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43. The Patient prepares to partake of the Lord's Supper

6 min read · Chapter 43 of 78

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EXHORTATION.

"Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."—1 Cor. ii. 28. Every Christian should so live, that he may die happy at any moment. If this applies to the healthy, how much more important is it for the sick. 1. A patient will do well, therefore, at the first attack of illness, to remember his sins, and strive to be reconciled with God. 2. This reconciliation can only be effected by a trusting prayer to God for the forgiveness of sins. 3. He should not postpone his penitence and participation in the Lord's Supper, until death is at the door, until mind and strength are gone; but in time, while yet in a condition to pray and to be reconciled to God. By thus turning to God from the bottom of his soul, he will attain to saving grace in life and death, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord, Lord God! merciful, good, and of great truth, I, a poor sinner, will seek grace and the PARLAKE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

forgiveness of sins in the wounds of my Jesus, and prepare for a happy departure from this life. Thou hast been pleased, O God, to lay me upon this bed of sickness. As I know not whether I shall leave it in health or in my mortal shroud, I will be mindful of my soul, and commend all other things to thee, my loving and merciful God. I will be reconciled with thee, while yet I am capable of being reconciled. I will ask thy forgiveness while I am yet able to pray, as I know not whether my illness may not increase, and my powers of mind and heart decay, so that I can neither pray nor think of thee. I know that he who prepares for a happy death, does himself the greatest service. If he recovers, he will guard against the sins confessed and repented of on his bed of illness; and if he dies, he is assured of the happiness of his hereafter. Such are my present thoughts, O God!

After receiving thy forgiveness, I will receive thy holy communion, and then await thy coming in patience and trustful reliance. O be merciful unto thy child! Do not hold me to account for the sins of my youth and the follies of my early years. O Lord be merciful to my great misdeeds for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Give thy grace to my holy purpose, fortify me for this work, so that I may finish it to thy honor and my salvation. Amen.

1. To the Lord's holy board I humbly would betake me,

So that his precious blood and body may awake me,

To better hopefulness and firmer trust in him;

Lord, give thy blessing here, let not my love grow dim.

2. Banish out of my mind all thoughts of sin and folly,

And let thy spirit keep my soul from melancholy

Into my inmost heart in:plant thy own desires,

Thy pure and holy love, to which my wish aspires.

3. Let nothing frivolous disturb my meditation,

But fill my heart and mind with holy exultation

O Jesus! be my friend! Pray for me all the while,

Uplift my prayers to God, and cheer me with thy smile!

4. O sanctify my heart, O sanctify my senses,

My Jesus! conquer them, and make them thy defences.

Make them all beautiful, and holy, just, and pure,

And in them let thy home and fortress still endure.

5. And also spread upon my soul the peace of heaven,

Which is beyond all thoughts, and out of which are given

True happiness in thee. forgiveness of all sin,

Present and future bliss, and all that faith may win.

THE PATIENT PRAYS, ETC.

The Patient prays for the forgiveness of Sins.

EXHORTATION.

"I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."—Job xlii. 6.

It is a fine and laudable practice of true Christians to place themselves before God every evening, and reflect upon what they have said, thought, and done throughout the day, asking his pardon for sins committed, and obtaining a reconciliation with God before they retire to rest. If this should be done at all times, how much more important is it in illness. 1. A patient should, on these occasions, examine, not one day, one week, or one month only, but his whole life; he should ask himself what use he has made of his days of health; whether he has spent them to the honor of God and the well-being of his neighbor. He must investigate where, how often, and how heavily he has sinned in his days of health. 2. After this inquiry, the patient must pray to God fervently to forgive all the sins committed. 3. If the bed of sickness thus brings him to the understanding of his sins, the patient should thank God for his disease, whereby his eyes have been opened, his wretchedness made manifest, and an opportunity afforded him of seeking THE PATIENT PRAYS FOR grace, which, without it, perhaps, he would never have had.

4. The vows made on such a bed of sickness must be faithfully kept when health returns, lest a still greater misfortune ensue upon such faithlessness. O gracious and loving Father! I live, and know not how long: I must die, and know not when; therefore, I approach thy throne of grace, and humbly beseech thee to forgive the manifold sins and transgressions of my life. Alas! I have not always devoted my days of health to thy honor, to the worship of God, to growth in the faith, and to piety; and thou hadst good cause to visit me with sickness, and give me an opportunity of conversing with my own heart, and repenting of the abuse of my health and my other sins. Forgive me for not having loved thee more fervently and lived more piously than I did. O Lord, do not bear in mind the sins of my youth, but think of me after thy great mercy, for the sake of thy goodness. O how am I terrified to hear that before thy judgment seat I must account for every idle word I have spoken. O how will I stand before thee with my thoughts, when thou art also a judge of thoughts! And who can stand before thee, if THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

he must account for all his life, works and deeds?

Therefore, I come before thy throne of grace in trustful reliance upon my Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ, and beseech thee to have mercy upon me for the sake of his wounds, to forgive me all my sins for the sake of his precious blood, and to help me by his agony and bloody sweat!

I am ashamed to lift up mine eyes before thee,

O God; I am ashamed of my past years, and my unforgotten sins; O that I had lived more piously and more like a Christian! Therefore, I promise, O Lord, to begin a new life. If thou wilt restore me to health, I will spend in faith and true piety the years which thou wilt suffer me to spend on earth hereafter, and will ever remember this present illness and the anguish of my soul, and also thy mighty hand. O Lord!

be gracious unto thy child, and quench all my sins according to thy great mercy, for the sake of thy goodness. Amen.

1 Again I come, a contrite sinner,

I leave again the path of ill;

I fall upon my face before thee,

And beg thee for thy mercy's fill.