in thee, let me not be confounded for ever.  
Thou art my Defence, O Lord, forsake me not; the time of distress is at hand, and there is none to help me, but thou my God.  
Preserve me as the Apple of thy Eye, and under the shadow of thy Wings protect me.  
In the shadow of death I will not fear, because thou art with me.  
I am thine, O Lord, save me I beseech thee.  
Save thy Servant, who puts his trust in thee.   

Of CHARITY.  
THou art the God of my Heart, and my Inheritance for ever.  
My God and my All; I have nothing to desire in Heaven or Earth, but thee.  
Thou demandest my Heart, behold, here I give it into thy hands, O God.  
Inflame my Soul with thy Love, that I may become a gtateful Sacrifice to thee.  
My Soul thirsts after thee, O God: When shall I appear before thee.   

Of CONTRITION.  
HAve Mercy on me, O God, according to thy great Mercy.  
To thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight:  
But a contrite and humble Heart thou wilt not despise.  
Turn away thy Face from my sins, and blot out my Iniquities.  
Enter not, O Lord, into judgement with thy Servant; for who shall be justified in thy Sight.  
For thy Name sake, have mercy on me, and forgive all my sins.   

Of PETITION.  
THou sufferd'st on the across, O Lord, for my sins; let not thy Sufferings be in vain.  
Preserve me, Lord, I beseech thee, because in thee have I put my Trust.  
Let my Enemies be turned away backward, and all those that seek my Soul.  
Look upon me and have mercy on me, because I am poor and miserable.  
Behold my Misery and Affliction; forsake me not in my Necessities, but pardon me all my Offences.   

Of RESIGNATION.  
I Here renounce the Devil and Sin, and desire to be united to Christ.  
Lord, into thy hands I commend my Spirit.  
Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven.  
Not as I will, but as thou wilt, O God.  
Give me thy Grace to do what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt.  
I am thy Creature, O God, and 'tis my Duty to submit to thy Will.  
Behold, I bow myself down, and make all that is within me stoop to thy commands, and the Decrees of thy blessed Will.  
Do here with me as thou wilt, but spare me hereafter.  
Lord, I love the beauty of thy House, and the place of thy Abode.  
I desire to be dissolved and be with Christ.  
Who will deliver me from this Body of Death.  
This one thing I ask of thee, that I may dwell in thy House for ever.    

Other short Prayers.  
ETernal Father, I am that unworthy Servant, whom thou hast so loved, as to give thy only Son for me: show mercy on me now at this hour, and let not his precious Blood be lost on me.  
Jesus Christ, I am that lost Sheep, whom thou hast sought with so much pains, and brought back on thy Shoulders: I have run astray like a lost Sheep; but thou art the good Shepherd, who giv'st thy Life for thy Sheep: Seek now thy Servant, and let me be lost no more. Let the Enemy have no more power over me, but take me into thy protection.  
O Jesus, I am that miserable one; who going from Jerusalem, fell amongst Thieves, was wounded and left half dead: Thou art my Physician and that good Samaritan, who, having compassion on me, hast bound up my Wounds, and healed them with thy Blood. Thou hast born all our Infirmities, and by thy. Anguish have we been healed. Have mercy on me, Lord, in this my last hour: Lord, make hast to help me, that my Soul die not and perish for ever.  
O Jesus, I am an unhappy Sinner, and guilty of many Crimes: but thou art my Advocate to the Father, and the Propitiation for my Offences. Thou wilt not the death of a Sinner, but that he live. Thy coming into this World was to save Sinners; have mercy therefore on me in this my extremity. Be now my Mediator and Advocate to the Father. O good Jesu, be merciful to me a Sinner. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit.   

A Prayer of St: Jerome in time of Agony.  
MErciful Jesu, thou art my strength, my refuge, and my deliverer; in thee have I believed and hoped, thee have I loved. Call me now, I beseech thee, and I will answer. Stretch forth thy hand of mercy to the work of thy hands, and let not me perish, whom thou hast redeemed with thy Blood.  
'tis now time for dust to return to dust, and my Spirit to thee who gav'st it. Open then, Lord, the Gate of Life, and receive me; receive me, most merciful Lord, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies; who receivedst the Thief on the across, and now prepare my Soul for the hearing the same promise of Mercy, which he did. I am sick, O Lord, and my life is withering away, therefore I come to thee my Physician. Heal me then, my God, and I shall be healed: let me not be confounded, because I put my trust in thee. In thee have I hoped, let me not be cast off for ever.  
But who am I, most merciful Lord, that I should speak thus boldly to thee? I am a Sinner; one grown up in sin, a rotten carcase, a Vassel of Corruption, and food of Worms. But spare me still, my God, for what a Victory is there in overthrowing me, who am but as dust before the Wind? Forgive me all my sins, and deliver me from my distress.  
Arise and help me, Lord, arise, and let thy Mercy pled for me. Let my Prayer ascend before thee, and stretch forth thy hand to help me: For, behold, I am covered with sin, and have done evil in thy sight. And there's none can heal me, but thou, my God. If thou hadst not paid my Ransom, by dying on the across, should not I have been for ever miserable? Remember then, O merciful Jesu, that I have a share in that price, that was paid; 'twas for me also, tho most unworthy, thy Blood was  shed; let me therefore have a part in this Mercy.  
I confess, I have many times offended against thee, and therefore am not worthy to be called thy Child: but turn away thy Face, I beseech thee, from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Deal not with me according to what I deserve, nor chastise me according to my iniquities: but help me, O God my Saviour, and for the Glory of thy Name, deliver me. Now, at this hour, show mercy to me, and whenever I depart, receive me into the number of thy Family, that I may be one of those, who are to praise thee for ever.  
Q. When a sick person lies, as to all appearance insensible, is it to any purpose to repeat any of these Prayers in his Name?  
A These Prayers are principally intended for such as continue in their Senses: but however, when a person lies, as it were, wholly insensible, it may not be improper to repeat now and then some short Sentence of Piety in his Ear: because, there are many, upon recovery have owned, that in their extremity, they have been sensible of what had been spoken to them, tho' they could by no outward sign manifest it to the by-standers.   

Prayers to be said by Friends, when the sick person is in extremity.  

