(4) Τὸν ἀδελφὸν μwv [Tov Seiva] ἡμῶν δεῖνα] τὸν ἀπενῖντα, ἐπι σκέψαι ἐν τῷ ἐλέο as Euchol. p.690. Exaudi nos pro fa

2

mule tuo N. pro que mifericordie tue imploramus auxilium. Miff, Sarisb, fol.33.

bleness of those in health, who are prefent in the Congregation, fhould make them forget the Miseries of thofe that are abfent; it hath ever been the Cuftom of the Churches of God to recommend our Neighbours, that are in forrow, fickness, or other Diftefs(upon their defire of it) by Name unto the mercy of God (s). And doubtless it is a Cuftom as pious and useful,as it is antient and univerfal, for it is an excellent monitor to thole that are in health, to mind them of their frailty and Mortality, and gives them all an opportunity to do an act of the greateft Charity to their languishing Neighbour. And it is much more for the comfort and benefit of the fick Perfon, who though he be abfent in body from his Christian Brethren, yet he is present in their hearts, and hath a share in their Prayers and fure if any thing will prevail with God to spare them, he will grant that which so many combine to beg for with united importunities; if he hear them not fo as to let the fick man live longer, yet it may prevail fo far that he may dye more happily, and that also is a great bleffing: Wherefore it is the duty of all fick perfons, and fuch as are in great afflictions, to defire the Prayers of the Church for them with a firm perfuafion, that they fhall have very great benefit thereby, as many have had before them: And when any fuch are mentioned by the Priest as needing and defiring our Prayers,let us every one have a due Sense of their mifery, and most heartily intreat God to relieve them, remembring it may fhortly be our Lot; and as we shall defire on our fick bed, that others may pity and pray for us, fo let us do now for thefe; for if we be obdurate or unconcerned, we

fhall

shall deferve to be denyed the Mercy of God, and the Prayers of the Church in our own greatest need.

S.VII. Dat it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their leveral necellities, giving them Patience under their Suffe rings, and an happy illne out of all their Afflictions, and this we beg for Je las Chrift his lake. Amen.]

From the Perfons we pass to the Things requested in their behalf, which are proportionable to the various kinds of Sufferers; and because some are afflicted in mind, we defire these may be comforted; and fince others are afflicted in body, oz diftrelled in Eftate, we pray, that these may be relieved. First, for those who are troubled in mind, there is no remedy fo proper as comfort, and none fo able to adminifter it, as he who is the Father of Mercies, and the God of all Confolations and Comforts, 2 Cor.i.3. which made the Pfalmift fay, in the multitude of the forrows,which I had in my heart, thy comforts have refreshed my Soul, Pfal.xciv.19.He can heal a broken heart,and cure a wounded spirit,and when he speaks peace those that were dejected do rejoyce, and we have a gracious Promife to encourage us to beg this of God for those that mourn, fince he faith, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted, Mat.v.4.Secondly, as for those whofe mifery is outward, viz. in their body or Eftate, we also pray toGod to relieve them, that is to heal the fick, to case those that are in pain, to fupply the poor, and to right those that are oppreffed: and though there be outward means for these external calamities, yet those means are ineffectual without the divine bleffing; whatever be the second Cause he is the first, and therefore his Mercy is firft to be implored. We have mentioned two forts of Cures, but because there are innumerable Sufferers, and all of them in different çircumstances,

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circumstances; we leave it to God's infinite wildom to proportion his several remedies according to their leveral neceflities; for he knows them all, and what their Condition is, and what will help them: We do not prescribe to this univerfal Phyfician, who hath a falve for every Sore, but leave it wholly to his wifdom and goodness, to find out the ways and fix the time, for the deliverance of all that are in Diftrefs. Furthermore, when we confider the variety of mens afflictions, we know they have feveral neceffities, and need various remedies; but when we look upon them all under the notion of afflicted, there are two things which may itly be defired for them all, which are mercies needful for all in mifery, let their Calamity be what it will, viz. I.Patience under thetr (ufferings, while they continue. II. An happy Jalue out of them at the laft. These therefore we beg for all kinds of Sufferers. I. We defire it may please God to grant them Patiens, quietly to fubmit to his Correction, and nobly to bear their Crofs, which will both engage the Almighty to ftrike gently, and to give over foon, when he finds the afflicted takes it fo well; and befides Patience makes the burden not half fo heavy, while it lyes ftill, whereas impatient men double their mifery, and by fretting and vexation, unquietness and fear, they become their own Tormenters(+); wherefore it is a bleffed and defirable

thing, that the afflicted may bear

(t) Indignatio in tormen um fuum pro

feit.Sen.ir.l.3. 16.

