If the party be irrecouerably sicke, or ready to depart out of this world, then we may, in stead of praying for his restoring to health, make, in his behalfe, these following petitions:
ANd seeing (O Lord) thou hast smitten thy sicke seruant (as wee conceiue) irrecouerably, and doest now purpose to put an end vn∣to the dayes of his pilgrimage; we most humbly beseech thee, to prepare him for thine owne Kingdome. Weane his mind and affections from the world and earthly vanities, where he is but a stranger, and fix them wholly vpon spirituall and heauenly things, as it becommeth a Ci∣tizen of thy Kingdome. Let him earnestly desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ, seeing that is best of all, and let him long after the vision and fruition of thee, in whose presence is fulnesse of ioy for euermore. To this end (O Lord) reueale thy selfe vnto him more cleerly then euer heretofore, that seeing thy beauty, goodnesse and excellency, his heart may be thorowly inflamed with thy loue. Giue him, euen whilest hee li∣ueth, an entrance into thy Kingdome, not onely by the assurance of faith and hope, but also by letting him haue a liuely taste of those heauenly ioyes, which thou hast prepared for him. Moderate his griefes and paines, that they may not hinder his soule from mounting aloft in diuine contemplations; and secretly whisper vnto his heart sweet comforts by thy Spirit, when as he is, through weaknesse, insensible of outward con∣solations. Inflame his heart with feruent loue towards thee and his bre∣thren; yea euen his enemies for thy sake, that he may bee assured, that his sinnes are forgiuen of thee; because thou giuest him grace to forgiue all men. Strengthen him against the tentations of all his spirituall enemies, and manifest thy power in his weaknesse, by giuing vnto him a full and finall victory ouer them. Frustrate the malice of Satan, defeat his poli∣cies, and confound his power, that he may not preuaile against him in this last conflict. Arme him against the feare of thy wrath and seuere iustice, by assuring him that Christ hath appeased the one, and satisfied the o∣ther. Comfort him against the feare of death, by perswading him, that Christs death hath swallowed it in victory, pulled out the sting thereof, and made it harmelesse; yea exceeding profitable, as seruing now for a passage to glory and happinesse; and by strengthening him, to apply vn∣to himselfe these consolations, by a liuely faith. Weane his heart from worldly cares, that they may bee no distractions to hinder him in his heauenly iourney; and let the assurance, and taste of immortall ioyes, take away all lothnesse to leaue earthly comforts. Set a guard of thy blessed Angels about him, and let them serue as thy Messengers and Mi∣nisters, to conuey his soule, as soone as it is separated from his body, into thy Kingdome, that it may bee there crowned with glory and immortality. Finally, wee beseech thee, giue vs all heere present, an holy vse of these examples of our mortality, that thereby our hearts