Who intends it to be thy advantage. God hath made sufferance to be thy work; and do not impatiently long for evening, lest at night thou findest the reward of him that was weary of his work: for he that is weary before his time, is an unprofitable servant, and is either idle or diseased.

10. That which remains in the practice of this grace is, that the sick man should do acts of Patience by way of Prayer and Ejaculations: In which he may serve himself of the following collection.

SECT. II.

Acts of Patience by way of Prayer and Ejaculation.

I will seek unto God, unto God will I commit my cause; Which doeth great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number :

To set up on high those that be low, that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

**So the poor have hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

For He maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and His hands make whole.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a just age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season c.

I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate upon

© Job v. 8, 9, 11, 16—19, 26.

Thee in the night-watches. Because Thou hast been my help, therefore under the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee; for Thy right hand hath upholden med.

God restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for His Name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort mee.

In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me, He shall set me up upon a rock1.

The Lord hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from the heaven did the Lord behold the earth to hear the groaning of His prisoners; to loose those that are appointed to death 5.

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice, and He gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my sore ran in the night and ceased not; my Soul refused to be comforted. *I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. Will the Lord cast me off for ever? and will He be favourable no more? Is His promise clean gone for ever? doth His promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High h.

No temptation hath taken me, but such as is common

d Ps. lxiii. 6-8.

e Ps. xxiii. 3, 4.

Ps. cii. 19, 20.

h Ps. lxxvii. 1—4, 7—10.

f Ps. xxvii. 5.

to man: But God is faithful, Who will not suffer me to be tempted above what I am able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that I may be able to bear it i.

Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now the God of peace and consolation grant me to be so mindedk

It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth good in His eyes1.

Surely the word that the Lord hath spoken is very good: but Thy servant is weak: O remember mine infirmities; and lift Thy servant up that leaneth upon Thy right hand.

There is given unto me a thorn in the flesh to buffet me. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then am I strong m

O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life. And I said, My strength and my hope is in the Lord; Remembering my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled within me.

have hope.

This 1 recall to my mind, therefore I

It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,

i 1 Cor. x. 13.

1 Sam. iii. 18.

Rom. xv. 4, 5.
m 2 Cor. xii. 7-10.

H. D.

M

because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, said my soul, therefore will I hope in Him.

The Lord is good to them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope, and quietly wait, for the salvation of the Lord. For the Lord will not cast off for ever. But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of

men.

Wherefore doth a living man complain? a man for the punishment of his sins"?

O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave [of Jesus,] that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past: that Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me°!

Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil P?

The sick man may recite, or hear recited, the following Psalms in the intervals of his agony.

I.

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak; 0 Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.

My soul is also sore vexed: but Thou, O Lord, how long?

Return, O Lord, deliver my soul; O save me for Thy mercy's sake.

Lam. iii. 58, 18-26, 31-33, 39.

• Job xiv. 13.

P Job ü. 10.

For in death no man remembereth Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make 1 my bed to swim: I water my couch with my tears.

Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all my [sorrows.]

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord will receive my prayer 9.

Blessed be the Lord Who hath heard my prayer, and hath not turned His mercy from me".

II.

In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your

mountain?

The Lord is in His holy Temple, the Lord's Throne is in Heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids try the children of men§.

Preserve me, O God; for in Thee do I put my

trust.

0 my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, my goodness extendeth not to Thee.

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.

I will bless the Lord, Who hath given me counsel; my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy pre

9 Ps. vi.

Ps. lxvi. 20.

• Ps. xi. 1, 4.