Short Prayers to be said by Sick Persons.

O holy Jesus, thou art a merciful high-priest, and touched with the sense of our infirmities; thou knowest the sharpness of my sickness and the weakness of my person. The clouds are gathered about me, and thou hast covered me with thy storm: my understanding hath not such apprehension of things as formerly. Lord, let thy mercy support me, thy Spirit guide me, and lead me through the valley of this death safely; that I may pass it patiently, holily, with perfect resignation; and let me rejoice in the lord, in the hopes of pardon, in the expectation of glory, in the sense of thy mercies, in the refreshments of thy Spirit, in a victory over all temptations.

Thou hast promised to be with us in tribulation. Lord, my soul is troubled, and my body is weak, and my hope is in thee, and my enemies are busy and mighty; now make good thy holy promise. Now, O holy Jesus, now let thy hand of grace be upon me: restrain my ghostly enemies and give me all sorts of spiritual assistance. Lord, remember thy servant in the day when thou bindest up thy jewels.

O take from me all tediousness of spirit, all impatience and unquietness: let me possess my soul in patience, and resign my soul and body into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator and a blessed Redeemer.

O holy Jesus, thou didst die for us; by thy sad, pungent, and intolerable pains, which thou enduredst for me, have pity on me, and ease my pains, which thou endurest for me, have pity on me, and ease my pain, or increase my patience. Lay on me no more than thou shalt enable me to bear. I have deserved it all and more, and infinitely more. Lord, I am weak and ignorant, timorous and inconstant; and I fear lest something should happen that may discompose the state of my soul, that may displease thee: do what thou wilt with me, so that thou dost but preserve me in thy fear and favour. Thou knowest that it is my great fear, but let thy Spirit secure that nothing may be able to separate me from the love of God in Jesus Christ: then smite me here that thou mayest spare me for ever; and yet, O Lord, smite me friendly, for thou knowest my infirmities. Into thy hands, I commend my spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth. Come, Holy Spirit, help me in this conflict. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

(Let the sick man often meditate upon these following promises and gracious words of God.)

My help cometh of the Lord, who preserveth them that are true of heart. Psalm vii. 11.

And all they that knew thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee. Psalm ix. 10.

O how plentiful is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee, even before the sons of men! Psalm xxxi. 21.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and upon them that put their trust in his mercy, to deliver their souls from death. Psalm xxxiii. 18, 19.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart; and will save such as are of an humble spirit. Psalm xxxiv. 18.

Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast: how excellent is thy mercy, O God! and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm xxxvi. 7.

They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house; and thou shalt give them to drink of thy pleasures, as out of the rivers. Verse 8.

For with thee is the well of life; and in thy light we shall see light. Verse 9.

Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm xxxvii. 5.

But in the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord, who is also their strength in the time of trouble. Verse 40.

So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: doubtless there is a God that judgeth the earth. Psalm lvii. 10.

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receivest unto thee: he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Psalm lxv. 4.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm cxxvi. 6.

It is written, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Heb. xiii. 5.

The prayer of faith shall save the sick; and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James v. 15.

Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us: he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. Hos. vi. 1.

If we sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John ii. 1, 2.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness. 1 John, i. 9.

He that forgives shall be forgiven. Luke, vi. 37.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. 1 John, i. 14.

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins. 1 John iii. 5.

If ye, being evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matt. vii. 11.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15.

He that hath given us his Son, how should he not, with him, give us all things else? Rom. viii. 32.