Nil tam exafperas fervorem vulneris quam fervendi impatientia, Hegefip.

the hand of God with a meek and fubmiffive Spirit, with a ferene and conftant mind; when the fighs are few and fmothered, the brow fmooth and calm, the Lauguage pious and full of praise to God, fuch a Sufferer is an Imitator of Jefus, he is dear to Heaven, eafie to himself, and a comfort to all a

Ee

bout

bout him. II. We pray that their afflictions may have a happy end. Every one that is in diftrefs longs for an Iffue out of his trouble; and fome are fo greedy of it, as to ufe evil arts to escape, or to murmure if they be not prefently delivered,fuch are only concerned for a speedy Illue out of their afflictions, not valueing whether it be happy or no, they would be delivered before their hearts are mollified, or their Lives amended, before they have fufficiently smarted for their fins, or reaped any good by their Sufferings, and then they eatily return with the Dog to their vomit, fo that the deliverance, which reprieves them from prefent death or mifery, doth but confign them over to eternal Torments: But a wife and good Man had rather wait and endure a while, than not have a happy Iffue out of his trouble, he had rather stay under them a little space, than not be bettered by them, and to fuch an one the Jae fhall be happy at what-ever time, or in what-ever shape it comes. If God reftore fuch to health and profperity, they will use it well, and live holily: If the affliction end in death, that is also a happy due to a good man, and a happy exchange of a Scene of forrows for a Kingdom of glory.Doubtless a good man's affliction hath a happier Iffue by Death,than an evil man's by Life; for this wretch will live to encrease his Darnnation, the other by dying enters the fooner upon eternal joys. Let us therefore befeech Almighty God to turn our Sufferings to good, if he pleafe, let us beg that we may fee them happily ended while we live, however,and whenever they end, let us pray,that the event may be happy, and this is all that we can with for our felvcs, or any difireffed Creatures. The Petitions are very excellent, and Jefus in whofe name we ask them is very powerful; so that if we fay them with a hearty Devotion, we fhall prevail, and then many poor diftreffed Souls will have

caufe

caufe to blefs God, and thank us for the happy effects of thefe moft charitable Supplications.

The Paraphrafe of this Prayer.

GOD,] who art by thy infinite power the Creator, and] by thy gracious Providence the [seferber of the whole world, efpecially of [all Mankind,] who are thy choiceft work and chiefeft care, [we humbly befeech thee,] who art fo mighty and fo merciful, [for all fosts] and degrees,and for all Eftates [and Conditi ons of men, wherefoever they dwell, and whatsoever their quality or fortune be, they are our Brethren, and therefore we pray for them all: And firft for all Unbelievers, and fuch as know thee not, we pray, [that thou would be pleased] in compaffion to their ignorance and delufions [to make tby ways] and the holy paths of thy Laws [known unto them, and to caufe the Gofpel and all the Myfteries of [thy faving health,] and man's Redemption to be published [unto all Pattons] for the Convertion of Jews and Turks, Heathens and Infidels.

[Poze especially,] as we are Chriftians, [we play] unto thy divine Majefty [for the] peace of thy Jerufalem,the welfare and the [good eftate of the Catholick Church,] whereof. we are Members, that it may be quiet and profperous in all the world; and in order to its inward happiness, we defire [that it may be] at all times [fo guided]in its Principles, [and goberneb] in its =Practices [by thy good Spirit,] that the whole Body thereof may never err, nor do amifs, [and that all] and every of the Members of this holy Society, [who p20fefs the true Religion, Cand call themselves ChaitE e 2 ans,]