The rule and exercises of holy living. In which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every vertue, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations. Together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion fitted to all occasions, and furnish'd for all necessities.

Short Prayers to be said by sick persons.

O Holy Jesus, thou art a merciful High Priest and touched with the sense of our infirmities; thou knowest the sharpnesse of my sicknesse,

and the weaknesse of my person. The clouds are gathered about me, and thou hast covered me with thy storm: My understanding hath not such apprehension of things as formerly: Lord let thy mercy support me, thy spirit guide me, and lead me through the valley of this death safely; that I may passe it patiently, holily, with perfect resignation, and let me rejoyce in the Lord, in the hopes of pardon, in the ex∣pectation of glory, in the sence of thy mercies, in the refreshments of thy spirit, in a victory over all temptations.

Thou hast promised to be with us in tribu∣lation. [ 2] Lord, my soul is troubled, and my body is weak, and my hope is in thee, and my ene∣mies are busy and mighty, now make good thy holy promise. Now O holy Jesus, now let thy hand of grace be upon me: restrain my ghostly enemies, and give me all sorts of spiritual assist∣ances: Lord remember thy servant in the day when thou bindest up thy Jewels.

[ 3] O take from me all tediousnesse of Spirit, all impatience and unquietnesse: let me possesse my soul in patience, and resigne my soul and body into thy hands, as into the hands of a faith∣ful Creator, and a blessed Redeemer.

O holy Jesu, thou didst dye for us; by thy [ 4] sad, pungent & intolerable pains w^ch thou endu∣redst for me, have pity on me, & ease my pain, or increase my patience. Lay on me no more then thou shalt enable me to bear. I have deserv'd it all & more, and infinitely more. Lord I am weak and ignorant, timerous and inconstant, and I fe••r lest something should happen that may discom∣pose the state of my soul, that may displease thee: Do what thou wilt with me, so thou doest but preserve me in thy fear and favour.

Thou knowest that it is my great ••ear, but let thy Spirit secure, that nothing may be able to separate me from the love of God in Jesus Christ; & then smite me here, that thou mayest spare me for ever; and yet O Lord smite me friendly: for thou knowest my infirmities. In∣to thy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth. * Come holy Spirit, help me in this conflict. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Let the sick person often meditate upon these fol∣lowing promises and gracious words of God.

My help cometh of the Lord who preserveth them that are true of heart, Psal. 7.11.

And all they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee: for thou Lord hast never failed them that seek thee, Psal. 9.10.

O how plentiful is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee, even before the sons of men, Psal. 31.

Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, & upon them that put their trust in his mercy, to deliver their souls from death, Ps. 33.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a con∣trite heart: and will save such as are of an hum∣ble spirit. Psal. 34.17.

Thou Lord shalt save both man and beast: how excellent is thy mercy, O God: and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings, Psal. 36.7.

They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house: and thou shalt give them to drink of thy pleasures as out of the rivers, v. 8.

For with thee is the well of life: and in thy light we shall see light, v. 9.

Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy

trust in him, & he shall bring it to passe, Ps. 37.5.

But the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord: who is also their strength in the time of trouble, v. 40.

So that a Man shall say, verily there is a reward for the righteous: doubtlesse there is a God that judgeth the earth, Psal. 58.10.

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receivest unto thee: he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple, Psal. 65.4.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy, Psal. 126.6.

It is written, I will never leave thee nor for∣sake thee, Heb. 13.5.

The prayer of faith shall save the sick: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins they shalbe forgiven, Iam. 5.15.

Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn and he will heal us, he hath smit∣ten, and he will binde us up, Hos. 6.1.

If we sin we have an Advocate with the Fa∣ther Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins, 1 Iohn 2.2.

If we confesse our sins he is faithful & righte∣ous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse, 1 Iohn 1.9. He that for∣gives shall be forgiven, Luke 6.37.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us, 1 Iohn 5 14. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins, 1 Iohn 3.5.

If ye being evil know to give good things to your children, how much more shall your Fa∣ther which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matth. 7.11.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all ac∣ceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners. * He that hath given us his Son, how should not he with him give us all things else.