LOrd Jesus Christ, we beseech thee by thy bitter Agony and Prayer in the Garden, that thou wouldst be pleased to be Advocate to the Eternal Father, in behalf of this thy Servant: lay before him all those drops of Blood, which in that anguish of Spirit flowed from thy Body, and offer them for the Remission of all his sins: that so in this hour of extremity he may be discharged from that handwriting which stands against him; and from all that punishment, which he fears too justly due to his sins. Our Father, Hail Mary.   

LOrd Jesus Christ, who wast pleased to suffer death on the across for us, we besceech thee to offer up all that Anguish and Pains, which thou then enduredst, and most especially at the hour of thy death, in behalf of this thy Servant; that they may be accepted in his favour; for the good of his Soul, for the obtaining a happy hour, and for the release from that punishment, which he has deserved for his sins. Our Father, Hail Mary.   

LOrd Jesus Christ, who hadst that love for Man, as to become Man for his Salvation; we beseech thee to show that thy Charity and Goodness to the Eternal Father, let that appear for this thy Servant and pled his Cause, that by this powerful Mediation he may be freed from all his sins; that he may be safe at the hour of his departure, and find the Gate of Life open to him. Our Father, Hail Mary.   

LOrd Jesus Christ, who by thy precious Blood, hast redeemed us, we beseech thee to imprint deep in the Soul of this thy Servant the memory of thy most Sacred Wounds, that having them in his sight, he may be encouraged to suffer with patience and resolution, and be armed against all the pangs of Death: thus let him cheerfully submit to all the difficulties of his Condition; and begin even here to be united to thee, with a love that shall never end.  
Grant him now to partake of the Fruit of thy Holy Incarnation, of thy bitter Passion, of thy Glorious Resurrection and admirable Ascension.  
Grant he may be sensible of the effects of thy Holy Mysteries and Sacraments, and of all the Prayers, which are offered to thee by the whole Church.  
Remember Lord, that thou once wast in the favourits of Death, that in thy extremity thou criedst out to the Eternal Father, commending thy Spirit to him, and so expir'dst. Behold now this thy Servant, in his Anguish, cries aloud to thee; stand thou by him, defend and comfort him in this his distress, and receive his Soul.  
Remember, O Jesus, that thy Arms were stretched forth upon the across, thy Side was opened, and thy Sacred Head bowed down: have regard now, we beseech thee, to the Soul of this thy Servant, which departing out of this World, seeks refuge in thee: receive it into thy Arms, give it shelter in thy Breast, and there let it hid itself, secured from all Enemies, till the Anger of God pass over. Into thy hands we commend his Spirit, which has been Created and Redem'st by thee; despise not, we beseech thee, the work of thy hands.    

If the dying Person be in his Senses, this may be a good Conclusion.  
NOw let thy Servant, Lord, depart in peace, according to thy Word. But remember, I am but dust, and therefore enter not into judgement with thy poor Servant; for how can I be justified in thy sight? I confess I am unworthy to be admitted into thy Presence; but all my hope is in thy infinite Goodness and Mercy, which is able to purify my Soul, and cleanse me from all my iniquities In this I hope, and with this hope I now beg of thee, that when my Soul is to leave this Body, thou wilt manifest thy Goodness, and receive it into thy Eternal Kingdom.  
In the Confession of thy Name, O Lord, I desire to breath out my last. Receive me therefore according to thy great Mercy, open to me the Gates of Life, and secure me against all the power of Darkness. Let thy hand conduct me into the place of Refreshment, that place thou hast prepared for those that fear thee.   

Another.  
THou know'st, O Lord, my Life has been filled with sin and misery: but thou aboundest in Mercy; and therefore in the Spirit of Humility and a Contrite Heart, I now beseech thee to receive me, O good Jesu, the life and health of my Soul; for 'tis not in the Confidence of any Justice of mine, but only of thy Mercies, that I now make my Address to thee.  
I am the lost Sheep, that now returns to my Shepherd; I have heard thy Voice, and desire to follow it. And canst thou now despise the cry of thy poor Sheep, who runs to thee for shelter; receive him, I beseech thee, into thy Fold. Hast not thou commanded all to come to thee? And hast not thou said, he shall call upon me, and I will hear him, and I will be with him in the day of Tribulation.  
Behold, I call to thee, Lord, in heart at least: behold Tribulation is upon me, and there's none to help me, none that can deliver and save me, but thou my good Jesu. And tho' I dare not ask to be of the number of thy Blessed; yet admit me, Lord, to feed on the Crumbs that fall from thy Table: O, that I were but the least in thy House: how much better is that, than to dwell with Sinners! Receive me, sweet Jesus, receive my Soul.   

A Prayer to be said by the Assistants, in time of Agony.  
CHrist Jesus, who wast crucified for our Redemption, we beseech thee, by that Love, which brought thee from Heaven, to have Compassion on the Soul of this thy Servant; forgive him all his sins, and by the Merits of thy bitter Passion, satisfy for all his Failings, and supply his Defects; let him now experience the multitude of thy tender Mercies, and be sensible how good his Lord is. Dispose now his Soul, by thy Grace, that he may be prepared at thy Call, to go forth to meet thee. Grant him, we beseech thee, true Patience and perfect Resignation in his Pains and Anguish Give him a full discharge from all his sins; confirm his Faith, strengthen him in Hope, and perfect his Charity, that departing hence, his Soul may be received into thy Mercy.  
O dear Redeemer, by that distress, which thou sufferedst on the across, when thou cryedst out to thy Eternal Father, we pray thee, show Mercy to this thy Servant in his extremity; hear the sighs and desires of his heart, and since he cannot now speak for himself, speak thou for him, we beseech thee, who art the Eternal Word, and to whom the Father will refuse nothing.  
By thy Victory over Death, and the Infinite Merit of thy Passion, we beg thee, in behalf of this thy Servant, to have no other thoughts but of Peace, of Mercy and Comfort, and not of Affliction. Bear him up against all Distrust and Despair, deliver him from his Necessities, and be his Comforter in this Distress. Let those Hands which were once nailed to the across, now pled for him, and obtaining his Pardon, conduct him into thy Eternal Rest. Amen.   

