A guide to the Holy City, or, Directions and helps to an holy life containing rules of religious advice, with prayers in sundry cases, and estates ... / by Iohn Reading ...

A Prayer for the sicke of the Plague.

O Allmighty God great and terrjble in thy judgments, yet of in∣finite mercy and compassion to those who truly seeke thee: wee hum∣bly acknowledge that not only this plague wherein thou now afflictest this land, is due unto our sinnes; but also allother thy severe judg∣ments to our destruction and desolation, and to whome shall we seek for helpe, but to the, whome we haue so continually provoked by our sinnes. O Lord, thou art a God of mercy, and wouldst not destroy but the importunitie of our sinnes, hath put this heavy rod into thy hands: and our iniquities have so much d••faced thy glorious Image in us, that thou maist justly hide away thy face from our miseries, & no more owne us for thy Children: but, O Lord, our onely hope is in the merit and mediation of thy sonne Jesus Christ, whome thou gavest to death for us: it is he, O Lord, who beareth all our names in his secret brest-plate it is he that appeareth hefore thee for us▪ let our petitions ascend to thy throne of mercy like sweet incense from the precious censer of his merits: it is he who standeth betweene the liv∣ing and the dead. O let this plague which now consumeth us be stayed: Lord looke not on our sinnes, but his merits in whome thou art well pleased: for his sake, in whome we beleeve, and whose holy name we beare, say unto the destroying angell it is enough; cause him to sheath the sword againe, and let this plague cease.

Lord God of all consolation comfort all those whom thou hast smitten with the infection: heale them that they may recover, and praise thy glorious name: however thou shalt be pleased to deale with their mortall bodies speake peace to their soules and save them, give them full assurance of thy mercy and their redemption in Christ

Jesus: let thy holy spirit the comforter ever remaine with them, to pr••serue them against all the malitious assaults of the adversary (that he may never make his advantages, on their surrowes, infir∣mities, or the distracting and astonishing violence of their disease: comfort them at the last gaspe, and breathing out their affl••cted soules, with present sense and assurance of the eternall joyes in thy Kingdome, free from death, sicknesse, sorrow, feare, and all the wretched effects of sinne: preserue those whom thou hast hitherto spared let no plague come nigh their dwelling, and make them in their preservation understand, that thou only hast kept them to serve thee more carefully and thankefully; and to shew mercy to those who are visited and shut up. Lord heare and help us: Lord spare thy people and restore us health, that we may glorifie thy name through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN.