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A Prayer before Taking of Phyfick..

Almighty God and Merciful Father, to whom alone belong the Iffues of Life and Death; thou killeft and makeft alive ; thou bringeft down to the Grave, and raifeft up again. I come unto Thee as to the only Phyfician, who canft cure my Soul from Sin, and my Body from Sickness. I defire neither Life nor Death, but refign my felf to thy most holy Will.

But fince thou haft appointedoutward Means for the Curing of Sickness, and Reftoring of Health; I have fent to thy Servant, the Phyfician, who hath prepared thefe Medicines for me; Which I receive as Means fent from thy Fatherly Hand.

O that it would please thee of thine infinite Goodness and Meray, to fanctify this Phyfick to

my

my use; and to give fuch a Bleffing unto it, that it may (if it be thy Will and Pleasure) remove this my Sickness and Pain

and restore me to Health and Strength again.

But if thou haft fent this Sickness, as thy Meffenger to call me out of this World; Thy bleffed Will be done.

O make me meet to be a parta ker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light.

And whenfoever my Soul fhall depart from the Body, grant that it may without fpot be prefented unto thee, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If the Sick Perfon is fo weak, or so much in Pain, that he cannot thus Pray for himself; Then let fome one of his Friends fay this Prayer for him; Only changing the Perfon: As We for I, Him or Her, for My or Me.

HA

Having Difpofed your E

ftate, and Confulted your

Health, you have done with this
World; and fhould leave the
Thoughts and Concerns for it,
to thofe who come after you.

You are now to take Care of your precious immortal Soul; and to prepare for that vast Eternity, that unalterable State, you are entring into.

This is indeed the Work of your whole Life; and fhould not be deferr'd to a Sick and Dying Bed; (as I have Admonished you in a fhort Difcourfe of Deathbed Repentance.)

However, upon the near Approach of Death, a more folemn Preparation is expected from you.

And for your Affiftance in this great Work, on which Eternity depends, fend fpeedily for your Minifter, whilft you are

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capable of his Advice, and defire him not only to Pray for you, but also to give you fuch Inftruction and Comfort, as your Cafe may require.

Now fuch Direction of the Clergy is of great Advantage, and little less than neceflary, to Sick and Dying Perfons. Who being disturbed and diverted with Vifits, weakened and disordered with Pain; terrified and amazed at the Approaches of Death; are very unable, under thefe Circumstances to Guide and

Direct themselves.

In fuch a Cafe, an Orthodox and Prudent Minifter, will give you found and feasonable Directions.

He will Admonish you,

1. To bear your Sickness with Patience.

2. He will direct you, To perfect and compleat your Repentance.

3. To exercife Faith and Trust in God.

4. He will Admonish you to a chearful Submiffion to the Will of God, in being ready to Die, and to leave this World, when and how the Divine Wisdom fhall fee it fit.

These are the feveral Inftances, wherein the Clergy do Direct the Devotions of Sick and Dying Perfons. And according to this Method, I fhall endeavour to Affift you, in the following Difcourfe.

Of Patience under Sicknefs.

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O avoid Miftakes, and to remove the Fears of fome fcrupulous Perfons, 'tis pertinent to Premife;

That by Patience under Sicknefs, I do not mean an Infenfibility of your Pains. As if being exhorted to be Patient, you were

not

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