The Recommendation of a Soul departing.  
LOrd have mercy on us.  
Christ have mercy on us.  
Lord have mercy on us.  
Holy Mary, Pray for( him, her.)  
All ye Holy Angels and archangels, Pray for( him, her.)  
Holy Abel, Pray for( him, her.)  
All ye Choir of the Just, Pray for( him, her.)  
Holy Abraham, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. John Paptist, Pray for( him, her.)  
All ye Patriarch and Prophets, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Peter, Pray for( him, her.)  
St Paul, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Andrew, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. John, Pray for( him, her.)  
All ye Holy Apostles and Evangelists, Pray for( him, her.)  
All ye Holy Disciples of our Lord, Pray for( him, her.)  
All Holy Innocents, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Stephen, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Laurence, Pray for( him, her.)  
All ye Holy Martyrs, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Sylvester, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Gregory, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Augustine. Pray for( him, her.)  
All Holy Bishops and Confessors, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Bennet, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Francis, Pray for( him, her.)  
All ye Holy Monks and Ermits, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Mary Magdalen, Pray for( him, her.)  
St. Lucy, Pray for( him, her.)  
All Holy Virgins and Widows, Pray for( him, her.)  
All you Saints of God, make Intercession for( him, her.)  
Be merciful, Spare( him, her) O Lord.  
Be merciful, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
Be merciful, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
From thy Anger, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
From the danger of Death, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
From an ill end, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
From the pains of Hell, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
From all evil, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
From the power of the Devil, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
By thy Nativity, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
By thy across and Passion, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
By thy Death and Burial, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
By thy Glorious Resurrection, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
By thy Admirable Ascension, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
By the Grace of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
In the day of judgement, Deliver( him, her) O Lord.  
We Sinners, beseech thee to hear us. That thou spare him, we beseech thee to hear us.  
Lord have mercy on us.  
Christ, have Mercy on us.  
Lord, have Mercy on us.   

Let us Pray.  

DEpart, Christian Soul, out of this World, in the Name of God the Father Almighty, who Created thee; in the Name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for thee: In the name of the Holy Ghost, who Sanctified thee: In the name of the Angels, Ach-Angels, Thrones and Dominations, Cherubins and Seraphins: In the name of the patriarches and Prophets, of the Holy Apostles and Evangelists; of the holy Martyrs and Confessors; of the holy Monks and Ermits; of the holy Virgins, and of all the Saints of God. Let thy place be this day in Peace, and thy abode in holy Sion. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.   

GOd of Mercy, God of Goodness; O God, who according to the multitude of thy Mercies forgivest the sins of such as Repent, and graciously remittest the guilt of their past Offences, mercifully regard this thy Servant N. and grant him a full discharge from all his Sins, who most earnestly begs it of thee Renew, O merciful Father, whatever is corrupt in him, through human Frailty, or by the snares of the Enemy; make him a true Member of the Church, and let him partake of the Fruit of thy Redemption. Have compassion Lord, on his Sighs. Have compassion on his Tears, and admit him to the Sacrament of thy reconciliation, who has no hope but in thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.   

I Recommend thee, dear Brother, to Almighty God, and leave thee to his Mercy, whose Creature thou art, that having paid the common debt, by surrendering the Soul, thou mayst return to thy Maker who formed thee out of the Earth. Let therefore the noble company of Angels meet thy Soul at its departure; let the Court of the Apostles receive thee; let the triumphant Army of glorious Martyrs conduct thee; let the crowds of joyful Confessors encompass thee; let the Choir of blessed Virgins go before thee, and let a happy Rest be thy portion in the company of the patriarches: Let Christ Jesus appear to thee with a mildred and cheerful Countenance, and give thee place among those, who are to be in his Presence for ever. mayst thou be a stranger to all that which is punished with Darkness, chastised with Flames, and condemned to Torments. Let thy wicked Enemy, with all his evil Spirits, depart from thee: May he tremble at thy approach in the company of Angels, and retire into the horrid confusion of eternal Night. May thy God arise, and thy Enemies be put to fiight: May all who hate him, fly before his Face. Let them vanish like smoke; and as Wax before the fire, so let Sinners perish in the sight of God: But for the Just, let them rejoice and be happy in his Presence. May all the Ministers of Hell be filled with confusion and shane, and let no evil Spirit dare to stop thee in thy way. Christ Jesus be thy Deliverer, who was crucified for thee. Christ Jesus deliver thee from Death, who vouchsafed to die for thee: Christ Jesus, Son of the living God, place thee in his Garden of Paradise; and may he the true Shepherd, own thee for one of his Flock: May he absolve thee from all thy sins, and place thee at his right hand, in the inheritance of his Elect. We pray, it may be thy happy lot, to behold thy Redeemer Face to Face, to be ever in his Presence and in the Vision of that Truth, which is the Joy of the Blessed. And thus placed among those happy Spirits, mayst thou be ever filled with heavenly sweetness. Amen.   

REceive thy Servant, O Lord, into that place, where he may hope for Salvation from thy Mercy.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the Soul of thy Servant from all dangers of Hell; from all Pain and Tribulatien.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the Soul of thy Servant, as thou deliverd'st Enoch and Elias from the common death of the World.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the Soul of thy Servant, as thou deliver'dst Noah in the Flood.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the Soul of thy Servant, as thou deliverd'st Abraham from the midst of the Chaldees.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver; O Lord, the Soul of thy Servant, as thou deliverd'st Job from all his Afflictions.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the Soul of thy Servant, as thou deliverd'st Isaac from being Sacrificed by his Father.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the Soul of thy Servant, as thou deliverd'st Lot from Sodom, and the Flames of Fire.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy Servant, as thou deliverd'st Moses from the hands of Pharaoh, King of egypt.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliverd'st Daniel from the lions Den.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliverd'st the Three Children from the fiery Furnace, and from the hands of that unmerciful King.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliverd'st Susanna from her false Accusers.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliverd'st David from the hands of Saul and goliath.  
R. Amen.  
Deliver, O Lord, the Soul of thy servant, as thou deliverd'st Peter and Paul out of Prison.  
R. Amen.  
And, as thou deliverd'st that blessed Virgin and Martyr St. Thecla, from most cruel Torments; so vouchsafe to deliver the Soul of this thy Servant, and bring it to the participation of thy heavenly Joys.  
R. Amen.    

Let us Pray.  

WE commend to thee O Lord, the Soul of this thy Servant, and beseech thee. Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the World, that, as in mercy to him, thou bacamest Man so now thou wouldst vouchsafe to admit him into the number of the Blessed. Remember, Lord, he is thy Creature, not made by strange Gods, but by thee, the only true and living God: For there is no other God but thee, none that can work thy Wonders. Let his Soul find comfort in thy sight, and remember not his former sins, nor any of those Excesses, which he has fallen into, through the violence of Passion and Corruption. For although he has sinned, yet he has still retained a true Faith in thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; he has had a zeal for thy Honour, and faithfully adored thee, his God, and the Creator of all things.   

REmember not, O Lord, we beseech thee, the sins and Ignorances of his Youth; but according to thy great Mercy, be mindful of him in thy Eternal Glory. Let the Heavens be open to him, and the Angels rejoice with him. Receive, Lord, thy Servant into thy Kingdom. Let the Arch-Angel, St. Michael, conduct him, the chief of the Heavenly Host. Let the holy Angels of God, meet him, and bring him into the City of the Heavenly Jerusalem. May blessed Peter, the Apostle, receive him, to whom are given the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. May holy Paul the Apostle help him, who was a Vessel of Election. May St. John, the beloved Disciple, intercede for him, to whom God revealed the Secrets of Heaven. May all the holy Apostles pray for him, to whom was given the power of Binding and Losing. May all the blessed and chosen Servants of God, pray for him, who in this World, have suffered Torments for the name of Christ: That being delivered from this Body of Corruption, he may be admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven, through the Assistance and Merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, World without end. Amen.  
If the Sick Party still continues in distress of Agony, it may be proper for the Assistants to continue on in Prayer, saying, Psalm 21. and 118.    

The Soul being now Departed, the following Responsory is said.  
COme to his assistance, all you Saints of God; meet him, all you Angels of God; receive his Soul, and present it now before its Lord. May Jesus Christ receive thee, and the Angels conduct thee to thy place of Rest: May they receive his Soul, and present it now before its Lord.  
Resp. Eternal Rest grant him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine unto him May they present him now before his Lord  
Lord, have Mercy on us.  
Christ have Mercy on us.  
Our Father.  
V. And led us not into Temptation.  
R. But deliver us from Evil.  
V. Eternal Rest grant him O Lord.  
R. And let perpetual light shine unto him.  
V. From the Gates of Hell,  
R. Deliver his Soul, O Lord.  
V. May he rest in Peace.  
R. Amen.  
V. Our Lord, hear my Prayer.  
R. And let my Cry come to thee.  

Let us Pray.  
TO thee, Lord, we recommend the Soul of thy Servant N. that being dead to this World, he may live to thee. And whatever sins he has committed through human Frailty, We beseech thee in thy goodness, mercifully to pardon, through chest our Lord. Amen.   

Then for a Conclusion, may be added the following Prayer for the Assistants.  
GRant, O God, that while we here lament the departure of thy Servant, we may ever remember, that we are most certainly to follow him. Give us Grace to prepare for that last hour, by a good Life, that we may not be surprised by sudden Death, but be ever watching when thou shalt call; that so with the Spouse, we may enter into eternal Glory, Through Christ our Lord. Amen.    

Advice upon Recovery  
Q. But if a Person recover from Sickness, what Devotion may be proper for him, upon his Recovery.  
A. Thanksgiving is due to Almighty God for all his Blessings, and therefore, when a Person is raised from the Bed of Sickness, he ought not to omit this Duty; which, I fear, is forgot by too many, who when they are in extremity of Pain or Sickness, know how to value Health and Ease, and in the earnestness of their Wishes, declare their Sense of such Blessings; and having received them, think no more of them, or of the Hand that gave them. This is a sort of Ingratitude very unbecoming a Christian Spirit: And hence you may conclude, how much the Method of those is to be disapproved, who, after a fit of Sickness, Consecrate their first sitting up to a Game of Cards, and their first going abroad to a Play, or the Park, &c. Whenas the first Fruits of Health ought to be offered to God, as his Due, in Prayer and going to Church: those that do otherwise, abuse his Gifts; and 'tis to be feared, that such as are hardy enough to do this, as soon as they are received, will not be more grateful afterwards. This is the Misery of two many, who perversely think, Prayers will do harm, when Cards will not; and therefore these get the start for some days; when God knows, the Attention at Prayers, is but too often, much inferior to that of Cards, especially if we consider the Time spent in these; and therefore not likely to be more prejudicial. But the truth is, we are all too apt to favour our Inclinations, and a slender Reason is sufficient to promote what we have a mind to do: And thus we deceive ourselves: When at the bottom there's only this; That we are ready to venture more for our Diversion, than our Duty: And this makes those, who are afraid of their Prayer-Book, to be very bold at their Games.  
Q. What Prayers would you direct them to, by way of Thanksgiving?  
A Those mentioned above: as the Hymn Te Deum. We Praise thee, O God, &c. The Benedicite, or Song of the Three Children: With other Psalms, as set down above, &c. The following Prayer likewise may not be improper.  

ALmighty and Everlasting God, I here aclowledge thy Blessing in the recovery of my Health, and return thee my most hearty Thanks for it. I beg thy Grace, for the making a better use of it, than hitherto I have done; that I may correct all the Errors of my past life, that I may improve in virtue, by an Example to others, and sanctify that Health to thee which is now thy special Gift: that thus living to thee, I may be ever prepared for my last hour. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.     

INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS For Prisoners, especially those, who are condemned to die.  
SUch Persons, who either by their Crimes, or false Accusations, or any other ways fall into the hands of Justice, and are thrown into Prison, ought to make an advantage of their misfortune, and improve it to the good of their Souls: Innocence in Confinement may find there the exercise of many virtues, encouraged by the Example of Christ and all his Glorious Confessors and Martyrs. Guilt in Confinement may find great Mercy attending the Justice of its Suffering, in the fairest opportunity offered for making atonement for past offences. This seems to be the design of Heaven, both as to the one and the other, and it must be a very great Abuse, not to comply with it, such as will sully the Innocence of the Cause on the one side, and increase the Guilt on the other, and in both render all their Suffering unprofitable. Wherefore great Caution is to be used by all in these Circumstances.  
First, In avoiding, as much as may be, the common Contagion of Prisons, that is, Ill Company, by which many, who have gone in Innocent, have come out Corrupt and Vicious. And because the usual Expedient of fleeing such Conversations, is here often rendered Impracticable, therefore, is there a necessity of a more than ordinary Care, such as may secure virtue in the midst of Corruption, and preserve a Lot in Sodom. Guards are doubled in time of Danger, so it must be here: for that watchfullness, which was the Defence of Innocence in other places, is not sufficient to withstand the Enemy here, which by the Advantage of the ground, is now much more powerful.  
Secondly, In avoiding that too general practise of Intemperance, which has many times the Authority of Men of Principles to recommend it. The Spirit in Confinement is desirous of Relief against all manner of Dejection, which for want of Employment or Diversion, is there too apt to seize it. Society is the obvious Remedy that presents itself, and wretched Custom persuading Men, there's no maintaining this without Drinking; hence this is ushered in under the cover of Necessity, or Convenience, and one Evil is made the Remedy of another; and whatever Checks of Conscience attended the first Engagement, practise soon wears out this uneasiness, and hardens the Mind against all Scruples: Thus by degrees the life of a Prison becomes a life of continual Dissipation, of Intemperance, and of very unbecoming Entertainments, such as Exclude the Christian use of all their Sufferings, and deprive them of all that benefit Heaven has designed for them. Those, who consider the Dispositions, with which all those Scourges, which come from the Hand of God, ought to be received; and that the time of Affliction is the time of Humiliation, of seeking Help and Comfort from God, will easily discover the unreasonableness of this Method, and that nothing can be more provoking, than to grow worse under Correction, and then to run into new Disorders, when they are called upon to retrench their old ones. Wherefore it must certainly be more advisable, to submit to all manner of uneasiness, to seek Remedy in Humility and Patience, to oblige Heaven to their Assistance by Prayer and Penance, to mortify themselves in all the inconveniencies of their Confinement: There's something of the Gospel in this Spirit; but the other way is so far from Christian, that it gives Scandal to all Observers.  
These Cautions I think needless for those, who look for no other Liberty, than what the Sentence of Death is to bring them; the apprehensions of their approaching end being sufficient Security against these mischiefs, without the help of a Monitor. However to these, there is something to be recommended: As,  
First, Not to delay their Preparations for Death, till they have heard Sentence pronounced against them: For this cannot be excused from Neglect, and many times proves such, as cannot afterwards be recovered; whilst stricter Confinement, after Condemnation, often cuts off many of those Opportunities and Helps which they had before; and hinders them from making so good a Preparation as Death requires.  
Secondly, Not to permit their Spirits to be seized with immoderate Dejection, by reflecting on their Misfortune, or the Terrors of Death, For it is very ill Management, to give that time to unprofitable, and it may be, sinful Disquiet, which ought to be employed much more to the purpose, in preparing their Souls against the last hour.  
Thirdly, For the lessening these Disquiets, and making the best use of their time, that they would seriously consider the Mercy, that accompany their present misfortune, which is very great, especially to those, whose Crimes have brought them into these Circumstances. For whereas the lives of these, are generally subject to great Disorders, and if this Justice, that has met them, had not put a stop, they might very likely have pursued their evil ways, and as they lived, so likewise have died unmindful of God and their Salvation, as is the unhappy Fate of too many; now being apprehended and confined, their wicked Course is interrupted, and they have a fair opportunity before them, of Repenting, and making a much better Preparation for another World, than Sickness will generally allow; in which, either through the shortness or sharpness of the Distemper, or the flattering hopes of Recovery, or want of opportunity and necessary helps, wicked Men seldom come to a true Repentance; but as Sickness finds them, so Death generally carries them away. The opportunity therefore of true Conversion is so much greater before a Violent Death, than a Natural, that, notwithstanding the Unhappiness and Terror, it must certainly be acknowledged an effect of a most Providential Mercy; and I don't question, many have come by this way to a true Sense of their Sins and a happy end, who otherwise, would have been surprised in their Wickedness, and perished everlastingly. It is a Mercy likewise to all others, since the certain knowledge of Death obliges them to a much stronger and more undisturbed Application, than is generally practised, when the time is not determined; that Uncertainty, which God has ordained with a design of obliging us to a perpetual watchfulness, being generally abused and made the occasion of very prejudial neglects, even to the hazarding of our Eternal Lot.  
It being thus easy to discover great effects of Mercy, under the misfortune of Confinement and Violent Death, it ought to be their Principal business; who come into these Circumstances, not to neglect it, but make the best advantange of it they are able, since whatever time they then lose, is irrecoverable Using therefore all possible endeavours to suppress immoderate Solicitude and all manner of Disquiets, they are to consider their present business, and permit nothing to take them off it: For this end they are daily to raise up their Hearts and Hopes to God, and beg him to be their Director, in the Preparation they are to make of appearing before him.  
Before Trial they are every day to commit their Cause into the Hands of God, and endeavour to compose their Minds, for whatever he shall appoint, as knowing all to depend on him, and that Judges and Jury are only to declare, what he has already Decreed: which may be done thus.  

A daily Prayer before Trial.  
O God, in whose Power are all things, and without Order or Permission, nothing happens in this World, I recommend myself and my Cause entirely into thy Hands, beseeching thee to appoint every thing belonging to me, as shall be most conformable to thy Blessed Will. I lay before thee my Desires of meeting a favourable Sentence; but if thou know'st this not to be best for me, do with me as thou pleasest: I am thy Creature, and ought to have no other Will, but thine; and therefore, whatever my Desires are, as to Liberty and Life, I desire now to renounce all these, and lay them down at thy Feet, leaving all to the disposition of thy infinite Wisdom and Goodness, with an assurance of that being best for me, which thou shalt appoint.  
I know, as the Birds of the Air are in thy Care, as there falls not a Leaf from a three, or a Hair from my Head, but by thy Providence; so I likewise am a part of thy Care, and that nothing shall befall me, but by thy appointment; in this Confidence I desire to rest, as knowing whatever Powers are over me, they are all subject to thee, and that they cannot move one step in my Concern, but by thy Permission; and therefore, whatever they determine, must be what thou hast ordained for me, they being only the Instruments of thy Mercy or Justice.  
Being therefore thus entirely in thy Hands, what have I to doubt, or what to fear? Nothing, O my God, but myself; and therefore moved by the Sense of my own weakness, I make my present Address to thee, humbly beseeching thy infinite Goodness to have Compassion on me, to give me that inward strength and happiness of Mind, as to Embrace with true Peace and Submission, whatever thou shalt manifest to be thy Will, and that I may receive the Sentence of my Jury, as if pronounced by thy Sacred Mouth, since I aclowledge, it is thou that speakest, and determin'st my Lot by them. For this end, I beseech thee to direct both my Judge and Jury, as likewise to stand by me, and be my Counsel, to put Words into my Mouth, and help me in my Defence; deliver me from all Solicitude and Surprise, and permit not false Witnesses, Prejudice or Passion, to prevail against me. Thus, O my God, I leave myself, both as to Liberty, Life or Death, in thy Hands: I have nothing, but what thou hast given me, and thou mayst take it away when thou pleasest: Do with me, as shall seem good in thy Eyes: Lord, thy Blessed Will be done. Confirm me. I beseech thee, in this Disposition to the end of my Life.  
Preparation being thus daily made for Trial, the rest of the day ought to be employed in Prayer and other Holy Exercises for obtaining a true Conformity to the Will of God, in which The Christians Daily Exercise may be a great help, as containing Devotions very proper for this end: But above all, a principal Portion of every day ought to be set a-part for the Prisoner making his Peace with God, by a sincere Repentance and humble Confession of the sins of his whole Life, in which the same Book may be very serviceable, as likewise that short Exercise of Repentance and Contrition set down in these Instructions, p. 124.  
On the day of Trial, he ought in a more particular manner to recommend his Cause to God, earnestly importuning him for his Protection and Direction, and bowing down in the Spirit of true Humility manifest his Resolutions of Embracing whatever shall appear to be his Holy Will in the Sentence that shall be passed upon him.   

