Death made comfortable, or, The way to dye well consisting of directions for an holy and an happy death : together with an office for the sick and for certain kinds of bodily illness, and for dying persons, and proper prayers upon the death of friends / by John Kettlewell ...

1.

O! Righteous Lord,* 1.1 thou holdest mine eyes waking, and in the Night Season I take no rest. I seek sweet Sleep to ease my pains, and to recruit my Spirits: I seek it ear∣nestly, but I can not find it; and if I seem to have it fast,† 1.2 it suddenly breaks from me.

But, O! Merciful God, let it not always flee away, but let my weari∣ed eyes at length lay hold of it, and make* 1.3 my sleep sweet unto me. Con∣sider my weariness, which calls aloud for rest; and my weakness, which greatly needs refreshment. And give my labouring Spirits ease, that restless agitations, or incessant pains, may not always keep me a∣wake.

Or if my Spirits must not be allu∣red by ease into sound sleep, or at least into soft Slumbers; let them however be born down into it by the weight of my Sorrows and their

own weariness, that I may a little forget my Troubles, and recover strength to bear any new returns thereof, till thy Blessed time shall come of sending me deliverance from the same, either by the Bles∣sing of Health, or the infinitely greater Blessing of Heaven, thro' Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ps. 77. 4.
• † 1.2

  Dan. 2. 1.
• * 1.3

  Jer. 31. 26.