An Office

for perfecting

The Sick Man's Patience.

¶The sick man may use this office in all periods of his illness.
In the Name of the Ever Blessed TRINITY, Father,
SON, and HOLY GHOST. Amen.

O LORD, rebuke me not in Thine indignation :
Neither chasten me in Thy displeasure.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak :
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are vexed.
My soul also is sore troubled:

my soul :

But, LORD, how long wilt Thou punish me.
Turn Thee, O LORD, and deliver
O save me for Thy mercy's sake.

¶ Then let him say,

O soul! redeemed of CHRIST, the purchased possession of His precious blood, comfort thyself in the promises and consolations of the Word of God.

Behold, happy is the man whom GOD correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the ALMIGHTY: For He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. Job v. 17, 18, 19.

Response. In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His tabernacle: yea, in the secret

place of His dwelling shall He hide me and set me up upon a rock of stone.

you

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He in due time: casting all your exalt may care upon Him, for He careth for you. 1 S. Pet. v. 6, 7. Response. Be merciful unto me, O GOD, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in Thee: and under the shadow of Thy wings shall be my refuge, until this tyranny be overpast.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him. S. James i. 12.

Response. Why art thou so heavy, O my soul: and why art thou so disquieted within me?

O put thy trust in GoD: for I will yet give Him thanks which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but GOD is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. x. 13.

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Response. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.

Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. iv. 17.

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Response. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel and after that receive me with glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee: and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of Thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. The LORD will not cast off for ever. But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. ment. iii. 31, 32, 33.

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Response. Thanks be to the LORD: for He hath showed me marvellous great kindness in a strong city. And when I made haste, I said: I am cast out of the sight of Thine eyes. Nevertheless Thou heardest the voice of my prayer, when I cried unto Thee.

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of GOD commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful CREATOR. 1 S. Pet. iv. 19.

Response. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit for Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, Thou GOD of truth.

¶Then let the following lesson be read.

Heb. xii. 1-12.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto JESUS the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of GOD. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the LORD loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, GOD dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the FATHER of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days

chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Response I will look unto JESUS the Author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of GOD.

¶Then let the sick man meditate with great thoughtfulness over
each of the following particulars of our SAVIOUR's sufferings.
He was despised and rejected of men ;
His life was sought for by Herod;
He was tempted by Satan;

Hated by that world which He came to save;
Set at nought by His own people;

Called a deceiver and a dealer with the devil;

Was driven from place to place, and had not where to lay His head;

Betrayed by one disciple, and forsaken by all the rest;

Falsely accused, spit upon, and scourged;

Set at nought by Herod and his men of war;
Given up by Pilate to the will of His enemies;
Had a murderer preferred before Him;

Was condemned to a most cruel and shameful

death;

Crucified between two thieves;

Reviled in the midst of His torments;

Had gall and vinegar given Him to drink;

Suffered a most bitter death;

What sorrows did He undergo, and with what patience did He suffer them!

Patient when Judas unworthily betrayed Him with a kiss ;

Patient when Caiaphas despitefully used Him; Patient when hurried from one place to another; Patient when Herod with his men of war set Him at nought;

Patient when scourged and crowned with thorns; Patient when His cross was laid upon Him; When He was reviled, reproached, scoffed at, and every way abused.

O JESU, Who now sittest at the right hand of GoD, to succour all who suffer in a righteous way; Be Thou my advocate for grace, that in all my sufferings, I may follow Thy example, and run with patience the race that is set before me. Amen.

For imitation of CHRIST in suffering.

And now let the sick man rejoice and sing the praises of GOD inasmuch as he is made partaker of the sufferings of CHRIST.

The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble: the Name of the GOD of Jacob defend thee;

Send thee help from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Sion;

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Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burntsacrifice;

Grant thee thy heart's desire and fulfil all thy

mind.

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We will rejoice in thy salvation, and triumph in the Name of the LORD our GOD: the LORD perform all thy petitions.

Now know I, that the LORD helpeth His anointed, and will hear him from His holy heaven; even with the wholesome strength of His right hand.

Some put their trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the Name of the LORD our GOD. They are brought down, and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Save, LORD, and hear us, O King of heaven : when we call upon Thee.

Glory be to the FATHER, and to the SON: and to the HOLY GHOST;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

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¶ Then, if able, let him read and meditate upon so many of the following maxims, collected from Bishop Wilson, as he may select.

All mankind being under the sentence of death cer