After Sentence of Discharge.  
I Return thee Almighty God, most hearty Thanks for the favour thou hast shew'd me, in my deliverance; I accept my Life now again from thy hands, and as I have received it from thee, so I now sincerely offer it to thee again, desiring to live in thy Service, and by my Fidelity in the observance of thy Law, ever to aclowledge the Mercy of what I have received this day. For this end, I beseech thee, my God, to confirm me by thy Grace, that so being strengthened against all Temptations, no power of Earth or Hell, may be able to prevail against me. This is my sincere desire; confirm me in it, and give me perseverance in all good, for thy greater Glory, and the salvation of my Soul.   

After Sentence of Death.  
O God, thy Will be done. The Lord has given, the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of our Lord. I received my Life from thy hands, and ought not I to surrender it when thou demand'st of me? Now thou hast sent me a Summons, and in this manifested thy Will to me; and as I aclowledge thee to be my Lord, so I know 'tis my duty to obey; I wish I could do it cheerfully and without reluctance; but tho Nature be unwilling, yet notwithstanding all unwillingness, behold, I now bow down, and with all possible submission, pronounce from my Heart, Lord, thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Lord, thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Lord, thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.  
And if any thing be wanting in my Heart of that true submission which I here profess with my Lips, pour forth thy Grace upon me, and supply by the power of thy holy Spirit, whatever is wanting through my weakness: Teach me, I most earnestly beseech thee, to do thy Will; and since my days are short, let me want none of thy assistance, which is necessary in my present Circumstances, for making a happy end. Thou know'st all my infirmity, and that of myself I am able to do nothing; but, O God, I believe thy Grace is sufficient for me, and I hope, through thy assistance to do all. Help me, O Jesus, and forsake not this miserable Sinner, who calls upon thee in the day of Distress: Let thy heavenly light shine upon me, and be my Comfort in this day of darkness: Command a calm within my Soul, and let all be there in Peace: Give me Courage and resolution, that courage which is the Fruit of thy Holy Spirit, that I may bear up against all the Terrors of Death: Give me Patience and true conformity of Will, that I may suffer all thou hast appointed for me, as becomes a Christian and thy Disciple. Help me, O Jesus, and be to me a Jesus; and permit me not to depart out of this World in thy Displeasure.   

THE days after Condemnation, ought to be employed by every one, in the best manner they are able, according to their different Circumstances, in preparing for their last hour: And in this Preparation, Contrition and Repentance, ought to have a principal part; so that if begun before, it is now to be carried on and finished with all possible diligence; what remains of life being now to be a life of Penance; for this end, the penitential Psalms may be a proper Exercise for every day, with such other Prayers and Devotions as move the heart to a Detestation of Sin: It may be likewise advisable to add Mortification to Prayer, and particularly to submit to the present difficulties of their State, in the spirit of Penance, accepting them from the hand of God, as a punishment justly due to their sins, and to accompany these with a voluntary abstinence from Wine and strong drink, and even with Fasting with Bread and Water, if they are able to bear it. In this penitential and humble way, they ought daily to make their Petitions to Heaven, asking for Patience, for Resignation, for Contrition, and for a sincere love of God, and of their Neighbour, and daily exercise their Souls in Acts of these virtues, in which the Poor Man's Manuel may be a great help. But because the apprehension of approaching Death may cause great disturbance, and by immoderate Solicitude hinder the quiet performance of these Exercises, therefore I desire them every day to take some time in considering the following Points.  

I.  
That we are all born into this World to die; that none are exempt from this Sentence.   

II.  
That the difference is not great, whether we die this Week, this Year, or the next. How short, and even nothing, are all, the Years now past! The same it would be, were there yet many more to come.   

III.  
If they are to die this Week or the next; is it not the same with many others? Every Week in London carries away near Five hundred Persons: So many that are now alive, will be gone before the end of the next Week: Their Sentence is already past, and will most certainly be executed without reprieve.   

IV.  
The Sentence of Death, whether Natural or Violent, is pronounced by the mouth of God, in whose hands we all are, and to whom all are bound to submit.   

V.  
The great concern is to be prepared for it. Where Death meets this Preparation, there Death is a Mercy; and 'tis of little concern, when it comes, or in what manner it comes, whether by Distemper or Violence; tho in reality, there is no kind of Death but what is Violent   

VI.  
That to fore-see the hour of Death, and have time appointed to prepare for it, has a great advantage and a very great Mercy accompanying it.   

VII.  
How many of those, who are to die before the end of the next Week, will be surprised by sudden Death, even in the midst of their Sins, without Repentance or the thoughts of Eternity!   

