me (m). Thou upholdést all that fall, and raisest up all those that be bowed down(n): thou healest the broken in heart, and bindest up their wounds (o). I will be patient in tribulation (p), knowing that through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God (q), and that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (r). For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (s), when there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for God himself shall be with us, and shall wipe away all tears from our eyes (t). Amen; Alleluia (u,! PRAYER ON THE DEATH OF A RELATIVE OR FRIEND. Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke. Ez. xxiv. 16. O GOD, the God of the spirit of all flesh (a), thou killest and makest alive, thou bringest down to the grave, and bringest up(b): thou takest away, who can hinder thee? who will say unto thee, "What doest thou(c)?" Thou sendest forth thy spirit, we are created: (1) Rev. xxi. 3, 4. xix. 4. (u) (a) Numb. xvi. 22. (b) 1. Sam, ii. 6. (c) Job ix. 12. thou takest away our breath, we die(d); then the dust returneth to the dust as it was, and the spirit unto God who gave it (e). O Lord, I have seen affliction by the rod of thy wrath (f). My soul cleaveth unto the dust (g): my heart is smitten and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread (h); mine eyes run down with tears night and day (i); for the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (j). I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me(k): for thou dost not afflict willingly, nor grieve (d) Psalm civ. 30, 29. (g) Psalm cxix. 25. (h) Psalm cii. 4. (j) Job. iii. 25 (k) Psalm cxix. 95. the children of men. Wherefore then shall a living man complain? a man for the punishment of his sins ()? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth (m), for this is the Lord's doing (n). I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him(0); I will not despise the chastening of the Almighty (p); for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (q). Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil (r)? The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord(s)! (1) Lam. iii. 33, 39. (n) Psalm cxviii. 23. (p) Job vi. 17. (9) Heb. xii. 6. (r) Job ii, 10. PRAYER IN SICKNESS. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. 1. Peter v. 6. UNTO thee will I cry, O Lord, my Rock; be not silent to me; lest if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit (a). Consider, and hear me, lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death (b). For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit (c). There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin (d). Thou hast given me a trembling heart, and (a) Psalm xxviii. 1. xiii. S. (b) (c) Job vi. 4. (d) Psalm xxxviii. 3. |