Pillars, upon which Chriftianity ftands; the two governing Principles of a good Man's Opinions and Actions. And their Authority and Influence is, in no one Inftance, more confiderable, than in this of the Bleffed Sacrament. God is infinite and eternal, his Power unbounded, and incomprehenfible. He does whatsoever pleafeth him in Heaven and Earth, and who can understand his Council, or find out all his Methods? If the Works of God were fuch, as Human Reafon could penetrate with Eafe, they would lofe great part of their Glory. We fhould foon abate of our Awe and Veneration for their Author, if his Dealings were not above the Power of our Tongues to exprefs, and the utmoft Extent of our Imaginations to conceive. O that Men would therefore praife the Lord for his Goodness, and confefs the Wonders that he hath done for the Children of Men! For great and marvellous are Rev. xiv. thy Works, O Lord God Almighty! How unSearchable are thy Judgments, and thy Ways paft finding out!

Pfal. cvii.

Rom. xi.

THE EN D.

A D.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE

READER.

HE Publishers of this Edition, being defirous to render this little Book as generally useful as it was poffible; and confidering, that the two great Occafions of Extraordinary Deve tion are the Seafon of Receiving the Bleffed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and that of Sickness; thought the Former reasonably well provided for, in the Fourth Book of the foregoing Tranflation, and engaged Me to make fome Supplementary Provifion for the Latter. This I was the rather difpofed to do, in regard a great part of that which follows lay by me, fome time fince compofed at the Request of a Lady, (now I hope with God) who defired my AffiStance in Preparing fome Meditations, that might be proper for her then very weak and languishing ConditiThe manner, in which they were drawn, feemed not ill to fuit with the Temper of the Author, to which they are fixed. And the Defign of cafting them into this Form is to promote, in fome measure, thofe Reafonings with a Man's own Mind, which at all times indeed, but especially in fuch Circumstances, would prove of excellent Advantage, if frequent Ufe did but render them more familiar.

on.

I am far from thinking, that thefe few Sheets have any thing in them of equal Perfection, with thofe many Pious and well weighed Treatifes, written by Others upon this Subject. Much less would I have the Reader imagine, that either This, or Thofe, can fuperfede the Neceffity and BeZ

nefit

nefit of the Prayers of the Church, and the Advice of our Spiritual Phyficians. Thefe ought always to be confulted in the first Place, before Matters come to Extremity; and a confcientious Perfon, after all his own Care, will find Bufinefs enough for them. But the Exercises of Piety prescribed in fuch Tracts will be good Helps, and fill up thofe Intervals very well, which the Languishings of a Sick Bed many times allow, when it cannot be expected, that the Ordinary Guides of our Souls should be ready with their Attendance. Whofe Directions in the Measures of Mens Repentance, while under the afflicting Hand of God, and the proper Methods of Expreffing their Thankfulness when deliver'd from it, as well as their prudent Comforts adminiftred to wounded and contrite Hearts, will notwithstanding be always feasonable and neceffary.

The Devout Chriftian, who converfes much with the Word of God, and the Offices of the Church, will find bimfelf able to make large Additions to the following Devotions. In which it was much more difficult to reStrain my Pen, than to expatiate a great deal farther. But I confidered the Condition of the Perfons they were intended for and therefore contented my felf with fuch Short Hints under each Head, as the Weakness of that would bear. If what I have offered here may tend to the promoting of Piety, and the fanctifying fuch Difpenfations of Providence to any one of my Chriftian Brethren, by kindling in them a boly Zeal, and infpiring good Purpofes, I have my End. And this, with God's Bleffing I hope it will, and beartily pray that it may in fome Degree be capable of.

GEO. STANHOPE.

Medita

Meditations and Prayers

FOR

Sick Perlons.

I

I.

MEDITATION I.

Upon Sickness in general, the Author, Causes, and End of it.

C

OME, my Soul, and let us reafon together, concerning the Things that have befallen us. This Body, to which thou art united, flags and droops; The Vigor of it is abated, its Beauty withered and wafted; The well-knit Limbs are grown feeble, and with great Difficulty fuftain their Weight, or obey thy Commands. They scarce perform any Offices aright; and when they do, it is with Pantings and Tremblings, with Wearinefs and Faintnefs. They feem to groan and fink under their Burden; and each Member, which was formerly wont to ferve thee, with wonderful Chearfulness and Activity, now calls for Succours from abroad, and is no longer able to fupport it self. This is fuch a Change, as ought not to be felt only, but well confidered too. Be not thou Pfal.xxxii. 10. therefore like to Horfe and Mule, which have no Understanding, but lofe all Impreffions, as foon as the Sense of the Stroke ceafes. It is Thy