CLIV.

IN TIME OF SICKNESS IN A FAMILY.

O thou who art the only true God, the God who lives for ever, who alone kills and makes alive, who wounds and heals, and there is no God beside thee, we desire now especially to look to thee in behalf of that member [those members] of our family now suffering from sickness. Often have we had to praise thee for unmingled mercies of health and comfort, and for an overflowing cup of goodness: we would see and acknowledge the same hand of love in the present affliction, and looking at the many mercies mingled with it, say from the heart, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Graciously sanctify it to us all. Let thy design of love in it be accomplished. May we now feel that if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it. In tender sympathy we would then pray for the recovery of the sick, and so beseech thee to grant that when one member is comforted all the members may rejoice, for Jesus' sake.

CLV.

IN TIME OF AFFLICTION,

O our God, the Father of our spirits, who never chastenest us but for our profit, help us to believe that whom thou lovest thou chastenest, and scourgest all the sons whom thou dost receive. May we lift up, then, the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and by full confidence in thy wisdom and

goodness, and having entire love to thee, may we make straight paths for our feet, that that which is lame may be healed. May we return unto the Lord, for he hath torn and he will heal us; he hath smitten and he will bind us up. He will revive us and raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

O that the holy directions and gracious promises of thy word may be written in our hearts; and do thou make us so strong in faith that they may have a living, sustaining, abiding and comforting power in the midst of every trial and affliction here below. Hear us, for our Redeemer's sake.

CLVI.

THANKSGIVING ON RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS. Bless the Lord, O our souls, and all that is within us bless his holy name, who forgives all our iniquities, who heals all our diseases, who redeems our life from destruction, and who crowns us with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Especially we render our grateful thanksgivings unto thee at this time for the recovery of that member of our family who has been sick. It is thy goodness to which we owe this recovery. It is through thy mercy that this sickness has not been unto death. Let all thy goodness herein be ever gratefully remembered by us. May our faith be strengthened, our hope in thee be confirmed, and our love be increased; and may we all, with more devoted hearts, henceforth live unto thy praise, through Jesus our Redeemer.

CLVII.

THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM
AFFLICTION.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. We found trouble and sorrow, we called upon the name of the Lord, and he helped us; may our souls therefore return unto their true rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with us; and may we walk before him with a believing, loving and devoted heart all the days of our life. We will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.

CLVIII.

FOR A SICK CHILD.

Blessed Jesus, who when the nobleman's son was sick at Capernaum and at the point of death, didst hear his prayer and speak the life-giving wordsThy Son liveth; who didst also heal the only child of one for whom thy disciples could do nothing, and didst answer the believing and persevering prayer of the woman of Canaan for her daughter; we beseech thee look upon us in our present affliction, and if it be thy holy will, remove the present sickness, and recover and raise up our dear child, that we may together praise and bless thee, our only Lord and Saviour; but give us grace to resign all we are or have unto thee, and say from the heart, in every thing, The will of the Lord be done.

CLIX.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE RECOVERY OF A CHILD.

What thanks can we render unto thee, O God our Saviour, for this thy mercy to our beloved child; when [he] was sick, nigh unto death, thou hadst mercy on [him,] and not on [him] only, but on us also, lest we should have sorrow upon sorrow. All glory be to thy holy name; may this sickness be to thy glory, and yield peaceable fruits of righteousness, in us who have been exercised thereby..

CLX.

FOR A SERVANT IN THE FAMILY WHEN SICK.

O blessed Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who when the centurion came unto thee for his sick servant, didst immediately answer, I will come and heal him, we call upon thee for our sick servant, entreating thee to heal him [or her.] Thou hast all power in heaven and earth, speak thou the word only and our servant shall be healed, our faith strengthened, and our souls have fresh cause to bless thy saving

name.

CLXI.

THANKSGIVING FOR A SERVANT RESTORED TO HEALTH.

O Lord, we bless thee for thy goodness in restoring our servant to health again. O that, like the healed Samaritan leper, we may ever glorify thee in giving

thanks for thy mercies, and be strengthened thereby to walk in thy ways with gladness and increased faith and love. Give our restored servant grace to walk before thee henceforth in a grateful sense of thy mercy and in true holiness and righteousness of life. CLXII.

IN TIME OF GENERAL SICKNESS.

Unto thee, Lord, we commit all the circumstances of this day; not a sparrow falleth to the ground without thy knowledge. Unto thee, in the midst of the general and dangerous sickness which, for our sinfulness, thou hast sent at this time, we commit sickness and health, for they are thy servants. O may all the uncertainties and dangers, changes and deaths of this troubled scene lead us to thyself, wean us from this world, and preserve us from fixing our hopes here. May we look forward to that land, where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, but perfect holiness, peace and love. Give us a more constant hope of thy glory, that we may be raised above the darkness of this lower world, the cares, doubts and anxieties of this mortal life, and the gloom of sin and unbelief. May we view this life merely as a time of preparation for that blessedness. May thy love be our stay, our guide, and our support, in the time of need, the hour of death, the day of judgment, and through the countless ages of eternity.