O Merciful Father, who art the Lord of health, and of sickness, of life, and of death: who killest, and makest alive:1 who bringest down to the grave, and raisest up again: I come unto thee, as to the only Physician, who canst cure my soul from sin, and my body from sickness. I desire neither life nor death, but refer my self to thy most holy will. For, though we must needs dye, 2and bring dead our lives are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up ⟨p. 819⟩again. Yet hath thy gracious providence (whilst life remaineth) appointed means, which thou wilt have thy children to use; and (by the lawful use thereof) to expect thy blessing upon thine own means, to the curing of their sickness, and restitution of their health. And now O Lord, in this my necessity, I have, according to thine ordinance, sent for thy servant (the Physician) who hath prepared for me this Physic which I receive, as means sent from thy fatherly hand. I beseech thee therefore, that as by thy blessing on a lump of dry figs, 3thou didst heal Hezekiah sore, that he recovered:4 and by seven times washing in the River of ⟨p. 820⟩Jordan, didst cleanse Naaman the Syrian of his Leprosy: and diddest restore the man that was blind from his birth, by anointing his eyes with clay and spittle, 5and sending him to wash in the pool of Siloam: 6and by touching the hand of Peters wives mother, didst cure her of her Fever: and didst restore the Woman that touched the hem of thy Garment, 7from her bloody issue: So it would please thee of thine infinite goodness and mercy, to sanctify this Physic to my use, and to give such a blessing 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. ⟨p. 821⟩But if the number of those days,8 which thou hast appointed for me to live in this vale of misery be at an end; and that thou hast sent this sickness as thy Messenger, to call for me out of this mortal life: then Lord let thy blessed will be done: for I submit my will to thy most holy pleasure. Only I beseech thee; increase my Faith and patience, and let thy gra•e and mercy be never wanting unto me: but in the midst of all extremities, assist me with thy holy Spirit, that I may willingly and cheerfully resign up my Soul, (the price of thine own blood,) into thy most gracious hands and custody.
O Mercifull Father, who art the Lord of health, and of sickenesse, of life, and of death: who killest, and makest aliue:1 who bringest downe to the graue, and raisest vp againe: I come vnto thee, as to the onely Physitian, who canst cure my soule from sinne, and my body from sicknesse. I desire neither life nor death, but referre my selfe to thy most holy will. For, though wee must needes dye, 2and bring dead our liues are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered vp ⟨p. 819⟩againe. Yet hath thy gratious prouidence (whilest life remaineth) appointed meanes, vvhich thou vvilt haue thy children to vse; and (by the lawfull vse thereof) to expect thy blessing vpon thine owne meanes, to the curing of their sicknesse, and restitution of their health. And now O Lord, in this my necessitie, I haue, according to thine ordinance, sent for thy seruant (the Physitian) vvho hath prepared for mee this Physicke which I receiue, as meanes sent from thy fatherly hand. I beseech thee therefore, that as by thy blessing on a lumpe of dry figs, 3thou didst heale Ezekias sore, that he recouered:4 and by seauen times washing in the Riuer of ⟨p. 820⟩Iordane, didst clense Naaman the Syrian of his Leprosie: and diddest restore the man that was blinde from his birth, by annoynting his eyes with clay and spittle, 5and sending him to wash in the poole of Siloam: 6and by touching the hand of Peters wiues mother, didst cure her of her Feauer: and didst restore the Woman that touched the hemme of thy Garment, 7from her bloudy issue: So it would please thee of thine infinite goodnesse and mercy, to sanctifie this Physicke to my vse, and to giue such a blessing vnto it, that it may (if it be thy will and pleasure) remoue this my sickenesse and paine, and restore mee to health and strength againe. ⟨p. 821⟩
- 11 Sam. 2.6.
- 22 Sam. 14.14
- 3Isay 38.21.
- 41 King. 5.14.
- 5John 9.6.7.Iohn 9.6.7.
- 6Mat. 8.15.
- 7Mat. 8.20. &c.
- 8Job 14.Iob 14.
