A help for the poor who are visited with the plague: to be communicated to them by the rich or, by any pious Christian, whose bowels of compassion are moved towards them, in the apprehension of their comfortless condition, and the great danger of their dying in their sins. Consisting of two parts. The first, shewing them their duty and concernment in this condition. The second, exhibiting certain forms of meditation, prayer and praise, suited to the beginning, continuance and issue of their visitation. Both composed out of compassion to the poor, who in this contagious sickness want the benefit of a spiritual physician (a wise and able minister to instruct them, and pray with them:) and designed to be a help and means to save their souls: ... By Thomas Willes, late minister of Shadwell.

In the Evening.

We blesse thy Holy Name, that thou hast added one Day more unto our lives. Oh that as we are now one Day nearer to our Death, we were all something fitter to dye. Pardon, we beseech thee all the sins of this Day past: Do not remem∣ber them against us, nor charge them upon us to our Condemnation. Wash them all away in the Blood of Christ, that they may be as if they had never been. We heartily bless thee for all the mer∣cies we have this Day received; we are less than the least of them. We pray thee take us this Night into thy Tuition, and give us safety under the shadow of thy wings. Teach us, O Lord, so to lie down in our Beds, as in our Graves; & so to compose ourselves to

sleep, as if we should no more wake till the Resur∣rection of the dead. Let our Reins instruct us in the Night season, and let our secret thoughts be sanctified and sweetned, by the inspirations and comforts of thy Holy Spirit. When we awake, let us be still with thee. Let our first thoughts be sea∣soned with a holy remembrance of our merciful preserver. If thou shalt adde another Day to our lives, grant that we may so spend it in thy Fear, and with such Diligence in every good Duty, that at the last we may give up our Accounts with joy.

All this, with what ever else thou seest more needful for us than we can ask or think, we hum∣bly beg in the Name, and for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate; to whom, with thy self, and holy Spirit, be all Honour and Glory, Dominion and Praise, Thanks∣giving and Obedience, henceforth, and for ever∣more. Amen.

Notes

• Psal. 16.7.
• Psal. 139.8.
• Eph. 3.20.