45. The Patient prays after having partaken of the Lord's Supper

EXHORTATION.

"I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."—Gal. ii. 20.

While a good Christian always has reason to thank God after having received the holy sacrament, how much more should a patient praise God from his inmost heart when he has been favored to enjoy it in the full possession of his faculties.

1. But it must by no means be supposed that the Lord's Supper will produce a change in the disease; it was not ordained for this purpose, nor have we any such promise.

2. Neither must a patient partake of it as a means of ascertaining whether or not he will recover, but simply to fortify his faith, and assure him of the forgiveness of his sins, of the grace of God, and of his soul's salvation. Having thus received it as ordained by Christ, it is his duty to praise God, commending himself, with a subdued heart and a believing mind, unto his holy keeping. THE PATIENT PRAYS

My Jesus! I was greatly desirous to receive thy holy sacrament before my death. This desire is gratified; thou hast given me to eat of thy precious body, and to drink of thy holy blood, wherefore I praise thee from my inmost heart. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. O Jesus, dwell in me, and give me a heart entirely devoted to thee. Keep me constantly in pure and holy thoughts, and let thy sweet and lovely image never fade from my heart. If thou wilt now call me away from this life, thy will be done. I know that my sins are forgiven, and that I need not fear to stand before thy throne; for where there is forgiveness, there is life and happiness; I know that Jesus has bestowed upon me his righteousness; if in this wedding dress I come before thee, O God, thou wilt remit my judgment for the sake of them. I know that Jesus is my advocate with God, and I die in the grace of God, and at peace with God; I am assured of the comfort of the Holy Ghost. Thus am I happy, thus I die happy, thus happy I depart from this world, and shall be and remain happy forever. It was of thy great goodness to my soul, O God, that I was ON TAKING MEDICINE.

favored to hold this heavenly love feast with my Jesus in the full possession of my faculties; may this heavenly food and drink strengthen and preserve me in the true faith which leads unto eternal life. This is the fulfilment of my wish, that my repast before departing might be the holy communion. Grant also, that the last word I utter in this world may be the name of Jesus; the last thoughts I have, of Jesus' blood, death, suffering, and cross, and of his atoning merit. Then I shall know that I must die happy. Amen. The Patient Prays on taking Medicine.

EXHORTATION.

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."—James v. 14, 15.

If a devout prayer is indispensable even in times of health, how can a patient neglect it, particularly when he takes medicine?

1. The patient must not despise the physician, nor his medicine, nor think that if he is destined to recover, God can restore him without medi-

THE PATIENT PRAYS cine, and that if he is destined to die, the medicine will be of no avail. No, to think thus were to tempt God. God has not promised to help us without means; and what God has not promised, we cannot ask of him. Those who despise medicine and die, are guilty of their own murder

2. Yet he must not set his trust upon the physician and his medicine, but upon God; as it is declared to be one of the sins of King Asa, that in his sickness he did not seek God, but the physicians, and trusted them more than God. 2 Chronicles, xvi. 12.

3. Between these two extremes, the patient must select the golden mean. With his lips and his heart he must pray, and take the medicine in firm reliance upon the helping hand of God; then he may know that there is a blessing upon it.

Great God! thou seest my condition, for nothing is concealed from thy all-seeing eye; thou dost search the most secluded nooks, thou lookest also upon my bed of sickness, and my frame of mind is known to thee. In thy name, O my God, I will make use of the medicine prescribed for me, but my sole hope is in thee, for thou art the Lord, my physician. But inasmuch as thou dost suffer the herbs to spring from the earth, ON TAKING MEDICINE.

and hast thyself created the substances from which medicines are prepared, I will take this prescription with fervent prayer, and calling upon thy name. O do thou speak thy blessing upon it! Bless the medicine I receive in thy name and in the firm reliance upon thee; let it prosper according to thy will, in restoring me to health, in palliating my sufferings, and in invigorating my weakened system. If thou dost give thy blessing, the smallest herb can cure me. I do not take the medicine for the purpose of forcing a recovery, but as a means, permitted by thee, of regaining health at thy hands. I raise mine eyes to heaven in taking the vessel into my hands; I sigh to thee before and while I swallow it, and after I have swallowed it. If thou dost permit it to work, I shall be healed, for my days are in thy hand. Without thy blessing, nothing can prosper; therefore, O God of blessings, do I cry unto thee; what thou dost bless, O Lord, is blessed indeed. If thou dost help me by means of this medicine, I will thank thee for this means of grace, but will also bear in mind that not simples and plasters, but thy grace, have kept, and thy hand healed me. Like Hezekiah, I will spread thy praise among all people. Amen. 1. He who suffers woe and anguish, heavenward let him often look,

When he tastes the bitter portion which no human lips can brook;

But if to his tears and cries

Not at once the Lord replies,

Never let the thought o'ertake him

That the Highest will forsake him.

2. He should well bethink him rather, that the hour is fixed above,

When God, like a loving father, will the bitter cup remove;

When all anguish will depart,

And no more distract the heart;

When, released from pain and sadness,

We shall praise the Lord in gladness.

3. E'en his bitter physic gladly does the true believer quaff,

Knowing that the heavenly blessing will invigorate the chaff;

As he drinks the bitter cup,

Unto heaven his eye looks up,

And the virtue in devotion

Helps the weakness of the potion.

4. Father, on thy benediction all in all it does object,

Whether my severe affliction shall attain a happy end:

THE PATIENT PRAYS, ETC.

Into this thy unction fuse,

O do not thy bliss refuse!

Let the weary sickness vanish,

All my qualms and tortures banish.

5. Unto thee do I surrender death and life, and hope and fear,

Whether I shall stay or whether lingering shall be ended here;

Whatsoe'er thou dost command,

Still I know thy father's hand;

After all this grief and sorrow

Thou wilt send the endless morrow.