VIII.  
How many, through the violence of Distemper, or faulty delays, will be snatched away unprepared!   

IX.  
Might not this have been my misfortune, had God permitted me to have waited for a natural Death?   

X.  
Might not I have been at length taken off by sudden Death or died without Repentance.   

XI.  
Can I tell, what ways I might have taken, and whether by my wickedness, I might not have wholly departed from God.   

XII.  
It is therefore good, what God has at present ordained for me: There is Mercy in the Fore-sight of Death, and in the Time he has given me to prepare for it.   

XIII.  
A Natural Death might have less Terror, but in that I might have wanted many advantages, which are now granted me.   

XIV.  
If my Death be violent, was not that of my Redeemer so too? Did not the Apostles and Martyrs finish their Course by the hands of Executioners?   

XV.  
I have in this opportunity of offering my Life a Sacrifice to God, and of being more closely united by my Sufferings to Christ expiring on the across.   

XVI.  
If he being Innocent, accepted that Death for my Sins; why should not I accept this, who have been guilty of so many Offences?   

XVII.  
This Death is a Punishment justly due to my Sins; and is it not a Mercy, God punishes me here? May I not hope, that he has not reserved my punishment for hereafter?   

XVIII.  
If I consider how great a-part of my Life I have taken away from God and mis-spent in Sin; 'tis but just he should take away from me what remains; and may be happy in surrendering it to him.   

XIX.  
If I cast myself entirely upon the Mercy of God will he not show me Mercy now and stand by me, as much as if I were to die in my Bed?   

XX.  
What is my Suffering, if compared to the Sufferings of Christ; to the Torments of Hell, which I deserve; to the Blessings I have received; to the Eternal Happiness, which I hope for? All I can suffer is nothing; I accept it all: Lord thy Will be done.  
By these, and such like Considerations, the Prisoner may daily endeavour to calm all Solicitous and disquieting Thoughts, and compose his Soul both for a sincere Repentance and Confession of his Sins, and for Receiving the Holy Communion, in preparing for which he may find some help in the Short Exercise above p 150. And he ought not to fail in receiving this, that from this Bread of Life, he may hope to partake of the Spirit of Christ, so necessary in the Time of Suffering, and be interiorly strengthened for meeting Death with Courage.    

On the day of Exccution.  
HAving employed the first part of the Morning in Prayer, in Prostrating himself with the most profound Humility and Obedience before God, in sincerely offering himself, his Life and all to God, in begging all necessary helps of God, as Patience, true Conformity, of Spirit, Courage, &c. and having cast himself wholly upon the Divine Mercy and Assistance; when the last Messenger of Death comes, he ought to look upon him, as bringing news of the Spouse coming, and calling him to go forth and meet him: He ought in Spirit to cry out, Paratum cor meum Deus, My Heart is ready, O Lord, my Heart is ready: and bowing down, as in Obedience to the Voice of God, go forth with a Spirit composed, as much as may be, expressiing a Sense of his Circumstances, and yet with such a Confidence in God, as not to be overwhealm'd or dejected. Isaac going to be offered a Sacrifice, and Christ being lead as a Sheep to the Slaughter, without opening his Mouth, ought to be the Prisoner's Pattern  
Going to Execution he is to raise his Thoughts to God, in earnestly begging his assisting and supporting Grace, and exercising his Heart in Acts of Contrition, Resignation, of Hope, Confidence and Love of God, &c. As thus.   

Going to Execution.  
O God, accompany me, I beseech thee, go along with me and help me now in this my last hour.  
Be to me a God and Protector, and strengthen me by thy Heavenly Grace in this time of my Distress.  
Consider not my unworthiness, for, I confess, I am a miserable Sinner, and deserve none of thy Favours.  
My Sins have been without number, and multiplied above the Hairs of my Head.  
But deal not with me according to my Sins, neither reward me according to my Iniquities.  
But according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies, have Compassion on me, and blot out all my Iniquities.  
O Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort, look down upon this miserable Creature, and have pity on me.  
It grieves me now from my Heart, that I have so often offended against thee. O that I had never sinned O, that I had never transgressed thy Law.  
All my Misery is from myself; but my Comfort and Relief must come from thee.  
Despise not, I beseech thee, the Sacrifice of an Humble and Contrite Heart, and forgive me all my Sins.  
Look not upon me, but upon the Blood and Passion of thy only Son, and through the Merits of his Sufferings, show Mercy to me.  
It is in my Redeemer, who laid down his Life for me, I place all my Confidence.  
Since he is become my Advocate, and I have his Blood to pled for me, Why should I fear?  
Fear not, my Soul, but seek Refuge in thy Saviours Wounds: If thy whole Trust be there, thou canst not be forsaken.  
O Jesus, in thee, I put my Trust; O Jesus, be now to me a powerful Redeemer.  
Shelter me now under the Shadow of thy Wings, and stand by me in the day of Tribulation.  
Thou, O Jesus, art the Refuge of the Miserable, and Comfort of Sinners, visit me now with Heavenly Comforts and Strength, and while the World is against me, be thou my Defence and support me.  
Remember, I beseech thee, that excessive Grief which seized thee in the Garden, and sand now Relief to my sinking Spirit.  
I beseech thee, by all those Torments thou sufferedst for the sins of Men, to have Compassion on me, and help me now in this hour.  
Obtain for me that Spirit of Conformity and Meekness, with which thou carriedst thy across to Mount Calvary, there to die for our sins.  
I desire my Soul should be united to thine, my Suffering and Death to thine, that so my Sacrifice may be acceptable, which can only find acceptance through thee.  
Now, O Jesus, I place myself by thee in the Garden, by thee at the foot of the across, and as there thou didst Offer thyself to thy Eternal Father, so now I Offer myself to thee.  
I offer myself to suffer that Death, thou hast appointed for me, that Death, which is due to my Sins: I submit to all the Reproach and Confusion of it, I hope by Patience and Perseverance, through the Merits of my Redeemer, to obtain Pardon of my sins.  
Help me, O my God, in this my last hour; Thou, who hast strengthened the Martyrs in all their Sufferings, strengthen me now in mine.  
Infuse into my Soul a true love of thee, that in perfect Charity I may give up my Soul to thee.  
Nothing is hard to a Soul, that truly loves thee; give me now, I beseech thee, O God, this Love.  
Is it not my God, that calls me; are they not his Orders I obey? Go on then, my Soul, embrace cheerfully the Will of thy Lord.  
If he demand thy Life, give it into his Hands; he demands nothing, but what is his; surrender it all, and rejoice in fulfilling his Will.  
What is thy Life here, compared to that Life to come? And if he will exchange now this Life of Misery into a Life of Joy, where is thy unhappiness?  
Lord, thou art Good and Merciful in all thy ways, do with me as thou pleasest: I have no exception against thy Orders.  
Only give me thy Grace, that nothing be wanting on my part, then do all, that shall seem good in thy Eyes.  
Here, as time will permit, it may be proper to add those short Prayers above p. 173. fitted for the approach of Death. Those Acts of Hope and Charity, p. 115. or the Acts of Contrition, p. 126.   

