A helpe vnto deuotion: containing certain moulds or forms of prayer, fitted to seuerall occasions; & penned for the furtherance of those, who haue more desire then skil, to poure out their soules by petitions vnto God. By Sam. Hieron.

17. A direction for those who desire to performe the Chri∣stian duety of prayer on the be∣halfe of a sick friend or neighbor whom they come to visite.

WEe are vnworthy (O Lorde) to speake vnto thy Maiestie either for our selues or others: yet this duty lying vpon vs by commaund, & hauing a promise of hearing annexed thereunto, wee are bold in Iesus Christ to com∣mend vnto thee the weake e∣state of this thy seruant. All sicknes is from thee, & to thee belong y^e issues of death. Thou killest and y^u makest aliue thou bringest downe to the graue &

thou raysest vp; to whom shall we go in this and other our ne∣cessities, but onely vnto thee? Wee could wish (O gracious God) the continuance of his Christian fellowship, the leng¦thening and enlarging of his dayes, but wee willingly sub∣iect our wils to thy determi∣ning; Thou (Lord) knowest what is the best, & therunto make vs (we beséech thée) willingly and readily to subscribe, & to desire both his life & our own, onely so far forth as may be for his and our further good in the more diligēt & zealous aduan∣cement of thy glory. Frame him also (we pray thee) vnto the like yéelding, and so blesse

vnto him this visitation, that by it he may be more and more hūbled in the sight of his owne sinnes & may encrease withall in an vnfayned and longing desire after Christ: Enligh∣ten his eyes, that hee may know what is the hope of his calling, & what is y^e excéeding greatnes of thy mercy and power towards all belieuers. Strengthen his faith, that hee may with it (vtterly renoun∣cing himselfe) lay fast holde vpon the merites of our onely Sauiour. Protect him against sathan, blunt the edge of his assaults, that they may neuer wound him to despaire. Re∣mooue from him a dull spirit,

and all secure and hardned thoughts, all worldly desires, al lingring after the deceiuing swéetnesse of these earthly things. Giue him patience to beare, & constancy to endure whatsoeuer it shalbe thy plea∣sure to inflict. Vouchsafe him comfort in conscience, ioy in the spirit, peace in belieuing, together with a setled and wel grounded exspectation of eter∣nall life and saluation by thy Sonne. Graunt to vs tender and féeling hearts, that both his sorrowes and the griefes of other of thy seruāts may be apprehended, by vs as if they were our owne: Let thy word of grace bee in our lips, that

we may be able to speak holi∣ly, soundly and chéerefully to y^e comfort of his soule. Teach vs in him and in this house of mourning to sée the ende of vs all, and to lay it to our hearts, that so wee may labour to bee prepared for our last depar∣ture. All these graces both for him and for our selues, we begge in all humilitie at thy mercifull hands, in the name and worthines of thy beloued Sonne, calling further on thee, as hee hath taught vs in his word; Our Father, &c.