and procure to my self a more settled assurance of that heavenly inheritance, which thou hast prepared for me. And then Lord, thou shalt see how religiously and wisely I shall redeem the time, 1which heretofore I have so lewdly and profanely spent: and to the end that I may the sooner and the easier be delivered from this pain and sickness: direct me, O Lord, I beseech thee, by thy divine providence, to such a Physician and helper: ⟨p. 805⟩as that (by thy blessing upon thy means) I may recover my former health and welfare again. And good Lord vouchsafe, that as thou hast sent this sickness unto me; so thou wouldest likewise be pleased to send thy holy spirit into my heart, whereby this present sickness may be sanctified unto me: that I may use it as thy school, wherein I may learn to know the greatness of my misery and the riches of thy mercy: that I may be so humbled at the one, that I despair not of the other: and that I may so renounce all confidence of help in my self, or in any other creature: that I may only put the whole rest of my salvation in thy all sufficient ⟨p. 806⟩merits. And forasmuch as thou knowest Lord, how weak a vessel I am, full of frailty and imperfections; and that by nature I am angry and froward under every cross and affliction: O Lord,2 who art the giver of all good gifts, arm me with patience to endure thy blessed will and pleasure: and of thy mercy lay no more upon me,3 then I shall be able to endure and suffer. Give me grace to behave my self in all patience, love and meekness, unto those that shall come and visit me, that I may thankfully receive, and willingly embrace all good counsels & consolations from them, and that they may likewise see in me such good examples ⟨p. 807⟩of patience, and hear from me such godly lessons of comfort, as may be arguments of my Christian faith and profession; and instructions unto them how to behave themselves, when it shall please thee to visit them with the like affliction or sickness. I know, O Lord, I have deserved to die; and I desire not longer to live then to amend my wicked life, and in some better measure to set forth thy glory. Therefore, O Father, if it be thy blessed will, restore me to health again, and grant me a longer life. But if thou hast according to thine eternal decree) appointed by this sickness, to call for me out of this transitory life:
and procure to my selfe a more setled assurance of that heauenly inheritance, vvhich thou hast prepared for mee. And then Lord, thou shalt see how religiously and wisely I shall redeeme the time, 1which heretofore I haue so lewdly and prophanely spent: and to the end that I may the sooner and the easier be deliuered from this paine and sicknes: direct mee, O Lord, I beseech thee, by thy diuine prouidence, to such a Physitian and helper: ⟨p. 805⟩as that (by thy blessing vpon thy meanes) I may recouer my former health and welfare againe. And good Lord vouchsafe, that as thou hast sent this sicknesse vnto mee; so thou wouldest likewise be pleased to send thy holy spirit into my heart, whereby this present sicknesse may be sanctified vnto me: that I may vse it as thy schoole, wherein I may learne to know the greatnesse of my misery and the riches of thy mercy: that I may be so humbled at the one, that I despaire not of the other: and that I may so renounce all confidence of helpe in my selfe, or in any other creature: that I may onely put the whole rest of my saluation in thy all sufficient ⟨p. 806⟩merits. And forasmuch as thou knowest Lord, how weake a vessell I am, full of frailty and imperfections; and that by nature I am angry and froward vnder euery crosse and affliction: O Lord,2 who art the giuer of all good gifts, arme me with patience to endure thy blessed will and pleasure: and of thy mercy lay no more vpon me,3 then I shall be able to endure and suffer. Giue me grace to behaue my selfe in all patience, loue and meekenesse, vnto those that shall come and visit mee, that I may thankefully receiue, and willingly embrace all good counsels & consolations from them, and that they may likewise see in me such good examples ⟨p. 807⟩of patience, and heare from me such godly lessons of comfort, as may bee arguments of my Christian faith and profession; and instructions vnto them how to behaue themselues, when it shal please thee to visit them with the like affliction or sickenesse. I know, O Lord, I haue deserued to die; and I desire not longer to liue then to amend my wicked life, and in some better measure to set forth thy glory. Therefore, O Father, if it bee thy blessed will, restore mee to health againe, and grant me a longer life. But if thou hast according to thine eternall decree) appointed by this sickenesse, to call for mee out of this transitory life:
- 1Ephes. 5.16.
- 2Jam. 1.17. Joh. 3.27.Iam. 1.17. Ioh. 3.27.
- 31 Cor. 10.13