At the Place of Execution.  
AT sight of it let the Prisoner bow down in Conformity to the Will of God, and then make a new Oblation of himself, Confessing and Adoring the Justice of God.  
As for making Speeches there, especially such as are a burden to the Memory, I cannot advice it, because this must be a hindrance to other Thoughts, and takes off the Mind from its better Work, in which all loss is irrecoverable. If any thing be necessary for public Satisfaction, or doing Right to others, this is best left in Writing; besides this, few Words to express his Charity in which he dies, may be sufficient. His chief business is to speak to God, which he may do thus.  
Jesus Christ, Fountain of Mercy, have Compassion on thy poor Servant, and help me in this last Moment, help me in this time of Distress. Let thy Death and Passion pled for me, and stand betwixt my Soul and the Divine Justice.  
I give myself wholly into thy Hands, reject me not: Now, Lord, according to thy good Will, show Mercy to me; command my Soul to be received in Peace; for thou hast redeemed me, O God of Truth. Lord Jesus, let those sweet Words sound in my Ears, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.  
Receive me, my Crucified Jesus, into thy loving Arms, which were stretched forth for me on the across; receive me into those Embraces of thy infinite Charity, and draw my Soul to thee: Receive me, good Jesu, in thy Mercy, receive my Soul in Peace.  
Merciful Jesu, thou art my Strength, my Refuge and my Deliverer. In thee I believe, in thee I hope, and thee only I desire to love. Call me now, I beseech thee, and I will answer; stretch forth thy Hand of Mercy, to the Work of thy Hands, and let me not perish, whom thou hast redeemed by thy Precious Blood.  
'tis time for Dust to return to Dust, and my Spirit to thee, who gav'st it: Open then, Lord, the Gate of Life, and receive me; most Merciful Lord, according to the Multitude of thy tender, Mercies, who received the Thief on the across, and now prepare my Soul, so hearing the same Promise of Mercy, which he did.  
Now, Lord, let thy Servant depart in Peace, according to thy Word. But remember, I am but Dust, and therefore enter not into judgement with thy poor Servant, for how can I be Justified in thy sight? I confess, I am unworthy to be admitted into thy Presence; all my hope is in thy infinite Goodness and Mercy, which is able to purify my Soul, and cleanse me from all my Iniquities. In this I hope, and with this Hope I now beg of thee to manifest thy Goodness, and receive my Soul into thy Eternal Kingdom.  
In the Confession of thy Name I desire to breath out my last: Receive me therefore according to thy great Mercy: Open to me the Gate of Life, and secure me against all the Powers of Darkness; let thy Hand conduct me into the place of Refreshment, the place thou hast prepared for those that fear thee.  
Thou know'st, O Lord, my life has abounded in Sin and Misery; but thou aboundest in Mercy; and therefore in the Spirit of Humility and a Contrite Heart, I now beseech thee to receive me, O good Jesu, the Life and Health of my Soul; for 'tis not in the confidence of any Justice of mine, but only of thy Mercies, that I now make my Address to thee.  
I am the lost Sheep, that now returns to my Shepherd, I have heard thy Voice, and desire to follow it: And canst thou now despise the cry of thy poor Sheep, who runs to thee for shelter? Receive him now, I beseech thee into thy Fold. Hast not thou commanded all to come to thee; and promised to hear and help those that call upon thee in the day of Tribulatiation?  
Behold, I call upon thee, Lord; behold Tribulation is upon me, and there's none to help me, none that can Save me, but thou, my good Jesu. Save me, O Jesus, in this hour.  
Christ Jesus, who wast Crucified for our Redemption, I beseech thee, by that Love, which brought thee from Heaven, to have Compassion on me: Forgive me all my Sins, and by the Merits of thy bitter Passion satisfy for all my Failings, and supply all my Defects. Dispose now my Soul, that it may be prepared to go forth to meet thee. Grant true Patience and perfect Resignation in my last Anguish; Confirm my Faith, Strengthen me in Hope, and Perfect me in Charity, that departing hence, my Soul may be received into thy Mercy.  
O dear Redeemer, by that Distress, which thou sufier'dst on the across, when thou criedst out to thy Eternal Father, I beseech thee to have mercy on me in my extremity, and at the time, when I cannot speak for myself, speak thou for me, who art the Eternal Word, and to whom the Father will refuse nothing.  
O God, be merciful to me a Sinner: O God, be merciful to me a Sinner. Lord Jesus, into thy Hands I commend my Spirit: Lord Jesus, receive my Soul.   
FINIS.   

ERRATA.  
page. 8. Line 28. red proving, p. 13. l. 3. r. Injurious, p. 15. l. 26. r. Resolution, p. 17. l. 14. r. Exposes, p. 20. l. 14. r. ought, l. 20. r. ought, p. 27. l. 12. r. perceives, p. 43. l. 17. r. that, p. 46. l. 11. r. with, p. 89. l. 20. r. miserable, p. 93. l. 19. r. humbly, p. 139. l. 7. r. conformable, p. 141. l. 6. r. and, p. 149. l. 1. r. future, l. 14. r. him, p. 150. l. 1. r. my, p. 154, l. 13. r. punishing, p. 161. l. 3. r. O, l. 23. r. unprofitable, p. 133. l. 12. r. archangels, p. 167. l. 5. r. is, l. 21. r. if, p. 168. l. 18. r. should, l. 20. r. has, p. 169. l. 21. r. obey, p. 174. l. 18. r. thee, p. 183. l. 15. r. persevere, p. 184. l. 18. deal it, p. 185. l. 19. r. to, p. 224. l. 21. r. beseech, p. 227. l. 4. r. redeemed, p. 228. l. 13. r. life, p. 231. l. 14. r. patriarches, p. 236. l. 20. r. Tribulation, p. 242. l. 9. r. Christ.